Following a keto diet or a low-carb diet does not mean you have to deprive yourself of crispy, salty snacks! There are plenty of low-carb chip substitutes out there to satisfy your chip cravings.
And, to make things easier for you, I went through many keto chips recipes, tried them out, and selected the best of the best for you.
The keto recipes are not just simple and easy to prepare; they are mouthwatering and loaded with nutrients. You never know; after reading this post, you might consider the traditional potato chips or corn chips old-fashioned.
Keep reading to land on your favorite keto-friendly chips!
Why Chips are not Keto?
Most chips are either made of potato or corn, both of which are high in carbs. Even though potatoes are a good source of vitamin C and potassium on their own, potato chips are processed, which often strips them of their health benefits.
You’d need to eat the equivalent of a medium potato to feel full from eating your potato chips. A potato can have 25 to 30 grams of carbs on its own, which will almost certainly kick you out of ketosis. Similarly, corn is typically not keto-friendly, though small amounts of popcorn can be consumed while remaining in ketosis. A small serving of corn tortilla chips contains approximately 15 grams of carbohydrates.
Low Carb Potato Chip Alternatives
Keto-friendly chips are often protein-based and made from meat, almond flour or coconut flour, and non-starchy vegetables that support your body’s ketosis state.
Here is the list I compiled of the six best keto chips, along with tips and recipes.
Pork Rinds
Pork rinds are fried pork skins that serve as the ultimate keto carnivore snack. In just a few minutes, you’ll have keto nachos with taco seasoning and shredded cheese.
Ingredients
Pork skin; salt; avocado oil or coconut oil.
Instructions
- Preheat the oven and prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Cut the pork skin using kitchen shears into bite-sized pieces.
- Remove any excess lard from the pork skin.
- Place the cut pieces in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake until dried, crispy, and golden.
- Drain the remaining fat from the rinds onto paper towels.
- Heat about 2 inches of oil in a large pot or saucepan.
- Fry pork skins in small batches, until puffy.
- Remove with a slotted spoon and drain.
Tip
Enjoy your pork rinds with any keto-friendly dip or try delicious flavors like chili lime or jalapeno cheddar cheese.
Nutrition Calories
0.5 ounce contains 0g total carbs, 0g net carbs, 4.4g fat, 8.7g protein, and 77 calories.
Egg Whites Chips
The great thing about the ketogenic diet is that you can have keto snacks to satisfy your cravings. These fluffy yet crispy chips make a great choice for those who want to maintain their weight since egg whites are high in protein and low in calories.
Egg Whites Recipe
Whisk together egg whites and your preferred seasonings in a mixing bowl, then pour it into an oiled muffin tin. To keep the chips from becoming too thick, use about half a tablespoon of the mixture per chip. Top each muffin compartment with your favorite shredded cheese and bake for 10–20 minutes at 400F.
Nutrition Per Serving
1 large piece contains 0.2g total carbs, 0.2g net carbs, 0.1g fat, 3.6g protein, and 17 calories.
Keto Tortilla Chips
Traditional tortilla chips used to be my number one savory snack, but they no longer work with my keto diet since they’re high in carbs. They are basically made of corn, flour, or a mixture of the two.
The good news is that there are many recipes for low carb tortilla chips, and I recommend this great recipe.
Ingredients
- Almond Flour – To achieve the crispy and light texture, use blanched almond flour. The almond meal will make the chips denser and more crumbly.
- Shredded Mozzarella Cheese- Avoid other types of higher fat cheese because they will have a greasy finish.
- Seasoning of of choice– Add any spices you like!
- I prefer Himalayan salt, cayenne pepper, and paprika.
- My other choice would be garlic powder, onion powder, and sea salt.
Instructions
- Add the almond flour and pepper to a large mixing bowl.
- Put the shredded mozzarella cheese in a microwave safe bowl and let it sit for 1.5–2 minutes, until warm and melted.
- Pour the melted cheese into the almond flour and mix very well until you form a ball of dough.
- Place the dough on a large sheet of parchment paper on a flat surface.
- Lightly flatten the ball of dough and then place a second sheet of parchment paper over it and press down.
- Roll out the dough using a rolling pin until it is about 1/4 inch thick.
- Use a pizza cutter or a sharp knife and cut out small, triangular shapes.
- Move the parchment paper to a baking sheet and bake in the oven for 12–15 minutes, or until golden brown around the edges.
- Sprinkle the baked chips with paprika and salt.
- Let the tortilla chips cool down on the baking sheet.
Tip
These keto tortilla chips are crispy and crunchy, and they hold their shape perfectly. They are the BEST low carb alternative to traditional tortilla chips, and they taste like Doritos!
Remember to use your favorite salsa. I personally prefer guacamole!
Calories
4 Servings contains: total carbs 4g, net carbs 2g, fat 13 g, fiber 2g, protein 9g, calories 163kcal.
Keto Nacho Cheese Crisps
Given the fact that cheese is at the heart of the ketogenic diet due to its high fat and low carb content, these cheese crisps make a super yummy snack. Who can resist the charm of cheese chips?
Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cup shredded jack or cheddar cheese (or a mix of both).
- 1 tbsp powdered Parmesan cheese (the powdered kind).
- ¼ tsp garlic powder.
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika.
- ½ teaspoon fine ground sea salt.
- ½ tsp chili powder.
- ½ tsp tomato powder (adds incredible flavor).
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C).
- In a small bowl, mix the parmesan cheese, chili powder, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and tomato powder.
- Use a silicon muffin pan, as it is very easy to remove the crisps from the pan.
- Place around 2 tablespoons of the shredded cheese into each cup of the silicon muffin pan.
- Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbling, and just starting to brown on the very edges.
- Remove the pan from the oven, and while the crisps are cooling, sprinkle each with the spice mixture.
- Let cool until cheese crisps are solid and hardened (about 10 to 12 minutes).
- Remove crisps from the silicon pan.
Nutrition Per Serving
2 crisps contain 99Cal, 1.3g Carbs, 1.3g net carbs, 0g fiber, 7g fat, 4g saturated Fat, 6g protein, 0g sugars, 304mg Sodium.
Avocado Chips
Avocado became synonymous with the ketogenic diet. Athletes all over the world just love this fruit, and so do I.
Ingredients
- 1 large ripe avocado
- 3/4 c. grated Parmesan
- 1 tsp. lime juice
- 1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
- Pink salt
- pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Mash the avocado with a fork in a medium bowl until smooth. Add the Parmesan, lemon juice, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper to taste.
- Put heaping teaspoon-size scoops of the mixture on the baking sheet, leaving about 3″ apart between each scoop.
- Flatten each scoop to 3″ wide across with the back of a spoon or measuring cup.
- Bake until crisp and golden, about 30 minutes.
- Let it cool for 10–15 minutes.
Nutrition Per Serving (Sugar Free)
120 calories, 7g protein, 4g carbohydrates, 2g fiber, 10g fat, 3.5g saturated fat, 230mg sodium.
Keto Chips- Veggie Chips
Whether you are going keto or paleo. Or you just want to incorporate more veggies into your diet—this is your call. You can easily make low-carb chip substitutes using non-starchy vegetables.
Experiment with a variety of vegetables to create your own keto chips. You may want to use zucchini, cucumber, kale, or radish.
Since I am a big fan of radishes for their super low carb and nutritious value, I chose this easy recipe for you.
Radish Chips (Sugar Free)
Ingredients
16 oz radishes; 1/2 tsp salt, oil for deep frying.
Instructions
Just thinly slice the radishes, boil them in water to soften, let them dry, and then deep fry them until golden and crispy. Don’t forget to season with your favorite spice mix.
2.4 g net carbs per serving.
How to Store your Handmade Chips?
After baking/ frying your chips, let them cool and then store them in an airtight container.
They will keep for several days at room temperature. I don’t recommend refrigerating them because they may become soggy.
Bottom Line about Keto Chips
Always remember to enjoy your favorite foods and snacks while following one of the low-carb diets. There are numerous low-carb recipes available online, and I enlisted my 6 favorite low-carb alternatives to satisfy your chip cravings while avoiding highly processed foods.
Don’t forget that most of the low-carb chips are protein-based, and a handful of them are veggie-based, especially for those who are on a keto or gluten-free diet.
In short, keto tortilla chips might appeal to most keto dieters for their floury, crunchy texture.
Be creative in your flavor variations, and I promise you, you won’t regret it.
Viva la low-carb lifestyle!