86 Keto Dinner Recipe Ideas to Try Tonight

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why We Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, low carb

Psst: The sauce tastes just as good with shrimp or salmon in place of chicken. Serve it over zoodles if you're craving pasta.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why We Love It: low carb, beginner-friendly

Is there anything cauliflower can’t do? We think not. Here, it unites with garlicky arugula, tangy goat cheese and spiced shrimp for a well-rounded dinner.

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why We Love It: <30 minutes, gluten free, low carb, <10 ingredients

When you want a break from meat and cheese, buttery, satiating avocado will be there atop a nest of spiralized zucchini. (Substitute cucumber, carrots or beets if you'd prefer.)

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why We Love It: kid-friendly, gluten free, 10 ingredients

Dinner is incomplete without ’em, so get your fix minus the carbs. Egg is used to bind the "breadsticks," which are packed with mozzarella, Parmesan and fresh herbs.

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why We Love It: sheet pan recipe, high protein, gluten free

This keto-friendly meal is loaded with flavor and requires minimal cleanup to boot. The recipe calls for bell peppers, carrots, broccoli and red onions, but you can sub any neglected veggies in your crisper drawer.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why We Love It: dairy free, gluten free, high protein

The secret to the creamy, decadent sauce? Coconut milk—not dairy. (The meatballs are bound without breadcrumbs too, so they're gluten-free as well.)

• Time Commitment: 7 hours and 15 minutes
• Why We Love It: slow cooker recipe, high protein, crowd-pleaser

Take a load off: Your Crockpot has dinner covered. Use the meat in tacos, burritos, quesadillas or salads, and the leftovers for tomorrow’s breakfast hash.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why We Love It: high protein, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy

Keto-friendly surf and turf in 30 minutes flat? Pinch us, we're dreaming drooling. (Blame it on the herby garlic butter sauce.)

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly

Serve them as an app at your next dinner party, plate them with a side of greens or devour them solo. (We're partial to the latter, TBH.)

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly

Where we’re going, we won’t need tortillas. Crispy, fatty caramelized colby Jack cheese to the rescue.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why We Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, high protein

These vibrant cuties are picnic-bound and a cinch to prepare ahead. Make the chicken salad (from a store-bought rotisserie chicken for minimum fuss) a day in advance, then fill the peppers immediately before serving.

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why We Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, one pan

We could eat this simple gem every night. Even better, it's ready before you can say, "delivery, please."

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why We Love It: make ahead, low carb, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser

When the carb cravings hit, cauliflower can stand in for spuds to create this keto-friendly side dish. Prepare it ahead so the veggie can soak up all the tangy dressing.

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why We Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly

We’ll take an extra sprinkle of cheese and all the sour cream you have, please. (Avocado, pickled jalapeños, salsa verde and pico de gallo would be stellar finishing touches, too.)

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why We Love It: kid-friendly, one pan, beginner-friendly, <30 minutes

You only need five ingredients to make this takeout-inspired meal, which is decidedly kid-friendly. Just go easy on the sriracha if they're sensitive to spice.

• Time Commitment: 8 hours
• Why We Love It: slow cooker recipe, Paleo-friendly, high protein

Leave it to the Crockpot to turn chicken thighs super juicy and tender. Serve this keto-friendly dish with a side of cauliflower rice and a small serving of beans to keep the carbs to a minimum.

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegan, kid-friendly

No dairy, no potatoes, no problem for your low-carb meal plan. Finish your bowl with crushed red pepper flakes and a spritz of lemon.

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why We Love It: <30 minutes, one pot, beginner-friendly

Talk about a light, refreshing meal. The zoodles will scratch your itch for pasta, while the egg will help keep you satisfied between meals.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, high protein, gluten free

Aka our dream dinner. Skip bread in favor of lettuce wraps (or a low-carb bun) and ta-da: This burger is keto-friendly.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, gluten free

Pasta? Never met her. This super cheesy side is all you need, and it'll become one of your go-tos at first bite.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why We Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, low carb

Ready and on the table in less than 20 minutes—much faster than a flight to Hawaii, no? Once the cauliflower rice is prepared, you won't have to cook a minute more.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
• Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, low carb, high protein

The ultimate comfort food, with a keto-friendly twist. If you add the filling mixture back into the squash shell to bake, add water to the bottom of the pan so the gourd doesn't burn.

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why We Love It: Instant Pot recipe, <30 minutes, vegetarian

Plain cauli rice is fine...but this Mediterranean-inspired version from Jen Fisch of Keto in the City is even better. Bring on the feta, olives and walnuts.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, make ahead, gluten free

Call all your keto friends: Taco Tuesday is a go, thanks to cauliflower and eggs. We'll bring the guac.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why We Love It: high protein, low carb, beginner-friendly

It's possibly the easiest main you’ll ever make, thanks to a protein-packed pantry staple: canned tuna. The avocado salsa adds buttery texture and citrusy zing to every bite.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why We Love It: sheet pan recipe, gluten free, dairy free, <10 ingredients

Breakfast for dinner? Yes, please. Serve the eggs and veggies with salad, soup or bacon to make 'em more filling.

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why We Love It: <30 minutes, no cook, beginner-friendly

Put down the bacon bits and step away from the blue cheese dressing. This wedge salad is lighter and on the table in less than 20 minutes.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why We Love It: high protein, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy

When your friends say they could never do keto, serve them this to show them the light. The chicken is prepared hasselback-style and stuffed with cheese, spinach, caramelized onion and mushrooms.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, sheet pan recipe, <10 ingredients

The only thing easier than the cleanup is eating the juicy, crispy chicken thighs. A sprinkle of fresh rosemary really takes them over the top.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why We Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, high protein

In this case, no rice is a good thing. Use blitzed cauliflower instead (or better yet, steam-in-the-bag cauli rice).

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, gluten free, vegetarian

Meet your new favorite condiment. You'll want to make a double (or um, triple) batch, trust.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why We Love It: gluten free, low-carb, crowd-pleaser

If you’re craving comfort food, try curling up with this seven-ingredient beauty. Sub coconut cream for heavy cream to make the soup dairy-free.

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why We Love It: high protein, <30 minutes, beginner-friendly

If you insist on having salad for dinner, why not one like this? Pile on all the hot sauce you desire.

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why We Love It: <30 minutes, no cook, make ahead

All you need is fresh produce and a blender to whip up this summer stunner. Serve it with keto-friendly bread for dipping.

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why We Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly

Also referred to as a plateful of comforting deliciousness. Don't skip the runny egg on top—it offers both protein and indulgence.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why We Love It: sheet pan recipe, <10 ingredients, high protein

This is hands down the easiest way to cook seafood, in our opinion. Swap in any veggies that are hiding in the back of your fridge.

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, gluten free, beginner-friendly, vegetarian

Turmeric and curry powder make this soul-soother an edible immunity booster, while coconut milk keeps it creamy and dairy-free.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
• Why We Love It: vegetarian, low carb

Spaghetti squash is a low-carb dieter's BFF. For people who love eating but hate washing dishes, you should know this dish only dirties one pot and pan.

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why We Love It: <30 minutes, high protein, gluten free

Hearty yet refreshing, this low-carb meal will fill you up without bogging you down. Good looking out, zoodles.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why We Love It: <30 minutes, high protein, beginner-friendly

These elegant bites prove that eating keto doesn’t need to be time-consuming or expensive. One pound of shrimp and one head of lettuce go a *long* way.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why We Love It: <30 minutes, gluten free, kid-friendly

Panera Bread has nothing on this creamy, decadent gem. Even your picky eater will drink it down without a fuss.

• Time Commitment: 6 hours and 45 minutes
• Why We Love It: slow cooker recipe, high protein, special occasion-worthy

This Mexican-inspired pick will keep you full without any cheese or sour cream. (But we wouldn't blame you for adding either ingredient to your bowl...)

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why We Love It: Instant Pot recipe, crowd-pleaser, vegan

Crisp fall evenings call for a hug in a bowl. Skip the maple syrup to shave off a few extra carbs.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <30 minutes, vegetarian

Close your eyes and you’re in Greece, thanks to briny, lip-smacking feta cheese, fresh mint and cherry tomatoes.

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why We Love It: low carb, high protein, special occasion-worthy

Cool if we make this every week? Spritz all the lime juice your mouth can handle into your bowl for a welcome pop of acidity.

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why We Love It: high protein, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy

You shouldn't limit meatballs to apps and spaghetti. Here, they're filled with cheese and cooked alongside charred broccolini.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 25 minutes
• Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly, high protein

Just toss everything together in a casserole pan and you'll only have one dirty dish to clean after dinner. Serve it with extra greens on the side.

• Time Commitment: 2 hours
• Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, special occasion-worthy

Wow everyone at the barbecue without breaking a sweat with this beyond simple steak recipe. Consider the marinating time a built-in cocktail hour.

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, high protein

Seven ingredients, much magic. Even picky kids will have zero complaints about this slaw-topped wonder.

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why We Love It: <30 minutes, high protein, <10 ingredients

For when you want something that tastes fancy, minus all the effort. The salmon is seasoned with nothing but pantry staples, fresh lemon and dried thyme.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why We Love It: <30 minutes, high protein, Instant Pot recipe

Forget low and slow: The pressure cooker pulls this main off in 20 minutes flat. Once you brown the chicken in the Instant Pot, the rest is all hands-off.

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly

It may *look* like regular pasta, but they're really low-carb tofu shirataki noodles. Choose any long cut, like spaghetti or angel hair.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why We Love It: low carb, kid-friendly

Loaded with everything but the pasta, so low-carb eaters can get in on the cheesy goodness, too. Sub ground Italian sausage, turkey or chicken if you feel so inclined.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why We Love It: high protein, make ahead

The secret to beyond juicy chops? Salt the pork 45 minutes before cooking so it doesn’t turn tough as it cooks. Save time before dinner by making the cacao spice rub ahead.

• Time Commitment: 5 minutes
• Why We Love It: make ahead, <10 ingredients, <30 minutes

Your deskmates are jealous already. This low-lift salad is our favorite way to repurpose leftover beef.

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why We Love It: high protein, special occasion-worthy, <10 ingredients

Briny, crispy and downright foolproof. Oh, and did we mention it comes together in your trusty cast iron skillet?

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why We Love It: gluten free, kid-friendly, make ahead

These copycat handhelds are both low-carb and gluten-free, thanks to almond flour. P.S.: They freeze like a dream for lickity-split lunches.

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why We Love It: <30 minutes, Instant Pot recipe, one pot

We recommend slurping it down by a roaring fire for extra warm-and-fuzzy feels. Add the kale last and let it soften for about five minutes before digging in.

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why We Love It: sheet pan recipe, <10 ingredients, high protein

Never feel intimidated by cooking steak again. Your oven (and life-saving sheet pan) will do all the heavy lifting tonight.

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, <10 ingredients

Did you know three ounces of scallops pack a whopping 20 grams of protein? They cook to perfection in a flash, too (and they're easier to prepare than you think).

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why We Love It: vegan, gluten free, beginner-friendly

Tofu offers 18 grams of plant-based protein per serving. Don't worry, we’ll look the other way if you want to lick the bowl clean.

• Time Commitment: 55 minutes
• Why We Love It: high protein, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly

Mix the everything bagel seasoning yourself or substitute store-bought. Either way, these butter-drenched wings are an easy home run.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why We Love It: high protein, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly

Warning: Your kids will beg you to make this every week once they have a taste at dinnertime. It has all the essentials, from pickles to mustard to cheddar cheese.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, high protein, crowd-pleaser

Beef tenderloin, cherry tomatoes and red onion, united by garlicky chimichurri. Use a grill pan instead of the barbecue to cook the skewers indoors—you won't want to sacrifice those char marks.

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why We Love It: <30 minutes, one pan, beginner-friendly

Put down the takeout menu—you’ve got this. You can add basically any less-than-stellar produce you'd like to the skillet to boot.

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why We Love It: high protein, beginner-friendly

Herbaceous, flavorful store-bought pesto is one of our favorite shortcuts in the book. Here, it's key for keeping the ingredients list down to six items.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why We Love It: high protein, beginner-friendly

Instead of using pasta or rice to bind the casserole, eggs and cream cheese do the trick, making the casserole low-carb and keto-friendly. (Oh, and super indulgent.)

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why We Love It: high protein, special occasion-worthy

They only take 40 minutes to prepare, since they're deep-fried instead of grilled. This turns the ribs tender and crispy in a fraction of the time.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, one pan

Sub additional veggies for sweet potatoes to bring the carbs even lower. While you're at it, go ahead and add bacon to the mix—you know you want to.

• Time Commitment: 5 minutes
• Why We Love It: make ahead, no cook, high protein

Mayo who? You'll never make this lunch staple the old way again. Greek yogurt is just as creamy, but tangier and higher in protein.

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, no cook

This modernized '90s staple is only ten minutes away (and it'd be even tastier and more filling crowned with grilled chicken).

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser

Aka 15-minute shrimp in an epic lemon-garlic sauce. You'll want lots of low-carb bread for soaking up every last drop of butter.

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why We Love It: Instant Pot recipe, high protein, one pot

Low-carb comfort food at its finest, courtesy of the pressure cooker. Use corn starch to thicken the soup instead of flour to make it gluten free.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, special occasion-worthy

Thoroughly pat the scallops dry before searing them to get a flawless outer crust, and don't place them in the pan until the oil is shimmering and sufficiently heated.

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, special occasion-worthy

Who knew almond flour and pork panko crumbs (ground pork rinds) made such a stellar low-carb breading? Serve with ranch dressing, hot sauce and lemon wedges.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
• Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead

Bye, tortillas—zucchini has this one covered. Did we mention the enchiladas freeze and reheat like a charm? (You can thank us later.)

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly

These teeny toothpick-able bites will take you 35 minutes to make (and 30 seconds to devour). They're basically bacon-wrapped mini meatballs topped with guac, tomato and fresh mozz.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why We Love It: <30 minutes, high protein, special occasion-worthy

Oh so impressive, yet ready in 20 minutes with minimal effort. We feel an alfresco dinner party coming on.

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, high protein

Baking instead of pan-frying yields supremely tender results. Eat the sticky, savory meatballs solo, with fresh veggies or atop a bed of cauli rice with quick-pickled cucumbers, cabbage and carrot.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, beginner-friendly

Top one of these beauties with cream cheese and smoked salmon and call it dinner. (Microgreens, capers and red onion are solid accoutrements too.)

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 25 minutes
• Why We Love It: high protein, special occasion-worthy

Leave it to the Barefoot Contessa to make a gourmet dinner this easy to prepare. Sub cauliflower rice for couscous to make it keto-friendly

• Time Commitment: 10 minutes
• Why We Love It: no cook, <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, gluten free, <10 ingredients

No cook? Check. Ready in 10 minutes? Check. Packed with protein? You bet. Canned tuna saves the day once again.

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
• Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients, high protein

Dinner is less than ten ingredients away (and it's damn impressive nonetheless). Serve it with raw greens, zoodles or grilled vegetables.

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes (plus marinating time)
• Why We Love It: high protein, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly

This simple dish is proof that pantry staples can go miles in the flavor department. The marinade is nothing but umami-rich miso and sweet honey. Butter is added as the chicken cooks for a dose of richness.

• Time Commitment: 35 minutes
• Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients

Spicy, cheesy, creamy and crowned with bacon, this omelet will satisfy your hankering for jalapeño poppers without the messy frying. Even better, you'll only need eight ingredients to pull it off. We call that a win-win.

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, high protein, <30 minutes

Salmon is satiating enough on its own. Add avocado and bacon to the fish and it'll surely hold you over (well, until dessert anyway).