Crunchy Apple Broccoli Salad
When autumn rolls around, I start craving salads that have plenty of crunch and fresh flavor. This apple broccoli salad is a must have as soon as we come home with our fresh apples from the orchard. The crisp broccoli, juicy apples, crunchy pecans, golden raisins, and thinly sliced red onion combined in a creamy homemade dressing that is sweet, tangy, and super easy to make. You don’t even have to turn on the oven or stove!
Although I do love a warm bowl of soup or a hearty stew when the weather turns cooler, I still want something fresh on the table. That’s what makes this broccoli salad great. The raw vegetables stay crisp, the apple adds a juicy bite, and the golden raisins bring little bursts of sweetness throughout the salad.
Best of all, this is an easy side dish that can be made for so many occasions. You can serve it with dinner, bring it to a fall potluck, or make it ahead for a busy week. Since the recipe is vegetarian, it also gives everyone at the table a fresh option that does not require meat.
I especially love making this salad during apple season. The freshly picked apples taste fantastic with crisp broccoli. Leaving the apple skin on adds even more color and texture.
Why You’ll Love This Apple Broccoli Salad
First, you can make it quickly. You do not need to roast the broccoli, cook the apples, or spend an hour chopping vegetables. Everything goes into one bowl, gets tossed with the dressing, and right into the refrigerator.
The combination of textures also makes this salad especially satisfying. Crisp broccoli gives you plenty of crunch, while the apple adds a juicy sweetness. Pecans bring another layer of crunch, and the golden raisins soften the overall texture with their natural sweetness.
Meanwhile, the creamy dressing brings all those ingredients together. Mayonnaise and sour cream create a rich base, while honey adds sweetness and apple cider vinegar provides the tangy flavor.
Another bonus is how pretty this salad looks on the table. The green broccoli, red apple skin, golden raisins, red onion, and pecans create plenty of color without requiring any special presentation.
The Best Apples for Broccoli Salad
I recommend using McIntosh or Cortland apples for this recipe. Both are our go to apples because they are sweet, tart, and crisp.
You can use another apple if that is what you have available. Honeycrisp, Gala, Pink Lady, or Fuji would all bring their own flavor to the salad.
Most importantly, just choose an apple that you actually enjoy eating. Since the apple stays raw, its flavor comes through in every bite.
Be sure to leave the skin on. It adds color, texture, and a little extra crunch. Plus, it saves you the extra step of peeling the apple.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Apple
Chop it into large bite-sized pieces and leave the skin on for extra color and texture.
Broccoli
One head of fresh broccoli provides the crunchy base for the salad. Cut it into large bite-sized pieces so the broccoli remains substantial enough to hold up to the creamy dressing.
Pecans
Half a cup of chopped pecans adds plenty of crunch and a wonderful nutty flavor.
Golden Raisins
Golden raisins add little bits of sweetness throughout the salad. Their chewy texture also contrasts nicely with the crisp broccoli and apples.
Red Onion
A quarter cup of thinly sliced red onion adds a little bite. Because you only need a small amount, the onion enhances the salad without taking over.
The Creamy Apple Cider Vinegar Dressing
The dressing is so simple to make.
Mayonnaise provides the creamy base, while sour cream adds tanginess and keeps the dressing from tasting overly rich. Honey adds a touch of sweetness, and apple cider vinegar brings everything into balance.
Sea salt and black pepper finish the dressing and help bring out the flavors of the other ingredients.
I feel like apple cider vinegar is best because it reinforces the apple flavor without making the dressing taste like straight vinegar. It gives the salad the bright acidity without overpowering it.
How to Make Apple Broccoli Salad
Start by making the dressing. Add the mayonnaise, sour cream, honey, apple cider vinegar, sea salt, and black pepper to a large mixing bowl.
Whisk everything together until the dressing is smooth and well combined. Give it a quick taste before adding the vegetables. You should have a creamy dressing with a nice balance of sweet and tangy flavors.
Next, chop the apple into large bite-sized pieces. Remove the core, but leave the skin on. Keeping the pieces fairly large helps the apple maintain its texture once the dressing is added.
Cut the broccoli into large bite-sized pieces as well. You want pieces that are easy to eat but substantial enough to provide plenty of crunch.
Thinly slice the red onion. Thin slices distribute the onion throughout the salad so you get just a little onion flavor in each serving.
Now add the chopped apple, broccoli, pecans, golden raisins, and red onion to the bowl with the dressing.
Use a silicone spatula to gently stir everything together. Continue mixing until the dressing coats all of the broccoli, apples, pecans, raisins, and onion.
Finally, cover the bowl and refrigerate the salad for at least 30 minutes before serving. That short rest gives the flavors time to come together while keeping all of the ingredients crisp.
Why You Should Chill the Salad
You might be tempted to serve this salad immediately, especially when you see how quickly it comes together. However, giving it 30 minutes in the refrigerator makes a noticeable difference.
The dressing has time to coat the ingredients, while the flavors settle together.
Meanwhile, the chilled broccoli and apple become even more refreshing. That makes this salad a great choice when you want something cool and crisp alongside a warm autumn meal.
You can certainly make the salad earlier in the day if you are preparing food for guests. Just keep it refrigerated until you are ready to serve.
Tips for Making the Best Apple Broccoli Salad
Use fresh broccoli. Fresh broccoli gives you the best crunch and keeps the salad from becoming soggy.
Cut the ingredients into similar bite-sized pieces. This makes the salad easier to eat and helps distribute all the ingredients throughout each serving.
Leave the apple skin on. The colorful skin makes the salad look beautiful and adds extra texture.
Do not skip the refrigeration time. Thirty minutes gives the dressing and fresh ingredients time to come together.
Taste your apple before making the salad. Apples vary in sweetness and tartness. Knowing what your apple tastes like helps you understand how it will work with the dressing.
Slice the onion thinly. Red onion has a strong flavor, so thin slices provide just enough bite without overwhelming the other ingredients.
Chop the pecans before adding them. Smaller pieces make it easier to get pecans in every serving.
Can You Make Apple Broccoli Salad Ahead?
Yes! This salad is a great make-ahead side dish.
You can prepare it several hours before serving and keep it covered in the refrigerator. In fact, making it ahead can make your meal easier because your side dish is already finished and waiting in the refrigerator.
For a potluck, this is especially helpful. Prepare the salad at home, keep it chilled, and transport it in a container with a secure lid.
If you are making the salad several hours ahead, keep it refrigerated until serving time. The broccoli and apples should retain plenty of their crunch while the flavors develop.
What to Serve with Apple Broccoli Salad
Serve it alongside roasted chicken for an easy family dinner. The crisp salad provides a refreshing contrast to the warm, savory main dish.
It’s also really good with pork. Apples and pork are a classic combination, and the crunchy broccoli adds a fresh element to the plate.
For a vegetarian meal, serve the salad alongside a hearty soup, roasted vegetables, baked potatoes, or a savory grain dish. You can also bring it to a vegetarian potluck because it does not contain meat.
During the holidays, this salad can add some much-needed freshness to a table filled with rich dishes. Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and fall family get togethers all benefit from having a crisp vegetable side on the menu.
Apple Broccoli Salad for a Potluck
This apple broccoli salad has always been dependable for bringing to a potluck.
The ingredients are easy to find, preparation is simple, and the salad travels well when kept cold. Plus, you can prepare it ahead of time instead of trying to assemble another dish at the last minute.
The colorful ingredients also make a pretty presentation in a serving bowl. Bright green broccoli, red apple skin, golden raisins, pecans, and red onion bring a pop of color to the table.
Because the recipe is vegetarian, you can also serve it at a gathering where guests have different dietary preferences. It gives people another fresh and crunchy option alongside heavier hot dishes.
Can I Use a Different Type of Apple?
Absolutely. McIntosh and Cortland are my favorites for this recipe, but you can use whatever fresh apple you have. We pick these varieties for their sweetness and crunch. Plus, they last a long time in the crisper drawer.
A crisp Honeycrisp will make the salad especially crunchy, while a Gala will provide a sweeter flavor. Pink Lady apples offer a nice sweet-tart balance as well.
Just avoid apples that have become mealy or soft. Fresh, firm apples will give you the best texture.
Can I Use Regular Raisins?
Yes. Golden raisins are slightly milder and have a beautiful color, which is why I use them here. Regular raisins will still work if that is what you have in your pantry.
I’ve also used dried cranberries. They add a more pronounced tartness and another pretty pop of color.
Is Apple Broccoli Salad Healthy?
This salad includes several nutritious whole-food ingredients, including fresh broccoli, apples, pecans, and raisins. Broccoli provides fiber and nutrients, while apples add fruit, fiber, and natural sweetness.
Pecans contribute healthy fats and make the salad more satisfying. The dressing does contain mayonnaise, sour cream, and honey, so this is still a creamy salad rather than a low-calorie vegetable dish.
For me, the goal is simple: make a salad that tastes delicious while including plenty of fresh ingredients.
A Fresh Fall Salad You’ll Make Again
Fall baking gets plenty of attention, but autumn salads deserve some love, too. Fresh apples, crisp broccoli, crunchy pecans, golden raisins, and red onion create a combination that feels right at home on a cool fall day.
This apple broccoli salad is simple enough for a weeknight dinner but special enough for a holiday table. It’s perfect as a potluck dish, a vegetarian side, or an easy make-ahead salad when you need something fresh and crunchy.
Most importantly, you do not need complicated ingredients or a long list of instructions. Chop everything, whisk together the dressing, stir it all into one bowl, and let the refrigerator do the rest.
So the next time you bring home a bag of fresh apples, save one for this salad. With its crisp vegetables, sweet apples, crunchy pecans, and creamy dressing, this is one fall salad you’ll want to make all season long.
More Fresh Side Dish Recipes
French Carrot Salad
Creamy Cucumber Radish Salad
Apple Broccoli Salad
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Ingredients
- 1 Apple (Mcintosh, Cortland)
- 1 Broccoli head
- 1/2 cup Pecans, chopped
- 1/2 cup Golden raisins
- 1/4 cup Red onion, thinly sliced
Dressing
- 1/2 cup Mayonnaise
- 1/4 cup Sour cream
- 1 tbsp Honey
- 1 tbsp Apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 tsp Sea salt
- 1/4 tsp Black pepper
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk to combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, honey, apple cider vinegar, sea salt, and black pepper.
- Chop the apple into large bite sized pieces, removing the core but leave the skin on.
- Chop the broccoli into large bite sized pieces.
- Thinly slice the red onion.
- Add the apple, broccoli, pecans, golden raisins, and thinly sliced red onion to the mixing bowl.
- Stir the salad with a silicone spatula to cover all the salad with the dressing.
- Refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving.
Nutrition
