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This single serving Broccoli Salad is crisp, refreshing, and full of flavor, with a perfect balance of crunch, sweetness, and a creamy, tangy dressing. It’s easy to make, satisfying, and great as a light meal or side dish.

a small broccoli salad in a pink bowl next to a jar of dried cranberries and fresh broccoli.

Enjoy this fresh, flavorful broccoli salad on its own for lunch or as a side with Broiled Chicken, Baked Salmon, or a classic hamburger.

Check out our other Single Serving Salad ideas!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Delicious and Satisfying: A flavorful, perfectly portioned salad that works as a meal or side.
  • Easy to Customize: Adjust ingredients to suit your taste.
  • Quick to Make: Comes together in minutes, great for any schedule.
  • Easily Doubled: Need more? Just double the ingredients.

Broccoli salad is one of my favorite ways to turn simple ingredients into something truly delicious. Crisp broccoli, crunchy sunflower seeds, and a touch of sweetness all come together with a creamy, tangy dressing that ties everything together.

This single serving version is just the right size, easy to make, and packed with flavor. Plus, you can make it your own by swapping in your favorite nuts or seeds. It’s a quick, wholesome dish that I know you’ll love as much as I do!

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Ingredients

broccoli salad ingredients on a kitchen counter.

If you have any ingredients leftover from this simple broccoli salad recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.

Tip: How to Cut Broccoli into Florets

Slice off the broccoli crown near the stem, then break it into large florets. Snip the stems of each floret to create bite-sized pieces. This ensures evenly sized broccoli for the salad.

How To Make Broccoli Salad

These photos and instructions help you visualize how to make a small batch of broccoli salad. See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.

  1. In a large bowl, combine the broccoli, cheese, dried cranberries, bacon, onions, and sunflower seeds.
broccoli salad without dressing in a large bowl.
  1. In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, vinegar, olive oil, sugar, salt, and pepper.
broccoli salad dressing in a small bowl.
  1. Pour the dressing over the salad and mix well. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving. Serve chilled.
broccoli salad with dressing in a large mixing bowl.

Expert Tips

  • Prep ahead: This salad comes together quickly, so read the recipe, check the ingredient notes, and gather everything before you start.
  • Cut broccoli into small pieces: Smaller florets coat better with dressing and soften slightly as they sit.
  • Adjust to taste: Add more vinegar for tang or a little extra sugar for sweetness.
  • Let it chill: The salad tastes great right away but is even better after an hour as the flavors develop.
broccoli salad with shredded cheese, seeds, broccoli florets and dried fruit in a small bowl next to a beige napkin.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I double this broccoli salad recipe?

Absolutely! This recipe yields one generous bowl. If you’d like to make a second bowl, just double the ingredient amounts.

Can I make broccoli salad ahead of time?

Yes! It tastes even better after chilling for a bit, so making it a few hours in advance is a great idea.

How long will broccoli salad last in the fridge?

It’s best eaten within 1-2 days for the freshest flavor and texture.

Can I add other ingredients to a broccoli salad ?

Yes! Feel free to add other vegetables, fruits, nuts, or seeds to customize your salad.

a small bowl of broccoli bacon salad with a fork on the side of the bowl.

Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients

If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:

If you’ve tried this small batch broccoli salad or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.

Also, if you take a picture please tag us on Instagram (@onedishkitchen) we’d love to see it!


Cooking For One Made Easy
Because you’re worth it

Broccoli Salad For One

5 from 4 votes
By: Joanie Zisk
Prep: 5 minutes
Total: 5 minutes
Servings: 1 serving
This single serving broccoli salad is a fresh, crunchy mix of broccoli, cheese, and other flavorful ingredients, all tossed in a creamy, tangy dressing. It’s a quick and satisfying dish that works as a light meal or a side.

Equipment

Ingredients 
 

  • 1 cup broccoli florets
  • ¼ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese (thickly shredded)
  • ¼ cup dried cranberries
  • 1 strip bacon -cooked and chopped in ¼-inch pieces
  • 3 tablespoons chopped red onions
  • 2 tablespoons sunflower seeds

For the dressing

  • ¼ cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tablespoons sour cream
  • 2 teaspoons white wine vinegar
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • ¼ teaspoon sugar
  • teaspoon salt
  • teaspoon black pepper
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Instructions 

  • In a large bowl, combine the broccoli, cheese, dried cranberries, bacon, onions, and sunflower seeds.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, vinegar, olive oil, sugar, salt, and pepper.
  • Pour the dressing over the salad and mix well. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.
  • Serve chilled.

Notes

  • Prep ahead: This salad comes together quickly, so read the recipe, check the ingredient notes, and gather everything before you start.
  • Cut broccoli into small pieces: Smaller florets coat better with dressing and soften slightly as they sit.
  • Adjust to taste: Add more vinegar for tang or a little extra sugar for sweetness.
  • Let it chill: The salad tastes great right away but is even better after an hour as the flavors develop.
 
 
 

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving, Calories: 855kcal, Carbohydrates: 36g, Protein: 18g, Fat: 78g, Saturated Fat: 16g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 31g, Monounsaturated Fat: 19g, Trans Fat: 0.1g, Cholesterol: 76mg, Sodium: 960mg, Potassium: 586mg, Fiber: 6g, Sugar: 26g, Vitamin A: 1055IU, Vitamin C: 84mg, Calcium: 298mg, Iron: 2mg

The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Welcome!

Iโ€™m Joanie, chef, author of The Ultimate Cooking for One Cookbook, and creator of One Dish Kitchen. With 10+ years of experience developing single serving and small batch recipes, Iโ€™m passionate about making cooking for one simple and enjoyable. So glad youโ€™re here!

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5 from 4 votes (1 rating without comment)

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Recipe Rating




6 Comments

  1. Jan Tinney says:

    I did not have sunflower seeds. I toasted some pecans and chopped them. Oh my goodness! Was very yummy! Will use the pecans next time I make it.

  2. Sanne says:

    Thank you for adding ideas for what to do with the leftover ingredients. I find this the hardest part about cooking for one. It’s not like you can make more salad and freeze it, so I rarely have them anymore since moving out.

    1. Joanie Zisk says:

      I’m glad you found our tips for using leftover ingredients helpful. Cooking for one can be tricky, especially with items like salad.

      As you might have noticed, we include ways to use leftover ingredients within our posts. Plus, we now have a Recipe Finder button at the top of each page. Just type in an ingredient, and you’ll see a list of our recipes that use it. This should help you make the most of your leftovers!

  3. M. Noey says:

    Really very good! I added more raisins to make it sweeter. Love how you have recipes available for leftover ingredients.
    Thank you so much.

  4. Evelyn says:

    The crunch of the celery, the bite of sweet with a little chew of the cranberry an=ll dressed in a lovely dressing that is not overly sweet. YUM!

  5. J. Hegyi says:

    Terrific recipe