How much do you dread the question, “What’s for dinner?”
What used to be a monumental task after a long day might feel even harder when you’re on a ketogenic diet. You can’t just wing it, be lazy, or rely on takeout when you’re watching your carb intake. You have to think within your macros and micros and whip up a healthy, easy keto dinner or risk ruining all you’ve been working for.
So what do you do?
Thanks to this roundup, you’ll have 26 tasty keto dinner ideas to satisfy your cravings and please a wide variety of palates.
9 Comfort Foods With a Keto Twist
These keto diet-friendly comfort foods are so close to the real thing you’ll wonder why you ever ate the original versions in the first place.
#1: Low-Carb Keto Pizza
Sometimes you just want pizza. Maybe your co-workers are having pizza at the office or you saw a commercial while watching the game. Or maybe you’re just transitioning to keto and those carb-heavy cravings keep calling your name.
Fortunately, this keto fathead pizza recipe takes less time than getting pizza delivered (30 minutes in total) and it’s packed with the same great taste and none of the carbs to weigh you down. With just a few staple ingredients, you can satisfy your pizza craving any night of the week.
#2: Cheesy Low-Carb Lasagna
For former carb lovers, pasta is a hard habit to quit. But you don’t have to give up this staple thanks to this keto-friendly alternative.
Using sliced zucchini pasta and sauteed Italian sausage, you’ll quickly outdo what you thought was good lasagna and never look back.
#3: Crispy Keto “Fried Chicken
Yes, you can have “fried” chicken on a keto diet. You just have to make it yourself. With 7 ingredients and less than 40 minutes, you can whip up a healthier batch of fried chicken that won’t break your macro bank.
#4: Keto Chili Two Ways
Most chili recipes are loaded with both beans and carbs — two things that kick you out of ketosis. Lucky for you, that doesn’t mean chili is off-limits.
This low-carb version swaps celery for the high-starch beans and uses grass-fed beef, bone broth, and a mix of spices. It not only delivers a huge burst of flavor, but it also provides the right amount of protein and fat.
#5: Slow Cooker Taco Soup
This taco soup is an easy recipe you can set and forget.
Throw a few ingredients in your Crock-Pot, let it work its magic for four hours, and you’ll come home to an aroma you can’t resist. Top the soup with a bit of sour cream and shredded cheese, and enjoy.
This recipe makes for killer lunch leftovers — just pack the cheese and sour cream separately so you can heat up the soup on its own.
#6: Low-Carb Keto Meatloaf
Mom was likely making meatloaf long before your keto days. Traditional recipes usually include breadcrumbs, peas, carrots, corn, and sometimes a sugar bomb of ketchup baked in on top.
While mom’s version may have been everything but the kitchen sink, this keto meatloaf focuses on alternative ingredients that keep your macros in check. Using fresh lemon, parsley, oregano, and garlic, you’ll have an elevated, low-carb meatloaf your mom would be proud of. In fact, she’ll probably ask for your recipe once she tries it.
#7: Cheesy Keto Buffalo Chicken Dip
This “set it and forget it” recipe for buffalo chicken dip melts cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and chicken thighs in the Crock-Pot. It takes roughly five hours of simmering for the flavors to marry, but it’s well worth the wait. Use lettuce wraps to make buffalo chicken wraps, plate atop a salad, or serve as a low-carb appetizer with celery sticks.
#8: Superfood Meatballs
Sure, this recipe for superfood meatballs looks just the same as non-keto friendly meatballs on the outside. But it’s what’s on the inside that counts. Here you’ll find one of the most potent superfoods on the market: chicken liver.
Before you tune this out, consider these facts[*][*]:
- The liver of the chicken has the most concentrated amount of vitamin B12 than any other part
- In one serving, you’ll get 120% of your recommended daily B12 intake
- B12 helps you produce new red blood cells, which can give you more energy and improve your mental focus
Clearly, these meatballs will do more than just fill your stomach — they’ll help you stay on the right keto track.
#9: Nutritious, Baked Pork Chops
With nearly 60 grams of protein per serving, this protein-packed entree will keep you full while pleasing your taste buds. (Plus, it’s super easy to make.) Simply bake seasoned pork chops in the oven for approximately one hour, then top with optional keto-friendly barbeque sauce.
9 Keto Recipes Better Than Takeout
It’s no surprise that most of the takeout you enjoyed pre-keto is no longer an option.
But rather than wasting your time and money waiting for delivery, give these mouthwatering home-cooked alternatives a try. They promise to deliver all the same flavors without kicking you out of ketosis.
#10: Portobello Bun Cheeseburgers
This portobello bun cheeseburger is not only keto-friendly, it also gives you the same great taste of a traditional burger with added boosts of fiber, vitamins, and essential nutrients.
By mixing grass-fed beef with portobello mushrooms, you’ll have a juicy, flavorful burger that will fit perfectly into your daily macros.
#11: BBQ Pulled Beef Sando
Who says you can’t have barbecue on keto? Instead of using a high-sugar, commercial sauce that’s packed with additives and junk, this recipe for BBQ beef sandos uses one that’s homemade and bursting with flavor, not carbs.
It’s also a slow cooker recipe, which means you can dump everything together and by the time you’re done with work, you’ll have a hearty meal waiting for you.
#12: Easy Breakfast Tacos
Everyone loves tacos. And breakfast for dinner makes everyone happy.
These tasty breakfast tacos made with bacon and eggs are just the right combination to keep the corner taco stand in your rearview mirror.
#13: Shrimp Stir-Fry
While you could still order food at your favorite Asian restaurant, there’s a good chance you’ll have to make a few adjustments to get a keto-friendly dish. And that usually means subtracting a few key flavor components.
With this shrimp stir-fry recipe, you won’t be leaving any flavors behind. In less than 25 minutes, you’ll have a healthy, flavorful dish that’s even better than local takeout.
#14: Curry Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Curries and other Thai food are another tread-lightly takeout option many people miss after switching to keto. While certain options are loaded with added sugars and chemical additives, others can have way too many carbs to be keto-friendly.
With this recipe for curry chicken lettuce wraps, you won’t have to deal with any of these issues — and you can still enjoy the zesty, spicy Thai flavors you love.
#15: Keto Beef Bulgogi
Korean meats are often soaked in delicious marinades. But for keto dieters, this just means added sugars. Fortunately, this beef Bulgogi recipe cuts those out while still keeping everything flavorful.
And with the addition of the soft boiled eggs, kimchi, cucumber, and cauliflower rice, you’ll feel satisfied and convinced you just ordered a better takeout option for yourself.
#16: Bebere Enchilada Style Pepppers
This enchilada dish contains just 8.4 total carbohydrates per serving, 35 grams of protein, and almost 40 grams of fat. By swapping out corn or flour tortillas for red peppers, you bring your carb count down considerably. Swap out ground beef for chicken breasts to make low-carb chicken enchiladas.
#17: Spicy Italian Keto Stuffed Peppers
If you love Italian flavors, you can still enjoy your favorite dinners without pizza or pasta. You simply need to “construct” your dinner in a different way. These stuffed peppers use halved peppers as the base, which then get smothered in homemade marinara, Italian sausage, and mozzarella.
#18: Chicken Cauliflower Fried Rice
This easy chicken cauliflower dish is a complete low-carb meal all on its own. Combine riced cauliflower with sesame oil, soy sauce, veggies, and scrambled eggs to give the illusion of fried rice without the carbs.
8 Dinner Staples You’ll Want to Make Again
Simple recipes are ideal for nights when you don’t feel like doing much but you still want to eat healthily and stay keto.
After a few times making these next recipes, they’ll become healthy staples you can create from memory without too much effort.
#19: Creamy Mushroom Chicken
This tasty and creamy mushroom chicken recipe can’t get any easier. Sauté mushrooms and onions in butter. Remove from skillet. Add chicken, along with some spices and more butter. Flip once, place the mushroom and onion mix right on top and add some coconut milk to create a deliciously creamy sauce. Then you’re done.
It’s truly that easy.
#20: Mushroom Bacon Skillet
This recipe combines mushrooms, bacon, and fresh herbs in a hot cast iron for an easy, one-skillet meal. It takes just 10 minutes to cook, contains nearly 14 grams of protein, and has just 8 grams of net carbs. So the question is, why not add it to your weekly meal prep?
#21: Roasted Chicken Stack
This roasted chicken stack may look like an advanced cooking technique, but it’s so easy you can ask your kids for help in the kitchen. After you take care of the chicken, the tasty prosciutto and cabbage help turn this easy base into a well-rounded dish that’s also yummy as leftovers for work.
#22: Avocado Shrimp Stack
Avocado, shrimp, basil, and salt: That’s all it takes to make these fresh avocado shrimp stacks. Not only are they light and filling, they’ll also give you a nice break from eating chicken and other heavier meats around the clock.
These stacks are also great for impressing guests. If you’re hosting a dinner party, consider adding these to your menu for a low-carb showstopper.
#23: Lemon Balsamic Chicken
If you’re struggling to find a keto-friendly pressure cooker recipe, look no further. This lemon balsamic chicken recipe has you covered.
Just like you would use a Crock-Pot, simply throw a few ingredients into a pressure cooker, let everything simmer, and you’ll have a shredded chicken dish you can put on top of zoodles or a salad. Serve this at your next dinner or lunch party and your guests won’t feel weighed down as they would with a carb-heavy meal.
#24: Salmon With Pesto Cauliflower Rice
When done right, salmon is one of those fish that can turn devoted meat lovers into seafood eaters. And this salmon with pesto cauliflower rice recipe does that, thanks to its crispy skin.
Plus, with over 51 grams of healthy fat and close to 34 grams of protein, it’s sure to keep meat eaters just as satiated and satisfied.
#25: Crispy Keto Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus
You’ll quickly find that many keto side dishes consist of vegetables wrapped in bacon, but this is a particular favorite. With just four ingredients and a three-step process, this keto-friendly bacon-wrapped asparagus is an easy side dish even the most inexperienced chef can prepare.
#26: Sheet Pan Brussels Sprouts With Bacon
This easy sheet pan recipe makes one complete meal or a healthy side dish. All you need is Brussels sprouts, bacon, and a little salt and pepper for the ingredients. Simply roast at 400° F for 45 minutes, and you have yourself a low-carb, easy dinner.
Enjoy These Keto Dinner Recipes Tonight
With 26 keto dinner recipes to choose from, the answer to the question, “What’s for dinner?” becomes much easier to answer. The only question that now remains is, which recipe from this list will you try first?