Simple Keto Recipes For Beginners

“What can I eat on keto?” That’s the first question everyone asks after learning about the wonderful benefits of the ketogenic lifestyle. And if you are thinking about becoming a follower yourself, you’re probably asking this question as well.

Sure, you already know you need to prioritize foods with fewer carbs, moderate protein, and more fat. You also know that you should opt for fattier cuts of meat, oily fish, full-fat dairy, and above-ground vegetables. But how do you put that knowledge into practice?

With the help of simple keto recipes, of course!

Get your weekly keto shopping list of ingredients ready and consider making some of these beginner-friendly meals for a smooth start.

8 Beginner-Friendly Keto Recipes for Any Day

Below, we’ve included recipes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner to make your first keto days complete. All options are fairly simple and versatile. You can even share them with family and friends — especially if you want to convince them to join you on your keto journey!

1. Mushroom Omelette

A protein-rich meal that’s ready in just 10-15 minutes — there’s no better way to start your day.

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Cooking time: 10 minutes

Serves: 1

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 medium-sized eggs
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• ½ cup white mushrooms, sliced
• ¼ cup Cheddar cheese, grated

Instructions:

1. Crack open eggs into a medium bowl, add salt to taste, and whisk.
2. Add olive oil into a frying pan or skillet and heat over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and saute for 5 minutes.
3. Remove mushrooms from pan and add the whisked eggs. Reduce heat to medium.
4. When the omelette is halfway done, add mushrooms and shredded cheese on top.
5. Fold omelette in half with a turner to cover the mushrooms and cheese.
6. Slide omelette onto a plate and serve warm.

Macros: Fat: 36.6g, Net carbs: 2.2g; Protein: 24.8g; Kcal: 430

2. Breaded Fried Shrimp

Swap bread crumbs for almond flour, and you’ll get to enjoy fried shrimp the keto way. Almond flour works well in any fried meat dish, including this one. It has only 3g net carbs in a ¼ cup; contains vitamin E, calcium, and iron, and is crunchy and delicious.

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 6 minutes

Serves: 1

Ingredients:

• ½ cup almond flour
• ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 0.5lb. Shrimps, peeled and deveined
• 2 small eggs
• 1 tablespoon heavy cream
• Olive oil, for frying

Instructions:

1. Mix almond flour and grated Parmesan in a bowl.
2. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs with heavy cream, salt, and pepper.
3. Dip each shrimp first into the egg mixture and then into the flour and Parmesan mixture.
4. Fry in olive oil (not virgin!) or butter.
5. Serve warm.

Macros: Fat: 27.9g; Net carbs: 3.5g; Protein: 67.6g; Kcal: 549

3. Beef and Broccoli Stir-Fry

Beef and broccoli stir fry is a great weeknight option — easy to prepare, ready in half an hour, and is nourishing. The combination of flank steak and cruciferous broccoli will give you lots of iron, fiber, and protein. We’ll be using thin-cut beef strips in this recipe for easy preparation and to help the steak absorb more flavor.

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 15 minutes

Serves: 1

Ingredients:

• 0.25lb. Flank steak, cut into ¼-inch thick strips
• 1 cup broccoli florets
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• ½ tablespoon avocado oil
• 2 tablespoons coconut aminos
• 2 tablespoons beef stock
• ¼ tablespoon raw ginger, minced

Instructions:

1. Heat avocado oil in a pan set over medium-high heat.
2. Add beef strips and saute until browned.
3. Remove beef from pan and add coconut aminos, beef stock, and ginger to the hot pan. Cook for 5 minutes.
4. Add broccoli and return the beef. Cook until the broccoli is tender.
5. Serve as is or over cauliflower rice.

Macros: Fat: 10g; Net carbs: 5.7g; Protein: 31.8g, Kcal: 254

4. Bulletproof Coffee

Ever heard of bulletproof coffee? It’s one of the most powerful keto drinks out there. This ketosis-boosting drink combines brewed coffee, unsalted butter, and MCT oil. Grass-fed butter has a higher CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) content, which is a compound found to help fight cancer and enhances lean mass.

Preparation time: 5 minutes

Serves: 1

Ingredients:

• 1 cup freshly brewed coffee
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 tablespoon MCT oil
• A pinch of cinnamon, optional

Instructions:

1. Place freshly brewed hot coffee in a blender.
2. Add butter and MCT oil.
3. Blend until frothy and serve warm.

Macros: Fat: 37.1g; Net carbs: 0g; Protein: 1g; Kcal: 306

5. Classic Bacon and Eggs

Another great egg-based breakfast to make it on the list is this all-time classic that just happens to be keto-friendly. Although highly processed, bacon is great on the keto diet because it’s high in both saturated and unsaturated fat. Keep your intake moderate and you’ll be good.

Ingredients:

• ½ tablespoon olive oil
• 1 1/4oz. Bacon strips
• 2 medium eggs
• Salt, to taste

Instructions:

1. Fry bacon in a pan that you’ve lightly greased with olive oil over medium-high heat.
2. Once the bacon is golden brown and crispy, remove from pan and place on a plate.
3. In the same pan, make sunny-side-up eggs or scrambled eggs if that’s what you prefer.
4. Add the eggs to the same plate and serve with your favorite keto bread.

Macros: Fat: 30.4g; Net carbs: 1g; Protein: 24g; Kcal: 375

6. Cheesy Keto Meatballs

In this recipe, mozzarella is paired with ground beef to make for scrumptious, melty goodness. These Italian-style meatballs are loaded with Italian seasoning for extra flavor and a wonderful Mediterranean aroma. Make this dish for your weekend dinners or even parties.

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 15 minutes

Serves: 2

Ingredients:

• 0.5lb. Ground beef
• 1 small egg
• 1 tablespoon heavy cream
• ½ tablespoon water
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• ¼ teaspoon oregano
• 3oz. mozzarella, cut into 8 small cubes
• 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400F.
2. Add the ground beef, egg, cream, water, garlic powder, onion powder, and oregano to a bowl and stir until well combined.
3. Separate the mixture into eight equal parts and form each piece into a small patty.
4. Place a piece of cheese in the center of each patty and carefully fold the edges around the cheese to seal it in. Be sure to seal the meatball completely so the cheese doesn’t leak out during baking.
5. Place the meatballs onto a 12-inch cast-iron skillet or greased baking sheet.
6. Bake for 15 minutes or until golden brown.
7. Sprinkle with parsley or even cover the meatballs with marinara.

Macros: Fat: 19.3g; Net carbs: 2.8g; Protein: 49g; Kcal: 389

7. Ten-Minute Egg Salad

An egg salad that’s ready in just ten minutes!? Yup, the title is definitely not misleading. Besides being quick to prepare, this egg salad is a chock-full of nutrients such as vitamins B5, A, C, potassium, and iron. Consider making dozens of hard-boiled eggs ahead of time so you can use this recipe as your weekly meal prep. It’s also a great party option and lunch-time snack.

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Serves:  2

Ingredients:

• 2 hard-boiled eggs, chopped
• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 1 ½ tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 small stalk celery, chopped
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

1. In a medium bowl, combine the chopped hard-boiled eggs, mayonnaise, lemon juice, chopped celery, and salt and pepper.
2. Serve immediately or store in the fridge for up to two days.

Macros: Fat: 55g; Net carbs: 1.4g; Protein: 11.4g; Kcal: 551

8. Keto Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

Think mac and cheese should be left in the past now that you’re on a keto diet? Think again! Instead of carby macaroni, use steamed cauliflower florets and coat them well in cheese. The result is almost as good as the real thing.

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Cooking time: 40 minutes

Serves: 2

Ingredients

• ½ head cauliflower, separated into florets and steamed
• 2oz. Cream cheese
• 3 tablespoons heavy cream
• 4oz. cheddar cheese, grated
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Olive oil, for greasing

Instructions

1. Heat the heavy cream and cream cheese in a saucepan over medium heat.
2. Once melted, season with salt and pepper to taste.
3. Toss in the cauliflower and transfer mixture into a greased baking dish.
4. Bake for 15 minutes.
5. Cover with cheddar and continue baking for another 15 minutes.
6. Serve warm.

Macros: Fat: 37g; Net carbs: 3.9g; Protein: 18g; Kcal: 422

Final Thoughts

Once you try one or more of these wonderful high-fat, low-carb recipes, you’ll be hooked on the keto diet.

Besides adding these meals to your weekly menu, remember to limit your daily carb intake to 20-50g of net carbs, choose whole ingredients, and check food labels for hidden sugars when grocery shopping. If you follow these rules, you’ll be successful on this low-carb lifestyle.

Article written by Sofia Norton of Kiss My Keto