The popularity of the ketogenic diet is certainly on the rise. The goal is to eat fat, and lots of it – bring on the avocados and coconut! Essentially, the keto diet is a high fat, moderate protein and low carb diet. When you limit carbs from your diet, your body turns to fat as its fuel source, putting you into a state of ketosis, which may promote weight loss, energy and mental clarity. Leaving carbs behind isn’t always easy though, so here are a few satisfying dinner recipes to get you started, whether you’re new to the diet or a longtime advocate.
Whole30 Veggie-Packed Breakfast Frittata
Loaded with veggies and eggs, this low-carb meal is definitely one that will keep hunger at bay and energy levels high. Although frittatas are generally reserved for breakfast, the dish also makes for a quick, healthy and economical dinner option. Simply pair it with some spring greens and a good glug of extra virgin olive oil for added fat.
Paleo Turkey Stuffed Peppers
Stuffed peppers are a classic comfort dish, and this particular recipe was made as a sloppy-joe alternative with a bell pepper as the bun. Opt for dark meat ground turkey for that extra bit of flavour and fat.
Zucchini Noodles with Coconut Curry Salmon
“Zoodles,” aka zucchini noodles, are a must while eating keto to satisfy that carby noodle craving. Luckily, most grocery stores now sell them pre-packaged and ready-to-go, so no need to do any spiralizing yourself. Alternatively, use a vegetable peeler to make thicker noodle ribbons.
Lighter Asian Noodle Salad
This is a vegetable “noodle” salad is packed with Asian flavours. To make this keto compliant, omit the honey from the recipe. If you’re still needing that something sweet, opt for a keto-approved sweetener alternative, like stevia.
Grilled Beef Satay
Marinating beef in ginger curried yogurt is the perfect flavour combination and an amazing way to get more fat into your diet. Eat these by themselves or pair with a crunchy and refreshing slaw.
Roasted Cauliflower Salad with Fried Capers and Pickled Currants
We love when vegetables get to be the star of any dinner plate. This salad provides the body with the fat it needs from ingredients like avocado, almonds, coconut oil, and extra virgin olive oil. Skip the pickled currants, replacing them with olives instead for a truly keto-friendly dinner.
Prosciutto Pizza with Cauliflower Crust
When eating keto, it’s often necessary to reimagine the foods you love, so while traditional pizza crust is a big no-no on this diet, cauliflower pizza crust is a big, fat yes! You’ll be so surprised with how crisp and truly delicious it is, and it’ll make you forget about the real thing.
Turkey and Cauliflower Shepherd’s Pie
Potatoes are too starchy to eat on a keto diet, so why not swap them out for cauliflower instead? Blending the cauliflower with a good glug of olive oil adds flavour, creaminess and high-quality fat to this low-carb shepherd’s pie topper.
Lemon Chicken with Olives
Who doesn’t love a one-pot dinner? Using darker cuts of skin-on chicken, like drumsticks, along with briny green olives adds the extra fat you need when following a keto diet.
Spinach and Mushroom Stuffed Chicken Breast
Stuffing chicken breasts is a fabulous way to keep them tender, juicy and big on flavour. Some people choose to go dairy-free when eating keto, while others find they need that extra fat from dairy sources. This recipe calls for part-skim ricotta, but opting for full-fat will also do the trick.
Trout Almost Amandine with Pistachios
Adding nuts to any dish is a great way to get that extra boost of fat. They’re also fabulous to use as an alternative to bread crumbs or panko, which is exactly what this recipe does!
Tuna Carpaccio with Sesame Lime Dressing
Fresh and boldly flavoured, this tuna carpaccio is a cinch to make. Drizzle over additional sesame oil for added flavour and fat, and pair it with a seaweed salad for a complete keto meal.