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!
Can you make the dressing the day before and keep in the fridge and pour over the salad the next day? I can’t wait to make this.
Hi Mary, that would be fine, just keep it refrigerated!
Just made it , delicious!
I’m glad you like it Wanda! Thanks for sharing!
can I make this today without the dressing and serve tomorrow evening
Hi Doris, that would be fine, just keep it refrigerated 😀
is it ok to boil the brocolli first or just eat it raw as you have done? ive nvr eaten raw brocolli.
Hi Lotte, I would advice just using fresh broccoli. You will be pleasantly surprised 😀
what type of apple is best to use in this salad?
Hi Esme, I usually just use what I have on hand but it is best to use a crisp, sweet-tart apple like golden delicious, gala, honey crisp, there are so many good ones!
Thank you.
I made this tonight to go with Ham. It was such a nice fresh alternative to a boring hot vegi. Makes me feel better about eating scalloped potatoes. Will definitely make this again.
I’m glad to hear how much you enjoy the recipe! Thanks for sharing your great review with other readers!
I made this a couple of months ago it was a hit everyone enjoyed it. Now we’re having a Christmas party and I was asked to make it again. I love ❤️ it. Thanks for sharing.
Merry Christmas
You’re welcome Janet! I’m glad to hear the recipe is a HIT! Thanks for sharing your great review and have a blessed holiday!
I made it couples weeks ago,every one enjoyed Really good!
Awesome, I’m glad to hear that! Thanks for sharing your review!
Made this for Thanksgiving. It was a hit!!! So yummy!!! Thanks for sharing.
You’re welcome Barb! I’m glad to hear the recipe was such a success! Thanks for sharing your great review!
Anyone ever add cheese to this awesome recipe?
Hi Andrea, I haven’t tried but one of my readers reported good results adding cheddar so I think it would be fun to experiment with cheese 🙂
I used sliced seedless green grapes instead of raisins or cranberries.
That sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing Anita!
Hi
Do you think small pieces of crispy bacon would work well? I would like to try this recipe for New Year’s eve. 🙂 Thank you
Lynda, I haven’t tried using bacon but that should work. Happy New Year!
this sounds yummy but i would like to know serving size calories and carbs in it, because i am diabetic. would really like to try this
This recipe serves 6 as a side salad. 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 Shelia!
hi I will make this it looks yummy..just a question can I boil the brocilli a little.
Hi Shaz, I prefer the crunch in this salad from the raw broccoli but you can blanch it in hot water if you prefer it that way, just be sure it is well-drained so you aren’t adding water to the salad.
Hi Natasha, I just made this salad for dinner tonight to go with a roasted chicken, roasted carrots & potatoes. The dressing is just great, with the right amount of tang. I used toasted walnuts too. I hope it makes it to the dinner table! 🙂 I look forward to taking it for lunch tomorrow too. Well done! Thank you, Janet from Toronto, Canada
Hello Janet! I’m glad to hear how much you enjoy the recipe! Thank YOU for sharing your great review with other readers!
Haven’t made yet, although I certainly want too. Looks delicious. My question is, will the dressing go runny, if salad is made ahead, and refrigerated? I.e overnight.
Hi Brenda, it does not go runny when made ahead, just make sure your broccoli isn’t wet when adding to the salad – shake out the extra moisture before chopping.
Very good 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻Thank you!!!
You are welcome Grace and thank you for the nice review!
Do you have a nutrition count for this? Sounds really good though.
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!
This is an excellent salad. I can’t wait to share it!
I’m glad you love the recipe Denise! Thanks for sharing 🙂
👍, looks fabulous, can’t wait to make it.
It’s delicious! I hope you love it Sharlene!
I am looking forward to trying this recipe!
It looks like a great variation to another salad (“Sunshine Salad”) that I’ve made before!
This is one of my most popular salad recipes, I hope you enjoy it! Please let me know what you think! 🙂