This Keto Broccoli Salad takes your favorite classic side dish and amps it up with a sweet and spicy twist. With jalapeño heat and a hint of sweetness from natural sweetener, it’s the perfect way to elevate your next meal.
Inspired by the flavors of spicy Thai peanut noodles, this dish brings that same bold kick to a low-carb side. A hint of inspiration also comes from classic Amish broccoli cauliflower salad, making it a unique fusion.
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Why you'll Keto Broccoli Salad
Low-carb and keto-friendly – Perfect for those watching their carb intake without sacrificing flavor.
Sweet and spicy balance – The jalapeño and natural sweetener combo create a unique and irresistible taste.
Crunchy and fresh – Crisp broccoli and flavorful mix-ins make every bite satisfying.
Ingredients
- Natural sweetener: I like to use (affilate link) truvia (Stevia and Erythitol blend), but you can also use monkfruit (affiliate link).
- Fresh Broccoli
- Macadamia Nuts: These are high in healthy fats and low in carbs and give a great crunch in the salad.
- Thick cut bacon
- Green onions
- Jalapeno Peppers
- Mayonnaise
- Cheddar Cheese
- Red bell pepper added for color contrast and takes the place of raisins or cranberries in the original recipe.
Instructions
- Pre cook and crumble bacon for the salad. Set aside in an airtight storage container until ready to use.
- Dice and chop the broccoli florets, red bell and jalapeno pepper, peppers, and scallions. Toss together in a large bowl with the cheddar cheese
- To make the salad dressing, In a medium bowl whisk together the mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, and sweetener (if using).
- Stir the salad dressing into broccoli salad mixture until well combined. Refrigerate until ready to eat.
- Just before serving, sprinkle the salad with crumbled bacon and stir to combine.
Substitution Ideas
Natural sweetener: Replace with honey or maple syrup (if not strictly keto) for a slightly different sweetness profile.
Broccoli: Swap out raw broccoli for cauliflower florets for a similar crunch and taste.
Jalapeño: Use crushed red pepper flakes or diced mild green chiles for a different level of heat.
Variations
- Turkey bacon can be substituted for pork bacon.
- Use roasted chopped pecans, walnuts, almonds, or sunflower seeds in place of the macadamias.
- Make it dairy-free and omit the cheese. To make it visually appealing, add ½ cup shredded carrot to the salad in place of the cheese. Be sure to adjust the carb count accordingly.
- If you really miss the cranberries, you can use no sugar added dried cranberries. They will not increase the carb count by much.
Equipment
- Kitchen knife
- Cutting board
- Small bowl
- Large bowl
- Whisk
- Measuring cups
Storage
Store this delicious broccoli salad recipe in an airtight container in the fridge up to 4 days.
Tips
- To keep the bacon crispy, don't mix it into the salad until just before serving.
- If you prefer cooked broccoli, you can cook until crisp-tender and shock it in cold water to keep the bright green color. Be sure to cool completely and pat broccoli dry before assembling the salad.
Related Recipes
Serve with...
Serve as a side to Grilled Pork Chops, grilled chicken, steak, or salmon bites for a complete meal.
Also makes an excellent side dish for barbecues, potlucks, or picnics.
The last word
I ate traditional Broccoli Salad at many family reunions in my childhood. It was always a favorite of mine. I loved the sweet tang of cranberry with the savory and salty flavor combination. I wanted to replicate the flavor and make a low carb salad that would not lose that sweet, salty, savory flavor combination.
This Broccoli Salad is not your typical picnic salad. To make this keto-friendly, I omitted the dried cranberries to remove the sugars. And, I substituted chopped macadamia nuts in place of sunflower seeds to add more healthy fat.
When you make this Keto Broccoli Salad recipe, please comment below and let me know what you think. I'd love it if you tag me on Instagram @grumpyshoneybunch or #grumpyshoneybunch so I can see your photos!
If you love this recipe, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating
📖 Recipe
Keto Broccoli Salad
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Ingredients
- 7 cups broccoli florets
- ½ medium red bell pepper , diced
- 1 small jalapeno pepper , diced (optional)
- 3 scallions , diced
- 8 slices bacon , cooked and chopped
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 4 ounces cheddar cheese , shredded
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 3 teaspoons Powdered monkfruit Sweetener , optional
- ¼ cup coarsely chopped macadamia nuts
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Pre cook and crumble bacon for the salad. Set aside in an airtight storage container until ready to use.
- Dice and chop the broccoli florets, red bell and jalapeno pepper, peppers, and scallions. Toss together in a large bowl with the cheddar cheese.
- To make the salad dressing, In a medium bowl whisk together the mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, and sweetener (if using).
- Stir the salad dressing into broccoli salad mixture until well combined. Refrigerate until ready to eat.
- Just before serving, sprinkle the salad with crumbled bacon and stir to combine.
Mouse says
My all time go to recipe if we are low carbing or not. We just love this salad as it is so delicious. The flavors just meld together so perfectly.
Lisa says
I’ve made this many times in the past few years. I take it whenever we have a potluck and it always disappears really quickly. I usually make it without the nuts because it’s cheaper that way and it still tastes great.
Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Shelby Law Ruttan says
Hi Lisa, thank you for sharing your experience with the recipe. I'm so happy to hear you enjoy the recipe! Shelby
Sheena says
I l ov e this salad
Viv says
I’ve been making this salad for a few months now. DELICIOUS! Even my family members not on keto have me make it! They all ❤️ It.
Shelby Law Ruttan says
Hi Viv, thanks for letting me know! I am so happy your family loves this salad!
Adriana Wrenn says
can I use Splenda for sweetener?
Shelby Law Ruttan says
Hi Adriana, you can use splenda if you wish. However, if you are strict keto, it is not an approved sweetener. We are keto, but are considered more "dirty" keto and do use other sweeteners occasionally.
Jean | Delightful Repast says
Looks great, though I would definitely prefer to use three teaspoons of sugar than three teaspoons of artificial sweetener. It comes to just over 1/3 teaspoon per serving. I'm not on keto, but I do carefully monitor my sugar intake and never have more than 6 teaspoons in a day from any source. Pinned!
Shelby says
Hi Jean, absolutely, you do what is best for you! I actually reduced the sweetener to just 1 teaspoon when I made it this week. The longer we are on Keto, the less sweetener we use as we don't crave that sweet! Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I hope you make and enjoy the recipe!
Joyce says
How big would you say a serving size is ?
Shelby says
Hi Joyce, I am making this again this week so I will exactly measure, but my guess would be about 3/4 - 1 cup is a serving. Depending on how big you cut the broccoli. I'll come back and update after I have remade the recipe. Thanks for stopping by!
Shelby says
Hi Joyce! I did make this again, and one serving size is 1 cup. I've updated my info for the post. Thank you!
Joan Morse says
I used about half the recommended amount of sweetener and it was sweet enough for my taste. Also did not have the macadamia nuts so used shaved almonds instead. It was a hit with my husband also. Will definitely make again.
Shelby says
Hi Joan, Happy to hear it! Thanks for stopping by and making my recipe!
Jenn, from KeenForKeto.com says
Such a pretty salad! 🙂 My broccoli lovers are going to LOVE this. Thanks so much for participating in Keen for Keto's keto salad roundup, Shelby!
Whitney says
Hi how many carbs is this?
Shelby says
Hi Whitney, net carbs are listed in the recipe notes along with the rest of the nutrition information. This recipe has 2 net carbs. Please note that it depends on what ingredients you use as to how accurate nutrition information is and the information I provide is to be used as a guide only.
Jennifer says
I wanted to use pre cut broccoli but wasnt .sure of how much to use if I halved the recipe or kept it whole?
Shelby says
Hi Jennifer, I would think a package of pre-cut broccoli could be considered approximately the same amount as a head of broccoli. I hope you were able to try the recipe. I apologize I haven't had a chance to be on my website for a few days.
Jennifer Travis says
Oh my! This is just SO good! I doubled the recipe, made 1/2 with the jalapeno and half without (for the kids and adults that didnt like the heat.) I cut the sugar amt in half and used 1 small red onion in place of the scallions. I will def be making this again in the near future and years to come! Thank you for your wonderful recipe!
Shelby says
Hi Jennifer! Thank you for trying my recipe and for stopping by to share your experience! Happy you enjoyed it!
Jeanie says
I've made this many times before and all of my family and friends have loved it, but I've made it the day we were to eat it. I'd like to know if I make it Wednesday for a Friday night church event would it be good?
Shelby Law Ruttan says
Jeanie, If you want to make it ahead, hold off on adding the nuts and bacon until the day your going to your event. Everything else would be fine. Thanks for stopping by! Shelby