This healthy broccoli salad without bacon is an easy and delicious side dish for those summer barbecues and potlucks! Made with a Greek yogurt dressing, cranberries and sunflower seeds, it’s a lightened up version that’s creamy, sweet, and crunchy all at the same time! {Gluten-free & Vegetarian}
Broccoli Cranberry Salad – So Light and Easy!
If you’re on the hunt for a quick and easy broccoli salad, you’ll love this healthy broccoli salad without bacon! Filled with fresh broccoli, crunchy sunflower seeds, sweet cranberries and a creamy Greek yogurt and mayo dressing, this salad is totally crave worthy!
I also love that this sweet broccoli salad requires minimal prep work since you don’t have to cook up any bacon and it’s a lighter option too!
The best thing is, you can make it in advance and let it sit to allow all those delicious flavours to come together. It tastes even better the next day!
Aren’t those the best types of salads?
For more delicious and healthy broccoli salad recipes, be sure to check out this Broccoli Apple Salad {no mayo} and Broccoli Mandarin Salad!
Why We Love This Broccoli Salad Without Bacon
- Easy: There’s nothing complicated about this side dish. Just chop up the broccoli and onion, combine the simple yogurt dressing and toss all of the ingredients together!
- Make-ahead: This salad tastes best when you make it a few hours in advance, so it’s perfect for those potlucks, picnics, packing in lunch boxes or for meal prep throughout the week.
- A healthier option: Greek yogurt is used to replace some of the mayo or sour cream that’s used in traditional broccoli salad and the chopped bacon has been eliminated for less overall calories and saturated fat. The raw broccoli also contributes nutrients like fibre, vitamin C, A, calcium and magnesium for one power-packed salad.
Ingredient Notes
- Broccoli: Use fresh raw broccoli florets for best results. Try to use more of the soft part of the florets rather than the tough stems for better flavour and texture. You’ll need about 1-2 crowns of broccoli.
- Red onion: Chop up the red onion finely so that it doesn’t overpower the salad.
- Sunflower seeds: Add a nice crunch to the salad while contributing healthy fats. Use unsalted raw or roasted sunflower seeds.
- Dried cranberries: Incorporate a nice sweetness and are a great alternative to raisins. Look for naturally sweetened dried cranberries, if possible. Craisins also work if that’s what you have on hand.
- Feta cheese: Adds a touch of salty flavour and creamy texture to the salad. I typically use light feta, but full fat works as well.
- Greek yogurt: Replaces some of the mayo for a lighter and more tangy dressing. Use plain 0 or 2% Greek yogurt.
- Mayo: A little creamy mayo gives you that classic broccoli salad flavour. You can use a reduced fat or full fat mayo.
- Honey: Provides a nice burst of sweetness and helps eliminate some of the tartness of the yogurt. Use a runny honey so that it better combines with the other dressing ingredients. You can also sub in maple syrup.
- Lemon juice: Use fresh lemon juice for the best flavour. You can also sub in apple cider vinegar.
How to Make Greek Yogurt Broccoli Salad
- Add the chopped broccoli, onion, sunflower seeds, cranberries and feta to a large bowl.
- In a small bowl, mix together the Greek yogurt, mayo, honey, lemon juice, salt and pepper until well combined.
- Pour the dressing over the salad.
- Toss broccoli mixture until the dressing is evenly distributed. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours or for up to 2-3 days.
Tips for The Best Broccoli Salad
- Look for crisp broccoli that has tightly closed, dark green florets and firm, thin stalks: Thicker stalks can be woody in taste in texture and are a sign of age. Avoid purchasing broccoli heads with any yellowing or tiny yellow flowers.
- Cut florets into bite-sized smaller pieces: I like to use the softer part of the florets rather than the tough stems to help absorb more of the flavours, make it easier to chew and keep it more kid-friendly.
- Allow it to sit: I find this broccoli salad typically tastes better once it’s had a chance to sit in the dressing for a few hours. I recommend making this salad a few hours, or the night before serving.
- For a milder taste: If you want to take some of the bite out of the red onions, chop them up and soak them in a bowl of cold water for about 10 minutes. This gives them a milder taste.
- For a crowd: This recipe makes enough for about 6-8 servings. Double or triple the recipe if serving to a crowd.
Storage Guidelines
Room temperature: The broccoli salad can be left at room temperature for up to two hours, or one hour if the temperature is above 90 °F . According to the USDA, beyond the two hour mark, cold foods must be kept at 40 °F or below since bacteria grow rapidly between 40 and 140 °F (source).
Refrigerator: The salad can be kept in a bowl covered in plastic wrap or in an airtight container in the fridge for two days. If you store the salad and dressing separately, it will last up to four days. Toss it right before serving to reincorporate any dressing that might have settled to the bottom.
Recipe FAQs
While some recipes might require that you blanch the broccoli, this broccoli salad uses raw broccoli, so no cooking is required. Just chop it up into small pieces, avoiding any tough stems to make it easier to chew.
Broccoli salad is typically best when made a few hours in advance or the night before to allow the flavours to combine and better absorb into the broccoli. That’s why it’s a great option for meal prep!
If storing the salad with the dressing on, it typically tastes best if served within two days of making it. If stored any longer than that, the veggies begin to break down, and the salad doesn’t taste as fresh. You can make it last a bit longer if you store the dressing and broccoli salad separately. In this case, it would be good for up to four days.
What to Serve with Broccoli Salad
If you’re wondering what goes well with this healthy broccoli salad, there are so many different options!
Try pairing it with:
- Grilled chicken (try marinating it in one of these healthy chicken marinades!)
- Burger Recipe with Worcestershire Sauce
- Teriyaki Chicken Skewers
- Zucchini Turkey Burgers
- Chicken Feta Burgers
- Grilled Chili Lime Shrimp
- Spicy Black Bean Burgers
- Along with other potluck and BBQ sides (like this dill potato salad, tuna macaroni salad, or tossed salad for a crowd)
Recipe Ideas & Variations
- Add other veggies: Try adding shredded or matchstick carrots, or chopped celery.
- Use different dried fruit: Instead of dried cranberries, try raisins or dried cherries instead.
- Add fresh fruit: Diced apples or red grapes make a great addition to this simple salad.
- Instead of seeds: Try sliced or slivered crunchy almonds or chopped pecans.
- Add a different cheese: Try shredded or cubed cheddar cheese instead of feta.
- Add bacon: If you love the flavour of crispy bacon bits in your broccoli salad, you can certainly add it in. Use regular or turkey bacon. It adds a nice salty flavour that compliments the sweetness and creaminess of the salad.
- For vegan broccoli salad: Use a dairy-free yogurt, vegan mayo, and leave out the feta cheese.
More Delicious Salads
- Kale Salad with Cranberries
- Cranberry Coleslaw No Mayo
- Asparagus Tomato Salad
- Arugula Nectarine Salad
- Blueberry Walnut Salad
Did you make this recipe? Scroll down to leave a star rating and review!
Healthy Broccoli Salad {without Bacon}
Ingredients
For the salad
- 3 cups broccoli florets (about one large bunch)
- 1/2 cup finely diced red onion
- 1/4 cup sunflower seeds unsalted
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
For the yogurt dressing
- 1/2 cup plain 0% Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the broccoli, onion, sunflower seeds, cranberries and feta.
- In a small bowl, mix together the yogurt, mayo, honey, lemon juice, salt and pepper.
- Pour the dressing over the salad and toss until evenly distributed. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours or for up to 2-3 days.
Video
Notes
- Look for crisp broccoli that has tightly closed, dark green florets and firm, thin stalks: Thicker stalks can be woody in taste in texture and are a sign of age. Avoid purchasing broccoli heads with any yellowing or tiny yellow flowers.
- Cut florets into bite-sized smaller pieces: I like to use the softer part of the florets rather than the tough stems to help absorb more of the flavours, make it easier to chew and keep it more kid-friendly.
- Allow it to sit: I find this broccoli salad typically tastes better once it’s had a chance to sit in the dressing for a few hours. I recommend making this salad a few hours, or the night before serving.
- For a milder taste: If you want to take some of the bite out of the red onions, chop them up and soak them in a bowl of cold water for about 10 minutes. This gives them a milder taste.
- For a crowd: This recipe makes enough for about 6-8 servings. Double or triple the recipe if serving to a crowd.
A huge hit with my family. I substituted a sugar free alternative for the honey and used plant based mozzerella shreds for the feta. I used bacon bits and added some grilled chicken. I had to double the recipe it went so fast. thanks so much
You’re so welcome Anne! I love how you customized this recipe to suit your dietary needs! Sounds amazing :)
Good and easy! The dressing is wonderful!
So happy you enjoyed the salad! I appreciate you returning to leave a rating and review!
Love this recipe Elysia! I’ve taken it to friends house and every time I have broccoli this is the way I want to eat it…so yummy. Thanks Elysia, your recipes never disappoint! ♥️
Yay!! So happy the broccoli salad has been a hit! I appreciate you returning to leave a rating and review!
This is the best broccoli salad I have ever made! Was looking for a healthy alternative that didn’t include bacon or cheddar cheese. Definitely tastes even better! Thanks and this is going in my ‘favorite recipes’ box. Just shared it with my daughter who lives in Southern California.
That’s amazing!! So happy you found a new favourite broccoli salad! I really appreciate you sharing the recipe and taking the time to leave a review :)