When you think about eating cooking something tasty on the side for dinner and then suddenly remember about your increasing belly fat and ongoing low carb diet, you just must back out. But thanks to Keto diet, we can still enjoy the tastiest side dishes while cooking any food we like despite being on a diet.
These recipes are perfect for the beginners who are still confused about what to at and what not to eat and to motivate them that you can still eat tasty food when you are on a low carb diet.
There are awful lot of such food that you can create with less effort, less carb but will give your stomach and taste buds an equal amount of satisfaction. These can be dips, snacks or something else consisting low carb, high protein and fat.
You just must remember that, on a low carb diet, you stay away from just the carbs as much as possible and kill your appetite. If you are making any low-carb diet for dinner which is plain and boring, you can still pair it up with something tasting and falls under Keto.
If you are on a low carb diet and looking on to shed some extra pounds but cannot follow it because the food is plain and boring, these side dishes can be your proper escape.
Only one or two recipes will eventually get boring as you need to switch and turn, mix and match to keep your taste buds alive and awake.
Here are 18 dishes and their preparation methods which will serve as a tasty low carb side food in your meal plan.
1. Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
Cauliflower comes under the healthy as well as yummy category when you want to cook yourself any low carb delight. It is a must veggie for the diet of a person who considers going under a low carb Keto.
Ingredients
- Cauliflower florets (100 grams)
- Mustard powder (1 tablespoon)
- Whole milk (2 cups)
- Unsalted butter (1/2 cups)
- Mozzarella (2 cups)
- Cheddar (Shredded, 3 cups)
- Salt as per taste
- Pepper as per taste
- Parsley (Finely Chopped for garnishing)
Preparation
- Take a large pot with water and Boil it.
- Add Cauliflowers and let it steam for a time being (about 6-7 minutes).
- Take a saucepan, melt butter.
- Pour milk in it and whisk it.
- Pour in some mustard powder, salt and pepper and let it simmer until it starts to thicken.
- Turn off the heat and add the cheese and cauliflower and wait until the cheese is completely melted.
- Serve it hot and enjoy your low carb cheesy cauliflower dish.
2. Spicy Spaghetti Squash
Squash is one of the healthiest vegetables you can have in your low carb diet and this recipe is low carb as well as Paleo and gluten-free which makes you more carefree as you enjoy this dish.
Ingredients
- 1 Spaghetti squash
- Garlic cloves (Finely sliced, 6)
- ¼ Cup Butter
- ½ tablespoon red pepper flakes.
- Parmesan Cheese (Grated, 1 cup)
- Salt as per taste
- Pepper as per taste
- Fresh Parsley (Minced, ¼ cup, Optional for garnishing)
Preparation
- Take an iron skillet and heat the butter over medium heat.
- Pour in the garlic and cook until they turn golden brown.
- Add the chilli flakes and stir for a few seconds.
- Cook the spaghetti squash in the Instant hot pot, cook and fork it.
- Add in the spaghetti squash and add in salt and pepper to taste.
- Add in the parmesan cheese and top it well with the finely chopped parsley.
- Serve it hot in a bowl and enjoy your low carb meal.
3. Zucchini Cheese Gratin
Many people complain about zucchini being their least favourite vegetable and wonder how it would fit in their low carb diet. But few know that zucchini does wonders when it comes to sticking to a low carb diet. One such Keto recipe is the cheesy gratin you will always carve for.
Ingredients
- Raw Zucchini (Sliced, 4 Cups)
- Onion (Peeled and sliced, 1 cup)
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheese
- 2 tablespoon butter
- ½ tablespoon garlic (powder)
- Salt as per taste
- Pepper as per taste
Preparation
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees (F).
- Take the butter and a pan, grease the pan well with the butter.
- Place 1 cup Zucchini and ¼ of the onion slices in pan, add salt and pepper and ½ cup of cheese.
- Repeat the above step three more times, making four layers covered by shredded cheese.
- Sprinkle the garlic powder at the top.
- Bake it for about 45 minutes at 375 degrees (F) until the top looks golden brown.
- Serve it exactly as you like.
4. Roasted Cauliflower Curry
Cauliflower is a vegetable that works well with almost all the low carb dishes. This recipe is also one such vegan gluten-free side dish which is rich in flavours but is equally healthy.
Ingredients
- Cauliflower florets (300 grams)
- Extra-virgin Olive oil (1 tablespoon)
- 2 Tablespoon lemon juice
- Salt as per taste
- Pepper as per taste
- Cilantro (Finely Chopped for garnishing)
Preparation
- Preheat the oven to 375 degree (F).
- Properly slice the florets and cut it into half and manage it into equal pieces to bite on.
- Place the olive oil into a bowl and then pour in the cauliflower florets to coat them.
- Sprinkle sat and pepper up to taste and mix well.
- Bake it till it’s golden brown and place it in a bowl.
- Garnish it with the lemon juice and cilantro and serve it fresh.
5. Roasted Asparagus
Asparagus is another important vegetable ingredient that helps you prepare a lot of recipes without adding any extra carbs to your food. All you need to do is to roast it with the correct herbs and spices.
Ingredients
- 1 lb asparagus (Thick spears)
- 1 Tablespoon Olive oil
- 2 tablespoon sesame seeds
- Salt as per taste
- Pepper as per taste
Preparation
- Preheat the oven up to 400 degree (F)
- Take the asparagus and break it into half and cut all the woody parts of the stalk.
- Take a pan and place the asparagus in the baking sheet.
- Brush it with the oil and coat it on both the sides.
- Place it in oven and roast it for about 15 minutes.
- Take it off and sprinkle the sesame seeds, salt and pepper as per taste over it and then bake again for 5 more minutes.
- Place it over a plate and enjoy a plate full of taste and delight.
6. Creamed Spinach
Spinach is a source of many nutrients and has a lot of health benefits. It can be mixed with various other ingredients and can be turned into many keto side dishes which you can enjoy even when you are on a low carb diet.
Ingredients
- Spinach (400 grams)
- 2 tablespoon Butter
- Garlic (1 Tablespoon, minced)
- Salt as per taste
- Pepper as per taste
- Havarti Cheese (8 ounces)
Preparation
- Take a large skillet over medium heat and melt the butter.
- Add garlic and stir until it turns golden brown.
- Add salt and pepper and stir for a little more time.
- Add cheese and cook on low temperature until the cheese melts and combines.
- Add the spinach and mix well, let it be coated with cheese.
- Let it cook for about 5 more minutes and add more seasoning if necessary
- Serve it in a plate and enjoy the low carb Keto dish.
7. Brussel Sprouts with Lime and nuts
Brussel sprouts is another such healthy veggie which might not fall under your taste choices but is actually a very healthy Keto ingredient. You can use various techniques to spice it up and create a tasty, healthy dish of your own while you are on a diet.
Ingredients
- Brussels sprouts (6 cups, quartered)
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1/3 cup nuts
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- Salt as per taste
- Pepper as per taste
Preparation
- Take a large sauté pan and roast the nuts for around 3 minutes without letting them burn.
- Pour in the olive oil in another pan and add the lemon zest, mix it well and stir for about 2 minutes.
- Add the brussels sprouts and mix it well until they are coated with oil.
- Add salt and pepper as per taste and then let it cook for about 5 minutes until the brussels sprouts are just tender.
- Pour it in to a plate, add lemon juice and the roasted nuts in order to serve the tasty roasted sprouts.
8. Sautéed Kale
When you talk about tasty and healthy greens, Kale always stands at the top. It is tasty as well as Keto friendly which means it helps you stick to your diet and satisfies your taste buds simultaneously.
Ingredients
- 1 Large Kale (washed and chopped)
- 2 tablespoon coconut oil
- Garlic (3 cloves, minced)
- ½ cup chicken broth
- Salt as per taste
- Pepper as per taste
- Parsley (Finely Chopped for garnishing)
Preparation
- Take a large sauté pan and add the coconut oil.
- Let it heat over medium heat and add the garlic cloves, stir and cook until they turn golden brown.
- Add Kale and chicken broth, salt and pepper and mix well.
- Cover and cook the mixture until Kale is cooked properly, stir it occasionally.
- Cook it properly until most of the broth has been cooked properly and serve it while hot in a bowl.
9. Roasted Okra
Learning to explore with more vegetables is never too bad for a person who’s on a low carb diet. Among all the experiments, Okra is also one such vegetable with whom you can play around for a good recipe and taste.
Ingredients
- Okra (300 grams, vertically chopped)
- 1 cup butter
- Salt as per taste
- 1 Egg (Medium)
- Pepper as per taste
- Herbs as per taste
Preparation
- Preheat the oven to 350 degree (F)
- Take a large pan, grease it well with butter and place the Okra slices in it.
- Take a bowl and break the egg and stir and mix it well in the bowl.
- Take a brush and coat the Okra with the egg on the both sides.
- Sprinkle salt, pepper and other herbs as per taste.
- Bake it in the oven for about 15 minutes in 375 degree (F) and check whether it’s properly done. If not cooked bake it for 5 more minutes.
- Serve it on a plate and enjoy the easy low carb delight.
10. Garlic Roasted Mushrooms
When it comes to preparation of a low carb Keto dish, it’s always important you check the ingredient has low carb content. One such tasty low carb ingredient that you can use in your side dish is mushroom. No one can deny the rich taste and low carb content that mushroom gives.
Ingredients
- 4 cups mushroom (Fresh, Sliced)
- 1 cup Butter
- Garlic (5 cloves, Minced)
- Salt as per taste
- Pepper as per taste
Preparation
- Preheat your oven to 400 degree (F).
- Clean the mushrooms.
- Take a pan over medium heat and melt the butter.
- Turn off heat and pour in garlic, salt and pepper as per taste.
- Mix it well, stir and make sure it is combined well.
- Pour in the mush room and coat it properly with butter and other spices.
- Place the mixture in a baking sheet and Bake for 20-25 minutes at the same temperature.
- Serve in a plate or as per your desire and enjoy this Keto dish.
11. Cabbage Wedges
After multiple recipes with vegetables like cauliflower, another green vegetable that adds up to the list of low carb tasty recipes is Cabbage. Although it has some carbs in it, due to it’s high nutrient content like Vitamin K and C, it is recommended vegetable for a keto diet.
Ingredients
- ½ medium green cabbage (about 1 pound)
- 1 tablespoon Olive oil.
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 3 tablespoon butter
- 1 tablespoon mustard
- Onion and Garlic (1 cup, thinly minced)
- Salt as per taste
- Pepper as per taste
Preparation
- Cut the cabbage into four to 2-3 equal wedges and set on a baking sheet.
- Take the Oil and pour in the garlic powder and mix well until perfectly combined.
- Take a brush and coat the cabbage wedges with the oil and sprinkle the salt and pepper as per taste, repeat this on both the sides.
- Place the baking sheet in oven and let it cook for 15 minutes over 400 degree (F).
- Turn the wedges over and bake again for about 8-10 minutes until they look cooked and golden brown.
- Take mustard, onion, garlic, salt, pepper and butter and mix well until perfectly combined into sauce.
- Take your cabbage wedges, dip it into the sauce and enjoy the taste.
12. Pepper Radish Chips
Radish may not fall under your choice of veggies, even when you are on a low carb diet, but it can be served as a yummy keto delight if cooked well. Be ready to add radish to the top of your veggies to eat list.
Ingredients
- Fresh radish (400 grams, chopped into circles)
- 2 tablespoon coconut oil
- Salt as per taste
- Pepper as per taste
Preparation
- Preheat your oven to 400 degree (F).
- Take the radishes and place it in a bowl.
- Pour in the coconut oil and coat the radish slices properly with oil.
- Place the slices in a baking sheet one by one without overlapping them.
- Mix the salt and pepper and then sprinkle it over the slices as per taste.
- Bake for about 15 minutes and enjoy your crispy tasty low carb radish chips.
13. Crispy Garlic Eggplants
Eggplants look weird and don’t always fall under the delicacy category, but it really is a wonderful veggie that can be used to prepare a Keto side dish or even a meal. If cooked with proper spices, an eggplant can taste wonders and can help you stick to the low carb diet without messing up your taste.
Ingredients
- 1 Eggplant (Sliced into thin rounds)
- 2 tablespoon Olive oil
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- Salt as per taste
- Pepper as per taste
- Paprika as per taste
- ½ table spoon Italian seasoning
Preparation
- Preheat your oven to 400 degree (F).
- Take a baking sheet and place the eggplants separately i.e. without overlapping.
- Take the Olive oil and brush it to the eggplant slices properly coating both the sides.
- Sprinkle the salt, garlic powder, pepper, Italian seasoning and paprika as per taste to the slices on the both sides.
- Place the baking sheet in oven and bake for about 20-25 minutes until they look brown and cooked.
- Remove the cooked eggplant from oven and serve it as per desire.
14. Keto Tortillas
Tacos and tortillas when made with flour, contain high carb but when you use the low carb ingredients as a substitute, it really can be of great taste as well as it compliments your keto diet.
Ingredients
- 1/3 Cup coconut flour
- 7 large Egg whites
- ½ cup water
- ¼ tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt as per taste
- Pepper as per taste
- Paprika as per taste
Preparation
- Take a bowl and mix the coconut flour, egg whites, baking powder and mix well.
- Pour in the water and mix and combine well until it turns into a uniform watery mixture.
- Add all the seasoning i.e. salt, pepper, paprika, garlic and onion powder as per your taste and desire.
- Stir the mixture well until properly blended.
- Take a Skillet and heat it under low heat.
- Pour in a small cup of the mixture at the center and spread it out into an even thin circular batter.
- Let it cook for 2-3 minutes, until it looks browned and then slowly flip it over and let the other side to cook well until it looks brown.
- Take it off the skillet and repeat this process until the batter is finished.
- Serve the tasty low carb Keto tortillas with other dishes that can enhance your meal.
15. Bacon Wrapped Zucchini
Zucchini are Keto friendly if you stick to a strict Keto diet and it provides you with a lot of vitamins and minerals, so it can be used as an ingredient in any Keto diet. If you are following a strict keto diet, you might want to add this side dish to your everyday meal.
Ingredients
- 1 Zucchini (10 thin vertical slices about 7 cm long)
- ½ cup coconut oil
- 10 strips bacon
- Salt as per taste
- Pepper as per taste
Preparation
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees (F).
- Take the zucchini slices and coat it with the olive oil on all the sides.
- Wrap the slices with bacon and sprinkle salt and pepper as per your taste.
- Place each bacon wrapped slices in a baking sheet separately i.e. make sure they don’t overlap.
- Bake for 110 minutes and flip the slices over and bake again for 10 more minutes until the zucchini is brown and the bacon looks crisp.
- Serve the cooked tasty low carb side snack and enjoy being on a Keto diet.
16. Caprese Zoodles
Zoodles is the term referenced from noodles made by Zucchini which means Zucchini + Noodles = Zoodles. Zucchini being the best choice for Keto dishes, can be modified into many delicacies including the yummy replica of noodles that is loved by everyone.
Ingredients
- 3 Large Zucchini
- 2 tablespoon extra virgin Olive oil
- Tomatoes (2, halved)
- Shredded mozzarella (1/2 cup)
- Salt as per taste
- Pepper as per taste
- Parsley (chopped, for garnishing)
Preparation
- Use a spiral peeler and make thin long noodle like zoodles out of the zucchini.
- Take a large bowl and toss the zoodles and add some olive oil, salt and pepper as per your taste.
- Let it set for a few minutes.
- Set a skillet over low heat and pour the remaining olive oil.
- Add tomatoes and the zoodles and sprinkle the mozzarella n top of it.
- Stir well and let it cook for about 5 minutes.
- Serve the zoodles in a bowl or a plate as per your choice and enjoy.
17. Classic Greek Salad
Salad is always a best choice of food when you get into a diet but when you get into a low carb Keto diet you need to be extra careful about the contents of your salad.
Ingredients
- 5 cheery tomatoes (halved)
- 1 cucumber (sliced into half moon)
- 1 cup sliced onions
- ½ cup olives (halved)
- 2 tablespoon Feta cheese
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon oregano (dried)
- Salt as per taste
- Pepper as per taste
- 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
Preparation
- Take a large bowl and por in tomatoes, cucumber, Onions, Olives and stir them together and give them a gentle mix.
- Sprinkle the feta cheese over the mixture.
- Take another small bowl and prepare for dressing.
- Pour in lemon juice, salt, pepper, oregano and combine it well.
- Add the olive oil and gently give it a stir to combine.
- Sprinkle the dressing over the salad and give it a stir.
- Serve it as per your desire and enjoy the healthy low carb salad brunch.
18. Keto garlic bread
When you see the term bread you ultimately know that’s a lot of carbs to take in in your diet but when you replace the flour into something more Keto then you can probably enjoy all off the bread without worrying about the extra carb.
Ingredients
- ½ cup ground almond flour
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon butter (melted)
- Garlic (1 clove minced)
- Salt as per taste
Preparation
- Preheat the oven to 400 degree (F).
- Take a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Take a bowl and add mozzarella, almond flour, garlic powder, baking powder, and salt as per taste.
- Mix it well and microwave it for a minute until the cheese melts.
- Add in an egg and mix well.
- Add garlic and make it into a shape of an oval.
- Brush the dough with butter all over.
- Bake until it turns golden brown for about 15 minutes.
- Serve by slicing and enjoy the low carb tasty garlic bread without any hesitation.
Related Questions
Why can’t we use fruits like Mango to prepare a Keto side dish? Well! That’s a good question because fruits are always considered as a healthy ingredient, but the thing is when you switch on to a Keto diet, it advises you to take in the low carb as much as possible which is not possible when you eat a lot of sweet fruits.
Many fruits contain a low of natural sugar and high amount of carbohydrates because of which you must avoid using such high carb fruits and exclude them from your diet,
Why do we use a lot of fat instead of Carbs in a Keto diet? The main idea behind the Keto diet is to lower your appetite to reduce your intake of food to maintain your body weight and shed some extra pounds. For a Keto diet, fat acts as a substitute for
Fat burns easily and used as energy for your body because of which it cannot accumulate in your body and as there is no extra carb consumption all the fat is burned out by your body, lowering your appetite subsequently.
