Broccoli Cauliflower Salad (aka The Salad That Shows Up and Shows Off)

Let’s be honest—most broccoli cauliflower salads out there are… fine. Like, sure, they exist. They show up at the cookout. They do their job. But this one? This salad understood the assignment, studied abroad, and came back fluent in flavor. The first person who made this for me was my Grammy and we still have her hand written recipe 🙂

This is the best broccoli cauliflower salad you will ever make—periodt. And I’m not just saying that. I’m saying it because I’ve cracked the code. Wanna know the secrets?

✨ Top Hacks for Broccoli Cauliflower Salad That Slays:

1. Trim those stems – No one (and I mean no one) wants to chew through thick, chunky stalks. Cut your florets small and snackable—think “bite-sized but still photogenic.”
2. The dressing has to be immaculate – We’re talkin’ creamy, a little sweet, with just the right tang. If the dressing isn’t making you go “oh dang,” it’s not ready.
3. Golden raisins, red onion, sunflower seeds, and crispy bacon – Not optional. Non-negotiable. Required for entry. The texture and flavor these bring? Unreal. Sweet, salty, savory, crunchy—this salad hits all the notes.

Why this salad wins cookouts:

It’s cool, it’s crunchy, it’s covered in bacon. It’s the kind of salad that makes people who “don’t like broccoli” come back for seconds. Bring this to a backyard BBQ or summer potluck and suddenly you’re that girl who brought the iconic side dish. You’re welcome.

🥦✨ Fun fact: Broccoli and cauliflower are both cruciferous vegetables, aka the Beyoncé and Rihanna of the veggie world. They’re loaded with fiber, antioxidants, and they just get how to hold a creamy dressing.

So the next time you’re tasked with bringing something to the party—skip the store-bought pasta salad and make this instead. Trust me, your bowl will be empty long before the burgers are done.

Broccoli Cauliflower Salad

This Broccoli Cauliflower Salad is the ultimate cookout side—creamy, crunchy, sweet, tangy, and loaded with crispy bacon. With tiny florets, golden raisins, and a dressing that pops, it's the salad that always steals the show.

Print Recipe

Prep Time:25 minutes mins

Total Time:25 minutes mins

Ingredients

Salad:

• 1 Head Cauliflower
• 1 Bunch 2 “Crowns” Broccoli
• 1/2 LB Bacon cooked crispy and broken into pieces
• 1 C Roasted Sunflower Seeds
• 1/2 C Golden Raisins
• 1/4 C Sliced Red Onion about half

Dressing:

• 1 C Hellman’s Mayo
• 1/2 C Sugar
• 2 T White Vinegar

Instructions

• Mix dressing ingredients in a jar and place in the refrigerator.
• Begin to cook bacon until it’s crispy, then allow to cool. While Bacon is cooking/cooling, chop broccoli and cauliflower down to the stems and into small pieces. Place in a large bowl.
• Slice Red Onion and add to bowl. Add Sunflower seeds, raisins and cooled bacon.
• Pour dressing over all the salad ingredients and toss. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. I feel like this lasts in the fridge for a few days and it’s ok.

Notes

As far as making ahead, I usually prepare everything and keep it seperate, then just before the event toss everything together!

Servings: 8