Deli-Style Broccoli Saladmade with all your favorites like bacon, onion, cranberries, and more, plus a secret tip! This nutritious salad recipe is the best side dish for any gathering.

Deli-Style Broccoli Salad is one of my favorites to take to a picnic, party, or family dinner because everyone loves it and it always hits the spot.Don’t save the recipe for the warm months either; it’s great for family dinners during the holidays, too! I’m planning on this for ourThanksgivingmenu and I’m more than excited about it.

This broccoli salad recipe tastes just like the kind you get from the deli and is packed with sunflower seeds, onion, dried cranberries, and bacon. If you’d like, you can also add things like grated carrots or cubed cheddar cheese or you can leave it just how it is. It’s a great side dish for feeding a crowd and I have included make-ahead instructions in the tips and tricks section, too.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Quick and Easy: It only takes about 16 minutes to prepare.
Nutritious and Delicious: This salad offers a great balance of textures and flavors.
Make-Ahead Friendly: You can prep the ingredients ahead of time and mix the dressing right before serving.

Ingredients

Broccoli Pieces
Mayonnaise
Sour Cream
White Vinegar
Sugar
Salt and Pepper
Sunflower Seeds
Dried Sweetened Cranberries
Sweet or Red Onion
Crumbled Bacon

See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities

Deli-Style broccoli salad made with all your favorites like bacon, onion, cranberries, and more, plus a secret tip!

How to Make Deli-Style Broccoli Salad

Step #1.Blanch and ice bath the broccoli pieces and let drain while you prepare the rest.

Step #3.Once the broccoli has dried, place it in a large bowl. Stir in the dressing and remaining ingredients.

Step #2.Make the dressing by combining the mayonnaise, sour cream, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.

Step #4.Serve right away.

Recipe FAQs

Do you have to cook the broccoli for broccoli salad?

It’s an added step to the recipe but it’s one that I feel like makes a huge difference in the end product. The broccoli turns a gorgeous bright green, it’s still tender crisp but the stems aren’t nearly as hard as when the broccoli is left uncooked. Just be sure to let the broccoli drain well before using so you don’t have extra moisture in your finished salad.

Can I add other things to the broccoli salad?

You can add other things that you like to this salad such as crumbled feta cheese or cheddar cheese.

Expert Tips

If you are making this salad ahead of time, prepare all of the ingredients but keep the dressing separate from the rest of the salad; add the dressing right before serving.
I bought thisstrainer basketto go in my Instant Pot and it happens to fit right in my stove-top stock pot, too.I just added my broccoli to the strainer, dipped the whole strainer into the boiling water for one minute, and then pulled it out and stuck it right in my water bath. It made the blanching process really easy!
If you prefer a lighter option, you can use Greek yogurt in place of the mayonnaise.
Lightly toast the sunflower seeds in a skillet to make them extra nutty and crunchy.