Nutty Broccoli Salad

This Nutty Broccoli Salad Recipe combines sweet and savory flavors to create a delicious side dish!

Last week I had to harvest 7 broccoli crowns that were getting burnt in the sun. I have been using it as a side dish, adding it to salads, and making stir-frys. I needed a new way to serve up broccoli before my family started complaining, so I decided to create a broccoli salad. I had a nutty broccoli salad at a local deli that I thought was good, but one child didn’t like one of the ingredients and my husband didn’t like the nut they had used in their recipe. I decided to come up with a broccoli salad recipe that the entire family would enjoy.

The good thing about making my own broccoli recipe is I was able to use items that I already had on hand. I added cranberries, sunflower seeds, and pecans to my salad. I also added bacon and red onions. If you decide to try this, please adapt it to what you already have available to you and the items that your family enjoys.

Dressings for Broccoli salad usually consist of mayonnaise and sugar. I added balsamic vinaigrette when creating the dressing for this salad. It adds a unique flavor that blends well with the other ingredients. If you are watching your calories, you can replace some or all of the mayonnaise with plain yogurt.

Nutty Broccoli Salad Recipe

This broccoli salad recipe can be doubled. It can also be made the day before a party.

Ingredients:

• 5 cups broccoli florets
• 1/2 cup cranberries
• 1/2 cup pecans
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 6 pieces of bacon, cooked and crumbled
• 1/4 cup unsalted sunflower seeds

Dressing Ingredients:

• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 2 Tablespoons balsamic vinaigrette (I used Annie’s Naturals because it is gluten-free)
• 1/4 cup + 1 Tablespoon sugar

Directions:

1. Cook bacon. (Here’s how to easily cook bacon in the oven.)
2. While the bacon is cooking, chop the vegetables.
3. Combine dressing ingredients in a small bowl, stir well.
4. Mix salad ingredients together in a large bowl.
5. Pour dressing over salad, mix until thoroughly coated.
6. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, until chilled.
7. Serve cold.

Printable Recipe for Nutty Broccoli Salad

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Nutty Broccoli Salad Recipe

An easy salad made with broccoli florets, pecans, bacon, cranberries, and onion

Course Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword broccoli salad recipe, nutty broccoli salad recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Chilling Time 2 hours

Total Time 2 hours 15 minutes

Author Alea Milham

Ingredients

Salad Ingredients:

• ▢ 5 cups broccoli florets
• ▢ 1/2 cup cranberries
• ▢ 1/2 cup pecans
• ▢ 1 cup diced red onion
• ▢ 6 pieces of bacon cooked and crumbled
• ▢ 1/4 cup unsalted sunflower seeds

Dressing Ingredients:

• ▢ 1 cup mayonnaise
• ▢ 2 tablespoons balsamic vinaigrette
• ▢ 2 tablespoons sugar

Instructions

• Cook bacon.
• While the bacon is cooking, chop the vegetables.
• Combine the mayonnaise, balsamic vinaigrette, and sugar in a small bowl, stir well.
• Add the broccoli florets, pecans, sunflower seeds, onion, cranberries, and crumbled bacon to a large bowl.
• Pour the dressing over salad, mix until thoroughly coated.
• Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, until chilled.
• Serve cold.

More Salad Recipes:

• Taco Salad
• Apple Walnut Salad
• Loaded Baked Potato Salad
• Cajun Ranch Potato Salad
• Jalapeno Popper Potato Salad
• Italian Pasta Salad with Grilled Pork
• Southwest Steak Salad with Honey Lime Dressing
• Strawberry Spinach Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette
• Chicken and Mango Salad with Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing

I originally created this recipe on July 29, 2009. It was updated on March 25, 2022.