Walmart Broccoli Salad

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This Walmart Broccoli Salad copycat brings back the creamy, crunchy deli salad many shoppers remember from the Walmart deli case. The sweet-tangy dressing and crisp broccoli make it an easy make-ahead side for BBQ dinners, potlucks, and cookouts.

Why You'll Love This Walmart Broccoli Salad Recipe

This copycat broccoli salad is creamy, crunchy, and easy to make with simple grocery store ingredients. It has the same sweet-savory deli salad flavor people remember, but you can make it fresh at home.

Deli-Style Flavor: Fresh broccoli, bacon, raisins, red onion, and sunflower seeds give this salad the creamy, crunchy flavor of a classic deli broccoli salad.
Great for Gatherings: This salad holds up well for potlucks, BBQ dinners, cookouts, and casual family meals.
Easy to Make Ahead: The salad tastes even better after a short chill, so you can prep it before serving.

Ingredients Overview

Fresh broccoli crowns work best for this salad because they give you more florets and less stem waste. Black raisins are used for the classic Walmart-style version, but dried cranberries also work if you prefer a brighter, tart-sweet bite.

Use toasted sunflower seeds, crisp bacon, and finely diced red onion for the classic flavor and crunch. The dressing is a simple mix of mayonnaise, sugar, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, and salt.

Pro Tip

If using full broccoli bunches instead of crowns, soak the broccoli in cold water for a few minutes before chopping. This helps loosen any grit or tiny tagalongs hiding in the florets.

Full ingredient amounts and preparation instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

A display of ingredients for a classic Walmart broccoli salad in bowls, labeled: broccoli, raisins, sunflower seeds, chopped red onion, crisp bacon, sugar, and a whole lemon.

How To Make Walmart's Broccoli Salad Recipe

This broccoli salad comes together in three simple steps: whisk the dressing, combine the salad ingredients, and toss everything together. For the best texture, dry the broccoli well after washing and chill the finished salad for 30 minutes to an hour before serving.

White bowl mixing mayo, sugar, and liquid sits next to a lemon juicer with a squeezed lemon half and juice below.

Step 1: Measure the mayonnaise, sugar, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, and salt. Whisk together to mix until smooth and creamy. Set in the refrigerator until ready to dress the broccoli salad.

Step 2: Wash and trim the broccoli, then chop coarsely. Add the chopped broccoli, crumbled crisp bacon, diced red onion, sunflower seeds, and black raisins to a large mixing bowl.

Metal bowl with kale, broccoli, onion, seeds, raisins, bacon; creamy dressing and green cloth in background.

Metal bowl of Walmart broccoli salad with bacon, red onions, creamy dressing, black spoon, and green cloth in background.

Step 3: Mix all the ingredients with the salad dressing. You can serve this immediately, or chill for 30 minutes to an hour to let the flavors blend. Toss again right before serving.

Serving Suggestions

Serve this Walmart broccoli salad with grilled meats, sandwiches, burgers, and BBQ-style dinners. It pairs well with country style boneless pork ribs, grilled BBQ chicken drumsticks, slow cooker BBQ pulled pork sliders, or Traeger corn on the cob.

Substitutions and Variations

Here are a few variations or substitutions when making this recipe.

Dried Fruit Swap: Instead of raisins, use dried cranberries for a touch more tartness and a brighter color, or a mix of both.
Nutty Crunch: Replace the sunflower seeds with toasted slivered almonds, chopped pecans, or walnuts for a different texture and flavor.
Cheese Variety: While cheddar is classic, try shredded Colby Jack, a sharp white cheddar, or even crumbled feta for a nuanced cheesy addition.

Tips for Success

Here are a few tips for making this recipe:

Dry the Broccoli Thoroughly: After washing and chopping, ensure your broccoli florets are completely 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.

Storage Options

This broccoli salad keeps well in the refrigerator, but it should not be frozen. The mayonnaise dressing can separate after thawing, and the broccoli will lose its crisp texture.

Refrigerator: Store leftover Walmart broccoli salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days. Toss before serving to redistribute the dressing.
Make Ahead: You can make this salad up to 1 day ahead. For the best texture, stir in the bacon shortly before serving if you want it to stay extra crisp.
Do Not Freeze: This is not a freezer-friendly recipe. The dressing may break, and the broccoli will become watery and soft after thawing.
Outdoor Serving: Keep the salad chilled in a cooler with ice packs when serving outdoors. Do not leave it out for more than 2 hours, or more than 1 hour if the temperature is above 90°F.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make this broccoli salad without mayo?

Yes. Replace the mayonnaise with plain Greek yogurt and sweeten the dressing to taste with sugar, honey, or your preferred sweetener. The flavor will be tangier than the classic Walmart-style version, but it still works as a creamy broccoli salad dressing.

Do I need to blanch the broccoli?

No, this broccoli salad is made with raw broccoli so it stays crisp and crunchy. Blanching softens the broccoli and changes the texture of the salad.

Can I make Walmart broccoli salad ahead of time?

Yes, you can make this salad up to 1 day ahead and keep it covered in the refrigerator. Toss it again before serving, and add the bacon closer to serving time if you want it to stay extra crisp.

Can I use frozen broccoli for broccoli salad?

Fresh broccoli works best for this recipe. Frozen broccoli is already softened from blanching and freezing, so it can make the salad watery instead of crisp.

Grilling and BBQ Recipes

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Glass bowl of Walmart broccoli salad with red onions, bacon bits, sunflower seeds, creamy dressing, and utensils beside it.

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5 from 4 votes

Walmart Broccoli Salad (Copycat)

Walmart Broccoli Salad is a creamy, crunchy copycat of the deli salad many shoppers remember from the Walmart deli case. It is made with fresh broccoli, bacon, raisins, sunflower seeds, red onion, and a sweet-tangy dressing for an easy make-ahead side dish.

Prep Time20

chill time20

Total Time40

Course: Salads

Cuisine: American

Servings: - 12 servings

Calories: 365kcal

Author: Kelly Bloom

Equipment

Large Shallow Salad Bowl

Ingredients

2 lbs fresh broccoli crowns about 5 cups, washed and trimmed
1 cup bacon cooked and crumbled
½ cup red onion chopped
½ cup toasted sunflower seeds
1 cup black raisins

For the Dressing

1 ½ cup mayonnaise not Miracle Whip or salad dressing
⅓ cup sugar or honey
3 tablespoon lemon juice fresh squeezed
3 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
½ teaspoon salt

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

For the Dressing

Measure the mayonnaise, sugar, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, and salt. Whisk together to mix until smooth and creamy. Set in the refrigerator until ready to dress the broccoli salad.
1 ½ cup mayonnaise, ⅓ cup sugar, 3 tablespoon lemon juice, 3 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, ½ teaspoon salt

For the Broccoli Salad

Wash the broccoli and chop into little small to medium size chunks. Add to a large bowl.
2 lbs fresh broccoli crowns
Crumble the crisp bacon and add to the bowl with the chopped red onion, toasted sunflower seeds, and black raisins.
1 cup bacon, ½ cup red onion, ½ cup toasted sunflower seeds, 1 cup black raisins
Mix all the vegetables with the previously prepared salad dressing. 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.