Beet Broccoli Salad

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This beet broccoli salad recipe combines two unexpected vegetables for a fresh, earthy, and satisfying side dish. Steaming the vegetables requires minimal cooking, and a tangy, herby yogurt dressing pulls everything together.

large dish of beet salad with side of dressing

Beets and broccoli may seem an unusual pairing, but sometimes it's worth trying something new. And who hasn't found themselves with unexpected items in the fridge and the desire to toss everything together in one cohesive dish?

Roasting may also seem the more obvious choice for cooking vegetables like beets and broccoli. I love a good roasted vegetable, yet there's something to be said for the simplicity of steaming, especially when both vegetables can be cooked together in one pan.

The simple cooking method truly allows the vegetables to shine on their own, though a yogurt dressing with lemon, dill, garlic, and honey helps tie everything together and create something that's part salad and part vegetable side dish.

😍 Why you'll love this recipe

The beets and broccoli steam together in one pot for minimal cooking and cleanup.
Served at room temperature or chilled, it's a good make-ahead dish that pairs well with a main dish or can be topped with a protein of choice for an easy meal.
It's packed with vegetables and is a good source of Vitamin C and fiber.

For more vegetable side dishes, check out my recipes for Roasted Napa Cabbage, Instant Pot Red Cabbage and Apples, and Honey Sriracha Brussels Sprouts.

If you're a beet lover, don't miss this Sweet Potato and Beet Salad, Mashed Beets, or these Beet and Feta Tartlets.

Jump to:

😍 Why you'll love this recipe
🥦 Ingredients
🍳 Substitutions & Variations
🔪 Instructions
🌟 Top Tips
🥘 Equipment
🥡 Storage
🤔 FAQ
🍴 Pairing
📖 Recipe
🥬 Related Recipes
💬 Comments

🥦 Ingredients

Here's everything you need to make

Key Ingredients

Beets - They have a deep, earthy, fresh flavor and are simply cooked in this recipe to let them shine as they are. Look for smaller beets for quicker cooking.
Broccoli - An uncommon pairing with beets, but I enjoy the complementary earthiness and contrasting textures when both vegetables are steamed.
Greek Yogurt - Makes the basis of the dressing. I like to use a full-fat Greek yogurt for the most flavor.
Raisins - Add bites of chewy sweetness to the dish
Walnuts - For a contrasting crunch
Lemon - The tang and freshness of lemon helps to brighten up the dressing and salad
Dill - Fresh dill contributes herby, grassy flavor the pairs particularly well with lemon, yogurt, and beets

See the recipe card below for the complete list of ingredients and quantities.

🍳 Substitutions & Variations

Instead of raisins, try dried cranberries for a similar taste and texture.
Peanuts or cashews make good substitutes for walnuts while still supplying the crunch.
Cauliflower makes a decent sub for broccoli if you have some handy. It will just take a bit longer to steam.
If steaming doesn't sound good, try roasting the vegetables. Spread the beets on a baking sheet, lightly coated with oil, and cook for 40 minutes, adding the broccoli about halfway through.
You can peel the beets before cooking them if you find it easier to use a vegetable peeler rather than your hands. I think it's up to personal preference.
Make it a meal by topping the salad with a fried egg or other quick protein.
No fresh dill? Use one teaspoon of dried dill in its place.

🔪 Instructions

Here's how to make this beet broccoli salad.

Step 1: Add your beets to a steamer basket set in a pan with about an inch of water in the bottom. Cover the pot, set the heat to medium, and steam the beets for 20-25 minutes or until cooked about ¾ of the way. At this point, you should be able to insert a knife into a beet.

Step 2: Meanwhile, cut your broccoli into rough pieces, crush the garlic, and zest and juice the lemon.

Step 3: Toast the walnuts in a pan over low heat until lightly browned and fragrant, stirring often.

Step 4: Add the broccoli to the pan with the beets and steam for another 7-8 minutes or until both the beets and broccoli are tender.

dressing being whisked in a bowl with ingredients

Step 5: While the beets and broccoli cook, combine the ingredients for the yogurt dressing.

Step 6: Whisk until smooth. Taste and add salt or lemon juice, if needed.

Step 7: When the beets and broccoli are cooked to your liking, remove them from the pot. Let the beets cool briefly, then rub off the peels.

Step 8: Cut the beets into quarters and arrange on a serving platter.

Step 9: Gather the other ingredients and add the broccoli, raisins, and walnuts to the dish.

salad dressing being poured over beets and broccoli

Step 10: Drizzle over the dressing and serve at room temperature or briefly chilled.

🌟 Top Tips

You want to use small to medium beets in this recipe. Larger ones will take longer to cook. Alternatively, you could peel and cut large beets into smaller pieces to help speed up the cooking time.
Beets can sometimes be tough, depending on how fresh they are. You may need to increase the cooking time slightly.
Drizzle the dressing over the salad rather than tossing it all together, which will turn everything a bright purple thanks to the beets.

🥘 Equipment

Steaming basket - This makes steaming vegetables super easy. If you don't have one handy, here are some makeshift ideas or you can always roast the vegetables instead.

🥡 Storage

Store the beet and broccoli salad in an airtight container in the fridge, with the dressing separate, for up to four days. Top with the dressing just before serving.

🤔 FAQ

Is it better to roast or boil beets for salad?

Either method works. Roasting brings out the sweetness of the beets and adds some caramelization. On the other hand, boiling or steaming, as in this recipe, may be a quicker and easier approach.

What are some creative ways to make salads more exciting?

For more exciting salads, think beyond lettuce, use a variety of vegetables, incorporate some crunch, and use a flavorful homemade dressing.

Should beets be peeled or unpeeled?

You can eat beets with the peels, though it is more common to peel them either before or after cooking. Larger, older beets can have tough skins and should generally be peeled. If you leave the peels on, wash them well to remove any dirt.