Keto Broccoli Salad

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This low carb keto broccoli salad with bacon is the perfect salad to make ahead or take to parties! It’s one of my favorites in the summer months while it’s hot, but it’s also great for potlucks, meal prep, or weeknight meals all year long. It comes together quickly and can be made ahead… because it gets even better with time! But beyond the convenience, this hearty broccoli bacon salad also has incredible flavor.

Why You’ll Love This Keto Broccoli Salad Recipe

• Fresh, smoky, summery flavor
• Crunchy, creamy textures
• Easy ingredients
• 10 minutes prep
• 5g net carbs per serving
• Naturally gluten-free, low carb, nut-free, and keto friendly
• Easy low carb side dish to make in advance — that everyone will love even if they aren’t keto!

Ingredients & Substitutions

Here I explain the best ingredients for keto broccoli and bacon salad, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.

Keto Broccoli Salad:

• Fresh Broccoli Florets – Yes, broccoli is a keto veggie! Chop them yourself from a fresh head of broccoli, or buy the bagged kind for convenience. Make sure the pieces are small enough for individual bite sized pieces. If you don’t have enough broccoli on hand, you could also make a broccoli cauliflower salad.
• Red Onion – Adds crunch and light sweetness. You can substitute white or yellow onion if needed, but red has more flavor for this dish.
• Crumbled Bacon – Broccoli salad with bacon is the best kind! You can get pre-cooked bacon bits, or make your own bacon in the oven, air fryer bacon, or microwave bacon, and chop it up.
• Cheddar Cheese – Shred it fresh off the block, cut into small cubes for a different texture, or get pre-shredded cheese to save time. For a dairy-free or paleo variation, you can substitute shredded carrots (keep in mind the carb count will be higher).
• Sunflower Seeds – Use shelled seeds, either raw or roasted depending on your preference. If you tolerate nuts, you can also substitute chopped walnuts, pecans, almonds, or really any keto nuts you like.
• Avocado – Adds extra healthy fats, which is great for a keto broccoli salad! Make sure your avocado is ripe and soft.

Some traditional broccoli salad recipes include high-carb ingredients like raisins or dried cranberries, but we’re keeping it just as flavorful without them! (You can add sugar-free dried cranberries if you like, though, like I do for broccoli cranberry salad.)

Creamy Dressing:

• Mayonnaise – I like to use homemade avocado oil mayo, but any kind you prefer will work. You can also lighten it up by replacing some of the mayo with sour cream. If you want extra creamy dressing, increase the mayo amount to 1 cup.
• Olive Oil – Use extra virgin olive oil for flavor, or any neutral oil you like, such as avocado oil.
• White Vinegar – Makes the dressing a little tangy. Apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar will also work.
• Besti Powdered Monk Fruit Allulose Blend – Makes the dressing lightly sweet with 0g net carbs, and dissolves to be completely smooth. You can also use a different sugar substitute, as long as it is powdered. Honey is also a good option if you don’t need the salad to be sugar-free (or use keto honey instead!). Technically you could also omit the sweetener altogether, but I think the best broccoli salad recipes have a little sweetness in the dressing.
• Seasonings – Including black pepper (optional) and garlic salt.

VARIATION: Try another dressing!

This keto broccoli salad would be delicious with Japanese ginger dressing or sweet honey sugar free salad dressing as well.

How To Make Keto Broccoli Salad

This section shows how to make keto broccoli salad with bacon, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.

1. Mix salad. In a large bowl, combine the salad ingredients.
2. Whisk dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together the broccoli bacon salad dressing ingredients.

TIP: Want softer broccoli?

If you prefer softer or crisp-tender broccoli rather than the raw broccoli in this recipe, you can blanch it first (cook briefly in boiling water) and let it cool before making broccoli salad.

3. Combine. Pour the dressing over the broccoli mixture and stir until well incorporated.
4. Finish. Fold in avocado just before serving.

Storage Instructions

The best part about this keto broccoli salad recipe with bacon? You can make it ahead! Simply store leftovers covered in the refrigerator (without the avocado, if possible).

How Long Does Broccoli Salad Last?

When stored in an airtight container in the fridge, a broccoli bacon salad recipe will keep for up to 7 days. The avocado will brown by that point, so wait to add the avocado until just before you plan to serve it.

Can You Freeze Broccoli Salad?

No, avoid freezing broccoli salad recipes, as the dressing will separate and the textures will change too much.

What To Serve With Keto Broccoli Salad

• Grilled Meats & Seafood – Pair low carb broccoli salad with grilled shrimp skewers, grilled steak, bruschetta chicken, or other healthy grilling recipes.
• Burgers – Try this salad with traditional juicy burgers or keto turkey burgers.
• Easy Mains – Like pan seared pork chops, air fryer chicken legs, or bacon wrapped hot dogs. You could also pair it with some keto lasagna for a more comforting meal.
• Soup – If you want a soup and salad idea, make this salad with an easy keto chicken soup recipe!

More Low Carb Salad Recipes To Make Ahead

Love the easy prep in this keto broccoli salad with bacon? You’ll like these other make-ahead salads as well. (Try more low carb salads here!)

Cauliflower Potato Salad

Keto Coleslaw

Overnight 7-Layer Salad

Cold Roast Vegetable Salad

Broccoli Cauliflower Salad

Antipasto Salad

Recipe Card

5 from 23 votes

Keto Broccoli Salad (10 Minutes!)

This low carb keto broccoli salad with bacon, cheese, and creamy dressing takes just 10 minutes. It's bursting with flavor and crunch!

Prep: 10 minutes

Total: 10 minutes

Author: Maya Krampf from Wholesome Yum

Servings: 8 (adjust to scale recipe)

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Ingredients

[ See substitutions ]

U.S. – Metric

Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.

Broccoli Salad:

• 1 bunch Broccoli (chopped into small florets) ▢
• 1/4 large Red onion (chopped finely) ▢
• 1/4 cup Bacon bits (cooked) ▢
• 1/2 cup Cheddar cheese (shredded) ▢
• 1/2 cup Sunflower seeds ▢
• 1 large Avocado (cubed) ▢

Broccoli Salad Dressing:

• 3/4 cup Mayonnaise (or 1 cup for extra creamy) ▢
• 1 tbsp Olive oil ▢
• 2 tsp White vinegar (or any vinegar of choice) ▢
• 1/2 tsp Garlic salt ▢
• 2 tbsp Besti Powdered Monk Fruit Allulose Blend (optional, to taste) ▢
• 1 pinch Black pepper (optional) ▢

Instructions

[ See step photos ]

Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.

1. In a large bowl, combine the broccoli, red onion, bacon bits, sunflower seeds, and cheddar cheese.

2. In a small bowl, whisk mayonnaise, olive oil, white vinegar, garlic salt, powdered Besti, and pepper, until smooth. Stir the dressing into the vegetable mixture until well incorporated.

3. Fold in the avocado right before serving.

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Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 3/4 cup

Nutrition Facts

Amounts per serving. Serving size in recipe notes above.

Calories 335

Fat 31g

Protein 8g

Total Carbs 10g

Net Carbs 5g

Fiber 5g

Sugar 1g

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy.

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