Broccoli Cauliflower Salad pairs fresh veggies with a creamy tangy dressing. This easy make-ahead salad feeds a crowd and keeps for several days. Pair this salad with sandwiches like these brown sugar ham and cheese sliders for a satisfying meal.
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This post was originally published in July 2018 and has been updated.
Why you will love this salad
Broccoli Cauliflower Salad is a favorite around my house. It's make-ahead, feeds a crowd, and keeps wonderfully well in the refrigerator for several days.
This salad has just 5 ingredients and is tossed in a 3-ingredient creamy dressing, so it couldn't be easier to prepare.
The veggies are fresh and crisp. The bacon and cheese… well, let's just say I love bacon and cheese added to almost anything! The dressing is sweet and tangy. This combination is always a crowd-pleaser.
If you love broccoli and cheese together, try Broccoli Cheddar Pasta Salad or Broccoli Cheese Tart.
For more veggie-filled favorites, try Mediterranean Salad with Chickpeas and Primavera Pasta Salad.
Ingredient Notes
Salad
- Broccoli - Fresh florets are best for their raw, crisp texture. Frozen broccoli has a compromised texture and will be mushy.
- Cauliflower - Use a head of fresh cauliflower for the best crisp texture.
- Red onion - Red onion adds a slightly sweet and peppery bite. I love the bright color they add to the salad. Shallots can also be used.
- bacon
- Cheddar cheese - This is one of the only times I recommend using pre-shredded cheese. The anti-caking ingredients that prevent the cheese from clumpy will prevent it from becoming gummy in this salad.
Dressing
- Miracle Whip - Miracle Whip provides a tangy flavor to the dressing that mayonnaise does not - like in these Miracle Whip deviled eggs.
- Apple cider vinegar - Apple cider vinegar has a slightly sweet, fruity taste, making it ideal for use in dressings.
Step-by-step instructions
See the recipe card for complete instructions and ingredient amounts.
Step 1: Add the veggies, bacon, and cheese to a large mixing bowl.
Step 2: Combine the dressing ingredients.
Step 3: Pour the dressing over the salad mixture and toss to evenly coat. Refrigerate the salad overnight.
Expert Tips
- This salad is best prepared one day in advance. The broccoli and cauliflower will have time to soften slightly as they marinate in the dressing, and all of the flavors will blend.
- Avoid using frozen broccoli or cauliflower. Fresh is best. Freezing changes the texture of the veggies and will yield a mushy texture.
- Pre-shredded cheese works best in this recipe. I normally prefer using freshly shredded cheese in my recipes, but the anti-caking additives in pre-shredded cheese will prevent the cheese from clumping together in this salad. The cheese will be distributed evenly when tossed with the other ingredients. The regular - not the finely shredded - is best.
- Use thick-cut bacon for a meaty bite.
- Miracle Whip contributes a wonderful tangy flavor to this dressing. While the Miracle Whip is delicious, mayonnaise can be substituted if you prefer.
Serving suggestions
- Easter – This salad is delicious with ham and is a staple at our Easter dinners.
- Potlucks - This recipe yields a large batch, making it a perfect potluck dish to serve with these Reuben sliders.
- Picnics or barbecues - This salad is wonderful with grilled bratwurst bites, hamburgers, and hot dogs.
- Buffets for parties - This salad is a nice change from pasta salads and Miracle Whip coleslaw.
- Weekday lunches - Enjoy throughout the week with chopped antipasto salad or veggie tuna salad.
- Meals for a family in need – Because this salad keeps so well, it is an ideal option when bringing food to family or friends.
This easy, make-ahead salad is perfect for gatherings and also ideal for preparing meals for the week. It's great for lunches or as a side dish for dinner.
More salad recipes to try
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📖 Recipe Card
Broccoli Cauliflower Salad
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Ingredients
Salad:
- 2 pounds broccoli (cut into florets)
- 1 head cauliflower (cut into florets)
- 1 medium red onion (diced)
- 1 pound bacon (cooked and chopped)
- 8 ounces yellow cheddar cheese (shredded)
Dressing:
- 2 cups Miracle Whip
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 4 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the broccoli, cauliflower, red onion, bacon, and cheddar cheese.
- For the dressing, combine Miracle Whip, sugar and vinegar in a separate bowl. Mix well to combine. Pour the dressing over the salad and fold together until the ingredients are well-coated.
- Refrigerate to allow flavors to blend. Salad will keep well in the refrigerator for 5-6 days.
Notes
- This salad is best when prepared one day in advance to allow time for the broccoli and cauliflower to soften slightly in the dressing.
- Avoid using frozen veggies. Freezing changes the texture of the veggies and will yield a mushy salad.
- Broccoli and cauliflower do not need to be blanched. The veggies will soften slightly in the dressing and will keep well for 5-6 days. If you wish to serve the salad the same day, the broccoli and cauliflower can be blanched for 30 seconds or so. Then, the salad can be stored for up to 2 days.
- Pre-shredded cheese works best. I normally prefer using freshly shredded cheese in my recipes, but freshly shredded cheese will clump together in the salad. The anti-caking additives in pre-shredded cheese keep it from clumping and help it to distribute evenly throughout the salad.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate and will vary depending on the exact amounts and specific ingredients used.
Delana Y Keller says
I had this salad at a Celebration of Life and just Loved it!
Abbey McDermott says
I'm so happy you loved this! Thank you, Delana!
Sarah says
This looks delicious! can I use regular mayo instead of Miracle whip?
Abbey McDermott says
Sarah,
Miracle Whip has more of a tangy flavor then regular mayo, so the flavor will be slightly different, but mayo will work fine.
Pam says
Loved every bite. Making it again. Yum
Abbey McDermott says
Pam,
Thank you so much for the review. I'm so happy you enjoyed this salad!
Shirley says
I want to try this recipe as it looks delicious but can I omit the sugar as I would be making it for keto family members. I would appreciate your response. Thanks
Abbey McDermott says
Hi Shirley, I have made this using significantly less sugar, and it is still delicious. While I have never cut the sugar out completely, there's no reason that you can't. The taste will be different certainly, but it should still be tasty with all of the savory components.
Dawn Newman says
Love it
Abbey says
I'm glad you enjoyed this salad!