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.
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry says
I do love a broccoli salad, I haven't had one in far too long! This looks so good and perfect for picnics!
Karen @ Seasonal Cravings says
This looks like the perfect picnic salad and I love that it's packed full of veggies.
Kristina says
Would this still be good without the sugar substitute? I really don't like the taste of sugar substitutes and try to avoid them.
Shelby says
Hi Kristina, I feel it would still be good without it. If your not eating Keto and like the little bit of sweet, then by all means use something else. A good option is coconut sugar! If you are used to not eating any sweet, then by all means try it. I think it is good with our without! Thanks!
Demeter says
What a great go-to salad for all summer long! Looks fantastic!
Priya Shiva says
gorgeous looking broccoli salad! My husband loves broccoli and will surely try it out this weekend itself!
Katie | Healthy Seasonal Recipes says
I grew up eating broccoli salad, and always dive in at pot lucks. The version my grandmother made didn't have any sweetener in it though. Her's had sharp cheddar cheese. I totally agree about never knowing what you're going to get at a potluck. Ha ha.
camila says
this is so perfect to bring to a barbecue!! I am in love with this delicious salad!
Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry says
I am really into my salads right now and this one looks absolutely delicious -a great way to use broccoli!
Rachel says
I made this today. Wow! It is sooo yummy! It actually has not not made it into the refrigerator yet. It gets better after refrigeration? That’s hard to imagine. Thanks for the recipe! Definitely a keeper.
Tonia says
I see the nutrition information. but how much is serving?
Shelby says
Hi Tonia, It's just underneath the yield 🙂 3/4 cup.
Patti says
I make a similar salad with cauliflower and broccoli,bacon,onion,cheese and the same dressing!
Shelby says
Love the addition of cauliflower, another color to the bowl 🙂
Lolly says
Can I use coconut cream instead of mayonnaise and omit the sugar?
Shelby says
I haven't used coconut cream myself so I can't say how it would work, not being familiar with it. However, if it is similar to mayonnaise in consistency and you enjoy the flavor, I say give it a try to see if it works. You can always omit the sugar 🙂
Bruce Jacobs says
What a great salad! I'm glad I tried it.
Shelby says
Thanks Bruce, glad you tried it also and enjoyed the recipe!
Wendy kadota says
I did 1/2 mayonnaise and 1/2 Greek yogurt and just 1 packet of Splenda. I really enjoyed the recipe! I didn’t miss the craisins at all.
Shelby says
Hi Wendy! So glad you enjoyed the recipe and love the change with the greek yogurt. I'm sure that also gave it a little tang! Thanks for letting me know!
Courtney says
Looks delicious, can't wait to make! I'm sure it depends on the mayonnaise -- I think I will be using primal kitchen avocado mayo -- but do you have any estimate how long this might stay good in the fridge? Wondering if I could make a big batch for the whole week... thank you!
Shelby says
Hi Courtney, I would think 5 days would be ok, any longer than that would it would become watery and soggy as the broccoli releases what water is in it. It didn't last that long here (3 days) and there are only two of us! Your welcome and I hope you love it!
Amy says
How much cheese do you put in this salad? Unless I'm overlooking it, I don't see cheese in the recipe ingredients, but see it in the instructions. Thanks!
Shelby says
Hey Amy! Thanks for leaving your comment. I missed adding it to my recipe but its there now. I used 4 ounces of cheddar cheese that I shredded myself.
Mary says
It all sounds good until you got to the Erythritrol, May I ask what this is ???? I am thinking a sugar replacement but not sure !!! thank you for sharing and do look forward to giving it a try 🙂 Thank you..
Shelby says
Erythritol is a substitute for sugar. The brand I use is Swerve. You can however, use whatever sweetener your used to using in your home, just be sure to read the instructions on how much to use. Erythritol is measured the same as sugar while other sugar substitutes do not. I stick with Erythritol due to being on the keto diet and I've become accustomed to the taste. Please stop back and let me know how you liked the salad! Thank you!
Otto Anderson says
Shelby I make one just like this. But I put in cauliflower cut into small florets. I also have sour cream in it.
That Erythrital sugar who makes it an where can you buy it? I use sugar splenda mix also measures the same as sugar. If you would like the recipe I have I would be more than happy to send it to you. As you know I am a diebetic the same as your husband.
Otto Anderson
Shelby says
Hi Otto, you can buy Erythritol in most stores now, you can also buy it on amazon (I have an affiliate link for Swerve through Amazon above my recipe. However, if you use splenda, you can still use splenda in this recipe. just adjust the amount to reflect whatever amount equals 2 tablespoons of sugar.
Lisa says
I was wondering if I could leave out the substitute. I’m not a fan of ant sweeteners
Shelby says
If you follow the Keto diet, you can go ahead and just leave it out. If you don't follow Keto, go ahead and add a little sweetener of your choice. I hope you enjoy!
Ellen says
I could eat that whole bowl. This will be perfect for summer potlucks.
Shelby says
Yes! I also send this in Grumpy's lunchbox 🙂
Kacie Morgan says
I love broccoli in salads. I usually have it with chilli and garlic but I’ll have to give this a go as it looks so tasty!
Shelby says
Kacie, your chili and garlic sounds delicious!
Claire says
YUM!!!
Broccoli works so well with bacon and then turning it into salad. GENIUS!
Can't wait to give this a go.
Shelby says
I am a firm believer that bacon makes everything better Claire! 🙂
Brandi Robinson says
This is my favorite keto side dish!!! So delicious and fresh!
Shelby Law Ruttan says
Hi Brandi! Happy to hear it! Thank you for the rating, Shelby 🙂