Garlic Parmesan Broccoli Salad (Printable)

Fresh broccoli tossed in a creamy garlic-Parmesan dressing with almonds and herbs. Vegetarian, gluten-free, and ready in under 25 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 pound fresh broccoli florets
02 - 1 small red onion, finely diced
03 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved (optional)

→ Dressing

04 - ½ cup mayonnaise
05 - ¼ cup Greek yogurt or sour cream
06 - ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
07 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
08 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
09 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
10 - ½ teaspoon salt
11 - ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Toppings

12 - ⅓ cup toasted slivered almonds or sunflower seeds
13 - ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
14 - Fresh parsley, chopped for garnish

# How to Make It:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add broccoli florets and blanch for 1–2 minutes until bright green and just tender.
02 - Drain broccoli immediately and plunge into a bowl of ice water to stop cooking. Drain thoroughly and pat dry with paper towels.
03 - In a mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, Parmesan, minced garlic, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until smooth.
04 - In a large bowl, combine blanched broccoli, red onion, and cherry tomatoes if using. Pour dressing over and toss to coat evenly.
05 - Sprinkle with toasted almonds or sunflower seeds and extra Parmesan. Garnish with chopped parsley.
06 - Chill for at least 30 minutes before serving for optimal flavor development.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It stays crisp and fresh even after sitting in the fridge overnight, which makes it perfect for meal prep or party planning.
  • The garlic Parmesan dressing is creamy without being heavy, and the lemon juice keeps everything bright and lively.
  • You can toss it together in under half an hour, and most of that time is just waiting for the broccoli to chill.
02 -
  • Do not skip the ice water bath after blanching, or the broccoli will keep cooking and turn mushy and dull.
  • Grate your own Parmesan instead of using pre shredded, because the anti caking agents in the bagged stuff make the dressing gritty and weird.
  • If you are making this ahead, wait to add the almonds until just before serving so they stay crispy.
03 -
  • Taste the dressing before you mix it in and adjust the garlic, lemon, or salt to your liking, because once it is tossed, it is harder to fix.
  • Use the florets and save the broccoli stems for another use, like shredding them into slaw or roasting them with olive oil.
  • If you are making this for a crowd, double the recipe and use a really big bowl so you have room to toss everything without making a mess.
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