Keto broccoli salad isn’t much different than a regular broccoli salad!
This salad is a perfect side dish packed full of veggies, with fresh cuts of broccoli, crispy bacon pieces, and lots of cheese!
This broccoli salad stands out because I eliminated the addition of white sugar for a keto-friendly substitute with nearly no taste difference.
Low Carb Broccoli Salad is Summer Friendly and EASY!
Are you looking for a guilt-free and flavorful keto side dish? Look no further than this fantastic recipe for a crunchy broccoli salad with your favorite low-carb sweetener.
It’s the perfect addition to your summer and BBQ meals, complementing grilled burgers, chicken, and pork. This healthy salad goes well with other sides, like corn on the cob.
Enjoy the delicious taste without any regrets!
Simple Ingredients
- Frozen Cut Broccoli, thawed and drained
- Red Onion, Chopped
- slices bacon, chopped into bite-sized pieces
- salt and black pepper
- Cheddar Cheese
Low-Carb Dressing Ingredients
- Hellman’s Mayonnaise
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- fresh Lemon Juice
- Monkfruit Sweetener
Serves 12
Fresh or frozen broccoli?
One of the biggest complaints with broccoli salad is that raw broccoli can be very tough, whether you cut the florets way down or not.
It’s hard to find people who adore fresh broccoli in and of itself, so there are two choices.
You can either buy heads of fresh, raw broccoli and blanch them so they are tender and green. This makes the broccoli much easier to chew.
Or, what I like to do, is buy frozen cut broccoli (be careful not to buy the stem-only cuts) and defrost it. These are traditionally much softer broccoli. Just make sure you drain any additional water from the broccoli before pouring it into a bowl.
Do I have to steam my broccoli first?
It’s a great question with frozen broccoli, but you can leave the bag in the fridge overnight, let it thaw naturally, and then drain the water.
If you want super soft broccoli, you can steam crisp broccoli, then drain and cool it thoroughly before making your salad.
Just pop it in the fridge for an hour or so.
Keto Friendly Broccoli Salad Dressing
In many broccoli salads, there is an addition of sugar.
I do not believe sugar is required in a classic broccoli salad recipe, but in this case, it’s easy to add a sugar substitute like Monkfruit Sweetener to keep the salad KETO-FRIENDLY.
- Combine white vinegar, Monk Fruit sweetener, mayo, and lemon juice in a mixing bowl and whisk well until combined.
- Set the dressing aside.
How to make Keto Broccoli Salad.
- Combine chopped-up bacon, shredded cheese, red onion, and broccoli in a medium bowl. Stir well.
- Mix homemade slaw dressing and salad bowl, ensuring the broccoli mixture is completely covered.
- Chill for approx. One hour, stir well and serve.
Serve and Store Broccoli Salad
Store in an airtight container for two days. Experience has taught me that storing assembled salads much longer doesn’t work, as the creamy dressing can get watery.
Keto or non-Keto Broccoli Salad
I used a sweetener substitute in the homemade dressing in this healthy broccoli salad. You can change that back to white sugar if you do not need to worry about a few extra carbs.
Because this salad is keto and uses a keto sweetener, I haven’t added any salad ingredients that could break that.
Variations
Changing the salad ingredients could change its nutritional content, but here are some delicious suggestions.
- Half Cauliflower, Half Broccoli– Unlike traditional broccoli salads, change the salad with one bag of frozen broccoli florets and frozen cauliflower pieces.
- Cut up Apple– Chop half a cup of red apple.
- Seedless Grapes– Cut 1 cup of seedless grapes, red or purple, into 1/2 pieces to add.
- Almond Slivers– Nuts are always a great crunch to a salad; add 1/4th cup of sliced or slivered almonds. Candied Walnuts, crunchy sunflower seeds, or even pumpkin seeds would be great too!
- Squares of Cheese: Instead of shredded cheese, substitute for squares of sharp cheddar cheese.
- There are a ton of ways to add extra flavor. Pine nuts, feta cheese, thick, salty bacon, white onion, or even bits of avocado. Get creative with your perfect side dish for potlucks or picnics.
Keto Dishes – need a few more keto-friendly recipes?
If you’re looking for more keto-friendly recipes, you’re in luck!
Check out these mouthwatering keto dishes that will surely satisfy your taste buds. Try the refreshing Green Bean Salad with Feta, packed with healthy greens and the creamy goodness of feta cheese.
Or indulge in the vibrant flavors of the Cherry Tomato Salad with Balsamic, combining the sweetness of cherry tomatoes with the tangy notes of balsamic dressing.
The Mediterranean Shrimp Salad is a delightful choice for seafood lovers, featuring succulent shrimp and bright, bold vegetables.
Lastly, our Keto-friendly Healthy Broccoli Slaw uses a similar dressing style in a traditional julienned slaw recipe that is fantastic on piled pork.
Keto Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Cheddar Cheese
Ingredients
- 24 oz Frozen Cut Broccoli thawed and drained
- 3/4 cup Red Onion Chopped
- 6-8 slices bacon chopped
- 1 1/2 cup Cheddar Cheese
- salt and pepper
Keto Salad Dressing
- 1/2 tablespoon Monkfruit Sweetener
- 1/4 cup Apple Cider Vinegar
- 1 tsp Lemon Juice
- 2/3 cup Hellman’s Mayonnaise
Instructions
- Combine: Combine your chopped up bacon, shredded cheese, red onion and broccoli into a bowl. Stir well.
- Whisk your dressing ingredients together well
- Mix: Mix your dressing and salad bowl together, making sure all the broccoli salad is completely covered.
- Serve and Store Broccoli Salad
- Chill for approx 1 hour, stir well and serve. Store in an air tight container for 2 days. I never suggest storing assembled salads much longer as the dressing can get watery.
Video
Notes
Nutritional information is an automated estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator or app.
Nutrition
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