Broccoli Crunch Salad

This simple broccoli crunch salad is full of flavors, packed with crunchy ingredients and loaded with nutrients. It makes for a perfect healthy salad to bring to potlucks, picnics or to work for lunch. 100% vegan and gluten-free.

This delicious broccoli crunch salad has everything you love all in one recipe! It is packed with amazing flavor, has a great crunchy bite, is loaded with lots of nutrients and fiber and can be done within minutes (no cooking required!). Plus, it is made entirely vegan and gluten-free!

I made this beet broccoli salad not too long ago and this time I was looking for a different variation made with a creamy dressing (dairy-free!) and with tons of crunch, thanks to the added seeds. This might be my favorite vegetarian salad ever!

It makes for a great side dish or recipe to meal-prep ahead and use in lunch boxes. You can easily tweak this recipe and it takes absolutely no effort to whip up together.

Let me know if you give it a try! ❤️

And for more make-ahead creamy vegan salad recipes, check out this cilantro lime pasta salad and this vegan couscous salad!

❤️ Why you will love this recipe

• Easy and fast, can be done within 15 minutes!
• Uses simple ingredients
• No-cook vegetarian salad recipe
• Healthy and loaded with vitamins, fiber and healthy fats
• Easy to customize to your preferences
• Perfect for any season!
• Great make-ahead salad for lunches, family gatherings, BBQs or potlucks
• 100% vegan and gluten-free

🗒 Ingredient notes (+ substitutions)

• Broccoli: use fresh and crunchy broccoli for the best results. I used only the florets here, although you can also peel and chop the entire stalk and use it in the salad.
• Red onion: swap for green onion or shallot if you prefer. If you don't mind a stronger onion flavor, then you can also use regular yellow onion or sweet onion.
• Vegan mayo: use store-bought mayo like Vegenaise or make your own mayo using cashews for a more wholesome recipe. You can also use dairy-free plain yogurt like the one from Forager Project for a low-fat salad dressing or like in this buffalo tortellini pasta salad, use a mix of both!
• Seeds and nuts: I used a mix of pumpkin seeds, chopped almonds and sesame seeds, but you can also use sunflower seeds, chopped cashews or pecans.

⭐️ Full list of ingredients (+ quantities) down below in the recipe card!

📝 Variations

• Dried fruits: add a handful of dried cranberries or raisins for a sweet and chewy addition.
• Fresh fruits: similar to a vegan Waldorf salad, this salad would pair well with fresh grapes or chopped apples.
• Grain: add some cooked rice, barley or even small noodles to make this salad a full meal!
• Extra crunchy: break some raw ramen noodles in the salad for a super crunchy result.
• Beans: cooked chickpeas would be delicious in this salad, which would also add more filling fiber and plant-based protein. We love these crunchy chickpeas in salads!
• More veggies: add some julienned carrots, chopped celery, diced bell pepper or chopped baby spinach for a nice veggie boost.

🍽 How to make a crunchy broccoli salad

Step 1: Add the broccoli, seeds and nuts (almonds, sesame and pumpkin) and red onion to a large mixing bowl.

Step 2: Add the dressing ingredients to a medium bowl (mayo, lemon juice, sweetener, Dijon and salt) and whisk to combine.

Step 3: Pour the dressing over the salad ingredients.

Step 4: Stir to combine. Taste to adjust the flavor, then serve.

⭐️ Detailed recipe (+ video) down below in the recipe card!

💡 Helpful tips

• Use pre-cleaned and pre-chopped broccoli florets for a speedy salad!
• Add some fresh herbs for a touch of freshness! Cilantro, mint, parsley or basil would all be great choices.
• I think this salad works best with small florets, so try to chop the broccoli on the smaller side.
• If you prefer, you can briefly steam the broccoli or blanch the florets. Make sure not to cook them too much or this salad won't be crunchy!
• Enjoy right away or mix everything and let it sit in the fridge for an hour before serving. This gives some time for the flavor to blend and the broccoli to tenderize just slightly in the dressing.
• If making the salad ahead, then keep the seeds apart and toss them in at the last minute so they remain crunchy.

🍴 Serving suggestions

This salad can be served right away or wait for 1-2 hours after combining the ingredients so the flavors have time to blend. Garnish with more seeds and extra finely chopped onion when serving.

This salad pairs well with white bean burgers, blackened tofu steaks and vegan sloppy joes.

❗️ Storage tips

This salad will stay fresh in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 24-48 hours. Longer than that and the broccoli might lose some of its freshness, although I think the salad will be good for up to 4 days.

If you want to make the salad days ahead, then you could keep the dressing and seeds apart and toss them in when ready to serve.

❓ FAQs

🌱 More healthy broccoli recipes you might like

I hope you like this broccoli crunch salad recipe as much as we do! If you try it, please leave a comment below and rate the recipe to let me know how it was. Your feedback is so helpful!

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