Shaved Broccoli Salad with Apples and Bacon is a unique take on classic broccoli salad recipes. Simple to prepare and loaded with fresh flavor, it is a wonderful side dish to just about any main course!
If you’re a big fan of broccoli salad recipes and you’re in the mood for something unique, this shaved broccoli salad is here to support you!
Loaded with delicious crispy bacon, sweet and tangy apples, and a creamy dressing, it covers all of the significant flavor bases with a delightful crunch.
This simple side dish is great alongside grilled chicken, baked salmon, pulled pork, BBQ ribs, and more!
All you need is a handful of basic ingredients and a food processor or a sharp knife!
Let’s get into it.
Ingredients for Shaved Broccoli Salad:
Fresh Broccoli: The main ingredient! We need one large crown or a bunch of broccoli to shave for this easy broccoli salad recipe.
Apple: Brings snappy texture and sweet and tangy flavor.
Bacon: Adds that meaty richness and crisp texture. I recommend using thick-cut bacon. You can increase the amount if desired!
Greek Yogurt and Mayonnaise: The base of the dressing, a combination of plain Greek yogurt and mayo gives a light dressing that is still rich.
Cider Vinegar and Lemon Juice: Both add acidity to bring tanginess to the creamy dressing.
Pure Maple Syrup: Helps balance out the acidity of the dressing and completes the flavor profile.
Dijon Mustard: Just a touch of mustard adds nuance to the flavor.
Salt and Pepper: Add to your personal taste.
How to Make Shaved Broccoli Salad:
Use the shredding attachment on your food processor to shred the broccoli. If you don’t own a food processor, do as I did and thinly slice the broccoli.
Cook the bacon in a large skillet until crispy. Transfer to a plate and chop once cool enough to handle. Chop the apple into bite sized pieces.
Mix the ingredients for the salad dressing in a small bowl.
Add the shaved broccoli, chopped bacon and apple to a large mixing bowl with the dressing. Toss everything together to combine.
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
My biggest take-away from the recipe (other than the fact that bacon and I are soul mates) is that shaving the broccoli is better than leaving it in florets.
The slices soak up the dressing and become bombed with flavor. This is now my answer to all the broccoli salads.
Serve Shaved Broccoli Salad with your choice of main dishes, and enjoy!
What to Serve with Shaved Broccoli Salad:
- Korean BBQ Chicken Rice Bowls
- Salmon Caesar Salad
- BBQ Baked Ribs
- Baked Salmon Burgers
- Crock Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage
Try my Broccoli Slaw if you’re into broccoli salad recipes.
You know what to do with this salad.
Shaved Broccoli-Apple Salad with Bacon
Ingredients
- 2 strips bacon cooked and chopped
- 3 Tbsp cider vinegar
- 1 tsp whole grain mustard or Dijon mustard
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1/3 cup full-fat plain Greek yogurt
- 2 Tbsp mayonnaise*
- 1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 Tbsp pure maple syrup
- 1 pound broccoli 1 large crown
- 1 large Gala apple cored and sliced
Instructions
- Cook the bacon over medium heat until it reaches desired level of crisp. Place it on a plate, chop it, and set aside.
- In a large serving bowl, whisk together the cider vinegar, mustard, pepper, yogurt, mayo, lemon juice, and pure maple syrup until well-combined and creamy.
- Place broccoli in a food processor and pulse a few times to give it a rough chop (if you don’t own a food processor, do as I did and thinly slice the broccoli).
- Add the broccoli, apple, and bacon to the mixing bowl and toss well until everything is coated in dressing.
- Serve alongside your favorite entrée!
Oh, so many great sides here – thanks!!
Have a super time in Chicago!!
Oops – I wrote the wrong comment on this one – sorry!
Can’t wait to try a new broccoli recipe since we tend to get in a rut with ours!!
JUST my kind of salad and with all my favourite ingredients too! What a great SRC pick for this time of year, Karen
So glad you like it, Karen! I’m all about broccoli and bacon these days. In abundance…on repeat 😉 Have a great week!
Um I have totally forgotten key ingredients in recipes while at the supermarket. But good to know the tarragon isn’t compulsatory! I mean, I like it, but it’s not my FAVORITE herb.
If Cooking Light is telling you to make bacon, you make bacon. Enough said. This looks so yummy, and a great way to get some more veggies in my life. Thank you for sharing!
Also, I hope there were tattoos. Seriously jealous.
You’re going to love eating your way through Chicago. It’s such a great city. I’m okay with your fib–because, bacon. Love this salad. Pinned.
love the idea of anything that soaks up dressing. the dressing looks great, too!
Safe travels aaaaand see you and Stephie at dinner tomorrow!!! Yay!!! PS baaaaaacon! Yes!
Wahoooooo! Can’t wait, lady!
I love bacon in broccoli salads, it’s the best! Now you made me want bacon for lunch, and I don’t have any. Boo. 😉
SO excited/jealous you get to hang out with Stephie! AND get tattoos? I think I need extra bacon on my salad to cope with my FOMO. 😉
I love salads with apple and bacon! definitely making this one soon =)
DELICIOUS!!! It just so happens I have half a container of broccoli slaw sitting in my fridge…just waiting for this salad!!! I used half for coleslaw to accompany BBQ but wanted use the other half for a lunch-y salad. It’s happening. And probably adding smoked bleu cheese to the dressing 😉
This sounds perfect! Love the combo of apples, bacon and broccoli.
1. Oh my gosh! This salad! It has everything I love in it. Must make it pronto. And I get distracted in the bacon aisle, too. You know where else I get all confused? The olive oil display. Seriously, so many to choose from. I keep telling Stephie she needs a Back to the Basics post telling me which to buy, because I’m from the era where you had Crisco and Wesson oil. I’m not even sure growing up we had corn oil AND vegetable oil (although I think we did). Anywho, that’s off subject. Focus. I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT YOU COMING TO SEE ME!!! We’re going to take you to see Grandview Drive, and it really is pretty, so bring your camera or whatever. May not be Lake Tahoe pretty, but it is nice. Some president deemed it to be the prettiest spot east of the Mississippi, but I don’t think he was a popular president. I’ll get back to you on that one. This is going to be epic. SEE YOU SOON! xoxoxoxo
I’m in the airport now and nodding in agreement with a shit-eating grin on my face! So thrilled to see you in the flesh! I’m sure I will be very impressed by Grandview drive and my iPhone is ready to take the crap out of some photos. Decided not to bring the fancy camera on account of my paranoia…
And I agree, I would love for Stephie to do a Back to the Basics on olive oil…there’s just so much to knooooow!!
Love ya and see you soon!