This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
You would be so surprised how similar this healthy cauliflower potato salad tastes like the real potato salad. That’s because it has a similar color, similar texture and similar dressing. When you mix everything together, it’s really hard to tell the difference. So it’s pretty much a faux potato salad! Are you down with that?
First thing’s first, there are no actual potatoes in this recipe! Did I lose you? Hopefully you’re here for the cauliflower part of the cauliflower potato salad! If so, this recipe is going to knock your socks off and make you forget you even liked potatoes to begin with. So whether you’re doing a low carb diet, keto diet or just want to reduce starchy vegetables, you’re going to love this recipe!
How to make cauliflower mock potato salad
Cook cauliflower
To start, you’ll want to cut the cauliflower and then cook it. I recommend cutting the cauliflower into small bite sized pieces instead of large florets. Then, you can cook it in one of three ways.
- Microwave: Place the cut cauliflower in a large microwave-safe bowl with one cup of water. Then, season with salt, cover with a paper towel and allow the water and heat to steam the cauliflower until fork-tender, about 4-5 minutes. Drain and allow to cool.
- Stovetop: Place the cut cauliflower in a large pot of salted boiling water. You can cover the pot or leave it uncovered and cook until the cauliflower is fork-tender, about 7-12 minutes. The cook time will vary depending on the size and freshness of the cauliflower. Be careful not to over cook so it doesn’t turn mushy. Drain and allow to cool.
- Oven: Place the cut cauliflower on a rimmed baking sheet, drizzle olive oil to coat and season with salt and pepper. Bake in a preheated oven at 400°F for 15-20 minutes. Allow to cool. The oven method is my favorite for cooking the cauliflower. Here’s teh full recipe:
- Air fryer: Toss the ccut cauliflower in a bowl with oil and seasoning. Transfer them to an air fryer basket in a single layer. Air fry in a preheated the air fryer to 380ºF for 15-18 minutes. Cook until crisp tender with broned edges, shaking the basket halfway through. Here’s the full recipe: Air Fryer Cauliflower
Make the dressing
To make the dressing, mix mayonnaise of your choice (I like to use avocado mayo) along with mustard and dill pickle juice. I tried making this a little bit healthier by not using mayonnaise, but I didn’t like the way it turned out. I tried it with Greek Yogurt and sour cream, but the mayonnaise version came out the best. The ¼ cup though goes a lot way!
Assemble the potato salad
Now that the cauliflower is cooked and you’ve made the dressing, you can assemble the healthy potato salad. You’ll just need to add some red or white onions, pickles, celery and hard boiled eggs. You can add some fresh dill here or as a garnish. I add it in both places because I can’t get enough dill in the summer!
Give everything a toss and enjoy the cauliflower potato salad at room temperature or chilled for a couple hours.
Tips for making cauliflower potato salad
- Salt the cauliflower properly. This is important to do when you’re cooking the cauliflower, whether in the microwave, stovetop or in the oven. When salted properly before it cooks, it really absorbs the flavor properly and you’ll use less salt than you would if you added salt after it was cooked.
- Cut the cauliflower pieces into relatively equal sizes. This allows them to cook in the same amount of time so they’re all fork-tender without some being raw and others turning mushy. Consistency is key in this mock potato salad.
- Cook the cauliflower to the same softness as cooked potatoes. The way to achieve this is to test the florets so they’re fork tender. That’s the ideal texture that will mimic that of boiled potatoes. There’s also less of a chance of them turny mushy in the oven.
- Refrigerate before serving. You can certainly enjoy it immediately after it’s done, but it gets better the longer it sits in the fridge. When it chills, the cauliflower cools and the dressing clings better to all the ingredients. Plus it’s just more reminiscent of the real potato salad.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is cauliflower potato salad healthy?
This recipe makes enough for six servings and each serving comes in under 150 calories. It’s low in carbs, sodium and sugar and it’s a great side dish if you follow a low carb or keto diet. Cauliflower is high in fiber and B vitamins, as well as a lot of other nutrients, so it’s a great substitute for potatoes.
Can you make this ahead of time?
This cauliflower potato salad is a great option for gatherings as you can make it ahead of time. Simply keep it covered in the fridge for up to 3 days. It travels well, so it’s a great option for a picnic or potluck.
What do you serve with cauliflower potato salad?
This tastes exactly like a classic potato salad, so it won’t be out of place at barbecues or summer parties. Serve with all of your usual favorites like Greek Pasta Salad, Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese and Healthy Coleslaw.
Mock potato salad for the win
By now you’ve probably heard of or tasted cauliflower as a stand-in for potatoes in recipes like mashed potatoes. This low carb potato salad is another excellent way to substitute cauliflower for potatoes without sacrificing on flavor. If you’re skeptical at all of the cauliflower, I say throw in some potatoes as well. It’s a great way to get a feel for the cauliflower without missing out on the potatoes that are so familiar in this classic recipe.
Whether you’re mixing in some cauliflower or substituting it all the way, this is a healthy potato salad that will leave you so satisfied and not missing out on the traditional potato salad. I first tried this at my son’s best friend’s grandmother’s house and I was hooked! It’s a great summer recipe for Memorial Day cookouts, Fourth of July picnics or Labor Day potlucks. Whatever the occasion, everyone will appreciate this low carb cauliflower potato salad at your next gathering!
More low carb cauliflower recipes:
More summer salads:
- Corn Tomato Avoado Salad
- Healthy Coleslaw
- Healthy Tuna Salad
- Healthy Egg Salad
- Avocado Egg Salad
- Avocado Chicken Salad
If you’ve tried this healthy-ish feel good Cauliflower Potato Salad recipe or any other recipe on FeelGoodFoodie, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below! I would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some shots of it, share it with me on Instagram so I can repost on my stories!
Cauliflower Potato Salad
Video
Ingredients
- 1 head cauliflower chopped into ½ inch pieces
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Dressing
- ¼ cup avocado mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoon dill pickle juice
- ¼ cup celery finely chopped
- ¼ cup red onions finely chopped
- ¼ cup dill pickle finely chopped
- 2 hard-boiled eggs diced
- Dill for garnish
- Dash paprika
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Toss the cauliflower with salt, pepper and olive oil and spread evenly on the prepared baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes until the cauliflower is fork tender. Set aside to cool.
- In a large bowl, make the dressing by whisking the mayonnaise, mustard and dill pickle juice. Add the chopped celery, red onions, pickles, cauliflower and eggs, and season with salt and pepper. Toss gently to combine evenly.
- Garnish with chives and sprinkle with paprika.
Notes
- Instead of pickle juice, you can use another acidic liquid like apple cider vinegar or lemon juice.
- Instead of pickles, you can use relish or dill relish.
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.
I performed this recipe exactly as it is written and it turned out amazing. I highly recommend this for anyone looking for keto-friendly sides. I loved potato salad in my pre-keto lifestyle and this is as close as I can imagine one to be without using potatoes.
Yay, so happy you liked the recipe!! Thanks, Jonas!
This was so good!!!! I added bacon, and an extra egg. I also took a cup of the oven cooked cauliflower and used my blender to cream it up with the pickle juice and mixed it in. Gave it a creamer texture. ( I do this with potatoes in my regular potato salad recipe) I will definitely make this again!!! Family favorite!!!! Thank you!!!!
Love how you made the recipe your own, Kimberly!! Wow, blending some of the cauliflower (or potato) is such a great idea! Thanks for the tip, I will have to try that out myself!
I make fauxtato salad all the time. I like the addition of the pickle juice, I may use that next time in my recipe. The one thing I’m missing is the potato starch thickens the dressing and helps make it creamier. What can we add to the cauliflower to mimic that?
Great question, Chip! You could add arrowroot powder or cornstarch to help thicken up the dressing. I would love to hear how it turns out if you try either of those options!!
tasted amazing, pickle juice much better than vinegar for “potato” salad. I don’t even miss the potatoes!
Yay, so glad to hear it!! I agree, the pickle juice is so good. Thanks, Lorri!
This was a very good salad!!! I added shredded cheddar…it’s so good
Yum, that sounds delicious! Thanks so much, Theresa!!
This was a HIT in our house! We had a pork tenderloin to use up and I thought BBQ pulled pork sounded like a great main but was struggling with sides. I kept seeing potato salad but was looking for something a little lighter/more veggie heavy. I came across this recipe and like others was a little skeptical but WOW! We roasted the cauliflower in the oven and used just under 1/2 mayo and just over half greek yogurt. I loved that the cauliflower had a little more crunch that your traditional potato salad and the flavor was there! My boyfriend who afterwards said he’s not a potato salad fan said this was the best he’s ever had! Looking forward to making this many times over the summer when we’re grilling – I bet grilling the cauliflower would give it a nice smokey taste too!
Thank you so much! Sounds like a delicious meal.
OMG! So freaking delish. Made it exactly as the recipe called for. I was a bit skeptical about it really tasting like potato salad but it really does. I like it better then traditional potato salad. Thank you for the GREAT recipe.
So happy you liked it!
I made this cauliflower salad it was so delicious to eat
So glad you liked it, Rita!
Looking forward to making this recipe very soon. We love potato salad, but since my husband is a Type 2 Diabetic, we can cut back on the potatoes and still enjoy the flavors, and the veggies. Thanks for the recipe. Please keep them coming.
You’re so welcome, Jean! Happy to hear it’s a recipe you and your husband can both enjoy!
Made this to take for a Memorial Day BBQ. Even non-keto folk enjoyed it. Love the blend of flavors and I did add a hard cooked egg. My cauliflower was on the tiny side (all I had on hand) and I trimmed it hard to get smallish “potato sized” bites so I lowered amounts equally to 1/3 and it was great. Garnished in the dish with a sliced egg and a sprinkle of Hungarian paprika.
So glad it was a hit! Love the idea of adding hard boiled eggs!
I made your wonderful recipe for our Memorial Day barbecue. It came out fabulous. I followed your recipe and roasted the cauliflower, I only added more hardboiled eggs and added 2 tbsp of nonfat yogurt to the mayonnaise. I’m on weight watchers and this salad is only 1 point for 2 cups! My family loved it! Thank you for this wonderful recipe! It’s definitely a keeper.❤️
So glad you and your family like it, Cynthia!
Will make for Memorial Day. To add flavor and color would mix in some roasted peppers
Great idea Thomas! I hope you enjoy!
Wow!! Since going low carb I have been searching for a tasty faux-tato recipe and have come up short. Most recipes using cauliflower boil or steam the cauliflower, which creates a tato salad that is runny with water in the bottom of the bowl-not tasty!
With the roasting of the cauliflower this issue is resolved. I made this faux-tato salad last night, added a bit of crumbled bacon, and I swear I felt like I was eating potato salad!! What a treat! The texture of the roasted cauliflower is similar to potatoes, the flavors in the dressing is tangy and creamy and it all came together to make a great side dish for our dinner last night. I will definitely be making this again & again! Thank you so much for this delicious recipe. 🙂
You’re so welcome!
This had way too much mustard. Bleh
Oh no! I am sorry the mustard was too overpowering for your taste. You can always cut it from 2 tablespoons down to 1, or omit it altogether if you prefer.
Loved this recipe. Only issue is when I tried to print it, a Google ad obstructs the dressing ingredients. We sometimes have internet interruptions so I like to have my favourite recipes printed.
Thanks for a keeper!
Thank you so much! Did you print it using the printer icon?
Love this recipe. I was very skeptical the first time I made it, worried it wouldn’t taste right. I can’t overstate the importance of using the oven. Tried it boiled but too watery, even squeezing the water out. My version has melted butter that I brush them with followed by lightly salting and pepper before going in the oven. I also use chopped green onion and pepperoni fried in a skillet. The sauce uses mayo, mustard, and cider vinegar. For a fresh crunch I chop up some celery to contrast with the hard boiled eggs. Always asked to bring this dish and half don’t even notice the fact that it’s keto!
Thank you! So glad it turned out that way and everyone enjoyed!
Made this and we loved it. I’m a diabetic and it was a treat. Low carbs and starches. Thanks for posting
That makes me so happy to hear! You’re so welcome!
Tried this recipe. Really like it. I baked the cauliflower. It tuned out great. Would definitely recommend. 5 stars
Yay!! That’s amazing!
Thank you so much for the Cauliflower Mock Potato Salad. My health issues limit certain foods (such as potatoes) but cauliflower is high recommended. Just tried a bare bones version and it is delicious.
Thank you!
You’re so welcome! Glad you enjoyed!!
I made this cauliflower/faux potato salad. It was great! I even made it with Keto fried chicken. I had friends over and they complimented the taste of it, not even realizing it was cauliflower. Thank you
Yay! That sounds like a great pairing. So glad your friends enjoyed it too!
Excellent! I added olives and peppers and a dash of Tobasco. I too roasted the cauliflower in the oven. Perfect.
Love that touch! Yay!!
Looks like a great CAULIFLOWER salad. Please don’t call things potato thar have no potato in them.
Good point! It’s just often referred to that way since it mimics a potato salad. I’ll update it!
Great recipe, with good tips! Call it whatever you want. We love this stuff (my sister-in-law makes a great version and got me started on seeking a good, mayo-based recipe…)
We call this “fauxtato salad” … lol, so the “don’t call it potato salad..” folks don’t need to get angst about use of potato in the name when there are non in the salad. Use that if it pleases you. Grazie!!!
Thank you so much! Love that idea with the name.
It’s important for context Susan, especially for people who are doing Google searches for potato-free versions of potato recipes.
Made this for 4th of July for myself and Keto/vegetarian family and it is yummy and super easy to make. Thanks for a great recipe
That’s incredible! You’re so welcome!
Make this all the time but have never baked the cauliflower before. I always boiled it before. We’ve all gone keto so always looking for recipes. Thank big r
Definitely give it a go! You’re so welcome!
I made this last night and we loved it. We eat roasted cauliflower a lot so I was excited to try and it did not disappoint! I didn’t have Dijon so just used regular mustard and it was delicious. Very nice alternative to regular potato salad! Will for sure make again thanks for the recipe.
Thank you so much! I’m glad you still enjoyed it that way!
Love this salad! Not only is it a nice twist instead of potato salad but it’s fun to make and really, you can add whatever you like, don’t have Dijon mustard, use regular mustard, add radishes to make just you give it a little more zing! Whatever you want! Thanks for a great recipe.
I made this recipe for a potluck and it was a hit! Super easy and delicious.
That makes me so happy to hear! Thank you!!
Love this recipe! It was quick and best of all, I was delicious!
Thank you so much!
Fantastic you never disappoint me. Going to try others that you memtioned.
Thank you! Hope you enjoy!!
It was delicious. This is the first time I have tried a recipe substituting cauliflower for potatoes and I was very pleased!
This will be a go to recipe for me. Thank you.
Yay I’m so glad to hear that. Thank you!!
This is literally THE LAST time I was going to try a recipe that substitutes cauliflower for potatoes. I was giving up. So glad I tried it! So good. The hubs likes it too. (Tip: roast your cauliflower and make sure you season well with salt and pepper first ) THANK YOU for this recipe!
Yay, so glad you didn’t give up just yet on cauliflower!! I agree that roasting it is so much better than just boiling it! Thank you 🙂
First of all, so easy. Second of all, very, very good. I’ve had it tree times in the past two weeks, because it really is tjat good!:)
That was me last summer, I made it on repeat for every bbq! I can’t wait to make it again soon!
I only have frozen cauliflower…and id like to try this now… Do you recommend using frozen or no?
Yup, that will work. But I think fresh is best because when it gets roasted it gets more crisped that way. Let me know how you like it!
The cauliflower potato salad recipe is the best. Thx you. My first time sending a post or tweet.
Aww thanks so much Antoinette! That means a lot to me!! I appreciate you sharing 🙂
Making this recipe for the 2nd time – we love it and love the healthier lower carb option!
Yay! I’m so happy to hear that! Thanks so much for sharing!!
We are making this for a second time. It was a big hit the first time.!
Yay! I’m so glad to hear that! It’s so yummy!
What size is a serving
The serving size is 1/6 of the whole recipe. Hope that helps!
Sounds delicious. Definitely going to try this.
Thank you! I hope you like it!