Paleo Broccoli Salad – Packed with flavor, this salad is healthy and filling. It has sweetness from the poppy seed dressing and saltiness from the bacon.
If you’ve been following along for a while, you’ve probably noticed we really like salads. My husband eats salad for breakfast. I do not like them that much, but I do enjoy a salad for lunch and dinner. We’re constantly experimenting with different dressings and veggie blends to keep it interesting. This Broccoli Salad is an oldie and one we make often.
What is a Paleo Broccoli Salad
Broccoli salad is usually a mix of broccoli, raisins or craisins, onion, and a creamy dressing. The broccoli can be served raw or blanched, and the whole mixture is served cold. It’s perfect with BBQ or grilled meats.
Ingredients
Broccoli – Raw {how I like it} or blanched. To blanch the broccoli, add to a large pot of boiling water for 1 minute. Remove and place in a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process. Drain the broccoli very well before making the salad.
Red Onion – Red onion is the best choice when serving raw onions in a salad.
Raisins or Craisins – Either option works for this salad. Check the ingredients to make sure there are no added sugar or other ingredients if Whole30/Paleo.
Nuts – Any nut can be used like sunflower seeds, pine nuts, pecans, almonds, or walnuts. I used pine nuts for this recipe.
Bacon – Cooked and crumbled into bites. The saltiness is a great contrast to the sweetness. Again, check the label if Whole30/Paleo.
Dressing – I’ve made several different dressings for this salad. Everything from plain mayo with a little apple cider vinegar for a Whole30 broccoli salad to this Poppy Seed Dressing made with honey. If you are Whole30, you can eliminate the honey altogether. The dressing will not be as sweet but still tasty. Raisins will also provide a subtle sweetness.
Possible Variations
Additional ingredients that can be added to the salad include:
- Apples or Pears – Sliced or diced
- Oranges
- Grapes – Halved
- Brussels Sprouts – Sliced
- Red Cabbage – Sliced
- Carrots – Shredded
- Cheese – Grated or crumbled
Make-Ahead and Storage
This recipe can be made in advance and kept in the refrigerator until ready to serve. It gets better the longer it sits, so I try to make it a few hours before I plan to serve - if I can.
The salad should be stored in the refrigerator because of the mayo until ready to serve and will last 4-5 days.
Whole30 Broccoli Salad Variations
For Whole30, follow the instructions for the Poppy Seed Dressing recipe but omit the honey. The salad will not be as sweet but still tasty!
OTHER RECIPES TO TRY
Serve this recipe with the Oven Roasted Spatchcock Chicken for a complete meal.
Like this recipe? Don't forget to Pin it! Also, check out our Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube Channel for cooking demos and more. Plus you can also see what I am pinning on Pinterest for more Whole30 and Paleo recipe ideas!
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Paleo Broccoli Salad
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
Description
Packed with flavor, this salad is healthy and filling. It has sweetness from the poppy seed dressing and saltiness from the bacon.
Ingredients
- 12oz Broccoli Florets - Cut into bite-size pieces
- ¼ Red Onion - Small dice
- ¼ cup Nuts - Toasted and chopped
- ¼ cup Bacon* - Crumbles
- ½ cup Raisins*
- ½ cup Poppy Seed Dressing*
Instructions
Combined all ingredients in a large bowl and mix thoroughly to coat the broccoli in the dressing. Serve cool.
Notes
Whole30 – Check the labels to ensure the ingredients are compliant. For the dressing, omit the honey.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: broccoli salad, whole30 broccoli salad
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