Healthy Colorful Creamy Broccoli Salad

Last Updated on June 20, 2025

This Creamy Broccoli Salad will become one of your favorite side dishes during warmer weather because it’s colorful, flavorful and loaded with healthy ingredients.

You might be surprised, but the added sweetness from the apples, raisins and honey make this a popular vegetable dish with the kids too. Plus, it’s the perfect make-ahead dish for potlucks, barbecues, or easy weeknight meals.

What makes this broccoli salad stand out is the balance of textures and flavors—crunchy veggies, chewy raisins, crisp apples, and a creamy honey-yogurt dressing that ties it all together. Whether you’re looking for a new side dish to add to your rotation or a creative way to get more veggies into your meals (like making the veggie variation of copycat Chick fil A mac and cheese) , this salad checks all the boxes.

Jump to:

• Benefits of Using Raw Broccoli in a Salad
• SAVE THIS RECIPE!
• ❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
• 🥘 Ingredients
• 🔀 Substitutions
• 🌈 Variations / Options / Add-Ins
• 🥄 Equipment Needed / Helpful Tools
• Tired of Ads?
• 🔪 How to Make Creamy Broccoli Salad
• 👩‍🍳 Pro Tips
• ❓ Recipe FAQs
• 🙏 Pairing
• SAVE THIS RECIPE!
• 📋 Recipe
• Pro Tips
• Recipe FAQs

Benefits of Using Raw Broccoli in a Salad

Raw broccoli in a salad offers several nutritional and textural benefits.

• Raw broccoli is an excellent source of fiber, which is important for digestive health, can help with weight management by promoting fullness, and may help regulate blood sugar levels.
• It provides a good amount of vitamins and minerals, like vitamin C (an antioxidant and immune booster), vitamin K (important for blood clotting and bone health), folate (crucial for cell growth and development), and potassium (important for heart health and blood pressure regulation). 
• Broccoli is packed with antioxidants, including glucoraphanin and kaempferol, which can help protect cells from damage and may reduce the risk of chronic diseases.
• Raw broccoli adds a satisfying crunch to salads, providing a pleasant textural contrast to softer ingredients. 
• It can be easily incorporated into a variety of salads, pairing well with other vegetables, nuts, seeds, and dressings. 

❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This salad recipe is a light and refreshing recipe that’s perfect for summer.

• Ready in under 30 minutes: This salad can be put together in about 10 minutes and it’s ready to eat right away if you want, or you can chill in the refrigerator for a bit.
• Easy to make: This is really easy to make since you only have to chop a couple of the ingredients and then just combine the rest.
• Looks beautiful on a plate (or bowl): The different colors of the fruits and vegetable make this salad look really appealing.

If you want to try another colorful salad, try this avocado cucumber tomato salad.

🥘 Ingredients

To make this pretty salad you will need a few simple ingredients. All of these ingredients are easy to find at your local grocery store and you might already have some of them in your pantry. 

• Broccoli: You’ll want to use a medium to large head of broccoli, which is typically about 1 to 1.25 pounds (roughly 4–5 cups of chopped florets).
• Fruit: Apples and raisins add natural sweetness and texture. Plus, they make the salad even healthier by adding fiber, vitamins and antioxidants.
• Plain Greek yogurt: Since it’s lower in fat than mayonnaise or sour cream, it makes the salad lighter, but still creamy.
• Apple cider vinegar: The acidity balances out the sweetness of the other ingredients. It also breaks down the broccoli over time, making it a little more tender, but still crisp.
• Honey: This helps mellow the tang of the vinegar and yogurt making it more appealing to the kids.

See recipe card for complete list of ingredients and quantities

🔀 Substitutions

If you don’t have the ingredients you need or if you have different dietary needs, see if you have these instead:

Broccoli: You can use cauliflower or a broccoli slaw mix instead.

Fruit: For the apple, you can use pears or halved grapes instead. For the raisins, you can use chopped dates or dried cranberries.

Plain Greek yogurt: Try regular plain yogurt, sour cream, or a dairy-free yogurt alternative (like almond or coconut yogurt) for vegan or lactose-free needs.

Apple cider vinegar: Substitute with lemon juice, white wine vinegar, or red wine vinegar.

Honey: Use maple syrup, agave nectar, or a sugar-free sweetener like monk fruit or stevia instead.

🌈 Variations / Options / Add-Ins

Here are a few ways that you can personalize this simple side dish recipe. 

• Tasty Add-Ins: Add a few tablespoons of chopped, cooked bacon for a smoky, savory twist. You could also mix in shredded cheddar, crumbled feta, or goat cheese for added creaminess and a boost of flavor.
• Add More Veggies: Thinly sliced red onion, shredded carrots, diced bell peppers, or snap peas add crunch, color, and extra nutrition.
• Make It a Meal: Add grilled chicken, rotisserie chicken, or chickpeas to turn the salad into a light main dish.

For a different side dish featuring broccoli, try these air fryer roasted vegetables.

🥄 Equipment Needed / Helpful Tools

You only need a couple kitchen tools to help you make this simple family-friendly side. Gather these tools and get ready to enjoy this tasty dish. 

• Small bowl (1–2 cups): Use this to combine the dressing ingredients.
• Knife and cutting board: To chop the broccoli and apple.
• Large mixing bowl (4–5 quarts): This is for combining all the salad ingredients. It gives you plenty of room to toss without spilling.

🔪 How to Make Creamy Broccoli Salad

Making this simple recipe is easy. Just follow the instructions below and you will have a tasty dish in no time at all. 

Step 1: Make the Dressing

In a small bowl or mason jar, combine Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, honey, and some salt and pepper. Adjust to taste and set aside.

Step 2: Prepare the Vegetable and Fruit

Chop the broccoli and apple into bite-sized pieces and put in a bowl.

Step 3: Add Raisins and Nuts

Then, add the raisins and pecans or walnuts.

Step 4: Add the Dressing and Mix

It’s time to combine the dressing and the salad. Start with just a couple of tablespoons and add more gradually until it’s coated to your taste.

Make sure you mix the salad well to coat the ingredients.

Step 5: Serve and Enjoy or Chill First

You can serve the broccoli salad right away or leave it in the refrigerator for a couple of hours to intensify the flavors. The ingredients hold up well, and the flavor really develops as the dressing has time to soak into the broccoli and apples.

👩‍🍳 Pro Tips

Here are a few tips to make sure this recipe turns out perfectly every time. 

• Cut the florets into bite-sized pieces so they’re easier to eat and get coated evenly with the dressing.
• Make sure your broccoli and apples are dry after washing because excess moisture can water down the dressing.
• Lightly toasting the pecans or walnuts enhances their flavor and adds even more crunch.
• Everyone’s preference for sweetness or tang is different—taste the dressing before mixing and adjust the honey, vinegar, or salt as needed.

❓ Recipe FAQs

🙏 Pairing

These are my favorite dishes to serve with Creamy Broccoli Salad:

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📋 Recipe