You'll love this Broccoli Crunch Salad recipe with a sweet citrus salad dressing. Crunchy broccoli salad goes great with so many dishes, including smoked ribeyes!
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Using fresh ingredients and leaving out the sugar and mayo (usually found in packaged broccoli salad recipes) means you can enjoy the taste without the added calories. If you prefer vegan broccoli crunch salad, just leave out the cheese and bacon!
When I want to control extra added sugars found in many salad dressings, I use my citrus salad dressing. The sweet and tangy flavors pair perfectly with broccoli.
Prefer your salad sweeter? Feel free to add an additional packet of Truvia. Alternatively, you can add more honey to the dressing before mixing it in with the salad.
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🔖 Ingredients & Substitutions
- Broccoli: You'll need fresh, raw broccoli to make this salad.
- Cheese: I love blue cheese mixed into broccoli salad. If you don't like blue cheese, you can use feta cheese or sharp cheddar cheese instead.
- Bacon: I love the crunch and texture of the crumbled bacon in this salad. However, it can be left out to make the salad even healthier!
- Pomegranate Seeds: When pomegranates are not in season, don't let that stop you. This broccoli salad recipe is still excellent without the pomegranate seeds.
*A full list of ingredients can be found in the recipe card.
🥦 How to Make Broccoli Crunch Salad
Step 1: Rinse broccoli and drain, then chop into bite-sized pieces. Add to a medium-sized bowl.
Step 2: Remove seeds from half a pomegranate and stir into the broccoli. Next, add diced onion, Craisins, pumpkin seeds, and gorgonzola cheese.
Step 3: To make the broccoli salad dressing, whisk the citrus dressing ingredients in a small bowl. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss, then taste and adjust the salt and pepper if needed.
Step 4: Add bacon, toss, and serve immediately. This broccoli salad recipe can be prepared ahead of time and stored in the fridge in an airtight container until you're ready to serve it. Mix in the bacon and dressing just before serving.
If you have more broccoli left over, try this delicious broccoli pasta recipe!
Salad Mix-Ins
So what can take this Healthy Broccoli Salad to a whole new level? BACON! Of course, if you are a vegetarian, you can leave it out.
If, however, you appreciate deliciously crispy bacon, just mix in four crumbled bacon strips into the salad before serving.
Since this recipe yields four servings, that's one strip per person. That's how we can still get away with calling it "Healthy Broccoli Salad."
Roasted Broccoli Salad Option
Yet another idea for this broccoli salad is to roast the broccoli before tossing it in with the other ingredients.
If you've never had roasted broccoli, you don't know what you're missing! Roasting the broccoli brings out a sweeter, more intense flavor. The end result is tender broccoli florets with crispy, browned edges.
🍽 Serving Suggestions
Serve this broccoli crunch salad with this country style ribs recipe or alongside these juicy smoked burgers. It also pairs well with elk steak, air fried cornish hens, and smoked chicken thighs.
👩🏼🍳 Pro Tips
- Grapes are just one example of what can be added to this
crunchy broccoli salad recipe, especially if pomegranates are not in season. Also, try apples and pears. - If you don't like blue cheese, try feta or goat cheese.
- Although I used pumpkin seeds, the nut or seed options are truly endless. Some examples include pistachios, walnuts, pecans, almonds, and sunflower seeds.
- Don't like onions? Leave them out, or leave them on the side as an add-in option.
- Not a fan of dried cranberries? Add raisins, dried cherries, or chopped dried apricots instead.
- Increase the protein by adding diced grilled chicken to the broccoli salad.
- Store leftover salad for up to 24 hours in the fridge, in an airtight container.
🥗 More Salad Recipes
If you enjoy this broccoli crunch salad recipe, check out these other tasty salads!
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📖 Recipe
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Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Rinse broccoli and drain then chop into bite-size pieces. Add to a medium-sized bowl.
- Remove seeds from half a pomegranate and stir into the broccoli. Next, add diced onion, Craisins, pumpkin seeds, and gorgonzola cheese.
- To make the broccoli salad dressing, whisk the citrus dressing ingredients in a small bowl. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss, then taste and adjust the salt and pepper if needed.
- Add bacon, toss, and serve immediately. This Broccoli Salad Recipe can be prepared ahead of time and stored in the fridge in an airtight container until you're ready to serve it.
Nutrition
Notes
- Grapes are just one example of what can be added to this recipe, especially if pomegranates are not in season. Also try apples and pears.
- If you don't like blue cheese, try feta or goat cheese.
- Although I used pumpkin seeds, the nut or seed options are truly endless. Some examples include pistachios, walnuts, pecans, almonds, and sunflower seeds.
- Don't like onions? Leave them out, or leave them on the side as an add-in option.
- Not a fan of dried cranberries? Add raisins, dried cherries, or chopped dried apricots instead.
- Increase the protein by adding diced grilled chicken to the broccoli salad.
Becca Smith says
I'm making this tonight. Sounds and looks delicious. I love the idea of adding bacon and substituting the blue cheese for feta. I'm impressed with your blog!
HildaSterner says
Thanks, Becca! Looking forward to hearing what you think! ?