This chimichurri steak salad is everything you want in a healthy dinner recipe. High in protein, low in carbs and saturated fat, and packed with fresh summer flavors! Add this flavorful keto steak salad to your menu today.
My husband and I have been eating a lot of salads lately. I find myself putting an entree sized salad together for lunch or dinner almost every day. We make sure to keep some lettuce washed and prepped at all times to make it even easier.
This fits really well with my increased focus on low carb high protein recipes. And it isn’t like it’s some sort of chore, either. I truly enjoy the fresh flavors and getting creative with my ingredients and keto salad dressing.
This Chimichurri Steak Salad tops my list as a new favorite. It’s a big, colorful salad that tastes as good as it looks. You know you’re eating healthy and delicious at the same time.
Why you need to try this salad
I loved Chimichurri from the first moment I tasted it. My husband found a recipe in Cook’s Illustrated a long time ago and served it with some grilled steak. And it’s been a mainstay of our dinner repertoire ever since.
This easy Argentinian condiment pairs so well with proteins of any sort. It’s fairly low carb as it is but I’ve modified to be even lower in carbs. So I can drizzle this Keto Chimichurri over my favorite meats or grilled veggies with abandon.
And it’s great as the dressing on a big salad. The clean, crisp flavor of parsley and the tanginess of the vinegar are the perfect foil for greens and low carb veggies. And steak, of course, since that’s what it is meant to be paired with!
This delicious parsley sauce can last in the fridge for up to a week. Unlike pesto, which begins to brown the moment you make it, chimichurri stays fresh and green for days. I’ve actually had a jar last up to two weeks before and be as fresh as ever.
Ingredients you need
- Parsley: Fresh parsley is the main ingredient in chimichurri.
- Red onion: I cut back the onion to make it even lower in carbs, without sacrificing flavor.
- Olive oil: I have made this with avocado oil before but the original takes olive oil and I prefer the flavor.
- Red wine vinegar: You can also use apple cider vinegar, but red wine is more authentic.
- Garlic: A few cloves of fresh garlic add more flavor to the chimichurri.
- Steak: You can use less expensive cuts like flank steak or hanger steak for this recipe, as long as you slice it thinly after cooking.
- Lettuce: I like a mix of romaine and butter lettuce.
- Low carb veggies: Cucumbers, radishes, avocado, and a few grape tomatoes make this salad bright and flavorful.
- Salt and pepper
Step by Step Directions
1. Make the chimichurri: Place all of the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired.
2. Cook the steak: Season the steak on both sides with salt and pepper. Grill or pan-fry to your preferred doneness. Let rest 5 minutes before slicing thinly.
3. Arrange the salad: Arrange the lettuce on a large platter and top with sliced steak and vegetables.
4. Serve: Serve with Chimichurri as the dressing.
Expert Tips
Because the dressing adds so much flavor, you don’t need to add anything to the steak besides a little salt and pepper. Then grill or pan sear to your desired doneness. We always aim for medium-rare for us!
You can assemble the salad on a platter as a beautiful dinner presentation for a group meal. But you can also simply arrange on individual plates. Either way, I recommend passing the chimichurri at the table and allowing each person to dress their own. Like any salad, it will will and become messy if it sits too long in the dressing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Chimichurri is relatively low carb as it is, but you can lower the carbs even further by reducing the red onion. This Keto Chimichurri has only 2.3g of carbs and 0.8g of fiber per two tablespoon serving.
Chimichurri is most commonly paired with steak, but it goes well with many other proteins. I’ve used it as a keto chicken marinade, as well as a sauce for shrimp or fish. It even goes great with pork!
Store this delicious chimichurri sauce in a glass jar in the fridge for up to a week.
More delicious keto steak recipes
Keto Pepper Steak
Experience a flavor explosion with this Easy Keto Pepper Steak. With a few small changes, it’s easy to make this classic take out dish into a keto friendly meal the whole family will love! Only 3.4g net carbs per serving.
Steak Diane
Make this classic Steak Diane Recipe for a truly special keto dinner. It’s a perfect meal for date night, Valentine’s Day, or any time you want to wow someone with your gourmet cooking!
Air Fryer Steak Bites
These keto air fryer steak bites are tender and juicy, and make a super easy weeknight meal. Only 15 minutes, start to finish! Stovetop instructions included too.
Chimichurri Steak Salad Recipe
Ingredients
Chimichurri
- 1 cup fresh parsley leaves lightly packed
- 3 tablespoon chopped red onion
- 3 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 2 clove garlic
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅛ tsp red pepper flakes
Salad
- 1 ½ lb flank steak (top sirloin or hangar steak also works well)
- Salt and pepper
- 4 cups chopped lettuce romaine or butter lettuce
- ½ medium cucumber sliced
- 4 small red radishes sliced
- ½ cup grape tomatoes halved
- 1 medium avocado sliced
Instructions
Chimichurri
- Place all of the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired.
Salad
- Season the steak on both sides with salt and pepper. Grill or pan-fry to your preferred doneness. Let rest 5 minutes before slicing thinly.
- Arrange the lettuce on a large platter and top with sliced steak and vegetables. Serve with Chimichurri as the dressing.
Marcie says
This salad is AMAZING!!!! Doubled the recipe, used a 2.3 lb flank steak, had it for dinner tonight and last night. So darn good!!!!!
Michel Boehl says
I made this salad last night for dinner. We used Waygu flap steak and it was a big hit. My husband said he wants me to add this into our dinner rotation of meals. He even liked the Chimichurri and he usually won’t eat it.
CSue says
This is a great recipe for a producing garden thanks so much for the great recipe.
Anita says
Your recipes are always so reliably good. 😋
Carolyn says
Thank you!
Lillian says
Really good and very easy. Nice summer meal. I tried the blender but my Vitamix with its flat bottom just flung the stuff to the sides. Used the small cuisinart and it worked fine. Lovely taste overall. Will make again.
Carolyn says
Glad that worked for you!
Crystal says
I made this tonight and it was delicious! We have enough sauce left over, my eldest is planning on smoking some salmon in the morning and using the leftover sauce then. Even my pickier kiddo is eating this up!
Carolyn says
Thank you so much, Crystal!
Susa says
This salad sounds wonderful: first, we live in the desert, where our temps are now in triple digits regularly, so I’m trying to increase my salad repertoire; and second, we have really enjoyed visiting Argentina, so making something from there sounds like a great idea. I’m really looking forward to trying this. Since I’m in the process of planning my next cooking stint, your timing with this is perfect! It will show up in my new meal plan.
Carolyn says
Argentina is on my bucket list!!!