Broccoli Slaw

A delicious and healthy side dish is just minutes away with this easy recipe for Broccoli Slaw!

The homemade creamy broccoli slaw dressing makes this salad irresistibly tasty, and it’s perfect for picnics, barbecues, or any simple summertime meal.

Broccoli has never tasted so good!

You should totally make this delicious broccoli slaw recipe the next time you’re asked to bring a salad to share.

I know that we all love pasta salad, potato salad, and buttered grilled corn at a backyard party! But we shouldn’t forget to add some green vegetables to the summer menu too.

Colorful Broccoli Cole Slaw is made from crunchy raw veggies and sweet-tart apples, paired with sunflower seeds, dried cranberries, and a sweet and tangy dressing.

It’s very similar to my classic broccoli salad recipe, but this slaw version includes even more veggies, and is vegetarian friendly too!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

1. One Bowl – Salad recipes like this one are perfect for when you don’t feel like doing a lot of dishes. You can use two bowls (one for the dressing, another for the veggies), or just mix up the dressing in the large bowl and toss in the salad!
2. No Cooking Required – All of the ingredients in this broccoli slaw recipe are fresh and raw. On a hot day, you’ll be happy that you don’t need to light up the stove to make this simple side dish.
3. Versatile Recipe – While broccoli cole slaw is typically served as a side dish, you can easily turn it into the main meal too. Mix in some cooked grilled chicken or tufo to add some protein and dinner is done!

Ingredients In Broccoli Slaw

Here’s what you need to make this fresh and beautiful slaw recipe:

• Broccoli – You’ll need one medium head of broccoli to make up the bulk of the slaw. I’ll show you how to cut it so that you’re using every bit of it, florets and stems included.
• Red Cabbage – The deep purple color of cabbage is the perfect color contrast to the green broccoli.
• Carrot – For even more colorful crunch!
• Red Onion – Again, the color this ingredient adds is perfect. Red onion also adds a delicious bite to this recipe.
• Apple – Choose a crisp and tasty apple for this recipe, and slice it into thin pieces.
• Parsley – Fresh chopped parsley leaves add a herbal element that works really well with all of the other flavors in this salad.
• Dried Cranberries – These add a chewy element to the slaw, and a bright, tart flavor.
• Toasted Sunflower Seeds – For a salty crunch. You could also use slivered almonds or pepitas if you have them on hand.
• For the Broccoli Slaw Dressing – Make sure that you have mayo, dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, and a little bit of sugar.

Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

How To Make Broccoli Slaw

Most of the time needed to make this salad is spent on chopping the apple and vegetables into thin, easy-to-eat pieces.

1. Chop the Broccoli for Slaw: Using a chef’s knife, first remove the florets from the stalk. Use your hands to break the florets into little pieces. Then, remove any tough parts from the broccoli stalk, and slice it into thin planks. Slice the planks into matchstick-sized pieces.
2. Shred the Cabbage: The easiest way to do this is to cut the head of cabbage into 4 wedges, then slice the wedges thinly to create thin pieces.
3. Slice the Apples, Carrots, and Red Onion into thin julienne pieces that are similar to the size of the broccoli sticks.
4. Combine Everything! Add the chopped vegetables and apple to a large bowl. Then add the chopped parsley, sunflower seeds, and dried cranberries.

5. Make the Broccoli Slaw Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together mayo, dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, sugar, and salt and pepper (to taste).
6. Dress and Chill: Pour the dressing over the vegetable mixture, and toss well until everything is well coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour before serving to allow the flavors to meld together.

Recipe Tips

• For an even healthier broccoli slaw, use plain Greek yogurt instead of mayonnaise. This recipe will also work with vegan mayo or dairy-free yogurt.
• Fresh vegetables are key! Make sure that each and every ingredient you’re adding to your broccoli slaw is the freshest that you can find.
• Slice Carefully. Use a good, sharp knife to slice the broccoli stems. A sharp knife is actually safer than a dull one when it comes to preparing food, as it’s less likely to slip.
• Adjust the seasonings. If your apple is particularly sweet, you may not need a whole tablespoon of sugar in the dressing. You may also want to add more or less salt and pepper. Taste as you go and adjust as needed.

Storing Tips

You can store this homemade broccoli slaw in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Any longer than that and the veggies will start to soften.

If you’re planning to make this recipe ahead of time, I suggest keeping the veggies and dressing separate until an hour before serving time. It’s also best to add the apples at that time so that they won’t brown.

What To Serve With Broccoli Slaw

This healthy broccoli cole slaw recipe is perfect wherever traditional cole slaw is enjoyed.

Try it at backyard barbecues, cookouts, potlucks, and all types of summer parties this year!

If you’re looking for some delicious main dish options, try Grilled Salmon, or learn how to make the Perfect Grilled Steaks.

Everyone loves my Grilled Spatchcock Chicken too, or pull out your smoker and try making a Smoked Brisket or Smoked Balogna for tasty sandwiches!

Recipe FAQs

Beautifully colorful, delicious, and healthy – This broccoli slaw recipe is definitely a winner! Be sure to save the recipe (Pin it!) so that you can make it for all of your upcoming summer parties.