17 Creamy-Crunchy Broccoli Salads for Summer

By MyRecipes
Updated June 11, 2018
Credit: HOWARD L. PUCKETT

Broccoli salad is the ultimate, easy summer side dish at cookouts, BBQs, and more. From broccoli salad with bacon to broccoli slaw salad, these broccoli salad recipes are sure to make any party a hit. 

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Cranberry-Almond Broccoli Salad

Credit: Iain Bagwell Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Cranberry-Almond Broccoli Salad Recipe

Broccoli salad is usually drowning in a creamy, often very sweet, dressing and studded with 1/2 pound crumbled bacon, making it more about the creamy dressing and bacon than about the actual broccoli. Ours uses a combination of canola mayonnaise and Greek yogurt to keep the calories in check. We opt for center-cut bacon (a bit less of it) and swap the usual raisins for lower-sugar dried cranberries to pack a subtle punch of tart. The best part of this salad? The longer it sits, the better it gets.

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Broccoli, Grape, and Pasta Salad

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Broccoli, Grape, and Pasta Salad Recipe

If you're a broccoli salad fan, you'll love the combination of broccoli, grapes, bacon and onions with bow-tie pasta.

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Savory Broccoli-and-Sauerkraut Salad

Credit: Greg DuPree

Savory Broccoli-and-Sauerkraut Salad Recipe

This crunchy, make-ahead salad is a far cry from the supersweet broccoli salad you might be used to; it’s more savory than sweet, with a nice floral lift from lemon rind. It provides both pre- and probiotics for better gut health. Prebiotics—food for probiotics—come from the broccoli (especially the stems), onion, and garlic. Probiotics come from sauerkraut and kefir, which has up to 12 strains of good-for-you bacteria. Be sure to use refrigerated fermented kraut; shelf-stable jarred or canned kraut has been heated to temperatures that kill the bacteria.

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Broccoli Salad

Credit: Karry Hosford

Broccoli Salad Recipe

Here’s a lightened version of the classic broccoli salad with chopped fresh broccoli, grapes, raisins, and sunflower seed kernels.

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Shaved Broccoli-Apple Salad with Tarragon Dressing and Bacon

Credit: Randy Mayor; Styling: Claire Spollen

Shaved Broccoli-Apple Salad with Tarragon Dressing and Bacon Recipe

This healthy broccoli salad is a refreshing new twist on the broccoli-and-bacon picnic standard that sometimes gets drenched in mayonnaise dressing. Here, Greek yogurt and whole grain Dijon mustard stand in for globs of mayo.

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Broccoli-and-Arugula Salad

Credit: Photography: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Anna Hampton; Prop Styling: Thom Driver.

Broccoli-and-Arugula Salad Recipe

Packaged broccoli slaw adds instant crunch and color to this salad. You can also toss it into stir-fries, use it to bulk up chili, or add it to quiche or casseroles for a veggie boost.

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Broccoli Salad with Cider Dressing

Credit: Greg Dupree; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Broccoli Salad with Cider Dressing Recipe

Add some protein—like grilled chicken or shrimp or quinoa, for example—and pack it up for a quick lunch at work, on the beach, or, really, any on-the-go meal. Why soak the red onion, you ask? Well, it tames the onion's often overpowering pungency and spiciness, making it better suited for the salad. Use full-fat Greek yogurt here for the best consistency and flavor (non-fat has a tendency to taste watery).

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Cheddar and Almond Broccoli Salad

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine

Cheddar and Almond Broccoli Salad Recipe

We microwave the broccoli for about half the suggested time so it maintains its texture in the salad. This dish can be made a day ahead.

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Broccoli-Apple Slaw

Credit: Rob Culpepper; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine

Broccoli-Apple Slaw Recipe

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Chubba Bubba's Broccoli Salad

Credit: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Amy Burke

Chubba Bubba's Broccoli Salad Recipe

This easy version of broccoli salad features frozen broccoli plus cauliflower and chopped carrot for added color and crispness.

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Brocoli Carpaccio with Broccoli Stalk Salad

Credit: Johnny Autry; Styling: Cindy Barr

Brocoli Carpaccio with Broccoli Stalk Salad Recipe

Cohen makes great use of broccoli stalks in a riff on carpaccio, which is traditionally a dish of thinly sliced raw meat. This standout salad won us over at the taste-testing table, earning our highest rating. You can use a mandoline to make easy work of slicing the broccoli thinly and evenly.

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Broccoli Matchsticks and Kale Salad

Credit: Chris Court

Broccoli Matchsticks and Kale Salad Recipe

This delicious, healthy salad makes use of sweet broccoli stems.

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Broccoli and Apple Salad

Credit: Howard L. Puckett

Broccoli and Apple Salad Recipe

Sweet, crunchy apple and broccoli create a refreshing, light side dish. Prepare this salad up to eight hours in advance for best flavor and texture.

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Broccoli, Orange and Watercress Salad

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Broccoli, Orange and Watercress Salad Recipe

Fresh orange sections add a pleasing amount of sweetness to this broccoli and watercress side salad.

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Broccoli and Bell Pepper Salad

Credit: Ryan Benyi; Styling: Stephana Bottom

Broccoli and Bell Pepper Salad Recipe

This quick and easy 5-ingredient broccoli salad is brimming with flavor and nutrients from fresh broccoli and bell pepper slices.

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Chunky Vegetable Salad

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Styling: Lynn Miller

Chunky Vegetable Salad Recipe

This chilled veggie salad is made with broccoli and cauliflower florets, bell pepper pieces, carrot, onion and cherry tomatoes and is accented with a tangy vinaigrette.

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Broccoli-and-Cannellini Bean Salad

Credit: HOWARD L. PUCKETT

Broccoli-and-Cannellini Bean Salad Recipe

Add protein to your broccoli salad with the addition of canned cannellini or other white beans.

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