Cranberry Broccoli Salad
This broccoli salad brings together crunchy textures and savory flavors, all coated in a creamy, herb-packed dressing. It’s perfect for potlucks, BBQs, or as a hearty side dish. Add rotisserie chicken for a complete meal, and make it ahead to let the flavors blend.
Servings: 6 to 8 servings
Ingredients
- 6 cups broccoli florets cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 small red onion chopped
- 1 cup shredded Smoked Gouda cheese
- 1 cup roasted sunflower seeds
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 8 slices cooked bacon crumbled
For the Dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ¼ cup sour cream
- ¼ cup buttermilk or milk
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon dried dill (or fresh)
- 1 tablespoon dried chives (or fresh)
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley (or fresh)
Instructions
- To a large salad bowl, add the broccoli, onion, cheese, sunflower seeds, dried cranberries and bacon. Toss to combine and set aside while making the dressing.
For the Salad Dressing:
- Place the mayonnaise, sour cream, buttermilk, sugar lemon juice, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper in a bowl and whisk until smooth. Stir in the dill, chives, and parsley.
- Pour ½ of the dressing over the salad and toss to combine. Refrigerate the salad for at least 1 hour before serving for flavors to mellow. Just before serving, toss with additional dressing if needed.
Notes
- If you don’t have Smoky Gouda, try sharp cheddar, Gruyere, Munster, or even Pepper Jack. Any semi-hard cheese will work well.
- For a great meal salad, add 2 cups of chopped rotisserie chicken to the salad.
- This salad gets even better after it’s had time to sit, so making it a few hours ahead or even the night before will allow the flavors to meld nicely.
- For extra crispy bacon, cook it in the oven on a wire rack set over a baking sheet at 400°F for about 15 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- If you prefer a thinner dressing, add a little more buttermilk or milk until you reach your desired consistency.
Nutrition
Serving: 1 serving | Calories: 537kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 43g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 19g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 58mg | Sodium: 860mg | Potassium: 455mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 716IU | Vitamin C: 64mg | Calcium: 289mg | Iron: 2mg
