Make your salad the talk of the party! Celebrate the holidays with a festive red and green low-carb Christmas tree salad.
Christmas Tree Salad
I love creating fun designs with my food. I already made a Keto Wreath Salad, so I decided to make a salad that looks like a Christmas tree next.
It makes sense! The green lettuce leaves look just like evergreen branches.
Then, all you have to do is add some bright red tomatoes as the red Christmas bulbs. And while this Christmas tree salad looks stunning and delicious, my favorite thing about it is the salad dressing.
To make it holiday-themed, I sweetened it with cranberry juice and orange zest. Then, I added some Dijon mustard for the tanginess and Worcestershire sauce for the savory notes.
It’s one of the best holiday-themed vinaigrettes that I have ever made.
Low-Carb Salad
I love how festive this salad is. It’s the perfect thing to make for a party because you’ll want to show it off and all the flavors – from the cranberries to the pecans and feta cheese – are completely seasonal.
It doesn’t just show off, it’s good for you, too! The tomatoes and lettuce are full of vitamins and fiber and the pecans and cheese give it a boost of healthy fats.
Plus, all of the ingredients are easy to find.
One quick tip. If you’re really in the mood to make a bunch of low-carb holiday recipes, then buy a bunch of fresh cranberries!
One quick search here on my blog for “cranberry recipe” will give you a bunch of low-carb ideas to try. From desserts to salads and even cranberry chicken!
Romaine Pecan Salad
Have fun and customize this low-carb salad to suit your tastes. If you don’t like pecans, use walnuts instead.
Even the romaine lettuce leaves can be replaced with baby spinach. The Romaine lettuce leaves are easier to arrange than spinach, but it can still work.
There are a few other things you can change, too. Here are a few of my favorite ingredient swaps to make in this simple Christmas tree salad:
- Chopped Chicken – Use shredded turkey or even chopped ham
- Bacon – Use turkey bacon
- Red Onion – Either sliced white onion or leave it out
- Cherry Tomatoes – Grape tomatoes
- Feta Cheese – Crumbled Goat Cheese
- Cheddar Cheese – Any type of hard yellow cheese will work
What To Eat With Salad
This Christmas tree salad will taste delicious with any entree that you make. If you’re grilling some Keto Sweet and Sour Meatball Kebabs, then add this salad to the side.
It’s also perfect with Keto Patty Melts and some Keto Cottage Cheese Flatbread. But watch your carbs because the patty melts are higher in carbs than the meatball kabobs.
For dessert, low-carb pecan upside down cake is perfect!
How To Make Salad Ahead
The best way to make this Christmas tree salad ahead of time is to arrange all the salad ingredients into the tree shape. Sprinkle the pecans on top and add the tomatoes.
Then, seal it completely. I like to make a tent with aluminum foil or place the salad in a container with a lid.
Keep the arranged salad in the refrigerator for up to three days. You can make the dressing weeks before you make the salad.
Store the keto salad dressing in an airtight and spillproof container, like a mason jar. Then keep it in the refrigerator for up to three weeks.
Before you use it, stir it really well.
Low-Carb Christmas Tree Salad Recipe
Here’s the list of ingredients (and step by step pictures) that you’ll need to make this low-carb Christmas tree salad. The exact measurements and instructions are in the printable recipe card, just a little below.
Makes 6 servings
Prep times 30 minutes
Ingredients
For the Salad
- Romaine lettuce
- Chicken
- Eggs, finely chopped
- Bacon, finely chopped
- Red onion, finely chopped
- Cherry tomatoes
- Feta cheese
- Dried cranberries
- Chopped pecans
- Cheddar cheese
For the Dressing:
- Zero Sugar cranberry juice
- Apple cider vinegar
- Orange zest
- Dijon mustard
- Olive oil
- Worcestershire sauce
- Salt and pepper
Instructions:
Arrange the Romaine leaves in a Christmas tree shape on a large platter, starting with the larger leaves at the bottom and working up to smaller leaves at the top.
Sprinkle the chopped chicken, eggs, bacon, red onion, feta cheese, dried cranberries, and chopped pecans over the top of the lettuce.
Arrange the cherry tomatoes to look like ornaments. Cut the cheddar cheese using a star cookie cutter and place it on top of the tree.
Whisk the dressing ingredients together in a medium bowl until well combined. Pour into a small mason jar for serving.
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Low-Carb Christmas Tree Salad
Equipment
- Serving Platter or Platter
Ingredients
Salad
- 3 heads Romaine Lettuce
- 1 cup Chopped Chicken
- 2 Eggs hardboiled and finely chopped
- 4 strips Bacon finely chopped
- 1/4 cup Red Onion finely chopped
- 20 Cherry Tomatoes
- 1/3 cup Feta Cheese
- 1/4 cup Dried Cranberries
- 1/4 cup Chopped Pecans
- 1 slice Cheddar Cheese
Salad Dressing
- 4 tbsp Zero Sugar Cranberry Juice
- 2 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar
- 2 tbsp Orange Zest
- 4 tbsp Dijon Mustard
- 1/2 cup Olive Oil
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
Instructions
- Arrange the Romaine leaves in a Christmas tree shape on a large platter, starting with the larger leaves at the bottom and working up to smaller leaves at the top.
- Sprinkle the chopped chicken, eggs, bacon, red onion, feta cheese, dried cranberries, and chopped pecans over the top of the lettuce.
- Arrange the cherry tomatoes to look like ornaments.
- Cut the cheddar cheese using a star cookie cutter and place it on top of the tree.
- Whisk the dressing ingredients together in a medium bowl until well combined. Pour into a small mason jar for serving.
Notes
The nutritional information for this recipe is calculated as a courtesy and is an approximate only. I cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipes on this site.
Keto Christmas Recipes
If you enjoyed this low-carb Christmas tree salad – and you need more holiday-themed recipes – check out these keto Christmas recipes next!
