The keto diet, characterized by high amounts of fat and limited carbohydrates, has become an increasingly popular weight-loss trend. Unfortunately, one recent study concluded that those adhering to such a diet had significantly higher levels of “bad” cholesterol as well as double the risk for serious cardiac issues like chest pain, blocked arteries requiring stenting procedures, strokes or heart attacks.
Pesto Chicken
Pesto is a creamy, herbaceous sauce that pairs perfectly with meaty proteins like chicken and fish. Additionally, its healthy fat-rich composition (e.g. olive oil and nuts) make it a good low-carb option. While pesto may be high in calories if consumed excessively; here’s an alternative that uses less olive oil and produces lower calorie pesto – for optimal results use less olive oil in order to create a lower calorie pesto version of this popular dish!
Make this quick, delicious weeknight dinner easily: marinate chicken breasts in pesto before sauteing in a pan with tomatoes, garlic cloves and white wine. Reduce the heat before stirring in a mixture of pesto and heavy cream for 30-40 minutes to simmer and bring up to temperature before spooning over chicken for a creamy and decadent meal that takes no more than 30 minutes!
Serve this pesto chicken with any number of side dishes for a well-balanced and satisfying meal, such as mashed potatoes, roasted cherry tomatoes, jasmine rice, creamy spinach or even grilled asparagus for maximum satisfaction. Grilled vegetable skewers provide another delectable addition that adds an irresistibly smoky taste and crunchy crunch!
Greek Salad is an easy and flavorful accompaniment that pairs beautifully with this pesto chicken recipe. Crafted using fresh ingredients like tomatoes, cucumbers, feta cheese and olives – plus its zesty dressing adds Mediterranean flair that pairs perfectly with herbal pesto!
Mashed potatoes are a classic and indulgent side dish, perfectly complementing pesto chicken. Their smooth texture and rich garlic flavor provide the ideal balance to its herby and herbaceous notes, and roasted cherry tomatoes add another delicious burst of color! This recipe makes an excellent weeknight dinner option suitable for Keto diet followers; simply prepare this meal within 20 minutes!
Spinach and Avocado Salad
This heart healthy keto salad meets both criteria! Low in carbohydrates and vegan-friendly, this one packs in antioxidants from the berries and spinach; potassium and zinc from avocado; protein from nuts; and calcium from cheese for an all-around delicious lunch that’s quick to put together and easy to enjoy any time of year! This recipe makes four small side salads or two regular-sized ones; perfect for entertaining anytime of year! This recipe makes 4 small side salads (or 2 regular-sized).
This tasty salad provides all of the vitamins and nutrients your body needs for good health, from vitamin A-rich spinach to vitamin C-packed strawberries and raspberries, plus dietary fiber-rich nuts. Furthermore, avocado’s creamy texture provides monounsaturated fats which may help to keep you full longer – perfect as an appetizer before an elaborate meal or as a breakfast/lunch on its own.
The key ingredient of this salad is its vibrant lemon vinaigrette dressing, and that is its true star ingredient. Simply whisk all the ingredients in a bowl or shake them in a jar with a lid until everything has fully combined and emulsified for an exquisitely flavorful vinaigrette that adds an acidity-laden flair to this recipe.
If you’re dairy-free, goat cheese makes an excellent alternative that still adds creamy texture and an irresistibly similar flavor. This salad should be enjoyed soon after preparing it as avocado will quickly begin browning once exposed to air; to prevent this from happening quickly squeeze some lemon juice directly on top of each avocado before serving!
Radishes and red onions add crunch to this salad, and you can leave them out if preferred. Cotija cheese brings an irresistibly pungent bite that pairs beautifully with avocados; alternatively feta is an equally good replacement option. Overall this recipe takes less than 30 minutes to create for a quick weeknight dinner or enjoyable summer lunch!
Keto Chaffle Sandwich
Chaffles first made their debut as part of the Keto diet trend and since have quickly become a go-to breakfast item and sandwich replacement. Easy to prepare and reheat quickly, they can be used in place of traditional bread or waffles in all sorts of applications; plus they provide an alternative for those avoiding gluten who follow keto.
Chaffles are cheese and egg waffles that have quickly become a delicious low-carb alternative to traditional wheat-based waffles and bread, thanks to only needing minimal ingredients for their recipe. Chaffles can easily be tailored to meet individual taste preferences; you could try adding herbs and spices, switching up cheese choices, making savory versions like sausage and eggs or turkey with brie; or keep things sweet by filling with sweet goodies like Lily’s chocolate chips!
Make Chaffles the Easy Way with a Mini Waffle Maker
Chaffle sandwiches make an ideal quick lunch option when on the move, particularly for school or workplace lunches that need to be packed quickly in a bag. Plus, you can prepare them ahead of time before simply heating them in either your microwave or toaster oven when you’re ready to eat!
Chaffles can be customized to be either savory or sweet and are versatile breakfast, lunch and snack items. Chaffles are simple to make and can be filled with anything that would typically go on a sandwich (meats, vegetables and salad). Plus, add your favorite sauce for extra decadence!
Keto Sausage Balls
Your family and guests are sure to love this delicious keto sausage ball recipe. Packed full of hearty flavors and easy to make, they are an ideal snack or light meal option that can be prepared in under 30 minutes – making this dish ideal as party appetizers as well!
Traditional sausage balls are created using ground sausage, cheeses (typically cheddar and cream cheese), seasonings, bisquick, or almond flour as the binding agent – however this low carb alternative uses almond flour instead to dramatically lower carb consumption while providing an irresistibly delicious nutty taste to the finished product.
To create sausage balls, simply combine all of the ingredients in a large mixing bowl and stir well before using a cookie dough scoop or spoon to form small balls of sausage ball mixture and place on a lightly greased baking sheet. Bake 18-20 minutes, or until the sausage balls have turned golden brown.
To add variety and enhance the flavors of keto sausage balls, consider experimenting by adding different elements such as shredded cheddar cheese, chopped basil or pepperoni for an authentic pizza-like experience or spice up your bites by including cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes in your recipe.
An easy way to add variety to these sausage balls is by sprinkling some garlic powder and onion powder into the mix – this will give them more savory appeal! For even more cheesey goodness, add parmesan or mozzarella shreds as toppings!
Once the sausage balls have cooled, they can be stored in an airtight container or sealed freezer bag in the refrigerator for three to four days before being reheated in either the microwave, oven or air fryer as needed. Additionally, this recipe freezes extremely well so you can create large batches to store away for later.
This heart healthy keto recipe makes a tasty addition to any meal, especially breakfast! Packed with protein and fats for lasting satisfaction throughout your morning commute, these sausage balls can also be easily prepared either hot or cold and enjoyed anytime of day!