Combine broccoli florets, cheddar cheese, dried cranberries, bacon, sunflower seeds, and onion in a large bowl.

In a separate, small bowl, whisk together mayo, sour cream, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper until smooth and well-combined.

Pour dressing over broccoli combination and toss or stir well.

Broccoli salad may be served immediately, but for best flavor refrigerate for at least one hour before serving. Make sure to toss broccoli salad thoroughly again before serving.

Keep refrigerated if not consuming right away.

Notes

¹I never blanch my broccoli when making broccoli salad. If you wish to, blanch it in boiling water for 60 seconds. Drain and rinse with cold water immediately until broccoli has cooled, and then dry well before using.

²If cooking and crumbling your own bacon, you’ll need about 8 strips. If you prefer to use pre-cooked/crumbled bacon, make sure you buy the kind made with real bacon (it should say it on the label) and not “bacon flavored bits” with imitation flavor.

³Some or all of the sour cream may be substituted with plain Greek yogurt.

⁴White wine vinegar is my preference, but red wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar or champagne vinegar will also work great here.

How to Store Broccoli Salad

Broccoli Salad may be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days. If you are making several days in advance, I recommend storing the salad and the dressing separately, then tossing everything together at least an hour before serving.