12 Easy Keto Recipes For Beginners (2024)

Just starting a ketogenicdiet? Here are 12 easy keto recipes for beginners. These simple recipes are familiar favorites you probably already know how to make!

12 Easy Keto Recipes For Beginners (1)

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When you first start keto, it's easy to get confused by all the information on the internet. You may end up thinking you need to buy all kinds of different foods, or that you have to get rid of everything in your kitchen. The truth is lots of everyday foods are keto friendly (see the full list of keto diet foods here).

Many of your favorite foods are keto friendly the way you've always eaten them (hello guacamole!), or with just a few simple tweaks. And it's much easier to get started with keto when you stick to the basics.

These classic recipes are all keto-friendly the way they are traditionally made - no need for fancy ingredients. You can probably make them with pantry staples you have in your kitchen today.Just make sure all of your ingredients are low carb real food (not full of processed food chemicals or sugars) and you're ready to make some of the easiest keto meals ever.

Easy and familiar keto recipes for beginners

These super easy keto recipes are perfect for quick and easy keto meals. Best of all, they are familiar favorites your family will love - as well as easy keto diet recipesfor beginners. They are perfect options for anyone new to keto who needs help coming up with easy and healthy keto meal options.

RELATED:17 of the Best Keto Snacks to Buy Right Now!

Guacamole

I think this is everyone's favorite snack. It's also great on burgers or grilled chicken or in lettuce wraps or tacos - the topping options are endless.

All you need for the best keto-friendly guacamole are ripe avocados, onion, lime juice, salt, and diced jalapeno. You can tweak the ingredients however you want to suit your own tastes by adding more or less of each.

Once avocados hit the air, they begin to oxidize. So, to keep your guacamole from browning, smooth out the top layer, brush on some lime juice, and put plastic wrap over the top. This will allow your fresh guac to stay for a day in the refrigerator before turning brown.

Antipasto salad

This salad is so simple and full of flavor. All the toppings make it a filling lunch recipe or weeknight dinner anyone can make. You probably already have a lot of the ingredients in your pantry or fridge.

Gather some black olives, green olives, marinated artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, cherry tomatoes, red onion, marinated mushrooms, and pepperoncini or banana peppers. You can sever this antipasto salad on its own or as a delicious side to your keto-friendly meal. It's a great dish for potlucks.

Roast chicken in the oven or whole chicken in the slow cooker

Cook up a whole chicken on the weekend and use it for meals during the week. There's no better dish to mealprep. And thissimple recipe is perfect for beginners! Use the leftovers to make chicken salad or a low carb casserole.

Italian dressing

This classic dressing is super simple - just throw all the ingredients in a jar and shake it up. It's the perfect dressing to add over top of your antipasto salad.

Deviled eggs

Deviled eggs may be old school, but their full of protein and naturally low carb. These are actually considered a staple food for anyone starting their keto journey. They are quick and easy to make, require few ingredients, and are also paleo-friendly. The olive oil in this recipe is also a great way to add more fat to your diet.

Frittata

Frittatas are a great quick meal that you can make with whatever leftovers you have in the fridge! This one is a good low carb option because it eliminates potatoes and cheese.

Some keto-friendly vegetable options you may want to consider adding to your frittata are pumpkin, green cabbage, kale, spinach, broccoli, or cauliflower. Pumpkin is a great substitute if you don't care for butternut squash.

Pulled pork

This is the easiestpulled porkever, and this keto dinner recipe is sure to satisfy everyone. It's so simple with just three ingredients!

Pulled pork is a great source of protein and can be served alongside some of your other favorite keto dishes like chipotle lime mayo coleslaw, a slow cooked or Instant Pot sweet potato, or zucchini noodles.

Chicken soup

Why cook when you can let your slow cooker do all the hard work for you? There's nothing like a comforting bowl of chicken soup. This one cooks in the crockpot so you can come home to an easy hot soup for dinner.

Better yet? It only requires a few ingredients and is also a gluten-free and dairy-free lunch or dinner option when you don't have a lot of time on your hands.

Oven baked salmon

This sheet pan salmon andasparagus dinner is super easy to bake in the oven. Start to finish, this keto meal is faster than ordering take-out. When making this low carb recipe, make sure you work with fresh salmon (or thawed if frozen) and high-quality mustard made with no added sugar.

While it makes a great dinner recipe, it is also something you can meal prep for an easy take and go lunch during the week.

Roasted Brusselssprouts

Roasting the Brussels sprouts with bacon takes them over the top. It's an easy way to dress up this classic vegetable and is a great way to get even a picky eater to try them out. All you need for this easy recipe are clean and trimmed Brussels sprouts, bacon, and a delicious garlic-infused olive oil. Don't have garlic-infused olive oil?

Don't be afraid to make it yourself. Simply place the olive oil in a pan with four garlic cloves and slowly heat everything, making sure to keep an eye on it. Simmer the olive oil and garlic cloves gently until golden brown. Remove the pan from the heat, smash the cloves, and let cool. Strain the olive oil, and you have homemade garlic-infused oil to use in the best recipes.

12 Easy Keto Recipes For Beginners (12)

Cauliflower rice

Cauliflower rice is another easy keto-friendly dinner side option you may want to try out. The best part is you can make it in big batches and stock it in your fridge or freezer. Pull it out, and you will have a five-minute dinner side dish with minimal effort.

Cauliflower soup

This cauliflower and celery root soup recipe topped with bacon is a low-carb, delicious lunch or dinner option that is keto-friendly and easy to make, even for a beginner. You can toss all your ingredients into one pot, let it cook, blend, and you will have a hot meal ready in no time.

Easy keto recipes to try

So if you're wondering what's for dinner, try these easy and classic keto-friendly recipes for beginners. They're all easy to make keto diet recipes that require only basic ingredients - nothing complicated or difficult.

Bonus:These best keto recipes are all gluten-free and paleo-friendly as well. And they're all familiar dishes your family will love.

What's your favorite keto recipe?

Are there easy keto dinner recipes your family loves that you include in your weekly meal plan? Leave a comment below and let us know!

12 Easy Keto Recipes For Beginners (2024)

FAQs

What is the best first meal for keto? ›

  • Breakfast: Opt for full-fat yogurt and top it with Keto granola.
  • Lunch: You can have a steak bowl and add cauliflower rice, herbs, cheese, avocado, and spices of your choice.
  • Dinner: Enjoy a bison steak and cheesy beans, broccoli, or peppers.
Jun 15, 2022

What is the simplest way to do keto? ›

Keto Diet for Beginners
  1. Decrease carbs (but eat more veggies) Eating a very low carb diet is important to achieving ketosis, but low carb does not mean no carb. ...
  2. Decrease stress. ...
  3. Increase healthy fats. ...
  4. Increase exercise. ...
  5. Increase your water intake. ...
  6. Maintain your protein intake. ...
  7. Maintain your social life!

Is peanut butter OK on keto? ›

Peanut butter can definitely be part of a keto diet, but it's best to stick to plain options that are free of extra flavors and sweeteners. Almond butter is a good choice, too, and it's slightly lower in carbs. Additionally, you should be mindful of your portion size if you're trying to lose weight.

What is forbidden in keto diet? ›

Grains and Starches

One of the initial food categories to steer clear of on the keto diet is grains and starchy foods. Examples include wheat, rice, corn, and oats, which are rich in carbohydrates. These goods can have a notable impact on blood sugar levels and impede the body's ability to enter ketosis.

What foods to avoid when starting keto? ›

Keto No-Go - What Can You Not Eat On Keto?
  • On a ketogenic diet, you should avoid high-carb foods like grains, sugars, and some fruits. ...
  • - Grains: Rice, wheat, oats, barley, rye, quinoa, buckwheat, etc.
  • - Starchy Vegetables: Potatoes, peas, sweet potatoes, yams, corn, cassava, artichoke, etc.
Apr 3, 2023

What foods put you in ketosis fast? ›

Almonds, walnuts, chia seeds, and flaxseeds are some excellent choices that can help you get into ketosis fast. These crunchy snacks are perfect for curbing hunger and providing an extra dose of healthy fats. However, keep in mind that nuts and seeds are calorie-dense, so portion control is key.

Which fruit is keto? ›

Keto fruits by definition are low in carbohydrates. You still need to exercise portion control with most keto-friendly fruits to be within the limits of a keto diet. Keto-friendly fruits include avocados, watermelon, strawberries, lemons, tomatoes, raspberries, peaches, cantaloupe, star fruit, and blackberries.

Can you eat bananas on keto? ›

Bananas. Bananas may be great for muscle recovery, reducing bloat, and calming an upset stomach, but they're on the list of foods you can't eat on the keto diet. With 25g of carbs per 100g serving, bananas are too high in carbs.

Is popcorn okay for keto? ›

Net carbs are calculated by taking the total grams of carbohydrate in a food and subtracting the amount of fiber. In this case, popcorn contains 6 grams of carbs per 1 cup serving and 1.2 grams of fiber, bringing the net carbs per serving to 4.8 grams. Yes friends, popcorn is indeed a keto food.

Can I eat apples on keto? ›

Are Apples Keto-Friendly? Apples are generally not considered keto-friendly as they are relatively high in carbs. One medium-sized apple contains about 20 grams of net carbs, which can quickly add up and may not fit within the daily carb limit for those following a ketogenic diet.

How many eggs can I eat on keto? ›

We'll also share some great low-carb egg-based keto recipes. Eggs are keto-friendly and safe to eat when you're on the ketogenic diet. Eggs are low in carbs while containing high amounts of protein and healthy fats. You can have 6 to 7 eggs every day while on the keto diet.

Can I eat salads on keto? ›

You can eat a variety of salads on keto, as long as they contain healthy fats and proteins and are low in carbs. Egg salad, grilled chicken salad, shrimp salad, cauliflower salad, arugula salad, cucumber salad, antipasto salad, Greek salad, Caprese salad, and spinach salad are just a few keto-friendly salads to enjoy.

Can you lose 20 pounds in a month? ›

Though losing 20 pounds can seem like a challenge, you can do it safely by making changes to your eating pattern, exercise routine, and other eating practices. That said, losing 20 pounds in one month is unsafe and unsustainable. Instead, try losing between 4 and 8 pounds this month, and matching it the next month.

How do I start keto on the first day? ›

Moving ahead, there are a lot of things that can be tried in lunch, on the first day. Omega 3 fatty fish is a great source of fats, protein and has no carbs at all. Fish like Salmon, Tuna, and Catfish are very high in omega 3 content and also lead to the formation of saturated fat which helps the body in ketosis.

How do I start keto in the morning? ›

Keto Breakfast Ideas: 6 Ways to Start the Day Without a Lot of...
  1. Jicama Hash with Turkey Bacon and Avocado. ...
  2. Scrambled Eggs With Tomatoes, Herbs and Goat Cheese. ...
  3. Ginger Spice Smoothie. ...
  4. Sauteed Veggies With Avocado & Poached Egg. ...
  5. Non-Coffee Vanilla Latte. ...
  6. Broccoli Sausage Frittata.
Jan 16, 2019

What weight do you lose first on keto? ›

Anecdotally, people report losses within the first week of anywhere from 1 pound (0.5 kg) to 10 or more pounds (5 kg). The larger you are, the more water weight you're likely to lose after starting keto. Although, it's unlikely that much of this initial weight loss is fat loss.

What does a keto supper look like? ›

Keto Dinners

The meal can center around a hearty protein, like fish, poultry, steak or eggs. Pair with a delicious vegetable-forward side dish and a serving of healthy fat, and viola, the perfect keto dinner. Keto soups, salads, sheet-pan meals and zoodle pasta dishes all work beautifully too.

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