The keto diet emphasizes low-carb, high-fat foods. Although this approach to eating has most often been associated with weight loss, it has also proven successful at managing blood sugar levels for those living with diabetes (80).
Try these keto healthy recipes featuring whole ingredients and delicious flavors, from hearty Tuscan soup to pan-seared garlic butter steak strips!
Cheese
Cheese can be an integral component of a healthy diet. Packed with proteins and essential fatty acids that aid in filling you up, cheese is also an excellent source of calcium and should not be over indulged as its high caloric intake adds up quickly when snacking between meals. A thumb-sized wedge contains approximately 120 calories which quickly adds up when snacking throughout the day!
These keto-friendly recipes use cheese as an ingredient to create nutritious dishes full of flavor and texture, from appetizers and salads to main courses and desserts. Perfect for anyone on a low-carb, moderate protein diet!
This delicious keto cauliflower dip combines three of our favorite cheeses – cheddar, Gruyere and cream cheese – for an irresistibly delicious snack or side dish. Quick to whip up and perfect for snacking on veggies like cucumber, broccoli and zucchini as well as meat such as steak or chicken, this treat makes a quick, delicious dip that won’t let you down!
This delicious dinner makes the perfect weeknight dinner, packed with protein, vegetables and flavorful cheese. Perfect for both chicken or shrimp eaters; even suitable for vegetarian diets!
If you’re craving a sweet treat, these sugar-free chocolate graham crackers made from almond and coconut flours, butter and melted cheese make a satisfying low-carb dessert that also happens to be gluten and dairy free! Enjoy! This keto recipe also stands up well when served alongside any meal plan.
This simple keto appetizer is the ideal dish to bring to any informal gathering. Easy to make and using ingredients already present in most pantries, it pairs perfectly with beverages from different beverage providers and is great for prepping ahead for parties!
Eggs
Eggs are an ideal keto protein source, providing less than one gram of carbs in each large egg and abundant healthy fats. Eggs also boast the added benefit of being packed with choline – which plays a part in memory regulation and mood, as well as selenium which protects against cell damage according to the American Egg Board – making them suitable for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks!
Kick start your keto journey quickly with these quick and simple Keto egg muffins – ideal for on-the-go or reheating in an office microwave – that are easy to prepare quickly! Or make eggs benedict with toast made from Keto flour or these air fryer bacon cups on Keto toast; or create these tasty air fryer bacon cups for breakfast on the run. Or on a lazy weekend morning make these satisfying smoked sausage egg bakes featuring spinach and mushrooms for a filling treat!
As for lunch options, try these egg salad bites featuring ham and arugula or eggs with grilled cheese on Keto bread for lunchtime snacking. Or for something unique and tasty to go along with your eggs over easy, try this tasty recipe of baked eggs in a basket featuring peppers, onion and mozzarella cheese!
Savour eggs by creating these scotch eggs – hard-boiled eggs wrapped in sausage that make a tasty lunch on-the-go at school or work! Or add an instant Pot to create delicious dairy-free egg curry in minutes!
Even the simplest eggs can become an exceptional meal when combined with parmesan cheese shredded as you cook them or even adding a spoonful of heavy cream or sour cream for extra richness and low carb count.
Greens
Greens are edible plants packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber and phytonutrients that provide essential vitamins, minerals, fiber and phytonutrients that are accessible year round and available in many forms for consumption raw in salads or cooked. Many types can also add color texture flavor and nutrition boosts like vitamin A C folic acid iron magnesium etc to meals while adding color texture flavor boost.
Cooked greens add depth and complexity to soups, stews, curries and chilis. Wilting or stir-frying makes them more appetizing and less bitter; they can even be folded into omelets and frittatas! Some leafy greens like chard and turnip greens may be too bitter for human consumption when raw, yet soften easily through cooking.
Spinach and kale are well-known greens with low carbohydrate counts. One cup of spinach provides only 41 calories and four grams of fiber. Kale contains an abundance of choline which protects the brain against Alzheimer’s disease – add it to eggs, soups, pasta dishes or sauces!
Other delicious leafy greens include bok choy, collard greens, mustard greens and dandelion greens – each packed with antioxidants that may even have anti-aging benefits! Mustard greens are well known for their spicy flavour and provide calcium, folic acid, iron magnesium and vitamin K benefits – an especially valuable combination.
Bring along a keto-friendly vegetable dish when attending Thanksgiving celebrations to share and teach others about your healthy lifestyle! Not only will you benefit from having some of your own food to snack on while out and about, but others can learn about your healthy eating habits as well!
Peppers
Adopting vegetables like peppers can be easy if you know how to prepare them in a way that adheres to keto. Stuffed peppers provide an example of how a dish that would normally contain high levels of carbs can be transformed by making a few simple swaps.
Instead of using traditional tomato sauce in this recipe, opt for sugar-free marinara sauce instead. Finding quality jarred sauce from your local grocery store shouldn’t be hard; but making your own with San Marzano whole tomatoes (the ideal variety being 28 ounce tins) pureed together with garlic cloves, Italian seasoning blend and salt is easy too!
Stuffed peppers can be prepared in advance and stored in the refrigerator until ready to bake – perfect for meal prepping! Plus, using either your slow cooker or instant pot saves even more time!
To assemble peppers, simply cut off their tops and remove seeds before stuffing each pepper with 1/4 cup meat mixture and 2 tablespoons ricotta cheese; finish it off with mozzarella. Cover your baking dish before cooking the peppers until fork tender; for an added burst of flavor sprinkle some red pepper flakes on top!
This deliciously tempting version of a classic dish utilizes ground beef and melted cheese for a delightful, visually pleasing meal that is both nutritious and low in carbs. Feel free to swap out the ground beef for chicken, turkey or italian sausage with casings removed; the onions can also be reduced for reduced carbs without losing flavor – onions provide important sources of quercetin which has anti-inflammatory benefits in your body!
Berries
Cherries are a delicious seasonal treat bursting with vibrant sweetness and packed full of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, not to mention nature’s way of creating bite-sized snacks! Though cherries contain natural sugars, they can still fit into the keto diet by limiting serving sizes and including other low-carb food items in meals – for instance this cherry cobbler recipe uses buttery crust, vanilla ice cream and coconut flour which help keep carbs to a minimum!
Enjoy this delightful low-carb recipe for breakfast, lunch, or dinner to get plenty of protein and healthy fats to fuel your day! Serve alongside some steamed vegetables, steak, or burger.
People often assume fruit is off limits on a ketogenic or slow carb diet, but berries are actually one of the few fruits suitable for this healthy lifestyle. This Cherry Cheesecake Fluff Recipe makes a quick breakfast or dessert on-the-go that can last in your refrigerator up to three days!
Cherry Clafoutis is another delicious way to enjoy cherries! Created using fresh, pitted cherries combined with almond flour and egg custard base. Perfectly portable dessert, it can be served either traditional tart pan style or individually in muffin tins for individual serving. To speed up preparation time try our magic cherry pitting hack – place a medium size frosting piping tip over the stem end and press to extract pit.