This Creamy Healthy Grape Broccoli Salad will get rave reviews! Bursting with fresh broccoli florets, bacon or chicken, grapes, almonds, onions and a creamy, tangy dressing - it's heavenly deliciousness in every single bite! This quick salad is fresh, colorful, flavorful and the perfect addition to picnics, potlucks, barbecues, lunches and easy weeknight dinners! It only requires 9 ingredients, can be made in advance and it's easily adaptable! Recipe can be scaled up or down by using the slider if you hover your mouse over the number of Servings.
Make the dressing: In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sugar, vinegar and Dijon. Season to taste with ½ teaspoon salt and a generous pinch of pepper. Whisk well. Set aside.
Make the salad: In a large mixing bowl, combine the broccoli, grapes, chicken, green onions, almonds, red onions and any optional additions if using. Toss well to combine.
Add dressing: Pour half the dressing (or more to taste) over the broccoli salad. Toss or gently stir to combine.
Chill: For best flavor, cover and refrigerate the salad for at least 1 hour before serving.
To serve: Toss or stir salad well before serving. Taste and adjust with more dressing or salt and pepper. Serve and enjoy!
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Notes
To cook broccoli: If you do not like raw broccoli, you can blanch it. To blanch, add broccoli florets to a pot of boiling, lightly salted water. Boil for 45 seconds - 1 minute, or until the broccoli turns bright green in color. Drain and transfer to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. Drain well before making the salad.
Chicken/Bacon Combination: If you would like to use a combination of chicken and bacon, use 5 to 5.5 ounces of chicken and 3 to 3.5 ounces of cooked & crumbled bacon.
Bacon Only: You can substitute the chicken for 8 ounces of cooked & crumbled bacon!
To toast almonds: I highly recommend toasting your almonds for the best flavor! Toasting really brings out their flavor and lets them shine! You can toast your almonds using either of the below methods (I prefer the stovetop).
Stovetop: Place skillet over medium-low heat. Add ½ cup of sliced almonds. Toast, stirring frequently to avoid burning, until almonds are fragrant and golden, about 5-7 minutes. Remove to plate and season with a generous pinch of salt. Let cool and store in airtight container.
Oven: Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Add almonds to a large baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for 3 minutes. Remove from oven and shake pan to stir the almonds. Return to the oven and continue to bake in 1-minute intervals, stirring at the 1-minute mark, until almonds are golden in color. Remove to plate and season with a generous pinch of salt. Let cool and store in airtight container.
Dressing: For a healthier dressing, replace some or all of the mayonnaise with plain Greek yogurt. See post above for a full list of how to customize the dressing.
Nutritional information is an approximation based upon 8 servings. Exact information will depend upon the brands of ingredients and precise measurements used.