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Summer is just around the corner and it just wouldn't be the same without my Keto Broccoli Salad!
Featuring farm fresh broccoli and a variety of interesting flavors and textures, this easy side dish is a real crowd pleaser.
Serve it up at your family cookout or keep the whole batch for yourself -- its delicious.
Dust off that patio furniture, fire up the grill, and let's get cooking!
How many carbs in Keto Broccoli Salad?
For each serving, my Broccoli Salad recipe comes out to just 3g net carbs.
Traditional broccoli salad is closer to 20g net carbs per serving.
With just a few ingredient swaps, we easily cut out 18 grams of carbs.
That's almost a full day's worth of carbohydrates for someone on a Keto diet!
Ingredients for Keto Broccoli Salad
Great recipe for meal prep
One of the best things about my broccoli salad with bacon recipe is that it's great for meal prep. When following a Keto meal plan, preparing your food in advance can really help keep you on track!
Whip up a batch on the weekend and serve with your favorite protein throughout the week!
This is one of those recipes that just seems to get better the longer it sets.
Is broccoli a healthy vegetable?
In addition to being low in carbs, broccoli is considered a superfood that is loaded with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
The fiber in broccoli can be especially helpful for:
- Satiety - keeps us full and can aid in the prevention of overeating
- Digestion - promotes regularity and can help with those suffering from constipation
- Gut health - emerging research suggests that broccoli may feed our good bacteria and help protect the gut lining
I'd say that's pretty healthy!
Is the broccoli in the recipe cooked?
Some broccoli salad recipes recommend that you blanch your broccoli, but I often forego this step.
Time permitting, the dressing does a great job of tenderizing the raw broccoli without making it overly mushy.
If running short on time, blanching is a great way to soften the vegetables without playing the waiting game.
How to blanch broccoli
- Bring a pot of salted water to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Add broccoli florets to water for 1 minute.
- Drain and immediately submerge the broccoli in iced water until completely cooled through.
- Drain the broccoli and let it dry completely before mixing with the dressing.
The purpose of blanching is to quickly cook the vegetable without overcooking. Using ice water will immediately stop the cooking process.
This yields a more tender piece of broccoli but still maintains the bright green color.
Can I use frozen broccoli?
I would not use frozen broccoli for this recipe, fresh only!
Frozen broccoli tends to get softer much faster than fresh. Because of this, your salad could end up mushy.
Low carb broccoli salad ingredients
My recipe calls for the following ingredients
- broccoli florets
- dressing (see recipe below)
- colby jack or cheddar cheese
- red onion
- chopped nuts
- bacon
Once all ingredients are prepped and ready to go, just mix everything in a large bowl.
If you can spare some carbohydrates, a couple dried cranberries really add a nice chew and sweetness, too.
Traditional vs Low carb dressing
Most traditional broccoli salad recipes start with a sweet and tangy dressing. That tang comes from apple cider vinegar, which is fortunately already low carb.
The only swap we really need to make is for the sugar. I did not want any sort of cooling effect for this recipe, so I used allulose.
Creamy dressing for broccoli salad
I also add a few more ingredients to add additional layers of flavor. Salt and pepper to taste, of course.
Need an easy shortcut? Just substitute your favorite ranch dressing instead!
Make it your own
Unlike most recipes, this one serves as a great base for creativity in the kitchen. Swap in your favorite ingredients to create something totally unique.
Try these variations
I like to play around with ingredients depending on my tastes and what I have on hand.
Instead of the roasted pecans, you could try:
- sliced almonds and other nuts
- sunflower seeds
- roasted edamame
- crunchy cheese snacks
In place of the colby jack cheese, you could just as easily use cheddar, provolone, or pepperjack.
Broccoli swaps
Not a fan of broccoli? Substitute half (or all) of the amounts for:
- cauliflower
- cabbage
- radishes
The key is to choose a vegetable that will stand up to the dressing and toppings without becoming soggy.
Easy Keto recipes for a barbecue
Looking for more cookout side dishes to accompany your low carb salad? Definitely give these a try:
Keto Broccoli Salad
Ingredients
- 3 cups broccoli fresh
- 1 cup colby jack cheese
- 4 slices bacon crumbled
- ¼ cup red onion diced
- ½ cup pecans
Dressing
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon heavy whipping cream
- 1 tablespoon sweetener
- 2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoon pickle juice
- 1 teaspoon celery seed
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Dressing
- Whisk all dressing ingredients together in small bowl. Chill until ready for use.
Salad
- Dice bacon and pan fry on medium-high heat until crispy. Remove from fat and drain on paper towel lined plate.
- Chop broccoli and pecans into bite-sized pieces. Dice red onions.
- In a large bowl, add the broccoli, cheese, bacon, red onions and pecans.
- Pour the dressing over top of the mixture and toss to coat.
- Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2-8 hours. For best results, prepare a day in advance and chill overnight.
Notes
Nutrition
Want to get started on the Keto diet today?
Following a Keto Diet doesn't have to be a big ordeal!
Here are a few resources that can help you get started today:
What is your favorite Keto-friendly side dish when grilling out?
Thay
Thank you! What a great combination!
Kristen
So flavorful and tasty!
Dom Geracia
So glad you enjoyed it, Kristen!
Marci
So good! Tastes better the next day and even the next. I did cubed cheese and liked that a bit better than shredded. Perfect recipe to bring to a bbq or potluck.
Dom Geracia
I love the idea of using cubed cheese! Would be just as easy.
Ben
Finally! A salad that is not boring.
Dom Geracia
Haha, thank you! I agree 🙂