We call this the Christmas salad but it’s great any time of year. Broccoli Cauliflower Salad has only 4 ingredients with an easy honey lemon dressing that coats every delicious bite. It comes together quickly and is perfect for parties or dinner time. Make this and you will get recipe requests.
Most people think of Cauliflower as an ingredient that needs to be cooked into Cauliflower Soup or Roasted Cauliflower, but raw cauliflower is a real treat. It has the perfect taste and crunchy texture for salad.
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We love fresh broccoli salads like our Broccoli Apple Salad and Broccoli Grape Salad. If you are a fan of crisp fresh broccoli and cauliflower, you will make this creamy salad again and again. Broccoli and Cauliflower never tasted so good!
Broccoli Cauliflower Salad Video
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Good recipes travel fast and this creamy Broccoli Cauliflower Salad recipe is one of them! One of my readers, Margarita Storchevoy, wrote in with this Christmas salad recipe and said it was one of her favorite recipes for the holidays. That same day we bought the ingredients and recreated it; love at first bite! Make this and you will get recipe requests.
Broccoli and Cauliflower Salad Ingredients
- Broccoli – use a medium head, cut into small florets
- Cauliflower – 1 medium head, chopped into small florets
- Dried Cranberries – adds a sweet-tanginess to the salad
- Pine Nuts or Sliced Almonds – toast the nuts on a dry skillet until golden for a more intense nutty flavor and crunchier texture.
Shortcut: I love my food chopper for chopping broccoli and cauliflower. It makes this job way easier and faster.
How to Select Cauliflower
- Look for tightly packed heads of white cauliflower. The leaves should be green and fresh-looking.
- Avoid cauliflower heads with brown specks or wilted leaves which are a sign of aging.
Creamy Honey-Lemon Dressing
This dressing doesn’t get any easier and we love that it uses honey to sweeten and balance the tanginess of the dressing.
- Mayonnaise – use real mayo for the best flavor
- Lemon juice – be sure to use freshly squeezed lemon juice (not from concentrate)
- Honey – we use 2 Tablespoons but you can add it to taste. Liquid honey will incorporate easier into the dressing.
Once You have all of your ingredients prepped and you’re ready to serve the salad, just add the dressing to taste and toss to combine then enjoy. It’s so easy!
Common Questions
Nuts add a great crunch, but you can easily substitute them for sliced almonds, sunflower seeds, or pumpkin seeds, and toast them for deeper flavor.
Craisins or dried cranberries can easily be substituted with raisins. You can also use fresh grapes if you prefer, but double the amount.
We do not recommend using frozen broccoli or frozen cauliflower for this salad since the crunch won’t be present and it won’t keep as well once broccoli is thawed. Using frozen is also likely to water down the dressing in the salad.
Yes, this salad is grain-free and naturally gluten-free.
Make Ahead
Besides the amazing flavor, what I love most about this salad is the “make-ahead” factor. This salad is just as good (if not better) after it’s been in the fridge melding with the dressing overnight.
Storing Leftovers: cover and keep refrigerated for up to 3 days, just be sure to stir and add more dressing to taste if needed.
Serve With
We love this creamy Broccoli Cauliflower Salad year-round for potlucks and BBQ’s. It pairs well with these main courses and sides:
- Baked Chicken Legs
- Juicy Burger Recipe
- Philly Cheesesteak
- Roasted Baby Red Potatoes
- Crispy Smashed Potatoes
Broccoli Cauliflower Salad Recipe (VIDEO)
Ingredients
- 1 medium broccoli head
- 1 medium cauliflower head
- 3/4 cup dried cranberries, craisins
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds or pine nuts, toasted on a dry skillet until golden
- 2 Tbsp honey
- 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice, from 1 small lemon
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise*
Instructions
- Peel the broccoli stem and chop off the dry base. Chop broccoli into small florets and dice the stem if using.
- Remove and discard the cauliflower core and leaves and dice the rest into bite-sized pieces.
- Toast 1/2 cup pine nuts or almonds on a dry skillet over med/high heat, tossing frequently until fragrant and golden, then add to the salad bowl along with 3/4 cup craisins.
- In a small bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup mayo, 2 Tbsp honey and 2 Tbsp lemon juice. Add dressing to the salad and toss well to combine.
Notes
Nutrition Per Serving
Filed Under
The only way mine turned out as creamy as it looks in the picture (and tasted as delicious as you made it sound) was if I doubled the dressing recipe. Otherwise there was hardly enough to coat everything. My head of broccoli WAS a bit larger than what was used in the video though.
Thank you for sharing that, Evy! We didn’t double it four ours, but I imagine if more ingredients were used, like the larger broccoli, that could be the case.
I have loved nearly everything I’ve ever tried from Natasha’s Kitchen. Unfortunately, I didn’t have luck with this one. I think for me, it came down to the dressing–just not a huge fan of the mayo, maybe?
Did you possibly change anything in the ingredients or measurements? If you don’t like mayo-based dressings, I would suggest trying one of our other salads without mayo.
I don’t think I changed anything—or if I did, it wasn’t intentional. Maybe I used bottled lemon juice instead of fresh? I can’t totally remember, though! Anyway, maybe I ought to give it another go. Your website is my go-to for recipes!
Do you need to make the dressing ahead of time? I have a similar receipt that calls for more mayo and sugar but I like yours better since it is much less of mayo and honey instead of sugar. With the salad I’m used to making, you have to mix dressing ahead of time so flavors can mingle.
Hi Sandra, you don’t have to make the dressing ahead of time but you can if you choose to.
Hey Natasha broccoli and cauliflower don’t need a brew before?
They do not! We just give them a good rinse and enjoy it fresh
What can you substitute the honey with?
Hi Dorothy, I would add sugar to taste instead of honey.
Hey Natasha and Dorothy, Try maple syrup!
Thanks for the tip!
This is delicious
I bought honey roasted sliced almonds instead for even more flavor! Loved this
I’m so happy you enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that with us!
I couldn’t find the nutrition info
Hi Vanessa, we are slowly working through all of our recipes to add nutrition info but it is a time consuming process as they have to be added one at a time. Thank you for being patient!
If anyone needs nutritional info, I’m sure you’re capable of figuring it out yourself. You have exact ingredients and amounts. Google them individually
Hi Natasha,
The broccoli and cauliflower are raw ,no need to blanch them?
Thank you
Hi Dorothy! We like it fresh but our readers have tried it branch “I blanched the broccoli and cauliflower and added bacon… it was still crisp and delicious!! Thank you for the recipe!” I hope this helps!
This is my favorite broccoli salad recipe! It’s so easy and so tasty. I’ve made it with and without cauliflower and I’ve also added red onions and it’s always great because I don’t mess with the excellent simple dressing. Thank you for sharing this revipe
My pleasure, Leonor!! I’m so happy you enjoyed that! Sounds like you found a new favorite!
What can you sub for craisins or cranberries??
Hi Janie, you could use raisins instead of craisins or dried cherries would work as well.
My SIL turned me onto this salad years ago and it always is a healthy winner at gatherings. I add crumbled bacon, slivered carrot, rinsed red beans and small-cubes of sharp cheddar. It is very versatile.
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite, Martin!
people are saying they forgot to add the apples…..I don’t see no where in the recipe that says add apples….what’s up with that
Hi Linda, i think they are referring to our other broccoli salad with apples.
Hi Natasha, I love the Broccoli/Apple salad & would like to try a combo of that one with this one, adding grapes. I hope you don’t mind, but I will let you know how it turns out. I will also be making it with Veganaise, toasted almond slices & pine nuts. I will stick with the honey lemon vegan mayo dressing. Making it for Easter dinner tomorrow! Have a blessed Easter to you and your family!
Wow that sounds amazing!! Let me know how it goes and you have a blessed Easter as well!
Well Natasha, this combo of your 2 salads was a huge hit! Both my Aunt and one of my cousins put some away for this week and I will have enough left over as well! I doubled the amount of broccoli and cauliflower (there were 20 of us for dinner), forgot the apples, but it still made a lot! I have extra dressing too, which I’m sure goes well with any kind of salad. Raves overall! Everyone especially commented on the tasty tangy dressing too! Thanks again for your healthy and delicious recipes.
My pleasure Janet! I’m happy to hear the whole family enjoys this recipe. Thanks for sharing your excellent review!
It was good. Maybe not as amazing as expected but I did like the dressing and cranberry/almonds in the salad! Very interesting🖒
This salad is so delicious! Thank you for showing it with almonds as I’m not a huge fan of pine nuts.
Made it today for lunch and can’t wait to have it again tomorrow!
My pleasure Meagan! I’m happy to hear how much you love the recipe. Thanks for sharing your fantastic review!
Natasha, thank you for the recipe. My husband hates broccoli and cranberries but he liked the salad very much asking me to make it again. Our small kids liked it too. It is really easy and very tasty. Thank you!
You’re welcome Jitka! I’m happy to hear your whole family loves this recipe. Thanks for sharing your wonderful review!
This was soooo good and easy! Thank you for the recipe!
It’s five stars-
It’s five stars..not 2
You’re welcome Kim! I’m glad you enjoy it!
Would you share the nutritional information please? I count Net Carbs.
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 Susan!
Hi Natasha,
Do the broccoli and the cauliflower need to be parboil first or they can be eaten raw?
Hi May, we always eat them raw. We love the crunch that it gives this salad.
I made this wonderful salad and took it fo work for lunch two days straight. It’s awesome and better the second day.
I’m glad to hear that Teresa! Thanks for sharing your great review!