Looking for some healthy, light, and delicious low-carb salad recipes you can enjoy for lunch, dinner, or as side dishes? You’re in luck! Here are 10 delicious low-carb salad recipes that tick all the boxes. They’re filling, nutritionally dense, and versatile—you can adjust the serving size to make them a side dish or a full meal.
And let’s talk about flavor—these salads are seriously crave-worthy. You won’t even realize you’re on a low-carb diet when you’re enjoying these tasty dishes.
Salads often get a bad rap from dieters, but with the right mix of ingredients, they can be anything but boring. They’re a fantastic way to pack in plenty of veggies and fiber, which are essential for any healthy diet, including a low-carb one.
These salads are perfect for anyone following a low-carb diet, as they’re low in carbs and high in fiber, antioxidants, and vitamins. Plus, they’re also low in calories, making them ideal for those looking to lose weight.
So whether you’re craving eggs, chicken, or bacon, these low-carb salad recipes are sure to hit the spot. Get ready to elevate your greens game with these 10 delicious recipes!
1. Keto Big Mac Salad
If you’re hankering for McDonald’s while on a keto meal plan, the Big Mac salad is your go-to fix. Whip up your own keto-friendly dressing using mayonnaise, mustard, and vinegar for that authentic flavor! Feel free to swap in keto ranch or honey mustard if you’re not keen on the Big Mac Sauce. Just double-check the nutrition label if using a store-bought dressing to ensure it fits your macros.
Loaded with leafy greens, onions, pickles, cheese, and ground beef, this salad is a satisfying low-carb alternative to the classic burger. Skip the cheese to make it paleo-friendly.
With simple ingredients readily available at your local grocery store, you can enjoy all the deliciousness of a Big Mac without the carb overload from the bun.
Head over to twosleevers.com for the full recipe and instructions.
2. Grilled Chicken Avocado Salad
This grilled chicken avocado salad recipe is tailor-made for the low-carb lifestyle. Packed with greens, high-quality protein, and bursting with flavor, it’s a refreshing and satisfying option.
To assemble this salad, simply combine chopped lettuce, cucumber, and avocado, then top it off with grilled chicken and a zesty lemon olive oil dressing.
If you’re not keen on hot sauce, feel free to switch up the chicken marinade using ingredients like soy sauce, cilantro, and lime, or balsamic vinegar. For an extra boost of richness, sprinkle some feta cheese over the salad.
With its irresistible flavors and simple ingredient list, this protein-packed keto salad is sure to become a weekly favorite. Plus, you can easily prepare it ahead of time and store it in the fridge for convenient meals throughout the week.
Chicken Breast
- 2 small free-range organic chicken breasts
- 2 tablespoons hot sauce
- Salt and black pepper
The Salad
- 5 cups lettuce — chopped
- 1 cup cucumber — sliced
- ½ avocado — sliced
- ½ cup red onions — sliced
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes
Keto Salad Dressing
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- A pinch of red crushed pepper
- Salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
Nutrition Facts: Amount per serving (1/2) — Calories: 360, Fat: 23g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Cholesterol: 70mg, Sodium: 774mg, Carbohydrates: 10g, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 6g, Protein: 27g
3. Charred Shrimp and Avocado Salad
You may only think of leafy greens when you think of salads, but this quick and easy salad is a great way to try something new.
Packed with fat and protein, this easy keto recipe will keep your carb count low.
We think lemon juice and avocado oil are perfect for this recipe, but feel free to add a creamy dressing if that is more your style!
Ingredient:
- 2 1/2 lb. large peeled and deveined shrimp
- 5 tbsp. avocado oil
- Kosher salt
- Pepper
- 2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
- 1/2 English cucumber, sliced into half-moons
- 1/2 bunch Upland watercress
- 1 avocado, quartered
Directions
- Toss shrimp with 2 tablespoons avocado oil and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper.
- Then heat the grill pan, grill, or broiler. If desired, you can also set aside half of the shrimp for the No-Cook Shrimp Rolls and put them in the refrigerator until ready to use.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together lemon juice, 2 tablespoons of oil, and 1/4 teaspoon of each salt and pepper. Toss with onion.
- Add to bowl with onion along with cucumber and shrimp and toss to combine. Fold in watercress and avocado.
Nutrition Facts (per serving): About 420 calories, 23.5 g fat (3.5 g saturated), 35 g protein, 1,595 mg sodium, 20 g carb, 4 g fiber
4. Salmon Kale Superfood Salad With Creamy Lemon Vinaigrette
Kale is another great option that really packs a punch when it comes to nutrients. Plus, it can be a nice change in texture from your typical lettuce.
This easy kale superfood salad with lemon vinaigrette is both satisfying and delicious. The flavor is so indulgent that it will even be a huge hit with your friends who aren’t on a keto diet.
On top of the perfectly tossed kale salad, you have smoked salmon and avocado. It’s a perfect blend of saltiness, tang, and creaminess. Plus, the blueberries add antioxidants and sweetness to the mix. This recipe calls for pistachios, but feel free to substitute almonds, pecans, or walnuts if you prefer!
Not to mention, you can whip up this superfood salad in minutes. All it takes is 5 ingredients, plus 5 in the dressing! You’re going to love this salad. I promise!!
Grab the recipe here.
5. Kale and Roasted Cauliflower Salad
This heart-healthy nutty green bowl of goodness is perfect for those who want to eat vegan while on a keto diet.
This delicious low-carb salad calls for roasted cauliflower and raw kale as a base. On top of that, you dress it up with a few other nutritious ingredients you’ll love, like red onion, feta cheese, lemon juice, and nuts.
This recipe calls for pine nuts, but we think sunflower seeds would make an excellent alternative as well.
This keto salad recipe is designed to keep your heart healthy and your belly full. All while keeping you in ketosis and enabling you to pack in healthy fats. Plus, switch up the spices on your cauliflower (or even throw in some broccoli) to change up the flavors of the salad!
Grab the recipe for the kale and roasted cauliflower here…
Note: Leave out the golden raisins. They are not all that keto-friendly…
6. Low-Carb Cobb Salad
I love this Cobb salad for so many reasons. For one, it contains many of my favorite foods. From eggs and bacon to avocado, this is a high-fat, tasty blend low in net carbs!
With the right mix of ingredients, Cobb salad can become your perfect keto meal.
Not to mention, everything in the ingredient list brings a different texture to the table! Simply put, this salad is sure to be a huge hit.
To prep this salad, you’ll need crunchy romaine, hard-boiled eggs, and crispy bacon. In the end, dress your salad with savory blue cheese dressing (or buttermilk ranch, if you prefer) that gives the salad the perfect creaminess.
If you’re not a fan of blue cheese, feel free to substitute another creamy dressing instead!
This might be the first time you’re making this salad, but I promise it won’t be the last.
To get started, grab this amazing Cobb salad recipe here.
7. BLT Balsamic Chicken Avocado & Feta Salad
Is there any better combo than B, L & T? Add balsamic vinegar marinated chicken, avocado, and feta and you’ve got the perfect bowl.
It’s crunchy, tasty, and most importantly very filling. Once you have a bite, guaranteed, you will want a whole large bowl! It’s really that good!! It’s hard to believe something this tasty is actually healthy for you. And thank goodness, it is.
This dish contains everyone’s favorite ingredients:
Bacon, chicken in a balsamic marinade, avocado, feta, and (optional: some nuts like almonds or pecans for toppings)
The best part is, that it’s also very easy to put together and all of the ingredients are easy to find at the grocery store (or maybe even in your pantry).
Get the recipe here and see it for yourself.
8. Nicoise Keto Salad
Nicoise salad is a healthy, colorful, and protein-packed tuna salad. It’s a salad staple in French cuisine that’s also really popular around the globe.
And after one bite, you’ll understand why.
To start, the French definitely have a flair for making exciting dishes out of simple ingredients. They turn something as simple as tuna and olives into a savory salad that’s satisfying and buzzing in taste.
Add some garlic cloves to the red wine vinegar salad dressing to give it an even bigger punch of flavor.
You could always sub in apple cider vinegar if you prefer!
This salad is a perfect choice if you are limiting meat and poultry. It’s sure to be a huge hit for pescatarians and non-meat eaters.
Not to mention, you get a ton of healthy fats from both the fish and the olives, as well as the yolks of the eggs. For those with a busy schedule, rest assured this salad only takes 5 minutes to make from start to finish.
Add this salad to your keto meal plan when you feel you’re falling short on your fish intake.
Get the recipe for Nicoise Salad
9. Keto Chicken Salad
If you are not fond of seafood, then this chicken salad is your perfect choice.
Whether you want a quick bite or something to add to your mixed greens, this chicken salad is a perfect go-to. Plus, since it’s free of gluten and dairy, this salad follows the paleo (and gluten-free) diet as well.
Let’s also not forget that it’s a perfect filling for a low-net carb Keto wrap, or even a dip for celery, carrots, bell peppers, or broccoli.
This easy chicken salad recipe is packed with protein and full of flavorful herbs like dill and parsley.
Plus, we’re sneaking some veggies in there with celery and green onions. As meaty as it is, it’s still a very refreshing and clean-tasting salad you can always count on.
Learn how to make this simple, healthy, & naturally low-carb chicken salad in just a few minutes!
Find the ingredient list and instructions here at wholesomeyum.com
10. Cobb Egg Salad
When the first two ingredients are mayo and greek yogurt, you know this dish is going to give you the creaminess you crave.
We may be used to summer classics like pasta and potato salad, but eggs are such a great source of both protein and healthy fats, so we knew we had to include this Cobb egg salad in our list.
Take a traditional egg salad and add bacon, blue cheese, chives, and vinegar and you’ve got yourself a huge hit. The ranch would be a great substitute for this salad as well if you aren’t a fan of blue cheese. Plus, this would definitely keep well in the refrigerator, so you could eat it throughout the week.
Get the recipe here.
Final Word
While salads might not be the first dish you think of when you think of keto, we hope these recipes helped to change your mind.
Remember to pack in tons of fiber and nutrients with veggies, while adding fat using salad dressings made of mayo, sour cream, or yogurt.
Popular choices like ranch dressing or creamy blue cheese dressing are often good low-carb options (but always remember to check the nutrition facts).
Don’t forget to add spices and herb toppings like cilantro, basil, or parsley to add an extra punch of flavor to these meals.
Plus, these salads are just scratching the surface of possibilities, try keto broccoli salad, taco salad, chicken bacon, ranch salad, and so many more!
The possibilities are endless when you get creative with the foods in your pantry.
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