Keto Cookout Sides: 8 Make-Ahead Potluck Salads

These low carb cookout sides are the ultimate summer side dishes. Creamy, crunchy, and loaded with good stuff – without the carbs! Each side dish is keto-friendly, make-ahead, and ready to travel to your next BBQ or potluck.

I never want to be known as the friend that shows up to your event with diet food. Boring, bland, tasteless food at a summer barbecue? Absolutely not, couldn’t be me.

I actually love it most when people have no idea that what they’re eating is low carb. It’s kind of been the inspiration behind this entire website. The food is low carb and diet friendly, but no one would ever guess it.

Anyway, these salads and sides all fit that same bill. Super delicious, but they happen to be sneakily low carb. Everyone is going to love them.

We LOVE this low carb cauliflower salad! It's full of bacon and cheese.

Cheddar Bacon Cauliflower Potato Salad

This is my go-to potluck secret weapon, and no one ever suspects the potatoes are missing. It's loaded with crispy bacon, sharp cheddar, and a creamy dressing that tastes a lot like the classic potato salad we all grew up eating. The whole family loves it, and it's perfect alongside anything hot off the grill.

coleslaw dressing on cabbage in yellow bowl

Keto Coleslaw

You simply cannot have a summer cookout without a good slaw on the table. This keto version comes together in just a couple of minutes and the dressing is perfectly rich and tangy. This is my mama's famous recipe.

overhead view of keto deviled eggs topped with cheddar, bacon, and sour cream.

Loaded Deviled Eggs

Deviled eggs are a non-negotiable at every family gathering, but these ones are next-level. I mix sour cream, cheddar, bacon, and chives right into the yolks for a flavor that reminds me of a loaded baked potato. The whole family loves these, and they're always gone before the burgers even come off the grill.

Check out this recipe!

White dish full of cucumber ranch crack salad.

Crack Cucumber Salad

Cool, creamy, and totally addictive, this one earns its “crack” name from the cheddar, bacon, and ranch combo. Crisp cucumbers keep it light and refreshing, and it comes together in about 20 minutes. It's even better after a little time in the fridge, so it's a great one to make ahead at just 5 net carbs a serving.

Check out this recipe!

deviled eggs on a cutting board with a sliced jalepeno sticking straight up out of one of the eggs

Spicy Deviled Eggs

If you love jalapeno poppers, you absolutely have to try these. Lots of cream cheese, crumbled bacon, and fresh jalapenos make the filling incredibly bold and a little addictive. These are guaranteed to be the most talked-about thing on the picnic table.

Check out this recipe!

Loaded Cauliflower Salad

Think all the fixings of a loaded baked potato, served cold like a potato salad. Sour cream, mayo, bacon, and chives make this one seriously satisfying. It's perfect for a hot day by the pool or any time you're grilling out with the family.

Check out this recipe!

Broccoli Cauliflower Salad

This one is loaded with crisp broccoli and cauliflower, cubed cheddar, red onion, sunflower seeds, and crispy bacon, all tossed in a creamy dressing with just the right hint of sweetness. It's a fresh take on the classic potato or pasta salad without all the carbs. Make it a couple of hours ahead so the dressing can soak into the veggies.

Check out this recipe!

Dill Veggie Dip

Every cookout needs something crunchy to dip, and this creamy dill dip is my answer. It whips up in 5 minutes with sour cream, mayo, and cream cheese, then you just set it out with a big platter of fresh veggies. At 1 net carb per serving, you can dip to your heart's content.

Check out this recipe!