This broccoli salad is one of my favorite side dishes for grill outs or parties. There’s so much flavor, it’s pretty quick and easy, PLUS it’s a delicious way to get some vegetable servings in 🙂
![](https://i0.wp.com/kaliethomas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/IMG_0420.jpg?resize=768%2C1024&ssl=1)
Ingredients:
- 5 cups broccoli florets
- 1/4 cup red onion, diced
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
- 5-7 slices of cooked bacon, crumbled
- shredded cheddar cheese
Dressing:
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tbs apple cider vinegar
Instructions:
- In a large bowl, combine broccoli, red onion, pecans, and bacon. Add cheese if you’d like. I wait and add it to individual servings.
- In a separate bowl, stir together the mayo, sugar, and apple cider vinegar until well combined.
- Add the dressing to the broccoli salad and stir until well combined.
- Cover and chill for a couple of hours or overnight…but sometimes I just go ahead and dig in 🙂
![](https://i0.wp.com/kaliethomas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/IMG_0422.jpg?resize=768%2C1024&ssl=1)
Tips for your broccoli salad:
- Broccoli- I often make broccoli salad when I have a head of broccoli in the fridge that needs to be used before it gets tossed. So just use what you have, 4-5 cups is a rough estimate! I like to cut the florets into bite-sized pieces instead of larger chunks. It makes for better bites and I feel like it better absorbs the dressing.
- Red onion- Red onion is pretty darn strong, so add to your specific taste! More or less is fine! Some do slices, but I like diced for better bites 🙂
- Pecans- You can get creative here! You can also use sunflower seeds, walnuts, or almonds…whatever you like or have on hand!
- Bacon- Believe it or not, I actually prefer my broccoli salad without bacon, but my son and husband like it so most of the time I throw it in!
- Cheese- So I didn’t put a measurement on this one because I add it to our individual servings since our son has a dairy allergy. So add to your taste! I imagine 1/2 – 3/4 cup would be a good estimate.
An easy broccoli salad is perfect for poolside or grill nights! It’s quick and easy to throw together and it doesn’t require many ingredients. Save it on your Pinterest, give it a try, and let me know what you think! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
![Kalie Thomas](https://kaliethomas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/C21D1DAB-79A5-4E75-B894-F89FF4273C6F.jpeg)