Broccoli Cranberry Salad is the perfect side for a weeknight dinner or picnic dish. Loaded with broccoli, apples, cranberries and nuts, this salad is crisp, colorful, and nothing short of delicious!
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I have to say that while I love all veggies, broccoli is definitely in my top 5 (along with mushrooms and asparagus). It pairs well with so many things, is amazing in Broccoli Rice Casserole, makes a perfect side dish with cauliflower and can be served cooked or raw… or even dipped in Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dip!
Along with that list of great broccoli dishes is Broccoli Salad! I think we’ve all had at least one version of broccoli salad, if not more. I decided to deviate from my usual Broccoli Apple Salad and add some fruity flavors with cranberries and a squeeze of fresh lemon. The results were amazing and this Broccoli Cranberry Salad is packed with color, crunch, and flavor!
This salad starts with fresh crisp broccoli and we add in green onions, crisp apple, and sweet dried cranberries. For a little bit of crunch, we love to add either chopped pecans, almonds or walnuts but sunflower seeds or pepitas (pumpkin seeds) are also great in this dish!
The poppy seed dressing in this recipe is easy to make and has a delicious fresh flavor. I find that broccoli salads often tend to have a super sweet dressing; this one is a bit lighter on the sugar to create a flavor that is completely crave-able.
This recipe calls for lemon juice twice (and fresh lemon juice is most definitely best in this case). The lemon in the salad portion of this recipe will keep the apples from browning while the lemon juice in the dressing adds a fresh flavor element that you won’t want to miss. While I make this recipe with no bacon, you can toss it with crispy chopped bacon or even cooked diced chicken breast to make it a meal. A sprinkle of feta is also a great addition to this salad!
This Broccoli Cranberry Salad lasts for days in the fridge so it’s perfect to make for a potluck since it can be prepped the night before. Allowing the dressing to sit (for at least an hour) really gives the flavors a chance to mix!
The textures of this salad are fantastic. From crunchy to crisp to chewy, every bite is a treat for the taste buds!
Broccoli Cranberry Salad
Ingredients
- 8 cups broccoli florets
- 4 green onions sliced, or ¼ cup red onion
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- 1 granny smith apple diced
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- ⅓ cup chopped pecans optional
For the Dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- ⅓ cup sour cream
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon poppy seeds
- salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Combine all dressing ingredients in a small bowl and mix well.
- Chop the apple and toss with 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice. Place in a bowl with all remaining ingredients in a large bowl. Toss with dressing until well mixed.
- Refrigerate at least one hour before serving
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
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Loved by all who taste it.
Hi Jessica, I am so glad to hear that everyone enjoyed the broccoli salad.
Made this for our Thanksgiving dinner. Got great feedback from my guests. I added pomegranate and sunflower seeds too. I’m going to add some blueberries and a bed of kale to my leftover to make it a really powerful antioxidant salad. Super yummy!
That sounds delicious D! I am happy to hear this recipe was a hit with your guests!
I have some food allergies, can you suggest substitutes for the green onion and apple please?
thank you.
We make this broccoli salad without apples and the green onion can be replaced with red onion (or sweet onion). If raw onion is not an option, a bit of onion powder can be added to the dressing.
Great recipe! I made this and had to tweak it for my diabetic husband and friends. Everyone loved it and are now asking for the recipe. My husband does want me to make it again, and that is a huge compliment.
How long does this last in the fridge for?
This will last for 3-4 days in the fridge Jamie. Enjoy!
Delicious!!!
Your recipes are the best!!
Looks great
Thank you. this sounds delicious. Has anyone tried Greek yogurt instead of mayo?
I haven’t. Greek yogurt is more tart so it will change the flavor slightly. I would suggest maybe trying half yogurt/mayo instead of replacing all of it.
Delicious!
Thank you Marybeth!
Really love this! I started a workout program this week and had a craving for this. I substituted avocado and Stevia for the mayonnaise and sugar (not sure what to do with the sour cream). It was still really good!
That sounds great!! You could try Greek yogurt for the sour cream.
I wish I could save your recipes to my G+ page. If possible add G+. Thanks
This salad is very good. The only thing I did different was to add cauliflower to the salad. Nice healthy salad
love this salad, crunchy , sweet, and yes healthy. I made this salad to take to a thanksgiving feast, everyone went back for seconds even though there were many other side dishes. This one is a keeper!!!
Always looking for healthy, easy and delicious recipes to add to my camping menu. Thanks!
Enjoy!
Made this for a church luncheon and was well received. I added some coleslaw mix and diced apple and pear along with the cranberries. Thank you for the recipe
love the apples! and the poppyseed! delish!
A friend left your post on my Facebook and I study nutrition. Your recipes look wonderful and I am hoping to try the broccoli salad. My little granddaughter loves broccoli!
I will let you know what I think and if I play with the ingredients I will post that as well.
I hope your family enjoys this recipe Nadine!
Hi Holly,
When I saw bow healthy and delicious your recipies looked I had to sign up! They look wonderful and can’t wait to try them all.
Looking forward to more in the future, and I’ll let you know how they turn out. Have a great week!
Thank you JoAnn! So happy to have you joining me!