18 Cheap Keto Meals For Easy Dinners (2024)

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Published by Izzy

on Oct 25, 2023, Updated Nov 21, 2023

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When following a keto diet,you may find it challenging to make easy and delicious dinners on a budget every night. We’ve rounded up our favorite Cheap Keto Meals and recipes. Most of them are ready in under 30 minutes.

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Tips For Doing Keto On A Budget

  • Buy in Bulk: Plan meals ahead of time so that you can buy your food in bulk. It’s much cheaper than buying small portions. You can make freezer-friendly low carb meals and store them in the freezer for future use. This will help you to reduce food waste, not to mention impulsive takeout orders!
  • Use Frozen Vegetables: Frozen veggies and fruits are much cheaper than fresh ones. You can buy them in bulk and store them in the freezer.
  • Buy Cheaper Proteins: Lean ground meats are more affordable protein sources. Canned tuna and salmon are more budget-friendly too.
  • Turn Leftovers into Another Meal: Don’t waste leftovers. You can transform them into another meal or freeze them for future use. Check out our leftover chicken recipes and leftover steak recipes to get inspired.

Best Cheap Keto Ingredients

  • Eggs: An affordable source of protein and healthy fats that are low in carbs.
  • Canned Foods: They are much cheaper than fresh ones. You can buy canned tuna, salmon, beans, corn, and so much more. They have longer shelf time too!
  • Cauliflower: This vegetable is a great low-carb and keto-friendly substitute in recipes.
  • Ground Meat: Ground beef or turkey are affordable proteins.
  • Cabbage: Cabbage is a low-carb vegetable that’s inexpensive and widely available.
  • Cream Cheese: A high-fat ingredient for keto desserts and recipes.
  • Spices: They are keto-friendly ways to add flavors without much cost.

Best Cheap Keto Meals

Keto Lasagna

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Have you tried keto lasagna? This recipe is cheesy and flavorful, replacing traditional pasta with a vegetable alternative with no compromise on flavor. This quick and easy dinner goes easy on the wallet too.

Keto Stuffed Peppers Without Rice

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These stuffed bell peppers skip the rice, using a cheesy cauliflower filling instead! They’re keto-friendly and oh-so flavorful. Plus, they’re great on a budget.

Broccoli Salad With Bacon

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Ready for a new salad idea? This one has broccoli florets with dried cranberries, sharp cheddar cheese, sunflower seeds and smokey bacon, all tossed in a creamy dressing. One of my favorite cheap keto meals!

Shrimp Soup

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This hearty and satisfying shrimp soup has shrimp simmered with plenty of garlic, jalapenos, herbs and a splash of lime. It’s keto comfort food at its best!

Baked Chicken Breasts

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Learn the secret to making the perfect baked chicken breasts! This also happens to be an inexpensive keto dinner idea. The chicken breasts are juicy and flavorful out of the oven with minimal effort.

Easy Microwave Cauliflower Fried Rice

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Cauliflower rice is an ideal addition to a keto diet. Now you can make it from scratch easily using the microwave thanks to this easy recipe. It comes out fluffy and full of flavor!

Slow Cooker Shredded Beef

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I love making this incredibly tender shredded beef using the slow cooker. Simply put an inexpensive cut of beef like round into the crock pot and come home to a delicious, keto-friendly meal!

Homemade Sausage Patties

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Skip the frozen sausage patties and make your own for a low-carb breakfast or brunch. This recipe gives you perfectly seasoned, mouthwatering patties in just 20 minutes!

Instant Pot Chicken Fajitas

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Now you can make chicken fajitas in the Instant Pot! Simply add chicken breasts, bell peppers, onions and fajita seasoning with no marinating required. Voila – an inexpensive keto dinner!

Sous Vide Shredded Chicken

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Learn how to make shredded chicken using sous vide for an affordable keto meal. You can use chicken breasts or thighs with mouthwateringly tender results. Perfect for tacos, enchiladas, salads and more!

Chipotle Fajita Veggies

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Do you love the Fajita Veggies at Chipotle? Now you can make them at home with just 5 ingredients. Everyone will love this flavorful and colorful dish. Plus, you can skip the takeout!

Yellowtail Sashimi

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Learn how to cut yellowtail to make your own sashimi! It’s so much cheaper than Japanese restaurants, and an easy keto meal to make at home.

French Steak Tartare

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This steak tartare is just like the one in a French bistro! This minced beef tartare is a fancy meal that is steak connoisseur-approved. Plus, it’s keto-friendly and easy to customize to suit.

Sous Vide Whole Chicken

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A whole chicken is a great way to feed a crowd on a keto diet. Instead of boiling or roasting it, why not try sous vide? The meat comes out so tender and flavorful with minimal effort. It’s basically a failproof method!

Sous Vide Zucchini With Parmesan

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This could be the best zucchini ever, thanks to sous vide. And it also happens to be an inexpensive dish you can pair with cauliflower rice or other sides to make a keto meal.

Texas Roadhouse Chili

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Satisfy those Texas Roadhouse cravings with this chili recipe. Known for this spicy, smoky flavor, this copycat Texas red chili recipe has pork and beef for hearty comfort food.

Keto Sauces

Low-Carb Spaghetti Sauce

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This spaghetti sauce is low in carbs but big in flavor. I love to make it in large batches to freeze, so I can pull together a quick keto meal on the go.

Low-Carb Alfredo Sauce

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Calling all fettuccine alfredo lovers! Now you can make this dish on a keto diet. The sauce is rich and creamy with butter, parmesan cheese, heavy cream and seasonings.

Other Popular Keto Dinner Ideas

  • Keto Fried Chicken
  • Keto Meatballs
  • Butter Chicken
  • Keto Beef Stew

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Low Carb Keto Chicken Casserole Recipe

By: Izzy

The Keto diet is a high-fat, low-carb diet designed to induce a state of ketosis in the body, which can lead to rapid fat burning and numerous health benefits. However, achieving and maintaining ketosis requires careful attention to carbohydrate intake. In this post, we’ll delve into the intricacies of the keto diet and explore the optimal carb intake for staying in ketosis.

Prep: 10 minutes mins

Cook: 30 minutes mins

Total: 40 minutes mins

Servings: 8

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Ingredients

  • 1 medium onion diced
  • 1 green bell pepper diced
  • 3 cups cooked chicken shredded or cubed
  • 10.5 ounces canned condensed cream of chicken soup
  • 10.5 ounces canned condensed cream of mushroom soup
  • 10 ounces canned diced tomatoes with green chilies
  • 14 corn tortillas , 6-inch size, halved
  • 2 cups cheddar cheese , shredded

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375°F. Spray a 13 x 9-inch baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.

  • Over medium-high heat, sauté the onion and bell pepper in a large skillet for about 5 minutes, or until tender. Set aside.

  • In a large bowl, combine the chicken, condensed cream soups, tomatoes, and the sautéed bell pepper and onion mixture.

  • In an even layer on the bottom of the prepared baking dish, arrange half of the tortillas. It’s okay if the tortillas slightly overlap.

  • Spread half of the chicken mixture in a layer over the tortillas. Sprinkle with half of the cheese.

  • Repeat this process until all the ingredients are included, finishing with the remaining cheese on top.

  • Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes until bubbly and heated through.

  • Serve with sour cream and diced avocado.

Nutrition information provided is an estimate only and will vary based on ingredient brands and cooking methods used.

Like this recipe? Rate and comment below!

About Izzy

I'm Izzy, a food lover and photographer. Here you’ll find a collection of simple recipes that are perfect for busy people. My blog aims to help you make and enjoy delicious and healthy food at home.

Read More About Me

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18 Cheap Keto Meals For Easy Dinners (2024)

FAQs

What is the cheapest food to eat on keto? ›

Some good cheap keto foods include eggs, canned tuna or salmon, chicken thighs, ground beef, cauliflower, spinach, broccoli, zucchini, cheese, and nuts.

What foods can I eat unlimited on keto? ›

Foods you can eat on the keto diet include fish and seafood, meat and poultry, non-starchy vegetables like bell peppers, broccoli, and zucchini, avocados, berries, nuts and seeds, eggs, high-fat dairy products, olive oil and other oils, and high-cocoa chocolate.

What is a lazy keto meal? ›

A lazy keto diet consists of low-carb foods like meat, fish, full-fat dairy and non-starchy vegetables, but limits high-carb foods such as bread, potatoes, sugary snacks and some fruits. If you've tried the keto before and found it too tedious, lazy keto could be a good compromise.

What is the best dinner for a keto diet? ›

19 keto dinner recipes
  • Peanut butter chicken curry. A star rating of 4.8 out of 5. ...
  • Goan mussels. A star rating of 5 out of 5. ...
  • Keto pizza. A star rating of 5 out of 5. ...
  • Roasted cauliflower steaks. ...
  • Soy & butter salmon parcels. ...
  • Thai broccoli rice. ...
  • Peanut butter chicken. ...
  • Tarragon, mushroom & sausage frittata.

How to eat keto when poor? ›

Tips for following a keto diet on a budget
  1. Buy in bulk. Purchasing foods in bulk can help you cut down on expenses. ...
  2. Look for sales and stock up. ...
  3. Buy vegetables that are in season. ...
  4. Go for frozen over fresh. ...
  5. Start a meal plan and prep routine. ...
  6. Opt for cheaper proteins. ...
  7. Skip the packaged keto-friendly foods.
Apr 2, 2020

How to do keto when you're broke? ›

9 tips for following the keto diet without going broke
  1. Shop locally. Check out your local farmers' markets. ...
  2. Buy in bulk. ...
  3. Stock up on eggs. ...
  4. Buy whole chickens instead of just chicken breasts. ...
  5. Meal prep in advance. ...
  6. Buy in-season vegetables. ...
  7. Buy vegetables in bulk and freeze them. ...
  8. Eat all parts of an animal.
Jun 26, 2018

What food has no carbs at all? ›

Food and drinks allowed on a no-carb diet include meat, fish, eggs, cheese, butter, oils, water, and plain coffee or tea. If you're less stringent, you can also eat nuts, seeds, non-starchy vegetables, and high fat fruits like avocado and coconut since these foods are low in net carbs.

What junk food is keto-friendly? ›

Here are 9 fast-food options that you can enjoy on a ketogenic diet.
  • Bunless Burgers. Share on Pinterest. ...
  • Low-Carb Burrito Bowls. ...
  • Egg-Based Breakfasts. ...
  • Bunless Chicken Sandwich. ...
  • Low-Carb Salads. ...
  • Keto-Friendly Beverages. ...
  • Lettuce-Wrapped Burgers. ...
  • “Unwiches”
May 29, 2018

What keto foods fill you up? ›

13 of the best keto foods that keep you full
  • Mushrooms are a very filling vegetable. ...
  • Sauerkraut is rich in filling fiber. ...
  • Coconut yogurt can promote satiation. ...
  • Green pesto has an amazing fiber content. ...
  • Sardines are incredibly healthy. ...
  • Add eggs to your diet . ...
  • Make sure you are consuming full-fat dairy.
Oct 9, 2018

What is dirty keto? ›

In essence, dirty keto is a variation of the keto diet (a high fat, moderate protein, low carb diet) that allows you to consume whatever you want as long as it meets your macro goals. While it still reduces carb intake, it does not pay attention to the nutritional value of the fats and protein consumed.

How to eat less than 20 carbs a day? ›

To stay under 20 grams of carbs a day, fill yourself up with lots of vegetables, proteins, and healthy fats.

Can I eat as much as I want on keto? ›

While it's true that the keto diet involves eating lots of protein and fat with very limited carbohydrates, it doesn't mean you can eat in infinite quantities. Like any diet, its success depends on you achieving a calorie deficit.

What are the top 5 keto foods? ›

These are the top 10 keto foods you should include if you're on...
  1. Salmon. Whether wild or farm-raised, salmon is rich in fat, making it an essential ketogenic diet staple. ...
  2. Eggs. This affordable protein and fat source is highly versatile. ...
  3. Cauliflower. ...
  4. Greens. ...
  5. Avocado. ...
  6. Nuts. ...
  7. Olive oil. ...
  8. Zucchini.

What can you eat all day on keto? ›

Here is a list of all the low-carb foods that are appropriate to eat when you're following keto.
  • Fish and seafood.
  • Low-carb veggies.
  • Cheese.
  • Avocados.
  • Poultry.
  • Eggs.
  • Nuts, seeds and healthful oils.
  • Plain Greek yogurt and cottage cheese.
Aug 15, 2023

What foods to stop on keto? ›

- Grains: Rice, wheat, oats, barley, rye, quinoa, buckwheat, etc. - Starchy Vegetables: Potatoes, peas, sweet potatoes, yams, corn, cassava, artichoke, etc. - Refined Carbs: Bread, pasta, pastries, tortilla, sandwich, etc. Due to the high-carb content of these food items, they are not keto-friendly.

What foods have zero carbs for keto? ›

Food and drinks allowed on a no-carb diet include meat, fish, eggs, cheese, butter, oils, water, and plain coffee or tea. If you're less stringent, you can also eat nuts, seeds, non-starchy vegetables, and high fat fruits like avocado and coconut since these foods are low in net carbs.

What are the best foods for coming off keto? ›

Monica Chan, supervising dietitian with Riverside University Health System in California, recommends transitioning off a keto diet by “slowly decreasing your fat intake, especially saturated fat, while increasing lean proteins, vegetables and wholesome carbohydrates like fresh fruits, whole grains and beans.”

Can I eat as much as I want in keto? ›

While it's true that the keto diet involves eating lots of protein and fat with very limited carbohydrates, it doesn't mean you can eat in infinite quantities. Like any diet, its success depends on you achieving a calorie deficit.

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