Healthy Broccoli Salad
This healthy Broccoli Salad is a reinvention of the classic broccoli salad with bacon and cheddar that my Grandmother used to make. This version is only 170 calories and 4 grams of net carbs per serving! It’s super easy to make and it only takes 20 minutes! It’s truly the best healthy broccoli salad recipe.
I originally shared this recipe on January 2, 2013. I have updated the images and some of the text today.
Table of contents
Why I Love This Healthy Broccoli Salad
This Broccoli Salad always makes me think of my Grandma Ginger. Her version of this broccoli salad was much more indulgent, but I think you all will appreciate my healthier version of her recipe. The broccoli is raw and crunchy, the bacon is salty and smoky, and the cheddar is tangy and sharp.
This combination of flavors and simple ingredients is one we come back to every summer. Pair it with your favorite grilling recipes, burgers and cookout classics at your next summer bbq. It’s the perfect side dish.
Recipe Highlights
- I like to make the creamy Greek Yogurt dressing directly in the mixing bowl of the salad. It saves an extra bowl to wash!
- The best thing is that this recipe only takes 20 minutes to whip together – it’s so quick and easy!
- My healthier version is lower in carbs and fat than a lot of broccoli salads.
- Vermont extra-sharp cheddar. Need I say more?
Key Ingredients For This Recipe
- Broccoli: Chopped raw broccoli is the star of this recipe. I used whole broccoli crowns but you can use pre-cut broccoli florets if desired.
- Plain Greek yogurt (low-fat) & Mayonnaise: I used a half cup of Greek Yogurt and only 1/4 cup of mayonnaise for the base of the dressing. Greek yogurt saves you about 700 calories per batch!
- Brown Mustard: I like the taste of Brown Deli mustard, but Dijon is fine instead.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: I used apple cider vinegar but you could use red wine vinegar instead. Here is our guide to vinegar.
- Bacon: You’ll need 4 strips of crispy cooked bacon for the bacon bits, and here’s how to cook bacon in the oven if you prefer to do it that way.
- Extra-Sharp Cheddar Cheese: For the best cheesy flavor, look for Extra Sharp cheddar.
- Salt & Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- Other Vegetables: I also added fresh fennel to this salad. I love the way the flavor is slightly sweet, and it really helps to balance the savory bacon, cheddar, and tart Greek yogurt dressing. If you do not care for fennel, use celery instead.
How To Make a Healthier Broccoli Salad
Whisk the yogurt, mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, salt, and pepper in a large bowl until smooth. Then, add your bacon, shallot, broccoli, fennel, and cheddar, and stir everything together to coat it with the dressing. Simple as that!
FAQs and Expert Tips
This broccoli salad is a great make-ahead recipe because it doesn’t get soggy or lose its appearance at all. You can make it up to two days in advance and store it in an airtight container. The dressing can be made 5 days in advance!
Yes! The crunch and freshness of raw chopped broccoli is one of the major appeals of broccoli salad. The dressing helps moisten the broccoli while adding some sweetness, and trust me, you will love it.
A great addition would be chopped red onion, bell peppers, goat cheese, lemon juice or crunchy sunflower seeds. You can really add anything you’d like to a traditional broccoli salad and it’ll still make for a delicious side dish.
Serving Suggestions For Broccoli Salad with Greek Yogurt
Serve at summer parties or a summertime gathering because it wont wilt like a tossed green salad. It is also great at room temperature for a potluck or covered dish. For a backyard barbecue pair it with:
- Grilled Tomato Herb Marinated Flank Steak or Maple Chipotle Barbecue Chicken
- Pair with non-creamy salads too like: Oil and Vinegar Potato Salad or Asian Coleslaw
- Our Greek Grilled Boneless Chicken Thighs have been popular
- This Cedar Plank Salmon is a fuss-free grilled fish dish
Additional Recipes To Try
- Broccoli Salad with Sweet Miso Dressing is another take on the classic, and that miso dressing is divine! It’s the perfect recipe.
- Try Healthy Chicken Alfredo with Broccoli for a creamy recipe that’s low-cal and only takes 30 minutes!
- Macaroni and Cheese with Broccoli is a great way to blend your love of broccoli with Vermont sharp cheddar!
- Make sure to check out this recipe for Spinach Salad with Bacon and Eggs to get that salty bacon fix too!
At Healthy Seasonal Recipes, we specialize in cooking with fresh veggies and creating weeknight meals. Sign up HERE to get more produce-forward dinner ideas for FREE! If you make this recipe, please come back and leave a star rating and review. I would love to hear what you thought! Happy Cooking! ~Katie
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Healthy Broccoli Salad Recipe
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 10 servings 1x
- Diet: Low Fat
Description
You will probably want to make a double batch because everyone will want seconds of this Broccoli Salad Recipe! It’s a healthier version of the classic version my grandmother made with Bacon, Cheddar and creamy dressing, but it is still absolutely delicious!
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt, preferable low-fat or non-fat
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons brown mustard
- 2 teaspoons cider vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Freshly ground pepper, to taste
- 4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1 shallot, minced
- 5 cups chopped raw broccoli
- 1 cup finely chopped fennel bulb
- 1 cup shredded shredded extra-sharp cheddar cheese, preferably Vermont (4 ounces)
Instructions
- Whisk yogurt, mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar, salt and pepper in a large bowl until smooth. Add bacon, shallot, broccoli, fennel and cheddar and stir to coat with the dressing.
Notes
To Make Ahead: The dressing can be made up to 5 days ahead. Store in a covered container in the refrigerator. The salad can be made in its entirely two days ahead. Stir again to redistribute the dressing just before serving.
Note about the Mustard: I added a relatively bold amount of brown deli mustard to this broccoli salad dressing to play off the cheddar cheese. It makes it taste cheesier, that way you can get away with only using 4 ounces of cheese per batch. If you’re not a big mustard fan, or prefer a more mild dressing, drop the mustard to 1 tablespoon. If you’re wondering if you can sub in Dijon instead, that is fine, but it is much stronger than Brown Deli mustard, so only use 2 1/2 teaspoons of Dijon.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup each
- Calories: 170 cal
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 7 g
Everything about this, we loved it! Loved the brown mustard and Greek yogurt! Will make it again! Thank you!
Usually, I only mix salads with cheddar, bacon. Thanks for you, I know the more new recipe to serve it with broccoli. It’s really interesting I’ll try it for the family to enjoy tomorrow night.
I must confess to you that I really hate broccoli because I have to eat it boiled every day during my diet. But luckily, thanks to your sharing I picked up the secret to making the food better but still healthy and low in calories.
broccoli salad is one of my very favorites! It is a a perfect salad for any barbecue!
Really like this recipe, Katie, thank you – and it gave me a chance to try out plant-based bacon! I used Light Life, and it worked out really well. My name is Ginger, too, which made your story extra special. Thanks again – I’ll be using it for the ‘pot luck’ at an upcoming Airstream rally. 🙂
Perfect for picnic season!
A big bowl of this salad is just what the doctor ordered!
This has so many tasty ingredients!
Broccoli salad is my weakness and this looks AMAZING!
Can we make this one day ahead? Will sit well in the fridge?
Yes you can. The bacon won’t be as crispy, so if that’s a concern, you can stir that in before serving. Enjoy!
Thank you so much for the quick reply. Your recipes never disappoint!
People must love broccoli salads– one I posted years ago is always one of my top 10 recipes. I have been wanting to update the post and redo the photos! Your’s looks great– I love fennel!
That’s so funny! I love hearing what resonates. Yeah, this one really needed new shots! Ha ha.
OMG, that picture with the side view of the bowl looks so freakin’ good. I can taste the bacon from here.
Many thanks Katherine! That’s a huge compliment 🙂 Have a great day.
How is it that I’ve never heard of broccoli salad before? This is genius! Pinning!
It’s a great summer side! Sometimes it has a sweet dressing, nuts and either raisins or dried cranberries. So good! Thank you so much for pinning Lisa! Have a great day.
Grandma Ginger sounds like a wonderful woman! You were lucky to be able to go thru her recipe book. My Grandma passed away two years ago and I got hers also. When I look thru it now it’s like she’s looking over my shoulder, love that! Your broccoli recipe sounds just fabulous – a perfect way to honor her, thank you for sharing!
It is so special to have those family memories, and the recipes to go with them.
It looks delicious. It made me chuckle that she wouldn’t make mac ‘n cheese in Texas. 🙂
So funny to think that, since Mac and Cheese is a classic side to order with Texas BBQ. Though my grandmother was not the kind of lady to eat Barbecue. Lol.