Keto Broccoli Salad

Name: Keto Broccoli Salad
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Ingredients: 1 pound fresh broccoli florets; 2.5 ounces cheddar cheese (cut into 1/2" pieces (omit for dairy free)); 1 ounce bacon bits; 3/4 cup mayonnaise; 2 tablespoons granular sweetener; 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar; 1 to 2 tablespoons water

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This Healthy Keto Broccoli Salad can be made in 10 minutes with less than 10 ingredients. It is sweet, crunchy, and a delicious side dish for your summer cookouts. Best of all, no cooking is required!

If you like broccoli, especially raw broccoli, you will love this easy and healthy broccoli salad. The dressing is slightly sweet and tangy. The broccoli is crunchy but softens after sitting in the dressing. Together, this keto broccoli salad is a light, sweet, and crunchy dish.

Is Broccoli Good On A Keto Diet?

In the keto diet, carb intake is limited or eliminated. Many people undergo the keto diet for a number of benefits. Its effects involve weight loss, stabilizing sugar levels, regulating blood pressure, improving brain function, and helping people with insulin resistance. With that being said vegetables are an integral factor in the keto journey. Broccoli is one of those veggies that can be eaten because of its high fiber and low carb content. Broccoli has about 1.5 to 2 grams of carbs, which is very keto friendly.

Easy and healthy broccoli salad. Keto friendly, sugar free, and free of refined carbs.

Ingredients

1 lb fresh broccoli florets
2.5 oz cheddar cheese, cut into 1/2″ pieces (omit for dairy-free)
1 oz bacon bits
3/4 cup mayonnaise
2 tbsp granular sweetener
2 tbsp red wine vinegar
1 to 2 tbsp water

Instructions

If not already prepared, cut the broccoli florets into small bite-sized pieces.
Place the broccoli in a large bowl. Add the cheese and bacon bits.
In a small bowl or measuring cup, whisk the mayonnaise, erythritol, vinegar, and water.
Pour over the broccoli and toss everything to coat.

Ingredients for healthy keto broccoli salad.

What Type Of Mayonnaise Do You Recommend?

To keep this keto broccoli salad as clean as possible, I prefer to use organic avocado oil mayonnaise that is free of bad oils, flavors, and additives.

I buy my avocado mayonnaise from Chosen Foods. If eating organic or clean is not important to you, simply use whichever mayonnaise you prefer. (I’ll always have a soft spot for Duke’s.)

Variations

• If you don’t have bacon on hand or just want to try other sources of protein to give your broccoli salad a twist you may substitute the bacon with fried tofu, shredded chicken, or turkey bacon. Season your chicken or tofu well, as the saltiness will complement the tanginess of the mayonnaise in the dressing.

• As a garnish, sprinkle toasted sesame, pumpkin, or sunflower seeds into your salad. Or you can use nuts like almonds, pecans, macadamia, and walnuts. They are low in carbs and are good for keto. These seeds and nuts will provide a different texture and a nutty flavor to your dish.

• You can also mix in cauliflower (or substitute it for the broccoli altogether), bell peppers, diced red onion, pepitas (see the video), avocado, and/or black olives to this recipe. This will add a new taste and color to the dish. These veggies are also low in carbohydrates and are great for the keto diet. Adding more veggies to your keto broccoli salad will give you a range of vitamins and minerals, making it more nutritious for you.

What To Serve With Broccoli Salad

If you want your broccoli salad to serve as a side, pair it with grilled chicken or turkey breast — high in protein, low in carbs, and mixes well with the vegetables in the salad, as well as the bacon. This also applies to grilled salmon, which is also high in protein and low in carbs, but is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids.

FAQs

Why is it called a salad?

Broccoli salad is a quintessential Southern side dish. It’s called a “salad” since the broccoli is dressed. Broccoli salad is best served chilled, especially on a hot summer day!

Can this be made dairy-free and/or paleo friendly?

It can be made dairy-free and paleo by omitting the cheese, or vegetarian by omitting the bacon.

Can I use yogurt instead of mayo?

I have not tried making this recipe with plain Greek yogurt, but if you do not mind its natural tang then yogurt should be a fine substitute for the mayonnaise. There should be no need to adjust the amounts.

How To Store Broccoli Salad

This dish is best enjoyed within 2 or 3 days but will keep up to 5 if covered well in your refrigerator. If you’re carrying this dish to a get-together, you may prep it a day or two ahead of time and it will still taste delicious. It actually tastes best after a day in the fridge!

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