Classic Broccoli Salad Recipe with Cranberries

This easy broccoli salad recipe is an old fashioned classic crowd pleaser recipe! Loaded with salty bacon bits, sweet dried cranberries, and crunchy sunflower seeds, it can be prepared a day ahead to be ready for an upcoming party or potluck.

We’re headed to a potluck party with friends tonight, and my contribution to the meal is a salad. I was wracking my brain trying to figure out what to take when I landed on the idea of broccoli cranberry salad.

I pulled out my trusty recipe box and dug out my mom’s recipe for it. I laughed as I read it. It’s one of the few recipes of hers that has absolutely no measurements on it! Next to the ingredients for the dressing it just notes to “mix this dressing in proportion like for cabbage”. Hmm…not overly helpful since I’ve never made a cabbage salad in my life!;)

Thankfully, I dug out an old church ladies cookbook and found a recipe with measurements included. I modified it slightly as it had an alarming amount of sugar in it. I taste tested it just now and it is very, very yummy – like the broccoli salad I remember my mom making.

I’m excited to take it to the party tonight!

Why you’ll like this broccoli salad recipe with cranberries

• This broccoli salad with bacon can be made and assembled the day before a party or event, so you can work ahead and save last minute stress.
• The dressing is made with only 3 simple ingredients.
• Amounts of ingredients for this salad can easily be adjusted if you need to take a larger salad. However, the measurements given for this particular broccoli salad recipe should be plenty for 6-8 people.
• Pre-cooked bacon bits will save you time and effort, but if you want to use your own fresh bacon bits, feel free!
• Broccoli salad tastes even better after it has sat in the fridge overnight. The broccoli soaks up the dressing and all the flavors meld together to make it one of the most popular tasty salads ever!

Ingredients you’ll need for classic broccoli salad

Here is what you’ll need for the salad:

• 8 cups broccoli crowns, rinsed and cut into bite sized pieces and dried on a paper towel
• 1/2 cup pre-cooked bacon bits – (I bought mine, but you can make them fresh if you’d like.)
• 1/3 cup red onion, diced
• 1/2 cup dried cranberries
• 1/3 cup sunflower seeds

For the broccoli salad dressing:

• 1 cup miracle whip (or mayonnaise if you prefer)
• 2 tablespoons white granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons white vinegar
• salt and pepper to taste

Step by Step Instructions

Step 1: Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and stir them together. (I found it easiest to use the largest bowl I had when stirring this salad together.)

Step 2: Whisk together the salad dressing ingredients until combined fully and pour over the salad.

Step 3: Mix the dressing into the salad ingredients, making sure the dressing coats all the ingredients and everything is mixed together well. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours (or even overnight) before serving.

Variations & substitutions for this broccoli salad recipe

• Raisens can be substituted for the dried cranberries if you prefer.
• Not all broccoli salad recipes have sunflower seeds, so feel free to leave them out if you prefer.
• Mayonnaise can be substituted for Miracle Whip if you prefer.
• Some people like to put 1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese into this salad for extra flavor and color.
• Cauliflower can be added to make a lovely broccoli cauliflower salad variation.

Other Popular Salad Recipes

• This egg & potato salad recipe is a favorite of ours – just like my Grandma made!
• The pasta salad dressing on this pasta salad has an unexpected ingredient – ketchup!- and it’s so yummy!
• A Big Mac bowl recipe is a whole dinner in one salad.
• If you like sweet & spicy salad, you’ll go wild over this mango salad.

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