This Broccoli Crunch Salad recipe is my latest salad obsession. This salad has it all - crunchy broccoli, creamy dressing, crisp bacon, and it's so incredibly delicious - and quick to make! You'll never look the same way at broccoli again.

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Oh, the mighty broccoli! Once the dreaded vegetable of childhood meals, it has been gracefully transformed into the base for the most delicious salad.
Between the fresh broccoli florets, the roasted sunflower seeds, and the perfectly fried bacon, this is my new favorite salad.
It is so delicious, you'll be hiding in the kitchen, eating spoonful after spoonful, savoring how delicious it is.
Did I mention flavor? The creamy homemade dressing, a blend of creamy Greek yogurt, smooth mayonnaise, and a touch of apple cider vinegar, harmonizes with the broccoli, the rich, smoky hint of bacon, and the sharp bite of cheddar cheese.
Add to that the sweet undertones of craisins and the gentle heat of red onions, and you have a salad that's truly bursting with flavors.
You will love the sweet, savory, creamy, and crunchy texture in every mouthful, making this salad nothing short of spectacular.
I have eaten this crunchy broccoli salad four days in a row now - for lunch and dinner - and I still can't get enough of it. It actually even tastes better the next day!
I have served it with Smoked Trip Tip, Air Fryer Bacon-Wrapped Chicken (because yes -more bacon, please), and Smash Burgers. It goes great with absolutely anything and everything, even as a meal by itself.
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❤️ Why You Will Love This Recipe
- Crunchy: With crisp broccoli, roasted sunflower seeds, and crispy bacon, every bite has a delightful crunch.
- Flavorful: The tangy, sweet, savory dressing perfectly complements the rest of the ingredients.
- Easy to Prepare: This raw broccoli salad is remarkably easy to make. It's all about simple ingredients coming together to create something extraordinary.
- Versatile: This salad makes a wholesome lunch, a light dinner, or a crowd-pleasing side dish for potlucks and picnics. It's just as fitting for a casual meal as a festive gathering.
- Can Be Made Ahead: This easy broccoli salad recipe holds up well, unlike many salads that get soggy after a while. It's even better after chilling in the fridge for an hour or two, making it great for meal prep.
- Unexpectedly Delicious: Even if you're not a big fan of broccoli or salads in general, this dish's flavor and texture combination might surprise you and turn you into a salad lover!
🥦 Ingredient Notes + Substitutions
This easy salad is made with simple ingredients you can find at any grocery store.

- Broccoli: The star ingredient! Chop a large head of broccoli into bite-sized florets. Frozen broccoli will not work - only fresh.
- Bacon: It adds a lovely crunch and smoky flavor, but if you're vegetarian, you can omit it - the salad will still be delicious.
- Red Onion: This brings a bit of sharpness and color. If red onions are too intense, you could use less onion or omit it altogether. Make sure to chop the red onion quite small so they don't overpower the flavors.
- Sunflower Seeds + Pumpkin Seeds: These add a wonderful crunch and nuttiness. Feel free to substitute with chopped almonds, pecans, or even walnuts. Many supermarkets stock pre-mixed salad toppings that include dried fruit and a variety of seeds. Feel free to grab a bag of these instead.
- Cheddar Cheese: The cheese adds a delicious tang, but you can experiment with different types too! Feta, blue cheese, or even cubed mozzarella can work well.
- Craisins (Dried Cranberries): These add an unexpected sweet flavor to the salad. You can substitute with golden raisins, dried cherries, or chopped dried apricots for a slightly different flavor.
- Greek Yogurt & Mayonnaise: This duo creates a creamy, tangy dressing. I used plain Greek yogurt, but you could also use sour cream.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: This gives the salad dressing its tang. You can replace it with white wine vinegar, red wine vinegar, or even fresh lemon juice for a different flavor.
- Sugar: Just a bit of sugar helps to balance the flavors of the dressing. I used granulated white sugar, but you can also use cane sugar, raw sugar, or honey.
See the printable recipe card for quantities and a complete list of ingredients.
🥣 How To Make Easy Broccoli Crunch Salad
Step 1: Prep the veggies. Wash the broccoli thoroughly and chop it into bite-sized florets. You can even grab a bag of pre-washed and pre-cut broccoli florets from your local grocery store to save time. Then all you have to do is open the bag and dump the chopped broccoli in a large mixing bowl!
Step 2: Cook the bacon. I made Bacon in my Air Fryer, but you can also cook bacon in a skillet. Just make sure to cook it until it is crispy. Place the bacon on a paper towel to drain. Then crumble it into small pieces. (Make a couple extra so you can have a snack while you prepare the salad). 🙂
Step 3: Mix up the dressing. Whisk together plain Greek yogurt, mayo, apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl.


Step 4: Combine the ingredients: In a large bowl, toss together the broccoli, crumbled bacon, chopped red onion, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, cheddar cheese, and craisins.


Add in the dressing and toss together well.


Step 5: Chill it, if you can wait: This salad tastes even better after it is chilled in the fridge for at least an hour. But if you're like me and can't wait, dig in right away!
Step 6: Serve: Serve this salad and watch as the eyes around the table light up. Enjoy!

💭 Expert Tips
- Time-Saving Tip: If you're short on time or prefer convenience, use a bag of ready-made chopped and washed broccoli florets. They're an excellent time-saver and work perfectly well in this salad.
- Choose Quality Broccoli: The star of this salad should be fresh and vibrant. Look for broccoli with tight, green florets and firm stalks. Avoid any with yellowing heads.
- Chop Broccoli into Small Pieces: Aim for small, bite-sized pieces of broccoli to get the best texture and flavor distribution. This also makes it easier for the dressing to coat each floret evenly.
- Cook Bacon Until Crispy: You want your bacon to add a crunch, so cook it until it's nice and crispy.
- Chill Before Serving: Let your salad chill in the fridge for at least an hour before serving. This allows the flavors to meld beautifully. But if you can't wait (I often can't!), it will still be delicious immediately.
- Store Properly: This salad will keep in the fridge for 2-3 days. Just store it in an airtight container to maintain its freshness.
❓ Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can! Making this salad a few hours ahead allows the flavors to meld together beautifully. It can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days.
Absolutely! Grilled, roasted, smoked, or even shredded chicken would be a great addition to this salad, making it more satisfying.
If you can't find Craisins, feel free to substitute them with raisins, dried cherries, chopped dried apricots, or any fruit you choose. The idea is to add a bit of sweetness to balance the savory elements of the salad.
Sure! For a lighter version, use low-fat or non-fat Greek yogurt and mayo.
While the main ingredients (broccoli, bacon, cheese) fit into a keto diet, you must be cautious about the Craisins and sugar in the dressing. You can omit or replace the craisins with a lower-carb dried fruit and use a keto-friendly sweetener instead of sugar.
Absolutely! Broccoli stems are packed with flavor and can be quite crunchy. Just peel the tougher outer layer, then chop the stems into bite-sized pieces.

🍔 What To Serve With The Best Broccoli Salad
This salad can be enjoyed on its own for a light meal or served with a variety of main dishes.
I like to serve it alongside Smoked Beef Back Ribs or Smoked 3-2-1 Ribs with some Smoked Baked Beans and Traeger Smoked Corn.
This side dish also makes an appearance on my holiday table beside Oven-Baked Ham, Smoked Turkey, Smoked Beef Tenderloin, or Double Smoked Ham.
👩🏻🍳 More Fresh Salads You'll Love
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Recipe
Broccoli Crunch Salad Recipe With Chopped Bacon
Ingredients
For the salad
- 4-5 cups broccoli florets chopped
- 6 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
- ⅓ cup red onion finely chopped
- 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
- ½ cup sunflower seeds roasted and unsalted
- ½ cup Craisins (dried cranberries)
- ¼ cup pumpkin seeds roasted and unsalted
For the dressing
- ½ cup Greek yogurt, plain or sour cream
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1½ tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the Salad Base: In a large mixing bowl, combine the chopped broccoli, crumbled bacon, chopped red onion, cheddar cheese, sunflower seeds, Craisins, and pumpkin seeds. Toss them gently until well combined.4-5 cups broccoli florets, 6 slices bacon, ⅓ cup red onion, 1 cup cheddar cheese, ½ cup sunflower seeds, ½ cup Craisins (dried cranberries), ¼ cup pumpkin seeds
- Make the Dressing: In a separate medium-sized bowl, whisk together the Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, sugar, salt, and black pepper. Continue whisking until you have a smooth, well-mixed dressing.½ cup Greek yogurt, plain, ½ cup mayonnaise, 1½ tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon sugar, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Dress the Salad: Pour the dressing over the broccoli mixture. Use a spatula or large spoon to gently fold the dressing into the salad, ensuring everything is well coated.
- Chill & Serve: For the best flavor, let the salad chill in the refrigerator for about an hour before serving. However, if you are just too eager to dig in, you can serve it immediately.
- Enjoy!
Save This Recipe 💌
Notes
- Time-Saving Tip: If you're short on time or prefer convenience, you can use a bag of ready-made chopped and washed broccoli florets. They're an excellent time-saver and work perfectly well in this salad.
- Choose Quality Broccoli: The star of this salad should be fresh and vibrant. Look for broccoli with tight, green florets and firm stalks. Avoid any with yellowing heads.
- Chop Broccoli into Small Pieces: Aim for small, bite-sized pieces of broccoli to get the best texture and flavor distribution. This also makes it easier for the dressing to coat each floret evenly.
- Cook Bacon Until Crispy: You want your bacon to add a crunch, so make sure to cook it until it's nice and crispy.
- Chill Before Serving: Let your salad chill in the fridge for at least an hour before serving. This allows the flavors to meld beautifully. But if you can't wait (I often can't!), it will still be delicious immediately.
- Store Properly: This salad will keep in the fridge for 2-3 days. Just store it in an airtight container to maintain its freshness.
Nutrition
The provided nutrition information is automatically calculated. Accuracy is not guaranteed.
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