This broccoli salad recipe is a delicious cookout side dish! The creamy dressing is topped with fresh broccoli, dried cranberries, and toasted nuts and seeds.
This broccoli salad recipe is one of my favorite side dishes. Creamy and tangy homemade dressing coated with crunchy broccoli florets, chewy dried cranberries, sharp red onions, smoky toasted almonds and sunflower seeds. It’s a light spin on the traditional Midwestern broccoli salad. You won’t find cheese or bacon here, but it’s delicious in every way. Even salad skeptics love it.
Broccoli salad recipe is easy to make and even more delicious. from now on. Leaving it in the refrigerator for a few hours or a day will allow the broccoli to soften and absorb the intense flavor of the dressing. Pack it for a potluck, cookout, weeknight lunch, or serve as a holiday side dish. The jackpot is guaranteed!
Broccoli Salad Recipes That Are Good for You
Broccoli salad is a standard side dish, but a typical classic broccoli salad recipe is loaded with sugar, plenty of mayonnaise, bacon, and sharp cheddar cheese. My version is a fresher, healthier twist. No sugar, meat or cheese is used. The result is a crunchy, refreshing salad that will be the star of your cooking all summer long!
How to Make Broccoli Salad
The first step in this recipe is Cut broccoli. Cut the flower part into bite-sized pieces and dice the stem part into small pieces. Smaller pieces will be softer and absorb the dressing better than larger pieces.
Next, mix together your homemade broccoli salad dressing. Instead of using the usual 1 cup mayonnaise:2 tablespoons vinegar ratio for broccoli salad dressing, replace some of the mayonnaise with olive oil and increase the vinegar ratio. I also add a few teaspoons of Dijon mustard and a little honey to the mix. A light and very tangy dressing with a delicious sweet/salty flavor.
Add broccoli, red onion, and dried cranberries to the creamy dressing and stir well.
Now here’s the most important part: Smokey roasted nuts and seeds! Tamari almonds and sunflower seeds or pepitas add a nice crunch to the salad and give it a rich, smoky flavor. It’s the perfect nutritious alternative to real bacon and cheese.
easy to make—Toss almonds and seeds with tamari, maple syrup, and smoked paprika. Bake in a 350°F oven until golden brown, 10 to 14 minutes. Top the salad with nuts and seeds.
Season to taste and enjoy!
Find the full measured recipe below.
Best Broccoli Salad Recipe Tips
Want to make the best broccoli salad? Here are some quick tips:
- Cut the broccoli into small pieces. Because this salad contains raw broccoli, you need to make sure the pieces are small enough to be fully coated in the dressing and tender. Plus, if the broccoli pieces are similar in size to the other ingredients in the salad, you can get a little bit of everything in one bite.
- Leave it to marinate. This salad is delicious right out of the box, but it tastes even better after sitting in the fridge for a few hours (or days). The broccoli will soften and absorb the flavor of the dressing. My family loved it on day 3!
- Save some nuts for the last minute. Of course, I like to make this salad in advance so the flavor deepens, but the secret to making it great is the crunchy, smoky nuts and seeds on top. If you add it too early, it will lose its crunchy texture, so be sure to sprinkle it on just before eating!
How to save and make ahead
- If you make this recipe in advance Wait to add the almonds and sunflower seeds or pepitas. Store in an airtight container at room temperature. Store leftover salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Add nuts and seeds just before serving.
- If there is any salad leftStore in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
What to Serve with Broccoli Salad
This broccoli salad recipe is the perfect side dish for potlucks and cookouts! Serve with classic recipes like these:
End your meal with summer favorites like roasted pumpkin and grilled corn on the cob. Don’t forget the lemonade!
Our readers also love serving this salad for holidays like Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter.
More Salad Recipes You’ll Love
If you like this salad, try one of these easy salad recipes:
broccoli salad
serve 6
This broccoli salad recipe is the perfect and easy side dish! Tangy, refreshing and full of delicious sweet/salty flavors, this dish is a lighter version of the classic recipe, made with less mayonnaise and no sugar, meat or dairy.
Prevent your screen from going dark
- Preheat oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Cut the broccoli florets into ½-inch pieces and cut the remaining stems into ¼-inch dice. First, peel any woody or rough parts from the stem.
- Combine olive oil, mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, mustard, maple syrup, garlic, and salt in the bottom of a large bowl. Add broccoli, onion, and cranberries and toss to coat.
Place the almonds and sunflower seeds on a baking sheet, add the tamari, maple syrup, and smoked paprika, toss and spread evenly. Bake for 10 to 14 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes (they will get crispier if they sit).
Add nuts and seeds to the salad, reserving a few to sprinkle on top. Taste and serve.
*Note: Cut the flower parts into roughly ½ inch pieces. Dice the stems into smaller ¼-inch pieces.
