A high-fat, low-carb Keto Salad is a great way to enjoy your vegetables on a keto diet! This salad is easy-to-make, full of flavor, and only has 6 grams of net carbs per serving.

Keto Salad on a plate with a fork

Why you should make this recipe

Serving delicious salads is a great way to include more veggies into a keto diet. And this keto Cobb salad does not disappoint. 

Even for those not following a keto diet, this salad is a great way to enjoy your greens, healthy fats, and nearly 40 grams of protein. This recipe is packed with flavor and will keep you full for hours!

The great thing about Cobb salad is that the traditional recipe is already naturally low in carbs. There’s no need for keto-friendly substitutes. 

Ingredients

With 6 essential ingredients, you’ll be on your way to an easy and healthy lunch. Keep most of the ingredients low-carb to keep the Cobb salad keto.

  • mixed greens: this can be any combination of lettuces like baby greens, romaine lettuce, red leaf lettuce, etc.
  • chicken: shredded or cubed chicken breast is excellent; leftover roast chicken will also work
  • egg: one hardboiled egg is sufficient for healthy fats and added protein
  • feta cheese: or blue cheese for traditional Cobb salad flavor
  • bacon: cooked and crumbled bacon; you’ll need about four slices of bacon or ¼ cup of crumbled bacon
  • avocado
  • cherry tomatoes

Step-by-step instructions

This simple salad is a great recipe for something quick and delicious!

Step 1: Place the mixed greens into a large salad bowl or plate.

Step 2: Slice the hardboiled egg, and dice the cherry tomatoes and avocado. Transfer to the bed of mixed greens.

Step 3: Finally, add the shredded chicken breast, feta cheese, and crumbled bacon.

That’s it! You can drizzle one tablespoon of Ranch dressing for 73 calories and about 8 grams of fat (this is not included in the nutrition facts below). Or use a dressing of your choice. Then enjoy the whole serving for an easy and healthy meal.

All of the ingredients for the salad on a wooden cutting board

Expert tips

A great benefit of salad is the versatility and flexibility to make it your own based on taste preferences and dietary needs. Check out these helpful tips to make this simple meal suitable for anyone. 

  • For true keto: keep the tomatoes low. Using only four cherry tomatoes keeps the carb count low while enjoying the juicy flavor and texture.
  • However, if you are not on a ketogenic diet, you’re welcome to use a standard amount of tomato, as seen in the pictures. 
  • Flexibility in cheese: Traditional Cobbs use blue cheese or Roquefort cheese, but this keto salad recipe calls for feta cheese instead. It has a milder flavor and is just as good in Cobb salad.
  • For meal prep: prep the Cobb salad ingredients and keep them separate in an airtight container until ready to serve. Have cooked chicken breast, hard-boiled eggs, and tomatoes and lettuce prepped, then pull it out and enjoy a healthy lunch in minutes.

Variations

If you don’t follow a keto diet but still want to enjoy this delicious Cobb, a few simple tweaks will make it a perfect salad for anyone!

This recipe, as written, contains about 24 grams of fat. To reduce the fat, you can omit the bacon and avocado and be extra conservative with your dressing.

Additionally, to increase the amount of protein, you can double the chicken breast from 2 ounces to 4 ounces, giving you almost 56 grams of protein in the salad.

Lastly, feel free to include whatever veggies you desire if you don’t need to watch the carb count! While small cherry tomatoes are great for keto, big Roma tomatoes are lovely in a Cobb salad, and shredded carrots add great flavor and texture.

Serving suggestions

Blue cheese dressing has traditionally been the classic Cobb salad dressing. It’s a creamy blend of yogurt, blue cheese crumbles, garlic, lime juice, and salt and pepper. However, it has a very peculiar taste that not everyone is keen on and is typically high in calories. 

I prefer using Keto Ranch Dressing. Or keep this easy salad simple with a simple vinaigrette made with red wine vinegar and extra virgin olive oil. Both options contain only 1 gram of net carbs per tablespoon. So there is no reason not to dress your salad to keep it keto friendly.

Closeup of fully prepared salad on a plate

Storage

If you have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

However, this keto salad is best enjoyed in one sitting. Chopped avocado will begin to brown due to oxidation. Even though it’s still perfectly safe to eat, the appearance will not be appetizing. Furthermore, dressing added to the lettuce will make the salad soggy.

If you want to prep a bit in advance, chop the cooked bacon, shred the chicken, and hard boil an egg and store it in an airtight container. Also, have a bottle of homemade Ranch dressing ready to go. That way, once you’re in the mood for chicken Cobb salad, your ingredients will be prepped, and you can enjoy a healthy lunch in minutes.

Frequently asked questions

Can I eat salads on keto?

Salads are a great addition to anyone on a ketogenic diet. Ensure that the ingredients are low-carb and keto. Some excellent low-carb vegetables are various lettuces like romaine, red leaf, spinach, and kale. Cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, cucumber, green bell peppers, and tomatoes are also great additions to a low-carb salad. And don’t forget the healthy fats like avocado and olives.

What salad dressing is best on keto?

Any sugar-free salad dressing is an excellent option for people on the keto diet. Avoid dressings made with sweeteners like honey and maple syrup, or use a sugar-free alternative. Furthermore, a basic salad vinaigrette blend with vinegar and extra virgin olive oil is keto and delicious on most salads.

How many carbs are in keto salad?

The amount of carbs in a keto salad entirely depends on the salad’s ingredients. As long as most of the ingredients are low-carb and keto, the salad will be low in carbs overall. As written in the recipe card, this keto salad recipe is for one serving, which contains 12 grams of carbs and 6 grams of fiber. As a result, there are only 6 grams of net carbs per serving.

Other healthy keto recipes

If you’re looking for a few more tasty meals to enjoy on a keto diet, check out my ketogenic meal plan or take a peek at these recipes:

For even more high-fat, low-carb inspiration, I put together a round up of my favorite delicious keto fat bomb recipes!

When you’ve tried this recipe, please don’t forget to let me know how you liked it and rate the recipe in the comments below!

Keto Salad

4.06 from 18 votes
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A high-fat, low-carb Keto Salad is a great way to enjoy your vegetables on a keto diet! This salad is easy-to-make, full of flavor, and only has 6 grams of net carbs per serving.
Author: Ariel Warren, RDN, CD, CDCES
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 1

Ingredients 

  • 2 cups mixed green salad, or any combination of red leaf lettuce, romaine lettuce, spinach, etc..
  • 1 hard boiled egg
  • 4 cherry tomatoes, approximately 2-4 ounces
  • ½ avocado
  • cup cooked chicken breast, approximately 2 ounces
  • ¼ cup feta cheese, crumbled, approximately 1 ounce
  • ¼ cup cooked bacon, crumbled

Instructions

  • Place the mixed greens into a large salad bowl or plate.
    2 cups mixed green salad
  • Slice the hardboiled egg, and dice the cherry tomatoes and avocado. Transfer to the bed of mixed greens.
    1 hard boiled egg, 4 cherry tomatoes, ½ avocado
  • Add the shredded chicken breast, feta cheese, and crumbled bacon.
    ⅓ cup cooked chicken breast, ¼ cup feta cheese, crumbled, ¼ cup cooked bacon, crumbled

Notes

This recipe is for 1 serving of keto salad. Each serving has 6 net carbs (without dressing).
Serving suggestions: Dress the salad with Keto Ranch Dressing, red wine vinaigrette, or another low-carb salad dressing.
Variations: For a more traditional Cobb salad, you can substitute the feta cheese for blue cheese and use a blue cheese dressing. To make the salad non-keto, decrease fat by reducing or omitting the bacon or avocado. You can increase the protein by doubling the amount of chicken breast.
Storage:  Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. However, this salad is best enjoyed right away. When stored, dressing will make the lettuce a bit mushy over time and the avocado will oxidize. 
Meal prep: To prep in advance, chop the cooked bacon, shred the chicken, and hard boil an egg and store in an airtight container until ready to serve.

Nutrition Info Per Serving

Nutrition Facts
Keto Salad
Amount per Serving
Calories
412
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
23.6
g
36
%
Saturated Fat
 
7.1
g
36
%
Trans Fat
 
0
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
2.3
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
8.8
g
Cholesterol
 
264.3
mg
88
%
Sodium
 
914
mg
38
%
Potassium
 
543
mg
16
%
Carbohydrates
 
11.9
g
4
%
Fiber
 
6
g
24
%
Sugar
 
2.9
g
3
%
Protein
 
38.4
g
77
%
Vitamin A
 
7520
IU
150
%
Vitamin C
 
62.1
mg
75
%
Calcium
 
216
mg
22
%
Iron
 
4.4
mg
24
%
Net carbs
 
5.9
g
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.