A crisp, creamy Easy Broccoli Salad loaded with fresh broccoli, cheddar cheese, bacon, and red onion for the perfect quick and flavorful side dish.
INGREDIENTS
- Salad:
- 5-6 cups fresh broccoli florets chopped into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese thick shred
- ⅔ cup dried cranberries
- ½ cup cooked bacon crumbled until crispy
- ½ cup salted sunflower seeds
- ⅓ cup red onion finely diced
- Dressing:
- ¾ cup mayonnaise olive oil mayo preferred
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 1 ½ Tbsp white wine vinegar
- 3 Tbsp granulated sugar
- ¼ tsp salt adjust to taste
- ¼ tsp black pepper adjust to taste
INSTRUCTIONS
- Combine the Salad Base: In a large mixing bowl, combine the chopped broccoli florets, thick-shredded cheddar cheese, dried cranberries, crumbled bacon, sunflower seeds, and finely diced red onion.
- Whisk the Dressing: In a separate, small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, white wine vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper until the mixture is completely smooth and well-combined.
- Toss to Coat: Pour the creamy dressing over the broccoli combination. Toss and stir well until every ingredient is generously coated. Taste and adjust salt and pepper if necessary.
- Chill and Serve: You can serve this salad immediately, but for the absolute best flavor, cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least one hour before serving.
- Final Toss: Make sure to give the broccoli salad one more thorough toss right before serving to redistribute the dressing. Refrigerate any leftovers in an airtight container.