Creamy Cauliflower Faux-Tato Salad

This Creamy Cauliflower Salad recipe is a healthy low carb spin on the classic potato salad. It is perfect for a Summer BBQ and is always a hit with a crowd.

Consider yourself warned when I say that this is a mock potato salad where you toss everything together, do a taste test, and 5 minutes and half a bowl later, you need to convince yourself to save some for everyone else. It’s that good and that addicting and is the perfect side dish! This faux-tato salad will quickly become a new favorite and is the best way to fill your potato salad craving if you’re on a low-carb or Whole30 diet! 

Cauliflower is a great low-carb option to be used in place of potatoes in this healthier version to a traditional potato salad. The cauliflower florets are baked in the oven until tender, bringing out a delicious roasted flavor, which is a superior option to bland boiled potatoes. Like this traditional BLT Cauliflower Salad, I added crispy bacon because, let’s be honest, bacon makes everything taste better and adds a delicious saltiness.

The rest of the salad is packed with nutritious, fresh ingredients like chopped celery for some nice crunch, finely diced red onion to give it a kick, and fresh parsley and chives for a herby addition and to add beautiful color to this healthy cauliflower salad recipe, making it the most delicious side dish. Although I’m not always a fan of eggs, I have included hard-boiled eggs as an optional ingredient if you want some extra protein. The dressing is made of simple ingredients and is quick to make. It will probably seem quite thick when you first mix it together, but I promise it thins out once tossed in the salad. The dressing will absorb into the cauliflower florets, giving you creamy deliciousness in every bite.

This Creamy Cauliflower Potato Salad is guaranteed to be a favorite this summer. Serve it alongside grilled pork chops, steak, or chicken, or bring it to a BBQ with friends or family. If you are lucky enough to have leftovers from this great recipe, they will hold up well in the fridge for at least two days.

 

Why You Will Love This Creamy Cauliflower Salad Recipe

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• After the roasting process, this salad, with it’s creamy dressing, comes together in less than 30 minutes, making it a perfect summer side dish.
• This faux potato salad is super versatile. If you’re not on a low-carb diet or eating Whole30, simply do half cauliflower with half potatoes, and the other ingredients can easily be modified along the way. 
• This fresh cauliflower salad recipe is such a crowd-pleaser. It is the ultimate comfort food with a low-carb twist to be added to your summer salad’s go-to list.
• This recipe is low-carb, Whole30, dairy-free, gluten-free, and grain-free, making it a perfect salad for a potluck BBQ or to meet your own personal tastes or restrictions. 
• Cauliflower has many health benefits. It is super high in vitamin C, high in fiber, a great source of antioxidants, and more! 

 

Ingredients You Need To Make This Creamy Cauliflower Salad Recipe 

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• Large head of cauliflower: Pre-chopped cauliflower is a quick and convenient option for this salad. You can find it at most grocery stores. 
• Olive oil: Avocado oil is a great substitute here because it has a milder flavor. The olive oil might be a stronger flavor that will come out during the roasting process. 
• Bacon: Turkey bacon is a great substitute if you are on a low-fat and low-calorie diet. You can also omit it altogether if you are vegan. 
• Celery: Celery adds such a yummy crunch to this easy cauliflower salad. Buy pre-washed celery for a convenient way to prepare this. 
• Red Onion: White onion is the most popular substitute for red onion if you don’t have any on hand, but shallots or green onions are options, too. 
• Hard-boiled eggs (optional): I list these as optional because I’m not a fan of hard-boiled eggs, but you would also want to omit them if you are vegan. 
• Fresh Chives: Although not preferable, dried chives can definitely be used in this recipe if you don’t have any fresh ones on hand.
• Fresh Parsley: Again, I prefer fresh parsley in this recipe, but you could use dried parsley flakes. 

 

Ingredients You Need To Make The Salad Dressing

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• Mayonnaise (see link for my quick and easy homemade mayonnaise): If you don’t have time to make mayonnaise, then store-bought will work just fine!
• Pickles (check out my simple pickle recipe): I would recommend dill pickles for this recipe. Homemade pickles are so delicious, but store-bought will work just fine. Add in a splash of the pickle juice for a zesty addition. You could also use dill relish if that’s what you have on hand. 
• Dijon mustard: If you don’t have dijon mustard on hand, feel free to use regular yellow mustard. If you’re not a big mustard fan, you can modify the amount or omit it, too. 
• Salt and Black Pepper: Adjust to taste.
• Apple cider vinegar: This adds a zingy bite to the dressing, but you can also use white or red wine vinegar as a substitute. 

You can find a full list of ingredients in the recipe card below

 

Ways To Modify This Creamy Cauliflower Salad Recipe

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• You could make this a cauliflower potato salad recipe simply by doing half cauliflower and half potato. 
• Make this simple salad recipe vegetarian by omitting the bacon entirely.
• This recipe can easily be made vegan by removing the bacon and using a vegan mayonnaise.
• Hard boiled eggs are a great addition for added protein. 
• You can mix up the herbs if you want. You could add fresh dill or fresh tarragon in place of or in addition to the parsley. 
• If you’re not eating dairy-free, you can top this delicious cauliflower salad with shredded cheddar cheese. 

 

What To Serve With This Creamy Cauliflower Salad 

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The main dish to serve alongside this is vast. Here are a few suggestions:

• Pulled Pork Burgers
• The BEST Grilled Chicken
• Lemon and Herb Grilled Chicken
• Hawaiian Chicken Burger
• Bone-In Ribeye Steak with Compound Butter

 

How to Make This Creamy Cauliflower Salad Recipe

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1. Place the cauliflower florets and bacon on a sheet pan and bake in the oven until the cauliflower is tender and the bacon is crisp. 
2. Stir the dressing ingredients together. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed. 
3. Once the cauliflower is tender, remove it from the oven and allow it to cool before transferring it to a large bowl. Combine cauliflower with chopped bacon, red onion, celery, parsley, pickles and chives, and coat well with the homemade dressing.

Can I Make This Creamy Cauliflower Salad Recipe In Advance

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This is a wonderful salad recipe to make in advance. Simply make as directed and store in an airtight container for at least a few hours to allow flavors to meld together and make it even more delicious. You can also make it the night before. The cauliflower may dry out a little overnight, though, so you might reserve some of the dressing to mix in right before serving. 

 

What About Leftovers

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This creamy cauliflower salad recipe makes great leftovers. The flavors meld even more as it sits for a while. If stored in an airtight container, this will last for 3-4 days in the refrigerator and can be eaten as a great lunch the next day alongside a hearty sandwich or used as a side dish for the following night.  

Here are a few more easy salads that you might enjoy:

• Pesto Zoodle Salad with Prosciutto & Pine Nuts
• Roasted Fennel & Green Bean Salad
• Grilled Zucchini & Asparagus Salad
• Carrot Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing
• Roasted Cauliflower, Date, Red Onion & Parsley Salad

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If you make this cauliflower potato salad recipe let me know in the comment section below, I would love to hear what you think or take a photo and tag me (@everylastbite_) on Instagram, I love seeing your photos!

This recipe was originally posted on June 23, 2018 and updated with new photos and copy on July 26, 2024. The copy was updated again on May 17, 2025.