Easy Amish Broccoli Salad Recipe with Creamy Dressing

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This quick and crunchy Amish broccoli salad recipe features savory bacon, cheddar cheese, and red onion, coated in a sweet creamy dressing. It’s simple, yet so flavorful, and the perfect side dish for BBQ season.

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About This Amish Broccoli Salad

Working on your BBQ menu for summer cookouts?

We’ve got the perfect summer side dish that everyone loves!

This classic broccoli cauliflower salad with bacon and sweet creamy dressing will instantly upgrade your spread of BBQ side dishes.

It’s the ultimate hassle-free cookout food because you can easily prep it a day ahead of time.

Whether you’re heading to backyard family gatherings or hunting for the best potluck sides for a crowd, this delicious salad recipe is guaranteed to leave you with a completely empty bowl.

How is this Amish recipe different from traditional broccoli salad?

Traditional recipes use only broccoli, whereas this Amish favorite has a 50/50 split of broccoli and cauliflower.

Amish cooks historically maximized their farm gardens by pairing these two sister plants together to stretch their yield, so the addition of cauliflower makes perfect sense.

This yummy dish also has a much sweeter dressing. Where typical broccoli salads use mayo, an acid like apple cider vinegar, and a touch of sugar, this recipe features a creamy sweet dressing with both mayo and sour cream, no acid, and lots of sugar for a rich and unique, tangy flavor.

YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE BECAUSE IT’S:

• Make-ahead-friendly. This crave-worthy recipe is even better the next day. Prep it ahead of time, and stress less on cookout day!
• Uniquely sweet and creamy. The dressing recipe for the broccoli salad is, so, so good. Once you try it, you won’t be able to go back to vinegar-based recipes.
• Great for a crowd. This recipe feeds 8-10 people, but can easily be doubled or tripled for larger crowds.
• Quick, simple, and cheap to make. With only 15 minutes of prep, a couple fresh veggies, and pantry staples, this recipe is a breeze!

Key Ingredients

• Fresh Broccoli: Chop the head into small, uniform, bite-sized florets. Keeping them small allows the sweet dressing to coat every nook and cranny. Make sure the broccoli is completely dry after washing; any leftover moisture will make the dressing watery.
• Fresh Cauliflower: Using an equal mix of cauliflower alongside the broccoli adds a wonderful color contrast and a slightly nutty flavor. Just like the broccoli, dice it into small, manageable pieces.
• Cheddar Cheese: Finely dicing a block of sharp cheddar provides a rich, savory pop that cuts through the sweet dressing. While pre-shredded cheese works in a pinch, hand-dicing a solid block yields much better texture and presentation.
• Red Onion: Finely diced red onion adds a necessary sharp, crisp bite to balance the sweetness of the sugar. If you find raw red onion too intense, you can soak the diced pieces in ice water for 10 minutes to mellow the flavor before tossing.
• Crispy Bacon: Cook your bacon strips until they are extra crispy so they maintain their crunch even after being tossed in the dressing. Thick-cut bacon works beautifully here for a smoky, meaty bite.
• Mayonnaise & Sour Cream: This duo forms the velvety base of the traditional Amish dressing. The mayonnaise provides a rich, smooth structure, while the sour cream adds a subtle tang that keeps the sauce from tasting overly heavy. Full-fat versions yield the best restaurant-style texture.
• Granulated White Sugar: The signature element of an authentic Amish dressing. It dissolves into the dairy base to create that classic sweet-and-savory profile. If you are watching your sugar intake, you can swap this for your favorite monk fruit or erythritol sweetener.
• Salt: A vital flavor enhancer that cuts through the heavy cream and balances the sweetness of the sugar.

Step-by-Step Recipe Instructions

1. Prep the produce and cheese: Chop the head of broccoli and the head of cauliflower (both washed and thoroughly dried) into bite-sized pieces to yield a few cups of each. Finely dice the red onion and the cheddar cheese into small cubes. Add all to a large mixing bowl.
2. Crisp the bacon: Fry the strips of bacon in a pan until crispy (or cook according to package directions on a paper towel-lined plate if using pre-cooked strips). Drain on paper towels, crumble into small pieces, and set aside.
3. Whisk the sweet dressing: While the bacon is frying, combine the mayo, sour cream, granulated white sugar, and salt in a separate bowl. Stir vigorously until the sugar is fully dissolved and the mixture is completely smooth.

4. Toss and coat: Add the cooked bacon and dressing to the broccoli and cauliflower, and toss thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly coated.
   • Chef’s Note: If your vegetable heads were exceptionally small, add the dressing gradually so the salad is not over-dressed.
5. Chill and marinate: Cover the bowl tightly. Place it in the refrigerator to chill for at least 2 hours (and up to 24 hours) to allow the flavors to meld and the raw vegetables to soften slightly.

Recipe Tips and Variations

Secrets for Success

• Make sure the veggies are dry: Thoroughly dry the broccoli and cauliflower so your salad doesn’t get soupy.
• Add the bacon later: If you like your bacon extra crispy, add it after the chilling time and just before serving for the best results.
• Don’t over-dress the salad: If your broccoli and cauliflower heads were small, you may not need to use the full amount of dressing. Add the dressing gradually as you stir, so it’s not over-dressed.
• Make bite-size pieces: Be sure to chop your broccoli and cauliflower florets pretty small so they’re easy to scoop up with the other ingredients.

Variations

• Reduce the sweetness: If you like your broccoli salad less sweet, you can use half the amount of sugar (¼ cup), and it will still taste great! Though, less sugar is also distinctly less Amish.
• Make it healthier: If you want a lighter version, you can swap the sour cream and mayonnaise with plain Greek yogurt. However, avoid using completely fat-free sour cream or mayo alternatives, as they can break down and make the final dip loose and watery.
• Add slivered almonds: Almonds add a nice crunch and slightly nutty flavor to the salad.
• Add sunflower seeds: Sunflower seeds are another great way to add extra texture and crunch, plus they’re so good for you!
• Add craisins or raisins: Craisins and raisins add a sweet and tangy flavor note, plus extra texture and chew.
• Use sharp cheddar cheese: This is an easy way to amp up the flavor without any extra ingredients, and it’s the perfect foil to the sweet dressing.
• Use bacon bits: Don’t feel like cooking bacon? You can use bacon bits instead for an easy shortcut.

Storage Tips

• Room temperature: This dressing keeps at room temperature for up to 2 hours.
• Refrigerator: Store leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

FAQs

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