This post may contain affiliate links. 

Broccoli salad is the perfect make-ahead side dish for any party, potluck, or holiday gathering! Here are 12 broccoli salad recipes that your family and friends will go crazy over!

Broccoli salad is a classic American side dish, made with fresh broccoli florets, sometimes a sweet, creamy dressing, and usually contains a dried fruit for some sweetness and a nut or seed for a little extra crunch.  Broccoli salad can be made with a variety of flavors and ingredients.

Whatever salad ingredients you have in the house, you can usually make a delicious broccoli salad.  I like broccoli salad because it can be made ahead of time, and the broccoli florets will stay fresh and crunchy in the fridge for a few days.

For some reason, my kids shy away from lettuce salads, but when I present them with broccoli salad, they always eat it up!  It could be because most broccoli salads have sweet mayonnaise-based dressings, which, if it gets my kids to eat a plate of vegetables, I am cool with it.

Broccoli salad is a relatively new dish.  The first known broccoli salad recipe was published in 1971 in Southern Living Magazine.  Since then, broccoli salad has grown in popularity throughout the United States.

What kind of Broccoli Should I buy?

I would look for fresh heads of broccoli in the produce aisle of your grocery store.  If you are making a roasted broccoli salad, I would look for frozen broccoli florets in the frozen vegetable section.

What ingredients should I keep on hand for a quick broccoli salad?

I like to keep savory bacon bits, craisins or dried cranberries, red onion, raisins, carrots, almonds, sunflower seeds, peppers, mayo, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, honey salt, pepper,  sharp cheddar cheese or goat cheese, and other assorted fruit and vegetables around for a quick broccoli salad with low prep time.

Equipment needed to make broccoli salad

a large bowl big enough to toss the salad, tongs, a cutting board, and a knife for cutting your broccoli.

Strawberry Poppyseed Broccoli Salad 

2. Spiralized Broccoli Stem Slaw 

4. Greek Broccoli Salad 

4. Southwestern Broccoli Salad 

Apple Cider Broccoli Salad 

 Winter Broccoli Salad 

Lemon Blueberry Broccoli Salad 

Roasted Broccoli Salad 

Loaded Roasted Broccoli Salad 

Mango Broccoli Salad 

Caprese Roasted Broccoli 

Red, White, and Blue Broccoli Salad 

Nutrition

Broccoli is low in calories, carbohydrates, sodium, and cholesterol.  It contains potassium, calcium, vitamin C, fiber, and protein.

Did you make any of these easy broccoli salad recipes?  I would love to hear how they turned out for you!  Please comment below this blog post or tag me on social media and let me know how they turned out for you!   You can find me on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest.