Broccoli Apple Salad Recipe

5 from 1 vote

Oct 30, 2020, Updated May 21, 2025

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This fresh Broccoli Apple Salad recipe will make your taste buds sing! The delicious flavors of crunchy raw broccoli and crispy apple go perfectly with the sweet tang of the creamy, homemade poppy-seed dressing.

Broccoli is kind of a salad superstar. It adds crunch, flavor, and a nutritional boost. Some of my favorite ways to use it include a classic broccoli and cauliflower salad, as well as this easy pasta salad that always disappears quickly.

side shot of tossing broccoli apple salad with wooden salad forks

Full disclosure: I’m not a huge fan of raw broccoli… unless it comes with a big ol’ tub of my creamy ranch dressing. BUT, this broccoli apple salad? It’s one of my favorite ways to enjoy it fresh.

When you’ve got crisp apples and fresh broccoli on hand, this is the salad to make. It’s crunchy, creamy, a little tangy, and just sweet enough thanks to a yogurt-poppy seed dressing that pulls it all together. Whether you’re meal-prepping for the week or bringing a dish to share, this broccoli apple salad recipe is always a hit with my people!

Ingredients This For Broccoli Apple Salad Recipe

From sweet apples to broccoli and a creamy dressing, here’s everything that goes into this easy side dish. And because I like to lighten things up where I can, I swapped some of the mayo for plain yogurt in the dressing. Gotta balance those creamy vibes, yaknow?!

For the Salad

Broccoli: You’ll need 3 to 4 cups of fresh broccoli, cut into small florets. No stems! (Stems are fine when peeled and cooked, but not so good raw)
Bacon: For just a taste of smoky flavor. You’ll need 4 slices of your favorite bacon, cooked to a crisp and crumbled.
Apples: Use 2 whole apples, diced. I recommend Honeycrisp because they are crispy, bright, and flavorful!
Onion: I make this recipe with a red onion, thinly sliced. A sweet white onion will also work.
Dried Cranberries: For a pop of sweet and tart flavor. I suggest to use reduced sugar dried cranberries.
Sunflower Seeds: I like to buy mine pre-shelled. You can also use chopped nuts, such as walnuts, pecans, or cashews.

For the Dressing

Plain Yogurt: A tasty base for the creamy dressing. You can use full-fat yogurt, fat free, or reduced fat. Greek yogurt will also work.
Mayonnaise: You’ll need about ¼ cup of your preferred mayonnaise. You can use fat free mayo, or reduced fat mayo, if you prefer.
Honey: You can substitute maple syrup.
Apple Cider Vinegar: Adds tang and brightness to balance the sweetness of the dressing. White wine vinegar or lemon juice are good swaps.
Poppy Seeds: Give the dressing that little pop of texture and visual flair. Totally optional, but super fun.
Salt: Add to taste.

How To Make Broccoli Apple Salad

The hardest part of this whole salad situation is simply chopping everything up. But once that’s done, it all comes together fast. It’s SO worth it. Everything blends together in the most delicious, sweet-and-savory way.

overhead shot of a salad bowl with arranged broccoli, nuts, cranberries, apples, and red onions.

overhead shot of a salad bowl with broccoli, nuts, cranberries, apples, red onions, and salad dressing

Combine the salad ingredients. In a large salad bowl, combine the broccoli, bacon, apples, onions, cranberries, and sunflower seeds; set aside.
Mix up the dressing: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the yogurt, mayonnaise, honey, apple cider vinegar, poppy seeds, and salt; taste and adjust the salt, honey, and vinegar accordingly.
Toss the dressing with the salad and chill. Add the salad dressing to the broccoli salad and gently toss to combine. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

apple broccoli salad in a salad bowl and topped with poppyseed dressing

Recipe Tips

Rinse, Repeat: Make sure to wash your broccoli well before adding to the salad. It’s great to soak the head of broccoli in a big bowl of water for about 5 minutes, and then rinse well with cool water, before cutting. After you’ve cut the florets, you can rinse them again in a colander.
Cut the Broccoli and Apples Small. It’s a common mistake with salads that the ingredients aren’t really bite-sized. So while you’re cutting the florets and apple dice, make sure you keep them to a size that won’t overwhelm a salad fork!
Cheese, Please? This salad reminds me a little bit of classic Amish broccoli salad, which is also super-delicious! If you like, you can add a cup of cheddar cheese, cut into small cubes, to add that vibe to this side!
Make Ahead Tip. This salad is packed with hearty, nutritious ingredients that actually get better as they sit. Letting it chill for an hour (or even overnight) helps the flavors really come together. It holds up beautifully, making it perfect for prepping ahead to take to lunches, potlucks, or simply freeing up some time before dinner.

Serving Suggestions

Winner, Winner! This salad goes wonderfully with a classic roasted chicken or a homemade air fryer rotisserie chicken.
Chop, Chop: A dinner of juicy oven baked bone-in pork chops also works extremely well with fresh apples and broccoli. You could also try my fried pork chops with zucchini for a perfect cool-weather meal!
That’s Bananas! A simple dessert of banana oats chocolate chip cookies or chocolate chip cookie bars is sure to bring a smile!

Storing Leftovers

To refrigerate, place the broccoli salad in an airtight container and tightly cover the leftovers; store in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Stir well before serving.
It’s not recommended to freeze the leftovers, as the textures of the dressing, as well as the fresh, unblanched veggies and fruit, will degrade after thawing.

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