Are you new to the keto diet and searching for easy keto dinner ideas that suit your low-carb, high-fat lifestyle? In this article, you’ll find a list of 15 fantastic keto dinner ideas specifically tailored for beginners. These mouthwatering recipes are not only easy to prepare but also full of flavour, ensuring that you stay motivated and satisfied on keto.
The ketogenic diet has gained immense popularity especially for its ability to promote weight loss. By significantly reducing your carbohydrate intake and replacing it with healthy fats, you can shift your body into a state of ketosis, where it burns fat for fuel instead of glucose. Dinner is a crucial meal of the day, and having a repertoire of keto-friendly recipes will help you stay on track.
In this article, I’ve handpicked a diverse range of keto dinner options that will tantalise your taste buds while keeping you in ketosis. All the recipes use simple ingredients that are readily available in your local grocery store. I know that starting a new diet can be overwhelming, but with these easy-to-follow recipes, you’ll be whipping up delicious keto dinners in no time.
Whether you’re trying out a keto lifestyle for weight loss or overall health improvement, these keto dinner ideas will inspire you to get creative in the kitchen and explore the possibilities of low-carb cooking. So grab your apron, sharpen your knives, and let’s get cooking!
1. An English Breakfast (for dinner)
Yes, you can have an English breakfast for dinner and it is delicious!
A British “fry up,” also known as a full English breakfast, is a traditional and hearty breakfast that typically includes a combination of fried or grilled ingredients. While the traditional fry up may not be inherently keto-friendly due to the presence of certain high-carb items like toast, beans, and hash browns, it is possible to modify it to make it more suitable for a keto diet.
A keto-friendly version of this dish focuses on incorporating low-carb and high-fat ingredients while omitting or replacing the carb-heavy components. You also need to include some low carb vegetables to make sure you’re getting enough fibre while on keto. Here’s what I include in mine:
Eggs – fried, poached or scrambled, eggs are very keto friendly and a good source of healthy fats.
Bacon and sausages – Look for high-quality, low-carb options such as uncured bacon and sausages made with minimal additives and fillers.
Black pudding – a traditional UK blood sausage that is relatively low in carbs but packed with iron. When buying, be mindful of the ingredients and choose options without added sugars or fillers.
Tomatoes – grill or fry with vegetable oil, a knob of butter and some fresh or dried thyme.
Mushrooms – this low carb veg will add so much flavour to your meal. I like to bake or grill large field mushrooms with a generous knob of butter, garlic and fresh herbs.
Avocado – bit a traditional part of a full English but tastes great when paired with salty bacon. This creamy, keto-friendly vegetable is low carb, high fat and full of nutrients.
Things to leave out as they are too high in carbs: toast, baked beans, hash browns.
Remember, portion control is important to lose weight on a keto diet, so ensure you’re mindful of the quantity of ingredients you include in your fry up.
2. Courgetti Bolognese
Courgetti with homemade bolognese sauce is a fantastic low carb, high fat dinner – delicious!
Courgetti, also known as zucchini noodles or zoodles, is a popular low-carb alternative to traditional pasta and is great for those following a keto diet. Made by spiralizing courgette into thin noodle-like strands, courgetti offers a satisfying and versatile option for keto-friendly meals. Here’s why courgetti is great on keto:
- It is incredibly low carbohydrate. A typical serving contains only a fraction of the carbs found in traditional pasta, making it a suitable replacement for pasta-based dishes.
- It’s rich in fibre, which is beneficial for maintaining healthy digestion and promoting feelings of fullness. The fibre content in courgetti can help regulate blood sugar levels and prevent rapid spikes in insulin, which is particularly important for those following a keto diet to achieve and maintain a state of ketosis.
- Courgetti also provides a host of essential vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin C, potassium, and manganese, while being relatively low in calories.
3. Lemon Baked Salmon
Lemon baked salmon is such a simple dish to cook and so delicious and filling. It’s great served with asparagus and garlic butter or a salad and lemon mayo.
Salmon is an excellent choice on a low carb diet. It’s packed with protein and healthy fats, particularly omega 3 fatty acids. It’s also an excellent source of B vitamins, vitamin D, vitamin E, selenium, and potassium. The garlic butter or mayo will bump up the fat content of the meal.
4. Creamy Chicken with Sun-dried Tomatoes
Succulent pan-fried chicken breast in a delicious cream and sundried tomato sauce. What’s not to love? Simply toss a couple of chicken breasts in your favourite seasoning (smoked paprika works well or cajun seasoning) then pan-fry in vegetable oil till just cooked through then set aside. To the same pan, add a chopped onion, some sliced peppers, a crushed clove of garlic and a handful of chopped sun-dried tomatoes and cook until the onion and peppers are soft. Stir in a cup of chicken stock and half a cup of cream and heat through gently until slightly thickened. Add the chicken back to the pan for a few minutes to heat through. Season with salt and pepper to taste then serve with your choice of low carb veggies. Serves 2.
Pro tip: if your chicken breasts are quite thick it’s a good idea to slice them in half horizontally so they are thinner and take less time to cook.
5. Chicken Stir-fry with Peanut and Sesame
Stir-fries are such a quick and simple dinner but are usually low calorie meals. For keto we need to add some fat so that’s where the peanut butter and sesame oil comes in. This one is made with a 500g pack of chopped chicken thighs, mangetout, sliced peppers, mushrooms and onions.
Add a tablespoon of vegetable oil to a very hot wok and fry the chopped chicken for a few minutes. Add the vegetables, 2 cloves of chopped garlic and a tsp of chopped fresh ginger and continue cooking and stirring for another few minutes until the chicken is cooked through. Add 2 tbsp of soy sauce, 1 tbsp sesame oil, 1 tbsp rice vinegar and 2 tbsp of smooth peanut butter and cook for a minute until bubbling. Add a splash of water if needed to loosen the sauce. Serve immediately. Serves 2.
6. Steak, Feta Salad and Sauteed Vegetables
This dish is super simple to cook, very filling and tasty. It’s a good idea to marinade your steak. Overnight is fantastic but just half an hour will add loads of flavour too. Try this marinade to make your steaks zing:
1 tbsp olive oil
Juice of half a lemon
½ tap garlic powder
1 tsp dried oregano
Salt and pepper
(enough for two steaks or 4 small minute steaks)
Mix the ingredients in a bowl, add your meat and stir to coat. Cover and leave in the fridge to marinade.
When it’s time to eat, place some mixed leaves, cherry tomatoes, kalamata olives and cubes of feta into a bowl. Add your favourite dressing and toss together.
Chop some of your favourite low carb veggies (I’ve used peppers, onions and mushrooms). Saute them for around 7 minutes in a frying pan with a little vegetable oil, some fresh garlic, salt and pepper.
Place a frying pan over a high heat and wait until the pan gets hot. Add vegetable oil and cook your steak for a few minutes on each side to your liking. Add a knob of butter towards the end of cooking and baste the steak as it finishes. Place the steak on a plate to rest for a few minutes before serving with the salad and veggies.
7. Mediterranean Platter
If you’re short on time this is the dish for you. Just a bit of chopping and assembling on a plate. To serve 2 you’ll need:
Mixed salad leaves
A ball of mozzarella (drained and sliced)
1 handful of sun-dried tomatoes (sliced)
14 Kalamata olives
1 avocado (cut into slices)
A mixed pack of continental meats (Parma ham, prosciutto, salami etc)
A handful of cherry tomatoes (halved)
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
6 tbsp olive oil
Arrange a layer of mixed lettuce leaves on 2 plates and top with all the meat, cheese and vegetables. Make a dressing by mixing the olive oill and balsamic vinegar. Drizzle over the salad and serve immediately.
8. Pork Steaks, Roasted Veg and Creme Fraiche Sauce
This dish is so creamy, tasty and satisfying. It’s also super quick and easy. To serve 2 you’ll need:
Pork steaks x 2
Veg for roasting: onion x 1, aubergine x1, peppers x2, courgettes x1
Olive oil
1 clove of garlic, crushed
½ onion for the sauce, sliced
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp dried oregano
Juice of half a lemon
150ml double cream
Salt and pepper
First chop your vegetables into bite size pieces and arrange on a baking tray. Add a good drizzle of olive oil over the vegetables. Then add salt and pepper to taste, the crushed garlic and the dried oregano. Toss well. Place in the oven at 190C for 30 minutes or until nicely roasted and slightly charred. Stir the veg half way through.
Meanwhile, add 1 tbsp of olive oil, the smoked paprika, garlic powder, lemon juice, salt and pepper to your pork steaks and leave to marinade for 20 minutes. When the vegetables are nearly cooked pan-fry the pork steaks in a hot pan for 3-5 minutes each side depending on their thickness. Set them aside on a plate.
Add the sliced onions to the same pan (add more oil if needed) and cook for a few minutes until soft. Add the double cream and stir until hot. Taste the sauce and add more salt and pepper if needed. Place the pork steaks and any meat juices into the pan with the sauce for a couple of minutes to heat through. Serve with the roasted vegetables.
9. Hot chicken and bacon salad
A hot salad bowl makes a great easy keto dinner. Slice some chicken, bacon, onions and mushrooms and saute in a hot frying pan with some of your favourite spices until cooked through. Serve on a bed of mixed salad and top with sliced avocado, plenty of mayo and sriracha sauce.
10. Cheese Burger Bowl
The taste of cheese burger without any of the starchy carbs! This is a quick and easy dish to make. Just cook your burgers under the grill or in a frying pan then slice into strips. Serve on a bed of mixed salad (lettuce, cucumber, avocado, tomato) and top with sliced pickled gherkins, grated cheese, mayo and a small drizzle of ketchup (watch those carbs!).
11. Lamb Koftas
Serve these easy lamb koftas with cauliflower rice and either salad or roasted vegetables. A dollop of greek yoghurt and chopped mint add fat and flavour.
12. Feta and olive salad
Keep it quick and simple with the delicious flavours of the Mediterranean. Toss together lettuce, sliced tomatoes, kalamata olives, crumbled feta and chopped sundried tomatoes. Drizzle a simple dressing of olive oil (3 tbps), red wine vinegar (1 tbsp), half tsp dijon mustard and some dried oregano to taste. No need to add salt to this one as there’s plenty in the feta and olives.
13. Chicken Burrito Bowl
If you fancy something with a mexican vibe, try this burrito bowl.
Simply , fry some chicken in some vegetable oil and your favourite taco seasoning till cooked through. Serve in a bowl with cauliflower rice, sliced tomatoes, sliced red onion, chopped lettuce, sliced avocado and a zesty lime dressing (3 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp lime juice, a pinch of salt and pepper and ¼ tsp tabasco sauce – if you like it spicy). Finish off with a dollop of sour cream and a wedge of lime.
14. Butter Chicken with Kachumber Salad
The original recipe I use comes from The Spicery who make amazing spice blends. To make it a keto meal you’ll need to substitute the rice with cauliflower rice. The Kachumber Salad adds a zesty freshness to the dish and compliments the Butter Chicken beautifully.
15. Garlic Mushroom and Cheese omelette
Get your dinner ready in less than 15 minutes with a classic omelette that happens to be perfectly suited to keto. For this one you need:
2 eggs, whisked
10g butter
1 tsp vegetable oil
30g cheddar cheese, grated
1 spring onion, sliced
1 cup of mushrooms, sliced
1 clove garlic, crushed
Saute your mushrooms, garlic and spring onions over a medium heat in a small frying pan with the butter with some salt and pepper until golden brown. Set aside. Place the same pan over a high heat and add the oil. When the pan is very hot add the eggs and swirl around the pan. With a heatproof spatula slide the cooked egg to the centre of the pan and let the uncooked egg fall around the edge. Continue until most of the egg is cooked. Turn down the heat and sprinkle the grated cheese over the egg. Continue to cook for another minute or so until the cheese has melted and the egg is cooked to your liking. Serve immediately with some mixed salad and the garlic mushrooms.
Leave a Reply