The words “keto diet” may conjure up visions of bacon, butter, and heavy cream, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the delectable food options available to keto dieters. Most people build their meal plans around main dishes, which makes sense. Main dishes usually provide the bulk of the protein in a given meal, and we all know how critical protein is for maintaining strength and staying healthy now and well into old age. But sides are how you add color, pizzazz, texture, and even more flavor. Steak—delicious. Steak served with a big-ass side salad and crispy roasted broccoli—out of this world. Without further ado, here are 20 of our favorite side dishes to complete your fabulous, low-carb keto meals. 20 Keto Side Dishes You’ll Love Warm Vegetable Side Dishes 1. Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts Brussels sprouts have experienced a major popularity boost since everyone discovered that they’re actually quite delicious roasted and served with bacon. This recipe adds tangy and sweet balsamic vinaigrette to take the flavor to another level. Get the Recipe 2. Grilled Greek Veggies Customize this easy, flavorful recipe with whatever vegetables you have on hand. It’s great for summer when your garden is producing bounties. Get the Recipe 3. Mushroom and Bacon Risotto Plain cauliflower rice might not be very exciting, but this flavorful mushroom and bacon dish is a total crowd-pleaser. Get the Recipe 4. Sesame Ginger Broccoli This recipe will tempt even those folks who aren’t the biggest fans of broccoli. The trick is to roast it long enough to develop some lightly browned crispy bits around the edges. Get the Recipe 5. Creamed Spinach Creamed spinach might seem old-fashioned and, let’s face it, not that appealing, but give this one a try. You’ll be pleasantly surprised. Bonus: it’s dairy-free! Get the Recipe 6. Mashed Vegetables (That Aren’t Potatoes) Mashed potatoes contain too many carbs to enjoy on a keto diet (unless you’re willing to stop at a spoonful or two). Luckily, there are lower-carb vegetables that are just as delicious mashed. Get the Recipe 7. Air Fryer Green Beans Perhaps you’ve had fried green beans off the menu at your favorite pub, but those were probably battered and fried. These are equally delicious and much more keto-friendly. Get the Recipe 8. Fajita Veggies These make a yummy topping for a burrito bowl or big-ass steak salad, but you can also enjoy them with some simple grilled chicken or scrambled eggs. Get the Recipe 9. Cauliflower Steaks If you’ve only ever had cauliflower mashed or roasted, you must try these cauliflower steaks. Chimichurri is the real star of this show, though. Get the Recipe 10. Cacio e Pepe A keto version of the classic pasta dish of cheese and pepper made with zucchini noodles. Get the Recipe 11. Summer Ratatouille Ratatouille isn’t just a friendly talking rat, it’s a very beautiful layered baked vegetable side dish. It takes a bit of prep work to chop the veggies and assemble … Continue reading “Keto Side Dishes”
Read MoreIdeally, your keto diet comprises mostly animal proteins, low-carb vegetables, and healthy fats—but sometimes you have a sweet tooth that needs satisfying. Or maybe you’re going to a birthday party, graduation picnic, or other celebration, and you want to bring a treat that won’t derail your low-carb way of eating. That’s where these keto desserts come in. Typical desserts made with flour and sugar are off the menu for keto dieters due to their usually sky-high carbohydrate content. These 15 keto dessert recipes are made with keto-friendly ingredients—nut flours, coconut products, and low-carb, keto-approved sweeteners like monk fruit and stevia—that keep them low-carb and also Primal-approved. (Allulose and sugar alcohols are other acceptable sweeteners that you can sub into these recipes.) Enjoy! 15 Keto Dessert Recipes Chocolate-y Keto Treats 1. Keto Chocolate Chip Cookies (Gluten Free) Our take on the classic, so good they’ll have you asking, “Chips a-who?” Get the Recipe 2. Fudgy Keto Zucchini Brownies The zucchini adds moisture and structure to these brownies. Looking for a way to get more veggies into your kids? Look no further. Get the Recipe 3. Chocolate Peanut Butter Fat Bombs Indulge in the perfect combo of chocolate and peanut butter. Get the Recipe Keto Cake, Pie, and Baked Desserts 4. Keto Strawberry Cream Pie This pie is best made with fresh summer strawberries. It tastes like sunshine in your mouth. Get the Recipe 5. Keto Angel Food Cake Sometimes keto-friendly baked goods are dense and heavy, but this angel food cake is the light, airy treat you expect—without all the sugar and grains. Get the Recipe 6. No-Bake Keto Coconut Cheesecake Need a dessert that everyone will go nuts for whether or not they’re keto? These no-bake cheesecake bites are it! Get the Recipe 7. Keto Sugar Cookies Perfect for the holidays or any time of the year. Get the Recipe 8. Keto Donuts These require the purchase of a silicon donut pan, but once you own it, you can try all sorts of variations on this recipe: chocolate, glazed, blueberry, cinnamon—yum! Get the Recipe Frozen Keto Treats 9. Keto Salted Caramel Ice Cream This creamy treat starts with a low-carb custard base that becomes the best keto ice cream you’ve ever had. Get the Recipe 10. Keto Coffee Frozen Pops Now your morning coffee is a cool anytime refreshment. Get the Recipe 11. Keto Ice Cream Bon Bons The only thing more fun than ice cream? Ice cream you eat with your fingers, of course. Get the Recipe 12. Collagen Fuel Fudge Pops When you’re feeling nostalgic for the endless summer nights of childhood, reach for one of these fudge pops. Get the Recipe 13. Primal Keto Ice Cream Top this low-carb ice cream with a shot of espresso for a keto-friendly affogato that’s pure bliss. Get the Recipe And Now for Something a Little Different… 14. Chocolate Bacon Keto folks love bacon, and we love dark chocolate, so why not put them together? Try it once, you’ll be hooked. … Continue reading “Keto Dessert Recipes”
Read MoreWhen you follow a keto diet, the number one rule is that you must keep your daily carbohydrate intake low—below 50 grams per day. In practice, that means minimizing or eliminating grain-based foods and foods with added sugar. Your typical bread, bagels, pastries, breakfast cereal, pancakes, waffles, biscuits, and muffins are all off the table (no pun intended).
At first blush, then, it might seem like there is nothing left to eat in the morning. Au contraire! In fact, breakfast is one of the easiest meals to eat when you’re keto. Eggs, veggies, meat, and cheese are all totally keto-friendly options that you can combine into a variety of delectable breakfast dishes. Berries and plain, full-fat yogurt also fit the bill. You can even use low-carb flour and sugar substitutes to reinvent some of those old favorites if you’re so inclined.
Read MoreThere’s nothing better than enjoying a fresh scone with your morning coffee or tea. Since fall is now in full swing it’s only appropriate that even morning scones have a hint of pumpkin. Not only does pumpkin mix well with spices such as cinnamon, ginger, cardamon but there are also numerous health benefits to pumpkin. Plus, this recipe for pumpkin scones calls for almond flour, making it gluten-free. If you’re looking for more texture, add chopped nuts to the scone dough like pecans or walnuts.
How to make gluten-free pumpkin scones
First, preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Next, combine the milk and vinegar and let rest for about 5 minutes. While you’re waiting combine the almond flour, 5.5 tablespoons of tapioca, sugar, coconut flour, baking powder, spices and salt in a bowl. Add the cold butter to the bowl and cut the butter into the flour mixture using a fork or pastry cutter. In the end, the butter should be in very tiny pieces incorporated into the flour and the resulting flour should look like crumbly sand.
Add the milk mixture, pumpkin and vanilla to the bowl and mix together with a spatula or spoon until just combined. Let the dough rest for 2-3 minutes. Place a piece of parchment or a silicone mat on a sheet pan and sprinkle the remaining tapioca starch on it. Scoop the dough out on the pan and form it into a ball. Form the dough into a flattened round disk about an inch or so thick. Use a large knife to cut the disk into 6 or 8 sections.
Place the pan in the oven at 375 degrees for about 20 minutes. Remove the pan from the oven and use a knife to cut deeper into the slices. Place the pan back in the oven for 10 more minutes. Remove the pan from the oven again and use the knife to carefully separate the cut sections so each scone is a separate triangle so each side of the scone can be exposed to the heat in the oven. Reduce the heat to 350 degrees and continue baking for about 10-15 minutes, or until the undersides of the scones are slightly golden. Let the scones cool before handling them.
Enjoy the scones as is, or drizzle them with your choice of melted coconut butter mixed with stevia or monkfruit drops, or an icing made from powdered sugar or sugar substitute like powdered erythritol and milk.
Read MoreThis quick and easy green bean casserole is the perfect addition to any holiday dinner. This recipe calls for Primal Kitchen’s Mushroom Gravy to help cut down on the preparation time. In no time you’ll have a warm and comforting dish that will compliment any meal. We keep things simple with onions and mushrooms, but if you’re looking to switch things up this recipe would be great with chopped bacon or bacon grease instead of butter.
How to make green bean casserole
First, preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Then steam your green beans until they are tender. While they are steaming, prepare your crispy onions. Cut the onion in half and slice it into very thin half moons. Toss the onions in a bowl with oil, then add the almond flour, thyme and salt and pepper and gently mix until just combined.
Lay the onions out in a single layer on a sheet pan and roast in the oven for 7-10 minutes. Give the onions a shake or toss and continue roasting until they are golden. I recommend watching them because they can quickly go from browned to burnt. Set aside while you finish the green beans.
Heat the butter in a large oven-safe skillet on the stovetop over medium heat. Once melted and bubbling, add the chopped onion and sauté until golden, then add the garlic and cook until fragrant. Add the mushrooms and allow them to cook for about 2 minutes, or until they are just tender. Pour in the Mushroom Gravy and coconut milk and bring the mixture to a simmer.
Strain the steamed green beans and add them to the skillet. You can also add some coconut aminos or even a squeeze of lemon if you’d like. Mix in the thyme, pepper and salt and let the sauce start bubbling again. Fold the green beans into the sauce and cook on the stovetop until the green beans are well coated in the sauce and the sauce thickens slightly. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake for 10 minutes.
After 10 minutes, take the skillet out of the oven and spread the crispy onions on top all over the green beans. Place the skillet back in the oven for about 10 more minutes. The sauce the green beans are in should be fairly thick, and will further thicken as the casserole cools. Allow the casserole to cool slightly, then serve and enjoy!
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When people think of comfort food there’s a good chance that mac and cheese comes to mind. This creamy, gooey, and cheesy dinner time meal can easily transport you back to childhood days when you wished every meal could be mac and cheese. While we don’t suggest having mac and cheese every night, this keto cauliflower mac and cheese recipe is a great option for when you’re craving that nostalgic taste.
Made with a helping of cauliflower this recipe leans into a variety of spices, such as paprika and mustard powder while also being topped off with our new No-Dairy Cheez Sauce. If you’re looking to switch it up you can also swap out half of the instructed cauliflower for butternut squash, which is perfect for the fall season.
How to make keto cauliflower mac and cheese
First, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, in a bowl, combine the avocado oil, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, black pepper, thyme, mustard powder and salt. Fold in the cauliflower until the spice mixture coats all of the pieces of the cauliflower. Lay the cauliflower out in a single layer on a baking dish or sheet pan. Roast in the oven for about 30-40 minutes, or until the cauliflower is tender and golden. Allow everything to cool slightly.
Place the cauliflower in a bowl and pour the No Dairy Cheez Sauce on top along with the milk. Stir to combine and then stir in the almond flour. Pour the cauliflower mixture into a greased 9×9 baking dish.
Crush up your pork rinds in a bag. Crush them so that about half of the pork rinds form a coarse powder and the rest crushed up a bit less in order to give the mixture texture. Pour the pork rinds into a bowl and combine with the parsley and almond flour. Pour this mixture on top of the cauliflower and spread it all over the top of the cauliflower.
Place the baking dish in the oven and bake for about 15-20 minutes, or until the pork rinds are golden. Allow to cool slightly and serve!
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