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Home » Seasonal » BBQ » Apple Walnut Broccoli Salad

Apple Walnut Broccoli Salad

Created: March 28, 2019 Updated: July 31, 2023 by Lyuba Brooke 10 Comments *This post may contain affiliate links. Read More...

3.4K shares
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This Broccoli Salad is simple and so flavorful featuring sweet apples, walnuts, raisins, cheddar cheese, and red onions. It’s salty, sweet, and perfect for bringing to any picnic or potluck!

This summer, enjoy more of the very best vibrant salad recipes like Classic Caprese Salad and Cucumber Tomato Salad.

A tossed broccoli salad is presented in a white bowl.

Table of Contents

  • Ingredient Notes
  • How to Make Broccoli Salad
  • Recipe FAQs
  • How to Make Apple Broccoli Salad Ahead of Time
  • Tools For This Recipe
  • More Broccoli Salad Recipes We Love
  • Broccoli Salad

The best broccoli salads should have a great combination of textures and flavors. There’s gotta be something crunchy, something soft, something sweet, and something salty in every bite! This easy salad recipe really has it all. A sweet burst from apples and raisins, a bold kick of red onion, a satisfying crunch from broccoli and MORE are enjoyed in each bite.

I also like to load the salad up with as much cheese crumbles as the broccoli salad can hold! The savory, cheesy flavor goes very well with apples walnuts and broccoli. Cheddar cheese is easy to grate or shred yourself, or you can always find some cheese crumbles that are already ready to use to make this recipe even quicker.

If you don’t like walnuts, don’t dismiss this salad. I know some people who can’t stand walnuts in their food, and that’s okay! You can easily substitute walnuts for pecans or almonds. Both nuts will provide that special nutty crunch that will go so well with the broccoli and other ingredients. This broccoli salad recipe is so versatile!

Ingredient Notes

The ingredients for broccoli salad are placed on a wooden surface.

Broccoli – You’ll need about 2 medium heads of fresh broccoli. (If you have any extra, don’t let it go to waste! Use it to make my favorite Broccoli Cheese Casserole).

Apples – I really like Granny Smith apples because they taste sweet and sour at the same time. However, you can use sweeter apples like Fuji or Honeycrisp instead if you’d like.

Raisins – I like to use golden raisins in this recipe because of their sweetness and plump consistency.

Walnuts – Feel free to swap these for almonds or pecans if preferred.

Red Onion – Red onions make such a sweet and savory addition at the same time! Don’t use any other color of onion.

Cheese – it’s best to use a block of cheddar cheese and cut it into small cubes yourself. If you need to use shredded cheese instead, make sure it’s thick shredded.

See the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients and instructions.

How to Make Broccoli Salad

The ingredients for apple broccoli salad are prepared and placed in a bowl.
Two process images show creamy mayo dressing being poured on a prepared salad, then mixed with the salad.

Prepare. Prepare all of the ingredients (except for the vinegar, mayo, and sugar) and place them in a large bowl (1).

Make the dressing. In a separate bowl, mix together the ingredients for the dressing until smooth. Pour it on top of the salad ingredients (2).

Toss. Toss all ingredients together until the salad ingredients are fully coated by the dressing (3).

Apple broccoli salad is presented with a large spoon in a white bowl.

Recipe FAQs

What to serve with broccoli salad?

This apple broccoli salad is a beautiful summer side dish! Serve it at picnics, potlucks, or backyard barbecues with all of your favorite entrees. Some of my favorites include Grilled Salmon Burgers, Shrimp Rolls, Garlic Parmesan Air Fryer Chicken Wings and Pulled Pork Sandwiches.

What dressing goes with apple broccoli salad?

I like to use a simple combination of mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, and sugar. It’s creamy, tangy, and slightly sweet. It pairs perfectly with all of the ingredients in the salad! If you wanted to try something different, I recommend my Apple Vinaigrette.

Can I use frozen broccoli?

No, you really should use fresh broccoli only when making broccoli salad. However, you can buy it already chopped broccoli florets in a bag to save some time if you’d like! Just make sure you have at least 22 oz. of broccoli, which is equivalent to 2 medium heads.

broccoli salad with apples, nuts, and cheese mixed with creamy dressing in a bowl.

How to Make Apple Broccoli Salad Ahead of Time

This is one of those side dishes that gets even better the next day because broccoli has time to mingle with other ingredients and soak up all the delicious flavors. You can easily prepare it a few hours before or even a day before and keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. 

Leftover broccoli salad makes a great side dish on busy weeknights. It will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days before it starts to get too soft. 

Make sure to use a clean spoon each time you take some out and close the lid back right away. The less exposure to air and bacteria, the longer it will keep.

A serving spoon is presented with a scoop of broccoli salad.

Tools For This Recipe

(Affiliate links)

Bottom Grip Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls

Plastic Cutting Board or Wooden Cutting Board

Dressing Shaker

More Broccoli Salad Recipes We Love

Cucumber Broccoli Salad

Pear Apple Broccoli Salad

Strawberry Broccoli Salad

Strawberry Asparagus Broccoli Salad

PIN THIS RECIPE FOR LATER

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE? PLEASE leave a 🌟 star rating! Let me know how you liked it by leaving the 📝 comment below or share and tag me on social media @willcookforsmiles. DON’T FORGET to subscribe to my newsletter!

broccoli salad with apples, nuts, and cheese mixed with creamy dressing in a bowl.

Broccoli Salad

This broccoli salad is made with apples, walnuts, raisins, cheese crumbles, and red onions. Great sweet and salty flavors of this salad will compliment any meats. 
4.86 from 7 votes
Print Pin SaveSaved! Rate
Course: Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: 682kcal
Author: Lyuba Brooke

Ingredients

  • 22 oz broccoli florets (about 2 medium heads)
  • 8 oz Granny Smith apples 2 medium apples
  • 1/2 cup golden raisins
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts
  • 1 small red onion
  • 6 oz Cheddar cheese crumbs (thick shredded can be used as well)
  • 1 1/4 cups mayo
  • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 3 tbsp white granulated sugar
US Customary – Metric

Instructions

  • Note: you can choose to peel the apples or leave apple skin on. If you choose to leave the skin on, make sure to wash the apples well.
  • Core apples and dice into small cubes. Peel and dice red onion into small pieces as well. 
  • Combine broccoli florets, diced apples, cheese crumbles, red onions, crushed walnuts, and raisins in a large mixing bowl and mix it to combine.
  • In a separate bowl, mix mayo, apple cider vinegar, and sugar until smooth. 
  • Combine the dressing with the broccoli mixture until everything is coated evenly. 
  • You can serve the salad right away or store it in an air-tight container in the refrigerator. Broccoli salad should last 3-4 days when store properly. 

Notes

  • Storing: Leftover broccoli salad makes a great side dish on busy weeknights. Store leftovers in an air-tight food storage container in the refrigerator. It will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days before it starts to get too soft. 
  • Make ahead:  This is a good side dish to make ahead about a day before. I don’t recommend making it any longer than 1 day before. You can prepare the salad completely with the dressing if you don’t mind broccoli getting a little soft. If you want to keep broccoli as crisp as can be, make it fresh.

Nutrition

Calories: 682kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 57g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 49mg | Sodium: 509mg | Potassium: 608mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 980IU | Vitamin C: 96.4mg | Calcium: 289mg | Iron: 1.9mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @willcookforsmiles and tag #willcookforsmiles

LYUBA

ABOUT LYUBA

I’m Lyuba Brooke, mother of 2, the cook, recipe developer, photographer, and author behind willcookforsmiles.com. I share many classic and original recipes, cooking tips, and tutorials. My passion is sharing delicious meals for everyone to try. Read more...

3.4K shares

Filed Under: BBQ, Healthy Dishes, Popular Posts, Salad, Side Dishes

All images and text ©Lyubov Brooke for ©Will Cook For Smiles. Please do not use my images without prior permission. If using my posts in collections and features, please link back to this post for the recipe. Disclaimer: Nutrition information shown is not guaranteed to be 100% accurate as most ingredients and brands have variations.

Comments

  1. Kristen says

    November 27, 2021 at 1:42 pm

    5 stars
    Very yummy! I made this for Thanksgiving.

    Reply
    • LyubaB says

      December 8, 2021 at 10:23 am

      So glad you liked it, Kristen!

      Reply
  2. Sandy says

    January 3, 2021 at 2:40 pm

    5 stars
    Best broccoli salad that I have come across. Making it a lot more. This is my go to site for recipes

    Reply
    • LyubaB says

      January 4, 2021 at 10:00 am

      Thank you, Sandy! I am so glad you like it!

      Reply
  3. Dadal says

    August 30, 2020 at 3:10 pm

    It worked well, thank you. I substituted 5% Fage Greek yoghurt for the mayo and the dressing was really good.

    Reply
    • LyubaB says

      August 31, 2020 at 4:47 pm

      I am happy you liked it and could adjust the recipe to suit you!

      Reply
  4. LyubaB says

    December 23, 2019 at 9:16 am

    Thanks, Christine! 🙂

    Reply
  5. Christine Anderson says

    December 7, 2019 at 4:15 pm

    5 stars
    I have same recipe except for cheese. Awesome idea to add cheese– will try! Thanks!

    Reply
  6. Dawn says

    November 17, 2019 at 1:37 pm

    4 stars
    Easy to make. Flavorful great texture

    Reply
    • LyubaB says

      November 19, 2019 at 5:08 pm

      Thanks, Dawn!

      Reply

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Well, hey there!

I’m Lyuba Brooke, mother of 2, the cook, recipe developer, photographer, and author behind willcookforsmiles.com. I share many classic and original recipes, cooking tips, and tutorials. My passion is sharing delicious meals for everyone to try. Read More.

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