Creamy Broccoli Salad

Seriously the BEST broccoli salad ever! With cheese, cashews, red onion, crispy bacon + the creamiest dressing ever!

Say goodbye to dry, boring broccoli salads! This easy, make-ahead classic broccoli salad dish will knock everyone’s socks off – made with crispy bacon, sharp cheddar cheese, cashews, red onion, dried cranberries and the creamiest (most perfectly tangy), velvety dressing of all time.

why i love this recipe

• Easy, convenient make-ahead side dish recipe (broccoli salad actually tastes better as it sits!)
• Maximum textures, flavors and crunch
• Perfect for picnics, potlucks, barbecues, cookouts and dinner parties
• Also equally amazing 365 days out of the year (not just for summer backyard gatherings)
• Guaranteed crowd-pleaser, even broccoli-haters will ask for second helpings
• Easily modifiable (and flexible) with ingredients you have on hand

how to make a crowd-pleasing easy broccoli salad

1. Make the dressing ahead of time (1-2 days in advance)
2. Cook the bacon until perfectly brown and crispy
3. Gently toss the ingredients, stir in the dressing, chill and serve

tips and tricks for success

• Make ahead of time. Save time by making the dressing 1-2 days in advance, and prepping and dicing the vegetables 1-2 days prior and storing them in airtight containers in the fridge. Alternatively, the broccoli salad can be made start to finish 1 day in advance, stored in an airtight container in the fridge.
• Cut in uniform size. Cut all of the salad ingredients in similar size pieces for a consistent bite.
• Lightly blanch if needed. Not a fan of the raw bite? Blanch the broccoli for 15-30 seconds, shocking in an ice bath and draining (drying) the broccoli as much as possible. No one wants a soggy, watery broccoli salad.
• Save the crunchy toppings for the very end. To prevent sogginess, stir in the bacon and cashews just before serving.
• Make it vegetarian. Skip the bacon altogether, or sub crispy chickpeas.
• Mix it up. Use lean bacon (or omit if desired), swap out the cashews for slivered almonds, pecans, walnuts or sunflower seeds, use cheese cubes instead of shredded cheese, or substitute the dried cranberries with dried cherries or dried medjool dates (pitted and finely chopped). The sky is the limit!

what to serve with broccoli salad

The beauty of broccoli salad is that it goes well with anything and everything. We’re talking sheet pan pizza to the most perfect cheeseburger or the juiciest ribeye steak. This also goes very well as a starter or appetizer.

Creamy Broccoli Salad

Yield: 8 servings

Prep: 10 minutes minutes

Total: 10 minutes minutes

Seriously the BEST broccoli salad ever! With cheese, cashews, red onion, crispy bacon + the creamiest dressing ever!

4.8 stars (11 ratings)

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Ingredients

• 4 slices bacon, diced
• 5 cups coarsely chopped broccoli florets
• ½ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• ⅓ cup cashews
• ¼ cup diced red onion
• ¼ cup dried cranberries

For the dressing

• ⅓ cup mayonnaise
• ¼ cup milk
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

Equipment

• Cast Iron Skillet

Instructions

• Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium high heat. Add bacon and cook until brown and crispy, about 6-8 minutes. Drain excess fat; transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate.
• In a large bowl, combine broccoli, cheese, cashews, onion and cranberries. Stir in dressing and gently toss to combine.
• Cover and chill at least 1 hour before serving.

For the dressing

• In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, milk, sugar and apple cider vinegar.

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