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.
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.
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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
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:
- Prep, Chop, & Grate
- Mix the Greek Yogurt Dressing
- 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.
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.
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.
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.
More Broccoli Recipes
Looking for more easy recipes with broccoli? Try these favorite side dishes recipes:
Product Recommendations for this Recipe:
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Broccoli Salad with Apples & Cheese
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
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.
Notes
Nutrition Facts | |
---|---|
Servings: 6 | |
Amount per serving | |
Calories | 371 |
% Daily Value* | |
Total Fat 17.8g | 23% |
Saturated Fat 5.6g | 28% |
Cholesterol 20mg | 7% |
Sodium 319mg | 14% |
Total Carbohydrate 28.2g | 10% |
Dietary Fiber 3.1g | 11% |
Total Sugars 21.5g | |
Protein 28.1g | |
Vitamin D 2mcg | 11% |
Calcium 411mg | 32% |
Iron 1mg | 6% |
Potassium 643mg | 14% |
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calorie a day is used for general nutrition advice. |
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Allison says
This looks so yummy! I love the combination of ingredients - crisp, savory, sweet, tangy. Wow! I can't wait to try it.
Jill DeMasi says
Great twist on a healthy recipe. Look forward to trying this one!
Angela says
Thanks Jill!
Heather Jandrue says
Oh my goodness this sounds delicious! I am always looking for quick, easy recipes.
Alexis Farmer says
I love broccoli and apples but have never had them together. I would definitely try this!
Angela says
I hope you give it a try, it is a wonderful combination. Bonus, two healthy ingredients that really satisfy and fill you up.
Marianne says
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!
Angela says
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.
Tricia Snow says
Yum Yum Yum! I love the look of this salad! I am adding this to my Passover menu!
Angela says
Happy Passover and I hope you enjoy the broccoli salad.
Kristen W Allred says
This looks delicious and I have all the ingredients for the dressing so I can't wait to make it!
Barbara says
WOW! This sounds really amazing! Can't wait to try this out!
Emily says
YUM! This looks awesome! I love a good broccoli salad and I love adding bacon to it as well
Sabrina DeWalt says
I do not enjoy cooked broccoli. This looks like it might be a great way to get some into my diet.
Helen at the Lazy Gastronome says
Beautiful salad!! I love the broccoli with apples! Thanks for sharing at the What's for Dinner party!! Have a fabulous weekend!
Cindy Moore says
This looks really good! I can adapt the recipe by omitting the cheese and using plant based yogurt.