This vibrant, crunchy Broccoli Apple Salad skips the traditional mayo-based dressing and instead uses a refreshing zesty orange vinaigrette. It comes together in less than 20 minutes and makes the perfect side dish for all your summer gatherings, whether you’re packing for a picnic or prepping lunch for the week! {Vegan, Gluten-free, Nut-free & Paleo}
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My Favorite No Mayo Broccoli Salad
I love a creamy broccoli salad as much as the next person, but sometimes I crave something with a lighter more refreshing twist. That’s part of why I adore this no mayo broccoli salad. Topped with a bold orange vinaigrette and served with sweet apples and carrots, it’s ultra-crunchy, packed with flavor, and comes together without any fuss.
It’s perfect for a summer potluck or simply stashing in the fridge for easy meals all week!
If you’re looking for other mayo-free salads, be sure to also check out this Kale Broccoli Salad, Blueberry Broccoli Salad and Waldorf Salad without Mayo.
Why Make this Healthy Broccoli Salad Recipe with Apples
There are a number of reasons why we are seriously crushing on this salad.
Perfect for meal prep: This salad makes plenty for leftovers and keeps for days in the fridge. Plus, the flavors taste even better as they sit!
Beautiful presentation: With its bright colors and crisp textures, this non-traditional broccoli salad is a total showstopper.
A healthier option: Unlike classic broccoli salad recipes that are loaded with mayo and bacon, this version uses a simple vinaigrette for a lighter twist. It’s also loaded with fiber, vitamins, minerals and healthy fats, and as a bonus, it’s totally plant-based, too!
Salad Ingredients
For the broccoli salad:
- Fresh broccoli florets: Broccoli adds the perfect crunchy base to this salad. Rinse really well under cold water to remove any bugs or dirt. Chop the broccoli into small bite-sized pieces for best results.
- Apple: I recommend going for a sweeter variety for this recipe such as Gala, Honey Crisp, Ambrosia or Golden Delicious. Skip Granny smith (too tart) and Red Delicious may not hold up well.
- Shredded carrot: Adds a nice crunch and pop of color to the salad. You can also finely dice the carrot instead of shredding it if preferred.
- Red onion: The onion helps to balance out the sweetness in the salad and adds some additional color and texture. Use finely diced red onion or sub in sweet onion if preferred.
- Dried cranberries: Adds a burst of sweetness and touch of chewiness to every bite. Look for the dried cranberries sweetened with apple juice if possible to help reduce added sugar. You can also sub in raisins if desired.
- Sunflower seeds: Crunchy sunflower seeds add a nice texture plus some healthy fats.
For the orange vinaigrette:
- Olive oil: I typically use extra virgin olive oil. You could also use avocado or canola oil instead.
- Apple cider vinegar: Adds a tanginess to the dressing. You could also use white or red wine vinegar if that’s all you have on hand.
- Orange juice concentrate: Yes, orange juice concentrate. We want major flavor. Regular OJ just won’t do it.
- Maple syrup: Use 100% pure maple syrup. Honey works, too.
This salad is basically like a rainbow in a bowl with so many beautiful colors and flavors!
No Mayo Broccoli Salad – Step-by-Step Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients for the salad to a large bowl.
- In a small bowl or mason jar, mix together the ingredients for the dressing.
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Pour dressing over the salad.
- Toss to combine. Allow to sit in the fridge for at least an hour to absorb the flavors.
Pro Tips for the Best Broccoli Salad
- I recommend cutting the broccoli into small bite-sized florets (about an inch in length) so each bite has a little bit of everything. The smaller pieces are also better when serving this recipe to children or older adults since raw broccoli can be rather hard to chew.
- I used frozen orange juice concentrate and scooped the concentrate right out of the can. To make it easier to measure and scoop, you can let the frozen concentrate thaw for several minutes at room temperature before adding it in with the remaining dressing ingredients.
- For best results, let this broccoli salad sit for at least 1-2 hours in the fridge to allow the ingredients to absorb the flavors of the dressing.
Can you use broccoli slaw for broccoli salad?
Yes! However, the size and shape of the broccoli will be much finer. If you want to use a bag of broccoli slaw, I recommend mixing both the shredded broccoli stems and fresh broccoli florets.
Storage Instructions
Like many broccoli salads, the flavors deepen after a day or two. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days and serve cold.
Serving Suggestions
This fresh broccoli apple salad recipe is the perfect side dish to pair with all your favorite summery mains at your next backyard BBQ. Think grilled chicken (marinated in one of these Healthy Chicken Marinades), Gluten-Free Turkey Burgers, or Grilled Mediterranean Chicken Kabobs.
You can also turn it into a main meal by adding diced chicken, canned chickpeas, or cubed sharp cheddar cheese extra protein.
Variations & Substitutions for No Mayo Broccoli Salad
- Add more protein: Add chopped sharp cheddar cheese, crumbled crispy bacon, grilled chicken, or even canned chickpeas.
- Change the fruits: Instead of fresh apple, you can try a crisp, fresh pear, sliced grapes, or whatever fresh fruit you have on hand.
- Add mustard: Honey mustard would work really well here. Replace the maple with honey, and add Dijon to taste.
More Healthy Broccoli Recipes
- Broccoli Salad without Bacon
- Oven Roasted Broccoli with Lemon and Parmesan
- Broccoli Cheddar Quinoa Bites
- Broccoli Cheddar Tater Tots
- Beef and Broccoli Freezer Meal
Did you make this recipe? Scroll down to leave a star rating and review!
Crunchy Broccoli Apple Salad with Orange Vinaigrette {No Mayo}
Ingredients
For the broccoli salad:
- 4 cups chopped broccoli (about 1 large head of broccoli cut into small bite-sized pieces)
- 1 small apple, diced into small chunks (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 vinaigrette:
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons orange juice concentrate*
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1/4 teaspoon 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 until well combined.
- Pour desired amount of dressing over the salad and allow it to sit in the fridge for at least an hour to absorb the flavors.
Notes
- I recommend cutting the broccoli into small bite sized pieces (about an inch in length) so that you get equal amounts of all the ingredients in every bite. The smaller pieces are also better when serving this recipe to children or older adults since raw broccoli can be rather hard to chew.
- *I used frozen orange juice concentrate and scooped the concentrate right out of the can. To make it easier to measure and scoop, you can let the frozen concentrate thaw for several minutes at room temperature before adding it in with the remaining dressing ingredients.
- For best results, let this broccoli salad sit for at least 1-2 hours in the fridge to allow the ingredients to absorb the flavours of the dressing.
Nutrition
This recipe was originally posted August 2019 and was updated in May 2021 to include better tips and photos. The text, formatting and photos were updated again in June 2025.
The salad is excellent! I put out toasted sunflower seeds and also toasted almonds for toppings. My husband liked it even though it didn’t have mayo. Easy to make. Hoping tomorrow’s portion will be even batter.
Oh yum! Love the addition of the toasted sunflower seeds and almonds! So happy you both enjoyed the salad despite it being mayo-free!
This is one of the tastiest and most refreshing salads I’ve ever had
Wow that’s such a huge compliment! I’m so happy you enjoyed the salad!
I subbed the orange juice concentrate for the zest and juice of one orange and it was delicious! Made mine for meal prep with roasted chicken thighs. Highly recommend!
Ooh love that idea of subbing in orange juice and zest — I’ll have to try that sometime! I bet this salad was delicious with roasted chicken thighs! Thanks so much for leaving a review :)
This one was a big hit (again)! And it tastes even better the second day, which is a bonus for lunch prep. I doubled the dressing because we are a ‘sauce’ family. So, so good!
That’s amazing Robin! I agree that this salad is a good one to make in advance since it keeps getting better the longer that it sits. Great idea making a double batch of the dressing!