Why not a potato salad made with cauliflower instead of potatoes? It takes absolutely no more time than potatoes, is healthier for you, and just as tasty. A traditional potato salad recipe made healthier, this is the best Cauliflower Potato Salad no-wait- the best potato salad… period.
This Cauliflower potato salad is delicious! I was prepared to not like it. Or, simply tolerate it. But…I think it’s wonderful! Not as wonderful as chocolate cake. But, come on….that’s not even a fair comparison. We can’t eat chocolate cake all the time.
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Growing up we weren’t exposed to a lot of veggies. My parents tried, to be fair, but when there were as many kids (10!) as us, it can get expensive to have fresh veggies! We had a lot of canned, soggy veggies. But all that means is that we now adore eating fresh veggies. And cauliflower is one that scores high points in our books!
I am in love with how easy it is to swap out cauliflower for potatoes in so many recipes. I do it often in macaroni and cheese and ABSOLUTELY use cauliflower for mashed cauliflower instead of potatoes.
This recipe is meant to be shared at a picnic or potluck. Don’t keep it all to yourself…get friends and family over!
You won’t even know it’s cauliflower instead of potato!
My family asks for this cauliflower potato salad recipe all the time in the picnic season and I am always happy to oblige! I’ll admit that each time I make it I change up the recipe a bit, omitting the bacon, adding peppers or scapes, trading out yellow mustard for dijon, etc. These sort of recipes are perfect for playing and adjusting to what you have on hand.
I’m looking forward to spending the summer outdoors with my family, sitting around a picnic table, playing cards, and eating all the things. There is something so special about those summer hours that involve eating hotdogs, potato salad, and watermelon..isn’t there?
Tip: A food processor is a great way to get veggies chopped up quick and easy! Use it to chop the celery and onions for this recipe.
Best Cauliflower Potato Salad
Ingredients
- a head of cauliflower
- 6 hard-boiled eggs-chopped
- 3 stalks of celery-chopped
- 1 small onion-chopped
- 1 cup frozen peas-thawed
- 1/2 pkg bacon--cooked and crumbled
- 1 cup mayo (I use 1/2 cup greek yogurt 1/2 cup mayo)
- 1 tab mustard
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Boil the cauliflower until fork tender (about 10 min)--do NOT cook longer than fork tender. (you could also steam the cauliflower for great results!)
- Mix ingredients together.
- Put in fridge for at least 3 hours.
- This tastes much better after sitting in the fridge for a day or more! NO SERIOUSLY, IT DOES!
Other Picnic Salads:
Buffalo Chicken Salad // I had this once from a grocery deli and had to figure out how to recreate it for football season (SKOL Vikings!). It is a perfect mix of buffalo spicy and cool dressing. Fab for parties and entertaining!
Watermelon Red Onion Salad // If you have never tried mixing watermelon and onion together…try it! Guaranteed you’ll be hooked. If not, don’t even come back here to tell me about it :). Jk. You can. Quietly.
Picnic Cocktails:
Lemon Drop Cocktail // The magic of this little cocktail is how easy it is to make. No, that’s a lie. Truly, it’s serving it in the tiny lemon shot glasses. Do NOT skip that. Just don’t.
Rhubarb Margarita// Just say Margarita with me. —Marg- a- LOVE- rit- LOVE- a . Did you catch that? Totally love this drink. It’s sweet and tart and oh so lush. I’m making myself thirty.
One of my favorite salads! Made this for a dinner party the other day and everyone was asking for the recipe!
Author
Hooray! Just what we like to here :)
This is absolutely delicious. I put the crumbled bacon on top just before serving…
Author
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! And bacon, in any way, is always a good idea ;).
Super!! I was thinking the other night, I could make a cauliflower version of potato salad. Well, this was the first one I looked at. I did make modifications, as I had no peas. I added chopped dill pickles, one of my things I like in potato salad. I also used a bit more mayo, about 1 1/2 cups. I also didn’t control my cauliflower cooking as well as I should have and it got a little softer but workable. This is fantastic. Taking a big batch on our weekend camping trip. Great Keto comfort food! Thanks!!
Author
So glad to hear it! I think this recipe is similar to traditional potato salad in that you can totally customize it to your liking. And yes, the cauliflower can go over fairly quickly. Just a quick steam and it’s about perfect. Glad you loved it and hope it will be a regular addition to your menu. It’s nice to have alternatives to some of the favorites.
Just an update: Our camping friends had seconds. They are not necessarily fans of our keto diet usually but literally gobbled this stuff up. I’m making more today!
thanks again, this is a Wow!!
Author
Hooray! So glad to hear it!
I made this califlower potato salad today and it came delicious! One of your reviewers mentioned about how much it tastes like the real deal and she wasn’t kidding. You can hardly tell the difference. Let me mention that I steamed my califlower in my Tupperware steamer bowl. Followed your recipe exactly. This one is a definite keeper.
Recipe calls for 1 tab of mustard – is that supposed to be TBSP?
Author
Sorry, yep! My family always yells at me because I do that. Trying hard to remember the whole world doesn’t shorten tablespoon by tab :).
EXCELLENT! As good or better than any potato salad I’ve ever had. I omitted the peas to make it keto and used mayo only. I advise letting the cauliflower thoroughly drain and cool while chopping the eggs and veggies.
Author
Thanks for the great tips! And you are right…so very very good!
I made this but cut my cauliflower too small…still delish, but two of us ate it all…not sure how you would get even 4 servings and the above said 8-10???
I love roasting my cauliflower for this salad but….i also use 1/2 of fennel bulb cut I to like size chunks also I drizzle EVOO salt n pepper and I couldn’t imagin this salad without the tangy zing of turmeric!! While thats all roasting I chopp yellow and red peppers 6 boiled eggs and sundries tomatoes(packed in oil) and half n half mayo and Greek yogurt I add 2tbsp of dill
Author
I love turmeric in these salad’s, as well. And fennel is a great idea!
Hi,
I’m making this for tomorrow. I prepared and. It everything, should I put the dressing on tonight. Also, I cut the flowrets to small piece after I steamed it and. It off the little stems. I thinks I cut it too small. Is that going to make a difference. Should I add the little steamed stems
Author
Put the dressing on when the cauliflower has cooled. And the little stems are fine. It would simply be a texture thing. So sorry for not getting back to you sooner!! I hope you figured it out and it turned out delicious.
Janel,
This was fantastic and my husband loved it! He was so surprised!
Nanc
Author
Yahoo! It surprises everyone how good it is! Thanks for taking the time to let us know…appreciated!
Hi Janel! I’m finally trying your Cauliflower Potato salad tonight! My husband is not too thrilled; he just doesn’t think it will be good. He does like cauliflower, though, so we shall see! I cooked it yesterday and let let it get cold overnight and threw it together today. Only had four eggs, but it will be fine. Looks delicious!
Nancy S.
Author
Yay!! Let me know if your husband turns into a convert. I found that if I don’t tell people that it is cauliflower they don’t seem to notice…until it’s too late :)
Has anyone ever used frozen cauliflower florets? If so, how did it taste? Did you have to change any preparation?
Author
Great idea! I would simply steam them until they are cooked through, cool them, and then proceed. I really like that shortcut…great idea!
I’ll be trying this tomorrow . It sounds delicious – thanks for keeping it “alive” on the web!
Every time I make it, it comes out watery instead of creamy….any suggestions ?
Author
Oh no!! I’m so sorry to hear that. I would bet that the cauliflower is a bit over-cooked and needs to be drained.
Steam your cauliflower instead of boiling in water. That’s what I do when I make mashed cauliflower (like mashed potatoes). Steam about 10 minutes or until fork tender.
Author
Yes, I believe another reader mentioned that. It’s also a great way to avoid too much liquid in the salad. Thanks!!
I added 3/4 cup shredded cheddar and used honey mustard . So good…could not stop eating it. Best if chilled overnight. Thanks for all your great recipes.
Hi. Are you breaking the cauli into small florets before cooking for 10 minutes? And have you tried steaming them?
Author
I do break them into smaller florets before I cook them. And no, I haven’t tried steaming them. But that is a very good idea! It would help reduce the chance of them getting too soft.
Would be nice if you included the nutritional information.
Author
Lori, Yes, it certainly would! We are working on getting a program in place to help with that. Hopefully we have it soon. Thanks for stopping!
Use myfitnesspal.com to figure nutritional values. Plug in ingredients and their measure. It may not be laboratory perfect but it will be close.
May I say this without being stoned?? I’m really not a big fan of potato salad. I know that doesn’t sound American does it?? But it would be one of the last things I put on my plate and I do like potatoes. NOW — this cauliflower salad would be one of the first to be plopped on the plate. Next family gathering I’m taking this!! Thank you for sharing and “no” I don’t need the calories and nutritional value — it is what it is. If I knew it wouldn’t change whether I made it and ate it or not . :-) Hope you had a Happy Independence Day!!
Author
I agree. I’m not a huge fan of potato salad, either. This version is the only one I make, when I feel that it’s needed. Try it out and let me know how it goes over!
This would be really good if you also chopped some cucumber in the salad it gives it a very fresh taste
Author
Thanks!! That’s a great idea!
I followed the recipe as-is the first time and my cauliflower turned to mush cooking it that long. The second time I made it I only cooked for 5 minutes, ran it under cold water then let it drain and completely cool. It was so mush better. Also, make it the day before you plan to eat it. If you eat it the day it’s made it tastes like cauliflower. If you eat it the next day it tastes much more like potato. I have no idea why!
Author
Thanks for the tip of the cooking time, I’m not sure why it did that on you. Yes, eating it the next day makes a huge difference! I’m going to go add these tips to the post..thanks!
Do you have the nutritional facts on this? Particularly the carbs?
Sorry, we don’t keep close track of those things :)
MyFitnessPal has a great recipe nutrition calculator. You plug in the ingredients and voila!
Thanks Sarah!
Nellie, I’ve never liked cooked cauliflower. I’m going to try this idea with raw c—r.
I’ll add eggs and mayo and celery + tiny bit of red onion and radish for color. And, of course, Hellman’s low-fat mayo. Great lo-carb idea. Fingers crossed. :) Genie
Let us know how it works for you! Here’s hoping!
Quick question: how many does this salad serve? :-)
It serves about 8-10.
This recipe is just fantastic. Actually better than potato salad.
Author
I’m so glad you think so. I have to agree. It’s a favorite of ours!
This salad was FANTASTIC! My finicky husband even like it……alot! I also made it for a church outing on Labor day and it was a big hit. Thanks so much for a truly
wonderful, unique recipe
Author
Oh yeah!! So glad you liked it! It’s always great to hear!
Thank goodness, I have no potatoes! I’m going to make just like my regular potato salad in which I use relish. I will probably leave out the bacon and the peas (for calories sake) and use low fat Hellman’s mayo. Can’t wait to try this.
HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!
Author
Let us know how it turns out!!!
I added some chopped up pickles as well. It’s so delicious I’m afraid I’m going to eat the whole thing before it’s the 4th of July!
I’m just curious, do you have nutritional information on this? I can’t stand all the food nazi’s who start attacking recipes, but it seems like it has alot of fat and calories. I always thought the bad part about potato salad was the mayo. I still want to try it because I love cauliflower too and it sounds great. I have recently had to go gluten free and am eating paleo, which I love, and I have been making my own mayo. I will use it when I make this. It’s so easy to make, as well as delicious and much healthier.
We don’t have nutritional info on this. It does still have it’s fair share of fat and calories. I guess for us the point is that it’s a better version of something that is generally bad for you. You know, don’t miss out on the things you love…but realize what they have in them and how to maybe improve nutritional value? This would be fabulous with homemade mayo! Mmmm.
I have been craving potato salad lately, to the point of ridiculous. The problem is, when I make it, I’m the only one in the family who eats it, I’m trying to watch my carbs, so eating potato salad all the time is carb overload. So when I saw this recipe, I was a little–ok very– skeptical that it would taste anything like potato salad. I happened to have cauliflower in my fridge, so I thought I would give it a try. Really pretty good! I didn’t have bacon, so I didn’t add it. I used my usual potato salad recipe substituting cauliflower. Never ever thought it could substitute for potatoes and taste good. Thanks for the recipe! My cravings thank you!
You are most welcome! It’s really surprising, isn’t it? Just goes to show that some things are worth trying, no matter how weird they seem.
Pretty mom and pretty daughter and very delicious recipes
I also put in diced Granny Smith apples and some sweet pickled relish
I bet that was delicious!! I haven’t ever tried apples in potato salad.
It sounds delicious and I plan on trying it soon. It will have to wait until my daughter puts up a weeks menu using cauliflower. She cooks all suppers and I wash all dishes. I don’t mind the dishes because after she agreed to the cooking part I went out and bought a dish washer. Not nice I know but I hate cooking . Lily C Canada
What a great daughter to do all the cooking!! I hope you all love this as much as we do! Happy eating!
Lol…..I don’t enjoy cooking either. This recipe looks tasty.
LOL I have always said if somebody will cook, I’ll clean up! How great that your daughter likes to cook, and you let her plan and follow her menu; well done!
This Cauliflower Salad looks delish, and I will be making it soon. Thanks for sharing :)
This sounds soooo good! My hubby and I are trying to eat healthier/lose weight and this recipe will be a great dish for us. Thanks for sharing!
It is a great dish!! And a great one to bring to potlucks and parties!
How clever and healthy and DE-LISH! Pinning
It is delicious!! Thanks!
I never thought of substituting cauliflower for taters, and I LOVE cauli. Pinning.
I hadn’t either…why not??? It’s delicious!
This sounds interesting. I’m going to have to try it and headed over to check out your roasted cauliflower soup.
This sounds so yummy and a great way to replace potatoes – can’t wait to try it!!
It is! So surprising! Thanks for stopping by this morning!