Chicken Bacon Ranch Broccoli Salad
This Chicken Bacon Ranch Broccoli Salad is packed with crisp broccoli, juicy chicken, crispy bacon, sharp cheddar cheese, sweet dried cranberries, and crunchy sunflower seeds, all tossed in a rich and creamy homemade ranch dressing. It’s the perfect make-ahead side dish for BBQs, potlucks, meal prep, holidays, and easy family dinners.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Chill Time: 30 MINS
- Cook Time: 10 MINUTES
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
For the Salad
- 6 cups fresh broccoli florets, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 cups cooked chicken breast, diced
- 8 slices bacon, cooked until crispy and chopped
- 1½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- ½ cup diced red onion
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- ½ cup roasted sunflower kernels
- ¼ cup sliced green onions (optional)
Homemade Ranch Dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 tablespoons buttermilk
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon dry ranch seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, buttermilk, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, ranch seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, pepper, and salt until smooth and creamy.
- Add the broccoli, chicken, bacon, cheddar cheese, red onion, dried cranberries, sunflower kernels, and green onions to a large glass mixing bowl.
- Pour the homemade ranch dressing over all of the salad ingredients.
- Gently toss everything together until evenly coated.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
- Toss once more before serving and enjoy chilled.
Notes
- Rotisserie chicken works great for a quick shortcut.
- Chop the broccoli into small bite-sized florets for the best texture.
- Cook the bacon until extra crispy so it stays crunchy.
- Make up to 24 hours ahead for even better flavor.
- Substitute plain Greek yogurt for half of the mayonnaise for a lighter dressing.
- Add chopped pecans or sliced almonds for extra crunch.
- Fresh grapes or diced apples make a delicious sweet addition.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.