An even healthier broccoli salad with bacon and apple

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Healthier food doesn’t need to mean boring. This healthy broccoli salad with bacon and apple is delicious, with a perfect balance of flavors!

Someone pouring dressing over a bowl of broccoli, apple and bacon salad on a green cloth and with serving spoons in it.

If it happens to be just after the holidays, or for whatever reason you’re wanting to get back to healthier, lighter meal choices, I figure a great place to start is with something like this tasty broccoli salad with bacon and apple.

It’s not saintly (erm, bacon and cheese, anyone?), but it’s certainly got plenty of goodness in it.

And it’s all bound together mostly with yogurt, not mayo! (insert halo emoji here)

Overhead of a big bowl of the ingredients for broccoli salad before being mixed together.

What do you put in a broccoli salad?

There are many different ways to make a broccoli salad, but if you’re the kind of person who likes an explosion of different flavours and textures in your mouth all at one time, then this broccoli salad with bacon and apple is the broccoli salad for you.

There’s:

  • … crunchy little raw florets of broccoli
  • fresh, juicy apple
  • sharp cheddar cheese
  • super flavoursome bits of bacon
  • salty peanuts
  • the subtle zing of a little raw onion, if you like
  • all bound together in a creamy (but on the light side) dressing made of Greek yoghurt, a little mayonnaise, mustard and honey.

How should I serve this broccoli salad?

I usually serve this healthy broccoli salad by itself, with a little piece of toasted bread. It’s very satisfying indeed this way, but I think it would be great as a side with roast chicken, quiche, or fish, too.

Or as a buffet option with lots of other things! Which brings me onto my next point…

Can I make a broccoli salad ahead?

This could also be a great make-ahead take-along buffet dish. If you soak the apple in lemon juice before adding it to the salad, the apple doesn’t go brown and you can quite happily keep it in the fridge for a day or so.

If you do make this salad ahead, though, it’s best to add the peanuts at the last minute because they don’t hold onto their crunchiness for too long.

Closeup of a white bowl of broccoli, apple and bacon salad with a spoon in it.

Just look at all those delicious flavours all in one bite!

What dressing do you put on a broccoli salad?

Again, you could go for many different options, but I like to combine Greek yoghurt with mayonnaise to make my dressing. This way you keep a bit of that delicious saltiness and richness that mayonnaise adds to dressings, but you keep it on the lighter side by replacing some of the mayo with Greek yogurt.

The perfect compromise!

Add a bit of mustard and honey, and it’s just about perfect!

And if you like the idea of this broccoli salad with bacon, why not try this other warm salad of mine that combines bacon and fruit?: 

This blueberry, bacon and avocado salad is healthy and delicious!

More quick and easy party food

Or see all my easy party food here

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Someone eating from a white bowl of healthy broccoli, apple and bacon salad.
5 from 2 votes

An even healthier broccoli, apple and bacon salad

A crunchy, salty, crispy, zingy, tangy salad made with broccoli, apple, bacon, cheese and peanuts – and a healthier dressing made mostly with Greek yogurt. So delicious by itself or served with grilled fish or meat.
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 15 minutes
Servings: 4 to 6

Ingredients 
 

For the salad

  • 5 – 6 slices of bacon, sliced into small pieces
  • a little oil of your choice for cooking the bacon
  • 1 broccoli, (1 small to medium head), thoroughly washed
  • 2 apples, (small)
  • 1/2 lemon
  • 1 onion onion, small, chopped finely
  • 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, grated
  • 1 large handful of salted peanuts
  • freshly ground black pepper

For the dressing

  • 1/2 cup Greek yoghurt
  • 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 2 teaspoons mustard
  • 1 tablespoon honey

Instructions 

  • Fry the bacon in the oil until starting to crisp, then set aside (8 – 10 minutes).
  • Discard the ‘woody’ end part of the broccoli stalk, then chop the rest of the stalk finely. Then separate the broccoli heads into really small florets. Put the florets and chopped stalk into a large bowl.
  • Slice the apple (no need to peel) into small pieces and put them into a small bowl. Squeeze the juice of the lemon all over the apple, then add the apple and any extra juice to the large bowl with the broccoli.
  • Now add the onion, cheese and peanuts.
  • Stir all of the dressing ingredients together well in a medium-sized bowl, then add to the salad. Add black pepper to taste. Mix really well.

Notes

You could substitute the apple for grapes and the peanuts for pecans or walnuts if you like. This salad is also delicious with a handful of raisins added.

Nutrition

Calories: 210kcal, Carbohydrates: 19g, Protein: 11g, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Cholesterol: 19mg, Sodium: 223mg, Potassium: 552mg, Fiber: 4g, Sugar: 9g, Vitamin A: 1105IU, Vitamin C: 144.8mg, Calcium: 216mg, Iron: 1.4mg
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About Helen Schofield

Don't expect to find anything fussy or complicated here. Just QUICK, EASY & (mostly!) HEALTHY recipes from the Mediterranean and beyond. ENJOY!

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14 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This was the ultimate fall salad with the perfect crunch and salt for the bacon. I put it on my list of things to make for holiday dinners. Thanks!

  2. 5 stars
    You said the magic word – bacon! Oh and cheese. 🙂 jk This salad looks delicious for any day of the week. Love the raw broccoli mixed with apples and the creamy dressing sounds perfect. I bet this would also be dynamite with chicken added to it for a light summer dinner.

    1. You’re right, it would be stunning served with chicken. Got to try that – thank you! And thank you for taking the time to leave your review!

  3. Félicitations Helen!! Je ne savais pas que tu attendait un bébé ! C’est une grande nouvelle et une manière merveilleuse de commencer le nouvelle année! So exacting! ta salade est top et idéal dans ton état. Je te souhaite une belle accouchement!. Happy for you! xoxo

  4. I’m so excited for you Helen! I wonder if you and Kathleen will deliver on the same day!?

    You read my mind with this salad – I’ve been craving it. And, now that you’ve lightened it up a bit, I can eat it guilt-free even though we’re just getting started in the new year. 🙂

    1. Thank you so much, Marissa. That would indeed be very exciting if Kathleen and I delivered on the same day! It certainly isn’t impossible – our due dates are almost the same!

  5. I’m so excited for you Helen! Didn’t know you are not finding out the gender earlier, this is even more exciting! Enjoy yourself, while on maternity leave ! Now when the holidays are over, I’d love to make some good salads like this one! Looks perfect! Pinning!

    1. Thank you so much, Mira! Really excited, although it feels like the baby will never arrive right now!

  6. Hooray for maternity leave! Enjoy it girl! I’m also at 37 weeks and counting down! Yikes! Oh I can’t wait to see pictures of your little bundle! And I’m so excited to know if you’re having a boy or girl! I didn’t have the willpower to let it be a surprise 😉 So yes, now that the holidays are over and I have indulged a bit too much, I’m trying to get back on the health bandwagon during these last few weeks of pregnancy. Thank so much for the awesome salad with all the goodies that I love!

    1. Yes, now that Christmas is over it’s all seeming very real! So excited for baby’s arrival, but nervous for everything to go well, too. Really can’t wait to see your pictures, too! It’s lovely that we’re due at the same time! 🙂

    1. Thanks, Janette! This is a bit of a classic, I guess, but definitely for a reason – it’s yummy!