Greek Yogurt Broccoli Salad

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This Greek Yogurt Broccoli Salad is the light, creamy, crunchy summer side dish everyone loves. It’s healthier than the classic version, incredibly easy to customize, and perfect for meal prep, cookouts, or family dinners.

114 CAL 16g CARBS 4g FAT 6g PROTEIN 3
1 Comment

This is one of those salads that disappears faster than you expect. The creamy Greek yogurt dressing, crunchy broccoli, sweet raisins, salty turkey bacon, and nutty sunflower seeds come together in the best sweet-meets-savory bite. Every time I bring this to a barbecue or potluck, someone asks for the recipe before the meal is even over.

I love that it tastes indulgent but is actually packed with fresh, nutritious ingredients. You can make it ahead for lunches, bring it to a picnic, or set out for a big family meal. I’ve made it more times than I can count, and I still never get tired of it!

It also holds up beautifully in the fridge, so it’s perfect for meal prep. My kids love the sweetness from the raisins, and I love that everyone gets a big serving of veggies without any fuss. It’s fresh, colorful, crunchy, and honestly one of my favorite summer salads to serve all season long.

A bowl of fresh broccoli florets is surrounded by ingredients: sunflower seeds, raisins, chopped onion, crispy bacon, yogurt, vinegar, and mustard seeds.

Before You Get Started

Here are a few quick notes to help your broccoli salad turn out crunchy, creamy, and perfectly seasoned every time.

  • Switch up the veggies: If you aren’t a broccoli fan, you could swap this out for cauliflower, kale, or shredded Brussels sprouts.
  • Chop the broccoli small: Cut the florets into bite-sized pieces so the salad is easy to eat and everything gets coated in dressing.
  • Soften the onion if needed: Soak red onion in ice water for 15 to 20 minutes if you want a milder flavor.
  • Cook the bacon until crispy: Turkey bacon tastes best when cooked until crisp and fully cooled before adding it to the salad.
  • Adjust the broccoli texture: Use raw broccoli for crunch, or blanch it for 1 to 2 minutes for a tender-crisp texture.

How to Make Broccoli Salad with Greek Yogurt

Follow these simple steps to bring everything together.

1. Prep the Broccoli and Vegetables

Chop the broccoli into small florets and dice the red onion.

2. Make the Creamy Yogurt Dressing

Whisk together the yogurt, vinegar, honey, celery seed, salt, and pepper. Adjust sweetness or acidity as needed.

Pro tip: Add a small spoonful of Dijon mustard if you want a little extra zip.

3. Toss and Chill

Combine the broccoli, onion, and raisins with the dressing, then refrigerate for 15 to 30 minutes to let the flavors meld.

Pro tip: Chilling also softens the broccoli slightly for better texture.

4. Add the Final Mix-Ins

Stir in the crispy bacon and sunflower seeds right before serving so they stay crunchy.

Recipe Tips & Tricks

Here are the best ways to customize this salad and keep it delicious.

  • Swap the seeds or nuts: Try pumpkin seeds, almonds, pecans, cashews, walnuts, or pine nuts for extra crunch.
  • Change the fruit: Use grapes, dried cranberries, chopped apples, pomegranate seeds, dried apricots, or cherries.
  • Add cheese: Sharp cheddar, feta, goat cheese, blue cheese, or Parmesan all add great flavor.
  • Customize the dressing: Use half mayo and half plain Greek yogurt, plain yogurt, sour cream, or blended cottage cheese for a creamier dressing.
  • Make it vegan: Use dairy-free yogurt and vegetarian bacon or simply omit the bacon.
  • Boost the veggies: Add shredded carrots, chopped celery, cauliflower, kale, spinach, or green onions.
  • Add flavors and herbs: You could also add Dijon mustard, paprika, herbs, garlic powder, onion powder, or any other seasoning you like.
  • Lighten it even more: Use fresh grapes instead of dried fruit, reduce the sweetener, choose turkey bacon or center-cut bacon, and use less dressing. The broccoli doesn’t need to be heavily coated. You can also use pure maple syrup or Stevia/monkfruit for a sugar-free version.
  • Vinegar swap: White vinegar, rice vinegar, or lemon juice can also work instead of apple cider vinegar.

A vibrant broccoli salad in a bowl, topped with sunflower seeds and crispy bacon. Surrounding the bowl are additional ingredients in small dishes. Two spoons rest nearby on the light counter.

Serving Ideas

Here are some tasty dishes that pair wonderfully with this broccoli salad.

Storage & Reheating

Here’s how to keep your broccoli salad fresh.

  • Store: Keep the salad and dressing separated for the best texture.
  • Leftovers: Once mixed, leftovers keep for 2 to 3 days and are great for meal prep lunches.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are the most common questions about making this broccoli salad.

Yes. It tastes even better after the broccoli has had time to absorb the dressing. Just add bacon and seeds right before serving.

 

Stir in a tiny splash of milk, water, or extra vinegar until you reach your desired consistency.

 

It’s not recommended. Frozen broccoli becomes soft and watery once thawed, which changes the texture of the salad.

 

This can happen if the broccoli wasn’t fully dried after rinsing. Pat it completely dry before tossing with dressing.

 

Use grapes, sweeter dried fruit, or a small amount of finely chopped apple for natural sweetness.

 

A bowl of broccoli salad with chopped bacon and sunflower seeds on a light stone surface. Nearby are two spoons, extra seeds, and a spice jar.
The Recipe
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Greek Yogurt Broccoli Salad

114 CAL 16g CARBS 4g FAT 6g PROTEIN 3
PREP TIME: 10 Min
COOK TIME: 1 Hours
TOTAL TIME: 1 Hours, 10 Min
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Ingredients

US METRICS
  • 4 cups broccoli florets, cut small
  • 3 tbsp red onion, diced (more to taste)
  • 1/4 cup raisins (or red grapes )
  • 3 tbsp sunflower seeds
  • 4 slices turkey bacon, cooked crispy and crumbled
  • 1/2 cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt (or full fat)
  • 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1.5 tbsp honey
  • 1/8 tsp celery seed
  • Salt and pepper

Instructions

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1

To make the dressing: Combine the Greek yogurt, apple cider vinegar, honey, celery seed, salt, and pepper. Taste and adjust the sweetness and seasoning if needed.

A bowl of creamy dressing with spices, surrounded by small bowls of bacon, raisins, onion, broccoli, and sunflower seeds on a light surface.
2

Toss together broccoli, red onion, and raisins. Pour dressing over top and refrigerate for one hour if possible.

A bowl of broccoli salad with creamy dressing, red onions, raisins, and bacon. Nearby are bowls of bacon bits, sunflower seeds, and sesame seeds. Bright and fresh.
3

When ready to serve, add the sunflower seeds and bacon. Stir to combine.

A creamy broccoli salad in a large white bowl, surrounded by small bowls of crispy bacon bits, seeds, and golden brown spices on a light stone surface.

Equipment

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Nutritional Facts
Serving Size: 3/4 cup
Amount Per Serving
Calories 114
Calories from Fat 33
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 4g
6%
Saturated Fat 1g
3%
Monounsaturated Fat 1g
0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0g
0%
Cholesterol 8mg
3%
Sodium 137mg
6%
Total Carbohydrate 16g
5%
Dietary Fiber 3g
9%
Sugars 11g
Protein 6g

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

The Nutritional Values provided are estimates only and may vary based on the preparation method.

Notes

For a less tangy dressing, swap in mayonnaise for half of the Greek yogurt.

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About the author Meet Kristen McCaffrey
Hi, I’m the cookbook author, recipe developer, and food enthusiast behind Slender Kitchen. I am obsessed with making healthy food that is easy to prepare and absolutely delicious. Meal planning is my secret weapon and I hope I can make meal time easier for you with our tried and tested recipes and foolproof meal plans. Learn More
1 Comment
On Greek Yogurt Broccoli Salad
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Emma
March 14, 2022 - 19:55
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5
Great recipe! The first recipes that came up when I searched for a broccoli salad recipe contained an obscene amount of mayonnaise, and were sweetened with white sugar, so glad to find this one, that is a bit healthier. Super tasty, and better than the stuff you find at delis that is like 5 dollars for a small container :D
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