Keto Broccoli Salad with Bacon

Our Easy Hearty Classic Keto Broccoli Salad with Bacon and Blueberries is a simple cold salad perfect for your summer days. Fully Low Carb, Keto, Sugar-Free, Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, and perfect for Diabetics, this Keto Salad filled with nutrients is a perfect idea for your next Potluck Party or get-together.

Served with Meatloaf, Sausages, Goulash or enjoying it on its own, it will bring you joy every time you get that beautiful taste of Blueberries, Bacon, or Pumpkin Seeds. The perfect combination of crunchiness together with hearty nutrient-dense broccoli and yogurt dressing will get this recipe to climb on top of the list. 

Keto Salads

This Broccoli Salad Recipe has already climbed up the ladder within all of our fabulous Low Carb Salads I have for you on the blog. 

A perfect addition to our Taco Salad with edible Bowl for your Tuesdays, TikTok famous Green Goddess Salad for summertime, or “Potato” Keto Salad for Christmas time, you are almost covered for every season of the year.

And if we add Avocado Egg Salad, Tabbouleh, or Tuna Mix, you get the variation of flavors and full-blast nutrition tailored to your needs.

Broccoli Salad

Our Broccoli Salad with bacon gives you that perfect combination of Crunchiness and crispiness from Pumpkin Seeds and onion, tenderness from bacon, broccoli, and cheddar cheese together with smoothness from Yogurt Vinegar dressing.

With regards to the taste, the sweetness of blueberries, the saltiness of cheddar cheese, and the sourness of vinegar just melt this perfect combination of everything you need in the perfectly tailored Broccoli & Bacon Salad.

Carbs in Broccoli

Broccoli being part of cruciferous vegetables such as brussel sprouts, cabbage and kale, is a perfect vegetable in our lifestyle. Filled with vitamins and only 6 grams of total carbs per cup, it is also one of the sought-after vegetables when preparing a perfect keto meal. 

To add to this, with 2 grams of fiber, your cup of broccoli net carbs comes to a perfect number of 4, which is just extraordinary, especially considering the size of a portion. 

4 Carbohydrates in Broccoli will give you that extra space in the carbs department you can use.

Dressing for Broccoli Salad

Today instead of mayo and lemon in traditional broccoli salad, I have chosen different ingredients for our healthy Broccoli salad dressing with a specific reason behind it. 

Greek Yogurt

Greek Yogurt, which you can even make in your kitchen with a few easy steps, is one ingredient I love to add to almost every dish. 

Apart from salads, yogurt is a perfect addition to breakfast Granola, Smoothie, or even a main dish such as sauerkraut chicken. 

I love the tanginess taste yogurt offers and feel that it is just a perfect addition low in carbs, of course. 

Vinegar

You might wonder why I chose vinegar instead of fresh lemon juice, which I usually use in almost every salad.

I have a very valuable reason for this.

Not only has vinegar been used in salads since I was a kid, and I just love the taste, but one strong explanation is coming your way, especially when you have diabetes.

Glucose Goddess 

About a year ago, I started following a biochemist Jessie, from Glucosegoddess, and learned how consuming vinegar, in whatever state, before meals greatly influences our blood sugar spikes. 

She has great tips for controlling your blood sugar spikes with various hacks, and vinegar is one of the main ingredients.

Since then, I have tried to add vinegar to our meals much more often than I used to.

And our Broccoli Salad with bacon is specially made with science in mind. 

Blanched Broccoli

Before I jump into the recipe, I wanted to mention blanching your broccoli. 

Do you have to blanch your broccoli for a salad? 

Not at all. 

But blanching your broccoli will soften its texture a tiny bit and, after shocking it with ice-cold water, will give you that beautiful bright green color in your salad. 

It depends on what you prefer and what you are going for. We love the taste of blanched broccoli, but sometimes when in a hurry, we will just cut it fresh into the salad, and the taste is also delicious. 

Alterations for Broccoli salad

Our recipe contains the ingredients I believe best complement each other with perfect color combinations. 

But if you would like to alternate, this also called Amish Broccoli Salad, swap, or do not have some of the ingredients, you can choose:

• Parmesan cheese instead of cheddar
• Cranberries instead of blueberries
• Strawberries work wonders in salad taste as well
• Mayo instead of yogurt
• Lemon juice instead of vinegar
• Prepare air fryer broccolini instead of a whole head of broccoli
• Cauliflower instead of broccoli
• Sliced almonds instead of pumpkin seeds
• Prosciutto for Bacon bits 
• Sour Cream or Ranch Dressing instead of yogurt – vinegar
• Tablespoon of sweetener instead of blueberries

How To Make Keto Broccoli Salad

Kitchen Gadgets needed:

• Cooking Pot
• Mixing Bowl

Ingredients needed:

• Broccoli
• Bacon
• Onion
• Pumpkin Seeds
• Cheddar Cheese
• Blueberries
• Yogurt
• Vinegar

*Exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below.

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS FOR MAKING LOW-CARB BROCCOLI SALAD 

First Step: Prepare Ingredients

Prepare all of the ingredients.

Chop your onion, cut bacon, roast pumpkin seeds for the crunch, shred cheddar and wash blueberries. 

If you are not planning to blanch your broccoli, wash and cut it into florets. 

Some of the alternations and swaps are mentioned above if needed. 

Second Step: Blanch and shock Broccoli

We start with blanching and shocking our Broccoli.

Take whole broccoli head and submerge into the boiling water for 3 minutes.

Immediately take out and place into a big bowl filled with ice cubes and cold water. 

This will stop the cooking process to ensure the crunchiness of broccoli and will retain the beautiful green color. 

Third Step: Cut Florets from broccoli

As all other ingredients are prepared, dry your broccoli thoroughly and cut it into small florets.

Place into the bowl big enough so you can mix it all in. 

Fourth Step: Add all Ingredients

One by one, add all of the ingredients into the bowl. 

Fifth Step: Vinegar

Lastly, add 2 Tablespoons of unfiltered apple cider vinegar.

Sixth Step: Mix

Gently mix all together, ensuring all ingredients are thoroughly blended with yogurt and vinegar. 

Tips and Tricks:

• Pumpkin Seeds – could be swapped with hemp seeds, sliced almonds, or chopped nuts
• Cheese – shred your own as pre-shredded contains starches
• Broccoli – chopped cauliflower or shredded cabbage are a great addition
• Yogurt – can be swapped with sour cream or mayo 
• Sweetener – could be added and is optional
• Vinegar – could be swapped with lemon or lime juice

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Can I make Keto Broccoli Salad with frozen Broccoli?

If you do not have fresh broccoli in your fridge, you can swap it with frozen broccoli to make a salad. Make sure the broccoli is fully thawed and dried. 

You might experience a slightly softer texture with frozen broccoli. 

Do I need to cook the broccoli for the broccoli salad?

You do not need to cook, blanch or shock your broccoli for the broccoli salad. 

The texture might be slightly different, and the color will remain natural, a bit darker. 

But if you do prefer to have it cooked, check how long to boil broccoli for the best texture.

If you do prefer something on a warmer side, this broccoli cauliflower cheese casserole might just be what you are looking for.

How do you store keto broccoli salad?

Simply stored in an airtight container or a Mason Jar in your fridge is the preferred way for storing. 

How long does broccoli salad last?

Stored in the refrigerator, our keto broccoli salad lasts 3- 4 days. Not more, because of using fresh ingredients and blueberries. 

Can you freeze broccoli salad?

You can freeze your broccoli salad in an airtight container or a mason jar. 

Once ready to consume, it is best to take it out the night before and let it thaw naturally.

Make sure you give it a proper mix before serving, as yogurt and vinegar might cause a bit of separation. 

What to serve with Keto Broccoli salad?

Even though this perfectly healthy broccoli cold salad is excellent on its own or  can be served as a complete meal, you can use it as a part of your Meal Prep or a side for:

• Meatloaf
• Sausage
• Taco Meat
• Lasagna
• Grilled shrimp skewers
• Stuffed Vegetables
• Gnocchi with Spinach
• Burger
• Smoked leg of lamb

Especially great are those cuban pork chops to go with.

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