Crunchy Broccoli Salad With Raisins and Sunflower Seeds Recipe

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Updated on 06/1/22
Crunchy broccoli salad
Diana Rattray
Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 20 mins
Servings: 8 servings

Raisins, sunflower seeds, and a tangy, slightly sweetened mayonnaise dressing make this broccoli salad a delicious dish for any season or occasion. Frozen (thawed) peas make this version a little different from the classic broccoli salad. They add extra texture and flavor, but you may leave them out or use a pea and carrot combination instead. Tailor the salad to suit your tastes and make it your go-to broccoli salad.

Walnuts or toasted pecans make a nice addition to the salad; replace the sunflower seeds with them if you like. Dried cranberries or chopped dried cherries used instead of raisins will add a fruity, tart flavor with a pleasant sweetness.

For best flavor, make the salad a few hours in advance; refrigerate it to chill thoroughly before serving. Store leftover broccoli salad in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

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Ingredients

  • 5 to 6 cups fresh broccoli florets

  • 1/2 cup raisins

  • 1/2 cup sunflower seeds

  • 1/2 cup cooked crumbled bacon, or to taste

  • 1/4 cup chopped red onion

  • 1 cup frozen peas, thawed

For the Dressing:

  • 1 cup mayonnaise

  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

  • 1/4 to 1/2 cup granulated sugar

Steps to Make It

  1. In a large bowl, combine the broccoli florets, raisins, sunflower seeds, crumbled bacon, chopped onion, and thawed frozen peas; toss to combine.

  2. In a separate bowl or large cup, whisk together mayonnaise, vinegar, and sugar.

  3. Add the dressing to the salad and toss to mix well; chill thoroughly before serving.

Tip

  • To make a day in advance, combine the vegetables and bacon in the serving bowl. In a small bowl, combine the dressing ingredients. About an hour before serving time, toss the salad with the dressing.

Recipe Variations

  • Replace the sunflower seeds with pine nuts, walnuts, toasted chopped pecans, or slivered almonds. Toast the nuts in a dry skillet over medium heat. Cook, stirring, just until they are lightly browned and aromatic.
  • For extra color and crunch, add 1/4 cup of shredded carrot or chopped fresh celery to the salad.
  • To lighten the salad a bit, replace some of the mayonnaise with Greek yogurt and use less bacon.
  • Replace the sugar with a drop or two of a sugar-free sweetener such as liquid sucralose or stevia.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
392 Calories
27g Fat
34g Carbs
8g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 392
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 27g 35%
Saturated Fat 4g 22%
Cholesterol 17mg 6%
Sodium 803mg 35%
Total Carbohydrate 34g 12%
Dietary Fiber 6g 21%
Total Sugars 21g
Protein 8g
Vitamin C 79mg 393%
Calcium 67mg 5%
Iron 2mg 10%
Potassium 551mg 12%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)