16 Flavor-Packed Broccoli Salads

By Food & Wine
Updated September 03, 2019
Turning boring broccoli into a flavor-packed salad is our favorite way to eat this vegetable. These recipes use fresh herbs, flavorful dressings and bright flavors to transform broccoli into a side dish your whole family will love--even the notorious broccoli haters. These salads and slaws are perfect for summer cookouts, holiday potlucks and casual family meals, and are a great way to add cheerful color and punchy flavor to your dinner table any time of year. Here, some of our easiest (and most delicious) recipes for broccoli salad.
Start Slideshow

1 of 16

Charred Broccoli with Blue Cheese Dressing and Spiced Crispies

© John Kernick
Go to Recipe

Chicago chef Stephanie Izard amps up broccoli with a punchy vinaigrette, creamy blue cheese dressing and an irresistibly crunchy, butter-toasted Rice Krispies topping.

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 16

Escarole and Roasted Broccoli Salad with Anchovy Dressing

Go to Recipe

Chris Kronner created this salad with ingredients from Scribe Winery's garden. It offers an amazing array of flavors: sweet roasted broccoli, bitter escarole, salty anchovies, sharp cheese.

3 of 16

Grilled Broccoli and Bread Salad with Pickled Shallots

Go to Recipe

"Grilling over an open flame is my favorite way of cooking," says Charlie Parker. "It gives food so much flavor without the need for butter." Here, he serves lightly charred broccoli and ciabatta cubes in a twist on an Italian bread-and-tomato salad. The bread soaks up all of the dressing, giving this broccoli salad a serious flavor punch. This dish makes a tasty side for summer entrees--we love to pair it with grilled salmon or turkey burgers for a delicious, healthy bite. Vegetable dishes like this one go nicely with light pilsners, like Germany's crisp, slightly bitter Bitburger, which lets vegetable flavors stand out. For wine, try a minerally Loire white.

Advertisement

4 of 16

Charred Broccoli and Red Onion Salad

Go to Recipe

Chef Ashley Christensen cuts broccoli heads into thick lengthwise slices, then grills and serves them with sweet grilled red onion. For this recipe, it's super-important to use broccoli with large, very tight heads in order to cut them into steaks.

5 of 16

Broccoli Matchsticks and Kale Salad

Go to Recipe

This delicious, healthy salad makes use of sweet broccoli stems.

6 of 16

Sautéed Broccoli and Corn Salad

Go to Recipe

This fresh broccoli and corn salad pairs tender vegetables with a lemony vinaigrette, making it a great 15-minute side dish.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 16

Broccoli Salad with Ginger-Miso Vinaigrette

Go to Recipe

This simple broccoli salad gets an Asian twist with ginger, miso and toasted sesame seeds.

8 of 16

Creamy Broccoli-Fennel Slaw with Pine Nuts

© Sarah Bolla
Go to Recipe

This light and refreshing winter salad makes use of broccoli stems.

9 of 16

Lemony Broccoli Salad

Go to Recipe

Go-to Side Dish: This broccoli dish gets flavor from a knockout vinaigrette: olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, lemon zest and shallot come together as a tangy, delicious dressing.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 16

Shaved Broccoli and Fennel Salad with Goat Cheese

© Sarah Bolla
Go to Recipe

The combination of creamy goat cheese, fresh herbs, thin and crunchy vegetables with rich olive oil, lemon, and a little salt is addictive. If you have a mandoline, it's great to use it here.

11 of 16

Broccoli-Orzo Salad with Orange and Arugula

© Sarah Bolla
Go to Recipe

This bright broccoli and orzo pasta salad is tossed in a citrus vinaigrette made from the juices of supreming oranges into bite-sized wedges.

12 of 16

Creamy Cabbage and Broccoli Slaw

Go to Recipe

Crinkly-leafed Savoy cabbage pairs beautifully with broccoli, but if you can't find it, regular green cabbage will do just fine.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 16

Broccoli and Edamame Salad with Soy Vinaigrette

Go to Recipe

Blanched broccoli gets mixed with fresh edamame in this great salad, which has a delicious lemon-garlic dressing.

14 of 16

Shaved Broccoli with Mustard-Dill Dressing

© Sarah Bolla
Go to Recipe

This tangy and herbaceous mustard-dill dressing is also terrific spooned over simply prepared vegetables, such as new potatoes or roasted asparagus.

15 of 16

Roasted Broccoli with Broccoli Stem Vinaigrette

Charissa Fay
Go to Recipe

Roasting broccoli gives it a wonderful sweetness and crunch, making it a welcome side dish to any meal.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 16

Broccoli with Bacon, Blue Cheese, and Ranch Dressing

Go to Recipe

This salad would also be delicious with Broccolini, which is similar to broccoli but with smaller florets and longer stems.

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Up Next

By Food & Wine