• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

The Short Order Cook

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Food & Fun
  • Products I Love
  • Travel & Dining
  • Meet Angela
    • Bluesky
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Food & Fun
    • Products I Love
    • Travel & Dining
    • Meet Angela
    • Bluesky
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Soups & Salads

    Updated: Jan 18, 2024 · Published: Mar 15, 2021 · by Angela · This post may contain affiliate links · 16 Comments

    Broccoli Salad with Apples & Cheese

    Jump to Recipe

    This recipe for broccoli salad with apples and cheese is amazing. The creamy Greek yogurt dressing is low-fat and made without mayo. This easy homemade broccoli salad recipe is tangy, crisp, fresh, and sweet in every bite.

    Broccoli Apple Salad with Greek Yogurt Dressing (no mayo) ready in a bowl

    This easy broccoli salad is a great side dish but also a complete vegetarian lunch option. Broccoli salad with Greek yogurt dressing is my favorite make-ahead salad. It tastes great right after mixing but it actually tastes better if it sits in the refrigerator for about an hour and then served.

    For that reason, it is the best broccoli salad for picnics, potlucks, parties, and barbecues when you want a salad that can be set out or premade.  This fresh broccoli and cheddar salad is even great as a leftover, unlike other salads that wilt.

    Jump to:
    • Broccoli, Cheese, & Apple Salad Ingredients
    • Variations & Substitutes
    • How to Make the Best Broccoli Salad
    • Storing Broccoli Salad
    • What to Serve with Broccoli Salad
    • More Broccoli Recipes
    • Broccoli Salad with Apples & Cheese

    Broccoli, Cheese, & Apple Salad Ingredients

    This broccoli salad is vegetarian, light, and full of fresh ingredients.   It is also very colorful thanks to the combination of fruits and vegetables.  The star is the fresh raw broccoli. You can use any part of the broccoli, but the tender florets are best.

    The broccoli, apples, carrots, raisins, and green onions bring a punch of flavor and nutrition, such as Vitamin C & A, to the salad. Use a crisp apple that is sweet and a little bit tart; Fuji or Honeycrisp are favorites.

    The cheddar cheese and Greek yogurt add protein and calcium which completes this broccoli salad making it a wonderful side dish but also hearty enough for a meal all on its own.

    Variations & Substitutes

    Here are some fun alternate ingredients or additions you can make to this salad.

    • Golden Raisins - use regular raisins or dried cranberries instead.
    • Cheddar - dice up colby, jack, or swiss instead.
    • Apple - use your favorite kind: Golden Delicious, Granny smith, etc.

    Optional Add-Ins for Broccoli Salad:

    • Crispy Pork Bacon or Oven-Cooked Turkey Bacon
    • Nuts - Cashews or Almonds
    • Seeds - Sunflower Seeds or Pumpkin Seeds

    Broccoli Apple Salad with Greek Yogurt Dressing (no mayo) ingredients

    How to Make the Best Broccoli Salad

    This is a quick recipe that only takes Here are the easy steps to make broccoli cheese salad:

    1. Prep, Chop, & Grate
    2. Mix the Greek Yogurt Dressing
    3. Add Dressing & Toss

    1 - Prep, Chop, & Grate

    To make the salad, simply cut, dice, grate, and chop up the ingredients as listed below in the recipe card.   The apples, broccoli, and green onions should be washed, dried, & chopped. Next, grate the washed carrots with or without the skin.

    Cut the cheddar into small cubes. Lastly, add in the raisins. Place them all in a large serving bowl.

    Broccoli Apple Salad with Greek Yogurt Dressing (no mayo) ingredients in serving bowl

    2 - Mix the Greek Yogurt Dressing

    What's the best dressing without mayo for broccoli salad? This Greek yogurt dressing is the perfect creamy, sweet, and tangy recipe for any broccoli salad. 

    The creamy texture is made using no mayo and instead is a combination of whisking together plain full-fat Greek yogurt, honey, olive oil, and apple cider vinegar.  You can add poppy seeds as an option, to make a sweet and tangy poppy seed dressing for your broccoli salad.

    Broccoli Apple Salad with Greek Yogurt Dressing (no mayo) dressing

    3 - Add Dressing & Toss

    Once the dressing is whisked together and ready, pour over the salad ingredients.  Using tongs or a large serving spoon, gently mix the salad.  Stir until all ingredients are lightly coated with the Greek yogurt dressing.

    It is ready to enjoy.  However, it tastes best if you chill it in your refrigerator for about an hour and allow the flavors to come together.

    Broccoli Apple Salad with Greek Yogurt Dressing (no mayo) ready in a serving bowl

    Storing Broccoli Salad

    How Long Does Broccoli Salad Last? If you store this raw broccoli salad properly it will last for 3 days in the refrigerator. Since the ingredients are hearty, even with the dressing it will remain crisp & delicious. Store broccoli salad in an air-tight container.

    I do not recommend freezing this salad.

    What to Serve with Broccoli Salad

    Here are some great main dish recipes to serve with broccoli salad. These ideas are all easy to make & go well with this fresh crisp salad. One of our family favorites is a baked rigatoni & cheese casserole, Pasta al Forno.

    • INSTANT POT CREAMY CHICKEN SPAGHETTI
    • GRAIN-FREE FRIED CHICKEN NUGGETS
    • INSTANT POT SHORT RIBS WITH GRAVY
    • ITALIAN CHICKEN DRUMSTICK
    Broccoli Apple Salad with Greek Yogurt Dressing (no mayo) ingredients in serving bowl

    More Broccoli Recipes

    Looking for more easy recipes with broccoli? Try these favorite side dishes recipes:

    • ROASTED POTATOES & BROCCOLI
    • INSTANT POT BROCCOLI

    Product Recommendations for this Recipe:

    Sweese 8 Inch Porcelain 42 oz Serving Bowls Set of 4, for Salad | Soup | Snacks | Pasta - Microwave, Dishwasher, and Oven Safe - White
    $39.99
    Sweese 8 Inch Porcelain 42 oz Serving Bowls Set of 4, for Salad | Soup | Snacks | Pasta - Microwave, Dishwasher, and Oven Safe - White
    Buy Now
    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, at no additional cost to you.
    05/13/2025 11:37 am GMT

    ECOHAGOU 10 Bamboo Fiber Large Salad Serving Bowl Set with Wooden Lid & Servers, 3.5 Qt Big Bowl with Utensils for Mixing Salad,Fruit,Pasta,Lightweight & Dishwasher Safe, Ideal Gift for Home (...
    $28.99
    ECOHAGOU 10 Bamboo Fiber Large Salad Serving Bowl Set with Wooden Lid & Servers, 3.5 Qt Big Bowl with Utensils for Mixing Salad,Fruit,Pasta,Lightweight & Dishwasher Safe, Ideal Gift for Home (...
    Buy Now
    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, at no additional cost to you.
    05/13/2025 12:21 pm GMT

    HOMWE Cutting Boards for Kitchen - Chopping Board 3-Pack w/Different Sizes and Non Slip Handles - Reversible, Large Cutting Board Set - Unique Gifts for Cooks Who Have Everything - Gray
    $21.99
    HOMWE Cutting Boards for Kitchen - Chopping Board 3-Pack w/Different Sizes and Non Slip Handles - Reversible, Large Cutting Board Set - Unique Gifts for Cooks Who Have Everything - Gray
    Buy Now
    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, at no additional cost to you.
    05/13/2025 06:37 am GMT

    The Short Order Cook is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.  If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission on the sale at no additional cost to you. This helps with the costs of running the blog. Thank you! 

    Broccoli Apple Salad with Greek Yogurt Dressing (no mayo) overhead featured

    Broccoli Salad with Apples & Cheese

    Angela
    This healthy broccoli salad with carrots, raisins, apples, and cheese is amazing. The creamy greek yogurt dressing is low-fat and made without mayo. It is tangy, crisp, fresh, and sweet in every bite. It holds up great for potlucks and barbecues. It is even great as a leftover, unlike other salads.
     
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Share on Facebook
    Prep Time 20 minutes mins
    Total Time 20 minutes mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6
    Calories 319 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 4 C fresh broccoli florets cut into bite-sized1 pieces
    • 1 C cheddar cheese cut into small chunks
    • 1 medium apple cored & cut into small chunks
    • 1 small carrot grated
    • ¼ C green onion green & white parts thinly sliced
    • ⅓ C golden or regular raisins
    • 1 TB lemon juice
    • ¼ C sunflower seeds or diced cashews OPTIONAL

    DRESSING INGREDIENTS

    • 1 C plain Greek yogurt full fat is best
    • ⅓ C olive oil
    • 2 TB apple cider vinegar
    • 1 TB honey
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
    • 2 teaspoon poppy seeds OPTIONAL
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Cut and prepare the ingredients as listed above.
    • To a large serving bowl add all the salad ingredients.
    • In a small mixing bowl add all the dressing ingredients. Whisk together to combine.
    • Drizzle the dressing over the salad ingredients. Using tongs or a large spoon, gently combine the dressing with the salad ingredients.
    • It is ready immediately but actually tastes better if the salad is tossed ahead of time. It is best when refrigerated for about an hour so the flavors can come together.
    • This salad stores very well. Place in an air-tight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 319kcalCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 11gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0.002gCholesterol: 21mgSodium: 262mgPotassium: 435mgFiber: 4gSugar: 14gVitamin A: 2315IUVitamin C: 56mgCalcium: 230mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword barbecue, easy, gluten-free, grain-free, healthy, make ahead, potluck, side dish, spring, Spring, vegetarian, pasta, healthy, summer
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    Did you make this The Short Order Cook Recipe?

    Tag @theshortordercookblog (Instagram & Facebook) or @shortorder_cook (Twitter). 

    I would love to see your latest creations and kitchen adventures.

    « What to Serve with Pulled Pork: 40+ Recipes
    Wonderful Wednesday Blog Hop #421 »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Allison says

      March 22, 2021 at 12:38 pm

      This looks so yummy! I love the combination of ingredients - crisp, savory, sweet, tangy. Wow! I can't wait to try it.

      Reply
    2. Jill DeMasi says

      March 22, 2021 at 12:59 pm

      5 stars
      Great twist on a healthy recipe. Look forward to trying this one!

      Reply
      • Angela says

        March 24, 2021 at 9:10 am

        Thanks Jill!

        Reply
    3. Heather Jandrue says

      March 22, 2021 at 1:43 pm

      Oh my goodness this sounds delicious! I am always looking for quick, easy recipes.

      Reply
    4. Alexis Farmer says

      March 22, 2021 at 4:10 pm

      I love broccoli and apples but have never had them together. I would definitely try this!

      Reply
      • Angela says

        March 24, 2021 at 9:05 am

        I hope you give it a try, it is a wonderful combination. Bonus, two healthy ingredients that really satisfy and fill you up.

        Reply
    5. Marianne says

      March 23, 2021 at 4:30 am

      Aside from the apples and yogurt, this looks really great. I have allergies, so I would have to substitute both those items. Looks like a great base for me to build a new salad though!

      Reply
      • Angela says

        March 24, 2021 at 9:04 am

        You could leave out the apples and replace them with maybe dried cranberries. If you have a dairy allergy, swapping out the homemade dressing for a dairy-free poppy sead dressing homemade or store-bought would work.

        Reply
    6. Tricia Snow says

      March 23, 2021 at 5:14 am

      5 stars
      Yum Yum Yum! I love the look of this salad! I am adding this to my Passover menu!

      Reply
      • Angela says

        March 23, 2021 at 1:41 pm

        Happy Passover and I hope you enjoy the broccoli salad.

        Reply
    7. Kristen W Allred says

      March 23, 2021 at 10:47 am

      This looks delicious and I have all the ingredients for the dressing so I can't wait to make it!

      Reply
    8. Barbara says

      March 24, 2021 at 5:00 am

      WOW! This sounds really amazing! Can't wait to try this out!

      Reply
    9. Emily says

      March 24, 2021 at 6:46 am

      5 stars
      YUM! This looks awesome! I love a good broccoli salad and I love adding bacon to it as well

      Reply
    10. Sabrina DeWalt says

      March 24, 2021 at 3:02 pm

      I do not enjoy cooked broccoli. This looks like it might be a great way to get some into my diet.

      Reply
    11. Helen at the Lazy Gastronome says

      March 26, 2021 at 12:31 pm

      Beautiful salad!! I love the broccoli with apples! Thanks for sharing at the What's for Dinner party!! Have a fabulous weekend!

      Reply
    12. Cindy Moore says

      March 28, 2021 at 7:02 pm

      This looks really good! I can adapt the recipe by omitting the cheese and using plant based yogurt.

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Angela the short order cook on a step stool reaching into the top kitchen cupboard.

    Hi, I'm Angela I’m Angela, a petite mom that loves to cook, eat, drink, & explore all things food. As a former personal chef & caterer, I specialize in family recipes that taste great & are easy to make. I rely on my trusty stool every day to create & test recipes I know you will love.

    More about me →

    This site has links to products/services that may make us a commission. #ad

    Popular

    • Red Velvet Brownies with Cake Mix cut in squares on a counter with white chocolate chips.
      Red Velvet Brownies with Cake Mix
    • Deep Fried Sweet Potato Fries featured close up with dipping sauces on the bottom
      Deep-Fried Sweet Potato Fries
    • 4- Ingredient Key Lime Pie in graham cracker crust topped with whipped cream.
      Easy 4- Ingredient Key Lime Pie
    • Naked Chicken Wings on a plate.
      Naked Chicken Wings
    • How to Cook Turkey Bacon in the Microwave Oven featured
      How to Cook Turkey Bacon in the Microwave Oven
    • Fried Spaghetti with Eggs featured closeup overhead of bowl filled and topped with parmesan and parsley
      Fried Spaghetti with Eggs
    • Chocolate Marshmallow Ice Cream Overhead two bowls of ice cream and black napkin.
      Chocolate Marshmallow Ice Cream
    • A set of black pots and pans.
      Best Pots & Pans for Gas Stove
    Try Audible Plus
    Join Amazon Prime - Watch Thousands of Movies & TV Shows Anytime - Start Free Trial Now
    Create an Amazon Wedding Registry
    Shop Amazon - Create an Amazon Baby Registry

    The Short Order Cook LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com

    Top Categories

    • Main Dishes
    • Desserts
    • Italian
    • Holidays
    • Southern
    • Recipe Roundups

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Terms of Service
    • Disclosure Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work With Me
    • Meet Angela
    • Meet the Family

    Copyright © 2019- 2025 The Short Order Cook LLC, All Rights Reserved. All recipes, original photos, and articles on this site are the property of The Short Order Cook LLC. You are welcome to share an original photo ONLY with an accompanying do-follow link to this site. Publishing any item as if it were your own is prohibited & illegal. The Short Order Cook tests every recipe & never uses AI to create recipes or images.

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.AcceptReject Read Privacy Policy
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT