Fast & Easy Broccoli Salad
If you’ve been following along here for a while, you know this little corner of the internet has been pretty much dedicated to all things baked, cookies, cakes, breads, and everything in between. But today, we’re switching things up! This is officially the first non-baking recipe on the blog, and honestly? I couldn’t be more excited about it. Because this easy broccoli salad is so good, it deserves a moment in the spotlight.
Whether you’re looking for the perfect broccoli salad for a BBQ, need a make-ahead broccoli salad for a busy weeknight, or want a healthy broccoli salad to add to your regular rotation, this one checks every box.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This is truly a quick broccoli salad: minimal prep, no cooking required, and it comes together in minutes. It’s a fresh broccoli salad packed with color, crunch, and flavor, and it only gets better as it sits. The combination of crisp raw broccoli, sweet dried cranberries, salty bacon bits, and crunchy sunflower seeds is absolutely irresistible.
The creamy lemon-dijon dressing ties everything together in the best way. It’s tangy, a little savory, and so much better than your average broccoli salad with creamy dressing.
Perfect for a Crowd
This is hands-down one of the best recipes for feeding a group. It’s a go-to broccoli salad for a potluck, a cookout, or holiday gatherings. I’ve brought this broccoli salad for a crowd more times than I can count, and the bowl is always scraped clean.
Even better — since you refrigerate it for at least an hour before serving, it’s a true make-ahead broccoli salad. You can prep it the morning of (or even the night before), pop it in the fridge, and it’s ready when you need it. The flavors meld together beautifully overnight.
Ingredients
Salad:
- 8 cups broccoli florets, cut into bite-sized pieces
- ⅓ cup diced red onion
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ¼ cup sunflower seeds
- 1/2 cup feta cheese
- ½ cup bacon bits
Dressing:
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- Salt and black pepper to taste
How to Make Broccoli Salad
Step 1: Whisk together the mayonnaise, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl. Set aside.
Step 2: In a large bowl, combine the broccoli florets, red onion, dried cranberries, sunflower seeds, feta cheese and bacon bits.
Step 3: Pour the prepared dressing over the salad and mix well until everything is evenly coated.
Step 4: Refrigerate for at least one hour before serving. This rest time is key; it softens the broccoli just slightly and lets all those flavors come together.
That’s it! That’s how to make broccoli salad. Truly fast & easy.
Tips for the Best Broccoli Salad
- Cut your florets small. Bite-sized pieces make this so much easier to eat and help the dressing coat every piece.
- Don’t skip the chill time. Even though it might be tempting to dig in right away, that hour in the fridge makes a real difference.
- Make it your own. This simple broccoli salad is very adaptable. Swap the cranberries for raisins, use real crumbled bacon instead of bacon bits, or add shredded cheddar for extra richness.
- It keeps well. Leftovers stay fresh in the fridge for up to 3 days, making this a great broccoli salad side dish to prep ahead for the week.
The Best Broccoli Salad — No Really
I know “the best” is a bold claim, but I stand by it. This cold broccoli salad is everything you want in a side dish: quick, fresh, crowd-pleasing, and full of texture. Whether it’s a summer broccoli salad at a backyard BBQ or a cozy holiday broccoli salad on the table at Thanksgiving, it always fits right in.
I hope you love this recipe as much as we do. And if you try it, leave a comment below — I’d love to hear what you think!
The Best Broccoli Salad
Ingredients
- 8 cups broccoli florets cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1/3 cup diced red onion
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
- 1/2 cup bacon bits
- 1/2 cup feta cheese
Dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 3 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp dijon mustrad
- salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Whisk together dressing ingredients in a medium bowl. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, combine broccoli, onion, cranberries, sunflower seeds, feta cheese and bacon bits. Pour the prepared dressing over and mix well.
- Refrigerate for at least one hour before serving.