I am a little bit in love with broccoli salad. Raw broccoli plain has got to be the worst thing in the world, but once you put it with the creamy dressing, olive oil, cheddar cheese, and all the flavor, it suddenly becomes the best food in the world.
These simple ingredients will turn your traditional mayo broccoli salad into the best broccoli salad recipe of your dreams. This salad will be sure to get a 5 star rating from all those who partake in this perfect recipe. Although, the only way to know is to try it out for yourself.
I am not a huge fan of the creamy mayo sauce, so I found another version of this creamy dressing recipe that is much healthier and has less fat. It allows for the crisp texture of the raw veggies to shine through to create the perfect side dish.
If you are looking for a simple, healthy, and classic side dish, this is one I highly recommend. It is an easy recipe to throw together these simple ingredients and it will taste absolutely amazing.
Recipe Ingredient Notes
To make our healthy broccoli salad, you need the following ingredients:
- Fresh broccoli (roughly chopped)
- Apples (diced)
- Sweet onion (diced)
- Craisins (preferred low-sugar)
- Sugar
- Apple cider vinegar
- Dijon mustard
- Canola oil
- Ground black pepper
- Salt
Equipment Needed
For this recipe, you only need a few simple kitchen tools. We recommend using the following equipment:
How to Make Healthy Broccoli Salad
- In a large bowl, add broccoli, apples, onion, and Craisins. Gently mix together.
- In a medium bowl, combine remaining ingredients.
- Fold dressing into broccoli mixture until broccoli is completely covered.
- Cover the bowl and chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours before serving to let the flavors meld together.
- You could also make this dish the day before.
Frequently Asked Questions
Some broccoli salads will have you blanch the broccoli before making the salad (which means to cook it for a short time in boiling water and then cool it down in an ice bath), but for this recipe it’s not needed. I feel that raw, fresh broccoli is the best in this dish and with all the other ingredients that are added to compliment the broccoli, blanching is not a necessary step. Toss that broccoli in a bowl and move on to the next step!
Many times, the dressing that is on broccoli salad is mayo and sugar. For this recipe, I am using ingredients that are big on flavor, but lighter on calories and fat.
Enjoy More Delicious Green Salads
Want to add more veggies to your meals? Browse our comprehensive list of salad recipes.
- Homemade Caesar Salad and Dressing
- Layered Cobb Salad
- Loaded Broccoli Salad
- Mangoberry Salad
- Santa Barbara Cobb Salad
- Seven Layer Green Salad
- Spring Salad with Homemade Lemon Poppyseed Dressing
- Strawberry Spinach Salad and Homemade Poppy Seed Dressing
- Taco Salad
- Walnut Pear Salad
Healthy Broccoli Salad
Ingredients
- 2 heads fresh broccoli, roughly chopped
- 2 apples, diced
- ¼ cup sweet onion, diced
- ½ cup low sugar craisins
- 2 Tablespoons sugar
- 6 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons Dijon Mustard
- 1 Tablespoon canola oil
- ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- salt, to taste
Instructions
- In a large bowl, add broccoli, apples, onion, and Craisins. Gently mix together.
- In a medium bowl, combine remaining ingredients.
- Fold dressing into broccoli mixture until broccoli is completely covered.
- Cover the bowl and chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours before serving to let the flavors meld together.
- You could also make this dish the day before.
Notes
Nutrition
Did You Make This Recipe?We’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave a review or a question in the comment section below the post.
Looks fantastic! I love me some broccoli salad but it is usually really bad for you (all that mayo). Can’t wait to try this one!
it says in the summary at the bottom that there’s cranberries and the photo looks like there’s cranberries as well but I don’t see how much to add in the recipe. How much do you suggest? Thank you! Looks yummy!
Oh Thank you! I can’t believe I left that out! It is half a cup. I will add it right now! Thanks again!
– Kristen
This looks and sounds very yummy! But, I have read and re-read the ingredient list and don’t see the quantity of cranberries used that resulted in the “perfect amount of apples and cranberries.” Is it there & I am just not seeing it? 😉 Thanks!
Also, several family members & friends are on our 3rd 8 week get healthy/lose weight challenge. My niece lost 13 lbs. the first go round and won that category the 2nd time too.
Strive to persevere, and you will succeed. 🙂
April
This recipe sounds good to bring to a picnic or bbq. Can’t wait to try it!
The cranberries are Craisins! 🙂
The cranberries are the craisins! 🙂
Thank you ! I was about to “make up” this recipe. Happy to not use mayo. Time to get chopping. 🙂
I have made this several times now. It is a great side dish and I love how healthy it is. Even my son loves it. Thanks!
Sounds delicious! Is canola oil the only oil option or can another be used?
Thanks!
What is a serving size?
Not bad. Just a little too much vinegar for my taste. May try again with less vinegar. Thanks!
Would the amount of chopped broccoli be about 4 cups? Broccoli head sizes can vary. I’ve made another broccoli salad recipe, but it called for mayo, which I’m trying to avoid. It did include 1/2 cup shredded carrot and 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts, so I assume these could be added to this recipe.
Hi Patrice. This recipe is so flexible. You can add more or less of any ingredients/veggies that you want. 4 cups is a good amount of broccoli.
Thank you, Cyd.
Very good! I added some pumpkin seeds too.