Cauliflower Potato Salad

Name: Cauliflower Potato Salad (Keto & Healthy)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1 head Cauliflower ((cut into small florets)); 2/3 cup Mayonnaise; 1 tbsp Apple cider vinegar; 1 tbsp Dijon mustard; 1/2 tsp Garlic powder; 1/2 tsp Paprika; 1/2 tsp Sea salt; 1/4 tsp Black pepper; 1/3 cup Onion ((finely diced)); 1/3 cup Celery ((sliced thinly or diced)); 2 large Eggs ((hard boiled, chopped)); Chives ((optional, for garnish))

This easy cauliflower potato salad recipe is keto, gluten-free & just healthy, with all the flavor of the regular kind. Ready in 15 minutes!

By Maya Krampf
Published July 12, 2017
Updated March 24, 2023

180 Comments

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Spring and summer are some of the easiest times of year for low carb recipes. Between fresh grilled meats, juicy burgers (either bunless or on low carb hamburger buns), and simple salads (like a creamy cucumber salad for a side or a healthy taco salad as a meal), there are many delicious options to choose from. Best of all, many of these foods will please everyone – even if they are not eating low carb. Before I made this cauliflower potato salad recipe, I didn’t expect it to be one of those. To my surprise, it was!

The dressing is what really makes the dish — and just like the original version, this keto potato salad (sometimes called mock potato salad or faux potato salad) is perfect for barbecues, picnics, or family get-togethers.

Why You’ll Love This Cauliflower Potato Salad Recipe

Creamy, zesty dressing
Perfectly tender cauliflower
Classic add-ins like hard boiled eggs, celery, and onions
2 simple cooking methods
Ready in 15 minutes
Only 6g net carbs per serving
Naturally keto friendly, low carb, gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo, whole30, and just plain healthy
All the same flavors of classic potato salad in every bite

This easy cauliflower potato salad tastes so much like the regular version and has been so popular on Wholesome Yum over the years, that I decided to include it in my Wholesome Yum Easy Keto Cookbook. There are only a handful of recipes from this book on my blog, but the whole book has 100 keto recipes total, with 80 of them brand new and exclusive to the book. Every recipe has a photo, macros, and helpful tips included — and they’re all easy like this one, too!

Get The EAsy Keto Cookbook

Cauliflower potato salad next to Easy Keto Cookbook.

Ingredients & Substitutions

This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for keto potato salad, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.

Cauliflower – The cauliflower taste in this dish is actually quite mild, and the texture of this low carb potato salad is very much like a regular one. The key is cooking the cauliflower to the same softness as cooked potatoes would be. To do this, make sure your florets are very small. This will allow them to cook up very soft.
Mayonnaise – I use homemade mayo, but you can use any kind of mayonnaise that you prefer. You could also use plain Greek yogurt or sour cream, but mayo creates the best flavor.
Apple Cider Vinegar – Apple cider vinegar adds a tart and zesty flavor to this keto cauliflower potato salad. You can substitute white vinegar or lemon juice if you like.
Dijon Mustard – I prefer the flavor of Dijon here, but regular yellow mustard would also work.
Seasoning – To add a delicious flavor to the keto potato salad dressing, you’ll need garlic powder, sea salt, paprika (or substitute smoked paprika), and black pepper.
Onion – While I selected a yellow onion for this recipe, a white onion, red onion, or sweet onion would work nicely as well. Dice it finely.
Celery – Finely diced. Other low carb vegetables like celeriac or fennel stalks would make good substitutes.
Eggs – My favorite method to boil them is these easy peel hard boiled eggs, but you could also make air fryer hard-boiled eggs.
Chives – Optional for garnish. You could also use fresh dill.

VARIATION: Add dill pickles or bacon!

If you like these flavors in potato salads, you’ll like them in this cauliflower potato salad, too. Just mince the pickles finely or crumble oven baked bacon, and add to your taste.

Cauliflower potato salad recipe ingredients.

How To Make Cauliflower Potato Salad

This section shows how to make keto potato salad, 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.

Cook the cauliflower. Either in the microwave or the stove top, cook the cauliflower and drain well. (I cooked it in boiling water in a saucepan.) You could also use a steamer, or even use a roasted cauliflower recipe here if you like the flavor, like I do for roasted cauliflower salad.

TIP: Cook a double batch of cauliflower to use in other recipes.

Mashed cauliflower is another easy low carb dish that’s made from very soft cooked cauliflower like the kind for this recipe.

Make the dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, paprika, sea salt, and black pepper, until smooth.

Combine. In a large mixing bowl or serving bowl, stir the cooked cauliflower, diced onion and celery, and hard boiled eggs together with the dressing. If desired, garnish with chives and additional paprika.

Dressing added to other ingredients in a bowl.

Finished cauliflower potato salad in a bowl.

TIP: If you have time, refrigerate the cauliflower potato salad for 1 hour.

This is not required, but will let the flavors develop more.

Storage Instructions

Store: This easy cauliflower potato salad can store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Freezing is not recommended, as mayo-based dressings like this one don’t freeze well.
Meal prep: Since this keto potato salad stores well, you can easily make it ahead of time. Alternatively, you can cook the cauliflower, chop the other vegetables, or make the dressing ahead.

Keto potato salad in a bowl next to eggs and garnish.

What To Serve With Keto Potato Salad

Since I first published this recipe, I’ve made it dozens of times for my family, friends, potlucks, picnics, and more. It’s a hit with everyone, even my Eastern European extended family (who love their genuine potato salads). Here are some dishes I like to serve with this keto potato salad:

Grilled Mains – Pair this salad with grilled steak, herby Mediterranean chicken kabobs, or my best juicy burgers (either bunless or on low carb burger buns).
Steak – Make sirloin steak in the oven, perfect reverse sear steak, or a tender chuck eye steak to serve with this dish.
Sandwiches – Pair this salad with your favorite keto sandwich. Try crunchy cucumber subs, savory low carb sloppy joes, or a fast bell pepper sandwich.

More Keto Salad Recipes

These keto salads make a great option for weeknight meals, or a crowd!

Recommended Tools

Mixing Bowls – Serve your salad in this large glass bowl, and use a smaller one to prep the dressing. I love that they nest together for storage.
Cookware Set – This cookware set is professional grade and has the perfect sized pot to cook your cauliflower for this recipe.