A simple, classic Broccoli Salad that pairs well with any meal as a side dish. Bacon, dried cranberries, Swiss cheese and a creamy, delicious homemade dressing. It’s my favorite!

I could easily eat this Broccoli Salad every single day and never get tired of it. It’s probably one of my all-time favorite salads. It’s perfect for weeknight meals, summer BBQs and potlucks and any holiday dinner.

Cold, crunchy, studded with crisp bacon, Swiss cheese, red onion and chewy dried cranberries all tossed together in a simple, creamy homemade dressing — it’s so fabulous!

I know a lot of broccoli salads have sunflower seeds in them, I prefer mine without, but you can absolutely toss some in if you’d like.

Ingredients:

Fresh broccoli. Definitely the star of the show here and it doesn’t need to be cooked. However, if you’re not a huge fan of raw broccoli, you can blanch it for about 1 minute (no longer) and then immediately drain it and immerse it in ice cold water. Dry it well before using.

Bacon. You can cook and crumble your own, but I buy the bag or precooked bacon from Costco or Sam’s Club. I spread out what I need on a large dinner plate and microwave it for about 45 to 60 seconds. It crisps it right up and is super convenient.

Swiss Cheese. A lot of recipes for broccoli salad don’t have cheese in them, but this is one of my favorite parts of the salad! I ♡ Swiss cheese, but feel free to use Monterey Jack, Mozzarella or even cheddar.

Dried Cranberries. Adds sweetness and an added layer of texture. I love the Ocean Spray brand Craisins.

Red Onion. I use very little because I think the taste of red onion can be overpowering. So feel free to add more to suit your taste.

For the best flavor, let it sit!

This salad could easily be served right away, but it’s even better if you can make it ahead of time and let it chill in the fridge for at least a couple of hours, giving the flavors time to meld together. It’s also best if eaten within a couple days. I feel like the broccoli begins to get a little soggy on about the third day.

Broccoli Salad

Author: Jodi
Total Time: 15 mins + 2 hours chill time
Yield: 8 to 10 servings 1x

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Ingredients

Units Scale

Dressing:

1 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup sugar
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

Salad:

6 to 7 cups broccoli florets
1/2 cup bacon, cooked & crumbled (about 8 slices)
1/2 cup Craisins (dried cranberries)
1 cup shredded Swiss cheese
1/4 cup red onion

Instructions

Dressing:

In a small bowl, whisk together the mayo, sugar and vinegar. Put in fridge while you prepare the salad.
In a large bowl, combine the broccoli, cooked bacon, Craisins, Swiss cheese and red onion. Pour the prepared dressing over and mix well.
Refrigerate for at least 1 to 2 hours before serving.

Prep Time: 15 mins