Recipes are what make or break a diet, and that includes the keto diet.
Look for fun and easy to make recipes to add a little spice to your diet. The blander your food is, the less likely you are to stick to your diet.
In this article, I offer a variety of recipes to try for your keto diet. I separated the recipes into breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks to make it easier to find recipes for your exact needs. If you have any allergies, you can look for substitutes online.
For each meal type, I have provided my three favorite keto recipes. These recipes are all delicious, easy to make, and keto-friendly. Let’s dig in!
Recipes – Breakfast
As you’ve probably heard, breakfast is the most important meal of the day.
It is when you fuel up for the day so you can take it on confidently and strongly. Without breakfast, you won’t have the energy to complete all your tasks.
Although breakfast is the best time to incorporate a few low carbs, you still want to have a primarily fat and protein driven meal. Here, I am going to give you a few breakfast keto recipes to try out.
Keto Cereal
Just because you are on a keto diet doesn’t mean that you have to forego the classic breakfast staple – cereal. Here is a delicious cereal recipe that is perfect for those on keto:
Ingredients
● Cooking spray
● 1 cup almonds, chopped
● 1 cup walnuts, chopped
● 1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
● 1/4 cup sesame seeds
● 2 tbsp. flax seeds
● 2 tbsp. chia seeds
● 1/2 tsp. ground clove
● 1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
● 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
● 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
● 1 large egg white
● 1/4 cup melted coconut oil
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 360 degrees.
2. Grease baking sheet with a cooking spray.
3. Mix the almonds, walnuts, coconut flakes, sesame seeds, flax seeds, and chia seeds into a large mixing bowl.
4. Add in the cloves, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt.
5. In a separate bowl, beat egg white until foamy. Stir into the granola mixture.
6. Add coconut oil to the mixture.
7. Pour onto the prepared baking sheet and spread it into an even layer.
8. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden. Stir halfway through.
9. Let cool before serving.
Cabbage Hash Browns
Hash browns are one of the best breakfast staples. I know what you’re thinking. There is no way that cabbage tastes like actual hash browns, but this recipe does. With this recipe, you will feel like you’re eating a classic hearty breakfast while still sticking to your diet.
Ingredients
● 2 large eggs
● 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
● 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
● Freshly ground black pepper
● 2 cup shredded cabbage
● 1/4 small yellow onion, thinly sliced
● 1 tbsp. vegetable oil
Directions
1. Whisk the eggs, garlic powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Season it with black pepper.
2. Add the cabbage and onion to the egg mixture and combine.
3. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
4. Divide the cabbage mixture into four patties in the pan. Flatten them out by pressing with a spatula.
5. Cook for about 3 minutes per side or until they are golden and tender.
6. Serve with eggs, bacon, or other food of your choice.
Keto Breakfast Cups
Whether you are keto or not, this recipe is hearty and delicious. This may be a great option if you have guests coming over.
Ingredients
● 2 lb. ground pork
● 1 tbsp. freshly chopped thyme
● 2 cloves garlic, minced
● 1/2 tsp. paprika
● 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
● 1 tsp. kosher salt
● Freshly ground black pepper
● 2 1/2 cup chopped fresh spinach
● 1 cup shredded white cheddar
● 12 eggs
● 1 tbsp. freshly chopped chives
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Combine ground pork, thyme, garlic, paprika, cumin, and salt in a large bowl. Season with pepper.
3. Add the mixture to a muffin tin so that the pork presses up on the sides to create a cup.
4. Divide spinach and cheese evenly and place them in the cup.
5. Crack an egg over the top of each cup.
6. Season with salt and pepper.
7. Cook for about 25 minutes, or until the eggs are set and sausage is cooked through.
8. Sprinkle chives over the top and serve.
Recipes – Lunch
For your keto lunch recipes, you want to get a good energy boost for the day without feeling too full or lethargic by mid-afternoon. Here are some great pick me up lunches to try out that are also keto-friendly:
Taco Stuffed Avocados
If you are new to the keto diet, you are going to learn to love avocados.
They are a great food to pair with any meal. This taco stuffed avocado is a great choice for lunch and will make your colleagues jealous of their boring lunches.
Ingredients
● 4 ripe avocados
● Juice of 1 lime
● 1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
● 1 medium onion, chopped
● 1 lb. ground beef
● 1 packet taco seasoning
● Kosher salt
● Freshly ground black pepper
● 2/3 cup shredded Mexican cheese
● 1/2 cup shredded lettuce
● 1/2 cup quartered grape tomatoes
● Sour cream, for topping
Directions
1. Cut the avocados in half and remove the pit.
2. Using a spoon, scoop out a little bit of the avocado so that you create a larger well.
3. Cut up the avocado that you removed with the spoon and set it aside for later.
4. Squeeze lime juice over all avocados. This will prevent them from browning.
5. Heat a medium skillet over medium heat. Add oil.
6. Add the onion to the skillet and cook for about 5 minutes, or until tender.
7. Add the ground beef and taco seasoning. Break up the meat using a wooden spoon.
8. Season with salt and pepper.
9. Cook for about 6 minutes, or until the beef is no longer pink.
10. Remove from heat and drain the fat.
11. Fill each avocado with beef.
12. Add the cut avocado, cheese, lettuce, tomato, and sour cream overtop the beef.
13. Serve and eat.
Buffalo Shrimp Lettuce Wraps
This Buffalo shrimp lettuce wrap recipe is quickly going to turn into your favorite lunch. It packs a large flavor without ruining your diet. Those not on keto will also love this meal.
Ingredients
● 1/4 tbsp. butter
● 2 garlic cloves, minced
● 1/4 cup hot sauce, such as Frank’s
● 1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
● 1 lb. shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails removed
● Kosher salt
● Freshly ground black pepper
● 1 head romaine, leaves separated, for serving
● 1/4 red onion, finely chopped
● 1 rib celery, sliced thin
● 1/2 cup blue cheese, crumbled
Directions
1. Begin by making the Buffalo sauce. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat.
2. Add garlic to the melted butter once it has been completely melted. Cook until fragrant, which is normally about one minute.
3. Add hot sauce to the garlic butter and stir to combine.
4. Turn heat to low.
5. As the Buffalo sauce sets on a low heat burner, grab a different large skillet and heat oil over medium heat.
6. Add shrimp to the skillet and season with salt and pepper.
7. Cook for about 2 minutes per side, or until pink and opaque.
8. Turn off heat and add Buffalo sauce to the shrimp skillet. Toss to coat the shrimp.
9. Wash and prepare romaine leaves.
10. Add a scoop of shrimp to each romaine leaf.
11. Top with red onion, celery, and blue cheese.
12. Serve and eat.
Loaded Cauliflower Salad
Some people’s favorite lunch is a baked potato or loaded potato wedges. This loaded cauliflower salad tastes a lot like a loaded potato, but it lacks the excessive carbohydrates.
Ingredients
● 1 large head cauliflower, cut into florets
● 6 slices bacon
● 1/2 cup sour cream
● 1/4 cup mayonnaise
● 1 tbsp. lemon juice
● 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
● Kosher salt
● Freshly ground black pepper
● 1 1/2 cup shredded cheddar
● 1/4 cup finely chopped chives
Directions
1. Boil about 1/4 inch of water in a large skillet.
2. Add cauliflower and cover the pan. Let the cauliflower steam for about 4 minutes, or until tender.
3. Drain and let the cauliflower cool as you make the other ingredients.
4. Cook bacon until crispy in a skillet over medium heat. This will be about 3 minutes per side.
5. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate. Drain and chop the bacon.
6. Whisk the sour cream, mayonnaise, lemon juice, and garlic powder in a large bowl.
7. Add cauliflower to the bowl and toss gently.
8. Season with salt and pepper.
9. Fold in bacon, cheddar, and chives.
10. You can serve either warm or at room temperature.
Recipes – Dinner
Many people look forward to dinner the most out of all of their meals. It is a great way to reward yourself for your hard day’s work and effort. Here are some great keto dinner recipes to try out:
Keto Mac & Cheese
Mac & cheese is a lot of people’s favorite meal, but it is a definite no-go for those on a keto diet. This keto mac & cheese recipe delivers the same cheesy goodness as regular mac & cheese without the guilt.
Ingredients
Mac & Cheese
● Butter, for baking dish
● 2 medium heads cauliflower, cut into florets
● 2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
● Kosher salt
● 1 cup heavy cream
● 6 oz. cream cheese, cut into cubes
● 4 cup shredded cheddar
● 2 cup shredded mozzarella
● 1 tbsp. hot sauce (optional)
● Freshly ground black pepper
Topping
● 4 oz. pork rinds, crushed
● 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
● 1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
● 2 tbsp. freshly chopped parsley, for garnish
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Butter a 9 by 13-inch baking dish. Set aside.
3. Add cauliflower and two tablespoons of oil to a large bowl and toss. Season with salt.
4. Spread cauliflower onto two large baking sheets. Roast for about 40 minutes, or until tender and lightly brown.
5. As the cauliflower is roasting, make the cream. Heat the cream in a large pot over medium heat.
6. Bring to a simmer and then decrease the heat to low.
7. Add cheeses and stir until melted. Remove from heat.
8. Add hot sauce and season with salt and pepper.
9. Fold in roasted cauliflower.
10. Move the mixture to the prepared baking dish.
11. Stir pork rinds, parmesan, and oil in a medium bowl. Sprinkle over the cauliflower and cheese.
12. Bake for about 15 minutes, or until golden.
13. You can bring the oven to a boil for about 2 minutes after.
14. Garnish with parsley.
15. Serve and eat.
Keto Fried Chicken
Even though chicken is a good ingredient for those on a keto diet, fried chicken is avoided because of the carbohydrate filled batter. This keto-friendly fried chicken is delicious and tasty, but it does not have excessive carbohydrates.
Ingredients
Chicken
● 6 bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts (about 4 lbs.)
● Kosher salt
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● Freshly ground black pepper
● 2 large eggs
● 1/2 cup heavy cream
● 3/4 cup almond flour
● 1 1/2 cup finely crushed pork rinds
● 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan
● 1 tsp. garlic powder
● 1/2 tsp. paprika
Sauce
● 1/2 cup mayonnaise
● 1 1/2 tsp. hot sauce
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
3. Pat chicken dry paper towels. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Whisk eggs and heavy cream together in a shallow bowl.
5. Combine almond flour, pork rinds, parmesan, garlic powder, and paprika in a separate bowl. Season with salt and pepper.
6. One at a time, dip a chicken piece into the egg mixture and into the almond flour mixture.
7. Press the almond flour into the coat. Place on the prepared baking sheet.
8. Bake for about 45 minutes, or until the chicken is golden and the internal temperature is 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
9. As the chicken is baking, combine the mayonnaise and hot sauce in a medium-sized bowl. You can adjust the exact amount of hot sauce based on your preferred spiciness level.
10. Serve chicken warm.
Keto Meatballs
Even though meatballs are fat and protein-heavy, traditional meatballs have to be avoided on keto because they use flour as a binding agent. This meatball recipe, however, uses cheese instead of flour, making it a keto-friendly alternative.
Ingredients
Meatballs
● 1 lb. ground beef
● 1 clove garlic, minced
● 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
● 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan, plus more for serving
● 2 tbsp. freshly chopped parsley
● 1 large egg, beaten
● 1 tsp. kosher salt
● 1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
● 2 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
Sauce
● 1 medium onion, chopped
● 2 cloves garlic, minced
● 1 (28-oz.) can crushed tomatoes
● 1 tsp. dried oregano
● Kosher salt
● Freshly ground black pepper
Directions
1. Combine the beef, garlic, mozzarella, parmesan, parsley, egg, salt, and pepper in a large bowl.
2. Form the mixture into 16 meatballs.
3. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
4. Add meatballs to the skillet. Cook them for about 10 minutes, or until all sides are golden. Turn occasionally.
5. Remove meatballs from skillet and place on a paper towel-lined plate.
6. Add onion to the same skillet you cooked the meatballs in and cook for about 5 minutes, or until soft.
7. Add garlic for about one minute more. Add tomatoes and oregano. Season with salt and pepper.
8. Add meatballs back to the skillet and cover it so the meatballs can simmer in the sauce. Simmer for about 15 minutes, or until the sauce has thickened.
9. Garnish with parmesan and serve.
Recipes – Snacks
Throughout the day, you might need a quick pick me up in the form of a snack. These snacks are great options to have on hand because they are tasty and keto-friendly.
Avocado Chips
Chips are easily one of the best snack options. Their salty flavor and satisfying crunch make them a favorite among many. Unfortunately, most chips are not suitable for the keto diet. For our chip-lovers, here is a great keto chip option made from avocados!
Ingredients
● 1 large ripe avocado
● 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
● 1 tsp. lemon juice
● 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
● 1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning
● Kosher salt
● Freshly ground black pepper
Directions
1. preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
3. Mash avocado with a fork until smooth in a medium-sized bowl.
4. Add parmesan, lemon juice, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning to the mashed avocado mixture. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Place large teaspoon-sized scoops of avocado on the baking sheet. Leave about 3 inches apart between each scoop.
6. Flatten each scoop so that it is about 3 inches wide. You can use the back of a spoon or a measuring cup to do this.
7. Bake for about 30 minutes, or until crisp and golden.
8. Let cool and serve at room temperature.
Keto Ice Cream
Even the best of the best dieters need a scoop of ice cream every now and then. Here is a great ice cream keto recipe that you can try next time your sweet tooth demands satisfaction.
Ingredients
● 2 (15-oz.) cans coconut milk
● 2 cup heavy cream
● 1/4 cup swerve confectioner’s sweetener
● 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
● Pinch kosher salt
Directions
1. Chill coconut milk in the fridge for at least three hours, but it is best to leave the coconut milk in the refrigerator overnight.
2. Make whipped coconut: Spoon the coconut cream into a large bowl. Leave the liquid in the can.
3. Use a hand mixer to beat the coconut cream until it is creamy. Set aside.
4. Make the whipped cream: Beat the heavy cream and a separate large bowl using a hand mixer. Beat the cream until it softens and a peak forms.
5. Beat sweetener and vanilla into the whipped cream mixture.
6. Fold the whipped coconut into the whipped cream.
7. Move the mixture into a loaf pan.
8. Freeze the loaf pan for about 5 hours, or until solid.
9. Serve and eat once solid.
Bacon Guac Bombs
Bacon and avocado: two of the keto dieter’s favorite ingredients. This bacon guac bomb is delicious, super savory, and is guaranteed to keep you full and satisfied. Here’s how to make it:
Ingredients
● 12 slices of bacon, cooked and crumbled
● 2 avocados, pitted, peeled, and mashed
● 6 oz. cream cheese, softened
● Juice of 1 lime
● 1 garlic clove, minced
● 1/4 red onion, minced
● 1 small jalapeno (seeded if you prefer less heat), chopped
● 2 tbsp. freshly chopped cilantro
● 1/2 tsp. cumin
● 1/2 tsp. chili powder
● Kosher salt
● Freshly ground black pepper
Directions
1. Cook bacon until crispy and crumbled them. Set aside.
2. Combine all the ingredients except for the slices of bacon into a large bowl.
3. Stir until the mixture is mostly smooth. Some chunks are okay. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Place the mixture in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes so it can firm up slightly.
5. Once the mixture has firmed up, place the crumbled bacon on a large plate.
6. Use a small cookie scoop to place the guacamole mixture on the bacon.
7. Roll the mixture over the bacon so it can be coated in bacon.
8. Repeat until all guacamole and bacon is used.
9. Store in the refrigerator.
