Delicious Keto Greek Salad Recipe: Refreshing, Low-Carb & Fully Customizable!

If you're needing the perfect healthy side dish, look no further. My refreshing Keto Greek Salad is a healthier, low-carb take on classic Greek salad, but with all the deliciousness of a traditional recipe! This Keto Mediterranean Greek Salad is perfect for any night of the week and can also serve as a yummy snack. This is one of my go-to side dishes during the week. It’s filled with so much flavor and fills me right up. In addition, it is the perfect dish to take to any social gathering or picnic.

Introduction: The Allure of Keto Greek Salad

For those wondering is Greek salad keto friendly, mine definitely is! But it’s not just low carb. It’s the best keto Greek salad recipe ever! I absolutely love all the different textures and flavors. I add a large variety of ingredients to keep things interesting but also to help make this salad really filling and satisfying. Plus, my low carb salad recipe is incredibly easy and ready in just 10 minutes. It’s perfect for a quick meal or meal prep. It’s also super versatile! It’s naturally gluten-free.

What is Horiatiki?

Okay, first things first. Calling this a Greek salad is like calling all Indian dishes “curry” - it’s not wrong, but it’s doing it a disservice. We’re making Horiatiki, perhaps the most familiar of Greek salads (and there are many!). This Keto Greek salad is a gorgeous tumble of sliced red onions, bell peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, Kalamata olives, topped with salty, fresh feta, drizzled with the best olive oil you can get your hands on, and just a sprinkle of oregano. It’s everything that’s great about summer. It’s as easy as slicing up some veggies. And yes, it is Keto- friendly. And because it has such few ingredients, it really helps to get the best you can find.

Why You'll Love This Keto Greek Salad

Simple: Nothing but fresh, simple ingredients to be found in this salad!
Flavor: I love all that zesty flavor in the homemade Greek dressing!
Light & Refreshing: This cold cucumber salad is so refreshing!
Customizable: Not a fan of onions? Leave them out! No time to make your own dressing? Store bought works just fine. Love extra garlic?

Ingredients: Fresh and Flavorful

My easy Greek salad recipe is made with simple ingredients that you can find at any grocery store!

Veggies: This recipe is all about the fresh veggies! I use a combination of cherry tomatoes, green bell peppers, red onion, and cucumbers.
Tangy Add-Ons: Capers and Kalamata olives are both low carb, and are packed with flavor. Buy the Kalamative olives pitted to save time.
Feta Cheese: You can purchase feta crumbles or buy a block and crumble it yourself. If you are dairy-free you have two options; remove the feta all together to sub a dairy-free feta cheese such as Follow Your Heart or Violife.
Olive Oil: You’re going to want the good stuff! If you can get your hands on kalamata olive oil, I would highly recommend it.
Lemon Juice: We squeeze fresh lemons for the biggest flavor boost.
Dressing Ingredients: My simple homemade keto Greek salad dressing is made with healthy fats in mind.

The Keto-Friendly Cucumber

Yes, cucumbers are low in total carbs and high in fiber! And that makes them a great choice for low carb and keto diets. A single cup of raw, sliced cucumber contains only 1.5 net carbs! You bet! Not only are they low in carbs, they’re mostly just water. About 95% water to be exact. Cucumbers are also rich in essential nutrients like vitamins and minerals. It’s important to note that the majority of beneficial nutrients in cucumbers are found in the skin. They also contain antioxidants, are a good source of fiber, and are beneficial to digestive health.

Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers

Making the Keto Greek Salad: Step-by-Step

Making my keto Greek salad with feta cheese is super simple.

Prep Veggies: To begin, I slice the cherry tomatoes in half and place them into a mixing bowl.
Slice the cucumber in half lengthwise and then into 1/2 inch thick pieces.
Add the cucumber to a mixing bowl along with the diced peppers, cherry tomatoes, sliced onion, olives, artichoke hearts, banana peppers, parsley and feta cheese.
Dice the bell pepper, thinly slice the red onion, and cut the cucumber into even cubes.
Serve: When ready to serve, I transfer the salad to a serving dish and top it with the diced feta cheese.

Crafting the Perfect Keto Greek Salad Dressing

The dressing is the show stopper in this recipe. I always like to make this in advance in place in the fridge for at least 2 hours to chill. It really makes the salad tastes so much better. This dressing can be used for much more than just a salad. Use it to bring amazing flavor to veggies, proteins, and salads. In addition, you can use it as a marinade for pork, chicken, and beef. It takes no time at all to whisk together and s much healthier than any store-bought brand.

Dressing: To prepare the dressing, you’ll want to whisk together olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, garlic, Dijon mustard, oregano, salt, and pepper. This is one of those dressings that is positively bursting with flavor!
Add all of the Greek dressing ingredients to a mason jar and shake until well to blend. Season with any additional salt to taste. Place the dressing to the side.
Add the extra virgin olive oil to a bowl. To the olive oil, add one tablespoon of red wine vinegar. Lemon juice will work as sub in a pinch if you don’t have the red wine vinegar but the flavour will be different.
Whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, oregano, and salt to make the dressing. You’ll need to whisk vigorously to emulsify the oil and vinegar.
Right before serving add the dressing over the top and gently toss until evenly coated. This Greek salad dressing is on the tangy side, so feel free to reduce the amount of vinegar or lemon to suit your own personal taste.
For presentation, you can line the ingredients up on top of the salad and serve with the Greek salad dressing on the side.

Tips for the Best Keto Greek Salad

My #1 Secret Tip when making my healthy keto Greek salad is to use the freshest vegetables possible.
We prefer English cucumbers in this recipe, but any variety should be fine. You may consider peeling thicker skinned cucumbers. We recommend using English cucumbers, because they have thin peels that are not too bitter.
Use Cherry or Grape Tomatoes: Stick to these varieties instead of regular tomatoes to avoid a watery Greek keto salad.
Chill Before Serving: For the best flavor, prepare and mix the salad ingredients, then chill in the fridge for at least an hour before serving.
Pre-Make the Dressing: The salad dressing can be prepared ahead of time and stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. I actually think it tastes even better when made a day ahead.
Adjust for Lower Carbs: If you’re following a strict keto diet, reduce the tomatoes and onions for even fewer carbs to suit your macros.
If you’re not a fan of sharp, raw onions, dunk them in cold water for a bit to take some of the pungency out.

Variations and Substitutions

Yep, I did too because part of what makes this Keto Greek salad so easy is using what’s on hand. You can sub cucumbers for beets (if you’re not making a keto version). You can even throw in some lettuce - though that will make it an American-Greek salad. I didn’t have oregano handy, so I switched it out for thyme (don’t hate me, Greek fam). Of course, you can also sub the kalamata olives for regular olives or even capers.

Different Cheese: Use another kind of cheese, like goat cheese or fresh mozzarella. I have even substitute the feta with vegan cheese to make the salad completely vegan.
Add More Protein: Try making my simple keto Greek salad with chicken breast, grilled steak, or any lean meat for a higher protein option. Need to up the protein content or want to turn this into a more filling main dish?
Dressing Variations: I love to enhance my homemade Greek dressing by adding fresh herbs like oregano or basil, garlic (either fresh or powdered), black pepper, or crushed red pepper.

Serving Suggestions

This Keto Mediterranean Greek Salad can be served so many different ways. Add it as a side dish with your favorite protein, such as chicken, steak, turkey or beef. It’s also a great snack option if you are wanting to halve something healthy and yummy. Further, it is the perfect picnic salad to take to your next gathering.

My keto vegetarian Greek salad can be enjoyed in many ways, whether on its own or paired with other low carb recipes. The fresh, vibrant flavors and satisfying textures make it a versatile addition to any meal.

With Bread: Pair this salad with a slice of keto-friendly bread or even with my almond flour tortillas.
With Soup: Soup and salad is one of my favorite classic combinations!
With Sandwiches: Enjoy the salad on the side of a sandwich or wrap for added veggies and fresh flavor.
As A Side: I’ll often serve this salad as a side dish for just about any main course.
Want to add protein to make this a meal? This keto cold salad is pretty spectacular and just the right match for Keto Salmon, Grilled Lamb Kebabs, Grilled Mahi Mahi, or Keto Lamb Meatballs.
If you’re making this as a side to go with a main, may I recommend you pair it with my perfect duck breast? The acidity of the salad really cuts through the fattiness of that duck as it does through steak.

Is Greek Salad Keto?

The dressing used for Greek salad is a key factor to consider. Make sure you use a Greek salad dressing that is keto-friendly.

Additionally, if you're eating a typical Greek salad with lots of fresh vegetables and cheese, it's possible that you could go over your net carb allowance. Tomatoes and onions, in particular, are high in carbs and easy to overdo. We’ve adjusted this recipe from the traditional salad, to create a well-balanced Greek salad that can be an enjoyable part of any keto diet.

Now I can already see people losing their sh*t because this salad has 15g net carbs. I get it, if you’re one of the Keto police or someone who wants to stay below 20g come hell or high water this salad is probably not for you. However you must realize that 15g of carbs from fresh veggies like cucumber, onions, bell peppers and a fruit like tomato are very different from eating 15g of carbs from say a candy bar. Show me one person who got fat eating a cucumber or show me even a diabetic who can’t eat these vegetables. Chances are you won’t find one. So for all intents and purposes this should be fine, it’s okay to have a few extra carbs from healthy foods like veggies. But it’s a choice that you have to make. I can’t make it for you.

Does Greek Salad Contain Lettuce?

Many people believe that a Greek salad must contain lettuce, but this is actually not the case. The classic Greek salad, also known as horiatiki, is made with tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, feta cheese, Kalamata olives, and seasoned with olive oil and vinegar. Lettuce is not typically included in this dish. As with many low-carb salad recipes, we’ve made adjustments to keep our carbs in check. As such, we’ve added lettuce here.

Is Greek Salad Dressing Keto?

Traditional Greek dressing is often made with olive oil and vinegar or lemon juice, which are both generally considered keto-friendly ingredients.

Read also: Magnesium Supplements for Keto

Storage Tips

This low carb veggie salad stores really well, making it perfect for meal prep. Make a big batch of this on Sunday and use it for a quick meal prep option with your favorite protein.

Refrigeration: Transfer the salad to an airtight container and the dressing to a separate airtight container. Store both in the fridge for up to 3 days.
This keto Greek salad will last nicely in the fridge for 4-5 days, depending on how fresh the vegetables were when making the salad. Store this tightly covered in the refrigerator.

Common Questions

WHAT CAN I DO IF THE SALAD TASTES TOO SALTY OR TOO ACIDIC? If the salad is too salty, add more fresh vegetables to balance it out. If it’s too acidic, add a little more olive oil.
CAN I MAKE THE GREEK DRESSING WITHOUT OIL? Yes, you can make the dressing without oil while keeping it keto-friendly. Ingredients like avocado, Greek yogurt, or tahini make good substitutes in keto recipes.
HOW DO I PREVENT THE FETA CHEESE FROM BECOMING TOO CRUMBLY? Store the feta cheese in a brine solution in the refrigerator. When ready to use, pat it dry with a paper towel before crumbling it into the salad.
Can I store the homemade dressing? Yes, this Greek salad dressing will keep well in the refrigerator for up to a few days. Preferably in something sealed like a mason jar! This homemade dressing is great on lots of salads, and even works well as marinade for meat!
Should I peel the cucumbers? The skin of a cucumber contains the majority of the nutrients. Peeling them leaves you with mostly water. That’s fine if you prefer them that way!

Other Keto Salad Recipes to Explore

Looking for a quick and easy keto lunch idea? This keto egg salad is perfect!
The keto broccoli salad is a delicious side dish that is perfect for any occasion.
Looking for a crave-wrothy keto taco salad recipe? Look no further! This recipe is easy to follow and is sure to be a hit with your family and friends.
Try this keto spinach salad!
Keto Caesar Salad is a low carb alternative to the classic version. It’s made with Romaine lettuce, Parmesan cheese, and grilled chicken, then topped with garlicky almond crumbs.
Keto Pasta Salad is a light, healthy alternative to classic Italian pasta salad. It’s made with raw zucchini noodles, mozzarella cheese, summer sausage, and more in a simple balsamic vinaigrette dressing.
Topped with cheddar cheese, bacon, and creamy Ranch dressing, this Loaded Bacon Ranch Cauliflower Salad recipe is a delicious low carb side dish.

Conclusion: Your Go-To Keto Salad

If you're looking for a light salad option that still packs plenty of flavors, this keto greek salad is perfect for you! This is a great recipe for meal prep. This recipe serves 2 as main or 4 as a side dish.

About Karly Campbell

Karly is the recipe developer and writer behind That Low Carb Life, where she shares easy, family-friendly, low carb and keto recipes made for real life. As a busy mom and home cook, she knows the value of meals that are simple, satisfying, and won’t leave anyone missing the carbs.

tags: #keto #greek #salad #recipe