Broccoli Salad with Apples & Cheese

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.

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

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.

Product Recommendations for this Recipe:

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