This delicious broccoli apple salad with maple dressing comes together in minutes! It's made with raw broccoli, carrots, sweet apples, red onion, toasted pecans and dried cranberries. Forget the salad kits and use fresh ingredients!
Tiny florets of raw broccoli, thinly sliced apples and carrots add crunch and sweetness to this healthy salad. Pecans lend flavour and a satisfying crunch, while cranberries add a touch of sweetness.
And the best part? Toss it all with a homemade honey-dijon dressing! It's made with a mixture of honey, dijon mustard, balsamic vinegar, and olive oil, creating a sweet and tangy dressing that ties all the flavors together.
Jump to:
- ❤️ Why you'll love this raw broccoli salad recipe
- 🛒 Ingredients
- 🔪 How to make the best broccoli apple salad with maple dressing
- 🔁 Possible Variations
- 👍🏼 Helpful Tips
- ❓Reader's Questions about how to make broccoli salad
- 🍽 What to serve with broccoli salad
- ⏰ Storage Instructions
- 🗒 More healthy salad recipes
- 📖 Recipe
❤️ Why you'll love this raw broccoli salad recipe
- Here's a perfect salad for the fall and winter months. Broccoli, carrots, apples, pecans--celebrate fall with healthy ingredients!
- This salad has beautiful contrasts in both colour and texture. It uses ingredients you probably have on hand in your fridge and pantry. No running to the store for specialty items!
- It's easy way to enjoy broccoli--and there's no need to cook or blanch the broccoli first!
- Quick and easy to make with common ingredients. Forget the salad kit and have a fresh homemade healthy broccoli salad in minutes.
- Broccoli apple salad for two! This broccoli salad recipe as written is perfect for two. While a big broccoli salad is great for a group or to take to a potluck, sometimes it's good to have a smaller salad as a side for dinner. It's easy to double or triple this recipe if you want to make a bigger salad.
Love broccoli in a salad? Try these other favourite broccoli salad recipes:
Honey-Dijon Broccoli Salad with Cranberries
Jump to:
- ❤️ Why you'll love this raw broccoli salad recipe
- 🛒 Ingredients
- 🔪 How to make the best broccoli apple salad with maple dressing
- 🔁 Possible Variations
- 👍🏼 Helpful Tips
- ❓Reader's Questions about how to make broccoli salad
- 🍽 What to serve with broccoli salad
- ⏰ Storage Instructions
- 🗒 More healthy salad recipes
- 📖 Recipe
🛒 Ingredients
Ready to make this oh-so-good easy broccoli salad with apples and maple dressing? Here's what you'll need.
You'll find a complete list of ingredients with amounts in the recipe card below. Here are a few notes.
- broccoli: one head will usually yield two cups of florets. Use two heads if you're going to double the recipe.
- apple: a sweet firm variety, like Honeycrisp, Gala, Ambrosia, or Fuji gives a perfect contrast to the broccoli.
- carrot: you can use the coarse side of a box grater to grate your carrot, use a julienne tool to cut it, or a sharp knife to cut it into matchsticks.
- red onions: a little adds a slightly spicy flavour and beautiful colour.
- dried cranberries: for natural sweetness
- pecans: you can swap in walnuts. Nuts add a crunchy element to this broccoli apple salad.
- Maple Dressing What's the best dressing for a broccoli salad with apples? This one! Maple Balsamic Dressing is made with a shallot, maple syrup, balsamic vinegar, Dijon mustard, olive oil, salt and pepper.
🔪 How to make the best broccoli apple salad with maple dressing
Here's an overview of what you'll do to make this recipe perfectly. You'll find complete instructions in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Pecans: Toast the pecans in a small skillet over medium heat, just until they barely begin to brown and become fragrant. Remove the skillet from the heat and let the pecans cool.
- Broccoli: Wash and cut the broccoli into very small bite-sized florets. Peel the tough outer layer of the stalks, then dice these finely. There is no need to blanch the broccoli first to make this salad!
- Carrots: Grate, julienne or slice the carrot.
- Red onion: Dice it finely.
- Apple: Remove the core but don't peel it. Slice thinly into bite-sized pieces.
- Combine: the vegetables and fruit in a bowl, sprinkle with dried cranberries and pecans and toss with the maple balsamic dressing.
- Maple Balsamic Dressing: Combine all ingredients in a small jar with a lid. Give it a good shake, then dress the salad generously.
🔁 Possible Variations
Swap walnuts for pecans if you'd like. Walnuts and apples are a popular flavour pairing. I used this combination in this Crispy Fennel Apple Chopped Salad with Walnuts and in Blue Cheese Apple and Walnut Slaw.
Prefer a creamy dressing? Keep the maple flavour but make it creamy by adding a tablespoon or two of Greek yogurt or sour cream to the dressing. Whisk and taste as you add.
👍🏼 Helpful Tips
- While toasting pecans will add another 3 -4 minutes to your prep time, it's worth it! Toasting nuts brings out their flavour.
- If you're not planning to serve this salad right away, you could toss the apple slices in a teaspoon or two of lemon juice to prevent browning.
- If your red onion is very strong, soak the slices in water for 10 - 15 minutes, then drain and use them. Soaking will help to take the "bite" out of them.
- Don't skimp on the dressing! Dress the salad generously to help soften and flavour the veggies.
❓Reader's Questions about how to make broccoli salad
Broccoli is safe to eat either raw or cooked. It's a nutrient-packed vegetable either way.
Blanching broccoli is an option, but it's not essential. If you cut the piece small enough, the dressing will help to soften them and break down any tough fibers.
Broccoli salad will keep for 3 to 4 days if you store it without the dressing.
🍽 What to serve with broccoli salad
This broccoli apple salad with maple dressing makes a healthy lunch (it's packable!) or a side dish for dinner. Serve it with your favourite chicken or fish dishes like these.
⏰ Storage Instructions
Leftover broccoli apple salad should be refrigerated promptly in a covered container. It will be just as delicious if not more so, the following day.
Enjoy every nutritious bite!
🗒 More healthy salad recipes
- Arugula Pear and Parmesan Salad with Maple Walnuts
- Raw Carrot Salad with Honey-Dijon Dressing
- Broccoli Quinoa Salad with Sesame Miso Dressing
- Asian Pear Slaw with Ginger and Lime
When you make this broccoli apple salad recipe, please leave a comment and a rating below. I love hearing from you! Thanks in advance. Subscribe to my newsletter and receive new recipes delivered straight to your inbox.
📖 Recipe
Broccoli Apple Salad with Maple Balsamic Dressing
Ingredients
Broccoli Apple Salad
- 1 small head (2 cups) broccoli
- 1 medium carrot
- 1 medium apple
- 2 tablespoons red onion, finely diced
- ¼ cup dried cranberries
- ¼ cup pecans
Maple Balsamic Dressing
- 1 tablespoon shallot, minced
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ¼ cup olive oil, extra virgin
- sea salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- To make the maple balsamic dressing, combine all the dressing ingredients in a small jar with a lid. Give it a good shake and set aside to allow the flavours to blend.1 tablespoon shallot,, 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar, 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, ¼ cup olive oil,, sea salt and pepper,
- Toast the pecans in a small skillet over medium heat, just until they barely begin to brown and become fragrant. Remove the skillet from the heat and let cool, then chop coarsely.
- Wash and cut the broccoli into very small bite-sized florets. Peel the tough outer layer of the stalks, then dice these finely.
- Grate, julienne or slice the carrot.
- Finely dice the red onion.
- Remove the core from the apple but don't peel it. Slice thinly into bite-sized pieces.
- Combine the vegetables and fruit in a large bowl, sprinkle with dried cranberries and pecans and toss with the maple balsamic dressing.
Notes
- While toasting pecans will add another 3 -4 minutes to your prep time, it's worth it! Toasting nuts brings out their flavour.
- If you're not planning to serve this salad right away, you could toss the apple slices in a teaspoon or two of lemon juice to prevent browning.
- If your red onion is very strong, soak the slices in water for 10 - 15 minutes, then drain and use them. Soaking will help to take the "bite" out of them.
- Don't skimp on the dressing! Dress the salad generously to help soften and flavour the veggies.
Darren
We've tried your broccoli salad with honey-dijon dressing before and love it, so I figured this one would be good. SO good! That maple balsamic dressing is amazing. Couldn't stop eating this one. Thank you!
Elaine
Thanks Darren, I agree--that dressing really complements this broccoli salad. Thanks for the 5 stars!