Broccoli Salad – Skinnytaste

Delicious broccoli salad with bacon, sunflower seeds, red onions and goat cheese mixed with a creamy Greek yogurt mayo sauce. So good!!

Broccoli salad

Here’s a great way to inject a cup of veggies into your meal, serve this broccoli salad as a side to a sandwich, burger, or your favorite protein. It’s perfect as a side dish for a summer BBQ or potluck, or as a flavorful lunch. It’s easy to customize however you like – try adding some chopped nuts, raisins, or other dried fruit for extra flavor and texture. If you’re a broccoli lover and need more broccoli side dish ideas, try these Broccoli and Orzo, Broccoli Cheese Soup, or this Sesame Orange Broccoli.

This light and easy broccoli salad is from Lisa Bryan’s new Downshiftology Healthy Meal Prep cookbook, which features over 100 make-ahead recipes that can be frozen or repurposed into different meals. I asked my audience on Instagram which recipe I should share from their book and this one was the winner. I’m so glad because I really enjoyed it!! Her recipe lists this as 4 servings, but I made it 8 servings with 1 cup, which is perfect for a side dish. If you want it as a main course, you can double the portion.

A healthier broccoli salad

This healthy salad recipe uses lots of nutritious ingredients:

• Broccoli is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, potassium and folic acid.
• Sunflower seeds are a good source of healthy fats, protein, and nutrients like vitamin E and selenium.
• Goat cheese is a lower-fat alternative to other cheeses and a good source of protein and calcium.
• The Greek yogurt in the dressing increases the protein content and gives the salad a creamy texture without adding too much fat.

Ingredients:

• Bacon: Use eight slices of your favorite bacon.
• Broccoli: Cut a head of broccoli into bite-sized florets.
• Red onion: Dice a third cup of red onion.
• Dried Cranberries: Buy unsweetened dried cranberries.
• Raw Sunflower Seeds: Roasted sunflower seeds work if you don’t have raw ones.
• goat cheese: Crumble a quarter cup of goat cheese over the salad.
• Dressing: Greek yogurt and mayonnaise (light or regular)

How to make broccoli salad

• Bacon: Pan fry the bacon or place the bacon on a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake at 400F for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Salad: Combine broccoli, onion, cranberries, seeds and cheese.
• Dressing: Mix the mayonnaise and yogurt in a small bowl. Pour the dressing over the broccoli mixture and add the crumbled bacon.

What to serve with the broccoli salad

This salad recipe goes great with almost any protein like burgers, pork chops, chicken or steak. I also like it neat for a simple lunch.

How long does broccoli salad keep in the fridge?

Broccoli salad will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Variations:

• Broccoli: If you prefer to blanch your broccoli, you can boil it for about 1 minute. Drain, rinse with cold water to prevent overcooking, and dry before mixing the broccoli with the other ingredients.
• Fruit: Swap dried cranberries for raisins, dried dates, or diced apples.
• Vegetarian Broccoli Salad: Leave out the bacon.
• seeds: Replace sunflower seeds with pumpkin seeds, walnuts, or pecans.
• Cheese: Under goat cheese with feta or grated cheddar.
• Non dairy: Omit the goat cheese and use non-dairy yogurt.

More Broccoli Recipes You’ll Love: