Pioneer Woman’s Broccoli Salad is easy and delicious, excellent for potlucks, barbecues, and other gatherings. It has raw broccoli, bacon, red onion, raisins, sunflower seeds, and creamy dressing. Mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, and herbs give the crisp, fresh veggies a tangy, savory dressing. This salad is popular.
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Why You Will Love This Salad
- The combination of flavors and textures – the crunchy broccoli, crispy bacon, and red onion, combined with the sweet raisins and tangy dressing, create a delicious and satisfying salad.
- It’s easy to make – the salad comes together quickly and doesn’t require any fancy ingredients or cooking techniques.
- It’s versatile – you can easily customize the salad to your liking by adding or subtracting ingredients.
- It’s great for entertaining – the salad can be made ahead of time, which makes it perfect for potlucks, picnics, or any other gathering.
- It’s a healthier option – broccoli is a nutritious vegetable that is low in calories and high in vitamins and minerals, making this salad a healthy choice.
- The salad is good for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians, you can easily make it vegetarian by omitting the bacon.
Pioneer Woman Broccoli Salad Ingredients
- Fresh broccoli florets
- Bacon
- Red onion
- Raisins
- Sunflower seeds
- Cheddar cheese
- Mayonnaise
- Sour cream
- Sugar
- Apple cider vinegar
- Salt and pepper
How To Make Pioneer Woman Broccoli Salad
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the broccoli, red onion, raisins, sunflower seeds, cheddar cheese, and bacon.
- In a separate mixing bowl, combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, sugar, apple cider vinegar, salt and pepper. Whisk until well combined.
- Pour the dressing over the broccoli mixture and toss everything together until the broccoli is well coated.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour to allow the flavors to meld together.
- Before serving, give the salad a good stir and adjust the seasoning to taste. Serve chilled and enjoy!
Note that:
- you can cook the bacon by your preference, either in the oven or stovetop.
- Some variations of this salad may call for more or less of the dressing ingredients, so you may want to adjust the amounts to suit your taste.
- If you want to make it vegetarian, you can omit the bacon and use veggie bacon or skip it.
- You can also add diced red pepper or diced apple to add some color and extra flavor to the salad.
How To Store Broccoli Salad
In The Fridge:
- Transfer the salad to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- To prevent the salad from becoming soggy, press a piece of plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the salad before sealing the container.
- Take it out of the fridge at least 30 minutes before serving to bring it to room temperature.
In The Freezer:
- Regarding freezing Broccoli salad, it’s not the best idea, as freezing can cause the broccoli to become mushy and the texture to change once thawed. Freezing can also cause the dressing to separate and become watery, which can affect the overall taste and texture of the salad. If you need to store it for a longer period, it’s better to keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days, and make a fresh batch when you are ready to serve it.
Can I Make Broccoli Salad Ahead Of Time
Yes, you can make broccoli salad ahead of time. To do so, you can either make the entire salad ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or you can prepare the individual components ahead of time and assemble the salad when ready to serve.
How To Reheat Broccoli Salad
- In The Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Place the broccoli salad in a baking dish and cover it with foil. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until heated through. Be careful not to overcook the salad, as the broccoli may become mushy.
- In The Microwave: Place the broccoli salad in a microwave-safe dish and cover it with a microwave-safe lid or plastic wrap. Heat it on high power for 1-2 minutes, or until heated through. Be sure to stir the salad occasionally to ensure even heating.
- In The Air Fryer: Place the broccoli salad in the air fryer basket and cook it at 350°F for 5-7 minutes or until heated through. Be sure to shake the basket occasionally to ensure even heating.
What To Serve With Broccoli Salad
- Grilled or baked chicken: The tangy dressing in the broccoli salad complements the flavors of grilled or baked chicken.
- Pork chops or pork tenderloin: The sweetness and tanginess of the salad work well with the rich flavors of pork.
- Fish or seafood: The light and fresh flavors of fish or seafood balance out the richness of the salad.
- Burgers: Broccoli salad makes a great side dish for burgers and sandwiches, adding a refreshing crunch and flavor.
- BBQ ribs or pulled pork: The salad’s tangy dressing and crunchy texture complement the smoky and savory flavors of BBQ ribs or pulled pork.
- Macaroni and cheese: Broccoli salad is a great side dish to macaroni and cheese, as it adds a nice crunch and freshness to the meal.
- Roasted or grilled vegetables: The salad’s crunchy texture and tangy dressing work well with a variety of roasted or grilled vegetables such as asparagus, zucchini, or bell peppers.
Recipe Variations
- Greek Broccoli Salad: This variation includes ingredients such as feta cheese, kalamata olives, and red onion, and is dressed with a lemon vinaigrette. This salad has a Mediterranean twist, it’s tangy and savory.
- Asian Broccoli Salad: This variation includes ingredients such as red pepper, scallions, sesame seeds, and is dressed with a sesame ginger dressing. This salad has an Asian twist, it’s savory and nutty.
- Tex-Mex Broccoli Salad: This variation includes ingredients such as black beans, corn, diced red pepper, and is dressed with a lime cilantro dressing. This salad has a Tex-Mex twist, it’s tangy and spicy.
- Broccoli Salad with Apples and Walnuts: This variation includes ingredients such as diced apples, walnuts, and dried cranberries, and is dressed with a honey mustard dressing. This salad has a sweet twist, it’s tangy and crunchy.
- Broccoli Salad with Pesto: This variation includes ingredients such as sun-dried tomatoes, pine nuts, and is dressed with a pesto dressing. This salad has an Italian twist, it’s tangy and nutty.
- Broccoli Salad with Roasted Chickpeas: This variation includes ingredients such as roasted chickpeas, and is dressed with a tahini dressing. This salad has a Middle Eastern twist, it’s tangy and nutty.
Vegan, Keto, And Gluten-free Version Of Broccoli Salad
- Vegan Broccoli Salad: This variation is suitable for vegans and replaces ingredients such as mayonnaise and sour cream with vegan alternatives, such as vegan mayo and vegan sour cream. You can also omit the cheese and bacon and use vegan alternatives or simply skip them.
- Keto Broccoli Salad: This variation is suitable for those following a ketogenic diet, and replaces the sugar in the dressing with a keto-friendly sweetener such as erythritol or stevia. You can also add more healthy fats to the salad such as avocado, nuts, or seeds.
- Gluten-free Broccoli Salad: This variation is suitable for those following a gluten-free diet and replaces ingredients such as sunflower seeds with gluten-free alternatives such as pumpkin seeds or sesame seeds. You also need to make sure that the mayonnaise and sour cream you use are gluten-free.
Recipe Substitutes
- Broccoli: If you don’t have fresh broccoli, you can use frozen broccoli florets or cauliflower florets instead.
- Bacon: If you’re looking for a vegetarian or vegan substitute, you can use tempeh bacon or veggie bacon. You can also use diced cooked ham, turkey bacon or prosciutto.
- Red onion: If you don’t have red onion, you can use diced white onion or diced shallots instead.
- Raisins: If you don’t have raisins, you can use dried cranberries, dried cherries, or chopped apricots instead.
- Sunflower seeds: If you don’t have sunflower seeds, you can use pumpkin seeds, chopped walnuts, or sliced almonds instead.
- Cheddar cheese: If you don’t have cheddar cheese, you can use any other type of cheese that you prefer such as crumbled blue cheese, feta cheese, or diced mozzarella cheese.
- Mayonnaise and sour cream: If you want to reduce the calorie and fat content of the salad, you can use low-fat mayo and low-fat sour cream or plain Greek yogurt instead.
- Apple cider vinegar: If you don’t have apple cider vinegar, you can use white wine vinegar, rice vinegar, or lemon juice instead.
Can I Use Miracle Whip Instead Of Mayonnaise In The Dressing?
Yes, you can use Miracle Whip instead of mayonnaise in the dressing for the broccoli salad. Miracle Whip is a salad dressing and sandwich spread that is similar to mayonnaise, but has a sweeter and tangier flavor due to the added sugar and spices.
Can I Use Broccoli Stems In Broccoli Salad
Calories 403
Total Fat 33g
Saturated Fat 8.1g
Trans Fat 0.3g
Cholesterol 38mg
Sodium 1046mg
Potassium 360mg
Total Carbohydrate 20g
Dietary Fiber 3.5g
Sugars 13g
Protein 10g
Vitamin A 14%
Calcium 17%
Iron 6%
Yes, you can use broccoli stems in broccoli salad. The stems are nutritious like the florets. Before adding to the salad, peel and coarsely dice or grate. Cooking or roasting them tenderizes them and adds crunch to the salad. Since stems cook longer than florets, you may need to tweak the recipe or cooking time.
Other Dressings To Use
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Broccoli Salad Pioneer Woman Nutrition Facts
Amount Per Serving:
Nutrition Facts
Servings 4
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 403
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 33g51%
- Saturated Fat 8.1g41%
- Trans Fat 0.3g
- Cholesterol 38mg13%
- Sodium 1046mg44%
- Potassium 360mg11%
- Total Carbohydrate 20g7%
- Dietary Fiber 3.5g15%
- Sugars 13g
- Protein 10g20%
- Vitamin A 14 IU
- Calcium 17 mg
- Iron 6 mg
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
