Ingredients
Scale
For the Salad:
- 8 cups broccoli florets cut into bite-sized pieces
- ⅓ cup diced red onion
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ¼ cup sunflower seeds
- ½ cup bacon bits
For the Dressing:
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- First, I prepare the broccoli by cutting it into bite-sized florets. I like them small enough to easily eat but not so tiny that they get lost among the other ingredients.
- In a large bowl, I combine the broccoli florets, diced red onion, dried cranberries, sunflower seeds, and bacon bits. The colors alone at this stage make me happy!
- After mixing the salad ingredients, I set them aside while I prepare the dressing.
- Once the dressing is ready (see below), I pour it over the broccoli mixture and toss everything until all pieces are well coated.
- Then I cover the bowl and refrigerate the salad for at least one hour before serving. This waiting time is crucial—I’ve found it allows the flavors to meld together and the broccoli to slightly soften from the dressing.
Notes
- I always cut my broccoli into smaller florets than I initially think I should—it makes the salad easier to eat and helps the dressing coat every piece.
- For the best texture contrast, I make sure to use fresh, crisp broccoli. When I’m in a hurry, I sometimes buy pre-cut florets, but I still give them an extra chop.
- If you’re not a fan of raw red onion’s intensity (like some of my family members), I’ve found that soaking the diced onion in cold water for 10 minutes then draining well helps mellow the flavor.
- For an extra flavor boost, I sometimes toast the sunflower seeds in a dry pan for a couple of minutes until fragrant.
- While I often use pre-packaged bacon bits for convenience, the salad is even more amazing when I cook and crumble fresh bacon. The difference in taste is noticeable!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-cook
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (about 150–175g)
- Calories: 300 kcal
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg