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Crispy Broccoli Crunch Salad Recipe Easy with Bacon and Sunflower Seeds

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A quick and easy broccoli salad featuring crispy bacon, toasted sunflower seeds, and a tangy mayo dressing, perfect for a crunchy and flavorful side dish.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 cups fresh broccoli florets, chopped into bite-sized pieces (about 400g)
  • 6 slices bacon strips, cooked until crispy and roughly chopped
  • 1/4 cup toasted sunflower seeds (about 35g)
  • 1/2 small red onion, finely diced
  • 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese (about 100g)
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise (about 120ml)
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar (about 15ml)
  • 1 teaspoon honey (about 5ml)
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Optional: 1/4 cup raisins or dried cranberries (about 40g)

Instructions

  1. Cook the bacon: Place 6 strips of bacon in a cold skillet. Turn on medium heat and cook until crispy, about 8-10 minutes, flipping occasionally. Alternatively, bake at 400°F (200°C) for 15-20 minutes on a foil-lined sheet. Once cooked, transfer to paper towels to drain and cool. Chop roughly once cool.
  2. Prepare broccoli: While bacon cooks, wash and chop broccoli into small, bite-sized florets (about 4 cups / 400g). Finely dice half a small red onion.
  3. Toast sunflower seeds: In a dry pan over medium heat, toast 1/4 cup (35g) of sunflower seeds for 3-4 minutes, stirring often, until golden and fragrant. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
  4. Make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup (120ml) mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon (15ml) apple cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon (5ml) honey, and salt and pepper to taste. Adjust vinegar or honey to balance tang and sweetness as you prefer.
  5. Combine salad: In a large bowl, toss together broccoli florets, diced onion, shredded cheddar (1 cup / 100g), cooled bacon pieces, and toasted sunflower seeds.
  6. Add dressing: Pour the dressing over the salad and toss gently to coat everything evenly. Taste and adjust salt, pepper, or vinegar if needed.
  7. Optional final touch: Stir in 1/4 cup (40g) raisins or dried cranberries for a hint of sweetness if you like.
  8. Chill before serving: Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let flavors meld and the salad chill—though it’s good right away too.

Notes

For best texture, add bacon and sunflower seeds just before serving. Blanch broccoli for 1 minute in boiling water then shock in ice water if broccoli is tough. Use thick-cut bacon for perfect crunch. Toast sunflower seeds carefully to avoid burning. Adjust dressing sweetness and tang to taste. Leftovers keep well refrigerated up to 3 days; store bacon and seeds separately to maintain crunch.

Nutrition

Keywords: broccoli salad, bacon salad, sunflower seeds, crunchy salad, easy side dish, quick salad, healthy salad, mayo dressing

Find it online: https://junomeals.com/crispy-broccoli-crunch-salad-recipe-easy-with-bacon-and-sunflower-seeds/