Does Cheese Have Carbs?

A keto diet limits your carb intake to under 50 grams per day, which makes weight loss easy as you aren’t spiking insulin.

But does cheese have carbs, and more importantly, will cheese feed your body with the nutrients needed to perform optimally?

This post looks at everything you need to know about eating cheese on keto. I’ll cover its carb content, what types of cheese to eat and avoid and some tasty recipes.

Is Cheese Keto-Friendly?

You can eat cheese on a ketogenic diet because an ounce only contains one to two grams of carbs. However, avoid processed cheese as although it has a low carb content, the additives and preservatives are dangerous and can trigger inflammation.

Companies use so many additives in processed cheese that the final product isn’t even cheese anymore. It’s a bunch of sweeteners that are supposed to recreate the taste of cheese. This is why you should stick to:

• Goat cheese
• Blue cheese
• Gouda cheese
• Cheddar cheese
• Provolone cheese
• Cream cheese
• Parmesan cheese

Cheese Nutritional Information

According to Harvard, one ounce of hard cheese has:

• 120 calories
• Eight grams of protein
• Six grams of fat
• One gram of carb
• 80 mg of calcium

You’ll also find trace amounts of vitamins K, riboflavin and zinc.

Best Types Of Cheese To Eat On Keto

If you’re looking to enjoy cheese while staying in ketosis, consider:

• Goat cheese
• Blue cheese
• Cream cheese
• Parmesan cheese 
• Cheese crisps

Goat Cheese

With a net carb content of zero grams, goat cheese is a go-to for many keto dieters. One ounce provides six grams of protein and eight grams of fat, so it’s perfect if you aren’t meeting your macros.

According to the USDA, cheese from goat milk contains significantly less lactose than regular cheese. If you’re lactose intolerant, give goat cheese a shot and see if your body responds well to it.

You may like our goat cheese tart recipe!

Blue Cheese

Blue cheese is another keto-friendly cheese that only has 0.7 grams of carbs per ounce. It’s high in electrolytes like sodium and calcium, making it a must-eat when struggling with keto flu.

The sticky nature of blue cheese offers a lot of different flavors, so it’s a good option for snacking or as toppings for your keto dishes.

Cream Cheese

But if you don’t like the smell of blue cheese and want something to bake desserts with, opt for cream cheese. An ounce has one gram of net carb, so it won’t kick you out of ketosis.

The eight grams of fat per ounce also makes it easy to boost fat intake.

But what sets cream cheese apart from other cheeses is the live bacteria that balances your gut microbiome. Studies show bad gut health is linked to chronic issues like diabetes, obesity and colon cancer. So by adding cream cheese to your keto desserts, you give your gut a good balance of cultures and lower your chances of developing chronic diseases.

Parmesan Cheese

Like feta cheese, parmesan cheese is salty and nutty, so it goes well with omelets, vegetables and ribeye steak.

One ounce contains 1.2 grams of net carbs, eight grams of fat and 11 grams of protein. The high protein content is handy if you’re hitting the gym regularly and want to build muscle.

However, if you’re already consuming too much protein on keto, go for a cheese with more fat and less protein, like goat cheese.

Cheese Crisps

Cheese crisps are a good snacking option because they last longer than fresh cheese and don’t have to be refrigerated.

I also like cheese crisps since it resembles the taste of store-bought crisps. So if you’re new to the keto diet and looking for something to nibble on, consider making cheese crisps as it gets rid of carb cravings.

Worst Types Of Cheese To Eat On Keto

However, not all cheeses are keto-friendly, so you want to avoid:

• Canned cheese
• American cheese
• Ricotta cheese
• Cottage cheese

Canned Cheese

Sprayed or canned cheese is processed and contains chemicals and additives. Although one serving has two grams of carbs and won’t kick you out of ketosis, it isn’t really cheese. These processed products mainly consist of fillers, stabilizers and oils that offer zero nutritional benefit.

Studies show that cheese additives are highly inflammatory. All you’re doing when eating processed cheese is filling your body with junk that it doesn’t recognize. Your body triggers inflammation to combat these toxins, increasing your chances of heart disease, cancer and high blood pressure.

American Cheese

Like canned cheese, American cheese won’t knock you out of ketosis, but it’s important to focus on more than just macros. The quality of your food is also critical when doing a keto diet.

One slice of American cheese has two grams of carbs and 65 calories. However, since companies process American cheese to the point where it isn’t cheese anymore, it isn’t advisable on keto. Instead, use healthier alternatives like goat and cream cheese.

Ricotta Cheese

In a half a cup of ricotta cheese, there are nine grams of carbs, 14 grams of fat and over 200 calories, so it isn’t keto-friendly in high quantities.

But if you love the taste of ricotta, you can implement it into your keto diet in small amounts. I like adding it to my ricotta cheesecake, mousse or lemon pie.

Cottage Cheese

Cottage cheese offers health benefits like stronger bones and teeth, but due to its carb and protein content, it’s advisable to limit your intake.

Half a cup of cottage cheese provides five grams of carbs, 2.4 grams of fat and 88 calories. 

How To Introduce Cheese Into Your Keto Diet

If you’re looking for new ways to use cheese in your ketogenic diet, opt for these recipes:

• Crispy cheesy balls
• Keto cheese sauce
• Mac and cheese

Crispy Cheesy Balls

These cheesy balls are the perfect keto snack when you’re on the go. It’s also super easy to make since you only need four ingredients:

1. Two large eggs
2. One cup of parmesan or brie cheese
3. Two whole jalapenos
4. Almond flour

Whisk your two eggs in a large mixing bowl and add your parmesan cheese. Knead them together until it forms a soft dough, and begin cutting the jalapenos.

Mix your jalapenos in this soft dough and shape it to resemble small balls.

Dip your cheesy balls into the whisked eggs, so it’s moist, and put them in almond flour. The last step is to deep fry your cheese balls in avocado oil until golden brown, and you’re good to go.

Keto Cheese Sauce

Try this cheese sauce recipe as it’s a tasty yet easy-to-make sauce that you can dip your chicken, broccoli and keto crisps into. It takes less than five minutes to prepare and contains zero carbs. This means you can eat as much as you want.

For this recipe, you’ll need:

• Two tablespoons of butter
• A quarter cup of heavy cream
• A quarter cup of cow’s milk
• One and a half cups of shredded mozzarella cheese

Simply add all your ingredients to a pot on low heat, stir until the cheese melts, transfer your sauce to a ramekin, and you’re good to go.

Mac And Cheese

But if you want a more filling meal, try this keto mac and cheese. It only require a few ingredients:

• One large head of cauliflower
• Two ounces of cream cheese
• One and a half cups of cheddar or Swiss cheese
• One and a half teaspoons of Dijon mustard
• ⅛ teaspoon of garlic powder
• One cup of heavy cream
• A touch of black pepper

First, cut your cauliflower head into small pieces and boil until soft. Transfer this soft cauliflower onto a plate and set it aside.

Next, pour your heavy cream into a pot and bring it to a simmer. Add cream cheese, cheddar cheese, Dijon mustard, garlic powder and black pepper to your simmering cream, and whisk until the cheese melts.

Spray a large dish tray with avocado oil spray, place your cauliflower in this tray with your cheese sauce on top and pop it in the oven at 375 degrees Fahrenheit and enjoy. If you’d like to add more cheese, feel free to sprinkle some on your mac and cheese as soon as you remove it from the oven since it’ll melt.

Final Thoughts On Low-Carb Cheese

Cheese is a keto-friendly food that contains almost no carbs. But it’s essential to stick to healthy cheeses like goat cheese, gruyere cheese and mild cheddar cheese since processed cheese triggers inflammation, leading to serious long-term issues.

And if you’re looking for new and creative ways to introduce cheese into your diet, try making some cheese balls, cheese sauce and keto mac and cheese. These recipes don’t take much effort, and provide your body with fat needed to produce ketones.

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