Broccoli Cauliflower Salad Recipe

Broccoli cauliflower salad in a wooden bowl.

5 from 6 votes

Broccoli Cauliflower Salad Recipe

Deliciously crunchy and can be made in minutes. Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad is a picnic and potluck staple that’s filled with a variety of flavors from crumbled bacon, to cheddar cheese, to a mayonnaise-based dressing.

Prep Time25

Total Time25

Course: Salad, Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Servings: Servings

Calories: 390kcal

Author: Aimee Mars

Ingredients

Dressing

1 cup Mayonnaise
3 tablespoons Red Wine Vinegar
2 tablespoons Honey or sugar or maple syrup
1 tablespoon Dijon Mustard
1 tablespoon Bacon Grease optional

Salad

3 cups Broccoli Florets
3 cups Cauliflower Florets
10 slices Bacon cooked and crumbled
2/3 cup Sliced Almonds
1/3 cup Red Onion chopped
1 cup Cheddar Cheese cubed
2 tablespoons Sunflower Seeds

Instructions

Cook the bacon in a large skillet until crispy and place on a paper-towel-lined plate to let it cool. Reserve about 2 tablespoons of grease to mix into the salad dressing (optional).
In a small bowl whisk the mayonnaise, honey, dijon mustard, red wine vinegar, and bacon grease (if using).
Place the broccoli, cauliflower, sliced almonds, red onion, cubed cheese, crumbled bacon, and sunflower seeds into a large bowl and toss them together.
Pour the dressing over the salad and toss the salad again to evenly coat it in the dressing. Season with salt and pepper if desired.

Notes

Save the bacon grease. Adding some of the bacon grease into the salad dressing brings a delicious flavor, but it's also great used in many other recipes such as Southern Green Beans. Pour it into a container with a lid and store it in the fridge for later.
Chill the salad. If you have the time I recommend chilling the salad. It brings all the flavors together as the ingredients marinate in the dressing. Doing so will also allow the vinegar to soften the broccoli and cauliflower.
Make it ahead. I personally think this salad tastes better the next day, which is why I prefer to make it ahead. This also saves time if you're hosting a party and need some recipes prepped and ready before you plan on serving them.
Mix in some dried fruit. I love to toss in some dried cranberries or dried cherries to add a little sweetness to the salad.

Nutrition