• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Recipe Index
  • FAQ
  • About
  • Cookbooks

All Day I Dream About Food

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • FAQ
  • About
  • Cookbooks
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipe Index
    • FAQ
    • About
    • Cookbooks
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Side Dishes » Creamy Cauliflower Salad

    Published: Jun 22, 2019 · Modified: May 6, 2022 by Carolyn

    Creamy Cauliflower Salad

    This post may contain Amazon or other affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    42.9K shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This cauliflower salad recipe goes with all your grilling favorites. It’s creamy, flavorful, and packed with classic potato salad ingredients. You won’t miss the spuds with this perfect keto side dish. And it’s dairy-free and paleo!

    A bowl filled with keto cauliflower salad, with a serving spoon sticking out of it.

    Grilling season is here and everyone is getting together for easy backyard parties and barbecues. And they’re bringing popular summer sides like potato salad. But you don’t eat potatoes, so what do you do?

    You bring this keto cauliflower salad, of course! What a silly question.

    This cauliflower salad recipe features all the great flavors and mix-ins of the potato salads you used to love as a kid, with a fraction of the carbs.

    And because it’s so light and fresh, you can indulge in even more of it. SCORE!

    Top down image of cauliflower salad in a serving bowl, with sliced hard boiled eggs on top.

    Classic cauliflower salad for summer

    Cauliflower salad has any number of possible twists and variations. It can be roasted, marinated, or lightly steamed. And you can play with the dressings and flavors to suit your tastes.

    But this recipe takes its cues from the classic potato salad served frequently in the summer. It’s packed with hard-boiled eggs, mayonnaise, mustard, and some crispy bacon for good measure.

    All tossed together in a large bowl for creamy summer salad perfection.

    Top down image of the ingredients for keto cauliflower potato salad.

    Ingredients

    This delicious keto side dish is made with fresh ingredients available everywhere. You will need:

    • Cauliflower florets
    • Hard-boiled eggs
    • Celery
    • Bacon
    • Green onion
    • Mayonnaise
    • Dijon mustard
    • Lemon juice
    • Paprika
    • Salt and pepper
    A large serving bowl with cauliflower salad, and a serving spoon to the side.

    How to make creamy cauliflower salad

    1. Hard-boil the eggs

    Bring the water to a full boil before adding the eggs, the lower them in carefully with a slotted spoon. Set the timer for 12 minutes.

    While the eggs are cooking, set up a bowl with water and ice. Once the eggs are done, transfer them straight to the ice bath to stop the cooking process. Give them 10 minutes to cool and they should peel quite easily. 

    Chop 2 of the eggs for the salad dressing, and slice the third egg for garnish.

    2. Cook the cauliflower

    Cauliflower cooks much faster than potatoes, so you want a light touch here. Don’t even leave the kitchen, it will be done in a flash!

    Cut the cauliflower into bite-sized pieces and place in a large saucepan filled about halfway with water.

    Bring to a boil and and cook only about 2 to 3 minutes before checking with a fork. You don’t be only just fork tender because it will keep cooking a bit once it’s off the stove.

    Immediately drain in a colander and let it cool completely.

    Close up shot of a serving bowl filled with classic cauliflower salad.

    3. Put it all together

    Place the cauliflower, chopped egg, bacon, celery, and green onion in a large bowl and toss to combine.

    Add the mayonnaise, mustard, lemon juice, and paprika and stir until everything is nicely coated. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and then garnish with the sliced egg and some additional paprika. 

    Place the salad in the fridge to chill for 30 minutes or so before serving.

    A black bowl of cauliflower salad sits in front of the serving dish.

    Storage information

    Keto cauliflower salad is always best fresh, but the leftovers are good for several days. Store in a covered container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

    Want more keto summer salad ideas?

    • Keto 7 Layer Salad
    • Chopped Greek Chicken Salad
    • Salmon Avocado Salad
    • Easy Green Bean Salad
    • Sriracha Broccoli Coleslaw
    • Buffalo Chicken Chopped Salad
    Top down image of cauliflower salad in a serving bowl, with sliced hard boiled eggs on top.

    Creamy Cauliflower Salad Recipe

    A perfect cauliflower salad recipe, just in time for summer. Creamy, flavorful, and packed with all your favorite potato salad add-ins. You won't miss the spuds with this perfect keto side dish.
    5 from 17 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Salad
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: cauliflower salad
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes
    Servings: 8 servings
    Calories: 238kcal

    Ingredients

    • 3 large eggs
    • 1 large head cauliflower cut into bite-sized pieces
    • 2 ribs celery sliced
    • 6 slices cooked bacon chopped
    • 2 medium green onions white and light green parts only, chopped
    • ½ cup mayonnaise
    • 2 tablespoon Dijon mustard
    • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
    • ¼ teaspoon paprika
    • Salt and pepper to taste
    US Customary – Metric

    Instructions

    • In a large pot over medium high heat, bring 2 quarts of water to a boil. Gently lower the eggs into the water and boil about 12 minutes.
    • While the eggs are cooking, fill a medium bowl with ice and water. Once the eggs are done, quickly transfer the eggs to the ice bath. Let sit 10 minutes before peeling. Chop 2 of the eggs and slice the third.
    • In another large pot, place the cauliflower florets and fill halfway with water. Bring to a boil and cook until the cauliflower is just fork tender, about 3 minutes. Drain in a colander and let cool.
    • In a large bowl, combine the chopped eggs, cauliflower, celery, bacon, and green onions, and toss to combine. Add the mayonnaise, Dijon, lemon juice, and paprika. Stir until well mixed and the cauliflower is well coated.
    • Transfer to a serving bowl and top with the sliced egg.
    Nutrition Facts
    Creamy Cauliflower Salad Recipe
    Amount Per Serving (1 serving = about ¾ cup)
    Calories 238 Calories from Fat 180
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 20g31%
    Carbohydrates 6.5g2%
    Fiber 2.5g10%
    Protein 7.5g15%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    42.9K shares

    free email series

    Secrets to Keto Baking

    Tips and tricks to delicious and healthy recipes!


    Nutritional Disclaimer

    Please note that I am not a medical or nutritional professional. I am simply recounting and sharing my own experiences on this blog. Nothing I express here should be taken as medical advice and you should consult with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. I provide nutritional information for my recipes simply as a courtesy to my readers. It is calculated using MacGourmet software and I remove erythritol from the final carb count and net carb count, as it does not affect my own blood glucose levels. I do my best to be as accurate as possible but you should independently calculate nutritional information on your own before relying on them. I expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website.

    Reader Interactions

    We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

    Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. Beth Brown says

      May 24, 2022 at 12:34 pm

      5 stars
      Loved this! I used celery salt as I love that flavor with regular potato salad!

      Reply
    2. Laura says

      May 07, 2022 at 4:50 pm

      5 stars
      I like to try anything that is supposed to taste like something else it just never measures up. but I tried this tonight and I can only say thank you for this recipe; It’s delicious full of flavour and the texture is very similar.

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        May 08, 2022 at 8:05 am

        Hooray, glad to hear it!

        Reply
    3. Connie Fowler says

      May 07, 2022 at 7:39 am

      Made this last night and am taking it in a cooler to an out-of-town family lunch today. Can’t wait to see what everyone thinks of it.

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        May 07, 2022 at 9:17 am

        Hope you love it!

        Reply
    4. Tree says

      March 09, 2022 at 1:57 am

      5 stars
      I’ve been making a salad like this for a few years. Only difference is I add chopped red onions instead of green. It’s so yummy! A friend once called it Faux-tato salad and it’s stuck with me ever since.

      Reply
      • Keith says

        April 18, 2022 at 6:14 am

        I haven’t made this yet, as I’m stuck at the office right now, but tonight…. Been dying for a keto potato salad and finally got the proper frustration level to actually search for it, and here it is, by God!. I’m drooling, thinking about digging into this with dinner tonight.
        Anyway, I am kinda new to Keto and recently turned to what many Americans call Zoodles (Zucchini noodles) for replacing pasta in various dishes. Before discovering this name, I had already coined the personal favorite term of Faux-tuccini. My brother and sister, both still in the U.S., liked the name and now use it exclusively 😀 Between that, and red lentil mocked liver salad, I think I’m on a roll.
        Try the deep-fried veal fritters. don’t forget to tip your waiter. I’ll be here all week!

        Reply
    5. Penny Hope says

      February 27, 2022 at 1:50 pm

      5 stars
      This is delicious! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    6. Kris Downs says

      August 10, 2021 at 9:47 pm

      5 stars
      I have made this several times. It is a winner at my house.

      Reply
    7. Kathy Cooke says

      November 05, 2020 at 9:46 pm

      5 stars
      Absolutely delicious! You would almost swear it was regular potato salad. I used chives rather than green onions, a large head of cauliflower, and made my own avocado oil mayonnaise. Made a huge container full – probably 8 cups total. The directions for boiling the eggs were spot on. I had been using a method recommended by Julia Child, but this actually worked better! The shells came off sometimes in just one piece.

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        November 05, 2020 at 10:44 pm

        Excellent!

        Reply
    8. Beth Shields says

      August 13, 2020 at 12:21 pm

      Just found your site and am excited to try some of the recipes. Pinned this one and got the Keto baking information. Thanks!

      Reply
    9. Julie says

      July 02, 2020 at 1:06 pm

      5 stars
      Okay, this surprised me. I was not holding out too much hope for the cauliflower replacement for potatoes in potatoe salad, but all the taste and texture was there with the usual potatoe salad ingredients (I added dill pickles) and this was good! This will be a summer staple for me. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        July 02, 2020 at 1:14 pm

        So glad you liked it!

        Reply
    10. MCWoodlands says

      June 20, 2020 at 5:09 pm

      5 stars
      Just made this. YES! YES! YES! This definitely quells my craving for potato salad. And I followed your tip for the eggs, exactly, and I swear the shells practically slipped off the eggs by themselves. The only change I made was using 4 eggs instead of 3. SO DELICIOUS!

      Reply
    11. Dawnj says

      May 09, 2020 at 3:01 pm

      5 stars
      For the potato salad lover this meets your yearning and our undying gratitude Carolyn! We have made it as a side and eaten as a main dish.

      Reply
    12. Shar says

      April 11, 2020 at 12:44 pm

      Carolyn,
      To make my hard cooked eggs, I put the eggs in an empty pot and then cover them with cold water (enough to cover the eggs) I do not put a lid on at this point.
      Let the water with the eggs come to a boil and then when they reach this point take them off the burner, put on a lid and then just let them sit covered for 12 minutes.
      Once that is done run them under cold water and peel using a very thin spoon to get under the shell. Peel under running water or in the pot of water and eggs.
      Works very well and never a grey ring around the yolks.
      Looking forward to trying your cauliflower salad recipe. Really enjoy your recipes.

      Reply
    13. Anne says

      October 20, 2019 at 12:13 am

      I love this recipe. Other bloggers got popular in this low carb, keto rush. But Carolyn’s recipes are complete….well done and reliable. Can’t say that for every keto low carb blogger/author.

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        October 20, 2019 at 7:53 am

        Thank you so much!

        Reply
        • Brenda Taylor says

          August 15, 2020 at 12:16 pm

          I agree 100 percent! Carolyn’s recipes are the best. She knows what she’s doing!

          Reply
    14. Susan says

      July 05, 2019 at 11:06 am

      Has anyone made it with frozen cauliflower? I am a little concerned about it being a bit mushy. Although, that wouldn’t bother me. This sounds delish!

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        July 05, 2019 at 12:56 pm

        I do think it might end up a bit mushy… I would cook the cauliflower a lot less.

        Reply
    15. Elita says

      July 02, 2019 at 8:12 pm

      5 stars
      I recently discovered your blog and everything I have tried has been delicious! Most of the time my family doesn’t even know it’s a keto recipe (whic is saying A LOT!), they just think it’s yummy. This “Faux-tato” salad is no exception! I made it as written for a bbq and it was a big hit. The next day, I experimented a bit with the leftovers by adding smoked paprika and a few dashes of cayenne pepper (I like spice), and YUM! Thank you for all you do for us keto girls in the world who need flavor, texture and creativity!

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        July 03, 2019 at 9:13 am

        Sounds fabulous. So glad you liked it.

        Reply
    16. Rosemary Edwards says

      July 01, 2019 at 7:08 pm

      Can you make this ahead of time, say the day before. Thank you

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        July 01, 2019 at 8:27 pm

        You bet!

        Reply
    17. Colleen says

      June 24, 2019 at 2:42 pm

      Have you tried adding diced dill pickles? Something I have done with traditional potato salad. So glad I found your website. A fellow coworker turned me on to you today!!!

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        June 24, 2019 at 8:38 pm

        I think it would be fantastic!

        Reply
    18. John-Mark says

      June 23, 2019 at 2:14 pm

      Just a heads up that the recipe instructions on Pete & Jerry’s site never mention cooking the bacon, which might add to the prep time. Just trying to be thoroug, not critical.

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        June 23, 2019 at 4:54 pm

        Thanks.

        Reply
    19. Rita says

      June 23, 2019 at 6:50 am

      5 stars
      All I can saw is Oh WOW! This salad is delectable and delicious! Satisfied my craving for summer potato salad…
      We will make it again and again. Thank you ????

      Reply
      • Carolyn says

        June 23, 2019 at 10:07 am

        Glad to hear it!

        Reply
    20. Bobbi says

      June 22, 2019 at 6:42 am

      Try steaming your eggs instead of boiling. So much easier to peel after. This recipe looks great, can’t wait to try it!

      Reply
    Newer Comments »

    Primary Sidebar

    FREE Secrets to Keto Baking

    Tips and tricks to delicious and healthy recipes!

    NEW E-COOKBOOK!
    The cover of Easy Dairy-Free Keto Desserts ebook.

    Carolyn Portrait

    Looking for the best low carb recipes? You’ve come to the right place! I’m Carolyn, a major carnivore and an unrepentant sweet tooth. Here you will find all you need to enjoy the low carb keto lifestyle to the fullest! Read more

    COPYRIGHT © 2023 · ALL DAY I DREAM ABOUT FOOD · DISCLOSURE POLICY · PRIVACY POLICY

    Copyright© 2023