Baking Bonus: Best Broccoli Salad with Italian Dressing
This is hands down the best broccoli salad I have ever had. I got the recipe from the cafeteria at my work. Don’t be fooled, this isn’t a typical cafeteria recipe; it is divine!
So delicious 😋😋😋😋😋
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Assemble the Ingredients
Easy to make: 5/5 on the Easy as Pie scale 🥧🥧🥧🥧🥧
This is hands down the best broccoli salad I have ever had. I discovered it at the cafeteria where I work and I became obsessed! I was always checking the menu for when it would be offered and those days I always ate in the cafeteria. I eventually had the nerve to ask for the recipe. I found it easy to make and even though it makes a big batch, it always gets finished in my home.
Take this to a picnic, no mayo to worry about spoiling! Whenever I share at a potluck, I am always asked for the recipe. So with full respect to the original creator, Dana, I have decided to share this amazing salad with the world.
The secret ingredient in this recipe is the celery seed. The celery seeds at a zing and an umami that make the salad taste deluxe. Don’t skip this ingredient or try to use a substitute.
The 32 ounce package of fresh broccoli (found at Sam’s Club) is the perfect amount of broccoli for this recipe.
Chop the Onion into small pieces and broccoli into bit size pieces.
Put in a large mixing bowl with the carrots and sliced tomatoes.
Kitchen Trick:
If you have a lot of cherry or grape tomatoes that need to be cut in half, follow this tip. Lay them flat on a cutting board and press a second cutting board on top of them. Then use a serrated bread knife to slice them horizontally between the cutting boards. It is so fast!
- Double-sided, non-porous surfaces resist odors and won't dull knife blades
- Integrated drip-catchers and easy-pour corners minimize messes
- Non-slip feet keep boards in place while chopping and slicing
- Durable and dishwasher safe
Mix together the spices and the pour over the vegetable.
Toss the salad to distribute the spices.
Then add desired amount of Italian Dressing. I used a little less than half the bottle.
Second Bonus:
The pigs in a blanket you see in the pictures are Lil Smokies with Cheddar, wrapped in a canned crescent roll that was cut into 3 pieces. The secret is to air fry the lil smokies first to get a crispy outer texture. Then put them on the strip of crescent roll dough, sprinkle with cheddar cheese. Finally, brush them with butter and sprinkle with Everything Bagel seasoning and bake as long as the directions say on the canned dough or until the dough is nicely browned.
Best Broccoli Salad with Italian Dressing
Ingredients
- 32 ounce package of fresh broccoli
- 2 cups shredded carrots
- 1 large purple onion
- 2 cups grape tomatoes
- 2 Tbsp celery seed
- 2 Tbsp Kosher salt
- 2 Tbsp black pepper
- 2 Tbsp Italian seasoning
- 2 Tbsp garlic powder
- Italian dressing to coat
Instructions
- Chop broccoli into bite sized pieces
- Chop onion into small pieces
- Slice grape tomatoes in half
- Combine all of the seasonings
- Toss seasoning over vegetables
- Pour dressing, toss again
- Refrigerate before serving
What would I do differently next time?
I have made this recipe several times and I have never made any changes. It is perfect as is.
Will I make it again?: Yes! 
I usually read and review books with recipes, but I add a baking bonus every once in a while. Here are some of the best.
Date Filled Cookies. A family recipe from my Great Grandma Lydia
Chocolate Raspberry Cake Balls were created after a failed cupcake recipe.
Clotted Cream to use on any baked good, but especially scones.
Plus a recipe I use whenever I have to coat a pan for baking
Pan Coat, a shelf stable non-stick coating.
