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A spoonful of broccoli salad with craisins over a serving bowl of salad.

Broccoli Salad with Craisins

This crowd pleaser is a version of the classic broccoli salad featuring tart cranberries, crispy bacon, sunflower kernels, cheddar cheese, and a creamy homemade dressing.
5 from 1 vote
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Course Salad
Servings 16
Calories 209 kcal

Equipment

  • jar with a tight-fitting lid
  • large serving bowl

Ingredients
  

INGREDIENTS:

    For the broccoli salad dressing:

    • 1 cup mayonnaise
    • ⅓ cup granulated sugar
    • 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar

    For the broccoli mixture:

    • 5 cups broccoli florets about 2 large heads
    • ¼ cup red onion sliced thinly
    • ½ salted and roasted sunflower kernels
    • 8 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
    • ½ cup craisins
    • 1 cup finely shredded cheddar cheese

    Instructions
     

    • To make the dressing, add the mayonnaise, sugar, and apple cider vinegar to a jar with a lid.
    • Shake to combine. Set aside.
    • In a large mixing bowl, combine broccoli, red onion, sunflower kernels, bacon, and Craisins.
    • Pour the dressing over all the ingredients. Toss with dressing to coat. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

    Notes

    Notes/FAQs
    • The dressing can also be whisked together in a small bowl and covered until ready to pour over the salad.
    • For convenience, I like to use bagged broccoli florets from the grocery store. A 12-ounce bag is about 4 cups. I trim the stalks to remove any yucky-looking pieces and cut larger pieces to bite-sized.
    • What are sunflower kernels? They are sunflower seeds with the outside shell removed.
    • Can I use bacon bits instead of cooked bacon? We prefer the old-fashioned cooked bacon crumbled into small pieces for this recipe. It adds a little crunch that compliments the other salad ingredients. If you're looking for convenience, you can use the "pre-cooked" bacon as a shortcut.
    • How long can broccoli salad sit out at room temperature? Broccoli salad should not be left out of the refrigerator for longer than 2 hours.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 0.5cupCalories: 209kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 4gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 7gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.04gCholesterol: 20mgSodium: 218mgPotassium: 129mgFiber: 1gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 261IUVitamin C: 26mgCalcium: 66mgIron: 0.3mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!