Retired Walmart Broccoli Salad (Copycat)
Walmart Broccoli Salad is a creamy, crunchy copycat of the deli salad many shoppers remember from the Walmart deli case, that was retired in 2020 during the pandemic. It is made with fresh broccoli, bacon, raisins, sunflower seeds, red onion, and a sweet-tangy dressing for an easy make-ahead side dish.
Servings: 8 cups
Calories: 444kcal
Equipment
- Large Shallow Salad Bowl
Ingredients
- 6 cups broccoli florets chopped, about 1 broccoli crown
- 8 strips bacon cooked and crumbled
- 1 cup raisins
- 1 cup toasted sunflower seeds
- 1 medium red onion chopped, rinsed, and drained well
For the Dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise not Miracle Whip or salad dressing
- ⅓ cup sugar or honey
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice fresh squeezed
- 2 tablespoon white vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- ½ teaspoon salt or to taste
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
For the Dressing
- Measure the mayonnaise, sugar, lemon juice, vinegar, salt, and black pepper into a large mixing bowl.1 cup mayonnaise, ⅓ cup sugar, 2 tbsp lemon juice, 2 tbsp white vinegar, ½ tsp salt, ½ tsp black pepper
- Whisk together to mix until smooth and creamy.
For the Broccoli Salad
- Wash the broccoli and chop into little small to medium size chunks. Add to a large bowl with the dressing.6 cups broccoli florets
- Add the crumbled bacon, chopped red onion, toasted sunflower seeds, and black raisins to the bowl with the broccoli.8 strips bacon, 1 cup raisins, 1 cup toasted sunflower seeds, 1 medium red onion
- Mix all the vegetables with the salad dressing to coat evenly.
- You can serve this immediately, or chill for 30 minutes to an hour to let the flavors blend. Toss again right before serving.
Notes
- Dry the Broccoli Thoroughly: After washing and chopping, ensure your broccoli is dry. Excess water can thin out the dressing and make the salad less creamy.
- Chop Evenly: Aim for uniformly sized broccoli florets and other ingredients. This ensures every bite has a good mix of flavors and textures, and it makes for a more appealing presentation.
- Don't Skimp on the Bacon: Crispy, well-cooked bacon is a star here. Cook it until perfectly crisp and crumble it just before adding to the salad to maintain its texture.
- Let It Chill: This salad benefits greatly from chilling in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to an hour before serving. This allows the flavors to meld and the dressing to thicken slightly.
- Taste and Adjust Sweetness: The balance of sweet and savory is key. Taste the dressing before mixing it in, and adjust the amount of sugar or sweetener to your personal preference.
Nutrition
Calories: 444kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 19g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 610mg | Potassium: 518mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 449IU | Vitamin C: 65mg | Calcium: 59mg | Iron: 2mg
