Crunchy Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Apple

at a glance
Prep Time 15 minutes
Servings 6 servings
5 — Votes 5 votes

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This Broccoli Crunch Salad is a great new spin on the classic side dish! Fresh broccoli, apples, and bacon come together in a creamy lemon poppyseed dressing for a veggie-boosted side that will stand up lovingly on any dinner table, BBQ spread, or family potluck.

Broccoli Crunch Salad

Sometimes, we just need a really good broccoli salad. When world events are spinning outside of what we’d consider a healthy level of control and understanding, we need something (anything) that we can do that fells well and good. We can hug our families tight, follow our gut and civil conscious as we try to move the awareness + policy needle, we can give of our resources, and we can cook. Whenever I need to process something, I turn to two things: the gym and the kitchen. The gym and the kitchen never let me down. I can always walk away having produced something while I also processed lots of somethings. It’s where I reflect on my attitude, on how to be a good steward of my time here on this sweet earth, and where I walk away with slightly more clear ideas on what I can do moving forward.

NOT that I have all the answers (I really don’t) and not that food is a cure-all (unless, maybe we’re talking s’mores bars), but outwardly processing is also how I process inwardly.

You with me?

I knew you would be.

SO, broccoli crunch salad. Let’s dig in.

Broccoli Crunch Salad

Broccoli Crunch Salad

Broccoli salad can quickly turn towards boring and sad, unless we pour a little extra love (in the form of bacon and apples). Making this salad actually is therapeutic. So much slicing, chopping, whisking of a lovely dressing, and tossing of beautiful, healthy ingredients. We have broccoli for our base, apples for a touch of crisp sweetness, walnuts for a satisfying buttery crunch, bacon for bacon, and poppy seeds for festivity and entertainment as you ask your dinner guests if you have anything in your teeth. Chop, whisk, toss and serve. I may not have all the answers, but I have tenacity, hope, and the ability to make this nourishing Broccoli Crunch Salad.

Bonus notes: you can make this little salad your own by tossing in:

  • blue cheese crumbles (yasss)
  • chilled pasta (for a yummy carb boost)

Enjoy!

Broccoli Crunch Salad Recipe

By: Amber Goulden
5 — Votes 5 votes
Prep Time: 15 mins
Servings: 6 servings
This Broccoli Crunch Salad is a great new spin on the classic side dish! Fresh broccoli, apples, and bacon come together in a creamy lemon poppyseed dressing for a veggie-boosted side that will stand up lovingly on any dinner table, BBQ spread, or family potluck.

Ingredients  

  • 2 heads broccoli chopped into florets (about 6 cups florets)
  • 1 small red apple sliced into 1/2 inch pieces
  • 1/2 cup walnuts
  • 5 slices of bacon cooked and crumbled
  • 1/2 purple onion diced

For the dressing:

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, combine the broccoli, apple slices, walnuts, bacon, and purple onion.
  • In a small bowl, whisk all of the ingredients for the dressing, then pour over the broccoli mixture and toss to coat.
  • Serve immediately or refrigerate up to 2-3 days.

Nutrition Information

Nutrition Facts
Broccoli Crunch Salad Recipe
Amount per Serving
Calories
444
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
36
g
55
%
Saturated Fat
 
7
g
44
%
Trans Fat
 
0.1
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
19
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
9
g
Cholesterol
 
24
mg
8
%
Sodium
 
561
mg
24
%
Potassium
 
784
mg
22
%
Carbohydrates
 
26
g
9
%
Fiber
 
7
g
29
%
Sugar
 
13
g
14
%
Protein
 
10
g
20
%
Vitamin A
 
1306
IU
26
%
Vitamin C
 
185
mg
224
%
Calcium
 
120
mg
12
%
Iron
 
2
mg
11
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Meet the Author
Cassy Headshot

Cassy Joy Garcia

HOWDY! I’m Cassy Joy and I am just so happy you’re here. I’m the founder, Editor-in-Chief, and Nutrition Consultant here at Fed and Fit. What started as a food blog back in 2011 has evolved now into so much more.
Get to know Cassy

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Kim says

    Kim —  07/05/2018 At 11:21

    Just made this without bacon and with red wine vinegar instead of lemon juice, because I didn’t have either of those things, and I blanched my broccoli for a minute… wow! So delicious. I’ll be making this one again. I’m not a huge fan of broccoli salads but had broccoli to use up and thought I’d give it a shot, and I don’t regret it! It’s salvaged my work lunch for the day, because I forgot that I brought some and then was pleasantly surprised!

  2. Alison says

    Alison —  07/05/2018 At 18:44

    I love broccoli salads and I think this is my new favorite!

  3. Sibongile Nzimande says

    Sibongile Nzimande —  11/14/2019 At 06:05

    5 stars
    This looks yummy!

  4. Kelly says

    Kelly —  05/20/2020 At 09:52

    Definitely going to try this one! Thanks!

    • Brandi Schilhab says

      Brandi Schilhab —  05/20/2020 At 13:21

      It’s a GOOD one!! Enjoy, Kelly!

  5. Kelly says

    Kelly —  05/20/2020 At 09:55

    Looking forward to trying this!

  6. Jo Hazarika says

    Jo Hazarika —  05/22/2020 At 11:17

    5 stars
    I made this salad today after watching your colleague on Insta stories yesterday. Wow, thumbs up from the whole family, it’s going to be a regular for us!

    • Brandi Schilhab says

      Brandi Schilhab —  05/22/2020 At 11:46

      So glad you guys loved it! I had leftovers for lunch today…it’s so good!

  7. Sunny says

    Sunny —  05/27/2020 At 13:34

    Just made this after watching it get made on Instagram. I subbed chia seeds for poppyseeds because that’s what I had and it turned out so good! Pretty much like every recipe I have tried from y’all!!

    • Brandi Schilhab says

      Brandi Schilhab —  05/27/2020 At 13:39

      That’s so great to hear, Sunny! Thank you for sharing this with us!

  8. Molly says

    Molly —  05/28/2020 At 10:51

    5 stars
    One of my absolute favorite go to recipes! I make it at least every other week during the summer. Love to have a clean broccoli salad recipe!

    • Brandi Schilhab says

      Brandi Schilhab —  05/28/2020 At 12:28

      That’s SO great to hear, Molly!!! We’re glad you love it!

  9. Lindsay says

    Lindsay —  07/10/2020 At 14:45

    5 stars
    This is SO good! It’s a healthier take on the mayo-heavy, cheese-laden southern style dish I grew up with. It’s fresh and full of flavor. I love that I can make a batch of this and that we can enjoy if over the course of almost a week.

    • Brandi Schilhab says

      Brandi Schilhab —  07/11/2020 At 07:52

      Agreed!!! It seems to get better each day, too! We’re glad you love it!

  10. Leah says

    Leah —  07/08/2022 At 16:56

    5 stars
    Yum!

    This was the hardest part of dinner tonight – can of baked beans, and grilled chicken. Easy summer dinner.

    • Melissa Guevara says

      Melissa Guevara —  07/13/2022 At 10:57

      We love an easy summer dinner! Glad you enjoyed. Thank you for taking the time to share with us. -Team F&F