Name: Broccoli Salad with Cranberries and Cheddar
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 3 cups broccoli florets, cut into small pieces (tough stems removed); 1/2 cup dried sweetened cranberries; 1 cup sliced almonds ((or 1/2 cup slivered almonds)); 1/2 cup diced red onion ((about 1 small onion)); 1 cup shredded carrots ((bagged or hand grated)); 1 cup shredded yellow sharp cheddar cheese ((shred your own)); 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar ((organic preferred)); 1 tbsp dijon mustard (such as Grey Poupon Country Dijon); 2 tsp yellow mustard (such as French's ); 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil; 1 tbsp honey; 1 clove garlic, pressed or finely minced; salt and pepper, to taste

This quick vibrant and crunchy Broccoli Salad with Cranberries and Cheddar is the perfect make-ahead side dish for potlucks, BBQs and more!

JUMP TO RECIPE

This fresh, tangy and crunchy Broccoli Salad is super easy to pull together with some pantry staples and fresh veggies for a light and refreshing shareable salad that's perfect for any occasion!

Best when made ahead, this Broccoli Salad is great for when you need a quick and easy side for a party, potluck, or BBQ, and makes a great accompaniment to heavier dishes like burgers, smoked meats, and mac and cheese! Best of all- it only takes about 15 minutes to make!

Broccoli Salad with Cranberries and Cheddar

Why You’ll Love this Broccoli Salad
Ingredient Notes
Variations
Step By Step Instructions
Storage and Make Ahead
More great broccoli recipes

Why You’ll Love this Broccoli Salad

Crunch Factor. Loaded with fresh broccoli, crunchy sliced almonds, diced red onion, and shredded carrots, this salad is for crunch lovers everywhere!

Tangy Honey Mustard Dressing. Rather than a mayo-based dressing, this recipe uses a simple, tangy homemade honey mustard dressing, using two kinds of mustard, infused with fresh garlic flavor.

Fresh and Colorful. With bright green fresh broccoli, crisp shredded orange carrots, deep pink dried cranberries, yellow sharp cheddar, and pretty red (technically purple) red onions, this salad is a feast for the eyes, too!

It's Super Easy! There's no cooking involved, and you can make the dressing in a mason jar, making this salad super simple with just a bit of prep work!

Broccoli Salad with Cranberries and Cheddar Ingredients

Ingredient Notes

Broccoli florets. You can chop your own from whole broccoli, or purchase pre-bagged fresh florets for this recipe. I prefer to tear or cut them into bite sized pieces, removing any tough stems for a better overall bite when enjoying the salad. There is no need to cook or blanch the broccoli, as the acid in the dressing helps break the florets down and give them a better chew. Just be sure to let the salad sit for 30 minutes to an hour prior to serving.

Dried Cranberries. The dried sweetened cranberries add a perfect tart and sweet burst of flavor to every bite of this delicious salad. As they sit in the dressing, they rehydrate some, and have a lovely texture. I prefer to use sweetened dried cranberries for this recipe for their flavor, but if you are watching sugar, you could also use unsweetened dried cranberries.

Sliced almonds. These add a nice, delicate crunch to the salad. I like to use sliced almonds, since they don't overpower the salad. If you like, you could also opt for slivered almonds.

Shredded carrots. You can buy pre-shredded bagged shredded or julienned carrots at a grocery store like Trader Joe's to save time, or grate them yourself from whole carrots on the large holes of a box grater, or with your food processor. These add great crunch and a touch of sweetness to the salad.

Sharp cheddar cheese. I prefer to buy a block and grate my own for best flavor and texture. You can use a box grater or food processor to get quick and easy shredded cheese. I prefer to use the yellow variety for its vibrant color, but you could also use sharp white cheddar.

Dressing Notes

Apple Cider Vinegar. This is key to the tangy and delicious flavor of the honey mustard dressing for the Broccoli Salad. I always opt for Organic Apple Cider Vinegar "with the mother"", as it has a sweeter flavor as compared to standard vinegar. My brand of choice is Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar, but Aldi also has a great organic option!

Dijon mustard and yellow mustard. You'll use a mix of both mustard in the dressing, along with the apple cider vinegar, olive oil, fresh pressed garlic, and honey. The milder flavor of the yellow mustard helps tone down the tangy and vibrant flavor of the dijon just a bit, and gives the dressing a well rounded flavor! I love Grey Poupon Dijon Mustard and French's Yellow Mustard for this recipe.

Variations

Add bacon. Everything is better with bacon! Add some cooked chopped bacon to the mix for some extra crunch and smoky goodness!

Swap the cranberries. Try using dried cherries in place of the dried cranberries for a sweet and tart treat!

Try sunflower seeds. Add an equal part of shelled sunflower seeds in place of the almonds for a savory crunch!

Make it creamy. Make the dressing extra creamy by adding a bit of mayo to the mix!

Go vegan! Swap the cheddar for vegan cheese, or omit it for a vegan version.

Step By Step Instructions

prep salad ingredients and add to a large bowl

combine dressing ingredients in a mason jar or liquid measure — prep salad ingredients and add to a large bowl

Print Recipe

Broccoli Salad with Cranberries and Cheddar

This quick vibrant and crunchy Broccoli Salad with Cranberries and Cheddar is the perfect make-ahead side dish for potlucks, BBQs and more!

Prep Time15

Total Time15

Course: Side Dish

Servings: 8

Ingredients

3 cups broccoli florets, cut into small pieces (tough stems removed)
½ cup dried sweetened cranberries
1 cup sliced almonds, (or ½ cup slivered almonds)
½ cup diced red onion, (about 1 small onion)
1 cup shredded carrots, (bagged or hand grated)
1 cup shredded yellow sharp cheddar cheese, (shred your own)

Honey Mustard Dressing

¼ cup apple cider vinegar , (organic preferred)
1 tablespoon dijon mustard, such as Grey Poupon Country Dijon
2 teaspoon yellow mustard, such as French's
2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon honey
1 clove garlic, pressed or finely minced
salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

Prep your broccoli. Cut the florets into bite sized pieces, removing any tough stems.
2. Dice the onions and shred the carrots (if shredding yourself).
3. Add broccoli, diced red onion, carrots, sliced almonds, shredded sharp cheddar, and dried cranberries to a large mixing bowl.
4. In a mason jar or liquid measure, combine the apple cider vinegar, olive oil, yellow mustard, dijon mustard, honey, pressed or minced garlic, and salt and pepper, to taste. Shake or whisk to combine.
5. Pour dressing evenly over salad, and toss to combine.
6. Let sit for at least 30 minutes, and up to overnight in the refrigerator before serving to let the flavors meld. Toss well before serving.

Storage and Make Ahead

To store the salad, keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Any longer, and the sliced almonds start to lose their crunch.

If you want to make this salad for a potluck or party, it can be made up to a day in advance! Just give it a good stir before serving!

More great broccoli recipes

Try my Creamy Bacon Broccoli Salad with Cheddar - an easy 6 ingredient salad that's loaded with flavor!

Whip up my version of classic Fettuccine Alfredo with Chicken and Broccoli!

Try Broccoli's cousin Broccolini with my Easy Garlicky Sautéed Broccolini with Lemon recipe!

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