• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Bless this Mess
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
  • Sides
  • Desserts
  • Snacks
  • Holidays
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Start Here
  • All Recipes
  • Recipe Filter
  • Cookbooks!
  • Our Story
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Start Here
    • All Recipes
    • Recipe Filter
    • Cookbooks!
    • Our Story
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Bless This Mess > Recipes > Sides Dishes and Salads > Salads

    Deli-Style Broccoli Salad

    Published: Nov 5, 2018 · Modified: Oct 27, 2022 by Melissa · 4 Comments

    • Share
    • Tweet
    • Mail
    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe
    Title Image for Deli Style Broccoli Salad and a serving bowl with separate broccoli salad ingredients, including broccoli, bacon, diced red onion, dried cranberries, sunflower seeds and a creamy dressing

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

    Healthy Homemade Broccoli Salad Recipe

    This recipe 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 our Thanksgiving menu 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.

    Do you have to cook the broccoli for broccoli salad?

    My secret to making perfect broccoli salad is to blanch (or cook) the broccoli for just one minute before making the salad. 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. It's an added step to the recipe but it's one that I feel like makes a huge difference in the end product. Just be sure to let the broccoli drain well before using so you don't have extra moisture in your finished salad.

    Tips and Tricks for Making Broccoli Salad:

    • You can add other things that you like to this salad such as crumbled feta cheese or cheddar cheese.
    • 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.
    • Blanching the broccoli makes the broccoli tender crisp and perfect for eating in a salad. I think it's much better this way than just using raw broccoli. Be sure the cooked broccoli is not wet before using (you can do this step well in advance so that it has time to dry).
    • I bought this strainer basket to 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!
    Deli-Style broccoli salad made with all your favorites like bacon, onion, cranberries, and more, plus a secret tip!

    Craving more? Subscribe to Bless this Mess to get new recipes, meal plans, and a newsletter delivered straight to your inbox! If you try this recipe, let me know what you think! Leave a comment, pin it, and don’t forget to tag a picture #blessthismesseats on Instagram. I love to see your kitchen skills in action!

    Print
    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
    Image of broccoli salad

    Deli-Style Broccoli Salad


    ★★★★★

    5 from 1 reviews

    • Author: Melissa Griffiths - Bless this Mess
    • Total Time: 16 min
    • Yield: 8-10 servings 1x
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Description

    Deli-Style Broccoli Salad made 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.


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 8 cups small broccoli pieces
    • ½ cup mayonnaise
    • ½ cup sour cream
    • 3 tablespoons white vinegar
    • 3 tablespoons sugar
    • salt and pepper to taste (I used ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper)
    • ½ cup salted sunflower seeds
    • ¾ cup dried sweetened cranberries
    • ⅓ cup finely chopped sweet or red onion
    • ½ cup crumbled bacon (about 6 pieces cooked)

    Instructions

    1. In a pot of boiling water, blanch the broccoli for one minute. Remove the broccoli from the hot water and put it straight into an ice bath to stop the cooking. When the broccoli has cooled down, remove it from the ice water bath and place it in a colander. Let the broccoli drain while you prepare the rest of the salad.
    2. To make the dressing, add the mayo, sour cream, vinegar, sugar, and salt and pepper to a small bowl. Stir well to combine.
    3. When the broccoli is well drained and no longer wet, add the broccoli to a large bowl. Add the dressing, sunflower seeds, dried cranberries, onion, and bacon. Stir to combine and adjust the salt and pepper to taste.
    4. Serve right away.

    Notes

    • You can add other things that you like to this salad such as crumbled feta or cheddar cheese.
    • 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.
    • Blanching the broccoli makes the broccoli tender crisp and perfect for eating in a salad. I think it's much better this way than just using raw broccoli. Be sure the cooked broccoli is not wet before using (you can do this step well in advance so that it has time to dry).
    • I bought this strainer basket to 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!
    • Prep Time: 15 min
    • Cook Time: 1 min
    • Category: Side
    • Cuisine: American

    Keywords: how to make broccoli salad, easy salad recipe, homemade salad recipe, broccoli salad, salad with bacon bits, salad with bacon, summer salad recipes, salad with broccoli, healthy salad recipe, healthy salad

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @blessthismessblog on Instagram and hashtag it #blessthismess

    Broccoli salad is a great recipe to take to a party, and here are a few other great party-ready recipes:

    • Instant Pot Potato Salad
    • Five Ingredient Sides for Thanksgiving
    • Buttery Garlic Knots + 11 other Thanksgiving Sides
    • 8 of the Best Pasta Salad Recipes
    • Kale and Brussels Sprouts Salad with Cranberries and Almonds from Ambitious Kitchen

    There you have it, one very simple but delicious side that you can make all year long, take to a party, or even show up to a nice holiday dinner with. I can't wait for you to make it and see just how easy it is to make and enjoy.

    Deli-Style broccoli salad made with all your favorites like bacon, onion, cranberries, and more, plus a secret tip!
    Deli-Style broccoli salad made with all your favorites like bacon, onion, cranberries, and more, plus a secret tip!
    « Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
    The Best Pecan Pie Recipe »
    • Share
    • Tweet
    • Mail
    Craving More

    Take the hassle out of meal planning with: Dinner Made Easy, a FREE 1 week meal plan with full shopping list, easy dinners, nutrition information, serving suggestions for each meal, and more!

    Subscribe Now
    about me

    About Melissa

    Melissa is dedicated to helping parents figure out the nightly questions, "What's for Dinner?!" with her no-fuss approach to cooking. Read more...

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆
      Recipe Rating




    1. Heather McKay

      September 15, 2022 at 10:23 am

      Delicious! Your broccoli salad is the first one I've made that calls for blanching the broccoli and I think that's the secret. Thank you for another fantastic recipe 🙂

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Melissa

        September 16, 2022 at 7:56 pm

        I completely agree, it's an extra step but I think it's so much better.

    2. deb c

      November 06, 2018 at 1:41 am

      I really like that strainer basket! I see one living here in the near future!!!!!

      Reply
      • Melissa

        November 06, 2018 at 9:18 am

        I use it ALLL the time because it fits in my Instant Pot too. It works better than the trivet things too for lots of things like boiled eggs, you just pull the whole thing out!

    Primary Sidebar

    I’M MELISSA, AND I WANT TO HELP YOU FEED YOUR FAMILY WHOLESOME FOOD.

    As a hobby farmer and mom of five, I’m all about keeping it simple in the kitchen. I want healthy meals that feed my family well, and then I want to get back to my (messy) life. Let’s work together to find something yummy for your dinner table.

    More about me →

    Popular

    • bowl of hummus with red spice on top
      How to Make Hummus
    • close up of a slice of french silk pie
      French Silk Pie
    • top view of a sliced loaf of cinnamon bread sliced half way
      Cinnamon Babka
    • slow cooker and a ladle with taco soup
      Slow Cooker Taco Soup
    Dinner Made Easy

    Get Recipes & More for Free!

    Get my FREE Dinner Made Easy meal plan, exclusive recipes, giveaways, and behind-the-scenes updates! Get my newsletter or a new recipe every day! Unsubscribe if you aren’t into it.

    Subscribe Now

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    SEEN ON

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Tools.
    • Terms Of Service.
    • Accessibility.
    • Bylaws.

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • About Us
    • Cookbook FAQ
    • Find A Recipe!

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 blessthismessplease.com. All rights reserved.

    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter