Broccoli Salad Recipe (2024)

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Author: Imma

Broccoli Salad Recipe – quick and easy summer salad that makes a great potluck dish or a side to your grilled meat. Made with fresh broccoli, bacon bits, onions, grapes, dried cranberries and sunflower seeds tossed in a creamy, slightly sweet and tangy dressing. Everyone will surely rave about this!

Broccoli Salad Recipe (1)

My 10-year old son loves raw broccoli! I mean really, really love it! When given a choice between broccoli and burger, he’d no doubt go with broccoli. As for me, nah.. not that much. I eat broccoli because I have too. 😄 I remember when he was less than two years old, my husband would make him eat his own leftover broccoli. And our lovable son, would gladly ate everything! Well, so much for our parenting skills.

Lately, I have been making this broccoli salad at home – a salad I know everyone would enjoy (even though broccoli is the star ingredient). Once you start noshing on this, you would look forward to making it soon. For those on a diet, this should be on recipe box as it’s easy to make and full of wholesome healthy ingredients. Oh hello, summer bod!

How To Make Broccoli Salad

Broccoli Salad Recipe (2)

It’s sooo easy to prepare this dish which is why it has been one of our go-to summer salad. No blanching, steaming needed or whatesoever!

1. Simply chop and prepare the ingredients. Toss them all together (except for the sunflower seeds) in one large bowl. Around 2 heads of broccoli would yield around 5-6 cups of florets.

2. Then in another separate bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, honey, sugar, lemon juice or vinegar and finally salt and pepper to taste.

Tip: For a healthier route, I went with replacing half a cup of the mayo with plain Greek yogurt and it also adds creaminess that complements well with the flavor in this salad.

3. Finally, add the salad dressing to the chopped broccoli mixture. Throw in the sunflower seeds and mix well to combine. Voila! You’re now ready to serve it.

Tip: I prefer to reserve some of the dressing to drizzle it over the salad just before serving. This works perfectly to me!

Other Ingredients To Add To Broccoli Salad

I’ve made a couple of variation to this dish and what’s even more great about this is that you can add anything to this to make it YOUR kind-of-salad.

You can add in some mixed nuts for added crunch, shredded carrots and sliced apples. Or throw in some cheese cubes or swap the sunflower seeds with raisins. There’s just so many options for this dish!

Broccoli Salad Recipe (3)

My Other Favorite Salad Recipes

  • Strawberry Spinach Salad
  • Cucumber Tomato Salad
  • Creamy Cole Slaw Dressing
  • Easy Pasta Salad
  • 7 Layer Salad
  • Cajun Chicken Avocado Salad
  • Waldorf Salad

Broccoli Salad Recipe (4)

This crunchy salad , is relatively simple salad to to put together. You can make the dressing ahead of time and store in the fridge for up to 2-3 days. When ready to serve, just mix the broccoli mixture and the dressing, throw in the seeds (or nuts, if preferred) and you are good to go.

Enjoy!

Tips and Notes:

  1. When ever am making a salad, I try to cut down on the mayonnaise replacing it with Greek yogurt to minimize my calorie intake while still maintaining optimal flavor.
  2. Reserve some of the dressing to drizzle it over the salad just before serving.
  3. You can make the dressing ahead of time and store in the fridge for up to 2-3 days. Mix the dressing onto the salad right before serving.

This post was first published on August 2013 and has been updated with new photos, blog write up and recipe.

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Broccoli Salad Recipe (5)

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Broccoli Salad

Broccoli Salad Recipe - quick and easy summer salad that makes a great potluck dish or a side to your grilled meat. Made with fresh broccoli, bacon bits, onions, grapes, dried cranberries and sunflower seeds tossed in a creamy, slightly sweet and tangy dressing. Everyone will surely rave about this!

5 from 2 votes

Prep: 15 minutes mins

Total: 15 minutes mins

American

Servings 5 - 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 4 cups (284 g) chopped broccoli florets
  • 5-6 bacon , cooked and crumbled
  • 2 cups (302 g) grapes , sliced
  • cup (53 g) dried cranberries
  • ½ medium onion , diced
  • ½ cup (64 g) sunflower seeds

Salad Dressing

  • ½ cup (116 g) mayonnaise
  • ½ cup (122 g) Greek yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons (36 g) honey
  • 2 tablespoons (25 g) sugar
  • 1-2 tablespoons (15- 30 ml) lemon juice or vinegar
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (optiona)

Instructions

  • In a large bowl mix broccoli, bacon, grapes, dried cranberries and onions.

  • In another bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, honey, sugar, lemon juice or vinegar,salt and pepper and mustard , if using any. Then add to the broccoli mixture. Thrown in the sunflower seeds .

  • Mix well to combine and adjust for seasoning. Serve immediately or refrigerate before serving. Toss again before serving and drizzle with the remaining dressing, if needed.

Tips & Notes:

  1. When ever am making a salad, I try to cut down on the mayonnaise replacing it with Greek yogurt to minimize my calorie intake while still maintaining optimal flavor.
  2. Reserve some of the dressing to drizzle it over the salad just before serving.
  3. You can make the dressing ahead of time and store in the fridge for up to 2-3 days. Mix the dressing onto the salad right before serving.

Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on products used

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 97kcal (5%)| Carbohydrates: 1g| Protein: 3g (6%)| Fat: 9g (14%)| Saturated Fat: 3g (19%)| Cholesterol: 15mg (5%)| Sodium: 157mg (7%)| Potassium: 60mg (2%)| Fiber: 1g (4%)| Sugar: 1g (1%)| Vitamin C: 0.8mg (1%)| Calcium: 3mg| Iron: 0.1mg (1%)

Author: Imma

Course: Salad, Side

Cuisine: American

Tag Us On Instagram!Did you make this recipe? I love hearing how it turned out! Tag me on Instagram @ImmaculateBites and be sure to leave a rating below!

Nutrition Facts

Broccoli Salad

Amount Per Serving

Calories 97Calories from Fat 81

% Daily Value*

Fat 9g14%

Saturated Fat 3g19%

Cholesterol 15mg5%

Sodium 157mg7%

Potassium 60mg2%

Carbohydrates 1g0%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 3g6%

Vitamin C 0.8mg1%

Calcium 3mg0%

Iron 0.1mg1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Broccoli Salad Recipe (6)

In a large bowl mix broccoli, bacon, grapes, dried cranberries and onions. In another bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, honey, sugar, lemon juice or vinegar, salt , pepper and mustard , if using any,

Broccoli Salad Recipe (7)

Then add to the broccoli mixture. Thrown in the sunflower seeds. Mix well to combine and adjust for seasoning. Serve immediately or refrigerate before serving. Toss again before serving and drizzle with the remaining dressing, if needed.

Reader Interactions

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Comments & Reviews
    • ImmaculateBites says

      Yes you can.

      Reply

  1. Nkese says

    This salad is fabolous. It’s a great way to also get the benefits of broccoli . I did not have Greek yoghurt but it still came out super tasty. Imma.

    Reply

    • ImmaculateBites says

      Awesome! Thanks for taking time out to share Nkese.

      Reply

  2. Kdee says

    Hi!!! I’m planning to make this delicious looking salad tonight, but before I head out to the store I just wanted to confirm… in the comment section some folks mention mustard. I don’t see this ingredient listed. Should we be adding mustard to the mayo and Greek yogurt?

    Reply

    • ImmaculateBites says

      You can add 1 teaspoon mustard – it’s optional.

      Reply

  3. Heike says

    What an exciting idea for briccoli.!Thank you

    Reply

    • imma africanbites says

      You’re welcome. Hope you enjoy this!

      Reply

  4. Linda MacLean says

    I’m trying to keep track of my calories. How many servings does this make.

    Reply

    • imma africanbites says

      It’s around 5-6 servings.

      Reply

  5. Christine says

    The grapes kick it over into awesome for me.

    Reply

    • ImmaculateBites says

      Thanks Christine!

      Reply

    • Wifeofthelacq says

      I love your blog but too much ads while watching the video.. also pls where can I get the creole seasoning ?

      Reply

      • ImmaculateBites says

        Thanks for bringing this to my attention, will look into it. I have a homemade creole seasoning here https://www.africanbites.com/creole-seasoning/.

  6. sandra dunning says

    How much mustard? any special kind?

    Reply

    • ImmaculateBites says

      Sandra, thanks for pointing that out-recipe updated !

      Reply

  7. Meri says

    Broccoli Salad Recipe (8)
    Thanks to your recipe I made this and it tastes AMAZING! Love it 🙂

    Reply

  8. MC says

    Mustard or mayonnaise?? The ingredients list only says mayo, but in the instructions, it says mayo and mustard…

    Reply

    • Africanbites says

      Mc, mustard and mayo, recipe updated .Let me know how it turns out. Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply

  9. Food to Fitness says

    Looks amazing. Thanks for the recipe.

    Reply

    • Africanbites says

      Thanks for leaving a comment.

      Reply

Broccoli Salad Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is broccoli salad made of? ›

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.

What to serve with broccoli salad? ›

This broccoli salad is so easy to make, I whip it up almost every time we BBQ. It's the perfect side dish to go with grilled or smoked chicken, beef, pork or sausage!

Why do you blanch broccoli for salad? ›

Blanching vegetables is a quick cooking method that retains nutrients. A quick blanch in boiling water also softens the broccoli just a bit, and brightens the green color. While I personally love raw broccoli salads, I know some do not. Blanched broccoli still has a crunchy snap, just a bit softer.

How to make brocoli salad? ›

Whisk together mayonnaise, cider vinegar and honey. Toss salad ingredients with dressing: Combine broccoli florets, almonds, crumbled bacon, chopped onion, and peas in a large serving bowl. Add dressing to the salad and toss to mix well.

What is the active ingredient in broccoli? ›

Broccoli and its active ingredient, sulforaphane were reported to possess tremendous pharmacological activities such as anticancer, antimicrobial, antidepressant, antihypertensive and antidiabetic to mention but few.

Can you eat broccoli raw in a salad? ›

Serving broccoli raw is an excellent option, since it retains these nutrients and the enzyme that forms isothiocyanate compounds. Before serving on a relish tray or salad, quickly blanching and cooling allows you to get even a bit more of these compounds.

What is broccoli slaw dressing made of? ›

1For the dressing: Whisk together the mayonnaise, vinegar, honey, salt, and pepper in a large bowl until smooth. 2For the slaw: Add the broccoli slaw, broccoli florets, carrots, cabbage, green onions, raisins, and sunflower kernels to the dressing; stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate 1 hour or overnight.

What is the healthiest way to serve broccoli? ›

Cooking (Or Not Cooking) Broccoli To Protect Its Nutritional Riches : The Salt Cooking broccoli too long destroys the beneficial enzyme that breaks down chemicals into cancer fighters. The best way to eat it is raw or steamed for just two to three minutes, a nutrition expert says.

Is it OK to eat broccoli every day? ›

Regularly incorporating broccoli into your daily diet can contribute to stronger bones and potentially lower the risk of conditions such as osteoporosis. Broccoli can be a beneficial inclusion in the diet of those seeking to manage their weight.

How long will broccoli salad last in the fridge? ›

This should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Broccoli salad doesn't freeze well. As a result, make it and enjoy it within a few days!

How long will broccoli last in the fridge? ›

Fresh broccoli lasts between 3 to 5 days in the fridge when properly stored. “For cut-up broccoli, I would say no more than 4 days for optimal use,” Amidor says. “But it's best to cut from the whole head right before cooking or eating to maintain nutrients.”

What happens if you don't blanch broccoli? ›

If you don't blanch your broccoli, it will turn color and acquire a bitter taste. You can either stick it in boiling water for three minutes to blanch, or steam it for five minutes, whichever you choose.

How many minutes do you blanch broccoli? ›

Fill a large bowl with cold water and ice. Carefully lower the broccoli florets into the boiling water and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. The broccoli should be bright green and just barely tender. With a slotted spoon, remove the broccoli and immediately plunge into the ice water.

How long to boil broccoli? ›

Peel the stem and trim right where the florets branch off. Break apart the florets. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the broccoli florets and cook, uncovered, until tender, 2 to 3 minutes depending on the size of the florets.

What are the healthy ingredients in broccoli? ›

Broccoli is a rich source of antioxidants, including vitamins C, K, and A. It also contains several important minerals, including potassium, calcium, and iron. These antioxidants help protect the body from oxidative stress and reduce inflammation.

How do restaurants make broccoli so good? ›

How do restaurants make broccoli taste so good? As with everything made by chefs, they have unexpected (read: unhealthy) additions to their meals — mostly butter, oil and heaps of salt. An excellent tip for the perfect broccoli is the blanching step.

What is the difference between broccoli and broccoli heads? ›

The dark green broccoli plant has a firm stalk and branching arms that end in heads of florets. Broccoli heads are actually groups of buds that are almost ready to flower; each group of buds is called a floret.

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