Description
Broccoli Crunch Salad is a vibrant, fresh, and crunchy dish combining crisp broccoli florets with complementary textures and flavors like crispy bacon bits, sunflower seeds, cheddar cheese, and a creamy tangy mayonnaise-vinegar dressing. Perfect as a quick lunch, colorful side, or healthy snack, it offers a satisfying crunch and a burst of freshness that appeals to all ages.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 4 cups fresh broccoli florets, chopped into bite-sized pieces
- 1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
- 1/2 cup crispy bacon bits (can be substituted with roasted chickpeas or toasted nuts for vegetarian option)
- 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
- 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/3 cup sweet raisins or dried cranberries
Dressing Ingredients
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons white or apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon sugar or honey (adjust to taste)
- Pinch of salt
- Pinch of black pepper
Instructions
- Prep the Broccoli: Wash the broccoli thoroughly and chop into small, bite-sized florets to ensure easy eating and great texture throughout the salad.
- Chop the Mix-Ins: Finely dice the red onion to avoid overpowering the salad. Crumble cooked bacon into bite-sized pieces. Measure out sunflower seeds, shredded cheddar cheese, and raisins or dried cranberries for easy mixing later.
- Make the Dressing: In a bowl, combine mayonnaise, white or apple cider vinegar, sugar or honey, salt, and pepper. Whisk together until smooth and creamy.
- Toss Everything Together: In a large bowl, mix the broccoli florets, diced red onion, bacon bits, sunflower seeds, shredded cheddar cheese, and dried fruit. Pour the dressing over and gently toss until everything is evenly coated.
- Chill and Serve: Place the salad in the refrigerator and chill for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld beautifully. Serve cold for best taste and texture.
Notes
- Choose fresh, firm, bright-green broccoli without yellowing or soft spots to maximize crunch.
- Lightly toast sunflower seeds or nuts to enhance their nutty flavor and crunch.
- Cut all ingredients uniformly to ensure even texture and balanced bites.
- Adjust the sweetness in the dressing to complement the tartness of vinegar and dried fruits as preferred.
- Serve the salad cold; refrigerate before serving for the freshest taste.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 180 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 220 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 9 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg