Broccoli Salad with Raisins
Chock-full of crispy broccoli slaw and bite-size broccoli florets, along with sliced red onions and diced apples, this Broccoli Salad with Raisins has tons of crunch. I love the sweetness, the golden raisins, and the creamy dressing, too.
If you are looking for more delicious salads, try my Old Fashioned Cornbread Salad or my Chicken Macaroni Pasta Salad.
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A Quick Look at the Recipe
- ✅ Recipe Name: Broccoli Salad with Raisins
- ⏲️ Ready In: 30 minutes
- 👨👨👦👦 Serves: 12
- 🍽️ Calories: 96 calories per serving
- 💪 Protein: 2 grams
- 🥣 Main Ingredients: Broccoli florets, golden raisins, Granny Smith apples, Coleslaw, onions, mayonnaise, sugar, red wine vinegar
- 📋 Dietary Info: Gluten-free, vegetarian-friendly, great for a crowd or potluck
- 💯 Why You’ll Love It: Perfect for entertaining and family gatherings, this classic dish is made extra delicious with the golden raisins, which add a milder and sweeter kick.
Old Fashioned Broccoli Raisin Salad
Here’s a salad that serves a crowd and can be enjoyed year-round at any meal. Its beautiful presentation makes this salad perfect for potluck gatherings in the summer or for gracing your holiday table at Thanksgiving. It goes perfectly with my Ham in a Roaster Oven.
This old fashioned broccoli salad is a great source of fiber and has lots of antioxidants. You can consider this salad a definite nutritional powerhouse. I love it when things that taste good are also good for you.
Ingredients and Substitutions
For a complete list of ingredients, see the recipe card below.
- Broccoli slaw and bite-sized broccoli florets: Having both types of broccoli in this salad provides even more texture and visual appeal.
- Red onion: If you find your red onion to be too hot, place the slices into a bit of cold water for 10 minutes, then drain well, discarding the water.
- Granny Smith apple: We love the extra crunch the apples give to this salad, especially if you leave the skin intact. The skin also adds more visual appeal! If you find Granny Smith apples to be too tart for your liking, substitute your favorite.
- Golden raisins: The chewy texture of the onions adds one more yummy element to this salad experience. Golden raisins are much more mild and sweet in flavor than traditional raisins since they are dried in a different manner. I always find them to be more tender and juicy, as well. If preferred, substitute dried cranberries for the golden raisins.
- Pepitas: This garnishment adds more crunch. Feel free to substitute sunflower seeds or even sliced almonds if you can’t find pepitas. I have found Aldi’s to be a good source for pepitas that are inexpensive. Store them in the freezer to keep them extra fresh.
How to Make Broccoli Salad with Raisins
Step 1: In a large mixing bowl, combine the slaw, broccoli florets, red onion, apples, and raisins.
Step 2: Into a small bowl, place the mayonnaise, vinegar, and sugar.
Step 3: Whisk to combine. Season to taste with kosher salt and pepper.
Step 4: Pour the prepared dressing over the salad ingredients in the bowl, tossing gently to combine well.
Refrigerate the salad for 12-24 hours before serving to let the flavors blend.
Before serving, sprinkle the pepitas over the top.
My Recipe Tips
- If the broccoli florets you purchase seem to come with lots of stems, cut them away from the florets then place them onto a cutting board. Dice the stems into small pieces or slice each one very thinly before adding them to the florets as desired.
- When serving this salad during hot weather, keep in mind that it needs to stay well chilled since the dressing is mayonnaise-based. I like to place the bowl of broccoli salad into a larger bowl that is filled with cubed ice. To keep the salad bowl from slipping on the ice, place a kitchen towel over the ice before topping with the bowl of salad.
- Make this salad a day ahead of time so all the flavors have time to meld and complement each other. You want that creamy, delicious dressing to get down into every nook and cranny!
Broccoli Salad with Raisins FAQ
Broccoli salad will stay fresh in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Past that, the salad is still safe to eat but the vegetables aren’t as crisp and fresh. Store the salad in an air-tight container.
As the salad chills, the dressing tends to separate a bit. Toss well before serving to re-incorporate the dressing into the salad ingredients.
I think the very best dressing for broccoli salad is actually what’s called coleslaw salad dressing. It’s a very common dressing that is mayonnaise-based and tangy-sweet from the addition of sugar and vinegar.
If you don’t want to make your dressing as directed in this recipe, you can add your favorite bottle of coleslaw dressing with perfect success.
What to Serve with Broccoli Salad
Broccoli salad is delicious served as a side dish with sliders, sandwiches, or burgers. We also love to serve it alongside Slow Cooker Brisket or Slow Cooker Meatloaf!
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Broccoli Salad with Raisins
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Ingredients
- 10 ounces broccoli slaw about 3 1/2 cups
- 2 cups bite-sized broccoli florets
- 1/2 small red onion very thinly sliced
- 1 medium Granny Smith apple skin-on, diced
- 1/3 cup golden raisins
- 1/3 cup pepitas as garnish for serving
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar may substitute cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- kosher salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the slaw, broccoli florets, red onion, apples, and raisins.
- Into a jar with a tight-fitting lid, place the mayonnaise, vinegar and sugar; shake well to combine. Season to taste with kosher salt and pepper.
- Pour the prepared dressing over the salad ingredients in the bowl, tossing gently to combine well.
- Refrigerate the salad for 12-24 hours before serving to let the flavors blend.
- Before serving, sprinkle the pepitas over the top.