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!

Broccoli Cranberry Salad in a white bowl with a spoon and text

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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!

Broccoli Cranberry Salad in a serving bowl

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!White bowl full of Broccoli Cranberry 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 in a white bowl with a spoon
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Broccoli Cranberry Salad

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!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings 12 servings

Ingredients  

  • 8 cups broccoli washed and chopped
  • 4 green onions sliced (or 1/4 cup red onion)
  • ½ cup dried cranberries
  • 1 green apple diced
  • 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
  • cup pecans chopped, optional

DRESSING

  • 1 cup mayonnaise
  • cup sour cream
  • 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon poppy seeds
  • salt & 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
5 from 25 votes

Nutrition Information

Calories: 211 | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 11mg | Sodium: 144mg | Potassium: 244mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 480IU | Vitamin C: 56.3mg | Calcium: 47mg | Iron: 0.7mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Side Dish
Cuisine American

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About the author

Holly is a wine and cheese lover, recipe creator, shopping enthusiast and self appointed foodie. Her greatest passion is creating in the kitchen and making deliciously comforting recipes for the everyday home cook!
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Comments

  1. 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!5 stars

  2. 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.5 stars

    1. 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.

  3. 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!5 stars

  4. 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!!!5 stars

  5. 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

  6. 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.

  7. 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!