High-Protein Creamy Cucumber Bacon Salad
Sliced cucumber in a creamy dressing with bacon and cheese — ready in 10 minutes
This high-protein creamy cucumber bacon salad slices cucumbers, folds them into a Greek yogurt or sour cream dressing, and tops the bowl with crumbled bacon, shredded cheese, and green onions, like the glass bowl. Each serving has 18 g of protein and 4 g net carbs.
Low carb, sugar-free, and no sugar dressing.
Why you’ll love this salad
- 18g protein per serving
- 4g net carbs
- Cucumber and bacon
- Ready in about 10 minutes
- Creamy dressing
- One bowl
Health notes
- Protein: Greek yogurt or cottage cheese in the dressing, plus bacon and cheese.
- Low carb: Cucumber. No sugar.
- Sugar-free: No added sugar in the dressing.
- Keto-friendly: Each serving stays around 4g net carbs if the dressing is measured.
Key element — salt the cucumber first
Unsalted cucumber waters the dressing. Salt and drain it so the salad stays creamy, like the bowl.
Ingredients
Salad (4 servings)
- 2 medium cucumbers, thinly sliced
- ½ tsp salt
- 4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 green onions, sliced
- Fresh dill, optional
Dressing
- ¾ cup plain Greek yogurt or blended cottage cheese
- 2 Tbsp mayonnaise or sour cream
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp dried dill or fresh
- Black pepper, to taste
- Sugar-free sweetener, optional pinch
Swaps
- A sugar dressing or extra cheese: Not in the 4g number.
- No bacon: Protein drops a little. Calories drop.
- Sour cream only: Protein drops. Use Greek yogurt for the number.
- No cheese: Protein drops a little.
Instructions
| 1 | Salt. Slice the cucumbers. Toss with the salt and let them sit 5 minutes. Drain and blot dry. |
| 2 | Dressing. Stir the Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, garlic powder, dill, and pepper until smooth. |
| 3 | Toss. Fold the drained cucumbers into the dressing. Add half the bacon and cheese. |
| 4 | Top. Transfer to a bowl. Top with the remaining bacon, cheese, and green onions, like the photo. This batch makes 4 servings. |
Pro tips
- Salt and drain the cucumber so the dressing stays thick.
- A sugar dressing is not in these numbers.
- Use Greek yogurt for the protein. Sour cream alone drops it.
- Serve right away. It softens if it sits too long.
- Macros are per serving, 4 from this bowl.
Nutrition
| Nutrient | Per serving |
|---|---|
| Calories | 210 |
| Protein | 18g |
| Net carbohydrates | 4g |
| Total carbohydrates | 5g |
| Fiber | 1g |
| Total fat | 13g |
| Sodium | 480mg |
Estimates based on cucumber, Greek yogurt, bacon, cheese, and a sugar-free dressing, divided into 4 servings. A sugar dressing is not included.
Variations
No bacon
Skip it. Calories drop. Protein drops a little.
Cottage cheese dressing
Blend cottage cheese instead of yogurt. Protein stays high.
Extra cucumber
Add more. Carbs stay low.
Spicy
A pinch of cayenne in the dressing.
Storage
| Method | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | Up to 1 day | Cucumber softens |
| Best fresh | Right away | Crispest when just tossed |
| Freezer | Not ideal | Cucumber turns soft |
FAQ
Test your knowledge
5 quick questions about this cucumber bacon salad
1. Protein per serving?
2. Net carbs per serving?
3. What keeps the dressing thick?
4. About how long does this take?
5. What is not in the 4g number?
