Broccoli Salad (Made with Greek Yogurt!)

Made with flavorful ingredients like broccoli, raisins, sunflower seeds, and crispy turkey bacon, this Healthy Broccoli Salad with Greek Yogurt is the star of any meal it’s served in. Tossed in a creamy homemade Greek yogurt dressing, this delicious salad packs a serious punch. Serve it with Grilled Pesto Chicken or Broiled Salmon for an easy and healthy meal.

This is it, you guys. The perfect summer salad. This Healthy Broccoli Salad is bursting with the ultimate combination of sweet and savory flavors for a dish that is out-of-this-world delicious. It’s got sweet flavors from the raisins, nutty flavors from the sunflower seeds, tons of crunch from the broccoli, and salty, rich flavor from the turkey bacon. Oh, and it’s all coated from head to toe in the creamy yogurt dressing of your dreams. Are you hungry yet?

I have made this salad so many times that you would think I would be sick of it, but I can assure you I’m not—it’s just that good! I’ve served it at family dinners, birthday parties, backyard barbecues, potluck meals, and holiday gatherings, and I have even made it in batches for healthy lunch meal preps.

This kind of salad is so good you stick your fork onto the plate for another bite, only to look down and realize that you’ve finished it all without even noticing. I’ve seen it happen too many times, so I always make double to triple the recipe. It keeps great in the fridge. 

I could go on and on about Greek Yogurt Broccoli Salad all day, but I’m sure you’re ready to get to the good stuff. Let me know if you try out this healthy summer salad recipe, and tell me what you think!

Why Your Love this Healthy Broccoli Salad

• Lightened-up picnic classic: The classic broccoli salad is always a staple at summer potlucks, but it's usually made with a ton of bacon, mayonnaise, and sugar. If you want something lighter, this is a great option. 
• Nutritious and healthy: This salad contains healthy ingredients, including fresh broccoli, red onion, sunflower seeds, Greek yogurt, turkey bacon, and fiber-packed raisins or craisins. 
• Easy to customize: There are so many ways to customize this salad. Swap in craisins for the raisins. Use crunchy cashews or almonds instead of sunflower seeds. Make it vegetarian by leaving out the bacon. Throw in some extra veggies like shredded carrots, cauliflower, or Brussels sprouts. Add some chicken or tuna for protein. The options are endless. 

Looking for more lightened-up picnic classics? Don't miss this Greek Yogurt Coleslaw, Waldorf Chicken Salad, or Ranch BLT Pasta Salad.

Ingredients and Easy Swaps

To make this delicious salad, you will need the following key ingredients:

• Fresh Broccoli: This cruciferous veggie makes up the base of our salad. If you aren’t a broccoli fan, you could swap this out for cauliflower, kale, or shredded Brussels sprouts.
• Red onion: This adds crunch and tanginess. Soak the red onions in ice cold water to remove the harsh flavor. You can also swap in more mild green onions.
• Raisins: These add a nice touch of sweetness to the dish. Not a fan of raisins? Try using halved grapes, dried cranberries, or pomegranate seeds instead.
• Sunflower seeds: I love the nutty crunch they bring to the dish. Pumpkin seeds, pine nuts, cashews, walnuts, and almonds are also great options.
• Turkey bacon: Broccoli and bacon are a match made in heaven! We lighten it up by using turkey bacon instead of the regular kind. It’s still super tasty but lighter. You could also use center-cut pork bacon.
• Greek yogurt: This protein-packed yogurt is the base of our creamy homemade salad dressing. You can use regular plain yogurt instead if you prefer. For a more traditional dressing, use half mayo and half plain Greek yogurt. 
• Honey: Traditional broccoli salad is made with white sugar. I like to swap in honey or maple syrup, but you can use any sweetener you like, including Stevia, for a sugar-free, lower-carb option.
• Apple cider vinegar: This adds acid to the salad dressing, which brightens up the rest of the ingredients. White vinegar, rice vinegar, or lemon juice can also work.
• Spices: I like to keep the broccoli salad dressing simple with kosher salt, black pepper, and celery seeds. You could also add Dijon mustard, paprika, herbs, garlic powder, onion powder, or any other seasoning you like.

How to Make Greek Yogurt Broccoli Salad

1. Prep the broccoli and vegetables

For a delicious broccoli salad, make sure to chop the broccoli into bite-sized florets. Otherwise, it is really hard to eat. Normally I like to make broccoli salad with raw broccoli, but you could also par boil it for 2-4 minutes and then immediately put it in an ice bath. It should be bright green and tender-crisp. 

Chop the onions into small bite-size pieces. If you prefer a less harsh onion flavor, place the chopped onion in a bowl of ice water. Let it sit for 15-20 minutes and then drain and dry. 

2. Make the creamy yogurt dressing

In a small bowl, combine the Greek yogurt, vinegar, honey, celery seed, kosher salt, and pepper. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed. For a less tangy dressing, consider swapping in light mayo for half of the yogurt. I also love adding a dollop of Dijon mustard or whole grain mustard for extra flavor. 

3. Combine and refrigerate

Combine the broccoli, red onion, raisins, and dressing in a large bowl. If you have time, refrigerate this mixture for 15-30 minutes. This helps the flavors combine and softens the broccoli slightly.

When it's time to serve the salad, stir in the crispy bacon and sunflower seeds. 

Make it Your Own! Creative Ideas for Broccoli Salad

Here are some of my top tips on serving styles and substitutions:

• Try different nuts and seeds: If you aren’t a fan of sunflower seeds, you can swap these out for pumpkin seeds, almonds, pecans, or pine nuts.
• Change up the fruit: For a lower calorie alternative to raisins, try using halved grapes instead. Or try this salad with craisins, dried apricots, dried cherries, or other fresh or dried fruit.
• Add cheese: Cheese lover? Feel free to add sharp cheddar cheese, feta cheese, goat cheese, blue cheese, or grated parmesan cheese.
• Change the dressing: If you don’t want to use Greek yogurt, you can swap it out for regular plain yogurt, blended cottage cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, or a combination of any of those options.
• Vegan broccoli salad: For a vegan and dairy-free version, simply switch out the Greek yogurt for your favorite dairy-free alternative. Use vegetarian bacon or skip the bacon. 
• Add fresh herbs: If you love fresh herbs, try adding fresh parsley, basil, chives, dill, or thyme to the salad.
• Add more fruits or veggies: You can add more fruits and veggies like chopped apples, shredded carrots, chopped celery, chopped kale or spinach, and green onions.

Serving Ideas

This versatile summer salad can be served with just about anything you want. From picnics to family dinners and everything in between, it makes the perfect addition to any table.

Here are some of my favorite dishes to serve with broccoli salad:

• Grilled Pork Chops
• Slow Cooker Spicy Pulled Pork
• Ground Chicken Burgers 
• Ranch Chickpea Burgers
• Grilled Chicken
• Grilled Salmon

How to Store Broccoli Salad

For the best results, the salad should be stored separately from the salad dressing. The dressing can be kept in an airtight container (preferably glass, like a jar) in the fridge for up to one week.

The salad can be stored in a separate airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Once the salad has been tossed with the dressing, it will stay fresh in the fridge for another 2-3 days.

Is broccoli salad good for you?

It depends on how you make it! One of the healthiest vegetables on the planet, broccoli is a nutritional powerhouse loaded with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. It’s also high in fiber, low in calories, and high in bioactive compounds. Because of its high nutrient content, broccoli boasts many great health benefits.

However, traditional broccoli salad is packed with mayonnaise, bacon, and sugar. So while the broccoli is still good for you, it’s weighed down by all the other ingredients. This lightened-up recipe swaps in healthier ingredients to make this broccoli salad nutritious.

How to Make Healthy Broccoli Salad

Normally, broccoli salad starts with healthy ingredients like fresh broccoli, red onion, dried raisins or cranberries, and sunflower seeds. Then, things get crazy with huge amounts of bacon, mayonnaise, and sugar. This is fine, and there is nothing wrong with a traditional broccoli salad, but it isn't very healthy.

To make a healthier version, all you need to do is make a few easy swaps:

• Less sugar: For an even lighter option, replace some of the dried raisins with fresh red grapes. This cuts way back on the sugar. You can also look for reduced sugar dried raisins or cranberries to cut back even more.
• Less fat and more protein: Use Greek yogurt for a much lighter dressing. It still tastes great but has less than half the fat and calories. Also less dressing! The broccoli salad doesn't need to be drowning in dressing.
• Lighter bacon: Either leave off the bacon or opt for a few pieces of center cut bacon or turkey bacon. Cook them nice and crispy and drain any extra fat.
• No refined sugars: Cut way back on the sugar in the dressing. A couple of tablespoons of honey is plenty and many people find that even one tablespoon will suffice. You can also pure maple syrup or Stevia/monkfruit for a sugar free version.

Do you steam broccoli for broccoli salad?

That’s totally up to you. I don’t because I like the crunch of raw broccoli, but you absolutely can if you like less of a crunch. You could also choose to blanch the broccoli for just a minute or two to make it turn an extra vibrant shade of green.