Crunchy Cauliflower and Broccoli Salad with Tangy Herb Dressing

This cauliflower and broccoli salad combines fresh florets, crunchy red onion, tender bacon, and sharp Colby Jack cheese for a flavorful, crowd-pleasing side. Its balance of savory, sweet and creamy textures makes it ideal for barbecues, potlucks or holiday meals.

If you enjoy broccoli salads, consider other variations like broccoli with apple or a Greek-style broccoli pasta salad for more delicious options.

Cauliflower Broccoli Salad

This colorful salad is crunchy, creamy and full of bright flavor. It comes together in minutes in a single bowl: simply combine the chopped vegetables, bacon, cheese, almonds and sunflower seeds, then toss with a light, tangy dressing. It’s a reliable favorite at family gatherings because it’s easy to make, stores well, and travels nicely to potlucks.

Serve it chilled or at room temperature. The ingredients are flexible — you can use pre-cut florets to save time or swap add-ins to suit your tastes.

Cauliflower Broccoli Salad Ingredients:

A simple list of ingredients delivers big flavor. The proportions below make a generous salad that serves about 8 people.

• Broccoli: 2 cups fresh broccoli florets, cut into bite-sized pieces or use a pre-cut bag.
• Cauliflower: 2 cups fresh cauliflower florets, chopped to a similar size as the broccoli.
• Red onion: ½ medium red onion, chopped for a bit of sharp crunch.
• Bacon: ½ pound cooked and chopped bacon—leftover, pan-fried, or microwaveable bacon all work.
• Colby Jack cheese: 1 cup shredded Colby Jack, or cut into small cubes if you prefer.
• Almonds: ⅓ cup slivered almonds for crunch.
• Sunflower seeds: ¼ cup sunflower seeds to add a touch of sweetness and texture.

Dressing:

• Lite mayonnaise: ½ cup for a creamy base.
• Low-fat Greek yogurt: ½ cup to lighten the dressing and add tang.
• Lemon juice: 2 tablespoons, fresh or bottled, for brightness.
• Sugar: 1 tablespoon to balance the acidity.
• Salt and pepper: ¼ teaspoon salt and ⅛ teaspoon pepper, or to taste.

How to Make Cauliflower Broccoli Salad:

Preparation is straightforward and quick. Combine the salad ingredients, whisk the dressing separately, and then toss everything together until evenly coated.

1. Assemble the salad: In a large bowl, add the broccoli, cauliflower, red onion, bacon, cheese, slivered almonds and sunflower seeds.
2. Make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the lite mayonnaise, low-fat Greek yogurt, lemon juice, sugar, salt and pepper until smooth.
3. Finish: Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to coat. Chill briefly if desired, then serve.

Tips for the Best Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad

• Cheese: Use shredded or small cubed pieces depending on the texture you prefer.
• Red onion: Rinse chopped onion under cold water to mellow its bite if desired.
• Add-ins: Toss in craisins, dried cherries, or peas for extra color and flavor.
• Lighten it up: Omit the sugar and reduce the bacon and cheese to lower calories while keeping great taste.
• Make ahead: Store the dressing separately in the refrigerator and cover the salad bowl. Combine just before serving to keep the mix crisp.

More Great Salads to Try:

• Very Berry Cheesecake Salad
• Chilled Cucumber Tomato Salad
• Creamy Grape Salad
• Best Ever Ambrosia Salad
• Best Ever Creamy Pea Salad with Bacon