Description
A refreshing and crunchy broccoli salad featuring sharp cheddar cheese, craisins, bacon, and sunflower kernels, all tossed in a creamy apple cider vinegar dressing. Perfect for potlucks, picnics, or as a side dish to any meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad
- 6 cups broccoli florets broken into bite size pieces
- 1½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- ⅔ cup chopped craisins (dried cranberries)
- ⅔ cup diced red onion
- ⅔ cup cooked and crumbled bacon
- ½ cup sunflower kernels
Dressing
- 1¼ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup sour cream
- 4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Combine salad ingredients: Using an extra large mixing bowl, combine the broccoli, shredded sharp cheddar cheese, chopped craisins, diced red onion, cooked and crumbled bacon, and sunflower kernels. Stir gently to mix all ingredients evenly.
- Prepare dressing: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, apple cider vinegar, granulated sugar, kosher salt, and freshly cracked black pepper until the dressing is smooth and well combined.
- Toss salad with dressing: Pour the prepared dressing over the broccoli mixture. Stir thoroughly to ensure every ingredient is evenly coated with the creamy dressing.
- Chill salad: Cover the salad tightly with a lid or plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour to allow flavors to meld and the salad to chill properly before serving.
Notes
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days to maintain freshness.
- Use a bowl with a fitted lid instead of plastic wrap to keep the broccoli crisp and reduce refrigerator odors.
- For a vegetarian version, omit bacon or substitute with plant-based bacon alternatives.
- To reduce sugar, consider decreasing the granulated sugar slightly or using a sugar substitute.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 210 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 320 mg
- Fat: 17 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 9 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
