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Crunchy Broccoli Salad with Honey Dijon Vinaigrette

September 2, 2024

Say goodbye to boring, soggy, meal-prep salads with my Crunchy Broccoli Salad with Honey Dijon Dressing. This salad comes together with a base of crunchy broccoli, tangy cabbage, bacon, and cashews, paired with a sweet and delicious homemade vinaigrette, for a salad that only gets better with time! Prep it at the beginning of the week, add in your favorite protein, and you’ll have the perfect office-friendly lunch, ready in minutes.

A bowl of colorful broccoli salad featuring chopped broccoli, red cabbage, nuts, sunflower seeds, and shredded cheese. A white serving spoon is placed in the bowl. The salad is arranged on a green marble surface with a small bowl of dressing nearby.

Why You’ll Love This Broccoli Salad Recipe

Friends, want to know one of the first things that I learned back in my days as a lawyer? That workday lunches oftentimes really suck. There, I said it! There’s nothing worse than getting stuck in the rut of eating the same sad sandwich over and over again, every single day. Or, even worse… not having time to prep lunch, so you spend $20 eating out. At first, the thought of eating out for lunch every day can sound exciting. But over time, it gets really old, really quickly. When I was working for a law firm, I was constantly bored and uninspired by my lunches. So, if you’re currently in that same place, then I am here to save you!

Over on Instagram, I’ve started a new series: Meal Prep Lunches That Crush. These recipes are your new go-to easy, healthy lunches that are perfect for prepping ahead. And to kick off this series, I’m sharing one of my favorite lunchtime recipes… this Crunchy Broccoli Salad with Honey Dijon Dressing.

Why is this salad so great, you may ask? Well, for starters, it swaps the traditional lettuce for crunchy cabbage and broccoli. While normal lettuce gets soggy within just a few hours, the combination of the broccoli and cabbage is so crunchy that as it sits in the dressing, it doesn’t get soggy, but rather softens to the perfect texture. In fact, I’d go as far as to say that the longer this salad sits, the better it gets!

I love to prepare a big batch of this salad at the beginning of the week and store it in my favorite air-tight meal prep containers. That way, I can grab it as I run out the door, and I don’t need to think twice about what to eat for lunch!

A flat-lay of various ingredients for cooking on a marble countertop. Includes broccoli, cashews, olive oil, shredded cheese, two small bowls of spices, a bowl of diced red onion, garlic cloves, chopped red cabbage, sun-dried tomatoes, and a knife on a cutting board. — To make this salad, you’ll need broccoli, purple cabbage, bacon, red onion, cashews, parmigiano reggiano, olive oil, dijon mustard, honey, apple cider vinegar, garlic, sea salt, and ground black pepper.

A kitchen counter with chopped broccoli and a jar of dressing being mixed with an electric whisk. Various ingredients, including a bowl of grated cheese, a wooden cutting board with a knife, and a bottle of oil, are scattered around. — To make this salad, you’ll need broccoli, purple cabbage, bacon, red onion, cashews, parmigiano reggiano, olive oil, dijon mustard, honey, apple cider vinegar, garlic, sea salt, and ground black pepper.

What You Need to make This Delicious Meal-Prep Salad

🥦 Broccoli: The crunchiness of broccoli is perfect in this salad, because it ensures that the texture only gets better with time! As the dressing mixes into the broccoli, it softens it, which means the longer that this salad sits… the better!
Purple Cabbage: Cabbage is full of Vitamin C, beta-carotene, and antioxidants, making it an underrated super food! I love cabbage because it’s similar to lettuce, but keeps its crispy texture over time!
🥓 Bacon: Who doesn’t love the addition of crispy, salty bacon in a creamy potato salad? Pick your favorite bacon and use it in this recipe – even turkey bacon works well!
🧅 Red Onion: Red onions are tangy, delicious, and packed with flavor. And, if you want to take this salad to the next level, try swapping out the red onions for my Quick Marinated Red Onions!

A vibrant salad bowl filled with chopped purple cabbage, red onion, broccoli florets, grated cheese, cashews, and crumbled chorizo, arranged in sections. Surrounded by small bowls with ingredients and a jar of dressing on a marble countertop. — Prepare the broccoli salad: start by cooking the bacon according to your preferred method. While the bacon is cooking, wash and chop the broccoli, cabbage, bacon, onion, and cashews, and add them to a large bowl. Then, once the bacon is done, chop it and add it to the bowl.

Cashews: Cashews are a true superfood; they’re crunchy, have healthy fats, are a great source of plant-based protein, and are delicious! What’s not to love about that?
🧀 Parmigiano Reggiano: Freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano truly adds the most delicious flavor to this salad, WAY better than your pre-shredded parmesan cheese. If there’s one ingredient that’s worth the splurge, it’s this one!
🫒 Olive Oil: My favorite oil to use in homemade dressings is olive oil, because it is heart-healthy and filled with healthy fats.
Dijon Mustard: The Dijon mustard adds a tangy, creamy element to this dressing that is delicious.
🍯 Honey: Honey adds the perfect touch of sweetness to this dressing. And, after all, it wouldn’t be a Honey Dijon Vinaigrette without it!
Apple Cider Vinegar: I love adding apple cider vinegar to my salad dressings! Not only does it add an acid to the dressing, but apple cider vinegar has also been shown to be good for your gut health. It’s a win-win!
🧄 Garlic: I always recommend using fresh garlic, whenever possible. It adds the best flavor to salad dressings, and this Honey Dijon Vinaigrette is no exception!
Sea Salt & Ground Black Pepper: A little salt and pepper adds the perfect finishing touch to this salad!

Finally, pour the dressing on top of the salad and toss to coat well. Then, grate the parmigiano reggiano on top of the salad and toss once more, until the salad is fully combined.

A plate of broccoli salad with red cabbage, nuts, and dressing is presented on a marble surface. A fork rests on the plate while a bowl with the remaining salad sits nearby, along with a dish of shredded cheese and a green napkin. — Finally, pour the dressing on top of the salad and toss to coat well. Then, grate the parmigiano reggiano on top of the salad and toss once more, until the salad is fully combined.

How to Make This Perfectly-Crunchy Broccoli Salad

To make this broccoli, start by preparing the dressing. Add all of the dressing ingredients (the olive oil, dijon mustard, honey, apple cider vinegar, mashed garlic, sea salt, and ground black pepper) to a large mason jar. Then, place the lid on the jar and shake it vigorously, until the dressing is nice and creamy. Optionally, you can also use a whisk to whisk the ingredients together.

Next, set the dressing aside while you prepare the broccoli. Start by cooking the bacon according to your preferred method. While the bacon is cooking, wash and chop the broccoli, cabbage, bacon, onion, and cashews, and add them to a large bowl.

Then, once the bacon is cooked, allow it to cool slightly before chopping it and adding it to the bowl with the broccoli. Pour the dressing into the bowl and toss to coat well.

Finally, grate the Parmigiano Reggiano on top of the broccoli salad and toss one more time, until the cheese is fully mixed in. Once it’s done, serve immediately and enjoy!

Tips for Making This Salad

Want to take this salad to the next level? These are some of my favorite ways to make the process simpler, easier, and more delicious!

Invest in a vegetable chopper: If you’re still chopping all of your veggies by hand, then it’s time to invest in a vegetable chopper. This chopper has been an absolute game-changer in my kitchen. Instead of spending tons of time chopping all of my veggies individually, it allows me to chop them quickly, in just a few seconds. Talk about a time-saving hack!
Add your favorite protein: While this salad gets its protein thanks to the bacon, you can totally swap it out for something else. Chicken, salmon, or even tofu are all delicious additions to this salad, to keep you feeling fuller, longer.
Turn this salad into a wrap: If you’re looking to sneak in some extra calories to keep you fuller (or you just prefer a handheld option!) add a tortilla and turn this salad into a delicious and satisfying wrap.

If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a review and rating below! To see more recipes and behind the scenes, follow along on Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube! I’m also now on Pinterest, so stop by and take a look at what’s new.

** Photography by Tanya Pilgrim

gluten-free/Grain Free/Paleo