Spicy Broccoli Salad

This crisp and crunchy flavor-packed spicy broccoli salad is the perfect side dish for any backyard barbecue or potluck. The best part about this fun spin on the classic southern broccoli slaw is the little kick of heat in every bite!

Broccoli salad is a classic side dish that is a true crowd-pleaser all year long, and this spicy version is a delicious and fun twist on the original recipe. It’s a blend of tiny broccoli florets, crumbled cooked bacon and sweet dried fruit all coated in a creamy slaw-style dressing. Every bite is packs fresh flavors, a ton of crunch and a surprise kick of heat from the crushed red pepper that I sprinkle into the dressing. If you love making recipes with cruciferous veggies, like my broccoli cauliflower salad recipe, then you should definitely give this broccoli salad a try. This is also one of those dishes that tastes better the longer it chills in the fridge, so definitely save yourself some time by making this a day in advance!

Alicia – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This Broccoli Salad Salad is just amazing. A must try recipe not only for children but also for adult.

Key Ingredients and Tips

• Broccoli – Fresh broccoli florets are the star of this salad. I always use the fresh kind because it packs a lot of texture and flavor, but you can of course use the frozen variety instead. Just make sure that you pat the florets dry.
• Kale – Kale adds a gorgeous curly texture and a ton of nutrients to this dish.
• Dried cherries (or dried cranberries)– I’m obsessed with the subtle sweetness that these dried fruits add to this salad. They’re slightly tart and they provide a pop of color that contrasts beautifully with the green broccoli and kale.
• Bacon – I mix in some cooked crumbled bacon for a little crispy action and smokiness.
• Sunflower seeds – The nuttiness from these seeds balances out the rest of the flavors, and they enhance the texture in every bite.
• Apples and carrots – Both of these add more sweetness, a needed pop of color and some extra crunchiness. For apples, I prefer to use any crispy apple variety like Honeycrisp, Fuji or Pink lady.
• Mayonnaise – For the base of the creamy dressing, I love to use either a regular or low fat mayonnaise.
• Crushed red pepper flakes – I always sprinkle a few crushed red pepper flakes into the dressing for a slight kick of heat.
• Apple cider vinegar – Just a splash of vinegar balances out the richness of the mayo and honey in the dressing.

How to Make

Find the full recipe with ingredient proportions, detailed instructions, and a video tutorial in the printable form at the bottom of the post.

Chop and prep – I start off this salad by adding the broccoli, kale, red onion, shredded carrots, apples, dried cherries, cooked bacon and sunflower seeds into a large salad bowl.

Make the dressing – In another bowl, I mix together all the ingredients for the creamy dressing until it’s smooth.

Pour – Then, I pour a generous amount of that rich dressing over the salad ingredients and toss them all together until everything is coated!

Recipe Variations

• Red cabbage – I like to add in some fresh shredded red cabbage for more volume and crunch.
• Celery stalks – For some added texture and freshness, sprinkle in some coarsely chopped celery stalks.
• Parsley – If you like herbs, add in some fresh parsley.
• Red bell pepper – Add in a handful of julienned red bell pepper for added sweetness and crunch.
• Raisins – Not a fan of dried cherries or cranberries? No problem. Swap them for some raisins!
• Blanched almonds – I love the nuttiness from blanched almonds and sometimes I use these instead of sunflower seeds.
• Cayenne pepper – For even more heat, mix a dash of cayenne pepper into the dressing.
• Greek yogurt – For a lighter version of the creamy dressing, replace some of the mayo with Greek yogurt.

Serving Suggestions

This is the perfect salad to make for dinner for one, or as a side dish for when you’re entertaining guests. I love to pair it with my favorite grilled meats, fish and other bbq favorites. Here are some of my preferred ways to enjoy this scrumptious dish:

• Serve with these easy to make hamburgers.
• Pair with some juicy grilled steak, pork chops, grilled chicken or salmon for a protein packed dinner or lunch.
• Add a hefty scoop of this salad next to your favorite wrap, panini or sandwich.
• Turn it into a meal by topping off your bowl with some sliced grilled chicken, steak or serve it over a scoop of quinoa.
• Make it a summer spread by adding it to a buffet with corn on the cob, pasta salad, coleslaw, baked beans, ribs and brisket.

Storing

This broccoli salad is a fabulous make-ahead and leftover, especially for barbecues and potlucks. The ingredients all hold their texture for up to a week in the fridge when stored in an airtight container.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Salad Recipes You Might Like:

Help Me Spread the Word about this Fabulous Free Recipe! Sharing this recipe link on Pinterest and Facebook is super impactful, and I greatly appreciate it! Find the share buttons below the recipe form.

Share This Recipe With Friends!