The Best Step By Step Broccoli Salad Recipe

Broccoli Salad is a classic, old-fashioned Southern side dish that many people make. Learn how to make broccoli salad better with the best broccoli salad recipe right.

Old Fashioned Broccoli Salad has a perfectly sweet dressing. I promise you will love this broccoli salad with bacon, raisins, sunflower seeds and cheese. Sign up to bring it to your next family pitch-in and everyone will thank you later.

Classic Broccoli Salad

I’m here with another blast from the past with this amazing old fashioned broccoli salad. You know which one I’m talking about right.

It’s a broccoli salad recipe loaded with bacon, red onion, raisins, sunflower seeds with a sweet dressing.

I say the sunflower seeds are optional, because they are kind of hard to find at the grocery store. I typically shop at Aldi, and in all honesty, if I can’t find an ingredient there, then I tend to leave it out of a recipe.

That’s the case for this recipe and sunflower seeds, and it is still delicious.

Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Raisins

I could eat sweet broccoli salad with raisins on any regular day of the week. In fact, we just ate it along side summer BLTs this week. However, it is also the perfect dish for every single holiday or family potluck.

In the summer, it’s the perfect cold salad to bring to a hot summer cookout along side hot dogs and hamburgers.

For Mother’s Day or Father’s Day, serve it with steaks or pulled pork.

At Easter, broccoli salad tastes great as a side with your Easter ham.

Everyone wants a light salad to serve with turkey and all those heavy carbs for Thanksgiving.

Have I made my point yet?

Sweet Dressing for Broccoli Salad

The real winner of this recipe is the sweet dressing that goes on the broccoli salad.

It’s easy. There are only three ingredients, and honestly, you could use this same sweet dressing on other salads. I think I like it so much because it’s reminiscent of my Grandma’s Deviled Eggs.

Are you ready for the secret ingredient? Sugar.

White sugar to be precise.

Don’t be scared of sugar. It’s why this sweet broccoli salad is so amazing.

Ingredient List for Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Raisins

• Fresh Broccoli, cut into bite-sized florets
• Red Onion, finely diced
• Real Bacon, fried crispy and crumbled
• Sunflower Seeds (optional)
• Mayonnaise
• White Vinegar
• White Sugar
• Shredded Cheddar Cheese

How to Make Broccoli Salad with Raisins and Sunflower Seeds

Step By Step Instructions

1. Cut the broccoli into bite-sized florets, finely dice the red onion, and fry and crumble bacon.
2. Combine broccoli salad ingredients: broccoli, onion, bacon, raisins, and sunflower seeds in a large bowl.
3. To make broccoli salad dressing, mix mayonnaise, white vinegar and sugar in a small bowl.
4. Pour over the broccoli mixture and stir.
5. Refrigerate until chilled so the flavors marinate.
6. Right before serving, mix in shredded cheese.
7. Taste, and season with salt and black pepper, if desired.

Storage Instructions

Store leftovers in a large bowl covered with plastic wrap or in an airtight container. Keep in the fridge for 3 to 5 days. Longer than that, the texture starts to change.

For the full ingredient amounts and recipe steps for broccoli salad with raisins and sunflower seeds, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post. 

Recipe FAQs

• For the best flavor, make this classic broccoli salad ahead of time so that the flavors all meld together in the refrigerator.
• Dark or golden raisins or dried cranberries can be used.
• Red onion is preferable but white or yellow would work in a pinch.
• Miracle Whip could be used in as a substitute for regular mayonnaise. In this case, cut down on the sugar in the sweet dressing.
• Swap the vegetables for a whole new salad. Cauliflower works great instead of broccoli.
• Use whatever your favorite type of cheese in this recipe. Cheddar or Colby is my favorite. You can add as little or as much as your heart desires.
• Do not stir in the cheese until right before serving. That way if the bacon is still warm, you won’t melt the cheese.
• Swap apple cider vinegar for white vinegar, if desired.
• This is a famous West Virginian Side Dish!
• Check out our Amazon Store for our favorite kitchen and pantry items.

Old Fashioned Vegetable Salad Recipes

Creamy Cucumbers with Mayo Recipe

Carrot Raisin Salad

Summer Asparagus Salad

Southern Vegetable Salad

Favorite Easy Main Dish Recipes

Serve this easy fresh salad with an easy main dish like ham, steak or turkey. Here are some of our favorite main dish recipes:

• 3-Ingredient Crock Pot Spiral Ham
• Slow Cooker Turkey Breast
• Grilled Pork Steak
• Brown Sugar Glazed Ham Steak
• Easy Grilled Chicken Breasts
• 4-Ingredient Baked Chicken Legs
• Easy Steak Marinade