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Broccoli, pecans, cranberries, carrots and apples come together to make an amazing salad with delicious flavors and textures. The creamy dressing on top makes this salad absolutely incredible!
Broccoli is amazing in salads, it adds crunch, nutrition and flavor. Some of the best salads with broccoli in them include Broccoli Cauliflower, Greek Broccoli Pasta and this incredible Bacon Ranch Pasta salad.
Easy Broccoli Apple Salad
Broccoli in salads is my favorite. I especially love this Broccoli Cashew Salad that is on the blog. But this Broccoli Apple Salad became an instant favorite! As I was eating it, I just couldn’t get enough! I knew this salad would be amazing but I wasn’t expecting it to become a new favorite! SO many delicious new textures and flavors in this salad. The broccoli, carrots, and red onion, was followed by the sweetness of the apples and dried cranberries. The pecans added another yummy flavor and crunch. The creamy dressing on top was THEE best. It completed this fresh and delicious salad perfectly. I know that if you make this salad, it will become an instant favorite as well!
At first you might think that broccoli and apples don’t go together, but they do, trust me. This is truly one of the best salads out there. It’s healthy, full of flavor and the dressing is even light. I traded out some of the mayonnaise for greek yogurt, giving you a boost of calcium, protein and cutting the fat. All without compromising on taste and tang. It’s going to be a new go to salad for sure!
Ingredients for Broccoli and Apple Salad
Full of fresh crunchy ingredients, this salad is truly satisfying and filling. You are going to love all the vegetables and the tangy dressing.
- Fresh Broccoli Florets: About 2 medium heads
- Shredded Carrots: You can sometimes find pre shredded carrots in the produce section
- Red Onion: Adds a bit of spice and tons of flavor.
- Apples: 2 large apples will work, pick sweet ones not tart or sour. I used Gala
- Pecans: Coarsely chopped
- Dried Cranberries: Perfect bit sweetness and tartness
Creamy Dressing Ingredients
- Light Mayonnaise: Creates the base of the dressing
- Low Fat Greek Yogurt: Gives it more creaminess and a nice bit of tang
- Lemon Juice: Adds a bit of tartness, and helps keep the apples fresh looking
- Sugar: Balances out the tart with a bit of sweet
- Salt and Pepper: Add more or less as desired.
How to Make Broccoli Salad with Apples
Chopping all the ingredients for this insanely delicious broccoli apple salad is the longest part of throwing this together. But it is so worth it. Add the flavors meld so perfectly together, it’s so good!
- Combine: In a large bowl combine broccoli, carrots, red onion, apples, pecans, and dried cranberries
- To make the dressing: Whisk together mayonnaise, greek yogurt, lemon juice, sugar, salt and pepper.
- Add: the dressing to the salad and toss to coat. Chill until ready to serve.
Why This Recipe Needs to be Made Today!
Besides being extremely delicious this broccoli apple salad has so many pros to it, you will truly want to keep this recipe close by.
- Nutritious: Packed with vegetables and fruit and even nuts, this broccoli salad is an immune boosting, fiber enhancing delicious dish. This salad is high in vitamin C, K and A plus it’s high in fiber. Pecans add protein and a healthy fat. Even though you have mayonnaise in the dressing, it’s such a big salad that the amount you’ll actually ingest is just little. Unless you eat the whole thing, which I wouldn’t blame you. It’s extremely diet friendly.
- Make Ahead: This broccoli apple salad actually tastes better if it sits for at least an hour. The flavors and the dressing all meld together in the most fantastic way. This non lettuce salad is full of hearty ingredients so this will stand up to being made ahead of time beautifully. It’s a great choice for packing in lunches, taking to potlucks, and having as leftovers. Make it ahead of time and free up time for making other dishes before dinner.
- Colorful: It’s been said we should eat the rainbow! Well, this broccoli apple salad is definitely a rainbow of colors! It’s as fun to look at as it is too eat! Not only isn’t appealing to the eyes, but to the tastebuds too! It’ll be a salad that gets eaten first at your next picnic
- Hearty and Satisfying: This salad is packed with nutritious ingredients that will not only taste good, but fill you up. The crunchiness satisfies your desire to chew and the high fiber will fill up your tummy!
Tips and Variations for Creamy Broccoli Apple Salad
This salad is delicious as a side dish for beef, fried chicken or even salmon. Or make it a highlight in a light meal served with a refreshing fruit salad and some breadsticks. Yummy!
- Make it Easy: You can make the prep for this salad even easier by buying pre shredded carrots, and pre cut broccoli florets.
- Substitute Dried Cranberries: Use raisins, golden raisins, or dried cherries instead of the cranberries if you wish.
- Nuts: Try using walnuts or cashews instead of pecans. Also try toasting them in a pan on the stovetop till fragrant and slightly browned for added flavor.
- Cheese: For a twist add blue cheese to the broccoli apple salad which adds incredible flavor.
- Apples: I used gala apples in this recipe. You want an apple on the sweeter side. Try Fuji or Braeburn as well for excellent results.
How to Store Apple Broccoli Salad
Broccoli Apple Salad keeps great for up to 3 days before it will start to really get soggy. It’ll still be good for another 2-3 days after, but the quality of the vegetables and fruit will decrease rapidly. If you plan to eat it all week long, try dividing the salad in half and only add dressing to the half you are eating up first. It will help keep the sogginess at bay.
More Broccoli Loving Recipes To Try
Broccoli is good for you, we all know that! I love it, but not everyone does. Sometimes we have to drown it in amazing cheese sauce or ranch dressing to get our kids or loved ones to eat it. Well, these recipes are tried and true and absolute favorites! So if you’re trying to get more good for you broccoli in your family’s diet, try one or all of these recipes! You won’t regret it!
- The Best Broccoli Cheese Soup
- Garlic Beef and Broccoli Noodles
- Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken and Broccoli over Rice
- 20 Min Beef and Broccoli Lo Mein
- Three Cheese Chicken Broccoli Alfredo
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Broccoli Apple Salad
Ingredients
- 4 cups fresh broccoli florets (about 2 medium heads)
- 1/2 cup shredded carrots
- 1/4 cup diced red onion
- 2 large apples finely chopped (I used gala apples)
- 1/2 cup pecans coarsely chopped
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
Creamy dressing ingredients:
- 1/2 cup lite mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup low fat greek yogurt
- 2 Tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 Tablespoon sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- In a large bowl combine broccoli, carrots, red onion, apples, pecans, and dried cranberries.
- Whisk together mayonnaise, greek yogurt, lemon juice, sugar, salt and pepper.
- Add the dressing to the salad and toss to coat. Chill until ready to serve.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
We love Broccoli Salad and have made it for years. I am anxious to try your version – It looks yummy!!
Made this tonight and loved it! I added chickpeas to make it a meal, and swapped out the mayo for 1 avocado mashed to lighten it even more. Then while I was eating it, I was struck with the inspiration that it would be even more amazing with strawberries, so I diced a couple up per serving and tossed them in, and I have to say, they really put this salad over the top! We’ll definitely be making this again! Thanks!
Made this for dinner tonight! Everyone loved it. I would probably up the dressing a little.
What a refreshing change from my normal broccoli salad. Thank you so much for sharing. Will be a normal salad for us now.
Do you have the Nutritional info on this Great sounding Salad?
Delicious. Cool and refreshing
I definitely will try this one!! Sounds refreshing!! I just made it for dinner with bacon bits as well!!.and n.ow carrots and apples and pecans…sounds great!!!
I’m going to try to half it , I live alone , ,and I would be eating it forever . I have never have tried Greek yogurt I love everything else though . Thanks
I was afraid of not trying greek yogurt to until last week. The flavor is much creamier
and not tart like the regular yoplait. The texture is creamier too. Love Dannon strawberry
Looks delicious! Would you post the nutritional info for this please?
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 278 g
Amount Per Serving
Calories 218Calories from Fat 95
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 10.6g16%
Saturated Fat 1.1g5%
Trans Fat 0.0g
Cholesterol 10mg3%
Sodium 470mg20%
Potassium 495mg14%
Total Carbohydrates 29.9g10%
Dietary Fiber 6.1g24%
Sugars 17.8g
Protein 3.1g
Vitamin A 58% • Vitamin C 164%
Calcium 5% • Iron 7%
Nutrition Grade A-
* Based on a 2000 calorie diet
Nutritional Analysis
Good points
Low in cholesterol
High in dietary fiber
Very high in vitamin A
Very high in vitamin B6
Very high in vitamin C
Bad points
Very high in sugar
Use Splenda Baking Blend instead of pure sugar. I do and it makes a major difference in calories and tastes good.
the calories from the sugar are only 45, BUT I *am* making it with plain Greek 0% fat yogurt
Thank you so much. We have a Type II and need to know the carb count. Fibre helps too. Looks like about a cupful is 2 carbs (15g x 2). 6 -7 are allowed for supper so all’s good.
Do the apples get brown in the leftovers?
The apples do not get brown because you have lemon juice on them. I’m eating some now that was made 48+ hours ago, still deliciously crispy!
I just finished making this about 2 minutes ago. I am not a fan of raw broccoli but my husband loves it. I saw this recipe and thought it sounded refreshing. I am so glad I decided to give it a go! It is delicious! The lemon to sweet ration is on point and I love the added pecans. Perfect addition to our Super Bowl festivities! The only change I made was no onions.
I am so glad you liked it!! I am not crazy about raw broccoli either but this salad is seriously amazing!!
Will the broccoli get soft at all, my family is not a fan of raw broccoli either?
Maybe you could LIGHTLY steam the broccoli so it’s still crispy but not totally raw, Tammy? (But I wouldn’t cook it completely because it will change the texture and flavor too much, I would think.) Just a thought.
Halved grapes both red and green are great in this also.
I have made the Broccoli Cashew Salad for years. I can’t wait to try this broccoli salad!! I’m sure it will be my new favorite salad too!! I have a family reunion coming up in March and this will definitely be included in what I take!
I am so going to try this salad, it looks amazing. thanks.
Do you know how long this would last in the fridge !!looks amazing
Oh this looks so yummy! I love broccoli too! It pretty much goes with anything. We always have it around too!
Broccoli is my favorite veggie by far, but I always just end up steaming it or simply roasting it, I need to get more creative. This looks so delicious and refreshing, the perfect way to switch things up a bit!
This is an awesome salad. Sometimes I put tiny little pineapple tidbits in it also! I took it to a Bible study meeting and everyone loved it and ate every morsel.
What kind and flavor of Greek yogurt do you use