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The Best Broccoli Salad You Will Ever Make

June 5 // Leave a Comment // 3 Minute Read

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Hate broccoli? Me, too! Yet I'm pleasantly surprised at the mix of flavors in this epic broccoli salad with cheese. Maybe it's the craisins, maybe it's the bacon, but I know I'm bringing to the next family picnic!
This is the only recipe for broccoli salad with cheese I’ve ever asked for and it will also be the last—there’s no need for any other variation when you can serve this winning side dish at your next get-together!

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my full disclosure policy here.

Hate broccoli? Me, too! Yet I'm pleasantly surprised at the mix of flavors in this epic broccoli salad with cheese. Maybe it's the craisins, maybe it's the bacon, but I know I'm bringing to the next family picnic! #broccolisalad #amazingrecipes

Thank goodness taste buds mature when you get older.

Otherwise, this irresistible broccoli cheddar salad recipe wouldn’t have ever landed on my radar–I hated broccoli growing up!

In fast, I used to snub all cold veggie salad dishes (except for fruity ones like this glazed fruit salad!)—potato, macaroni, green, etc—and then pinch my nose when my mother forced me to try one bite…which happened at every Memorial Day and Labor Day picnic, family reunion, summer barbecue, graduation, and birthday party packed into our Upstate NY summers.

So you can understand my hesitancy when recently my good friend served her broccoli salad with cheese recipe alongside the main meal at her house. But I’m trying to eat more veggies lately (I just usually roast my veggies!)…

I took a small portion just to be polite…and immediately went for a second.

It was SO GOOD!

The crunch, the burst of craisin sweetness mixed with the sharpness of the cheese, and the wide range of fresh flavors in this one dish…I couldn’t get enough!

This is the only broccoli cheddar salad recipe I’ve ever asked for and it will also be the last—there’s no need for any other variation when you can serve this winning side dish at your next get-together!

How to Make Broccoli Salad With Cheese

Step 1: In a large bowl, combine the broccoli, cheese, and onion (optional: if you don’t like onion flavor, just leave it out!).

bowl of onion, cheese, and broccoli

Step 2: In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, sugar, and apple cider vinegar. Pour over broccoli mixture; toss to coat.

pouring dressing onto broccoli salad

Step 3: Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. Meanwhile, cook up some bacon so you can turn them into homemade bacon bits. It’s super easy!

cooked bacon on baking sheet

Step 4: Just before serving, stir in the bacon bits and craisins.

craisens and bacon for broccoli salad
broccoli salad with cheese
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Broccoli Cheddar Salad


  • Prep Time: 10 min + 4 hrs
  • Cook Time: n/a
  • Total Time: 56 minute
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x
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Description

This is the only recipe for broccoli salad you will ever ask for—there’s no need for any other variation when you can serve this winning side dish at your next get-together!


Scale

Ingredients

  • 6 cups fresh broccoli florets
  • 1–1/2 cups (6 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1/3 cup chopped onion (optional)
  • 1–1/2 cups mayonnaise
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar
  • 12 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
  • optional: 1/3-1/2 cup craisins

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, combine the broccoli, cheese, and onion.
  2. In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise, sugar, and vinegar (or apple cider vinegar). Pour over broccoli mixture; toss to coat.
  3. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours.
  4. Just before serving, stir in the bacon and craisins.
  • Category: Side Dish
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: broccoli salad, broccoli cheddar salad

Did you make this recipe?

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Disclosure: Some of the links in the post above are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. Read my full disclosure policy here.

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Hi, I’m Kalyn—a recovering perfectionist who nerds out about organizing systems, personal productivity, and helping you prioritize what matters over the pressure to do it all. I have a feeling we’re about to become the best of friends! Learn more >>

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Minimalism ≠ Deprivation.⁣
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Sadly, I find m

Minimalism ≠ Deprivation.⁣
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Sadly, I find most people resist minimalism because they can't wrap their head around "having less." People tend to equate this movement with blank walls, white IKEA furniture, and decluttering everything in your home down to practically nothing so you can live full-time in an RV. Like me. 😉⁣
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But, while minimalism could be all that, this mindset misses the point. Minimalism is not only about “having less.” 🚫⁣
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It’s so much more than that.⁣
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This week on the blog, I'm sharing the REAL definition of minimalism (that people who love their stuff can totally get behind!) as well as practical ways to incorporate minimalism into your life. 🎉⁣
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Drop a heart emoji in the comments below and I'll send the link to your DM's! 💖

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I love lazy Saturday mornings...as long as I have a book and a cozy blanket! 😍

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I wrote this in my journal the other day: 📓⁣
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Have you ever felt a similar tug? ⁣
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I can’t begin to tell you how many times I pick up my phone because I’m bored or lonely or jealous or unhappy. It almost always makes me feel worse. And yet...I struggle to stop. 😝⁣
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➕ No logging into social media after 8pm. I need to wind down for the night, not get lost in my phone! 📲⁣
➕ Open Instagram with a purpose—either to post or to interact. Stop endlessly scrolling.⁣
➕ My only screen time before 9am should be for Bible Study apps or News. 🗞⁣
➕ Turn my phone on Do Not Disturb during Tiger Time (when I need the most focus for work) 💪⁣
➕ Work no more than 4 hours on my business per day. If a task isn’t complete, push it to the next day. This time frame has really helped me prioritize! 💻⁣
➕ Watch one show per day (or two if they are short!) and leave movies for the weekend. 📺⁣
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What tech boundaries have you set up? Are any new as of this year? I’d love to hear your ideas! 😃

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See, we’re all different! ⁣
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What budgeting categories do you use? Share one of your random budget line items with me in the comments below! 😃

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I’m never afraid to stop reading a book if it doesn’t live up to the hype. Why invest more time in a book I’m not all that excited about when I could be exploring new authors and storylines where I can’t wait to turn the page? 🤷⁣
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Why? ⁣
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No one is adding a plastic star to your Book-It pin, (Remember those?) This isn’t assigned reading from your high school English class. This is YOUR reading life. ⁣
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This week’s newest blog post rounds up everything I read last year (43 books total!) including 5-star psychological thrillers, a delightful royal series, a couple self-help books, and of course, historical fiction.⁣
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Click the link in my bio to read it! ☝⁣
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What were your favorite books in 2020? Our literary styles might be a match made in heaven! ✨

My planner/journal lineup for 2021. 👆 ⁣
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My planner/journal lineup for 2021. 👆 ⁣
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These small but mighty sidekicks will be my saving grace this year. 📚⁣
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1️⃣ Bullet Journal (Blue) - for everyday planning and goal setting⁣
2️⃣ Regular Journal (Yellow) - to track gratitude (5 things a day!) and to process ALL the feelings⁣
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That last one is new to me as of this year and I can't wait to flip back through all my notes come December! 📆⁣
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What planners/journals are you using for 2021?


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