Lemon Poppy Seed Broccoli Salad: A delicious, simple, and quick dish with broccoli, dried cranberries, sunflower seeds, feta, almonds, and creamy lemon-poppy seed dressing.
Lemon Poppy Seed Broccoli Salad Recipe
Every summer, I look forward to BBQs, and if there’s a broccoli salad on the menu, my plate is always piled high with it. I live for summer salads, and broccoli salads have always been a favorite of mine. In fact, I don’t just wait for summer — they’ve become a year-round staple in my kitchen!
When I decided to tweak my favorite poppy seed dressing and add it to my traditional broccoli salad, I knew we had a winner! Instead of just adding mayo (like a lot of broccoli salads call for), the lemon poppy seed dressing brings a delicious flavor that really makes the whole salad. It doesn’t get much better than this!
Lemon Poppy Seed Broccoli Salad Ingredients
- Broccoli. Use the freshest broccoli available for this salad. Frozen broccoli won’t work in this recipe! Chop it finely so it softens well with the dressing.
- Sunflower seeds. Pick roasted and salted shelled sunflower seeds. They add lots of flavor without any extra effort.
- Dried cranberries. Use the softest available dried cranberries. Grab sweetened for a sweeter pop of flavor. Dried tart cherries are also delicious in this salad!
- Sliced almonds. If you have an extra minute, toast sliced almonds by placing them in a single layer in a skillet over medium-low heat. Stir constantly for 2-3 minute. Toasting nuts adds extra flavor and keeps the nuts from softening too much.
- Feta. Totally optional, but adds a delicious creaminess to the salad.
- Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing. The dressing adds a creamy, tangy, and slightly sweet flavor that goes perfectly with the salad. Throw everything (besides the poppy seeds) into a blender and give it a whirl. Stir through the poppy seeds and you’re done!
Quick Tip
Be sure to add salt to taste—it makes all the difference between an underwhelming salad and a delicious one!
How To Make Lemon Poppy Seed Broccoli Salad
With no baking or cooking needed, this is truly the ultimate summer salad!
- Prepare Broccoli: Remove stems and chop into small pieces. Smaller pieces mix better and soften quicker with the dressing.
- Combine Ingredients: In a large bowl, mix broccoli, dried cranberries, sliced almonds, sunflower seeds, and feta. Use fresh ingredients for the best flavor.
- Make the Dressing: Blend dressing ingredients until smooth. Stir in poppy seeds. For a lighter option, use some Greek yogurt instead of all mayo.
- Dress the Salad: Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to combine. Chill for 30 minutes to 1 hour for the best flavor.
- Adjust Seasoning: After chilling, toss again and add more salt if needed.
- Serve: Enjoy the salad the same day for the freshest flavor.
Does Broccoli Need To Be Cooked First?
No, raw broccoli is standard in broccoli salads. The dressing and chilling time soften it. Just make sure to finely chop the broccoli into small pieces.
If you don’t like raw broccoli, blanch it first. Here’s how: boil the broccoli in salted water for 30 seconds, then drain and transfer to an ice bath to stop cooking. Let it air dry or throw it in a salad spinner to make sure your lemon poppy seed broccoli salad doesn’t become soggy.
Lemon-Poppy Seed Broccoli Salad Tips
- Use good quality mayo. I love Hellman’s/Best Foods® for the best flavor. Its consistency, texture, and sweetness make a big difference in the salad.
- Use fresh ingredients. Fresh, good broccoli makes all the difference in this lemon poppy seed broccoli salad.
- Use a small grater to zest just the outer bright yellow part of the lemon. Avoid the bitter white part underneath.
- Chill before serving. Let the salad chill for 30 minutes to 1 hour for the best flavor and texture.
Variation Ideas
- Add Fruit: Mix in diced apples, grapes, blueberries, or mandarin oranges for extra sweetness and flavor.
- Include Cheese: Try adding shredded cheddar, blue cheese crumbles, or goat cheese instead of feta in this lemon poppy seed broccoli salad.
- Add Veggies: Try adding in chopped bell peppers, red onions, or shredded carrots for added crunch and color.
- Use Different Nuts: Switch out sliced almonds with walnuts, pecans, or cashews for a different nutty flavor.
- Change the Dressing: Swap the lemon poppy seed dressing for a balsamic dressing or a ranch dressing.
Storage
Refrigerate Immediately: Store the salad in the fridge, covered or in an airtight container, right after making it. It’ll keep for up to 2 days.
Separate Dressing: For longer storage, keep the dressing separate from the salad and dress it right before eating.
More Potluck Salads
- EASY Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad with a buffalo ranch dressing
- Fresh and delicious Corn Salad
- Macaroni Coleslaw Salad summer BBQ mash-up salad
- Grape Salad dessert “salad” with creamy grapes and pecans
- Orzo Pasta Salad with a lemon dressing
Lemon Poppy Seed Broccoli Salad
Ingredients
Salad
- 6 cups coarsely chopped broccoli (4 large florets)
- 3/4 cup dried sweetened cranberries
- 1/2 cup sliced almonds (Note 1)
- 1/2 cup shelled, roasted and salted sunflower seeds
- Optional: feta cheese, add to preference
Dressing
- 2/3 cup full-fat mayo
- 1/4 cup EACH: whole milk, heavy cream, & white sugar
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons EACH: lemon zest & poppy seeds
- Salt & pepper, to taste
Instructions
- BROCCOLI: Remove stems from broccoli and finely chop into small pieces.
- SALAD: In a large bowl, combine salad ingredients.
- DRESSING: In a small blender bottle/jar add all dressing ingredients EXCEPT poppy seeds. Season to taste. Blend until smooth then stir through poppy seeds.
- DRESS SALAD: Pour dressing over salad ingredients and toss to combine. Cover and chill for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Toss again and adjust seasoning if needed. If flavors are underwhelming, add more salt.
- STORAGE: Salad is best eaten the same day it is made.
Video
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Could put pasta in it?
I’d try this recipe instead: https://www.chelseasmessyapron.com/broccoli-grape-pasta-salad/