This Broccoli Salad is a quick and easy summer salad that is loaded with veggies, bacon, raisins, and sunflower seeds. The creamy homemade dressing adds a delicious flavor.
Despite all the sugar and treats you see here, we usually eat lean and green meals for dinner.
This Veggie Salad is a staple in our fridge during the summer months. Actually, to be honest we eat that veggie salad all year long. Our kids love it with pasta added to it, and we add it to a spring mix along with some grilled chicken for a full meal.
A couple months ago we had a picnic with some of our family, and my mother-in-law brought a big bowl of easy broccoli salad with bacon. Most of the time I cannot stand eating raw broccoli, but for some reason I absolutely love it this way.
It has been years since I had eaten this salad, and I had forgotten how much I love it. I even went back for seconds of salad instead of dessert. Can you believe that?
I came home and made a big bowl of the simple broccoli salad for us to eat all week too. I just had to recreate it based on what I remembered from the picnic. Since I didn't have the recipe, I had to guess what was in the dressing.
I decided to use the dressing from this Cranberry Zucchini Slaw as my starting point. Since I'm not a fan of lots of dressing coating the veggies, I kept it to a minimum. If you like more, double the dressing ingredients.
We had a few extra apples leftover from making Biscoff Apple Muffins, so I added some chopped apples and transformed it into a broccoli apple salad. I love that they added a crunch and sweetness to the other ingredients.
I love how easy this salad is to make. 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 keep that ingredient!
How to make Broccoli Salad:
- Rinse the broccoli in water, then cut it into bite sized pieces.
- Combine the broccoli, cheese, raisins, sunflower seeds, and cooked bacon in a large bowl.
- Whisk together yogurt, mayo, vinegar, and sugar. Pour over the veggies and toss.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper. Refrigerate for at least one hour for the flavors to come together.
Just think...if you eat a big bowl of this healthy salad for dinner, then you could totally eat two desserts later. Right?
Other healthy salad recipes you may like:
- Healthy Pizza Zucchini Salad
- Strawberry Avocado Kale Salad
- Everything Tuna Salad
- Spinach Chicken Caprese Salad
- Taco Salad Bowls
Broccoli Salad
This Broccoli Salad is a quick and easy summer salad that is loaded with veggies, bacon, raisins, and sunflower seeds. The creamy homemade dressing adds a delicious flavor.
Ingredients
For the Salad
- 8 cups chopped fresh broccoli
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 cup raisins
- 2 cups finely diced apples
- ½ cup sunflower seeds
- 1 cup crumbled cooked bacon
For the Dressing
- ½ cup Greek yogurt
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Combine the broccoli, cheese, raisins, and sunflower seeds in a large bowl.
- Whisk together the yogurt, mayo, apple cider vinegar, and sugar.
- Pour over the ingredients in the bowl and toss until everything is lightly coated in dressing. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Refrigerate for a few hours before serving to allow the ingredients time to blend.
- Stir in the crumbled bacon right before serving, so it stays crunchy. Refrigerate leftovers in a sealed container.
Notes
*If you prefer more dressing on your broccoli salad, double the dressing ingredients.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 14 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 251Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 25mgSodium: 588mgCarbohydrates: 20gFiber: 4gSugar: 11gProtein: 10g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
Justine @prettyinpistachio
Yum looks delicious! This is the perfect lunch recipe and it's easily transportable!
Ginny
I 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!
Cherie
LOL. Why respond to this excellent classic recipe if you changed the whole darn recipe? Anyone with half a brain can do their own thing. That was rude to the author of the recipe.
Chels+R.
I LOVE broccoli salad!
Chelsea+@chelseasmessyapron
I 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
Thank you so much Chelsea!!!!
Michele+@+Alwayzbakin
That sounds amazing! I love broccoli salad. I've never tried it with apples and sunflower seeds. Can't wait!
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thanks Michele! The apples and sunflower seeds add a fun crunch and flavor!!!
Joan
Our local grocery stores sells a version of this. It is delicious, and very expensive. Now I can make our own.
Jocelyn Brubaker
Yay for making it at home and not spending extra money!!! I hope you like it!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice
I 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
I hope you enjoy it!! Thank you so much for the pin love 🙂
Kelly+-+Life+Made+Sweeter
I 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
The apples did add just the right extra crunch!!!
Elizabeth+@+Confessions+of+a+Baking+Queen
My mom would be all over this, I love apples in a broccoli salad! This one looks perfect 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thank you!!!
Heather+@+Shards+of+Lavender
My 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
I'm with you on not liking heavy overly creamy dressings. This one just has a touch of dressing so the salad really shines through.
Medha+@+Whisk+&+Shout
This looks amazing! Broccoli is a criminally underrated veggie... my favorite 🙂
Jocelyn Brubaker
Thank you and I totally agree!!!
Averie @ Averie Cooks
I love broccoli salad & would inhale this! All those veggies, textures, the vinegar dressing, yes please! pinned of course!
Jocelyn Brubaker
It's so easy to eat a lot of this salad!! So fresh and delicious! Thank you so much for the pin!