• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Mains
  • Snacks
  • Desserts
  • Bread
  • Slow Cooker
  • Find A Recipe
  • About

Recipe Pocket

menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Mains
  • Snacks
  • Desserts
  • Bread
  • Slow Cooker
  • Find A Recipe
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Vegetables & Salads

    Feb 14, 2021 · Modified: Nov 25, 2022 by Harriet

    Broccoli Cauliflower Salad

    Jump to recipe card

    This is an easy broccoli cauliflower salad that can be made ahead of time. Made with a slightly sweet and tangy homemade creamy dressing that won’t make the salad go soggy.

    Closeup of broccoli and cauliflower salad.
    Jump to:
    • 🌟 Why You'll Love This Recipe:
    • 🥘 Ingredients In This Recipe
    • 🍳 Step By Step Instructions
    • ✏️ Recipe Notes
    • 📖 Variations
    • 🥗 Serving Suggestions
    • 📝 Frequently Asked Questions
    • 🌽 More Veggie Recipes
    • 📋 Recipe Card

    🌟 Why You'll Love This Recipe:

    • In this salad the broccoli and cauliflower are cooked until just tender. unlike some other salads where these are used raw. It just make it easier for the body to digest, especially if you suffer from gas, bloating and pain when eating these raw.
    • This recipe can be made vegetarian or vegan by swapping some of the ingredients with suitable alternatives.
    • Great for meal prepping because it will last 3-4 days in the fridge without going soggy, making it great for easy weekday work lunches.
    • And because it can be prepared ahead of time, it’s the perfect salad to take on summer picnics, to potlucks and for sharing at BBQ’s.
    • This salad can also be served as a side dish or can be enjoyed as a light meal on its own.

    🥘 Ingredients In This Recipe

    The printable recipe further down the page has the complete list of ingredients, including quantities and step-by-step instructions.

    Photo of ingredients to make broccoli and cauliflower salad.

    Broccoli and cauliflower – you will need an average size head of broccoli and about half ahead of a small/medium cauliflower for this recipe. Choose broccoli that is firm and green and pick a cauliflower that is firm and white looking, use a sharp knife to trim away any blemishes that may be present on the cauliflower.

    Bacon – Any cut of bacon can be used, if it’s very fatty trim away and discard the excess fat. We used short-cut bacon because it has very little fat on it.

    Leave out the bacon if you are making it vegan or vegetarian or replace the bacon with a vegan alternative.

    Red salad onion – this is great for salads as they are mild in flavor and can be eaten raw. If you can’t get red onion use another mild onion like spring onions.

    Cheese – use a hard-firm cheese like cheddar. The cheese can be cut into cubes or grated.

    Replace the cheddar cheese with a suitable alternative to make it vegan or vegetarian.

    Sunflower seeds – these add texture to the salad. Finely chopped toasted nuts could also be used.

    Mayonnaise – use your favorite mayo, so if it Miracle whip use that, ours is Hellman’s. If you want to make a no mayo salad you can use Greek yogurt with some sour cream for the salad dressing. Just keep in mind that if you make a no mayo salad dressing it won't keep as well and is best consumed within 24 hours.

    Red wine vinegar – this will give additional flavor to the salad. It also thins down the mayonnaise, making it easier for it to seep into the little openings in the broccoli and cauliflower, for a burst of flavor in every bite. If you don't have red wine vinegar you can use some lemon juice.

    Sugar – a little sugar balances out the sharpness from the vinegar.

    🍳 Step By Step Instructions

    Broccoli and cauliflower.
    Cut veggies into bite-sized pieces.

    Step 1 – Cut the broccoli and cauliflower into bite-sized pieces, wash well and drain.

    Place the broccoli and cauliflower with about 1 tablespoon of water into microwave-safe containers and cook, covered on high until just tender.

    If you don’t have a microwave oven, boil or steam them until just tender.

    Broccoli and cauilflower pieces on a tray.
    Allow veggies to cool before making the salad.

    Step 2 – Once cooked drain well and place onto a baking tray and allow to come to room temperature before making the salad.

    Fried bacon pieces.
    Fry bacon nice and crispy.

    Step 3 – Cook the bacon until it becomes nice and crisp and cut into small pieces.

    Cubed cheese and slices of red onion.

    Step 4 – Cut the cheese into small cubes, and thinly slice the red onion.

    Place the dressing ingredients into a small bowl and whisk until it becomes smooth and lump-free.

    Salad ingredients in a bowl with salad dressing.

    Step 5 – Place all the salad ingredients into a large bowl.  Pour the dressing over salad tossing well to combine.

    ✏️ Recipe Notes

    The salad dressing: If you like a salad with lots of salad dressing the quantity for this recipe may not be enough for you but, you can easily double the recipe to make more.

    Leftovers or for advanced meal prep: Store the salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

    📖 Variations

    • Make this broccoli cauliflower salad vegetarian by replacing the bacon and cheese with vegetarian friendly alternatives.
    • You could also throw in a handful of dried cranberries and or chopped walnuts.

    🥗 Serving Suggestions

    What to Serve with This Salad?

    This broccoli cauliflower salad will go well with most BBQ or grilled meats and even oven-baked chicken such as butterflied roast chicken. It would also go well with spaghetti Bolognese.

    📝 Frequently Asked Questions

    Is this recipe gluten-free?

    Yes, this recipe is gluten-free, but always remember to the labels on the products you are buying to ensure that they are 100% gluten-free.

    Can you make broccoli cauliflower salad ahead of time?

    This salad is at its if you make it ahead of time and leave it to sit in the fridge for several hours or overnight before serving.

    Can you freeze broccoli cauliflower salad?

    No, this salad does not freeze well.

    How Long does broccoli cauliflower salad last?

    Leftovers or for advanced meal prep: Store the salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days

    🌽 More Veggie Recipes

    If you like cauliflower you might also like to try my cauliflower potato mash recipe. It's a light and healthy alternative to mashed potatoes, or try this meat-free broccoli and cauliflower soup or this recipe for buttered vegetables or these easy recipes:

    • Black bean and corn salad
    • Tomato cucumber onion and feta salad
    • Spicy carrot salad
    • Cheesy Brussel sprouts
    Salad in a green bowl with vine ripened tomatoes in the background.

    If you do make this cauliflower broccoli salad, I would love to hear from you. Please come back and leave a comment below and tell me how you went.


    CONNECT WITH RECIPE POCKET

    Be sure to follow us on social media, so you never miss a post!

    Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Twitter


    SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER!

    📋 Recipe Card

    Close up of broccoli and cauliflower salad.

    Broccoli Cauliflower Salad

    This broccoli cauliflower salad is made with seven ingredients and a simple dressing. It is delicious and easy to make and can be prepared ahead of time, making a great portable food for lunch, picnics or to take to potlucks. With a few simple food swaps this recipe can be made vegan or vegetarian.
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe Share on Facebook Share on Twitter
    Prep Time : 15 mins
    Cook Time : 10 mins
    Total Time : 25 mins
    Course : Mains, Sides
    Servings : 6 servings
    Calories : 397 : kcal

    EQUIPMENT

    • Saucepan or steamer pot or microwave oven

    INGREDIENTS

    Salad

    • 120 grams (4.23 ounces) bacon * see notes below
    • 300 grams (10.6 ounces) broccoli
    • 300 grams (10.6 ounces) cauliflower
    • 60 grams (2 ounces) red onion
    • 100 grams (3.5 ounces) cheddar cheese or a similar hard cheese, * see notes below
    • 30 grams (1 ounces) sunflower seeds

    Dressing

    • 70 grams (2.46 ounces, ⅓ cup) mayonnaise or to taste * see notes below
    • 1 tablespoon sugar
    • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
    • Salt for seasoning optional
    Tap button to prevent your screen from going dark while cooking.

    INSTRUCTIONS

    • Prepare the Broccoli and Cauliflower
      Cut broccoli into bite sized pieces, wash well, place into a microwave safe container and cook on high until the broccoli becomes tender. This will take about 3-4 minutes on high in an 850-watt microwave. Allow to come to room temperature.
      Cut the cauliflower into bite sized pieces, wash well, and microwave for about 5 minutes until just soft and tender. Allow to cool to room temperature.
      Note: The broccoli and cauliflower can also be blanched. Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil. Add the broccoli and cauliflower (they can be blanched at the same time if the pot is large enough), bring back to the boil and cook for 1 minute, drain and allow to come to room temperature.
      Or the broccoli and cauliflower can be steamed until just tender.
    • Fry the bacon until it becomes crisp, drain on absorbent paper, cool then cut into tiny pieces.
    • Slice the onion thinly and cut the cheese into small cubes, place into a large bowl.
    • Once the broccoli and cauliflower have cooled, place into the large bowl with the onion and cheese. Add the bacon and sunflower seeds.
    • Make the dressing.
      Into a cup add the mayonnaise, sugar and wine vinegar mix well. Taste for seasoning and adjust if necessary.
    • Pour the dressing over the salad and mix well. Cover and chill for several hours or overnight before serving.

    Notes

    * Make it vegan
    • Leave out the bacon or replace it with a vegan alternative.
    • Use a vegan cheese instead of regular cheese.
    • Use an egg free and dairy free mayonnaise.
    * Make it vegetarian
    • Don't use bacon or replace it with a vegan alternative.
    • Use a vegetarian friendly cheese.
    ___
    This recipe makes about 840 grams (29.63 ounces) of salad.
    Nutrition Facts
    Broccoli Cauliflower Salad
    Serving Size
     
    1 x 140 gram (4.93 oz) serving serving
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    397
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    37
    g
    57
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    13
    g
    81
    %
    Cholesterol
     
    41
    mg
    14
    %
    Sodium
     
    240
    mg
    10
    %
    Potassium
     
    371
    mg
    11
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    10
    g
    3
    %
    Fiber
     
    3
    g
    13
    %
    Sugar
     
    5
    g
    6
    %
    Protein
     
    8
    g
    16
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    479
    IU
    10
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    69
    mg
    84
    %
    Calcium
     
    161
    mg
    16
    %
    Iron
     
    1
    mg
    6
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Nutrition Disclosure

    More Vegetable Recipes

    • Buttered Vegetables
    • Tomato Bocconcini Salad
    • Marinara Sauce Dip
    • Italian Green Beans In Tomato Sauce

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Author image.

    Hi, I'm Harriet! The face and photographer behind Recipe Pocket. I am a mother of two who is a cook by day and blogger by night.

    More about me →

    Popular

    • 39 Best Heart Shaped Cookies (Easy To Make)
    • Meatless Monday Recipes - 50 Easy Dishes
    • Starting from Scratch: Baking Equipment For Beginners
    • Strawberry Oreo Milkshake

    Trending

    • Crescent Roll Recipes
    • How To Use Instant Yeast
    • How To Make Instant Coffee Taste Better
    • Creamed Sweetcorn Fritters
    • Dry Buttermilk Powder Substitute
    • Gelatinous Bone Broth With Chicken Bones (Slow Cooker Recipe)

    Web Stories

    Recipe Collections

    • Yeast bread recipes
    • Overnight oats
    • Puff pastry appetizers
    • Banana breakfast recipes
    • Crescent roll recipes

    Footer

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms and Conditions

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • About/Contact
    • Image Use

    Copyright © 2023 Recipe Pocket