17 Creamy-Crunchy Broccoli Salads for Summer
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.
Cranberry-Almond Broccoli Salad
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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Chubba Bubba's Broccoli Salad
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
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
Broccoli Matchsticks and Kale Salad Recipe
This delicious, healthy salad makes use of sweet broccoli stems.
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Broccoli and Apple Salad
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
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
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
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
Broccoli-and-Cannellini Bean Salad Recipe
Add protein to your broccoli salad with the addition of canned cannellini or other white beans.