This No-Mayo Broccoli Apple Salad is vibrant and flavourful with a refreshing and tangy orange dressing! It makes for the perfect side dish or salad for entertaining {think barbecues, potlucks and picnics} or for a healthy lunch or dinner throughout the week! {vegan, nut-free & paleo}
Today is a BIG day BECAUSE…
I think I’ve officially found my new favourite salad.
If you’ve been following along with me, you probably know that salads just happen to be one of my favourite ways to eat fruit and veggies.
And over the years, I’ve wracked up quite a few favourites.
My top picks right now are as follows:
- Spiralized Greek Cucumber Salad
- Roasted Beet & Carrot Kale Salad
- Blueberry Mandarin Broccoli Salad
- Asparagus & Tomato Salad
BUT today, I’m adding to the list with this No-Mayo Broccoli Apple Salad.
Guys, this stuff is the real deal.
What is special about this No-Mayo Broccoli Apple Salad?
So you may be thinking, I’ve had broccoli salad numerous times, what makes *this one* so fabulous?
Well.
There are a number of reasons why I’m seriously crushing on this salad.
- It can sit in the fridge for several days and it just keeps getting better and better.
- Gorgeous with vibrant pops of colour in every bite.
- Completely mayo-free, but has TONS of flavour.
- Has the most refreshing and tangy orange dressing.
- Perfect for entertaining {think barbecues, parties and potlucks!}
- Contains no refined sugar.
- Loaded with vitamin C, A, fibre, potassium and healthy fats.
- Family-friendly option great for all ages (our 19 month old loves it!}
- Tastes SO good.
So now that we’ve established that this broccoli salad is amazing, let’s talk ingredients.
What you need for this No-Mayo Broccoli Apple Salad
This broccoli salad doesn’t require any fancy ingredients which is another reason why I love it so much {add that to the list!}
- Broccoli
- Apple (I used Gala)
- Shredded carrot
- Red onion
- Dried Cranberries
- Sunflower Seeds
- The most amazing orange dressing EVER {more about this in a bit}
It’s basically like a rainbow in a bowl with so many beautiful colours and flavours!
How to Make the Mayo-free Dressing
Now when we think about broccoli salad, I’m sure that automatically thoughts about heavy, creamy, mayo-laden salads with bacon bits and cheese pop into our mind. We’ve probably all had that type of broccoli salad before.
It can definitely be delicious and I’m certainly not dissing this version of broccoli salad, but it’s always nice to switch things up, right?
I know not everyone is a lover of mayo and sometimes people just want a lighter option without comprising on flavour.
That’s why for this broccoli salad, we decided to go with a tangy orange dressing.
So. Good.
For this dressing, you’ll need:
- Olive oil
- Orange juice concentrate. You can try using freshly squeezed orange juice as well, but I decided to go with the concentrate for more of an intensified orange flavour. Totally up to you!
- Apple cider vinegar
- Maple syrup
- Salt and pepper
Get ready for the flavour explosion!
How long does this broccoli salad last in the fridge?
The beauty of this salad is that it tastes better the longer it sits in the dressing.
Don’t you just love those types of salads?
For best results, I suggest making this salad at least an hour before serving to allow the broccoli to absorb all of the flavours. You can keep it in the fridge for up to four days, which makes the perfect make-ahead lunch or side dish option!
How to Serve up this No-Mayo Broccoli Apple Salad
Here are some of my suggestions:
- Add diced chicken or cheese to the salad for extra protein. Try cheddar or feta!
- OR add chickpeas for a meat and dairy-free option
- Serve along with Roasted Garlic & Feta Chicken Burgers
- Pair with these Lemon Garlic Chicken Kabobs
- Eat it ALL by itself. I swear I could eat a whole bowl of this stuff.
No matter how you choose to serve this salad up, I guarantee it won’t last for long!
More delicious & colourful salad recipes:
- Blueberry Mandarin Broccoli Salad
- Roasted Beet & Carrot Kale Salad
- Sweet Potato Kale Bowl with Creamy Roasted Garlic Dressing
- Blueberry Walnut Salad with Lemon Dressing
- Nectarine Salad
- Creamy Cranberry & Walnut Coleslaw
- Christmas Wreath Salad
Did you make this recipe? Scroll down to leave a rating and review!
Broccoli Apple Salad
Ingredients
For the broccoli salad:
- 4 cups chopped broccoli cut into small bite-sized pieces
- 1 small apple diced (I used Gala)
- 1 large carrot grated
- 1/4 small red onion diced finely
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/3 cup unsalted sunflower seeds
For the orange dressing:
- 3 tbsp. olive oil
- 2 tsp. apple cider vinegar
- 2 tbsp. orange juice concentrate
- 1 tbsp. maple syrup
- 1/8 tsp. each salt and pepper
Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients for the salad in a large bowl.
- In a small bowl or mason jar, mix together the ingredients for the dressing.
- Pour desired amount of dressing over the salad and allow to sit in the fridge for at least an hour to absorb the flavours.
Nutrition
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