Keto is supposed to be a way to discipline your mind and body, but it shouldn’t be absolute torture. There are days where we’re allowed to feel lazy— it’s alright to indulge in a snack or two. With a diet as strict as keto, though, it can be hard to find something easy, yet satisfying.
Enter dirty keto. It’s the same diet, without the focus on low calories. It means eating anything as long as it’s below your carb limit, and yes, you can still lose weight while on dirty keto.
Without further ado, here are some recipes I highly recommend!
Table of contents
Egg Cups
This is for the people who enjoy breakfast foods no matter the diet. These are quick and easy to do; just scramble some eggs, pour into cupcake holders in a muffin pan, add any toppings you like (green onion, bacon, mushroom, etc), and bake. The result is a fast tray of bite-sized delights that will get you ready for the morning.
Given eggs go great with almost anything, you can mix and match what you like and enjoy without worrying about any carbs. If you want to get your fats in for your diet, try it with a side of avocado!
Pan Fried Fish and Cauliflower Rice
This is a quick and simple side to make with any protein meal! It can be made in 10-20 minutes if homemade. I prefer salmon for my fish, though with some lemon, herbs, and butter, your food is guaranteed to taste amazing!
Sausage and Sauerkraut
Need we say more? Whether it’s polish sausage or kielbasa, it’s a perfect and simple recipe for a quick snack. You can change it up however you like, whether it be with roasted peppers, tomatoes, or just some spices. Just remember to stay within your carb limit!
Meat and Cheese Rollups
These are as easy as easy can be. Just pan fry the meat and cheese and roll them up into finger foods. If you’re craving pizza, try pepperoni and provolone. Ham and cheddar always go well together, and but I would absolutely recommend turkey and gruyere if you want to try something new.
Baked Chicken Legs
Whether it’s in an oven or in an air fryer, the right amount of spices and a lathering of some marinade will make these to die for. If you want to add more flavor on top of that, wrap them in bacon! The crispness of the skin and bacon will make your day.
Pasta-Free Lasagna
These are exactly what they sound like. Tender meat, ricotta cheese, marinara sauce, and some melted provolone to top it all off? Fantastic. Because these are without noodles, they don’t have to be made in large batches like regular lasagna trays. Make yourself a couple bowls and enjoy!
Chicken Nuggets/Tenders
You might be saying: “Wait. Nuggets and tenders are battered and fried. How is that keto?” To that, I introduce you to the wide world of alternative flour. Along with the spices you would usually have when making fried chicken, the key switch-up is almond flour instead of regular flour. As long as you’re not eating your entire weight in nuggets, you don’t have to worry about going over your carb limit.
Lettuce-Wrapped Cheeseburger
Technically, anything that comes on a bun or on a tortilla can be lettuce-wrapped, but the burger is where the genius really shines through. Cook your patties however you like with some melted cheese, add some tomatoes, condiments of your choice, and you’re good to go. Just make sure you have a plate as you eat. Lettuce doesn’t absorb the juices as well as a bun can, but that’s the price you have to pay for weight-loss.
Low Carb Turkey Club
Riffing off of the cheeseburger idea, we bring you another lettuce-wrapped snack. Unlike the last one, this is meant to be eaten cold. While it can be a little odd to eat a sandwich without any actual bread, the crispness of the lettuce really goes well with the bacon and meat and cheese. If you’re feeling a bit more lazy, there’s nothing wrong with laying out some meat, cheese, and strips of lettuce, and wrapping them up and eating them as you relax. Not to mention, given you wash your lettuce beforehand, you may not find any need for condiments.
Cauliflower Mac n Cheese
This is Heaven on Earth, and you can’t convince me otherwise. Soft, steamed cauliflower with creamy cheese sauce? The perfect combo. Cauliflower goes a long way in replacing many of our favorite carb-heavy foods, like rice and pasta, and mac n cheese is no different. Easy to make and satisfying to eat— a two-in-one package!
Broccoli Cheese Soup
If you’re sick, but still want to look good under all those blankets and tissues, broccoli cheese soup is a classic recipe that will warm your body and keep with your strict diet. The creaminess of the soup will definitely help you feel better as you lay on the couch with a hot bowl warming your lap.
Mixed Berry Smoothie
You can’t have good keto food without a keto drink (and we won’t mean water). A good handful of frozen mixed berries, ice, and your choice of milk is all that’s needed, but if you’d like some extra sweeter, we suggest using erythritol, which is keto-friendly.
Keto Vanilla Mug Cake
Desserts are allowed to be keto as well, because being keto doesn’t mean you have to push away everything you like. Thus, we bring in the mug cake. Like with the chicken tenders, the big switch here is almond flour, which is very keto-friendly. A carb-free sweetener is also important, but not as dire as the flour.
This is the definition of dirty keto: sticking to your diet, but still finding the right loopholes so you can enjoy yourself without constantly having to meal-prep. It’s a “cheat day” without actually cheating, and you should enjoy it guilt-free.
To learn more about what is dirty keto, you can check out this article.
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