Creamy, crunchy Broccoli Apple Salad made with fresh broccoli florets, apples, dried cranberries, almonds, sunflower seeds and onion tossed in a creamy poppyseed dressing.

Broccoli Apple Salad in a serving bowl.

This Apple Broccoli Salad is one of my go-to side dishes because it goes well with any main dish, it’s colorful and completely delicious.

How to make Broccoli Apple Salad:

  • Blanch broccoli and allow to cool. Use a paper towel to blot any excess water from the broccoli florets.
  • In a large bowl toss together broccoli, apples, red onion, almonds, sunflower seeds, and dried cranberries.
Broccoli blanching in a pot of boiling water next to a bowl with the ingredients for broccoli apple salad.
  • Whisk together all ingredients until smooth. Drizzle the dressing, just a little at a time, over the salad and toss to combine. Chill for at least one hour before serving.
Homemade creamy dressing in a bowl next to a serving bowl with the dressing being poured over broccoli apple salad.

Pro Tips:

Cut the broccoli and apples into small pieces. That way each bite you take has a little bit of all of the flavors (and not just one big bite of broccoli!).

Blanch the broccoli, and then put it in an ice water bath to cool. Make sure to drain the water really well and pat the broccoli dry, to allow the frosting to coat it easier.

Make the salad (or at least the dressing) a few hours ahead of time, if you can. It tastes best when the flavors have had time to blend together.

Toss the apples in a little bit of lemon juice to keep them from browning.

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Recipe

Broccoli Apple Salad in a serving bowl.
Prep 10 minutes
Cook 5 minutes
Total 15 minutes
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Ingredients
  

  • 2 heads fresh broccoli , chopped into small florets (about 4 cups)
  • 2 apples , chopped
  • 1/4 cup red onion , diced
  • 1/3 cup slivered almonds
  • 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries

Dressing:

Instructions
 

  • Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add broccoli and cook for just a few seconds, to blanch it. Drain water (or remove the broccoli with a slotted spoon) and allow to cool. Use a paper towel to blot any excess water from the broccoli florets.
  • In a large bowl toss together broccoli, apples, red onion, almonds, sunflower seeds, and dried cranberries.
    Chopped applies, broccoli florets, onion, almonds and craisins in a bowl.

For the dressing:

  • Whisk together all ingredients until smooth. Drizzle the dressing, just a little at a time, over the salad and toss to combine. Chill for at least one hour before serving.

Notes

More Addition Ideas:
  • Bacon.
  • Cheese: cubed cheddar cheese, shredded parmesan or feta.
  • Nuts: use your favorite kind, like pecan or walnuts.
  • Grapes.
Make Ahead Instructions: The salad tastes best made a few hours ahead of time, or up to several days ahead. Toss the apples in a little bit of lemon juice to keep them from browning.

Nutrition

Calories: 278kcalCarbohydrates: 42gProtein: 11gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 150mgPotassium: 790mgFiber: 8gSugar: 26gVitamin A: 1310IUVitamin C: 184.6mgCalcium: 166mgIron: 2.2mg

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I originally shared this recipe September 2016. Updated March 2021.

Process photos by Nikole from The Travel Palate.

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About The Author

Lauren Allen

Welcome! I’m Lauren, a mom of four and lover of good food. Here you’ll find easy recipes and weeknight meal ideas made with real ingredients, with step-by-step photos and videos.

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  1. Can you get a bag of precut broccoli florets for this and skip the prep and blanching process? Or would you recommend just getting the full head of broccoli instead? (When you have a toddler, you look for all of the ways to cut corners a bit haha!)