Crunch That Won’t Spike Your Blood Sugar!
Yes, you can have sweet, crunchy, creamy broccoli salad without the carb crash.
I used to skip classic broccoli cranberry salad entirely—between the sugar-loaded dressing and the dried fruit, it was a blood sugar bomb pretending to be a veggie dish. Then I rebuilt it. This version keeps all the texture and flavor, skips the sugar, and fits cleanly into your keto plan.
💡 What Solves the “Sad Keto Salad” Problem
No more limp broccoli, gloopy mayo, or sweeteners that taste like a chemistry set.
- I use small, raw broccoli florets for crunch—no blanching, no sogginess.
- The dressing is creamy but sharp, with a sugar-free orange-kissed tang that actually lifts the whole thing.
- And I cracked the dried cranberry conundrum: either go sugar-free homemade or use the apple-juice-sweetened store brand I trust.
🧾 Ingredients That Kept It Keto
- Broccoli florets (~4 cups) – Raw and chopped small. You want crisp and biteable, not oversized tree trunks.
- Dried cranberries (1/2 cup) – Go sugar-free or apple-juice-sweetened. Don’t use standard ones unless you’re going for a holiday cheat.
- Chopped walnuts (1/4 cup) – Adds crunch and fat. Pecans or pumpkin seeds also work.
- Cooked bacon (1/4 cup, crumbled) – Don’t skip. It gives umami and salt to balance the sweet cranberries.
- Red onion (1/4 cup, thin-sliced) – Brings bite. Green onion is milder if needed.
Dressing:
- Mayonnaise (1/2 cup) – Base fat. Use avocado oil-based if you track seed oils.
- Orange-flavored sugar-free honey (1.5 tbsp) – I use Wholesome Yum’s, but you can also do plain keto honey + 1 tsp orange zest.
- Apple cider vinegar (1/2 tbsp) – Balances the fat with sharpness.
- Sea salt + black pepper – To taste.
🔁 Low-Carb Substitutions That Hold Up
| Swap | Works? | Why or Why Not |
|---|---|---|
| Greek yogurt for mayo | Yes, if you’re higher protein/lower fat | Less creamy, slightly tangy. Use full-fat only. |
| Coconut flakes for cranberries | Not really | You’ll lose the sweet-tart contrast. Not worth the trade. |
| Pumpkin seeds instead of walnuts | Yes | Nut-free, still crunchy and keto-safe. |
⚠️ Keto Missteps and How I Fixed Them
| What Went Wrong | Why It Happens | How to Fix It |
|---|---|---|
| Broccoli too chunky | Hard to coat with dressing | Chop florets small—think almond-sized |
| Dressing too runny | Skimped on mayo or used low-fat | Stick to full-fat mayo, and chill it |
| Cranberries spiked carbs | Used regular sweetened ones | Always check the label. Go sugar-free or AJ-sweetened |
👩🍳 Step-by-Step: How to Make It
- Chop everything small. Broccoli florets, onions, bacon—bite-sized is better for mixing and macros.
- Mix salad base: Toss broccoli, onion, cranberries, walnuts, and bacon in a big bowl.
- Whisk dressing: Combine mayo, keto honey, vinegar, salt, and pepper.
- Toss and chill: Coat the salad. Chill for at least 30–60 minutes so it melds.
- Taste and adjust: Add more salt/pepper if needed. Serve cold.
💡 Portion into 8 half-cup servings for dead-easy macro tracking.
🧠 Keto Cooking Tricks That Help
- Pre-make the dressing: It keeps 5–7 days in the fridge. Shake before using.
- Chop broccoli ahead: Store dry in an airtight container—no browning.
- Cranberry hack: If making your own, soak unsweetened cranberries in warm water + Allulose until plump.
🧊 How I Store and Track It
- Fridge: Airtight container, lasts 3–4 days.
- Freezing? Nope. Texture dies.
- Macros (per 1/2 cup serving):
- Net Carbs: ~3g
- Fat: 18g
- Protein: 3g
- Total Carbs: 6g
(Assuming sugar-free cranberries + orange-flavored keto honey)
❓ Can I Eat This on Keto? (Yes, Here’s Why)
- Does it spike blood sugar? Not with the right cranberries and sweetener.
- Can I skip the bacon? Sure, but don’t expect the same depth of flavor.
- Is mayo keto? Yes—if it’s sugar-free. Check your label.
- What if I hate orange? Use plain keto honey + lemon zest, or just skip the zest entirely.
🧾 Nutrition Facts (Per 1/2 Cup Serving – 8 servings total)
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 200 kcal |
| Total Fat | 18.4g |
| – Saturated Fat | 2.8g |
| – Monounsaturated | ~7g (est.) |
| – Polyunsaturated | ~5g (est.) |
| Cholesterol | 15mg |
| Sodium | 270mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 6g |
| – Fiber | 3.1g |
| – Sugars | 1.6g |
| Net Carbs | 2.9g |
| Protein | 3.3g |
| Calcium | ~30mg (2%) |
| Iron | ~0.6mg (3%) |
| Vitamin C | ~40mg (45%) |
| Potassium | ~260mg (5–6%) |
Check out More Recipes:
- Low Carb Keto Broccoli Salad With Blueberries
- Low Carb Keto Broccoli Salad Monkfruit
- Low Carb Keto Steak Salad Recipe
- I Thought Cobb Salad Was Boring—Then I Keto’d It
Low Carb Keto Broccoli Salad With Cranberries
Description
Crunchy broccoli, tangy cranberries, salty bacon, and a creamy orange-kissed mayo dressing—keto-friendly, no added sugar, and ready in 10 minutes.
Ingredients
Salad:
Dressing:
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix broccoli, cranberries, walnuts, bacon, and onion.
- In a smaller bowl, whisk mayo, sweetener, vinegar, salt, and pepper.
- Toss the salad with the dressing until well-coated.
- Chill for 30–60 minutes (optional but better).
- Adjust seasoning and serve cold.
Notes
- For best flavor, chill the salad for at least an hour. I also recommend chopping the broccoli small—it helps the dressing coat every bite evenly.
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