Welcome to your new favorite healthy and incredibly satisfying dish: the Low-Carb Chicken Broccoli Salad with an irresistibly creamy lemon garlic dressing. This isn’t just a side dish; it’s a versatile meal solution, perfect for a quick, fulfilling keto lunch, a vibrant addition to any potluck, or a stress-free side for your next holiday gathering. Designed with simplicity and flavor in mind, this recipe delivers on taste without compromising your low-carb or ketogenic goals. Prepare to delight your taste buds with a fresh, zesty, and hearty salad that will keep you fueled and satisfied.
Your Go-To Keto Chicken Broccoli Salad for Any Occasion
Finding meals that are both delicious and align with a low-carb lifestyle can sometimes feel like a challenge, but this chicken broccoli salad rises to the occasion. It’s not only hearty enough to stand alone as a main course for lunch or dinner but also makes a fantastic, crowd-pleasing side dish for holiday parties or family dinners. One of its standout features is its budget-friendly nature. Utilizing readily available ingredients like canned chicken keeps costs down without sacrificing flavor or quality. However, the beauty of this recipe lies in its adaptability. If you prefer, a shredded rotisserie chicken can be a brilliant time-saver, letting you assemble this salad in mere minutes after a busy day.
For those who love to plan ahead, consider cooking a batch of chicken breasts in your slow cooker at the start of the week. This simple strategy ensures you have cooked chicken on hand for a variety of recipes, including this vibrant salad. Having pre-cooked chicken ready means you can easily whip up different low-carb meals throughout the week, such as dill chicken salad pickle boats or low-carb pesto chicken salad. The convenience of having extra chicken in your fridge will inspire endless culinary possibilities, making healthy eating both easy and exciting.
Crafting the Irresistible Creamy Lemon Garlic Dressing
What truly elevates this particular salad from good to exceptional is its bright, luscious dressing. Forget bland, store-bought options; this homemade creation combines the richness of mayonnaise with the tangy zest of plain Greek yogurt, resulting in a perfectly balanced flavor profile that’s both creamy and refreshingly tart. This unique combination ensures the dressing is light enough not to overpower the other ingredients, yet robust enough to make every bite memorable. To this delightful base, we add a touch of garlic salt for savory depth and, crucially, fresh lemon juice. The freshness of the lemon is paramount here. While bottled lemon juice is convenient, it simply cannot replicate the vibrant, sun-kissed flavor that freshly squeezed lemon imparts, transforming your salad into a culinary masterpiece.
When it comes to seasoning, a little attention to detail goes a long way. If you opt for garlic salt, remember it already contains sodium, so you’ll likely need minimal, if any, additional salt. However, if using garlic powder, you might want to add a dash or two of salt to taste, ensuring the flavors are perfectly harmonized. Always taste the dressing as you go and adjust the seasonings to your preference. A pinch of black pepper, a hint of onion powder, or even a sprinkle of dried dill can further enhance this already incredible dressing, making it truly your own.
Mastering Meal Prep: Storing Your Creamy Broccoli Salad
One of the many benefits of this creamy broccoli salad recipe is its exceptional suitability for meal prepping. It’s incredibly easy to prepare a large batch at the beginning of the week, saving you precious time on busy days. Once assembled, simply transfer the salad to an airtight container and refrigerate. This careful storage will keep your low-carb chicken broccoli salad fresh and delicious for up to a week. The flavors will even meld and deepen over time, often tasting even better the next day!
However, it’s worth noting that after about seven days, you might notice a slight change in the texture of the broccoli, becoming a little softer. While still perfectly safe to eat, the crispness will diminish, and the overall appeal might not be quite as vibrant. For optimal enjoyment, aim to consume the salad within the first five to six days. This makes it an ideal choice for healthy lunches throughout your work week, ensuring you always have a satisfying, keto-friendly option readily available.
Endless Variations: Customizing Your Keto Broccoli Salad with Chicken
While the combination of broccoli and chicken is a classic for a reason, this keto broccoli salad with chicken is wonderfully adaptable, allowing you to experiment with different ingredients to keep things exciting. Instead of relying solely on broccoli, consider adding an assortment of other low-carb vegetables. Cauliflower florets, crisp bits of raw cucumber, or even thinly sliced radishes can introduce new textures and flavors. If you enjoy a touch of sweetness, a small amount of finely shredded carrots can be incorporated, but remember that carrots are higher in carbs than broccoli, so adjust the quantity if you’re strictly counting macros. For an extra layer of flavor and crunch, try adding chopped bell peppers (any color), celery, or even a handful of sunflower seeds or slivered almonds.
Beyond vegetables, don’t hesitate to change up the protein! This recipe is fantastic for repurposing leftovers. Imagine transforming holiday turkey into a fresh, new meal by incorporating it into this salad. The creamy dressing and vibrant broccoli completely mask any “leftover” taste, making it feel like an entirely new dish. Leftover ham is another excellent choice, provided it wasn’t coated in a sugary glaze. Salted or unglazed ham adds a wonderful savory element and is perfectly keto-friendly. For an even richer flavor, crisp up some extra bacon to stir directly into the salad, not just as a garnish. You could also try grilled shrimp for a seafood twist, or even hard-boiled eggs for a vegetarian option, adjusting the dressing to complement the new protein. The possibilities are truly endless!
A Crowd-Pleasing Keto Holiday Side Dish
When it comes to sharing delicious food, especially during the holidays, this keto chicken and broccoli salad is an absolute winner. It’s one of those rare dishes that appeals to everyone, not just those following a keto or low-carb diet. The rich flavors, creamy texture, and fresh ingredients ensure that even guests who typically shy away from “healthy” or “sugar-free” recipes will genuinely enjoy it. A significant advantage is that this salad contains no artificial sugar substitutes, which means you won’t encounter any unpleasant aftertastes that can sometimes deter people from low-carb options. Its natural deliciousness speaks for itself.
Moreover, the simplicity of its preparation makes it an ideal last-minute contribution to any potluck or holiday dinner. You can whip it up quickly without stress, ensuring you have a flavorful and nutritious dish to share, even when time is tight. Consider this your reliable backup recipe – perfect for those moments when you need something delicious, easy, and universally appealing in a pinch. It’s a guaranteed hit that will earn you compliments and perhaps even requests for the recipe!
Low-Carb Chicken and Broccoli Salad Recipe
Ready to make this incredible salad? Below you’ll find the full, printable recipe card with all the details you need. Before you dive into the instructions, I’ve included some step-by-step photos to guide you through the process, ensuring perfect results every time. Don’t forget to save this post to your favorite easy salad recipes board on Pinterest so you can effortlessly find it whenever that craving strikes!
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 6
Ingredients:
- 4 cups Broccoli, chopped
- 1/3 cup Red Onion, chopped
- 12 ounces Canned Chicken, drained
- 7 strips Bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1/3 cup Mayo
- 1/2 cup Greek Yogurt, plain, unsweetened
- 1/2 tsp Garlic Salt
- 2 tbsp Lemon juice, fresh squeezed
Instructions:
In a large bowl, combine the chopped broccoli, red onion, and drained canned chicken. Gently toss to combine.
In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, Greek yogurt, and garlic salt until smooth and well combined. This forms your creamy dressing base.
Pour the prepared dressing over the chopped ingredients in the large bowl. Mix thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing.
Stir in the fresh lemon juice and 5 of the crumbled bacon strips. Reserve the remaining 2 strips for garnish.
Taste the salad and add additional salt and pepper as needed to achieve your desired flavor balance.
When you are ready to serve, garnish individual portions or the entire bowl with the remaining bacon crumbles for an extra touch of flavor and visual appeal.
Pin this recipe for later and enjoy!
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Low-Carb Chicken Broccoli Salad
This low-carb chicken broccoli salad is topped with a creamy lemon garlic dressing. It’s the best side or keto lunch idea!
Course: Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chicken broccoli salad, keto salad, low-carb chicken
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 275 kcal
Ingredients
- 4 cups Broccoli, chopped
- 1/3 cup Red Onion, chopped
- 12 ounces Canned Chicken, drained
- 7 strips Bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 1/3 cup Mayo
- 1/2 cup Greek Yogurt, plain, unsweetened
- 1/2 tsp Garlic Salt
- 2 tbsp Lemon juice
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine chopped broccoli, red onion and canned chicken.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together mayo, greek yogurt & garlic salt.
- Pour the dressing over the chopped ingredients and mix well.
- Stir in lemon juice and 5 crumbed strips of bacon.
- Add salt and pepper to taste.
- When you are ready to serve, garnish with remaining bacon crumbles.
Recipe Notes
Calories: 275
Net Carbs: 5 Net Carbs Per Serving
The nutritional information for this recipe is calculated as a courtesy and is an approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipes on this site.
More Delicious Keto Holiday Side Dishes You’ll Love
If you’ve enjoyed the fresh and satisfying taste of this low-carb chicken broccoli salad, then you’re in for a treat! We’ve curated a selection of other fantastic low-carb holiday side dishes that are equally delicious and perfect for maintaining your keto lifestyle without compromising on flavor during festive occasions. Explore these recipes to expand your repertoire of healthy and enjoyable meals:
- Keto Pumpkin Fritters With Garlic and Parmesan
- Keto Lemon Butter Scallops
- Tzatziki Egg Salad
- Low-Carb Eggnog Cheesecake Bars
- Low-Carb Cranberry Bars