This Keto Broccoli Salad combines crisp broccoli, smoky bacon, cheddar cheese, walnuts, sunflower seeds, and red onion with a creamy sugar-free dressing. It is an easy low carb side dish you can prepare ahead for cookouts, potlucks, holidays, or weeknight dinners.
Why This Recipe Is So Fantastic
- Fast. Prepare the entire salad in under 30 minutes.
- Easy. Cook the bacon, whisk the dressing, and toss everything together.
- Low Carb. The dressing is sweetened without traditional sugar, raisins, or sweetened cranberries.
- Make Ahead. The flavors improve as the broccoli rests in the creamy dressing.
- Great for Gatherings. Serve it at cookouts, potlucks, picnics, and holiday meals.
- Full of Texture. Bacon, walnuts, sunflower seeds, cheddar, and raw broccoli make every bite crunchy and satisfying.
How Many Carbs Are In A Cup Of Broccoli Salad?
In this Keto Broccoli Salad, there are 13 total carbs or 9 net carbs per cup. This, of course, will be higher in any broccoli salad that is not created with a low-carb lifestyle in mind.
Why This Makes A Great Keto Salad
Salads are great on keto for many reasons. If there is one thing I could tell people who are trying to follow a ketogenic way of eating, it is to stop thinking of whether or not a food is "allowed". Instead, start asking yourself how many carbs/net carbs there are in a particular dish.
- Healthy Vegetables. Many people struggle with getting in veggies on a low carb diet, while still staying within their ketogenic macro goals. But apart from green, leafy vegetables, many other low carb fruits, vegetables, and nuts can be fitted into a low carb, ketogenic way of eating.
- Healthy Fats. Whether or not you are following a low carb diet, fats introduce both taste as well as satiety into our diets. As long as you use low carb salad dressings, you can't go wrong with a good salad with yummy keto dressings.
- Crunchy. Crunchy is usually healthy (put down the potato chips and add raw veggies.) And crunchy is something many of us on a restricted carb diet miss. (Try my keto seed crackers if you're craving something crunchy, by the way. )
- Filling. The fat and the fiber in salads will keep you full for a long time. Recipes like this one makes Intermittent fasting much easier.
- Family-friendly. Picky eaters are usually happier with raw vegetables rather than cooked vegetables. Since none of us have time to make complex dishes, easy 30-minute ketogenic dinners that the whole family will eat are important.
There are many myths about keto. The reality is that apart from sugar, flour, tropical fruits, commercially baked goods, and other high-glycemic-index foods, there are many things you can eat while following a ketogenic diet. This keto broccoli salad is one of them.
Do You Steam Broccoli For Broccoli Keto Salad?
For this recipe, you will not worry about steaming the broccoli before you assemble it. The crispness from the raw broccoli makes this a beautiful keto broccoli salad that will make the perfect lunch or low-carb side dish.
Ingredients You'll Need
For The Broccoli Salad
- Bacon- Adds smoky flavor and a crisp texture. Reserve one tablespoon of the rendered fat for the dressing.
- Broccoli Florets- Use fresh, firm broccoli and cut it into small, bite-sized pieces so the dressing coats every surface.
- Red Onion- Adds color, crunch, and a sharp bite. Dice it finely so it does not overpower the salad.
- Walnuts- Add richness and crunch. Toasting them briefly will deepen their flavor.
- Sharp Cheddar Cheese- Provides a salty, savory contrast to the tangy dressing. Freshly shredded cheese has the best texture.
- Sunflower Seeds- Add another layer of crunch. Use shelled, roasted seeds without added sugar.
For The Sugar Free Salad Dressing
- Sour Cream- Makes the dressing thick, tangy, and creamy.
- Mayonnaise- Creates the rich base of the dressing.
- Apple Cider Vinegar- Balances the creamy ingredients with acidity.
- Bacon Fat- Reinforces the smoky bacon flavor. Add it to the ingredient list.
- Low Carb Sweetener- Balances the vinegar without traditional sugar. Provide an exact measurement and name the sweetener used during testing.
How To Make Keto Broccoli Salad
Cook the bacon. Cook until crisp, transfer it to a paper towel-lined plate, and reserve one tablespoon of rendered bacon fat.
Prepare the broccoli. Wash and thoroughly dry the florets. Cut them into small, evenly sized pieces.
Make the dressing. Whisk the sour cream, mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, reserved bacon fat, and measured sweetener until smooth.
Combine the salad. Add the broccoli, red onion, walnuts, cheddar, sunflower seeds, and crumbled bacon to a large bowl.
Add the dressing. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss until everything is evenly coated.
Rest or chill. Let the salad rest for 10-15 minutes so the broccoli absorbs some dressing and the flavors combine. Stir again, taste, and adjust the seasoning before serving. Yields six 1-cup servings.
Tips and Tricks
Keto Broccoli Salad is incredibly quick and easy to make, but it can be made even simpler by using a few of the tips and tricks below to cut a few corners:
- Use pre-cooked bacon to make this recipe even faster.
- Omit bacon for a tasty, vegetarian keto salad.
- Buy the broccoli either pre-cut or from the salad bar to save yourself some time.
- You can use any type of seed if you're not a fan of sunflower seeds.
- A little blue cheese thrown into this salad makes it quite delightful.
- Cover tightly to save the salad for a few days, so that you can better contain the smell of red onions in your fridge.
- Try this recipe with cauliflower florets.
- Add some cooked chicken or ham to this summer salad to make it a full meal.
Variations
This creamy keto broccoli salad is easy to customize with different cheeses, proteins, nuts, and low carb vegetables.
- Vegetarian- Omit the bacon and bacon fat. Adjust the dressing with olive oil or additional mayonnaise.
- Cauliflower- Replace half or all of the broccoli with small cauliflower florets.
- Chicken Broccoli Salad- Add chopped cooked chicken to turn it into a main dish.
- Ham and Cheese- Add diced ham for additional smoky flavor and protein.
- Blue Cheese- Replace some of the cheddar with crumbled blue cheese.
- Nut Free- Omit the walnuts and add extra sunflower or pumpkin seeds.
- Spicy- Add diced jalapeño or a pinch of cayenne to the dressing.
- Ranch Style- Add dill, garlic powder, onion powder, and parsley.
Can You Make It Ahead Of Time?
If you're planning a potluck or holiday meal, this is a great dish to make ahead! It can be made up to 3-4 days in advance and still taste delicious. In fact, I think it might even taste even better the longer it sits. The broccoli begins to soften, and the flavors really marry well.
If you want to guarantee maximum freshness and crisp broccoli, you can prepare the veggies and the salad dressing and store them separately. Right before serving, simply toss everything together and serve.
What To Serve With It
Prefer to eat this Broccoli Salad recipe as a side dish instead of a main course? Here are a few of my favorite things to serve alongside it to make it a complete meal:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the broccoli cooked or raw?
This broccoli salad recipe uses raw broccoli for crunch, and it softens slightly as it rests in the dressing.
Can I blanch the broccoli?
To blanch broccoli for keto broccoli salad, add the florets to boiling water for 30 to 60 seconds, just until they turn bright green and become slightly tender. Immediately transfer them to a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process.
Make sure you thoroughly drain and dry the broccoli before adding the dressing. Any excess moisture can make the salad watery.
Can I use frozen broccoli?
Fresh broccoli is much better for this dish. I wouldn't use frozen because it will release moisture and has a softer texture.
How do I keep broccoli salad from becoming watery?
The main thing you can do to prevent a watery broccoli salad is ensure the broccoli is thoroughly dried after you wash it. It has a tendency to retain water in all of the little nooks and crannies, so allowing it to dry on paper towels or running it through a salad spinner is ideal.
Can I make this salad without bacon?
Yes, you can make this keto broccoli salad without bacon; it's just not quite as flavorful. All you need to do is leave the crumbled bacon out of the salad before tossing and omit the reserved bacon grease from the dressing before whisking it together.
What sweetener works best?
I tested this recipe with Splenda. It is what I keep in my kitchen and use most frequently for cooking and baking because of how versatile it is. You can use other low carb sweeteners for this dish, but I would suggest being knowledgeable about how they taste when added to recipes before going all in.
You can read more about the Best Low Carb Sweeteners if you're new to using them in keto-friendly recipes.
More Low Carb Salad Recipes
- Big Mac Salad - Super easy and tastes just like the real thing!
- Keto Tabbouleh - A delicious, vegetarian, and keto side dish.
- Korean Oi Muchim - A simple vegan and keto cucumber salad recipe.
- Red Onion Orange Salad - A fresh and light low carb salad.
- Antipasto Salad with Pesto Vinaigrette - A delightful Italian salad that's perfect any day of the week!
- Keto Salad Dressing Recipe- this goes great on just about anything.
Once you make this Keto Broccoli Salad, you're going to want to bring it to every gathering you're invited to! It's easily the best broccoli salad recipe I've ever tried. Pin it on Pinterest for later, or share it on Facebook to save this recipe.
Equipment
Ingredients
- 6 slices Bacon, (omit for vegetarian)
- 4 cups Broccoli Florets, raw, diced into 1/4 inch pieces
- 1/2 cup Red Onion, diced
- 1/3 cup Walnuts, chopped
- 1 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- 1/4 cup Sunflower Seeds
For The Dressing
- 1/4 cup Sour Cream
- 1/4 cup Mayo
- 2 tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 gram Splenda, or other sweetener
- 1 tbsp Bacon Grease
Instructions
- Cook bacon until crisp and then crumble. Reserve aside 1 tablespoon of bacon fat and save the rest for another use.
- In a small bowl, mix together sour cream, mayo, apple cider vinegar bacon fat, and Splenda.
- In a large serving bowl, toss together the broccoli, cheese, onion, walnuts, bacon, and sunflower seeds.
- Pour in the dressing and toss to mix. Allow the salad to rest for 10-15 minutes before serving.
Watch The Video
Keto Broccoli Salad Tips And Tricks
- Omit bacon for a tasty, vegetarian keto salad.
- Buy the broccoli either pre-cut or from the salad bar to save yourself some time.
- You can use any type of seeds instead of the sunflower seeds.
- A little blue cheese thrown into this salad makes it quite delightful.
- Cover tightly to save the salad for a few days, so that you can better contain the smell of red onions in your fridge.
- Try this recipe with cauliflower florets.
- Add some cooked chicken or ham into this salad to make it a full meal.
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Nutrition
Don't forget to check out my other Keto cookbooks.
Keto Instant Pot, Keto Fat Bombs, Sweets, & Treats, and Easy keto in 30 minutes.
Jessika Kraichely
Great Post.
AshleyThompson
This broccoli salad recipe is so flavorful you'd never know that it was a low carb recipe. It's my go-to for potlucks.
Patty Parr
Love this recipe thank you for sharing
Marilee
We are not walnut lovers, so we substituted garlic herb olive oil almonds. This salad is fabulous!
Corena
Wow! I was blown away at just how simple, quick to prepare & flavourful this salad is! Even my husband and my son couldn’t get enough into their bellies. We have a big Charity Event we’re hosting this weekend and my husband has asked that I make this Fully Loaded Broccoli Salad. Thank you for sharing!
Audrey Ludeman
Thank you for a delicious alternative to my traditional broccoli salad with raisins or grapes! I used some powdered erythritol for the sweetener, and green onions without the white part instead of red onion, since I have understood onions to be a high carb vegetable.
Sherrie
Does anyone know how much a serving size is? It shows nearly 500 calories and 9 net carbs, but I can’t find what the actual serving size is? For 9 net carbs per serving, it doesn’t seem very keto friendly, especially as a side dish?
Lorri
I was thinking the same thing!
Sarah
It says it serves 4, so I would just split the full recipe into 4 serving dishes of equal amount and wallah you have your serving size.