Creamy Broccoli Salad (Mayo-Free)

No matter what you call it, this Creamy Broccoli Salad is a healthy remake of an old family favorite and one you’ll want to share again and again. It’s made with yogurt for a tangy egg-free take on a crowd-pleasing potluck staple.

A Broccoli salad with many names

If you grew up in the upper Midwest or have family that did, the chances are pretty darn good that at some point in your life you ran across a salad that was, without a doubt, ‘unique’ to this region.

Perhaps it was a ‘Snickers Salad’ made with chopped apples and chunks of the famous peanut-y, nougat-filled candy bar that lent the ‘salad’ its name. Or maybe it was ‘Glorified Rice,’ ‘Strawberry Pretzel Salad,’ or ‘Pineapple Fluff Salad’ – again more sweet than savory and more akin to dessert than a side dish thanks to the judicious use of non-dairy whipped topping (ahem, that’s Cool Whip for those who are in the know). 

Across the table from the sweet ‘salads’ you may have also come across an unusually delicious mix of crunchy broccoli florets, savory red onion, sweet raisins, and salty bacon and sunflower seeds all tossed in a creamy-tangy dressing. Perhaps it was called Creamy Broccoli Salad or Broccoli Crunch Salad. No matter what you call it, this Creamy Mayo-Free Broccoli Salad is a healthier re-creation of that salad. 

Ingredients for Creamy Broccoli Salad

Here’s what you’ll need to make this tasty potluck-perfect salad:

• Broccoli – bagged broccoli florets from the produce section are a great shortcut to save time. Trim larger florets into bite-sized pieces
• Bacon – cook until crisp then chop finely
• Red onion – shallots can also be used in a pinch
• Raisins – dried cranberries are a fine substitute
• Sunflower seeds – we recommend using dry roasted and salted seeds for the best flavor

• Yogurt – use plain, whole milk yogurt. If using Greek yogurt, see the notes in the recipe card below
• Apple cider vinegar
• Garlic powder
• Fine salt and black pepper

Find the ingredient list with exact measurements in the recipe card below.

How to Make Creamy Broccoli Salad

This broccoli salad comes together easily for a delicious and healthy side dish that’s perfect for your next potluck, barbecue, or backyard gathering.

1. Combine the broccoli, onion, and raisins in a large bowl.
2. Whisk together dressing ingredients.
3. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss well to coat.
4. Stir in the bacon and sunflower seeds just before serving.

For the complete directions, ingredient amounts, and nutrition analysis that lists calories, protein, carbohydrates, fiber, sugar, sodium per serving, scroll down to the recipe card below.

What makes This Broccoli Salad healthier?

Wholesome, probiotic-rich yogurt replace the usual bottled salad dressing or mayonnaise to lower the total fat and add a bit of calcium. You still get the same salty-tangy-creamy crunch, but now it’s without eggs or added sugars.

Recommended Recipe Substitutions

Make It Dairy-Free

To make this creamy broccoli salad dairy-free, simply swap out the whole milk yogurt for dairy-free plain yogurt or mayonnaise.

Make It Vegetarian

You can make this salad vegetarian by swapping chopped smoked almonds or shredded sharp cheddar cheese for the bacon. Both will give the salad the umami flavor that bacon imparts.

Call it what you will, we just call it delicious. 

No matter what you call this Creamy Mayo-Free Broccoli Salad, you can be assured that it’s a delicious and nutritious addition to weeknight meals, family dinners, potlucks, barbecues and more.

Pin It Now & Make It Later!

---

For ultimate success, we highly recommend reading the tips in the full blog post above. All photos and content are copyright protected. Please do not use our photos without prior written permission. If you wish to republish a recipe, please rewrite the recipe in your own unique words. Link back to the source recipe here on The Real Food Dietitians. Thank you!

Photo Credit: The photos in this blog post were taken by Jess of Plays Well with Butter.