Broccoli Salad with Cranberries is refreshing and delicious. A perfect side dish to serve at family gatherings, BBQ's and potlucks. The beautiful colors found in the salad ingredients also makes this classic broccoli salad perfect for your festive holiday table.
From the crispness of the raw broccoli florets, to the chewiness of the dried cranberries, there is a pack of flavor in every bite. The salad is brought together with a very simple, yet delicious, dressing.
Broccoli Salad goes perfectly with Grilled Chicken Wings or Pork Tenderloin that has been smoked.
Table of contents
Why we love this recipe
- We love simple salad recipes, and this one is extremely easy. Not only is it a great dish for special gatherings, it is also a great side dish for a weeknight dinner.
- Broccoli Salad with Cranberries is a great make-ahead salad. Prepare this tasty recipe the day before needed and the flavors will be nicely blended together.
- You can easily add your own touch or variation to this recipe. Switch up some of the ingredients for different occasions. Some suggestions are listed below.
Recipe Ingredients
To make this easy broccoli salad recipe you will need: Broccoli florets (bite-size pieces), dried cranberries, red onion (diced), sunflower seeds, apple cider vinegar, granulated sugar, mayonnaise, salt, and black pepper.
Tip: Remember to thoroughly rinse and let the broccoli dry before making the salad. You do not want any added moisture.
Ingredient Notes / Substitutions
Broccoli - This recipe calls for 8 cups of broccoli florets. You will probably need at least 2 large bunches of broccoli, more if the bunches are smaller. If you shop at Costco, their large bag of precut broccoli florets works perfectly with this recipe.
Mayo - For a healthier version of this recipe, try plain Greek yogurt in place of the mayonnaise.
Sunflower seeds - If you would rather, try some chopped pecans, walnuts, or almonds instead.
Bacon - When making the bacon bits, you can either cut the bacon into small pieces before cooking (as shown below) or, cook the bacon until crisp and either crumble by hand or chop with a sharp knife.
Other additions - How about adding some cheese? Shredded cheddar cheese is delicious in fresh broccoli salad.
Are you a big fan of broccoli? Try this delicious cheesy broccoli casserole (kids love it!) or maybe this amazing Chicken Divan! For the cranberry lovers give this awesome Spiced Cranberry Cake a try or maybe some Cranberry Bliss Bars during the holiday season!
Step-by-Step Recipe Directions
Tip: Not a fan of raw broccoli? Consider blanching it first. Bring a generously sized pot of water to a rolling boil, then blanch the broccoli florets for approximately 60 seconds. Promptly drain and rinse the broccoli with cold water to halt the cooking. Make sure the broccoli is thoroughly drained before incorporating it into the salad.
To prepare the dressing, combine the apple cider vinegar, granulated sugar, mayonnaise, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl.
Tip: For the best results it is recommended to prepare this salad in advance, allowing the dressing ample time to enhance the flavors of the broccoli salad.
Using a whisk or a fork, combine all the ingredients together. Place the dressing in the refrigerator until ready to use.
Cut the bacon into small pieces Place a skillet or frying pan over medium to medium-high heat. Cook the bacon bits until crispy, about 8 to 10 minutes.
Drain the bacon on paper towels before using.
Add the bacon bits, broccoli pieces, cranberries, diced red onion, and sunflower seeds to a large mixing bowl and mix together.
Pour the dressing over the top of the broccoli mixture.
Combine the dressing with the broccoli mixture making sure to thoroughly cover all of the salad ingredients.
Allow the salad to rest in the refrigerator for about one hour. Serve the Broccoli Salad with Cranberries cold.
Recipe FAQ's
Yes! In fact, it is better that you make it at least an hour before serving. Making the salad the day before gives the flavors even more time to enhance.
Absolutely! Add some grated cheese, or different types of nuts, or even some diced chicken and make it a meal!
Blanching the broccoli is optional but recommended if you prefer a slightly softer texture. It also helps to preserve the vibrant green color of the broccoli. However, if you enjoy the crunchiness of raw broccoli, you can skip the blanching step.
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Mom Tip
If you looking for a refreshing summertime meal, a convenient option is to pair a rotisserie chicken with this broccoli salad. A couple of options are to serve the chicken alongside the salad or cube some of the chicken and mix it into the salad for added protein. Either way, it makes for a satisfying and delicious meal.
This is one of our favorite side dishes with the crisp broccoli, the tart cranberries, and crispy bacon. This recipe will be a family favorite and a great addition to your weeknight dinner, potluck, holiday table, or BBQ outing. This crunchy broccoli salad with a pop of color from the beautiful cranberries, is a great recipe to use any time of year.
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Recipe
Broccoli Salad with Cranberries
Ingredients
Ingredients For the dressing:
- 3 tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 ½ tablespoons Granulated Sugar
- 1 cup Mayonnaise
- ⅛ teaspoon Salt
- ¼ teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
For the salad:
- ½ cup Bacon Bits about 8 slices of bacon
- 8 cups Broccoli Florets cut into bite-sized pieces
- ½ cup Dried Cranberries
- ⅓ cup Red Onion diced
- ⅓ cup Sunflower Seeds or chopped pecans, walnuts, or almonds
Instructions
- To prepare the dressing, combine the apple cider vinegar, granulated sugar, mayonnaise, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl.
- Using a whisk or a fork, combine all the ingredients together. Place the dressing in the refrigerator until ready to use.
- Cut the bacon into small pieces Place a skillet or frying pan over medium to medium-high heat. Cook the bacon bits until crispy, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the bacon on paper towels before using.
- Add the bacon bits, broccoli pieces, cranberries, diced red onion, and sunflower seeds to a large mixing bowl and mix together.
- Pour the dressing over the top of the broccoli mixture.
- Combine the dressing with the broccoli mixture making sure to thoroughly cover all of the salad ingredients.
- Allow the salad to rest in the refrigerator for about one hour. Serve the Broccoli Salad with Cranberries cold.
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