Committing to the keto diet requires hard work and dedication, especially if you want to remain in ketosis. While you may have keto snacks and keto meals covered, one of the biggest culprits is holiday dinners. While holiday dinners are certainly delicious, they are often full of carb and sugar-heavy foods such as potatoes, bread, and desserts! This can be a serious nightmare.
This year instead of giving in to those foods, show up to a holiday dinner prepared. We have compiled a list of crave-worthy recipes that are perfect for holiday dinners whether it be Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, or any special occasion. We’ve made sure to include delicious keto-approved appetizers, side dishes, main entrée ideas and even keto desserts too. So let’s all dig into delicious food guilt-free!
This beef tips and cauliflower mash dinner is over the top delicious. Treat your family to this savory dinner and they won’t even know it’s keto diet approved! You’ll be provided with thorough instructions on how to cook the sirloin tips, mashed cauliflower, and the savory gravy.
The best part is that this dinner only requires 30 minutes of your time and can be made using either the stove or an instant pot, depending on your preference. This meal is also Keto, Whole30 and Paleo compliant, if you or any of your guests are following these diets. Gravy can be a tough to get the perfect consistency, but luckily this recipe offers a few helpful tips. This gravy recipe in particular has the consistency of a thicker soup, so the recipe suggests adding less broth if you enjoy a thicker gravy or experimenting with adding a little more tapioca flour.
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Stuffing is a must-have side dish for many holiday dinners but unfortunately, that carb-loaded dish is a definite must-not-have while following the keto diet. This keto cornbread stuffing recipe proves that you can still indulge in your traditional favorites! You won’t miss the store-bough boxed stuffing either because this recipe is quick and easy! In this stuffing, you can expect to find keto bread, celery, leeks, and loads of seasonings that make this dish flavorful. This recipe is perfect for any holiday gathering and also works great for stuffing mushrooms, chicken, or pork.
This recipe has all the flavor and vegtables of traditional gravy without the guilt, and the recipe is surprisingly easy to make. The quick version of this recipe is to crumble the keto bread, drizzle with olive oil and bake for approximately 5 minutes until lightly browned. Next, saute your chopped vegtables in olive oil for a minute or two. Lastly, mix together with melted butter and bake again.
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If you’ve volunteered (or were “voluntold”) to host Thanksgiving this year, then you’ll want to make sure you have a few delicious appetizers lined up for your dinner guests. If you need some ideas for tasty keto-approved appetizers, you need to try making a plate of bacon-wrapped brussels sprouts.
Tender brussels sprouts are wrapped with crispy bacon and are paired with a balsamic mayo dip. Even if you don’t like sprouts, you’re bound to like these. With only 4 total ingredients, this is a simple appetizer is low in carbs and a great choice for anyone on a keto diet. To make this recipe you’ll need bacon, brussels sprouts with the stems trimmed, mayonnaise and balsamic vinegar. Begin by wrapping each brussels sprout with 1 bacon slice, secure with a toothpick and bake uncovered at 400°F for about 40 minutes until the brussels sprouts are tender and the bacon is crispy.
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Deviled eggs are a crowd favorite and are a perfect appetizer for any dinner party. Try something different this holiday season and serve up a platter of these tasty cajun avocado deviled eggs.Avocados help to make the deviled eggs even more creamy and they also add healthy fats too. They come together quickly and will surely be a hit! If you’re looking to bring something a little different to your holiday gathering – give this recipe a try. We promise you won’t be bringing any leftovers home with you!
You’ll need four key ingredients to make this recipe: hard boiled eggs, a ripe medium avocado that’s been halved and pitted, mayonnaise and cajun seasoning. The recipe also suggests using salt & pepper to taste and paprika and fresh parsley are optional for garnish. The recipe also suggests using a piping bag to give your deviled eggs a smooth, professional look.
Create a true feast this holiday season by making these keto biscuits and gravy. Your family will surely love it and they won’t even know it’s keto-friendly! You’ll need to make the biscuits and the gravy from scratch which means this is a two-step recipe, however, the outcome will certainly be worth your while. The combination of the light and fluffy biscuits against the rich and creamy gravy is truly to die for!
The gravy is made with ingredients such as breakfast sausage, cream cheese, and heavy cream, while the biscuits require almond flour, egg whites, and a few seasonings. When it comes to gravy, it can be a little difficult to get the proper consistency and everyone may have personal preference on how thick they like theirs. One tip the recipe suggests is that if the sausage gravy isn’t thickening as much as you’d like, try adding in1/2 tsp of xanthan gum.
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Pumpkin pie is one of the most popular desserts, especially for holiday dinners. The downfall is that between the sweet filling and carb-heavy crust, pumpkin pie can quickly derail your diet. This keto pumpkin cheesecake mousse recipe provides a delicious solution to your predicament and is sure to be your next fall favorite!
This pumpkin cheesecake mousse is made with cream cheese and heavy cream making it full of fat. Further, vanilla extract, pumpkin spice, unsweetened pumpkin puree, and confectioners erythritol will make this dessert flavorful and perfectly sweet which will satisfy your taste buds. The best part is that this recipe is low in carbs and keto-friendly, but still has all the delicious flavors of traditional pumpkin pie in a deliciously creamy, whipped texture. For added sweetness, you can also top your mousse with a little fresh low carb whipped cream which can easily be made with heavy cream, vanilla extract and a natural low carb sweetener.
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Tuna pickle boats are one of our most popular recipes and for good reason! They’re incredibly easy to make and are full of flavor too. Prepare a platter of these keto-friendly tuna pickle boats and serve them as an appetizer. They’ll fill your belly while you wait for the main course and better yet, even your non-keto friends and family members will love them too. They’re perfect for picnics and parties and your guests can be assured that they’re both dairy and gluten free.
If you don’t love tuna, you could also substitute for chicken or flaked salmon. To make this recipe you’ll begin by simply cutting your pickles in half length-wise. Next, use a spoon to seed the pickles and discard. Drain your tuna and place in a small bowl. Use a fork to mix your tuna with mayonnaise, dill, salt & pepper. Lastly, spoon the tuna into the boats, garnish with dill, and enjoy!
Like stuffing, mashed potatoes are also a must-have side dish when it comes to holiday dinners. It’s hard to resist those creamy, buttery mashed potatoes! Although, unless you’re willing to fall out of ketosis, it’s best to stay away from them. Fortunately, there is a great solution out there for keto-dieters and it starts with cauliflower.
Cauliflower is the perfect substitute for potatoes because when mashed, they mimic the texture of mashed potatoes. Additionally, this cauliflower mashed potato recipe uses the same ingredients that you would normally use in your favorite mashed potatoes recipe. It combines cauliflower with butter, sour cream, parmesan cheese, and garlic to create an unforgettable flavor. A big tip with this recipe is to ensure to cook the cauliflower florets until they are really soft for an extra smooth texture. To achieve this creamy texture, it’s recommended to use a large food processor or a high-powered blender.
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Looking to try something different this year for the holidays? Instead of plain mashed cauliflower, perhaps you’d enjoy this loaded cauliflower mashed potato recipe. What sets this recipe apart from the previous one is it’s loaded with savory ingredients such as cheese and crumbly bacon pieces. This recipe will even be a hit with non-keto guests since it’s a healthier, low-carb and gluten-free side dish to replace traditional mashed potatoes.
This recipe provides a few tips and tricks so that you can mash the cauliflower with ease. To begin, place your cut cauliflower into a large pot of boiling water. Reduce to a simmer and let cook for 8-10 minutes. Next, drain water from your cauliflower and pat dry. Add the cauliflower to a food processor, or high-powered blender, with garlic, butter or olive oil, salt, pepper and sour cream. Serve while warm and top with bacon crumbles, green onions and cheese.
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Salads make wonderful side dishes as they offer a lighter option for your dinner guests. But this year, don’t serve just any salad, be sure to share a bowl of this delicious cobb salad. It’s full of healthy fats, and flavorful ingredients. Plus, the colorful layers will capture everyone’s attention.
Not only will you be provided with instructions on how to prepare the salad, but you’ll also be provided with a delicious keto-approved salad dressing recipe. To make the dressing, combine sour cream, Swerve sweetener, and mayonnaise in a bowl and set aside. Next, layer your salad. Start with the lettuce on the bottom, then continue with the layers with tomatoes, red onions, chicken, bacon and eggs. You could also add avocado to the top, but this ingredient is optional. Lastly, pour the dressing over the eggs and then sprinkle cheddar cheese on top. The recipe recommends to refrigerate the salad for a few hours before serving.
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It may be obvious that turkey is allowed and encouraged on the keto diet but we’re here to help make your turkey just a little bit better, okay a lot better! The secret is to cover the turkey in crispy bacon! After all, bacon makes everything better, right? This recipe will walk you through how to weave the bacon blanket as well as how to season the turkey too. Not only is this keto-friendly but you’ll be providing your guests with an unforgettable dinner like they’ve never had before.
What’s even better? This method of wrapping the turkey in bacon eliminates any need for complicated brining, salting, or basting. The bacon gives the turkey tons of flavor and creates a crispy “skin” that contrasts perfectly with the tender turkey meat. While the weaving of the bacon may seem complicated at first, it’s actually quite simple, but creates major bonus points with guests.
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Spinach and artichoke dip is one of the most popular restaurant appetizers so go ahead and share a platter of this warm ooey-gooey spinach dip this holiday season. This recipe provides instructions to prepare the keto-friendly rolls as well as a recipe for the dip. While this recipe does require about 30 minutes of hands-on time, the effort will be well worth it. Try it once and you’ll be craving this appetizer time and time again.
To begin this recipe, start by melting cream cheese and mozzarella in a pot at low heat. Next, add the melted cheeses to a large bowl with the baking powder, almond flour, and eggs and mix until smooth. Refrigerate for 10-20 minutes and then roll into 12 balls and chill in the refrigerator until set. Next, make the spinach dip by simply mix all of the ingredients together in a large bowl. Place the dough balls around the edge of the skillet, fill the center with the spinach dip and bake for 17-20 minutes until the rolls are fluffy.
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Who knew you could still indulge in something like a donut while following the ketogenic diet, after all, donuts kind of scream carbs! This recipe proves with the right ingredient substitutions you can indulge in the perfect keto-approved donut. Gourmet donuts are all the rage right now which is why serving them as a holiday dessert would be a great idea. These donuts are completed with a savory and sweet cinnamon coating.
The ingredients needed for this recipe are quite simple. The key ingredients you’ll need are coconut flour, almond flour, vital wheat gluten, baking powder, baking soda, truvia, cinnamon, salt, sour cream and coconut oil. The best part about this recipe? it only takes 10 minutes to make! Donuts are typically a long, drawn-out process of waiting for the dough to rise and frying them, but these make the process much easier. The serving size is perfect single serve portion to eat alone or share with a friend.
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There’s no denying that green bean casserole is a holiday dinner classic. It’s creamy, savory, and seriously delicious. Unfortunately, the casserole is often full of carbs, especially if you top it off with breaded fried onions. This year don’t miss out on one of your favorite side dishes because this recipe proves that even a dish like green bean casserole can be keto-approved. This casserole has a creamy filling and is full of flavor too.
Instead of the classic canned soup and frozen beans used for traditional green bean casserole, this recipe uses fresh, wholesome ingredients. For this recipe you’ll need fresh green beans, either white button mushrooms or brown cremini mushrooms, onion, and heavy cream. For the crunchy topping, this recipe suggests using a combination of almond flour, grated parmesan cheese, and a pinch of onion powder. This combination gives the same onion-y crunch you’d expect with traditional green bean casserole without the flour fried coating.
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Most people on the Keto diet miss bread a lot, but the carbs in traditional wheat bread are just way too high and can easily make you slip out of ketosis! This cheesy garlic mug bread is low-carb alternative, yet still packed with flavor and easy to whip up when the craving hits. Whether you just need an afternoon keto snack or desperately want some garlic bread to go with your holiday dinner, we’ve got you covered with this easy microwave mug recipe.
For this one-minute recipe, you’ll only need a few ingredients. Begin by adding your dry ingredients to a mug which include almond flour, garlic powder, salt, Italian seasoning, and baking powder. Next, add your fats, which in this case, are eggs and melted butter, which also help to bind the mixture. Mix together and add shredded cheese on top. Lastly, put the mug into the microwave and cook for 1 minute. Enjoy!
Much like mashed potatoes, scalloped potatoes are another popular side dish, especially when it comes to the holidays. They would pair wonderfully with ham, turkey or whatever you enjoy having as a main course. While potatoes are definitely delicious, they may not work well with any of your guests that are on the keto diet. Skip the potatoes because you don’t need them!
This keto scalloped potatoes recipe uses turnips in place of potatoes. No one will even notice this secret ingredient, especially once it’s combined with the other ingredients such as cream cheese, heavy cream, and delicious seasonings. They taste almost identical to traditional mashed potatoes without all the carbs. A few of the key ingredients you’ll need for this recipe include: unsalted butter, minced onion, minced fresh thyme, cream cheese, heavy cream, salt, pepper and thinly sliced turnips. The result will be creamy, cheesy and tender, and this recipe gives you all the tips and tricks you’ll need along the way.
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Every holiday dinner needs a side of cranberry sauce! However, not only is traditional cran sauce full of carbs but it’s high in sugar too. This keto-friendly cranberry sauce is nothing like the stuff you get out of a can. This recipe is healthy, sugar-free and super easy too. In fact, it only requires 4 simple ingredients.
The tools you’ll need for this recipe are simply a medium sauce pan and a simple utensil set. To make this recipe, all you’ll need to do is simmer together cranberries, water, sweetener, and orange zest. Then, stir in vanilla extract at the end. When it comes to sweetener, the recipe recommends using confectioner’s-style powdered erythritol. The recipe explains that it “blends well into the sauce, keeps longer without crystallizing, has no aftertaste, and is a natural sweetener.” The recipe also mentions that there are alternative sweetener options depending on your preference which include stevia, coconut sugar, or even maple syrup.
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Following one diet may seem hard enough but add in additional dietary restrictions of another diet and something like a dessert may seem next to impossible. If you’re following the keto diet but also require vegan-friendly foods then we have the perfect dessert option for you!
These delicious macaroons are free of dairy and refined sugars and are low-carb too. To ensure that this dessert is delicious and decadent you’ll need ingredients like a keto-friendly sweetener, and sugar-free chocolate chips.You’ll be shocked at how well these turn out and they’ll be sure to be a hit with vegans, low-carb dieters and otherwise!
Are you tired of a traditional turkey during the holidays? Why not try something new and make a delicious keto-friendly maple-glazed ham this holiday season. Keto dieter, or not, you’ll love this main entrée and your guests will too!
The sweet and savory glaze is made from sugar-free maple syrup, tamari, dijon mustard, and Worcestershire sauce. Smother the glaze over the ham and then roast it in the oven! This recipe is so delicious that you can be sure even non-keto eaters will love it. Even better? You can easily freeze the leftovers and use them in frittatas and breakfast sandwiches for weeks to come.
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Soups are awesome because they’re easy to throw together, are often budget-friendly, and can feed a crowd. Additionally, soup would also make an excellent starter for a holiday dinner.
This recipe transforms the flavor of cabbage rolls into a savory keto-friendly soup! Keep in mind, this soup is cooked in an Instant Pot which helps to cook the soup incredibly quickly. This recipe requires minimal prep and minimal time, but the result will still leave a huge impact on your guests. Another huge bonus with this recipe is that it’s low carb, which is key for those that are practicing the keto diet.
Another popular holiday dessert is pecan pie and once again, traditional recipes are not keto-approved. This recipe puts a fun keto twist on a traditional recipe so that you can indulge guilt-free during the holidays.
You’ll need a few ingredients such as coconut flour and almond flour to help this dessert remain low carb. You’ll also need heavy cream and a keto-friendly sweetener to make that ooey-gooey delicious pie filling. These tarts come together in 40 minutes from start to finish which is quite impressive for a homemade recipe. Your guests will be so impressed that these delicious desserts are sugar-free and keto-friendly!
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Spaghetti squash is an awesome keto-friendly vegetable. Its string-like texture makes it an excellent substitute for pasta, but in this recipe, it’ll be replacing potatoes.
The flavor is similar to a potato au gratin, however, the texture will be quite different. Rest assured, you and your dinner guests will fall in love with the cheesy flavor and creamy texture. It’s perfect as a side dish during the holidays but can also be served year round. The best part about this dish is that it’s super low carb. In fact, one ounce of Spaghetti Squash has just 1.5 carbs, which is much less than potatoes.
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Taco dip is a crowd-pleaser so make a batch of this keto-friendly layered taco dip and serve it as an appetizer. It’s so easy and only requires 5-ingredients. Your holiday guests will be begging for the recipe with this delicious appetizer!
The taco dip is full of flavor thanks to ingredients like a homemade keto taco seasoning, cheese, and salsa. Serve the dip with keto baked cheese crisps or your favorite keto chips or crackers. Not only is this recipe delicious, but it’s also low carb, keto, gluten free, grain free, and sugar free, making it the perfect recipe to cater to a wide variety of diets and lifestyles.
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Pie may be a crowd-pleaser but so are cupcakes! This holiday season, share a platter of these delicious keto-friendly carrot cake cupcakes. They’ll surely be a hit! They’re tender, moist and best of all, super easy and straightforward to make.
This tasty recipe provides instruction to make the low-carb carrot cake as well as a delicious buttercream frosting to top the cake with. These cupcakes are full of flavor thanks to ingredients such as orange zest, cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger. These are sure to be your next go-to paleo and keto carrot dessert, especially because they are just 3g net carbs!
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If you love buffalo chicken wings or dip you are certainly going to love these delicious low-carb buffalo chicken bites! This satisfying keto snack comes together in just 10 minutes and is the perfect low-carb option to munch on or serve to your guests throughout the holidays.
To make these bites you’ll need mini sweet peppers which are the perfect size to host the creamy buffalo chicken. A few of the other ingredients you’ll need include mayo, buffalo wing sauce, shredded cheese and green onions. Serve these buffalo bites as an appetizer or a side dish, your choice!
Believe it or not, you can still enjoy a flaky pie crust and rich chocolate filling while on the keto diet. This chocolate silk pie recipe might not appear diet-approved but we assure you it is. The crust is created with almond flour, granulated stevia, butter, and just a couple of other ingredients.
Bake the crust until it has achieved a beautiful golden color and then fill it with the silky chocolate filling. Another great bonus with this recipe is that it can easily be prepared in advance and refrigerated so you don’t have to think about dessert on the day of your gathering.
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Not only are these cauliflower muffins keto-friendly but they’re gluten-free too! A food processor will help you chop the cauliflower effortlessly and in turn, makes this a simple and easy recipe to prepare. They take only 10 minutes to prep and approximately 23 minutes in the oven.
These muffins are loaded with cheese and delicious seasonings. Who needs store-bought dinner rolls when you can have these cheesy biscuits? They work perfectly as an appetizer, snack, side dish or even a quick meal for when you’re on the go! There’s no doubt that your guests will be asking you for the recipe!
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Ditch the pie crust because you won’t need it for this delicious keto pumpkin pie recipe! The best part about pie is the filling anyway. Cooking this dessert in an Instant Pot (or any pressure cooker) will help to make this dessert quick and easy to prepare.
To provide an authentic pumpkin pie flavor you’ll need pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice. You’ll also need a few additional ingredients such as eggs and heavy cream, but this dessert will come together in no time! Serve with whipped cream for a perfect finish that will be sure to have your guests in awe.
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Stuffed peppers make for a delicious dinner and are an excellent (and sneaky!) way to encourage your family to each more veggies. They would also make an excellent side dish for a holiday dinner and this particular stuffed pepper recipe is perfect for your guests on the keto diet.
Traditional stuffed peppers are filled with rice and an assortment of other ingredients that may not be keto-friendly. Instead of rice, these peppers are stuffed with cauliflower rice, mushrooms, and Italian sausage. Top the peppers with shredded cheese and then bake them in the oven. They have all the same great flavor of traditional stuffed peppers without the heavy carbs.
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Perhaps instead of ham or turkey, you want to try something completely different this year! If that sounds like you, be sure to try this delicious baked salmon for your upcoming holiday gathering.
The salmon is seasoned with fresh dill, olive oil and a dash of salt and pepper. While the salmon is cooking in the oven, prepare the creamy dill sauce. Once prepared, serve a generous scoop of sauce over the salmon to create an unforgettable flavor. It’s light, but still rich and buttery in texture. Pair with a simple salad and a few classic holiday side dishes, and you’re set!
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