This Broccoli Salad Recipe with creamy lemon dressing is one of the first and most loved recipes on my blog; an oldie but a goodie!
Broccoli Apple Salad is loaded with crunchy broccoli, crisp apples, chewy craisins, and toasted pecans. The creamy dressing brings everything together and it just works.
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Broccoli Salad Video
Watch Natasha make this easy Broccoli Salad. I hope you’re inspired to make and experience it for yourself! If you haven’t already, please subscribe to our and click on the bell icon so you’ll know every time we post a new video.
This Broccoli Apple Salad is my Mama-in-laws that has been a family favorite for years. All of the flavors work really well together. It also refrigerates really well overnight even after stirring in the dressing.
Ingredients for Broccoli Salad
This salad has a shortlist of ingredients but each is important for that It’s sweet, tart, and crisp flavor profile.
- Broccoli – we used 2 medium heads or about 1 lb of fresh broccoli.
- Carrot – should be peeled and grated or sliced on a julienne slicer
- Apple – any crisp, sweet apple will work
- Onion – use 1/4 cup finely chopped. Yellow, sweet onion or red onion will work
- Walnuts – toast on a skillet until fragrant and golden. You can substitute with pecans
- Dried Cranberries – craisins add a sweet tangy bite to the salad. You can substitute it with raisins.
The Best Creamy Dressing
This creamy lemon salad dressing combines real mayonnaise, sour cream, fresh squeezed lemon juice, sugar salt, and pepper. The sour cream lightens up this creamy dressing and the lemon adds a vibrant fresh flavor.
How to Make Broccoli Salad
- Toast walnuts on a dry skillet over medium heat, tossing frequently for 3-5 minutes, then transfer to a plate to cool.
- Combine salad ingredients – place all of your sliced, shredded and chopped salad ingredients into a mixing bowl.
- Make Dressing – stir together the salad dressing ingredients, adding lemon juice and sugar to taste.
- Toss and Serve – Add dressing to the salad to taste and stir until well coated in dressing.
Common Questions
It isn’t necessary at all to cook the broccoli in this salad and broccoli eaten raw is more nutritious. We also love the crunchiness and vibrant color it adds to the salad. When the florets are cut small, they are easy to chew and so satisfying!
Some readers have shared good results with blanch the broccoli to soften it a bit. If you blanch the broccoli, just be sure it is chilled and patted dry before adding to the salad.
Broccoli stems can be used in salad and we often do include them. Use a potato peeler to peel away the tough fibrous outer layer of the stem before using.
To make this a paleo broccoli salad, you can substitute the sugar with honey, adding it to taste.
Make-Ahead
This broccoli salad refrigerates well so if you’re lucky enough to have leftovers, it will still be delicious the next day. Be sure to cover tightly and refrigerate. The lemon dressing preserves the apples and slows down the browning process.
More Broccoli Recipes to Explore
Broccoli Apple salad is perfect for potlucks, BBQs, picnics, you name it. This salad has been well-loved by our family and readers for years and I hope it becomes a favorite for you as well.
Broccoli Salad Recipe with Creamy Lemon Dressing (VIDEO)
Ingredients
Ingredients for Broccoli Salad Recipe:
- 2 medium broccoli heads , (about 1 lb)
- 1 large carrot, grated or julienned
- 1 apple, cored and chopped
- 1/2 small red onion, (1/4 cup thinly sliced)
- 1/2 cup pecans or walnuts, toasted
- 1/2 cup craisins or raisins
Ingredients for Creamy Lemon Dressing:
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 Tbsp lemon juice, (freshly squeezed)
- ½ Tbsp sugar, or add to taste
- ¼ tsp sea salt
- 1/8 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Toast walnuts or pecans over medium/ high heat, tossing them occasionally so they don't burn. Heat about 4-5 minutes then transfer to a cutting board and coarsley chop.
- Chop broccoli into bite-sized pieces, grate carrot, chop the apple and thinly slice onion, and transfer into a salad bowl. Add toasted pecans and dried raisins or cranberries.
- To make the creamy dressing, combine: mayonnaise, sour cream, lemon juice, sugar (to taste), salt and pepper. Mix well.
- Add dressing to taste or use the full amount like we do and toss to combine.
Nutrition Per Serving
Filed Under
This broccoli salad recipe was originally published in 2010 and here is the original photo. Thank you for making this salad famous with all of your fantastic reviews, and for sharing this recipe with the people you love!
I recently made this for an elderly couple who have health problems and needed some meals to help them out. They both were so excited about this salad! The wife said she typically doesn’t care for broccoli salads (I didn’t know!), but she loved this one! The husband since then has asked for the recipe, and they have both not forgotten it! Thanks so much for sharing. This will be a regular for us 😊
Mercede, I’m so happy to hear that 😬. Thank you for taking the time to share that with us and you are very welcome!
I tried this with a honest person and they enjoyed it and so did I. VERY DERICIOUS!
Thank you for your video, it helped.
You’re welcome! I’m happy to hear that everyone enjoyed the recipe!
Is this recipe real mayo or miracle whip
Renee, I used real mayo.
I plan to make this for Easter dinner.
Please let me know what you think of the recipe!
I used Vegan Mayo and Vegan Sour Cream and left out the sugar. It is delicious. Thank you for sharing your recipe!
You’re welcome Sheryl! I’m happy you enjoy the recipe! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Sounds and looks great. One question though, is the broccoli blanched or raw? Thanks
Lance, broccoli is raw 😬
I sure could use the amount of carbs per serving information
Due to time constraints, I don’t typically include nutritional info, but check out this nutrition analyzer – you can plug in the ingredients from any recipe, select the serving size and it will give you nutritional info, calories, etc. I hope that is helpful to you Jerry!
This is a hit with my co-workers. Thank you for this recipe. 😊
You’re welcome Kathleen! I’m glad to hear everyone enjoyed the recipe!
This was delicious, and very simple to make. I have made a similar salad with some tiny bits of cheddar cheese added and it was really good too. Thanks for a great recipe!
You’re welcome Vivian! I’m happy to hear you enjoy the recipe!
Hi,natasha. I made for lunch the turkey recipe u posted, this salad,& turkey gravy it turned out so good. Thanks,so much for all the good recipes. Made a spong cake yesterday evening w/peaches inside &on go,it sure was good. God bless u & ur beautiful family. For ur dream house yet? Its always nice to come back to ur parents home & chill for a little it brings memory back.
Hi Olga! I’m so glad you’re enjoying my recipes :). We’re still house hunting and are exciting for spring to roll in and seeing more homes listed :). I agree though – being at my parents house is the best place we could be between homes 🙂
I made this salad today and it was so delicious we couldn’t stop eating!!!
Thanks for sharing this wonderful recipe!
You’re welcome Beatriz! I’m glad you love it! It’s one of my favorites! 😀
This salad is delicious, thank you for sharing it, my family truly enjoyed it also.
You’re welcome Patricia! I am so glad to hear your family enjoys the recipe as much as mine does! 🙂
Soooo good! Definitely my new favorite salad! I didn’t even like eating raw broccoli. Thanks Natasha for this recipe.
Awesome! I’m so glad to hear you enjoy the recipe Peggy! Thank for sharing 🙂
Natasha, I tried this the other day and it is excellent – I have been eating it everyday. Thank you – Jeri
You’re welcome Jeri! I love hearing reviews like this! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Made this salad today and it’s delicious. I love the apples in the salad! We had company over and now I’m finishing up the salad after the guests left 🙈
LOL! That’s awesome Tonya! Thank you for sharing. 🙂
What a pretty salad! I love the lemon dressing on top! That makes the whole thing more light and vibrant. Yum!
It IS so delicious! I am glad to hear you enjoy it Shelby!
I am eating a bowl of this as I type, it is SO delicious. I didn’t have any sour cream on hand so I substituted plain yogurt. I’ve been trying to find a way to make myself like broccoli again while I’m expecting and this totally did the trick. Will be making this again soon! Thank you so much Natasha!
I’m so happy you enjoyed it!! Thank you for sharing that you enjoyed it with plain yogurt! 🙂
1. You need to be on TV!
2. I love broccoli salad, and your version looks delicious – it will be perfect for the office Mardi Gras potluck in 2 weeks.
That is an amazing compliment! Thank you so much 🙂 Your comment made my day!
I love love love broccoli salad! This version sounds delicious.
It is so GOOD and super POPULAR! Let me know what you think Sara 🙂
ah, see you correct the raisins 🙂
Hi Nancy, this recipe works equally well with raisins or craisins. I use whatever I have on hand 🙂