22 Cheap Keto Meal Ideas
If you are working on losing weight, you will have tried several diets. One such diet that is considered very effective is the keto diet. The diet calls explicitly for a low-carb diet which high protein. There are so many unique ingredients low in carbs and rich in protein. All you have to do is pair the right ingredients and enjoy a great meal.
If you are looking for easy-to-make, tasteful keto-friendly meals so that you don’t feel deprived of flavorsome food, you are in luck.
Here is a list of 22 cheap keto meal ideas that you can make in no time and enjoy!
Leeks Au Gratin with Bacon
Leeks Au Gratin with Bacon seems like a fancy dish, but honestly, it is quick, easy, keto, and very economical.
Made with leeks served with bacon and a creamy sauce made from heavy cream, parmesan cheese, and butter, you can enjoy simple flavors and loads of texture.
Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Chicken lettuce wraps are low calorie and low carb wraps you can enjoy any time of the day. Above all, they are super easy to make and very tasteful.
Made with a taco-seasoned chicken, a cilantro sauce, and fresh vegetables, you can enjoy flavors that blow your taste buds away. All thanks to the Eazy Peazy Mealz for this amazing recipe.
Pork Chops with Mushroom Sauce
Another simple yet delicious and fancy meal perfect for weekends is pork chops with mushroom sauce. The tender and juicy pork chops with an herbaceous and garlicky mushroom sauce taste just right.
Besides being keto-friendly and economical, this recipe is effortless. You can get it on your dinner table in no more than 20 minutes. Here is a complete recipe for you to follow.
Basil and Tomato Soup
This Basil and Tomato Soup is a keto take on a classic recipe. It is creamy, rich, and utterly delicious.
Made with a few ingredients like onions, garlic, tomatoes, basil, butter, broth, and heavy cream, this soup is perfect for satisfying your hunger. You can adjust it for both vegan and non-vegan diets as well.
Stuffed Peppers
Stuffed bell pepper with cauliflower rice is a visually appealing yet tasteful and very wholesome keto-friendly dish.
The dish gets its flavor from ground beef, garlic, basil, and a blend of three types of cheeses. It is a perfect treat when you are having a meal with your friends and family and goes well when you prefer meal prep!
Egg Salad
A simple, humble, yet tastefully creamy and protein-rich egg salad is what you need for lunch! You can either enjoy it with a fork or in your sandwich.
It is very refreshing and tastes just right! All you need is hard-boiled eggs, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, chives, parsley, and red onions. Mix everything and enjoy a salad in no more than 10 minutes.
Mexican Cauliflower Rice
Mexican cauliflower rice is not just low in carbohydrates, but it is super delicious! Loaded with Mexican flavors and ingredients, this rice dish is perfect for every occasion.
You can enjoy flavors from cauliflower, chicken broth, jalapeno, cherry tomatoes, chicken, black beans, corn, bell peppers, and cilantro.
Vegetable Frittata
Vegetable frittata is an amazing keto-friendly recipe you can enjoy for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. All you need is mushrooms, bell peppers, zucchini, heavy cream, cheddar cheese, and eggs.
This frittata is easy to make and very healthy. Thus perfect for those who want to add more vegetables to their diet.
Vegetable Manchurian
Looking for an Asian-inspired dish that is keto-friendly as well? How about you try making vegetable Manchurian? It is a keto and vegetarian take on the classic Chinese dish.
Vegetable Manchurian is made from healthy vegetables with a rich tangy and tomato-y sauce. You get the flavors from soy sauce, chili sauce, black pepper, ketchup, and vinegar.
Chicken Fajitas
Chicken fajitas are a tasteful Mexican treat that is an ideal lunch choice. They are made from chicken thighs and red bell pepper.
The flavors come from taco seasoning. Wrap the chicken fajitas in lettuce and enjoy a crunchy and delicious dish.
Fried Sausage and Cabbage
Fried Sausages and cabbage is a quick dinner recipe you can enjoy on both weekdays and weekends. This recipe is not just tasteful but is a perfectly keto dish.
This dish is made using two main ingredients, i.e., sausages and cabbage. Add tomatoes, butter, and Cajun seasoning for more flavor. Made in less than 30 minutes, you can enjoy this dish not just for dinner but for lunch as well.
Lamb Sliders
Looking for a quick and delicious appetizer for your party? Try lamb sliders. These mini burgers are not just keto but utterly delicious.
Made with ground lamb and spices like oregano, garlic, and black pepper and topped with a creamy feta cheese dressing, you can enjoy quick sliders. Top these sliders with sliced onions, tomatoes, and lettuce. This recipe is a perfectly tasteful and healthy dish.
Baked Salsa Chicken
Salsa and chicken might seem like an unusual flavor combination, but the two pair up so well. This baked salsa chicken is a delicious keto and one-pan dish which gets ready in 35 to 40 minutes.
All you need is four simple ingredients like chicken thighs, salsa, taco seasoning, and Colby Jack cheese. This one-pan dish is super convenient and a delicious choice for family dinner together.
Cheesy Broccoli Soup
There is nothing more heartwarming and comforting than a bowl of hot soup. When you are on a keto diet, the choices are slightly limited.
However, it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy delicious soup. Cheesy broccoli soup is not just healthy but fits the keto description well. It is creamy, cheesy, and rich in nutrients. This is perfect for someone who wants to include more vegetables or broccoli in his or her diet.
The best part is it is easy to make. You can get it done in no more than 30 minutes and enjoy a simmering bowl of cheesy goodness.
Zucchini Lasagna
Craving lasagna on a keto diet? No problem! Try zucchini lasagna.
It is not just tasteful but is healthy and a perfect keto dish to satisfy your craving. Plus, zucchini lasagna is an amazing idea for meal prep. Make it ahead of time and enjoy it later.
It is made using fresh zucchinis, ground turkey meat, garlic, tomatoes, and spices like oregano, cayenne, basil, etc. Furthermore, it also uses a creamy ricotta cheese mixture which makes it creamy and moist.
Keto Mac and Cheese
Who doesn’t love cheesy and creamy mac and cheese? Now the thing with a traditional mac and cheese recipe is that it uses pasta which is high in carbs. So if you are on a keto diet, you can’t have a traditional mac and cheese.
In this case, I recommend you try this keto mac and cheese recipe. It is not just low in carbs but is a healthy and gluten-free choice as well. The dish uses cauliflower, almond flour, butter, gruyere cheese, cheddar cheese, and heavy cream. It is not just easy to make but is super tasteful.
Keto BBQ Ribs
Summers call for delicious BBQ ribs. But it’s not just a hit recipe in summer. You can make it whenever you like, even when you are on a keto diet.
This keto BBQ rib recipe is super easy to make. It is made in an instant pot which reduces the cooking time to half. All you need is country-style pork ribs, a dry spice rub, and a delicious BBQ sauce.
These ribs are perfect for every occasion, and you can make them in advance as well.
Chicken Thighs
Keto chicken thighs is a simple and probably the most economical recipe on our list. You can make it with a few ingredients that celebrate simple flavors in an amazing way.
The recipe is keto, but you can enjoy it whenever you like. All you need is chicken thighs and a blend of different spices like garlic powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, oregano, and salt.
Cook the chicken in the oven until it is done, and serve with your favorite low-carb vegetables or a salad.
Cheeseburger Casserole
Cheeseburger casserole is delicious, wholesome, and a good choice for game day and movie nights. This casserole is not just easy to make but is keto as well.
It is made using ground beef, eggs, cream cheese, cream, cheddar cheese, bacon, and burger seasoning. This cheesy casserole is very wholesome and a healthy recipe for you all to try.
Keto Egg Roll
Keto egg roll is a keto take on a traditional egg roll. It is a quick, tasteful, and hefty portion bowl. This keto recipe is made using ground pork, onions, ginger, garlic, and cabbage.
This bowl gets it is to flavor from soy sauce, sesame seeds, vinegar, and sriracha. If you are looking for a quick fix, this recipe is tasteful and quick.
Chicken and Vegetable Stir Fry
Chicken and vegetable stir fry are a simple, healthy, and Asian recipe that is quick to make. It is made using chicken and vegetables like broccoli, bell peppers, and onion.
The dish gets its flavor from a keto sauce, sesame oil, and chili sauce. The best thing about this recipe is that it is very easy to make. You can make it in no more than 10 minutes. It is wholesome, tasteful, and very filling.
Orange Chicken
Here is a keto version of the most popular Chinese takeout, a.k.a the orange chicken. It is very tasteful, citrusy, and a perfect treat for both weekdays and weekends. It is super easy to make.
The perfectly cooked chicken and an orangey sauce made from orange juice, brown sugar, orange zest, ginger, garlic, sesame oil, and vinegar. Try this delicious recipe, and I am sure you will enjoy it!
Conclusion
Who says being on a diet is expensive? You can easily choose economical and pocket-friendly ideas that you can try. These cheap keto meal ideas are not just cheap but are equally tasteful and convenient to make. You can even make these meals in advance and store them for later use.
So, why wait? Try these amazing and smart keto recipes, and let us know which recipe you loved the most and why! Till then, enjoy cooking!
About the Author
Camellia Jones is an editor at Twigs Cafe. She rounds up all the delicious food from the web for specific diets. She likes to spend the rest of her time with her children.
