Broccoli Salad Dressing

Learn how to make the best broccoli salad dressing recipe in just 5 minutes with only 3 ingredients! This is the creamy classic dressing for broccoli salad, we give you tons of options to customize it if you want to change it up from the traditional 1970's recipe.

Use the creamy broccoli salad dressing recipe with one of our popular broccoli salad recipes or make up your own. Either way, this dressing is a Whole Lotta Yum!

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mayonnaise dressing for broccoli salad

If you've wondered what dressing goes on broccoli salad, we're going to share the traditional recipe that's over 50 years old! You might not realize this, but the classic dressing for broccoli salad starts with a high quality mayonnaise.

We show you how to make the original dressing recipe (that was probably published by a mayonnaise company like Kraft!) but we also show you tips and tricks for lightening it up (or maybe you're just a mayo hater, don't worry we give you swap ideas!)

And while we typically use this mayo based salad dressing recipe with one of our broccoli salad recipes like broccoli bacon salad, cauliflower broccoli salad, or keto broccoli salad, it's also fabulous on coleslaw or a shredded broccoli or carrot salad too!

Like many of us, you've probably had broccoli salad at some point and you know what's in it but it's the darn dressing you aren't sure how to make.

That's what our classic dressing recipe is here for! You can add a little bit of this and that for your raw broccoli salad recipe whether you decide to use dried fruit or fresh, nuts or seeds, broccoli or cauliflower, or use red onions or no onions.

But to get the best flavor, you MUST have the correct broccoli salad dressing recipe with mayo that you remember like perhaps your mom, aunt, or grandma used to make.

Ingredient Notes

Scroll down to the recipe card for the full broccoli salad dressing with mayonnaise instructions, but be sure to read all of our notes!

• mayonnaise (or half mayo half Greek yogurt)- our original raw broccoli salad recipe calls for mayo but to lighten things up a bit we sometimes swap half fat-free Greek yogurt for the dressing. You could also use part sour cream. High quality mayo is key here and avocado oil dressing doesn't taste as good in this recipe so be sure to use regular mayo like Best Foods, Hellman's, an organic brand, or even Miracle Whip.
•  Fresh lemon juice or apple cider vinegar. We typically use fresh lemon juice (do not use concentrate!), but vinegar works well too! You just need a touch of acid to balance the sweetness whether it be the lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, white wine vinegar, or even a red wine vinegar.
• Sweetener - Granulated sugar is what's used in the classic 1970's raw broccoli salad. To make the salad dressing without sugar, use granulated monk fruit in a 1:1 ratio, coconut sugar, honey, maple syrup, agave, or stevia to taste.

Variations 

• This is a sweet dressing for broccoli salad, you can skip the sugar but we at least recommend adding a touch of sweetness from honey or monk fruit.
• Make this a keto broccoli salad dressing by using monk fruit for sugar, apple cider vinegar instead of lemon juice, and use sugar-free mayo.
• Lighten it up by replacing half of the mayo for sour cream or non-fat Greek yogurt.
• Use a different dressing! Instead of making our homemade broccoli salad dressing, you can easily just use coleslaw dressing, honey mustard dressing, Ranch, poppyseed dressing, Vinaigrette, or a store-bought dressing of your choice.

How to Make Broccoli Salad Dressing

When you're making a simple dressing recipe with mayo vinegar and sugar, it comes together in just 5 minutes!

Step 1: Mix the mayonnaise, fresh lemon juice, and sugar in a small bowl and set it aside in the fridge. 

Step 2: Add the dressing to the broccoli salad and gently combine. Let the broccoli salad recipe with bacon sit for at least one hour in the fridge to let flavors blend.

The broccoli salad tastes even better the longer it sits in the fridge! Make it hours before if you have time or even the day before.

How long does the dressing in the fridge?

The dressing will last up to 7 days in the fridge when it's stored separately from the salad. If you combine the dressing with the salad, then it'll keep for up to 4 days in the fridge.

Other Types of Dressings

If you're looking for a different type of broccoli dressing than the classic version, here's some other options you can try!

• Make a broccoli salad with coleslaw dressing
• With storebought poppyseed dressing
• Use your favorite Ranch dressing
• Make creamy avocado dressing
• Make a broccoli salad with Greek yogurt dressing (no mayo)
• Use a store-bought vinegar dressing or just a high-quality oil and vinegar

Broccoli Salad Recipes

If you loved our dressing for broccoli salad, be sure to serve it on one of our popular broccoli salad recipes!

• Broccoli salad with bacon
• Keto broccoli salad
• Cauliflower and broccoli salad

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