• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Feels Like Home™ logo

  • Shop
    • Christianity Downloads
    • Family Downloads
    • Food & Cooking Downloads
    • Hobbies & Crafts Downloads
    • Learning Downloads
  • Blog
  • Family
    • Parenting
    • Holidays & Celebrations
    • Marriage
    • Kids activities
      • Kids Crafts
      • Christmas Crafts for Toddlers & Preschoolers
      • Christmas Crafts for Kids
      • Christmas Crafts for Tweens & Teens
    • Learning
      • Reading & Writing
      • STEM
  • Faith
    • Bible Study
    • Encouragement
  • Recipes
    • Comfort Food
    • Eating after Bariatric Surgery
    • Gluten-Free
    • Recipes for Foodie Kids
    • Quick & Easy Weeknight Meals
  • Health
    • Mental Health
      • Hobbies & Crafts
      • Self-Care
    • Physical Health
      • Bariatric Surgery
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • SHOP
  • RECIPES
  • FAMILY
  • FAITH
  • HEALTH
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    See More:   Eating after Bariatric Surgery Gluten-Free Healthy Meals Recipes for Beginners Side Dishes

    Last Modified: Oct 2, 2022 by Tara Ziegmont Leave a Comment

    The Best Keto Broccoli Salad with No Mayo

    FacebookMessenger127PinterestTwitterWhatsAppEmail
    127
    SHARES
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This is the best keto broccoli salad recipe with no mayo, and it's healthy, easy, and delicious with a simple homemade oil and vinegar dressing and no mayo. This low carb broccoli salad with bacon makes a great healthy side dish for lunch, or as a holiday salad. Gluten free and dairy free.

    title with broccoli salad on a spoonPin

    I love broccoli salad. When I worked in an office for a short time in 2016 and 2017, the organization had frequent catered meetings for outside clients and politicians, and we employees were allowed to eat the leftovers when the meeting was over. My favorite thing on the menu was broccoli and cauliflower salad. It was amazing - and loaded with sugar and calories.

    It can be hard to know what salads are safe to eat on a low carb diet because the dressing IS often loaded with sugar. My own creamy broccoli salad recipe is relatively low sugar (only 4 tablespoons of sugar for 1 pound of broccoli), but I have been looking for something a little different than the standard salad with mayo dressing.

    The recipe below hit the spot for me with a non-creamy dressing that blends the sweetness of olive oil with the tanginess of apple cider vinegar. It is good as written, but I am thinking about playing with the oil to vinegar ratio a bit more to see if I can cut the calories a bit without losing any flavor. If I get something that works well, I'll edit the recipe.

    Do I need to cook the broccoli?

    Fresh broccoli can be used completely raw or blanched. I have never blanched mine because I prefer easy, but people who do say it makes the florets a little softer and more chewable while introducing a juiciness that is otherwise lacking. If you want to try blanching it, here's what you'll do:

    1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a vigorous boil. While the water is heating, prepare an ice bath in a large bowl or pot, fill it halfway up with cold water and add lots of ice.
    2. Add the chopped broccoli to the boiling water and cook for 1 minute - absolutely no more!
    3. Immediately drain the broccoli florets and drop into an ice bath for 5 minutes. (This is THE most critical step of the process. If you don't cool the broccoli right away, you will end up with fully cooked broccoli.)
    4. Transfer the broccoli to a salad spinner and spin it dry.
    5. Place the broccoli on a kitchen towel and continue to dry and drain while you prep the rest of the salad.

    Keto broccoli salad ingredients

    ingredients in bowlsPin

    In the salad:

    • Broccoli gives the salad a great crunch and taste along with major health benefits.
    • Red onion is milder and sweeter than any other onion when eaten fresh.
    • Crispy bacon gives the salad a salty crunch and who doesn't love bacon?
    • Sunflower seeds aren't used enough and give extra flavor to the salad, plus are high in protein.

    In the dressing:

    • Apple cider vinegar is super healthy, and the flavor is nicer in this recipe than red wine or white vinegar.
    • Extra virgin olive oil adds sweetness and balances out the acidity of the vinegar.
    • Fresh garlic adds a pungent seasoning for depth.
    • Artificial sweetener provides a little sweetness without calories.

    Do you use the stems or just the florets?

    Personally, I use both the florets and the stems. The stems have a crunchy green skin which you can cut off with a knife or peeler if you are so inclined, but I don't mind the skin at all and just leave it on.

    To prepare your broccoli, cut close to the base of each floret. Cut those big florets into smaller clumps for the salad. You can see in the photos that none of them are big; you want to aim for bite-sized even for children, if you're serving any.

    To cut the stalks, take whatever you've removed from the florets and cut the dry part off the bottom (usually about a ½" will do). Slice the stalk in half lengthwise and then cut each half into ½" slices. These pieces will be crisp without being tough and will be nice to eat.

    How to make the salad

    For the salad:

    1. To prepare the broccoli, cut the florets from the stalks, setting the stalks aside. Chop the florets into small pieces and place in a large bowl. Some people discard the stalks, but I like to use them. Simply cut the stalks in half lengthwise, then slice each half into thin half circles. They are crunchy and have a more mild flavor than the florets. Add these to the florets in the large bowl.
    2. Add the red onion, bacon, and sunflower seeds to the broccoli in the bowl.
      mix up the salad dressing with olive oil and vinegarPin

    For the dressing:

    1. In a small bowl, whisk together the rest of the ingredients - olive oil, vinegar, garlic, sweetener, salt, and pepper until the dressing is combined and smooth.
    2. Pour dressing over the salad and toss to combine.
    3. You can serve immediately or chill in the fridge until ready to serve.
      pour the dressing over the saladPin

    Tips for the best broccoli salad

    • If you're really short on time, you can speed up the salad by buying a bag of broccoli slaw. It is typically just julienned stems, so you won't have any florets, but it still tastes like broccoli and will work in a pinch.
    • I always use a garlic press which makes easy work of smashing garlic. You could also mince it with a knife if you like having garlic-smelling fingers.
    • You can’t go wrong with more bacon. Feel free to add in even more if you want. Bacon is protein, and protein is healthy, right?
    • This broccoli salad recipe can be made up to 3 days in advance, just be sure to keep the dressing and the salad separate. Prepare the salad and dressing separately as instructed in the recipe, and just toss together when it's time to serve. The dressing is wonderful after it sits for a couple of hours.
    • Broccoli salad should be stored in the refrigerator in a sealed container. The salad will keep well for up to 5 days. Do not freeze.

    This salad is perfect year-round but is especially well-received at summer gatherings, picnics, potlucks, barbecues and the like. But it’s also a staple during the holidays, so what can I say?

    If you love broccoli salad like I do, I urge you to give this one a try! I know you’ll love it just as much as I do!

    a bowl of broccoli salad in a white dishPin

    Broccoli salad variations

    This salad is so simple and easy, but that doesn't mean that it's dull! You can play with the ingredients and change the flavor quite a bit – while still keeping the sweet tanginess that you know and love!

    • Protein– Turn your salad into a full meal by adding some grilled or shredded chicken, salmon, or hard cooked eggs. (Find instructions for the best hard cooked egg method over here.)
    • Cheese– Add a sprinkle of shredded cheddar or crumbled feta or blue cheese for a more intense flavor. 
    • Vegetables– Feel free to add any of your other favorite low carb vegetables, like cauliflower, bell peppers, or spinach.
    • Plant based protein– Following a plant based diet? Add some beans, tofu, or tempeh. 

    Try these other delicious salads while you're here:

    • BLT Salad with the Best Homemade Lemon Mayo Salad Dressing
    • Our Favorite Broccoli Salad Recipe (with mayo)
    • No Crunch Potato Salad Recipe
    • Oriental Salad with Ramen Noodles (Chinese Coleslaw)
    • Cucumber Pasta Salad - A Healthy Alternative to Creamy Pasta Salad
    • Egg and Asparagus Salad with Mimosa Vinaigrette Dressing
    title with broccoli salad on a spoon

    Keto Broccoli Salad

    This is the best keto broccoli salad recipe with no mayo, and it's healthy, easy, and delicious with a simple homemade oil and vinegar dressing and no mayo. This low carb broccoli salad with bacon makes a great healthy side dish for lunch, or as a holiday salad. Gluten free and dairy free.
    5 from 6 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Total Time 10 mins
    Course Gluten-free, Salad, Side Dish
    Servings 8 people
    Calories 285 kcal

    Equipment

    • Garlic press

    Ingredients
      

    For the salad:

    • 4 cups broccoli chopped. For a tasty variation, substitute ½ of the broccoli with chopped cauliflower.
    • ½ cups red onion diced, optional
    • 8 slices bacon cooked & crumbled
    • ½ cups sunflower seeds

    For the dressing:

    • ½ cups olive oil
    • ¼ cups apple cider vinegar substitute any vinegar
    • 2 cloves garlic pressed or minced
    • 2 tablespoons powdered sweetener substitute sugar
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

    Instructions
     

    For the salad:

    • To prepare the broccoli, cut the florets from the stalks, setting the stalks aside. Chop the florets into small pieces and place in a large bowl. Some people discard the stalks, but I like to use them. Simply cut the stalks in half lengthwise, then slice each half into thin half circles. They are crunchy and have a more mild flavor than the florets. Add these to the florets in the large bowl.
    • Add the red onion, bacon, and sunflower seeds to the broccoli in the bowl.

    For the dressing:

    • In a small bowl, whisk together the rest of the ingredients - olive oil, vinegar, garlic, sweetener, salt, and pepper until the dressing is combined and smooth.
    • Pour dressing over the salad and toss to combine.
    • You can serve immediately or chill in the fridge until ready to serve.

    Notes

    I love to use Swerve sweetener. It is keto friendly, and it is a cup for cup substitute for sugar. You can use any artificial sweetener that you like or even sugar if you're not on a keto or low carb diet.
    If you want a sweeter broccoli salad, add another tablespoon of sweetener to the dressing.
    You can store the salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
    You can eat this salad warm, room temperature, or chilled. If you let it sit for an hour or two after making, the flavors will blend and reach the peak deliciousness.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 285kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 308mg | Potassium: 265mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 296IU | Vitamin C: 42mg | Calcium: 34mg | Iron: 1mg
    Keyword keto, low carb
    Tried this recipe? Pin it for later!Follow @FeelsLikeHome or tag #FeelsLikeHomeBlog!
    THE BEST KETO FRIENDLY BROCCOLI SALADPin
    FacebookMessenger127PinterestTwitterWhatsAppEmail
    127
    SHARES

    More Side Dishes

    • How to Make Frozen Pierogies with Butter and Onions
    • Crockpot Sweet Potatoes with Marshmallows
    • Cilantro Lime Rice with Black Beans, Corn, & Tomatoes
    • Simple Instant Pot Potato Salad Recipe

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Tara.

    Harrisburg PA mom blogger Tara Ziegmont
    I am passionate about helping women to care for themselves and their families physically, emotionally, and spiritually by making time for what matters most through a combination of delectable recipes, Christian inspiration, and family fun. If you're tired of feeling so weary and uninspired, you're in the right place. I'm so glad you're here!
    Read more about me...

    Facebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram LinkedIn email me subscribe

    Popular Recipes

    • Cheeseburger Soup from Taste of Home
    • Cracker Barrel Copycat Fried Apples
    • Sweet Balsamic Pork Roast in the Instant Pot
    • Couldn't Be Easier Cherry Pie

    Food with an Instant Pot in the background

    AS SEEN ON

    a list of the websites where Tara Ziegmont has been featured

    Popular Bible Studies

    • A Grateful Heart - 2 week printable study
    • 10 Bible Verses on Anger
    • 13 Bible Verses on Disappointment
    • 50 Bible Verses Every Christian Should Know
    • 10 Bible Verses to Overcome Worry

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms & Conditions

    As seen on

    a list of the websites where Tara Ziegmont has been featured

    Contact Tara


    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read my full disclosure policy.

    Copyright © 2022 Feels Like Home Blog

    We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
    Do not sell my personal information.
    SettingsAccept
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled
    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
    Non-necessary
    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
    SAVE & ACCEPT