Paula Deen’s Quick & Tangy Broccoli Salad Recipe

Paula Deen’s broccoli salad bursts with vibrant flavors that dance across your palate, transforming ordinary vegetables into a mouthwatering masterpiece.

Crisp, verdant florets mingle with sweet and tangy ingredients, creating a sensational medley of textures and tastes.

Creamy dressings coat each ingredient, binding them into a harmonious blend that promises to tantalize hungry guests.

Southern culinary traditions shine through in this colorful composition, highlighting fresh produce and bold seasonings.

Crunchy elements provide delightful contrast against smooth, rich components, ensuring every bite delivers maximum satisfaction.

Ideal for picnics, potlucks, or family gatherings, this salad transcends ordinary side dishes with its irresistible appeal.

Prepare to win over even the most discerning palates with this crowd-pleasing recipe:

Why Paula Deen’s Broccoli Salad is a Crunchy Delight

• Quickly Craft a Flavor Explosion: This broccoli salad packs an incredible punch of tangy, sweet, and savory flavors that dance together in every single bite, creating a taste experience that'll make your taste buds do a happy dance.
• Nail a No-Fuss Meal Prep Champion: With just 15 minutes of total preparation time, this recipe becomes a superhero for busy home cooks who want delicious results without spending hours in the kitchen, making it perfect for last-minute gatherings or quick weeknight sides.
• Enjoy a Texture Wonderland: Crisp broccoli florets meet crunchy bacon bits, creamy cheese chunks, and a smooth dressing, delivering a magical mix of textures that keeps every forkful interesting and exciting from start to finish.
• Customize Your Culinary Adventure: This versatile salad welcomes personal tweaks like adding raisins for sweetness, swapping cheeses, or adjusting dressing quantities, giving home cooks the freedom to make the recipe uniquely their own without complicated techniques.

Essential Ingredients for Paula Deen’s Broccoli Salad

• Broccoli: Crisp green vegetable with sturdy flowerets, choose fresh and firm with bright green color.
• Red Onion: Sharp and colorful allium that adds zesty crunch, select firm and smooth onions.

• Bacon: Smoky and crispy meat that provides salty flavor, choose thick-cut for better texture.
• Cheddar Cheese: Sharp dairy component that adds rich taste, select high-quality block cheese for best results.

• Mayonnaise: Creamy base that binds salad together, use full-fat version for richer taste.
• White Vinegar: Tangy liquid that balances dressing, provides bright acidic note.
• Sugar: Sweetener that rounds out dressing flavor, helps balance vinegar's sharpness.
• Raisins: Sweet dried fruit that offers optional flavor contrast, completely optional for personal preference.

How to Prepare Paula Deen’s Broccoli Salad

Step 1: Prepare Broccoli

Wash the broccoli thoroughly under cool running water. Remove large outer leaves and tough bottom stalks. Chop the broccoli into small, bite-sized florets and tender stem pieces. Transfer the chopped broccoli to a large mixing bowl.

Step 2: Prepare Additional Ingredients

• 6 slices of crispy bacon, crumbled
• Red onion, finely chopped
• Raisins (optional)
• Cheddar cheese, cut into small chunks

Add all prepared ingredients to the broccoli bowl.

Step 3: Create Creamy Dressing

• Mayonnaise
• White vinegar
• Granulated sugar

Mix until the dressing is smooth and well combined.

Step 4: Combine And Serve

Pour the creamy dressing over the broccoli mixture. Gently toss all ingredients until every piece is evenly coated. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld. Serve chilled as a refreshing side dish.

Tips for Perfect Paula Deen’s Broccoli Salad

• Blend Ingredients Thoroughly: Gently toss all components to distribute dressing and prevent clumping of ingredients.
• Customize Crunch Levels: Adjust bacon and sunflower seed quantities to create your preferred texture profile.
• Control Sweetness Carefully: Reduce mayonnaise or sugar if you prefer a less sweet dressing experience.
• Prep Ingredients Ahead: Chop broccoli, crumble bacon, and grate cheese in advance to streamline final assembly.
• Select Fresh Produce: Pick firm, bright green broccoli heads with tight florets for maximum crispness and flavor.

How to Store Paula Deen’s Broccoli Salad

• Vacuum Seal: Remove excess air and seal the broccoli salad in a vacuum-sealed bag to maximize freshness and prevent moisture buildup. This method extends shelf life up to 5 days and maintains crisp vegetable texture.
• Portion Containers: Divide the salad into individual serving-sized meal prep containers with tight-fitting lids. Separating portions prevents soggy ingredients and allows easy grab-and-go lunches while preserving flavor integrity.
• Quick Consumption: Consume the salad within 48 hours for optimal taste and crunchiness. Longer storage can cause bacon to become soft and mayonnaise-based dressing to separate, diminishing the salad's original delightful combination of flavors and textures.

Creative Twists on Paula Deen’s Broccoli Salad

• Summer Garden Crunch: Replace raisins with diced bell peppers and add sunflower seeds for extra texture and vibrant color, creating a lighter, more vegetable-forward version perfect for warm days.
• Spicy Southern Style: Incorporate diced jalapeños, swap regular cheddar for pepper jack cheese, and add a dash of hot sauce to the dressing for a zesty kick that brings southern heat to the classic recipe.
• Mediterranean Inspired: Substitute mayonnaise with Greek yogurt, add crumbled feta cheese, kalamata olives, and sprinkle dried oregano for a Mediterranean-inspired transformation that reduces calories and boosts flavor profile.
• Protein Power Salad: Mix in diced grilled chicken or hard-boiled eggs, replace bacon with turkey bacon, and add chia seeds for an protein-packed version that turns the side dish into a complete meal option.

Final Words on Paula Deen’s Broccoli Salad

Paula Deen’s broccoli salad emerges as a culinary masterpiece, blending crisp vegetables with savory bacon and creamy dressing.

Southern charm radiates through each delightful bite, promising a memorable side dish for any gathering.

Classic ingredients dance together, creating harmony between fresh broccoli and tangy mayonnaise-based sauce.

Rich cheddar cheese adds depth, while crumbled bacon provides smoky crunch that elevates the entire experience.

Vibrant ingredients tell a story of comfort and tradition, connecting generations through simple yet extraordinary flavors.

Grab your fork, savor each delectable spoonful, share this recipe with friends, comment below, and spread deliciousness across your dinner table.

Paula Deen Broccoli Salad Recipe

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4.8 from 15 reviews

• Total Time: 15 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Paula Deen’s broccoli salad combines crisp broccoli with smoky bacon, tangy red onions, and a creamy dressing. Guests savor this Southern-style side dish that brings together classic comfort and fresh ingredients for a memorable culinary experience you’ll crave at every gathering.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 1 head broccoli
• 8 ounces (226 grams) sharp cheddar cheese, cut into very small chunks
• 6 to 8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
• ½ cup (75 grams) cherry tomatoes, halved
• ½ cup (80 grams) chopped red onion

Creamy and Sweet Components:

• 1 cup (240 milliliters) mayonnaise
• ¼ cup (50 grams) sugar
• ½ cup (75 grams) optional raisins

Flavor Enhancers:

• 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) white vinegar

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Instructions

1. Meticulously trim and cleanse the broccoli by removing large outer leaves and tough lower stalks, ensuring a thorough rinse under cool running water. Slice the vegetable into uniform, bite-sized florets and stem pieces, depositing them into a spacious mixing vessel.
2. Enhance the base by incorporating crisp, crumbled bacon pieces, finely diced red onion, sweet golden raisins, and robust cheddar cheese cubes into the broccoli foundation.
3. Craft a creamy dressing by whisking together granulated sugar (1/2 cup or 100 grams), tangy white vinegar (1/4 cup or 60 milliliters), and rich, smooth mayonnaise (1 cup or 240 milliliters) until the mixture achieves a harmonious, silky consistency.
4. Delicately drizzle the prepared dressing over the broccoli medley, using gentle folding motions to ensure each ingredient is luxuriously coated and evenly distributed.
5. Cover the salad and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to 1 hour, allowing the flavors to meld and intensify before serving chilled as a delightful side dish.

Notes

• Grab extra-sharp cheddar for maximum tangy punch and depth of flavor that elevates the entire dish.
• Crumble bacon until super crispy, creating texture that provides satisfying crackle in every single bite.
• Chop broccoli into tiny, uniform pieces to guarantee perfect dressing coverage and easy eating experience.
• Whisk dressing ingredients thoroughly to create smooth, well-blended sauce that clings perfectly to vegetables.
• Refrigerate salad for minimum one hour, allowing ingredients to marinate and develop rich, complex taste profile.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Snacks
• Method: None
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 196 kcal
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 301 mg
• Fat: 13.2 g
• Saturated Fat: 4.8 g
• Carbohydrates: 16.3 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 6.2 g
• Cholesterol: 701 mg