Grandma’s Broccoli Salad

By Emma Carter
Last updated on September 6, 2026

If you’ve never been excited about broccoli, this salad might just change your mind. It’s creamy, crunchy, sweet, and tangy, bringing together all the best flavors in one delicious bowl. My grandma has served this classic broccoli salad at holidays and family gatherings for as long as I can remember, and it has always been one of my favorites. Made with fresh broccoli, sharp cheese, crispy bacon, and a signature sweet and tangy dressing, this is the side dish that everyone reaches for first—and it usually disappears fast!

Why You’ll Love This Broccoli Salad

This has been a longtime family favorite, ever since my grandma first started making it for gatherings. Even people who normally aren’t big fans of broccoli tend to come back for another spoonful. With its mix of fresh, creamy, crunchy, sweet, and savory flavors, it’s incredibly difficult to resist!

A Delicious Mix of Textures

Crisp fresh broccoli, crunchy salty bacon, and creamy cheese come together to give every bite plenty of texture and flavor.

Easy to Prepare

Since the broccoli is served fresh, there’s no need to cook it. Aside from preparing the bacon, everything comes together quickly, making it an easy choice for holidays, potlucks, parties, and family gatherings.

Simple to Customize

You can easily adjust this salad based on what you enjoy. Try a different cheese, leave out an ingredient, or add sunflower seeds, chopped nuts, or dried fruit. You can also switch up the dressing to create your own favorite version.

Ingredients Overview

The ingredients for this Broccoli Salad are simple and straightforward, but when combined, they create an incredibly delicious mix of creamy, crunchy, sweet, tangy, and savory flavors in every bite!

Broccoli

Fresh broccoli florets are the star of this salad. For this recipe, you’ll need about 2 heads of broccoli, which makes roughly 7 cups of florets.

Bacon

Use your preferred type of bacon and cook it using your favorite method, then chop it into bite-sized pieces. Freshly cooked bacon gives the best flavor, but bacon bits can work when you need a quicker option.

Sharp Cheddar Cheese

Small cubes of sharp cheddar add a rich, savory flavor to the salad, although shredded cheese works as well. You can also experiment with cheeses such as mild cheddar, Colby Jack, Monterey Jack, Swiss, or feta.

Onion

Finely chopped onion adds extra crunch and flavor. White, yellow, or red onion can all be used depending on your preference.

Broccoli Salad Dressing

The creamy dressing is made with just a few simple ingredients:

Mayonnaise – Regular mayonnaise gives the dressing a rich, smooth, and creamy texture.

Sugar – Granulated white sugar adds a touch of sweetness that balances the tangy flavors.

White Vinegar – White vinegar adds a bright tang that complements the creamy dressing. Apple cider vinegar can also be used as a substitute if preferred.

More Add-In Ideas

One of the best things about this Broccoli Salad is how easy it is to customize! You can keep the classic version or add extra ingredients to create your own favorite combination. Some delicious mix-in ideas include:

Dried cranberries
Raisins
Chopped dates
Sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds
Seedless grapes
Diced apples
Chopped nuts, such as pecans, walnuts, or almonds
Cherry tomatoes
Diced bell peppers

Feel free to mix and match based on your family’s preferences. The possibilities are endless, and a few simple additions can give this classic broccoli salad a completely new flavor!

Dressing Substitutions

While my grandma’s classic dressing is always a favorite, you can easily change up the flavors if you’d like to try something a little different. Here are a few simple ideas:

Honey – Use honey instead of granulated sugar for a naturally sweet flavor.
Lemon Juice – Replace the white vinegar with fresh lemon juice for a brighter, citrusy taste.
Dijon Mustard – Add a small spoonful of Dijon mustard for extra tang and flavor.
Honey Mustard Dressing – A great alternative if you prefer a lighter dressing with a sweet and tangy flavor.
Sour Cream, Greek Yogurt, or Buttermilk – Use one of these options if you want to keep the dressing creamy while reducing or replacing the mayonnaise flavor.

Feel free to experiment and adjust the dressing based on your personal taste!

How to Make Broccoli Salad

This Broccoli Salad is incredibly easy to prepare and comes together in just a few simple steps!

Step 1 – Combine the Salad Ingredients: Add the fresh broccoli florets, cooked and crumbled bacon, chopped onion, and cubed cheese to a large mixing bowl. Toss everything together.
Step 2 – Prepare the Dressing: In a separate small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sugar, and vinegar until smooth and well combined.
Step 3 – Mix Everything Together: Pour the dressing over the broccoli mixture and gently toss until all of the ingredients are evenly coated.
Step 4 – Chill Before Serving: Cover and refrigerate the salad for at least 1 hour before serving. This gives the flavors time to blend together and makes the salad even more delicious!

What to Serve with Broccoli Salad

Broccoli salad is a versatile side dish that pairs well with many different meals. It’s perfect for holiday dinners served alongside ham, lamb, beef, or turkey. It also makes a great addition to summer picnics, potlucks, and cookouts with burgers, barbecue, grilled meats, or sandwiches.

You can also enjoy a bowl of broccoli salad on its own as a simple and satisfying lunch!

Make-Ahead Tips

Save time by preparing parts of this broccoli salad ahead of time:

Prep Ahead – Chop the broccoli, cook and crumble the bacon, and cut the cheese up to 2 days in advance. Store each ingredient separately in airtight containers until you are ready to assemble the salad.
Use Pre-Cooked Bacon – Pre-cooked or microwaveable bacon can help save preparation time. Simply heat it until crisp, then crumble and add it to the salad.
Use Pre-Cut Broccoli – Bagged broccoli florets are a convenient shortcut. Give them a quick chop if needed to create smaller, bite-sized pieces.
Make the Dressing Early – The dressing can be prepared up to 3 days in advance and stored in the refrigerator. Give it a good stir before mixing it with the salad.

Recipe Tips for Best Results

Here are a few simple tips to make your broccoli salad even better:

Let It Chill – The flavors develop even more after the salad has spent some time in the refrigerator. Chilling also allows the broccoli to soften slightly while still keeping a pleasant crunch.
Adjust the Sweetness – Feel free to adjust the amount of sugar in the dressing based on your preference. Add less for a tangier flavor or slightly more if you prefer a sweeter dressing.
Add Extra Crunch – Sunflower seeds, slivered almonds, or other crunchy toppings can be added just before serving for extra texture.

How to Store Broccoli Salad

Store leftover broccoli salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Broccoli salad is not recommended for freezing, as the texture of the vegetables and creamy dressing can change after thawing. For the best flavor and texture, enjoy it within a few days of making it.

Broccoli Salad Recipe

Fresh broccoli salad is creamy, salty, tangy, sweet, and oh, so delicious. My grandma has been making this for holidays and family get-togethers for as long as I can remember, and I’ve been addicted to it for just as long.

Ingredients

2 heads broccoli, florets trimmed off and cut into bite-size pieces (discard stems)
8 ounces bacon, cooked and coarsely chopped
8 ounces cheddar cheese, cubed into ¼-inch pieces
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 cup (227 g) mayonnaise
½ cup (99 g) granulated sugar
3 tablespoons white vinegar

Instructions

In a large bowl, combine the broccoli, bacon, cheese and onion.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sugar and vinegar. Pour the dressing over the broccoli mixture and stir together until everything is evenly coated.
The broccoli salad can be served immediately, but tastes even better if you cover and refrigerate it for 1 to 2 hours before serving. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Notes

You should get about 7 cups of broccoli florets from the heads of broccoli, roughly 28 ounces.
A great shortcut is using bagged, prepped florets. I still need to cut up some of the larger ones, but it’s a big time saver!
You can use a white, yellow or red onion, whatever your preference.
There are so many variations to broccoli salad, so feel free to add other ingredients based on your personal preferences: dried cranberries, raisins, sunflower seeds, chopped pecans, etc.
You can make the following modifications to the dressing: plain Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise and honey in place of sugar. You can also use a honey mustard vinaigrette if you don’t want a creamy dressing, or a sour cream or buttermilk-based dressing if you want it creamy but not mayo-y.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 529kcal, Carbohydrates: 24g, Protein: 15g, Fat: 42g, Saturated Fat: 13g, Cholesterol: 60mg, Sodium: 592mg, Potassium: 589mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 16g, Vitamin A: 1260IU, Vitamin C: 136.6mg, Calcium: 283mg, Iron: 1.5mg