Nutrition: 147 Calories | 4g Net Carbs | 6.9g Protein | 11g Total Fat
A quick recipe for loaded cauliflower salad with bacon, cheese and creamy ranch makes an easy low carb side dish everyone will enjoy.
This recipe is an easy low carb twist on one of my favorite side salads. Potato salad is an easy make ahead dish. Growing up I always felt like baked potato salad was extra special. In this quick recipe, all we do is swap out the potato for some cauliflower. Then, add in all your favorite loaded toppings. And, voila, you have a creamy, satisfying low carb side dish and no body will miss the potatoes. Since this salad is served cold, it’s perfect for making ahead. It’s great for picnics and potlucks, and I like to have some made up for quick lunches too.
Prepare the Cauliflower
The first step in this quick recipe is to prep the cauliflower. So, cut up a head of cauliflower into small florets. Cutting the cauliflower into bite sized pieces helps all the ingredients mix together easier. If you buy a bag of precut cauliflower, you will need three to four cups of cauliflower for this recipe. If the precut cauliflower is in large pieces, cut them smaller for this salad.
After cutting up the cauliflower, it’s time to cook it. So, put all the cauliflower in a steamer pan, and add water. Leave the lid off the pan until the water comes to a boil. Once the water is boiling, put the lid on the pot, and steam the cauliflower for five minutes. After the cauliflower has steamed for five minutes, remove it from the heat. Then, rinse the cauliflower in cold water, and let it drain. It’s important not to overcook the cauliflower, or it’ll turn to mush when you’re mixing up the salad.
Creamy Ranch Sauce
The sauce for this salad couldn’t be simpler. All you need to do is mix sour cream with ranch dressing powder and season salt. If you’re looking for an easy variation, try non-fat greek yogurt instead. Then, your salad will have less fat and more protein. Another idea is to mix in fresh chopped chives or green onion. I love to do this if I have some in the refrigerator. It’s an easy way to add some more color and freshness to the loaded cauliflower salad.
Mix it Up
That’s all the preparation there is for this recipe. Once the cauliflower is cooked and the sauce is made, it’s time to mix the salad together. So, in a large mixing bowl, combine the cauliflower with shredded cheese, chopped bacon pieces and the sauce. Stir until everything is covered in sauce and evenly mixed. You can serve the loaded cauliflower salad immediately or store it in the refrigerator. Letting the salad sit for a little while after you make it actually makes the flavor even better.
Other recipes to check out: Pickled Cauliflower Salad, Layered Salad with Peas and Bacon, and Loaded Cauliflower Foil Packet
Creamy Loaded Cauliflower Salad Recipe with Bacon and Cheese
A quick recipe for loaded cauliflower salad with bacon, cheese and creamy ranch makes an easy low carb side dish everyone will enjoy.
Total Time: 20 min
Prep Time: 10 min
Cook Time: 10 min
Ingredients
- 1 Head of Cauliflower (3-4 Cups Florets)
- 6 Pieces of Bacon, cooked
- 1 Cup Shredded Cheese
- 1 Cup Sour Cream
- 2 Tbsp Ranch Mix Powder
- 1 tsp Season Salt
Directions
- Cut the cauliflower into bite sized pieces. Place the cauliflower in a steamer pot on the stove. Once the water starts boiling, put the lid on the pot. When the cauliflower has steamed for 5 minutes, remove it from the heat. Rinse the cauliflower with cold water, and let it drain.
- In a large mixing bowl, mix together the sour cream, ranch powder and season salt. Chop the cooked bacon, and add it to the bowl along with the shredded cheese.
- Add the drained cauliflower to the mixing bowl. Stir all the ingredients together. Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
Nutrition:
Yield: 8 servings, Serving Size: 1/2 Cup
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 147, Total Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 6.2g, Cholesterol: 36mg, Sodium: 573.5mg, Carbohydrates: 5.1g, Fiber 1.1g, Sugars: 2g, Protein 6.9g
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