Creamy Broccoli Salad with Apples and Cranberries

This fresh, crunchy, and tangy Broccoli Apple Salad with Cranberries is the perfect side dish for your next picnic or BBQ!  This delicious broccoli apple salad is a great way to get more veggies and fruit in your diet, making this the perfect balance of healthy and indulgent. 

Broccoli salad is a very easy dish to make, with few ingredients, and minimal preparation. It can be a great option for busy weeknights or when you don’t have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen.  Not only that, but it is a very versatile dish! You can customize this perfect salad to suit your preferences and tastes. Down below I give an assortment of additional ingredients that you can incorporate into this salad if you’d like.

The Players for this Broccoli Apple Salad

For the Broccoli Salad

• Broccoli – Raw broccoli florets that have been cut into small pieces are perfect for this amazing salad.
• Apples – I love using fresh, crisp apples for this recipe.  If you use large apples, you’ll probably just need one.  If they’re smaller, go for two apples. I like to use Honeycrisp apples for this recipe. 
• Broccoli Slaw – I love adding even more healthy ingredients to this hearty salad by using bagged broccoli slaw.  If you prefer, you can use pre-shredded carrots. 
• Dried Cranberries – This brings a bright and tart flavor to this broccoli apple salad recipe.  You can also substitute with raisins or craisins if you’d like. 

For the Creamy Dressing

• Mayonnaise – I like full-fat mayonnaise for this recipe.  Plain Greek Yogurt can be used  to make this salad high in protein and super healthy!
• White Wine Vinegar – You can also use White Vinegar or Apple Cider Vinegar but I love the fruity taste it gives the dressing.  It really helps elevate the sweetness of the apples. You can also use fresh lemon juice if you prefer!  I would keep the same amount of 2 tablespoons. 
• Sugar – I use plain white sugar.  You can add less if you prefer a less sweet broccoli salad. 
• Black Pepper and Salt – Season the salad to taste to make the best broccoli salad.

How to Make this Broccoli Apple Salad Recipe

Take a head of broccoli or two and cut up your crunchy broccoli into small florets, using a sharp knife. Give the fresh broccoli florets a good rinse in a colander and allow to dry while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.  

Skin and dice your sweet apples up and place into a large bowl.  Add in your broccoli slaw or shredded carrots into the bowl, along with your cranberries.  Throw in your broccoli and combine broccoli well with the apples, slaw, and cranberries. 

Let’s make the creamy dressing! In a separate bowl, add in your mayonnaise, white wine vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper. Whisk well until you get a creamy consistency.  If it’s too thick, you can add a little bit more of the white wine vinegar.

Pour your creamy tangy dressing over the top fo the broccoli mixture and toss well until all of the broccoli is thoroughly coated.  I personally like my broccoli salad to be only slightly coated.  If you like a little more dressing, you might want to double the recipe.  

Cover with plastic wrap or in an airtight container and allow the broccoli apple salad to chill for at least an hour before serving.  If you’re in a pinch, you don’t necessarily have to chill, but I just love the cool, crispiness of this apple broccoli salad.  

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Can You Make This Broccoli Salad Ahead of Time?

Yes!  You can actually make the dressing a couple of days ahead of serving and have everything washed and chopped.  I would hold off on chopping the apples until the day you go to serve this healthy broccoli apple salad though.  You don’t want the apples to be brown and mushy. 

Is Broccoli Apple Salad Good for You?

Using simple ingredients, this Broccoli Salad becomes a crowd-pleaser.  Not only is it very easy to make, but there are great, nutritious ingredients!  

• Broccoli – high in fiber, vitamins C and K,
• Apples – They contain a variety of minerals and vitamins including vitamins C, K, B6, and Folate. 
• Cranberries – They are rich in antioxidants and are a great source of fiber. 

Which Apples are best for this Salad?

You can use any apple you’d like for this Broccoli Salad Recipe.  I like a slightly sweeter apple, like Honeycrisp.  Those I always have on hand because my kids enjoy apple slices with peanut butter as n after-school snack.  Here are some other apple varieties that would work well in this broccoli apple salad recipe:

• Pink Lady – They have an excellent combination of being sweet and tart, which would make this a great option for a broccoli apple salad. 
• Gala Apples – Galas have a mild and sweet flavor, with a subtle floral aroma, giving this variety a wonderful option to put in a good salad.
• Granny Smith– These apples have a tart and crisp flavor that pairs well with the savory and sweet flavors in broccoli salad. 

Optional Ingredients and Flavorings

Looking for other delicious flavors to incorporate into this broccoli salad? Try a variety of these optional ingredients:

• Red Onion or Sweet Onion
• Sunflower Seeds
• Poppy Seeds – Incorporated into the creamy dressing.
• Sharp Cheddar Cheese – This would be a great option since it would cut the sweetness from the apples.  However, I would definitely use a block of cheese and grate it with a cheese grater instead of using pre-grated cheese from the store. 
• Blue Cheese Crumbles – If you’re looking for a cheese to really offset the sweetness from the cranberries and apples, blue cheese crumbles will add a pungent, tangy, and bold flavor to this perfect fall salad. 
• Maple Syrup – If you prefer to use a more natural sweetness, you can substitute the sugar for maple syrup. 
• Honey Mustard Dressing – Try out different dressings for this broccoli apple salad!  I like a tangy dressing, but perhaps mixing together a simple dressing of dijon mustard and honey would be an excellent option!
• Almonds – Adding sliced, slivered, or chopped almonds can give this salad a wonderful crunch factor in addition to the broccoli. I would add about a 1/2 cup. 
• Bacon – Adding chopped, cooked bacon can bring a smoky, salty, and savory flavor to this semi-sweet salad.  I would use about a slice or two of bacon. 

How long does Broccoli Apple Salad last in Fridge?

Broccoli apple salad can last in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Store the broccoli salad in an airtight container or covered with plastic wrap to keep it fresh. The tangy dressing that is incorporated into the salad will make all of the fruits and vegetables soft after a couple of days, so it’s best eaten within 2 days for optimal flavor and texture.

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