Elevate tonight’s dinner with some of the most popular keto side dishes. Not only will these low-carb sides help to fill you up, but they are packed with flavor. From salads and stuffing to cornbread and casseroles, we’ve got 20 Keto Side Dishes to satisfy your suppertime needs.
Most people know to cut the carbs on the keto diet, but they sometimes forget to add fat to their meals. If you get hungry in between meals or have low energy throughout the day, your diet might be lacking in fat. This is where keto side dishes come in handy.
Base your keto meals around a protein source like fish, chicken, or beef then supplement with some fatty side dishes.
Three Reasons to Love Keto Side Dishes
1. Easily Add Fat to Meals
Keto Macros require a high fat content, moderate protein, and low-carb ratio. (Learn your exact keto macros with our Free Calculator.) Many of us were raised to eat a low-fat diet, so suddenly increasing the fat content of your meals can be difficult. Add any of these side dish recipes to your meal to easily increase your fat macros.
2. Keep You Fuller for Longer
Most side dish recipes are full of fat and contain some fiber, which are both extremely satiating. Many of these recipes call for fiber-rich vegetables like cauliflower, broccoli, and brussels sprouts which move through the digestion tract slowly and add volume to meals without adding a ton of calories.
3. Help to Curb Carb Cravings
Most of the foods we miss most from our pre-keto lives are actually side dishes. Rather than fight our cravings or give-in to cheat meals, we’ve come up with side dish recipes that completely satisfy. Using low-carb ingredients, we’ve concocted keto copycats of all your favorite dishes.
Top 20 Low Carb Side Dish Recipes
Pair these side dish recipes with entrees like Drumsticks, Meatballs, and Crispy Pork Chops.
1. Cauliflower Mac and Cheese – 6g net carbs
Cauliflower comes in handy on the keto diet and when it’s served with a rich, cheese sauce, who can complain? The secret to a delicious cauliflower mac and cheese is to completely drain the liquid from the cauliflower, and add a crispy topping. Try our favorite keto mac and cheese recipe.
2. Cauliflower Fried Rice – 7.75g net carbs
There are a few ways you can order low carb keto Chinese Takeout, but low-carb fried rice is pretty much non-existent out in the real world. Since we refuse to part ways with one of our favorite Asian side dishes, we decided to make Keto Fried Rice at home using low-carb ingredients like cauliflower rice, garlic, eggs, and sesame oil.
3. Keto Bread – 1.25g net carbs
The most popular recipe on our website if our Original Keto Bread. It requires just a handful of basic ingredients and a very straightforward process that anyone can follow. We like to make a loaf on the weekend in preparation for a busy work week. While you can make any kind of sandwich you like with it, we prefer making keto breakfast sandwiches!
4. Mashed Cauliflower & Gravy – 3.75g net carbs
There are people who like potatoes and then there are people who would die for potatoes. If you live, eat, and breath hash browns, French fries, and all things-tot… then you’re in luck. Our Mashed Cauliflower recipe is the perfect low-carb potato replacement.
5. Low-Carb Onion Rings – 4.5g net carbs
Onion rings or fries? It’s one of life’s most important questions. There’s nothing quite like a crispy, golden, onion ring. That sweet onion coated in salty breading is what dreams are made of and we’ve made it KETO friendly.
6. Low-Carb Hash Browns – 3.2g net carbs
Brunch is a go-to keto meal. You’ve got bacon, sausage, eggs and low-carb berries. But what about hash browns? These Low-Carb Cauliflower Hash Brown patties only require three ingredients plus seasoning.
7. Low-Carb Naan – 4g net carbs
You can’t have our Keto Butter Chicken without some Low-Carb Naan. It’s the only way to soak up all that butter chicken sauce. This naan also works great as a wrap or pita in our Keto Gyros.
8. Keto Banana Bread – 4g net carbs
This low carb side dish is the newest addition to our Sunday brunch menu. There is something about this moist and flavorful banana bread that makes it the perfect addition to any get together. If you are less strict with the carbs, you can add a full banana to this recipe to create a paleo recipe.
9. Gluten Free Green Bean Casserole – 5.8g net carbs
Green beans are a great low carb keto option! They are a traditional side dish that doesn’t require much modification to make gluten free and low carb. Try this simple and delicious low carb green bean casserole recipe this holiday season!
10. Low-Carb Cornbread – 3g net carbs
There’s a special (sneaky) ingredient we use in this corn bread recipe that gives it that signature corn flavor without all the carbs. Hint: It comes in a can… If you miss cornbread on your keto diet, then you NEED to give this recipe a go. This one is also featured on our list of the best keto side dishes for BBQ season.
11. Roasted “Brown Sugar” Butternut Squash – 12g net carbs
Everyone in the keto community loves spaghetti squash, but I find them to be a bit watery and lacking in flavor. Instead of spaghetti squash, try this incredible roasted butternut squash recipe. Not only does it pack in a sweet brown sugar flavor, but it’s super simple to make.
12. Keto Tortilla Chips – 4g net carbs
If you’re missing that crunch in your side dish recipes, then you may want to try this 2 ingredient keto chip recipe. It’s keto, gluten free, and packed with flavor. All you will need is shredded cheese, almond flour, and a few of your favorite herbs and spices. Make sure to have something to dip these in!
13. Keto Mozzarella Sticks – 3g net carbs
If you need some melty and gooey mozzarella cheese in your life (and we all do) then you’re going to want to try this. One of our favorite side dish recipes, keto mozzarella sticks are deep fried to perfection. The secret is in the breading. If you get this wrong your cheese will end up melting everywhere.
14. Low Carb Salad – net carbs will vary
Everyone loves a fresh salad as a side dish option. Rather than going with a boring traditional salad, try one of the 10 keto salad options we put together in our roundup post. A few of our favorites are the big mac salad, Caesar salad, and taco salad. Your salads will never get dull with these recipes.
15. Low Carb Broccoli Salad – 5g net carbs
This cold broccoli salad is the perfect dish to bring to parties and potlucks. Everyone loves a salad with bacon in it, right? Topped with crunchy sunflower seeds and drizzled with a creamy dressing, this Broccoli Salad is the bomb. Many people like to use this in place of a traditional potato salad when doing a keto diet.
16. Air Fryer Biscuits – 2g net carbs
It might be up for debate which of our biscuit recipes is the best. Could it be our 3-Minute Biscuits, Jalapeno Biscuits, or Sour Cream Biscuits from our Keto MadeEasy Cookbook? Try these Easy Air Fryer Biscuits and give us your vote!
17. Crispy Brussels Sprouts – 5g net carbs
You may not have liked Brussels Sprouts as a kid, but that’s about to change. Crisp them up in the oven and dip them in Curry or Whipped Ricotta sauce. This side dish doubles as a delicious low-carb appetizer.
18. Deviled Eggs – 0.5g net carbs
Deviled eggs are on of the most underrated keto recipes. Everyone loves them but no one likes to bring them to the party. We have a variety of different deviled egg recipes with different flavorings and additions. My personal favorite is the sriracha deviled eggs recipe.
19. Loaded Cauliflower Casserole – 5g net carbs
Bacon, green onion, and cheese are truly a miraculous trio. You can’t go wrong with this Loaded Cauliflower Casserole, especially if you’re a fan of loaded baked potatoes. Nothing says comfort food like casserole.
20. Keto Ceasar Salad & Homemade Dressing
Store-bought Caesar salad dressings might be keto-friendly, but they’re not always healthy. Make a salad dressing using healthy fats like avocado oil or extra virgin olive oil and avoid refined vegetable oils.
If you’re looking for more keto recipes, browse through our website a bit. You’re guaranteed to find a few new favorites. If you are planning a large get together then check out our list of the best keto appetizers as well. There’s tons of easy to make appetizers that will take your party to the next level!
