Easy Classic Costco Broccoli Salad Recipe (15 Minutes, Make Ahead)
This Costco-style broccoli salad is one of those simple summer side salads that just works. Fresh, crunchy broccoli is tossed with salty bacon, sweet dried cranberries, and sunflower seeds for plenty of texture and flavor. It’s the kind of healthy, make-ahead salad that holds up well and is perfect for cookouts, weeknight dinners, or packed lunches.
This post was updated in January 2026 with fresh tips and improved instructions.
Recipe Highlights
🕛Prep Time: 15 Minutes
🕛Cook Time: 0 Minutes
🕛Total Time: 15 Minutes
🍽️Serves: 4 – easy to scale
✅ It’s made with fresh broccoli, bacon, dried cranberries, sunflower seeds, and cheddar cheese tossed in a simple mayo, Greek yogurt, and apple cider vinegar dressing.
✅ For the best flavor, make it ahead and chill so the flavors blend. It keeps well for 3 to 4 days.
✅ Easy swaps include raisins for cranberries, pumpkin seeds or sesame seeds for sunflower seeds.
Here is what you will need
Ingredient List
- Fresh broccoli florets, cut into bite-sized pieces
- Onion
- Bacon
- Sunflower seeds for crunch and protein
- Cheddar cheese
- Dried cranberries for a touch of sweetness
- Apple cider vinegar
- Mayonnaise
- Greek yogurt – Gives the dressing extra tang and protein. Can be replaced with mayonnaise or sour cream.
How to make Costco broccoli salad
It’s so easy to make this salad. Here’s how:
- Make the homemade creamy dressing: Whisk together the vinegar, mayonnaise and yogurt to creat a creamy sweet-tangy dressing.
- Place broccoli, onions, dried cranberries, shredded cheese and sunflower seeds into a large bowl.
- Pour the dressing over the top of the salad. Gently toss to coat and serve.
Tips
- For more tender broccoli, blanch (boil for a few minutes) to soften.
- You may not need all of the dressing; gradually add the dressing and toss to prevent a soggy salad.
- If you plan on having leftover salad, set aside a small amount of dressing to add to the leftover broccoli salad.
- Shortcut tip! Use prewashed and cut broccoli florets.
Serving Suggestions
This salad is delicious as a side salad with any of your favorite summer recipes such as grilled seafood, burgers, chicken or pork.
It’s also a great potluck salad that’s perfect for a backyard barbecue with potato salad or macaroni salad and a zesty arugula salad.
Recipe variations
One of the great things about easy broccoli salad is their versatility. Here are some variations to inspire experimentation with different flavor profiles. Enjoy creating something new!
- Make it a full meal – Make broccoli salad a full meal by boosting the protein content with grilled chicken for shrimp.
- Creamy ranch broccoli salad – Replace the mayo-based dressing with your favorite ranch dressing, add a small amount of sugar to the creamy dressing to balance acidity
- Broccoli slaw salad – Replace the broccoli florets with broccoli slaw, which is made from broccoli stems for a unique twist on this copycat costco broccoli salad.
- Make it vegetarian – Skip the bacon or use vegetarian bacon.
How to store leftover salad
This delicious salad tastes even better the next day, so don’t be afraid of leftovers. Broccoli salad can be kept in an airtight container and refrigerated for 3-4 days. Add a little mayonnaise or Greek yogurt if it seems dry.
Broccoli Salad Frequently Asked Questions
Absolutely! This salad tastes better after it sits because the dressing and add-ins have time to blend. You can make it up to 1 day ahead and store it covered in the refrigerator.
You can, but fresh broccoli has the best crunch and texture. If using frozen florets, boil them for 1 to 2 minutes, then cool and dry them well before adding to the salad to avoid watering it down.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. If it looks a bit dry after chilling, stir in a small spoonful of mayonnaise or Greek yogurt.
Use raisins instead of dried cranberries. Swap sunflower seeds for pumpkin seeds, poppy seeds, or sesame seeds. Replace Greek yogurt with sour cream or more mayonnaise.
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Costco Broccoli Salad Recipe
Equipment
- small bowl or jar to mix the dressing in
Ingredients
- 2 cups Broccoli Florets
- 1/4 cup Onion Chopped
- 1/4 cup Sunflower Seeds
- 1/4 cup Cheddar Cheese Shredded
- 2 slices Cooked Bacon Crumbled
- 1/4 cup Mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup Greek Yogurt
- 1 1/2 tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar
Instructions
- Prepare the ingredients: Clean and chop the broccoli into bite-sized pieces. Cook the bacon and crumble it, chop the onions.
- Mix the dressing ingredients ( 1/4 cup Mayonnaise, 1/4 cup Greek Yogurt, 1 1/2 tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar) together in a small bowl or jar.
- Place 2 cups Broccoli Florets, 1/4 cup Onion, 1/4 cup Sunflower Seeds, 1/4 cup Cheddar Cheese. 2 slices Cooked Bacon into a mixing bowl.
- Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients, and stir to combine.
