This fresh take on classic Crunchy Broccoli Salad is loaded with 2 kinds of broccoli, plump strawberries, sweet dried cranberries, tart green apples and a simple homemade dressing that is both creamy and tangy. Perfect for making ahead, you’ll love serving this salad side dish at holidays, brunches, cookouts, potlucks, tailgates and fish fries!

A fresh take on the classic crunchy broccoli salad with strawberries, apples, cranberries, pecans and a homemade creamy, tangy dressing.

It’s no stretch to say that this broccoli salad with strawberries does it all. It’s gorgeous for Easter dinner, sits perfectly next to burgers at a cookout, is always the first to go at potlucks and even complements brunch with its hearty crunch.

Hey, I’ve been known to just stand in front of the open fridge and eat it out of the bowl with a fork. It’s bold crunch is everything and once you get one bite… you’ll crave that crunch too!

RELATED RECIPE: Broccoli Slaw with Apples & Brussel Sprouts

Refreshing and crisp, this recipe for broccoli salad includes broccoli florets and broccolini. Using both only amps up the bold textures, colors and savory flavors of what you might expect in broccoli salad.

Plus the addition of plump, red strawberries and buttery roasted pecans make this a can’t miss salad side dish you’ll find yourself making all the time!

Ingredients for This Fresh Broccoli Salad

Broccoli salad with 2 kinds of broccoli, strawberries, apples, cranberries, toasted pecans and a homemade creamy vinaigrette with red wine vinegar

measurements and complete instructions are in the recipe card.

broccoli florets
broccolini
strawberries
green apples
dried cranberries
toasted pecans
crumbled feta cheese
heavy whipping cream
mayonnaise
powdered sugar
red wine vinegar
salt & pepper

How To Make Crunchy Broccoli Salad

An overhead look at a classic potluck or cookout salad with crunchy broccoli and a tangy, creamy homemade dressing.

Toast the pecans. Toast the pecans first, so they will have time to cool before adding them to the salad.
Use a whisk or mixer to whip the dressing. Whip the cream 3-5 minutes, adding the sugar, then folding in the mayo and the vinegar.
Toss & dress the salad. Make sure the dressing coats the raw broccoli well so that it can soak in the dressing and soften as it chills.
Cover & chill. Chill for at least 1 hour before serving so that the salad has a little time to marinate in the dressing and the flavors can develop.

pro tip for making the best broccoli salad

The best broccoli salad is made by tossing together the broccoli, the fruit, nuts and then folding in the easy homemade dressing.

Tips for Making The Best Broccoli Salad

Don’t skip the chilling time. This salad genuinely gets better with time because the broccoli has time to soak up some of that yummy, creamy dressing and all the flavors marry and meld. 1 hour is the minimum chilling time, but 24 hours is primo!
Cut your broccoli florets into smaller bite-size pieces. This gives your dressing more to cling to (and therefore will make the raw broccoli softer as it marinates), makes the broccoli easier to eat and allows you to eat a little of everything in one bite!
Soak your dried cranberries. When I have time, I cover my cranberries with water and allow them to soak about 20-30 minutes. This plumps them up and makes them less chewy in the salad.

Recipe Variations & Add-Ins

I like to mix it up, so I might not make my broccoli salad the same way twice in a row. Here are a few of the ingredients I love to add 1 or more of from time to time to keep things fresh and yummy. Talk about loads of punchy flavor and crunchy texture!

sunflower seeds (Toast these with your pecans!)
thinly sliced red onion
chopped raw cauliflower
blueberries
chow mein noodles
bacon pieces

a close up of broccoli salad dressed well with a creamy red wine mayo vinaigrette

What to With Serve Broccoli Salad

This salad goes with just about anything! We love it with:

Other Easy Salad Side Dishes