This Broccoli Salad is a healthy and delicious way to get your greens, dairy, and fruit. It is a great salad to bring to any picnic or party you may be going to for the long weekend.
Despite all the sugar and treats you see here and on my Instagram, we really do eat fairly healthy.
This Veggie Salad is a staple in our fridge during the summer months. Actually we eat this salad pretty much year round. Our kids love it with pasta added to it, and we usually top spinach or lettuce with the veggies.
A couple months ago we had a picnic with our family and my mother in law brought Broccoli Salad. It had been years since I had eaten this salad, and I forgot how much I loved it. I may have had seconds on salad instead of dessert. Can you believe that?
Anyway, I came home and wanted to make a big bowl of this for our fridge, but I did not have the recipe. So, I tried to recreate it based on what I remembered from the picnic.
I did add apples to the salad because I had those in my fridge, and I like how they added a crunch and sweetness to the broccoli.
I do not like overly creamy dressings when it comes to broccoli salad. If I’m eating veggies, I want the dressing to compliment it, not hide it. Mix together half greek yogurt and mayo to cut down on the fat in the dressing. A little bit of sugar and apple cider vinegar thins it out and gives it that tang that is so good with the veggies and fruit.
Bacon and sunflower seeds add a bit of crunch and salt to the salad.
I love how easy this salad is to mix up. Plus, if you don’t like something, leave it out or substitute something else. Well, except the broccoli. It is a broccoli salad, so you kind of have to leave it!
Just think…if you eat a big bowl of this salad at dinner, then you are totally justified to eat at least two desserts later. Right?
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Broccoli Salad
Ingredients
- 8 cups chopped fresh broccoli
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup raisins
- 2 cups diced apples
- 1/2 cup sunflower seeds
- 1 cup crumbled bacon
- 1/2 cup greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Combine the broccoli, cheese, raisins, sunflower seeds, and bacon in a large bowl.
- Whisk together the yogurt, mayo, apple cider vinegar, and sugar.
- Pour over the ingredients in the bowl and stir well.
- Season to taste with the salt and pepper. Refrigerate for a few hours before serving to allow the dressing to meld with the ingredients.
- Makes about 14 cups of salad. Keep refrigerated in a sealed container.
Notes
*This is an easy recipe to cut in half if you do not need a big bowl of salad.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
14Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving:Calories: 300 Total Fat: 20g Saturated Fat: 6g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 12g Cholesterol: 36mg Sodium: 765mg Carbohydrates: 20g Fiber: 4g Sugar: 11g Protein: 13g
A few more salads that are great for picnics and parties:
Averie @ Averie Cooks says
August 30, 2014 at 12:17 PMI love broccoli salad & would inhale this! All those veggies, textures, the vinegar dressing, yes please! pinned of course!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
September 18, 2014 at 11:38 AMIt’s so easy to eat a lot of this salad!! So fresh and delicious! Thank you so much for the pin!
[email protected]+Whisk+&+Shout says
August 30, 2014 at 3:18 PMThis looks amazing! Broccoli is a criminally underrated veggie… my favorite 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker says
September 18, 2014 at 11:38 AMThank you and I totally agree!!!
[email protected]+Shards+of+Lavender says
August 30, 2014 at 8:48 PMMy whole family just loves fresh broccoli! I love how you cut the fat by using Greek yogurt; I’m not a huge fan of overly creamy dressing on veggies either. I’d rather save my calories for something else:)
Jocelyn Brubaker says
September 18, 2014 at 11:40 AMI’m with you on not liking heavy overly creamy dressings. This one just has a touch of dressing so the salad really shines through.
[email protected]+Confessions+of+a+Baking+Queen says
August 31, 2014 at 1:26 PMMy mom would be all over this, I love apples in a broccoli salad! This one looks perfect 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker says
September 18, 2014 at 11:40 AMThank you!!!
Kelly+-+Life+Made+Sweeter says
September 1, 2014 at 3:16 PMI love this broccoli salad! I’m like you and not a fan of overly creamy when it comes to certain salads so this dressing sounds perfect! Love the added crunch from the apples in here too 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker says
September 18, 2014 at 11:41 AMThe apples did add just the right extra crunch!!!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
September 1, 2014 at 3:16 PMI love the looks of this broccoli salad, Jocelyn! The yogurt dressing sounds so light and refreshing, love it! What a perfect addition to my salad routines! Pinned!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
September 18, 2014 at 11:41 AMI hope you enjoy it!! Thank you so much for the pin love 🙂
Joan says
September 1, 2014 at 6:38 PMOur local grocery stores sells a version of this. It is delicious, and very expensive. Now I can make our own.
Jocelyn Brubaker says
September 18, 2014 at 11:42 AMYay for making it at home and not spending extra money!!! I hope you like it!
[email protected]+Alwayzbakin says
September 2, 2014 at 5:07 AMThat sounds amazing! I love broccoli salad. I’ve never tried it with apples and sunflower seeds. Can’t wait!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
September 18, 2014 at 11:44 AMThanks Michele! The apples and sunflower seeds add a fun crunch and flavor!!!
[email protected] says
September 2, 2014 at 8:00 AMI love broccoli salads! The addition of the apple is a great idea – I love a good crunchy salad! Pinned 🙂 I hope you had a great Labor Day weekend Jocelyn!
Jocelyn Brubaker says
September 18, 2014 at 11:44 AMThank you so much Chelsea!!!!
Chels+R. says
September 9, 2014 at 3:30 PMI LOVE broccoli salad!
Ginny says
September 15, 2014 at 4:43 AMI use water chestnuts, raisins, cashews, chopped ham, chopped celery, red onion also in mine! I also make my dressing with miracle Whip, white vinegar, sugar, and water. Delicious!
Justine @prettyinpistachio says
November 12, 2014 at 9:31 PMYum looks delicious! This is the perfect lunch recipe and it’s easily transportable!