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Home » Recipes » Lunch » Salad + Dressing » Broccoli Apple Salad

Sep 16, 2016(updated May 19, 2022)

Broccoli Apple Salad

4.71 from 27 votes
By Dani Spies
Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

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You can never go wrong with a cool salad on a warm day and my family goes crazy for this delicious Broccoli Apple Salad! It’s loaded with broccoli, carrots, red onion, apple, sunflower seeds, cranberries and it’s tossed in a creamy, tangy dressing. It’s easy to make, feeds a crowd and is perfect for potlucks and family gatherings.

Broccoli apple salad in a white bowl.

Cold broccoli salad has been a staple in our house for as long as I can remember. We often serve it as a side dish for burgers or grilled chicken and it’s always the dish to bring to potlucks! Needless to say, we have had a lot of practice to PERFECT this easy broccoli apple salad.

This broccoli salad recipe gets dressed with a sweet, tangy and creamy homemade dressing. It’s the perfect ratio of dressing to salad. I hate when a broccoli salad recipe is too dry or too soggy with dressing. This is the perfect amount! In my opinion, this version is the best one around – it’s got plenty of fresh veggies, a hint of sweetness from the apples and cranberries, and a nice crunch from the sunflower seeds. Everyone will be asking you for this recipe!

Broccoli Salad with carrots and apples.

Ingredients needed

This vibrant, fresh, nutritious salad is filled with good-for-you ingredients that pair wonderfully together! Here’s what you’ll need to make it:

  • Produce. We’re using broccoli (of course), carrots, red onion, and apple.
  • Mix-ins. Roasted sunflower seeds add crunch and a little saltiness and dried cranberries give this salad a hint of natural sweetness.
  • For the dressing. You’ll need Greek yogurt (or a plant-based yogurt for a vegan option), mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, honey, salt and pepper.
Ingredients for broccoli salad divided into small bowls.

Ingredient swaps

Want to change things up? Here’s some recommendations for substituting in this salad recipe:

  • Veggies. This recipe would work well with shredded Brussels sprouts, cauliflower florets or even kale.
  • Different add-ins. Instead of sunflower seeds, try slivered almonds or chopped pecans. And if you don’t have dried cranberries on hand, dried cherries, chopped Medjool dates or chopped dried apricots would be delicious.
  • Dressing. I really like the flavor that the small amount of mayo gives the salad, but you can always use all Greek yogurt to save on some fat and calories. If you don’t have apple cider vinegar, you can use red wine vinegar or white wine vinegar.
  • Add protein. To make this salad a main dish, add 1 can of drained chickpeas, some grilled chicken, grilled salmon or crispy bacon.
Combining salad ingredients in a large bowl.

How to make this recipe

Broccoli apple salad is super simple to throw together! Here’s the simple method:

Please see the recipe card, below, for the full, printable recipe.

  1. Combine produce. In a large bowl, combine the broccoli, carrots, red onion, apples, sunflower seeds and dried cranberries.
  2. Make the dressing. In a spouted glass or mason jar, stir together the mayonnaise, yogurt, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, honey, salt and pepper. Whisk until well combined.
  3. Toss the salad. Pour the dressing over the salad and mix until everything is well combined and broccoli is coated with the dressing mixture. This salad is great served chilled or at room temperature. Enjoy!
Whisking dressing in a liquid measuring glass.
Pouring dressing over salad.

Tips for recipe success

A few notes for the best broccoli apple salad every time:

  • Does the broccoli need to be cooked? Nope! This healthy broccoli salad uses raw broccoli and is traditionally served raw in broccoli salad. The dressing marinates it as it sits. If you’re sensitive to raw veggies like broccoli, feel free to lightly steam or blanch it.
  • Chop veggies small. Be sure to chop your broccoli and dice your red onion fine, so that all of the ingredients are nicely dispersed and you don’t end up with large pieces in each bite.
  • Favorite apple variety. I personally like to use Honeycrisp apples for any apple recipe. The tart apples pair really well with the sweet dressing and makes for a great flavor. They are also firm enough to hold up to being stirred into the salad. Other great apple options are Fuji, Braeburn and/or Pink Lady apples.

Variations

We love this recipe as written, but feel free to change up the ingredients a bit depending on what you have on hand. Here’s some ideas:

  • Fruit. Try using raisins or another dried fruit instead of cranberries. You could also use pears or grapes instead of apples.
  • Cheese. Traditional broccoli salads usually have cheese mixed in. If you’d like, stir in about 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese or small cubes of cheese.
  • Nuts/seeds. Any favorite nuts or seeds work great in this salad! If you have an allergy or just don’t care for nuts, simply omit them.
  • Vegetables. Substitute half of the broccoli for cauliflower florets. You could also mix in diced celery, some shredded Brussels sprouts and/or a handful of kale.

How many calories in broccoli salad

This recipe has 171 calories per portion. Perfect for a healthy side dish, packed full of vegetables!

Make ahead and storing

The best part about this salad is that it gets even better over time as it marinates in the dressing. This makes it a great option for meal prep and making ahead of time. You can be make it up to 8 hours before you plan to serve it.

Store the salad in an airtight container (or a few meal prep containers) for up to 4 days and enjoy all week long!

Broccoli apple salad made with shredded carrots in a white bowl.

More healthy side dish recipes to try

Looking for more easy sides? Here are some faves:

  • Italian Pasta Salad
  • Green Bean Almondine
  • Easy Roasted Vegetables
  • Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta
  • Dairy-Free Mashed Potatoes
  • Roasted Radishes

If you make and enjoy this Broccoli Apple Salad recipe, be sure to leave a comment and ★ rating below letting me know how they turned out. Your feedback is so helpful for me and our Clean & Delicious community (thank you!).

Broccoli apple salad in a white bowl.
Print Recipe
4.71 from 27 votes

Broccoli Apple Salad

You can never go wrong with a cool salad on a warm day and my family goes crazy for this delicious Broccoli Apple Salad! It's loaded with broccoli, carrots, red onion, apple, sunflower seeds, cranberries and it's tossed in a creamy, tangy dressing. It's easy to make, feeds a crowd and is perfect for potlucks and family gatherings.
Course: LUNCH, salad + dressing, sides
Cuisine: American, gluten free, vegetarian
Author: Dani Spies
Prep Time20 mins
Total Time20 mins
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 228kcal

Ingredients

  • 6 cups broccoli florets
  • 1/2 cup shaved carrots
  • 1/3 cup diced red onion
  • 1 large apple chopped (1 cup)
  • 1/2 cup roasted sunflower seeds
  • 1/3 cup dried cranberries chopped
  • 3/4 cup Greek yogurt (choose plant based for vegan option)
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp. honey
  • 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  • In a large bowl combine the broccoli, carrots, red onion, apples, sunflower seeds and dried cranberries.
    Combining salad ingredients in a large bowl.
  • In a glass spouted cup or mason jar, combine mayonnaise, yogurt, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, honey, salt and pepper. Whisk until well combined.
  • Add the dressing over the salad and mix until everything is well combined and all of the broccoli has a light coating of the dressing. Serve and enjoy.

Notes

Store the salad in an airtight container (or a few meal prep containers) for up to 4 days and enjoy all week long!

Nutrition

Calories: 228kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 5mg | Sodium: 383mg | Potassium: 475mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 2378IU | Vitamin C: 85mg | Calcium: 90mg | Iron: 1mg

Gluten Free, Low Carb + Keto, Recipes, Salad + Dressing, Sides, Vegetarian, Video

About Dani Spies

Dani Spies is the founder and host of Clean & Delicious; a weekly cooking show on YouTube and a healthy eating blog that celebrates real, whole foods! She takes a holistic approach to health and wellness and is loved for her approachable, down to earth style both in and out of the kitchen.

Learn MoreWork With Me

Reader Interactions

Yum! I love this recipe.

    Leave a review Cancel reply

    If you loved this recipe please leave a comment and star rating below. Questions are also welcome. Cheers!

    Recipe Rating




    Comments

  1. margot says

    September 19, 2016 at 5:51 am

    5 stars
    This salad is so  tasty. Easy to make ,good for you and my family of meat eaters will eat it.Heaven pure heaven! Thanks Danni

    Reply
    • Dani says

      September 20, 2016 at 9:10 am

      5 stars
      Anytime! So glad you enjoyed it Margot:)

      Reply
  2. Kandi Brooks says

    September 24, 2016 at 1:49 pm

    5 stars
    Eating for lunch right now Dani and it’s delicious!  Thanks for sharing !

    Reply
    • Dani says

      September 27, 2016 at 10:44 am

      5 stars
      Yay! So glad you are enjoying it:)

      Reply
  3. Nancy says

    September 26, 2016 at 11:48 am

    5 stars
    Dani – This looks so delicious and healthy but sadly I am not a fan of mayonnaise or yogurt dressings .  Would you have any suggestions for a vineagrette type dressing that would work?

    Reply
    • Dani says

      September 27, 2016 at 10:26 am

      5 stars
      Hmmmm, the creamy factor seems to play a part in this recipe. How would you feel about a little bit of ranch dressing?

      Reply
    • Deidra says

      September 15, 2017 at 4:47 pm

      5 stars
      I just made it vegan by leaving out the mayo and yogurt-still delicious!!

      Reply
  4. Mary Ann says

    October 1, 2016 at 6:53 pm

    5 stars
    My husband took our granddaughter for a ride in the hot rod truck and picked up fresh broccoli from the farm stand.  He didn’t know that I printed the recipe yesterday.  It was super yummy. I didn’t have any cherries so I used dried cranberries.  Next is the grain free apple crisp. Thanks Dani

    Reply
    • Dani says

      October 4, 2016 at 4:28 pm

      5 stars
      fantastic!! So glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply
  5. David says

    February 4, 2017 at 1:32 am

    5 stars
    Hey Dani,

    You say that it lasts 3-5 days in the fridge. Is that after the application of the dressing, or is it only good if you store ‘raw’ and then add dressing as you go?

    Thanks,
    David 🙂

    Reply
    • Dani says

      February 4, 2017 at 7:20 am

      5 stars
      It will definitely last longer sans the dressing and up to 3 days with the dressing. Hope that helps!

      Reply
  6. Tina says

    February 21, 2017 at 7:47 pm

    5 stars
    Hi Dani!! This salad was awesome!!! I have never eaten raw brocolli and cauliflower and enjoyed it in a dish until I made this salad!! I really liked it!! You have done it again another delicious recipe! You have really helped me with your recipes to eat healthy and it is sooooo easy because your food taste’s great!!! Love your turkey burger recipes!! Please come up with new turkey burger recipes!! Thanks for the delicious food and inspiration!!!!

    Reply
  7. Marisa says

    March 13, 2017 at 12:07 pm

    5 stars
    Dani! You never fail me! This salad is fantastic. I followed your recipe to a T! Oh my – so yum!!! I am having this with your BBQ crackpot chicken for lunch and it is the perfect pairing! For dessert? One of your coconut flour chocolate chip cookies (it was a C&D kind of meal prep!). I will leave a comment on that recipes for others to see. Seriously, every recipe is perfect. Thank you so much!

    Reply
    • Dani says

      March 20, 2017 at 11:32 am

      5 stars
      Awe! Thanks so much for letting me know Marissa, I LOVE hearing about the recipes you try!!

      Reply
  8. Michal says

    September 19, 2017 at 8:53 am

    5 stars
    Dani, this is a fabulous recipe! I made it last week and I just made it again yesterday. I make the whole thing, divide into 6 containers and keep in the fridge. Easy, delicious and healthy grab-and-go lunch for work.
    I added about half a cup of halved grapes and love how it came out.
    Thank you for a winning recipe! It’s definitely a keeper and I will gladly make it over and over again.

    Reply
  9. Lisa Zurek says

    June 4, 2018 at 12:10 pm

    5 stars
    Loved this salad and will be making it again.

    Reply
  10. Sandy says

    October 3, 2018 at 4:58 am

    5 stars
    You come up with the best recipes Dani! Glad we got to e-know each other so many years ago! Can’t wait to try this!

    Reply

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Hi, I’m Dani.

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