Starting keto doesn't mean you have to become a gourmet chef overnight! The best way to stick with it, especially in the beginning, is to rely on free easy keto recipes for beginners that are simple, delicious, and don't require a ton of weird ingredients or complicated steps.
This collection focuses on exactly that: straightforward recipes perfect for weeknight dinners, quick lunches, and satisfying breakfasts. Let's get cooking!
Easy Keto Breakfast Ideas
(Start your day right!)
- Classic Scrambled Eggs with Cheese: Whisk 2-3 eggs with a splash of heavy cream, salt, and pepper. Scramble in butter over medium heat. Stir in 1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese just before they're done. Serve with a side of bacon or avocado. (Find these staples on our Keto Shopping List!)
- Simple Avocado & Egg: Fry 2 eggs in butter or avocado oil. Serve alongside 1/2 sliced avocado seasoned with salt and pepper (and maybe Everything Bagel seasoning!).
- Quick Keto Coffee (Bulletproof Style): Blend 1 cup hot brewed coffee with 1 tbsp butter (grass-fed preferred) and 1 tbsp MCT oil until frothy.
- Make-Ahead Egg Muffins: Whisk 6 eggs, 1/4 cup heavy cream, salt, pepper. Stir in 1/2 cup cooked crumbled bacon/sausage and 1/2 cup shredded cheese. Pour into 6 greased muffin cups. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 mins. Store in fridge for quick breakfasts.
- Chia Seed Pudding: Combine 3 tbsp chia seeds with 1 cup unsweetened almond/coconut milk and 1/2 tsp vanilla extract (optional: keto sweetener). Stir well, let sit 5 mins, stir again, then refrigerate overnight. Top with a few berries or nuts before serving.
Simple Keto Lunch Recipes
(Easy midday meals, perfect for packing!)
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Tuna or Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps: Mix 1 can tuna/chicken (drained) with 2-3 tbsp mayonnaise, 1 chopped celery stalk, salt, and pepper. Serve in large lettuce leaves (romaine or iceberg).
Lettuce wraps are a quick and easy keto lunch staple. -
Simple Salad with Grilled Chicken: Top mixed greens with leftover grilled chicken, cucumber slices, cheese, and a keto-friendly dressing (like ranch or olive oil & vinegar).
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Leftovers! Don't underestimate the power of dinner leftovers for a quick and easy lunch. (See our Keto Meal Planning Guide for tips!)
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Keto "Lunchable": Pack sliced deli meat (turkey, ham), cheese slices or cubes, a few olives, and maybe some celery sticks.
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Avocado Egg Salad: Mash 2 hard-boiled eggs with 1/2 avocado, a dollop of mayo (optional), salt, and pepper. Eat with a spoon or celery sticks.
Easy Keto Dinner Recipes
(Delicious and satisfying low-carb meals.)
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Sheet Pan Sausage & Veggies: Toss sliced Italian sausage (check ingredients) and chopped low-carb veggies (broccoli, bell peppers, zucchini, onion) with olive oil, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Roast on a sheet pan at 400°F (200°C) for 20-25 minutes, until veggies are tender and sausage is cooked.
Sheet pan meals offer easy cooking and minimal cleanup. -
Garlic Butter Steak Bites with Asparagus: Cut sirloin steak into bite-sized pieces. Sear in a hot pan with butter or avocado oil. Add minced garlic and more butter towards the end. Serve with asparagus roasted with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
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Baked Salmon with Lemon & Dill: Place salmon fillets on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and fresh or dried dill. Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 12-15 minutes. Serve with a side salad or steamed broccoli.
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Ground Beef & Cabbage Skillet: Brown 1 lb ground beef, drain fat. Add 1/2 head shredded cabbage, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Sauté until cabbage is tender. Stir in a splash of soy sauce or coconut aminos if desired.
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Creamy Tuscan Chicken: Sauté chicken breast pieces in olive oil. Remove chicken. Sauté garlic, then add heavy cream, chicken broth, sun-dried tomatoes (in oil, use sparingly), spinach, and parmesan cheese. Simmer until sauce thickens slightly, return chicken to pan. Serve over cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles.
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"Bun-less" Burgers: Cook beef patties as desired. Serve on a lettuce leaf "bun" with cheese, bacon, avocado, tomato, pickles, and mustard/mayo. Serve with a side salad.
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Zucchini Noodles with Pesto: Sauté spiralized zucchini noodles briefly (don't overcook!). Toss with store-bought or homemade pesto (check ingredients) and top with parmesan cheese. Add cooked chicken or shrimp for extra protein.
Tool Tip: Making Veggie Noodles
A spiralizer makes creating zucchini noodles (zoodles) or other veggie pasta substitutes quick and easy. The Brieftons 7-Blade Spiralizer is a versatile manual option with multiple blades for different noodle shapes and sizes, plus it includes a container and storage caddy.
Check Price on Amazon(For electric options, consider the Shine Kitchen Co. model, or the simple SUREWIN handheld for basic needs.)
Simple Keto Snacks & Fat Bombs
(For when hunger strikes between meals.)
- Hard-Boiled Eggs
- String Cheese or Cheese Cubes
- Handful of Low-Carb Nuts: Macadamias, pecans, almonds (watch portions).
- Olives
- Celery Sticks with Cream Cheese or Nut Butter
- Pork Rinds (plain, check ingredients)
- Avocado with Salt
- Simple Fat Bombs: Blend 1/2 cup coconut oil, 1/4 cup almond butter, 1-2 tbsp cocoa powder, and optional keto sweetener. Pour into silicone molds and freeze until solid. (Fat bombs help meet your fat goals - understand your targets with the Keto Macro Calculator!)
These easy keto recipes prove that delicious, satisfying food is entirely possible on a ketogenic diet, even for beginners. Focus on whole ingredients, simple preparations, and enjoy the process! (Need more help getting started? Check out our Keto Beginner's Guide!)