It’s not a dream—there really is a diet where you can eat all the cheese, eggs and bacon you want. It’s called the ketogenic diet (keto for short), and it’s a high-fat, moderate-protein, low-carb meal plan that could potentially help you lose weight. After confirming with your doctor that it’s right for you, give one of these 83 keto dinner recipe ideas a go.
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83 Keto Dinner Recipe Ideas to Try Tonight
1. Creamy Tuscan Garlic Chicken
Psst: The sauce tastes just as good with shrimp or salmon in place of chicken.
2. Shrimp with Cauliflower “Grits” and Arugula
Is there anything cauliflower can’t do? We think not.
3. Baked Eggs and Zoodles with Avocado
When you want a break from meat and cheese, buttery, satiating avocado will be there.
4. Gluten-Free Cheese and Cauliflower ‘Breadsticks’
Dinner is incomplete without ’em, so get your fix minus the carbs.
5. Sheet Pan Chicken with Rainbow Veggies
This meal's loaded with flavor and requires minimal cleanup to boot. Win-win.
6. Chicken Meatballs and Cauliflower Rice
The secret to the creamy, decadent sauce? Coconut milk—not dairy.
7. Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas
Use the meat in tacos, burritos, quesadillas or salads, and the leftovers for tomorrow’s breakfast hash.
8. Garlic Butter Steak and Scallops
Keto-friendly surf and turf in 30 minutes flat? Pinch us, we're dreaming drooling.
9. Prosciutto-Wrapped Cauliflower Bites
Serve them as an app at your next dinner party, plate them with a side of greens or devour them solo.
10. Cheese Shell Taco Cups
Where we’re going, we don’t need tortillas. Crispy, fatty cheesy to the rescue.
11. Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad-Stuffed Peppers
These vibrant cuties are picnic-bound and a cinch to prepare ahead.
12. Low-Carb Keto Chicken Stir Fry
We could eat this one every night. Even better, it's ready before you can say, "delivery, please."
13. Cauliflower ‘Potato’ Salad
When the carb cravings hit, cauliflower can stand in for spuds to create this keto-friendly side dish.
14. Chicken Enchilada Bowl
We’ll take an extra sprinkle of cheese and all the sour cream you have, please.
15. Chicken and Snap Pea Stir Fry
You only need five ingredients to make this takeout-inspired meal, which is decidedly kid-friendly.
16. Slow Cooker Chicken Chile Verde
Serve this keto-friendly dish with a side of cauliflower rice to keep the carbs to a minimum.
17. Vegan Cauliflower Soup
No dairy, no potatoes, no problem. Top your bowl with crushed red pepper flakes for a kick.
18. Spicy Ginger Scallion and Egg Drop Zucchini Noodle Soup
Talk about a light, refreshing meal. The zoodles will scratch your itch for pasta.
19. Low-Carb Bacon Burger with Guacamole
Our dream dinner. Skip the bun in favor of lettuce wraps and ta-da: It’s keto.
20. Cacio e Pepe Cauliflower
Pasta? Never met her. This super cheesy side is all you need, and it'll become one of your go-tos at first bite.
21. Keto Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl Recipe
Ready and on the table in less than 20 minutes. Much faster than a flight to Hawaii, no?
22. Low-Carb Lasagna-Stuffed Spaghetti Squash
The ultimate comfort food, with a keto-friendly twist. Pass the Parm, please.
23. Instant Pot Greek Cauliflower Rice
Plain cauli rice is fine...but this gem from Jen Fisch of Keto in the City is even better.
24. Cauliflower Tortillas
Call all your keto friends: Taco Tuesday is a go. We'll bring the guac.
25. Tuna-Stuffed Zucchini Boats
It's possibly the easiest main you’ll ever make, thanks to a protein-packed pantry staple.
26. One-Pan Eggs with Asparagus and Tomatoes
Breakfast for dinner? Yes, please. Serve with salad, soup or bacon to make it more filling.
27. Greek Wedge Salad
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.
28. Goat Cheese and Spinach-Stuffed Chicken
When your friends say they could never do keto, serve them this to show them the light.
29. One-Pan Roasted Chicken with Carrots
The only thing easier than the cleanup is eating the juicy, crispy chicken thighs.
30. Keto Salmon Sushi Bowl
In this case, no rice is a good thing. Use blitzed cauliflower instead.
31. Roasted Cauliflower with Tahini Ranch
Meet your new favorite condiment. You'll want to make a double (or um, triple) batch, trust.
32. Cream of Mushroom Soup
If you’re craving comfort food, try curling up with this seven-ingredient beauty.
33. Low-Carb Chicken Fajita Salad
If you insist on having salad for dinner, why not one like this? Pile on all the hot sauce you desire.
34. 15-Minute Gazpacho with Cucumber, Red Pepper and Basil
All you need is fresh produce and a blender to whip up this summer stunner. Serve with keto-friendly bread for dipping.
35. Cauliflower Fried Rice
Aka a plateful of takeout-inspired deliciousness. Don't skip the runny egg on top—it's full of protein.
36. Sheet Pan Teriyaki Salmon
Hands down the easiest way to cook seafood, in our opinion. Swap in any veggies that are hiding in the back of your fridge.
37. Cauliflower Soup with Coconut, Turmeric and Lime
Turmeric and curry powder make this soul-soother an edible immunity booster.
38. Spaghetti Squash Primavera
For people who love eating but hate washing dishes (it only dirties one pot and pan).
39. Easy Mexican Meatballs with Zucchini Noodles
Hearty yet refreshing, this low-carb meal will fill you up without bogging you down.
40. Chipotle-Lime Shrimp Lettuce Cups
These elegant bites prove that eating keto doesn’t need to be time-consuming or expensive.
41. Keto Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Panera Bread has nothing on this creamy, decadent gem. Even your kids will drink it down without a fuss.
42. Salsa Verde Shredded Beef Bowls
This Mexican-inspired pick will keep you full without any cheese or sour cream.
43. Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup
Crisp fall evenings call for a hug in a bowl. Just skip the maple syrup to keep it keto.
44. Grilled Zucchini Tomato Feta Boats
Close your eyes and you’re in Greece, thanks to briny, lip-smacking feta cheese.
45. Low-Carb Pho with Zoodles
Cool if we make this every week? Spritz all the lime juice your mouth can handle for a pop of acidity.
46. Baked Chicken and Ricotta Meatballs
You shouldn't limit meatballs to apps and spaghetti. Here, they're filled with cheese and served with charred broccolini.
47. Greek Chicken with Feta and Kalamata Olives
Just toss everything together in a casserole pan and you'll only have one dirty dish to clean after dinner.
48. Grilled Flank Steak with Lemon Herb Sauce
Wow everyone at the barbecue with ease (and consider the marinating time a built-in cocktail hour).
49. Parmesan Ranch Chicken Thighs
Seven ingredients, much magic. Even picky kids will have zero complaints about this slaw-topped wonder.
50. Lemon Salmon with Garlic and Thyme
For when you want something that tastes fancy, minus all the effort.
51. Instant Pot Keto Indian Butter Chicken
Forget low and slow. The pressure cooker pulls this main off in just 20 minutes.
52. Keto Pasta with Lemon-Kale Chicken
It may *look* like regular pasta, but they're really low-carb tofu shirataki noodles.
53. Keto Skillet Lasagna
Loaded with everything but the pasta, so low-carb eaters can get in on the cheesy fun too.
54. Cast Iron Pork Chops with Cacao-Spiced Rub
Pro tip: Salt the pork 45 minutes before cooking so it doesn’t turn tough.
55. Keto Steak and Blue Cheese Salad for One
Your deskmates are jealous already. It's our favorite way to repurpose leftover beef.
56. Chicken Thighs with Pancetta and Green Olives
Briny, crispy and downright foolproof. Oh, and did we mention it comes together in your trusty cast iron skillet?
57. Keto Ham and Cheese Hot Pockets
These copycat handhelds are both low-carb and gluten-free, thanks to almond flour.
58. Keto Instant Pot Sausage-Kale Soup
We recommend slurping it down by a roaring fire for extra warm, fuzzy feels.
59. One-Pan Steak with Beets and Crispy Kale
Never feel intimidated by cooking steak again. Your oven will do the heavy lifting.
60. Seared Scallops with Corn Succotash
Did you know three ounces of scallops pack a whopping 20 grams of protein? They cook to perfection in a flash, too.
61. Vegan Keto Coconut Curry
Don't worry, we’ll look the other way if you want to lick the bowl clean.
62. Keto Everything Chicken Wings
Use homemade bagel-flavored seasoning or store-bought: Either way, these wings will be a hit.
63. Low-Carb Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole
Warning: Your kids will beg for this every week once they have a taste at dinnertime.
64. Steak Skewers with Chimichurri Sauce
Use a grill pan instead of the barbecue to cook the skewers in the winter.
65. 15-Minute Skillet Pepper Steak
Put down the takeout menu—you’ve got this. (And all in a single skillet.)
66. Salmon with Pesto and Blistered Tomatoes
Herbaceous, flavorful store-bought pesto is one of our favorite shortcuts in the book.
67. Low-Carb Tex-Mex Casserole
Instead of using pasta or rice to bind the casserole, eggs and cream cheese do the trick.
68. Pepper Teigen’s Thai Glazed Ribs
They only take 40 minutes to prepare, since they're deep-fried instead of grilled.
69. 30-Minute Breakfast Hash with Kale and Sweet Potatoes
Go ahead, add bacon—you know you want to. Sub more veggies for sweet potatoes to bring the carbs even lower.
70. Tuna Salad with Yogurt, Capers and Za’atar
Mayo who? You'll never make this protein-packed dish the old way again.
71. Strawberry, Basil and Arugula Salad
This modernized '90s staple is only ten minutes away (and it'd be even tastier crowned with grilled chicken).
72. Camarones al Mojo de Ajo
Aka 15-minute shrimp in an epic lemon-garlic sauce. You'll want lots of low-carb bread for soaking up the butter.
73. Pressure Cooker Mushroom-Beef Soup
Low-carb comfort food at its finest. Thanks, Instant Pot.
74. Seared Scallops with Citrus-Shallot Salad
Thoroughly pat the scallops dry before searing them to get a flawless outer crust.
75. Air Fryer Fried Chicken
Thank almond flour and pork panko crumbs (aka ground pork rinds) for the low-carb breading.
76. Low-Carb Zucchini Enchiladas
Bye, tortillas. Did we mention these reheat like a charm? (You're welcome.)
77. Keto Guacamole Burger Bites
They'll take you 35 minutes to make (and 30 seconds to devour).
78. Antoni Porowski’s Strip Steak with Harissa Butter and Parsley Salad
Oh so fancy, yet ready in 20 minutes. We feel an alfresco dinner party coming on.
79. Ginger-Scallion Chicken Meatballs with Sesame-Soy Glaze
Eat the sticky, savory meatballs solo, with veggies or atop a bed of cauli rice.
80. Vegan Keto Everything Bagels
Top one of these beauties with cream cheese and smoked salmon and call it a night.
81. Ina Garten’s Creamy Chicken Thighs with Lemon and Thyme
Leave it to the Barefoot Contessa to make a gourmet-caliber dinner this easy to prepare. Sub cauliflower rice for couscous.
82. Spicy, Crunchy Tuna Salad Lettuce Cups
No cook? Check. Ready in 10 minutes? Check. Packed with protein? You bet.
83. Lemongrass-Ginger Coconut Grilled Steak
Dinner is less than ten ingredients away (and it's damn impressive, if we do say so ourselves).
Additional reporting by Alexandra Hough
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