Loaded Broccoli Salad Recipe

It’s loaded with crumbled bacon, sharp cheddar cheese, crunchy walnuts, chewy craisins, crisp apples, and shredded carrots. Tossed in a light, cream, homemade dressing made from mayo and greek yogurt, there won’t be any leftovers!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe:

Made in just 15 minutes. No cooking required (except the bacon).

Make ahead friendly. It actually gets better if you let it sit in the fridge for a few hours!

Lightened up. The greek yogurt cuts down the mayo without sacrificing any creaminess.

Crowd-pleaser. You’ll never bring home any leftovers from the potluck or BBQ.

Customizable. Easily swap out or omit any ingredients you don’t like or want.

What is Loaded Broccoli Salad?

Loaded Broccoli Salad is a cold, creamy side dish. It’s generally made with raw, fresh broccoli florets and a variety of mix-ins like bacon, cheese, nuts, and onion tossed in a mayo-based dressing. It’s a step up from classic broccoli salad because it packs in even more textures and flavors, all in one bite.

Broccoli: Fresh, not frozen, chopped into small bite-size pieces. You’ll need about 4 cups.

Shredded carrots: You can shred these yourself, but we like to buy matchstick carrots if we’re in a pinch. We add ⅔ cups, but you can add more or less depending on what you like.

Red onion: we like to dice this really small (and sometimes leave it out depending on our kids). It adds a nice crunch and flavor, and we use about ⅓ cup.

Gala apple: we dice this up a little smaller than the broccoli. We like gala, but you can use honeycrisp or fuji, too. Add 1 medium apple.

Craisins: For a little tart and sweet addition.

Chopped walnuts: we add these for an extra crunch. You can omit these if you need a nut-free version.

Cheddar cheese: generally, we’ll add about 4 ounces, cubed.

Bacon: about 8 strips, cooked and crumbled.

Dressing: this is made using mayonnaise, greek yogurt, red wine vinegar, lemon juice and little sugar (specific measurements included in the recipe card below).

How to Make Loaded Broccoli Salad (Step-by-Step)

Prep your ingredients. Chop the broccoli. Keep the pieces small to get more dressing-to-broccoli ratio and easier bite-size pieces. Dice the apple and onion, cube the cheese, and crumble the cooked bacon.

Put the salad ingredients together. Add broccoli, carrots, onion, apple, craisins, walnuts, cheddar, and bacon to a large bowl.

Make the dressing. In a separate small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, greek yogurt, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, and sugar until smooth.

Toss together. Pour the dressing over the salad and gently fold everything together until fully coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1-2 hours before serving. Letting it chill helps bring all the flavors together.

Serve and enjoy. Give it a quick toss before serving.

Tips for the Best Loaded Broccoli Salad

Cut the broccoli small enough. If the pieces are too big, it makes it hard to get all of the great flavors in one bite. Smaller pieces (between the sizes of a quarter and a nickel) soak up more dressing and give you a little more in each forkful.

Use block cheese. Skip the shredded cheese and go for a block that’s been cubed instead. It will hold its shape a lot better.

Don’t skip the rest time. Let the salad sit in the fridge for at least 1-2 hours to really let the dressing soak into everything.

Can I make broccoli salad ahead of time?

Yes! This is a great make-ahead salad. Make it up to 24 hours in advance. If you’re adding in the apple, you may want to toss it with a little lemon juice to make sure it doesn’t brown, or add it right before serving.

How long does broccoli salad last in the fridge?

Stored in an airtight container, it will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. The texture of the broccoli will soften a little, and the dressing may start to separate. Give it a stir before removing it from the fridge to eat the leftovers.

Should broccoli salad be made with raw or cooked broccoli?

Raw, fresh broccoli is what we always use for the signature crunch.

Can I use frozen broccoli?

We don’t recommend using frozen broccoli for this salad. It becomes soft and watery when thawed, which can make the entire salad soggy.

Can I use store-bought, pre-cut broccoli florets?

Absolutely. That’s a great way to cut down on time. Just make sure they’re rinsed, patted dry, and then chop them into smaller pieces if needed.

What can I serve with broccoli salad?

It’s our favorite potluck or bbq side, so it goes well with grilled chicken, burgers, pulled pork, or any other bbq spread.

Why is my broccoli salad watery?

This can happen if the broccoli wasn’t dried well after washing, or if the salad sits for too long.

Is broccoli salad healthy?

It is full of both fruits and veggies, and the broccoli itself is packed with vitamin C, fiber, and folate. Our lightened up version is made with mayonnaise and greek yogurt instead of straight mayonnaise.

What to serve with loaded broccoli salad?

While we love this as a summer side, it’s great year-round! Here’s what we love to pair it with: