This healthier take on classic broccoli salad features fresh, crunchy broccoli florets topped with a light dressing with a little sweetness from golden raisins, cranberries and pineapple for a super summer salad.
Easy Broccoli Salad Recipe
Where some visitors to a new city or town search out the best restaurants, bars, or bakeries, you’ll find me scouting out grocery stores and specialty food shops. I may not even need groceries, have a kitchen on hand, or be planning to cook at all, but a visit lets me know what ‘might’ be available should I happen to be in need.
What is wrong with me??
One of my beeline destinations is the grocery store deli case. That’s where you’ll see me peering over toddlers muddying the glass with their chubby little hands as I look for ideas of what people are really eating. Because if a grocery store is going to give space for a salad, side, or main in the ready-made case, it’s likely that it’s a dish people are gonna want.
Broccoli salad is one of those recipes I see time and time again in deli cases across the land. But let us not think these salads are all created equal. Hardly.
Broccoli Salad Ingredients
This cold broccoli salad is a much healthier version than many I’ve seen. I took inspiration from several broccoli salads I’ve spied and taste-tested to come up with a version of what I am claiming as one of the best.
I’ve left out the bacon and shredded cheese and totally left that goopy mayo sauce behind. Instead I’ve added more broccoli crunch and a whole lot of fruit to deliver a fresh take on this classic.
This recipe combines a whole lot of healthy crunch thanks to the combination of small broccoli florets and store-bought broccoli slaw. When buying the broccoli I look for the smallest buds I can find, then slice them into smaller pieces so they don’t dominate each bite.
Salty sunflower seeds and little bursts of sweet fruity bites in the form of fresh blueberries, cranberries and golden raisins add to the crunch and sweetness of this salad.
One of the surprise ingredients to this salad is pineapple. I use the juice in the dressing and add the fruit to the salad. It’s a double delicious whammy.
How to Make Broccoli Salad
To take out the ‘raw’ bite of the broccoli, I bring a teapot of water to a boil then pour the water over the broccoli and stir it for about 15 to 30 seconds or until the broccoli turns a bright green. Then I quickly drain it and plunge into ice water to stop the broccoli from cooking for about 10 minutes or so. A quick spin in the salad spinner or some time in the refrigerator dries the florets so that the broccoli salad dressing will coat the florets.
Once the broccoli is dry, it’s a simple matter of whisking together the healthy broccoli salad dressing and stirring everything together in a big bowl.
I prefer serving this easy broccoli salad cold, so I always let it sit in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving it. Its time in the fridge also helps the flavors in this healthy broccoli salad come together.
Can I Prep Broccoli Salad in Advance?
Yes, this easy broccoli salad can be made up to a day in advance. Since broccoli is a heartier veggie, it can withstand sitting in the dressing for that long.
Can I Use Frozen Broccoli?
No, fresh broccoli is a must in this healthier broccoli salad recipe.
Tips for Making the Best Broccoli Salad
Be sure to buy pineapple tidbits packed in juice and not the kind packed in heavy syrup. Read the ingredients to make sure you’ve picked up the right can.
If you’re not a huge fan of red onion, rinse it under cold water after you’ve chopped it to remove its harsh bite. Pat the onion dry before mixing into the broccoli salad and prepare to be amazed at your new love for red onion.
I’ve only made this cold broccoli salad recipe as written, but I bet it’d still taste delish with vegan mayonnaise. I prefer the real stuff, but if you’re bringing this to a potluck it might be a good idea to bring something everyone can eat.
More Classic Side Dishes to Master
- How to Make the Best Homemade Creamy Coleslaw
- How to Make the Best Potato Salad
- The Best BBQ Baked Beans
- Greek Pasta Salad with Cucumbers and Artichoke Hearts
- BLT Pasta Salad with Avocado
- German Potato Salad
- Asian Ramen Noodle Salad
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment below or take a photo and tag me on Instagram with #foodiecrusheats.
How to Make the Best Broccoli Salad
Ingredients
- 1 pound broccoli florets (about 5-6 cups)
- 12 ounces store-bought broccoli slaw (about 4 cups)
- 1/2 red onion , chopped
- 1/2 cup shelled sunflower seeds
- 8- ounce can pineapple tidbits juice reserved (about 1/4 cup)
- 1/2 cup blueberries
- 1/4 cup golden raisins
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- kosher salt an freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Bring a teapot of water to a boil. Cut the broccoli florets into small crowns. Place the broccoli florets in a large bowl and pour the hot water over the broccoli and steep for 30 seconds or until the broccoli turns bright green. Drain the broccoli of the hot water plunge into cold water and top with ice cubes to stop the broccoli from cooking. Let the broccoli sit in the cold water until cool then drain. Refrigerate for about 20 minutes or spin in a salad spinner to dry the broccoli florets.
- Add the broccoli with the broccoli slaw to a large bowl. Add the red onion, sunflower seeds, pineapple tidbits, blueberries, raisins and cranberries.
- In a small bowl mix the reserved pineapple juice, mayonnaise, rice wine vinegar and sugar. Season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Pour the dressing over the broccoli mix and gently stir to coat. Refrigerate for 30 minutes, then serve.
Nutrition
What to Serve with Broccoli Salad to Make it a Meal
- The Best Grilled Chicken Breast Recipe
- Honey Mustard Chicken
- Daddy’s Baked Hamburgers
- Easy Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
- Instant Pot Baby Back Ribs
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Vickie says
The pineapple in your broccoli salad makes a huge difference. Thanks for this. My mother made a similar salad using Napa Cabbage instead of broccoli, and she added shredded carrots. Try it sometime. The pineapple causes the Napa to soften a little. My kids love it.
Matilda Harter-Parish says
Heidi , This is certainly a “Wow” sounding salad and the ingredients will sure be on my shopping list for my next trip to the store. Thank you ! I believe there would be very little tweeking needed to it to fit right in with the Ayurvedic way of eating. Keep up the great work.
George Kimberly says
There are Zero+++***!!! ways to make ANYthing good with Broccoli…
.
It is a forbidden food in my house…The only reason people eat it is because it’s easy to grow … and…the food industry has persuaded gullible people with no taste to eat this junk food…
Danielle says
Wow, someone’s a little salty. Nothin wrong with broccoli, and it’s far from junk food.
Joe Sing says
Everyone has their opinion. Some know when to voice it and some don’t. My opinion is this is a great recipe and I love broccoli and look for new ways to use it.
polly togni says
Can you provide me with the nutritional information on the Best Broccoli Salad and the chewy almond butter power bars?
Traci | Vanilla And Bean says
Hey Heidi – what a vibrant and deliciously crunchy slaw you’ve created for us! I absolutely love broccoli slaw and have been eating so much of it since our CSA has been packed with it lately. It’s so good tucked into lunch boxes, to take on picnics or as a side with a burger. I love how you’ve blanched the broccoli, something i’ve not tried, and the addition of pineapple and crunchy sunflower seeds! Thank you for sharing this crave-worthy recipe!
Dessert Meal says
You’ve given a recipe that looks amazing. There’s no doubt it will taste great. We don’t have broccoli here. Will it taste fine with cauliflower? I’m pinning this as the images are awesome.
Naoma Sproles says
Well I tried to print this salad and couldn`t get it, can you tell me what is wrong???? [email protected]
Celeste | the Whole Serving says
I like that there is no meat in this Broccoli salad, perfect salad for vegetarians. It’s nice have a variety of Broccoli salads to choose from.
Sommer @aspicyperspective says
This looks and sounds amazing! I can’t wait to make this for the family!
buy research proposal says
This looks very yummy and tasty. I can’t wait anymore to prepare it for my family.
192.168.0.1 says
I like to eat broccoli, like to fry with sausages, as if many people do not like the taste of broccoli, but very nutritious
Dana says
This salad is AMAZING! I love this lighter version of one of my favs! Being keto I left out the pineapple, the craisons and the sugar and doubled the blueberries to make it more keto. YUM!
Ashley @ Foodie Crush says
YUM! Thanks so much!