This broccoli salad recipe is incredibly easy to make, even for beginner cooks. Follow these simple steps for a perfect bowl of deliciousness every time.

Step 1: Prepare the Broccoli

The key to a great broccoli salad is to have broccoli that is crisp-tender, not mushy. We achieve this through a quick blanching process.

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Salting the water seasons the broccoli from the inside out and helps it retain its vibrant green color. Using a large pot ensures the broccoli cooks evenly.
2. Add the broccoli florets to the boiling water. Make sure the water returns to a boil quickly after adding the broccoli. Don’t overcrowd the pot; blanch in batches if necessary to maintain the water temperature.
3. Blanch the broccoli for 2-3 minutes. This short cooking time is crucial. You want the broccoli to be slightly tender but still have a good bite. Over-blanching will result in soggy broccoli.
4. Immediately drain the broccoli and plunge it into an ice bath. This stops the cooking process instantly and keeps the broccoli crisp and vibrantly green. An ice bath is simply a bowl filled with ice water.
5. Let the broccoli sit in the ice bath for a few minutes until completely cooled. This ensures the broccoli is thoroughly chilled and ready for the salad.
6. Drain the broccoli well and pat it dry with paper towels. Excess moisture will dilute the dressing and make the salad watery. Drying the broccoli is an important step for the best texture and flavor.

Step 2: Cook the Bacon (If Not Already Cooked)

If you haven’t already cooked your bacon, now is the time to do it. Crispy bacon is essential for this salad!

1. Cook bacon in a skillet over medium heat. Place bacon strips in a cold skillet and then turn the heat to medium. This allows the fat to render slowly and the bacon to cook evenly and crisp up without burning.
2. Cook until bacon is crisp and browned, turning occasionally. Keep an eye on the bacon as it cooks, as it can go from perfectly crisp to burnt quickly.
3. Remove bacon from skillet and place on paper towels to drain excess grease. Draining the bacon on paper towels removes excess fat and helps maintain its crispness.
4. Once cooled, crumble the bacon into small pieces. You can crumble it by hand or use a knife to chop it into smaller pieces.

Step 3: Prepare the Dressing

The dressing is what ties this whole salad together. It’s creamy, tangy, and slightly sweet, perfectly complementing the other ingredients.

1. In a large bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sour cream, apple cider vinegar, and sugar. Use a whisk to ensure the dressing is smooth and well combined.
2. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Start with the suggested amounts and then adjust to your liking. Taste the dressing and add more salt, pepper, or sugar as needed to achieve your preferred balance of flavors.
3. Whisk until smooth and creamy. Ensure all ingredients are fully incorporated and the dressing is homogenous.

Step 4: Assemble the Salad

Now for the fun part – bringing everything together!

1. In the large bowl with the dressing, add the cooled and dried broccoli florets, crumbled bacon, diced red onion, shredded cheddar cheese, and raisins (or cranberries) and sunflower seeds (or pepitas). Add all the salad ingredients to the bowl with the dressing.
2. Gently toss everything together until the broccoli and other ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing. Use a spatula or large spoon to gently toss the salad, being careful not to break up the broccoli florets too much. Ensure every piece is coated in the delicious dressing.
3. Taste and adjust seasonings if necessary. Give the salad a taste and add more salt, pepper, sugar, or vinegar if needed to perfect the flavor. Remember that the flavors will meld together and deepen as the salad sits.
4. For best flavor, refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving. Chilling the salad allows the flavors to meld together and the dressing to set slightly, resulting in a more cohesive and flavorful salad. You can also refrigerate it for longer, even overnight, for an even more intense flavor.