Creamy Broccoli Crunch Salad

Ingredients

For the salad

  • 4 cups fresh broccoli florets, cut very small
  • 1 cup sweet corn, drained
  • ½ cup finely chopped red bell pepper
  • ½ cup finely chopped yellow or orange bell pepper
  • ½ cup finely chopped red cabbage
  • ¼ cup finely diced red onion
  • ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • ¼ cup chopped cucumber, optional
  • 2 tablespoons sunflower seeds, optional

Creamy dressing

  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
  • 1½ tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1–2 teaspoons powdered erythritol or another suitable sugar-free sweetener, optional

Instructions

  1. Prepare the broccoli:
    Wash and dry the broccoli thoroughly. Cut the florets into small, bite-size pieces. Keeping them small makes the salad easier to eat and helps the dressing coat every piece.
  2. Prepare the vegetables:
    Finely chop the peppers, cabbage, red onion, and cucumber if using. Drain the corn very well.
  3. Make the dressing:
    In a bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and sugar-free sweetener if desired.
  4. Combine:
    Add broccoli, corn, peppers, cabbage, onion, cheese, and sunflower seeds to a large bowl.
  5. Dress the salad:
    Pour the dressing over the vegetables and gently toss until everything is evenly coated.
  6. Chill:
    Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. This allows the flavors to blend and the dressing to settle into the broccoli. Chilling broccoli salad before serving is a commonly recommended step.
  7. Final stir:
    Stir again before serving. If it seems too thick, add 1–2 teaspoons of Greek yogurt or a small splash of lemon juice.

Yield

6–8 servings

Prep time

20 minutes

Chill time

1 hour

Total time

About 1 hour 20 minutes

Nut & Allergy Information

  • Contains nuts: No, as written.
  • Contains peanuts: No.
  • Optional sunflower seeds: Sunflower seeds are seeds, not tree nuts, but packaged products can have cross-contact with nuts.
  • Dairy: Yes, from cheddar and Greek yogurt.
  • Egg: Usually yes if using conventional mayonnaise.
  • Gluten: Naturally gluten-free, but check packaged mayonnaise, mustard, cheese, and seeds if gluten cross-contact is important.
  • Nut-free version: Simply use sunflower seeds only, or leave the seeds out completely.
  • If adding almonds or walnuts: Those would make the recipe contain tree nuts. Almonds, walnuts, or pecans are common alternatives to sunflower seeds in broccoli salads.

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