35 Easy (and Damn Tasty) Keto Lunch Ideas
So you’ve decided to give the ketogenic diet a whirl. (Kudos.) But unless you want to eat bacon and cheese for every meal (who could blame you?), you’re going to need some lunch inspiration. Voilà: 35 quick and easy keto lunch ideas that definitely aren’t “diet” food. We’re talking over-the-top salads, next-level taco fillings, low-carb pasta dishes and all the cauliflower rice bowls.
RELATED: 80 Keto Dinner Recipe Ideas to Try Tonight
1. Keto Steak and Blue Cheese Salad for One
Aka our favorite way to use up last night's steak. (That way, the salad won't require a moment of cooking.)
2. Keto Pasta with Lemon-Kale Chicken
In tofu shirataki noodles we trust. This cheesy, citrus-kissed bowl only takes 15 minutes to prepare.
3. Vegan Keto Everything Bagels
Bake a batch of these flaxseed-rich handhelds on Sunday and nosh on them all week long. Use dairy-free cream cheese to keep it vegan (or um, don't).
4. Keto Instant Pot Greek Cauliflower Rice
Leave it to your handy pressure cooker to make you a lightning-fast lunch for the books. This Greek-inspired plate has it all, from cukes to kalamata olives to feta cheese.
5. Ketogenic Baked Eggs and Zoodles with Avocado
Just as tasty for lunch as they are for breakfast. Start with pre-spiralized zucchini to save yourself some time and effort.
6. Cauliflower Fried Rice
When in doubt, put an egg on it. Thanks to our favorite cruciferous veggie, this takeout favorite is on your diet.
7. Low-Carb Thai Curry Soup
You won't miss your average chicken noodle soup after trying this bold, coconut-kissed soul-soother.
8. Buffalo Chicken Soup
Perfect for the cold months (or all year round—we won't judge), but especially prime for Super Bowl Sunday.
9. Keto Jalapeño Popper Soup
Take your taste buds on a wild ride, courtesy of bacon, shredded chicken, cream cheese and pickled jalapeños. Start with a rotisserie bird to save time.
10. Sausage and Peppers
This festival fave just takes a few minutes of prep—the slow cooker does all the heavy lifting. Feel free to pile the goods on a low-carb hoagie roll.
11. Beef Barbacoa
This is the kind of melt-in-your-mouth meat we dream of. Serve it atop greens, cauliflower rice or zoodles.
12. Shrimp with Cauliflower “Grits” and Arugula
The next best thing to a trip to New Orleans. The grits are still rich and decadent, thanks to butter, milk and crumbled goat cheese.
13. Keto White Chicken Chili
About a billion times better than takeout. Pile on all the sour cream and cheese your heart desires.
14. Keto Chicken Enchilada Bowl
Sorry, tortillas, you’ve been replaced. Might we suggest serving this 50-minute gem for Taco Tuesday?
15. Chipotle Healthy Keto Pulled Pork
Pulled pork makes everything better—just serve it on lettuce instead of a bun (or spring for low-carb rolls if you're craving a classic sammy).
16. Slow Cooker Chicken Chile Verde
Serve this keto-friendly dish with a side of cauliflower rice or corn tortilla chips with plenty of guac.
17. Zoodle Stir Fry
It's flavorful, filling and comes together in no time—what more can a keto foodie ask for?
18. Low-Carb Chicken Fajita Salad
If you must have salad, do it like this. Think smoky chicken, sliced avocado, greens and bell peppers.
19. Chipotle-Lime Shrimp Lettuce Cups
Eating keto doesn’t have to be time-consuming or expensive. Case in point? This five-ingredient, protein-rich miracle dinner.
20. Keto Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Eat your heart out, Panera Bread. We promise you won't even miss the potatoes.
21. Salsa Verde Shredded Beef Bowls
This Mexican-inspired bowl is bound to keep you full and satisfied. The recipe is naturally dairy-free, but you can go wild with cheese, crema or sour cream if you'd like.
22. Antoni Porowski’s Salmon and Spinach Rice Bowl with Green Tea Broth
Substitute sushi rice for cauli rice in this Japanese-inspired dish and you're in business.
23. Low-Carb Pho with Zoodles
Cool if we make this every week? It's a positively painless way to get our daily veggies.
24. Vegan Keto Coconut Curry
Because it's totally possible to stay full on keto *without* depending on meat and cheese for every meal.
25. Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas
Psst: Save the leftovers for tomorrow’s breakfast hash.
26. Keto Sheet Pan Chicken with Rainbow Veggies
A hearty dinner for the whole family and only one dirty dish to clean? Where do we sign?
27. Chicken Meatballs with Coconut-Herb Sauce
Complete with cauliflower rice. The creamy, decadent sauce looks like it’s loaded with dairy, but looks can be deceiving. (Thanks, coconut milk.)
28. Crispy Prosciutto-Wrapped Cauliflower Bites
They’re basically inside-out pigs in a blanket, but totally keto.
29. Cauliflower ‘Potato’ Salad
When the carb cravings hit, cauliflower is here to hold down the fort for potatoes in this picnic essential.
30. Cauliflower Tortillas
You bring the ground beef, we'll bring the sugar-free margaritas.
31. Broccoli Rabe and Burrata with Lemon
Just because it’s a keto vegetarian dish doesn’t mean it can’t be totally elegant, satisfying and delicious.
32. Mexican Zucchini Boats
Possibly the easiest dinner you’ll ever make. The 30-minute masterpiece stars an unlikely protein: wild-caught canned tuna.
33. Goat Cheese and Spinach-Stuffed Chicken Breast
When your friends say they don’t understand how you can stick to the keto diet, present them with this masterpiece
34. Keto Salmon Sushi Bowl
No rice, no problem. Pass the sriracha mayo, please.
35. Gluten-Free Cream of Mushroom Soup
If you're craving comfort food, try this rich and creamy recipe that only calls for seven ingredients.
RELATED: 55 Low-Carb Lunch Ideas You'll Actually Be Excited to Eat
