Broccoli Salad with Lemon Poppy Seed Yogurt Dressing

Crisp, crunchy and full of flavor, this Broccoli Salad with lemon poppy seed yogurt dressing is the perfect summer side salad. It takes just 15 minutes to make!

Broccoli Salad with Lemon Poppy Seed Yogurt Dressing | lifemadesimplebakes.com

Guys, the weather is warming up here in Utah, summer is definitely on its way! That means it’s time to grill everything & whip up all sorts of delicious no-bake goodies. Am I right?! This salad will definitely be joining at BBQ’s and get-togethers over the next few months. It’s super easy dish to throw together. I wanted to make it extra light by using a homemade yogurt-based dressing, and let me tell you, it tastes AMAZING!

Broccoli Salad with Lemon Poppy Seed Yogurt Dressing | lifemadesimplebakes.com

I’m sure as you’ve strolled by the refrigerated salad dressing section at the grocery store you’ve noticed that a good amount of them are now made with Greek yogurt. It’s such a simple & healthy swap. Today’s dressing is so flavorful, you’d never guess it was made with yogurt (I used Stonyfield’s Whole Milk Greek Plain Yogurt) instead of mayonnaise (p.s. it was inspired by this yogurt based lemon poppy seed dressing over at The Cookful). You’ve gotta try it! It really balances out everything that’s going on in this salad.

Broccoli Salad with Lemon Poppy Seed Yogurt Dressing | lifemadesimplebakes.com

Speaking of which, what I love most about it is the CRAZY amount of texture (and flavor) that you get in one bite. It may seem like a random combo of ingredients, but I promise you everything melds together perfectly. Once you’ve got everything tossed together, make sure to chill it or serve it right away. I prefer serving it as soon as possible because I like the sunflower seeds when they’re nice and crunchy. To make this salad a bit heartier, try adding quinoa, kale or mixed greens. Either way, it’ll be yummy.

Broccoli Salad with Lemon Poppy Seed Yogurt Dressing | lifemadesimplebakes.com

Next time you’re in a pinch and need a quick, easy & flavorful side dish, give this broccoli salad a try- it won’t disappoint!

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Broccoli Salad with Lemon Poppy Seed Yogurt Dressing | lifemadesimplebakes.com

Broccoli Salad with Lemon Poppy Seed Yogurt Dressing

Crisp, crunchy and full of flavor, this broccoli salad with lemon poppy seed yogurt dressing is the perfect summer side salad. It only takes 15 minutes to whip up!!
5 from 6 votes
Pin Rate
Course: Salad
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 488kcal
Author: Andrea
Print Recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 heads broccoli - trimmed into bite-size pieces
  • 4 slices bacon - cooked, crumbled
  • 1/4 cup red onion - chopped
  • 1/4 cup dried cherries - OR dried cranberries
  • 1/4 cup almonds - sliced, toasted
  • 1/4 cup sunflower seeds - salted and roasted
  • 4 oz medium cheddar cheese - OR sharp cheddar, cut into small cubes

For the Lemon Poppyseed Dressing

  • 1/2 cup Greek yogurt - We like Stonyfield Whole Milk Plain Greek OR Regular Yogurt OR olive oil mayonnaise
  • 2 tbsp granulated sugar
  • 1 1/2 tsp red wine vinegar
  • 1 1/2 tsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp poppy seeds
  • 1 lemon - zested
  • pinch salt

Instructions

  • Add clean, dry broccoli pieces into a large mixing bowl. Add bacon, onions, cherries, almonds, sunflower seeds and cheese.
  • To make the salad dressing, in a small mixing bowl, whisk together the yogurt, sugar, vinegar, lemon juice, poppy seeds, lemon zest and salt until combined. Pour the desired amount dressing over the salad, toss to combine. Serve immediately.

NOTES

-If you can't stand the taste of raw broccoli, bring a large pot of water to boil and cook the florets for 45 seconds, remove and place into a bowl of ice water. I've made this salad both ways and I personally prefer raw broccoli, but the "blanched" version is delicious too!
-Double this to feed a crowd!!
-You can easily add 2 cups of washed greens to this salad (kale, spinach, spring mix etc.) OR try adding a cup of cooked quinoa.

Nutrition

Serving: 4serving | Calories: 488kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 46mg | Sodium: 434mg | Potassium: 1236mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 2447IU | Vitamin C: 287mg | Calcium: 429mg | Iron: 4mg

 

I’m partnering with The Cookful and Stonyfield as a member of their Clean Plate Club to bring you today’s recipe. I received this product for review, all opinions are my own. Thank you for helping me work with brands I love!

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About the Author

Andrea

Hi I'm Andrea!

Hotelier turned Food Blogger to help make your life simple, one recipe at a time.

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Comments:

  1. 5 stars
    This salad is deeeelicious! It was a big hit for a church function. (I doubled the recipe.) I precooked the broccoli enough to make it tender and used dried cranberries instead of cherries. I will definitely make again.

  2. 5 stars
    This is one of my favorite salads! Simple yet delicious and so easy to throw together. Thank you for the recipe!