Are Doritos Keto-Friendly? Discover the Truth & Best Keto Chip Alternatives!

For those following a ketogenic diet, the quest for satisfying snacks can sometimes feel like a challenge. The ketogenic diet focuses on retraining your body to use fat for energy instead of carbs. The ideal keto diet consists of healthy fats and proteins while keeping carb intake pretty low. The keto diet aims to put your body in a ketosis state, which is when your body starts breaking down fat to supply the body and the brain with energy. As you know, there are tons of chips at supermarkets. There is something for everyone - Doritos, Ruffles, Seaweed Chips - you name it! The problem is, most regular chips are jam-packed with carbs, making them not keto-friendly. Most chips are made from potatoes or corn, which are both red flags in the world of keto (say goodbye to any thoughts of keto potato chips). This article explores the compatibility of Doritos with a keto lifestyle and provides a range of keto-friendly chip alternatives to satisfy your snack cravings.

Understanding the Keto Diet

In a ketogenic diet, most of your calories should come from fat. The ketogenic diet does more than just help you lose weight, too. Some studies suggest that high fat, low-carb diets can help manage type 2 diabetes and prevent mental decline. That may sound great, but succeeding on keto does take a little bit of planning and effort.

The Keto Dilemma: Why Traditional Chips Are Off-Limits

Most chips are made from potatoes or corn, which are both red flags in the world of keto. Therefore, regular Doritos and similar snacks are typically off-limits due to their high carbohydrate content.

Keto-Friendly Chip Alternatives: Satisfying Your Crunch Cravings

Many low-carb chip alternatives on the market cater to keto eaters. These keto chip alternatives are perfect for dipping or snacking on their own. The best keto chip alternatives are the low-carb and no-carb variety, which are typically made from ingredients like meat, cheese, fish. If you enjoy cooking or want to control every ingredient in your snacks, these keto chips are for you.

Homemade Keto Doritos

Crispy nacho flavored keto Doritos are easy to make and involve minimal ingredients. No need to stare down the chip aisle in a longing sadness because now you can make your favorite nacho tortilla chip! It’s hard to pass up Doritos. Those cheesy tortilla chips are kryptonite. Luckily, I found a way to turn a snack food favorite into a keto version. Keto doritos are the perfect substitute went you want to crunch on something cheese. You only need a few ingredients to make these and they really only take about 10-15 minutes to make.

Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers

Ingredients:

Almond flour
Protein powder (low carb, unflavored)
Xanthan gum
Salt
Avocado oil (for frying)
Cheddar cheese powder
Chili powder
Smoked paprika

Instructions:

In a medium bowl, combine almond flour, protein powder, xanthan gum, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Stir to combine. Start mixing with a fork first, then move to mixing and kneading with your hands.
Place dough in between two sheets of parchment paper. Roll out in all directions using a rolling pin, forming a rectangle shape, until the dough is very thin. The thinner the dough, the crispier the chip.
To easily keep the dough from sticking to the parchment paper, carefully peel away the top parchment paper. Then replace and flip over. Then remove the new parchment paper on top. Now the dough will remove easily when you cut your shapes.
Cut dough into triangle shapes using a pizza cutter or a knife. Let sit for 5-10 minutes while oil heats up.
In a large skillet, add enough avocado oil to cover the chips as they fry. Heat oil to medium heat.
Once hot, add a few triangles to the oil (enough to cover the surface) and fry until golden. You can flip the chips if desired.
Remove the chips with a slotted spatula or spoon and transfer to a paper towel lined plate.
In a small bowl, whisk together cheddar cheese powder, chili powder, smoke paprika and remaining salt.
Add chips to a plastic bag or bowl and add seasoning. Toss to evenly coat tortilla chips.

Tips for Perfect Keto Doritos:

Don’t skip the protein powder!
Roll out the chip dough into a very thin layer.
Let the dough dry for 5-10 minutes for frying in the hot oil.
Fry in hot oil. Your avocado oil should be hot so heat your oil to medium or even medium high heat.

Storage:

Store keto doritos in a ziploc bag or an air tight container. Chips will stay fresh for up to 5-7 days, longer if they are stored correctly.

FAQs:

Can I use a different flour instead of almond flour? While almond flour is key for the keto aspect of these Doritos, you could try coconut flour. Just keep in mind that coconut flour absorbs more moisture, so you may need to adjust the liquid accordingly.
What can I use if I don't have cheddar cheese powder? If you don't have cheddar cheese powder, you can use finely grated fresh cheddar cheese, but it may change the texture slightly. Another option is to use nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor without the carbs.
How should I store leftover keto Doritos? Store any leftover Doritos in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. If they lose their crispiness, you can re-crisp them in the oven at a low temperature for a few minutes.
Can I bake these instead of frying them? Yes, you can bake them! Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and spread the chips on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for about 10-15 minutes, flipping halfway through, or until they are crispy.
Are these keto Doritos gluten-free? Absolutely!

Other Keto Chip Recipes

Cheese Crisps: Crispy, crunchy tortilla chips that taste like homemade Doritos. These chips are so easy to make. No mixing, no dough, no rolling. The chips come out super crispy and cheesy. You can easily customize the flavor by dusting them with your favorite seasonings. The chips are made of just cheddar cheese. When the cheese is baked at low heat, it bubbles and crisps up, and very much reminds me of the texture of a tortilla chip.
- Preheat oven to 250°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Divide each cheese slice into four triangles. First, slice the cheese in half diagonally. Then slice in half again diagonally. See photo in post for reference.
- Arrange cheese triangles on prepared baking sheet, spacing them one inch apart. The cheese will puff up during baking so make sure they are not too close together.
- Place into oven to bake. When the chips are baking, the cheese will puff up and bubble. Bake for about 50 minutes or until edges are firm and slightly browned and tops of the bubbled surface is firm. It’s okay if the flat parts of the triangles (the sections that didn’t bubble) are not yet firm.
- Remove baking tray briefly so that you can flip all of the chips. Place them back into the oven and bake for about 10 minutes or until the chips turn slightly brown and the tops are firm.
- Remove chips from oven and let them cool fully. They will continue to crisp up as they cool.
- When chips are fully cooled, add 1 heaping tbsp of seasoning to a plastic bag. Add about 1/3 of the chips and seal the bag. Shake the bag until chips are covered in seasoning.
Keto Tortilla Chips: Keto tortilla chips are perhaps one of the best low-carb chip alternatives out there. There are so many options, but be mindful of choosing appropriate keto chips. Preheat your oven to 350F. Line a baking sheet with baking paper. Roll out the dough between two sheets of parchment paper. Using a knife or a pizza cutter, cut the rolled-out dough into triangle pieces the size of tortilla chips. Bake for 12-15 minutes until golden.

Store-Bought Keto Chip Alternatives

If you don’t want to put in the effort to make your own low carb dorito chips, there are some companies that are making very similar chips compared to Doritos. Short on time or prefer the convenience of ready-made options? These keto chip alternatives are perfect for satisfying your snack cravings while sticking to your diet.

Pork Rinds: Pork rinds are the perfect low-carb chip alternatives and the supreme snack on keto. They are made from fried, baked, or roasted pig skins and contain large amounts of fat and protein. Most importantly, they contain zero carbs, which make them the superstars of keto chips.
Cinnamon Keto Pork Rinds: When you're in the mood for a sweet and crunchy snack, these keto friendly chips have your back. They only have five ingredients and are super easy to make. Plus, you can break these cinnamon keto pork rinds into small bits and eat them with milk instead to make your own homemade cereal! Sprinkle cinnamon and erythritol over the butter coated pork rinds.
Pepperoni Chips: Any pepperoni or salami can be made into crispy and crunchy keto chips, perfect for dipping. That's it!
Veggie Chips: Some veggies that create the best keto chip alternatives are zucchini, cucumbers, celery, bell peppers, and tomatoes.
KetoLogic's Keto Buffalo Crisps: KetoLogic's Keto Buffalo Crisps are perfect if you are craving a snack that feels a bit more like junk food (and we mean that in the best way). Unlike a lot of other low-carb chip alternatives, Ketogenic Keto Buffalo Crisps are smaller in size, making them very snackable.
Epic Artisanal Oven Baked Pork Rinds: Epic Artisanal Oven Baked Pork Rinds are baked and come in a variety of different flavors.
4505 Meats Pork Rinds: 4505 Meats Pork Rinds are certified keto-friendly chips and avoid using any added hormones or antibiotics. The different sizes and textures available allow for some cool snacking ideas - for example, the brand recommends adding their carb-free chips to a taco for extra crunch.
Wilde Protein Chips: Wilde Protein Chips are made from chicken breast and seasoned with keto-approved ingredients like egg whites, tapioca starch, and sunflower oil.
Quest Nutrition Chips: Quest Nutrition brand also makes several kinds of popular keto chips.
Quest Nutrition Tortilla Style Protein Chips: Quest Nutrition Tortilla Style Protein Chips are low in carbs and high in protein, just like their original Protein Style Chips.
Jerky and Beef Sticks: While technically not keto-friendly chips, jerky and beef sticks are classic keto snacks, but not all jerky is healthy - not by a longshot. Lots of store-bought beef sticks have tons of extra sugars, additives, and nasty fillers. Chomps are made with the best ingredients possible and come in 3 low-carb varieties: Original Beef, Jalapeño Beef, Smoky BBQ Beef, and Salt & Pepper Venison.

Keto Options at Taco Bell

Finding fast food restaurants that offer diet-friendly options can be tricky. Taco Bell’s menu offers choices that are keto-friendly, and you can tweak some of what they offer to better fit your keto diet needs. Eating keto isn’t always easy, especially if you’re busy. It can be tough to find the time to meal plan, shop, and cook for this low carb, high fat diet. That’s why it’s a great idea to be aware of the keto options you can grab on the go at fast food restaurants. Taco Bell is one really popular fast food choice. Although your meal will most likely require some modifications, it’s totally possible to eat keto there.

Keto-Friendly Choices at Taco Bell (with Modifications)

Here are some of our favorite keto-friendly choices at Taco Bell. They all contain 10 grams or fewer of net carbs (total carbs minus fiber) per serving. We’re including items that you can order straight off the menu as well as menu items you can ask to have modified.

Crunchy Taco: Taco Bell’s Crunchy Taco contains seasoned beef, shredded cheese, and lettuce on a crunchy corn tortilla shell. Tortillas are generally too high in carbs for a keto diet, but this one is on the small side. Even with the shell, this item contains (1, 2):Calories: 170Protein: 8 gramsFat: 9 gramsTotal carbs: 13 gramsFiber: 3 gramsNet carbs: 10 grams
Nacho Cheese Doritos Locos Tacos: Like the regular Crunchy Taco, the Doritos Locos Taco contains seasoned beef, lettuce, and cheese. However, the shell is dusted with Nacho Cheese Doritos flavoring. It contains (3): Calories: 170Protein: 8 gramsFat: 9 gramsTotal carbs: 13 gramsFiber: 3 gramsNet carbs: 10 grams
Black Beans: Taco Bell offers a small bowl of seasoned black beans as a side option. Although beans are typically too high in carbs for a keto diet, this small serving can fit into a keto diet in a pinch. This is a valuable tool that you may want to play around with if you’re planning a keto Taco Bell meal (5).
Chicken Power Menu Bowl (no beans or rice): A Power Menu Bowl is probably your best option for a keto-friendly meal at Taco Bell. Although this usually comes with beans and rice, you can remove these items and still get a bowl containing chicken, shredded cheese, guacamole, lettuce, sour cream, tomatoes, and an avocado-ranch sauce. Best of all, it’s only got 4 grams of net carbs. One bowl provides (5):Calories: 240Protein: 21 gramsFat: 14 gramsTotal carbs: 7 gramsFiber: 3 gramsNet carbs: 4 grams
Steak Power Menu Bowl (no beans or rice): You can get the Power Menu Bowl with steak instead of chicken, although it’s a tad higher in net carbs. It contains (5):Calories: 250Protein: 20 gramsFat: 16 gramsTotal carbs: 8 gramsFiber: 2 gramsNet carbs: 6 grams
Beefy 5-Layer Burrito (no tortilla): The Beefy 5-Layer Burrito consists of seasoned ground beef, refried beans, sour cream, cheese, and cheese sauce on a large flour tortilla. However, if you remove the tortilla from the equation it’s a fairly keto-friendly meal. It clocks in right at 10 grams of net carbs. It contains (5): Calories: 200Protein: 10 gramsFat: 11 gramsTotal carbs: 16 gramsFiber: 6 gramsNet carbs: 10 grams
Burrito Supreme (no tortilla): The Burrito Supreme contains seasoned beef, sour cream, onions, lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, red sauce, and beans in a large flour tortilla. Without the tortilla, it contains 10 grams of net carbs - making it an OK choice for keto. It provides (5):Calories: 190Protein: 10 gramsFat: 9 gramsTotal carbs: 17 gramsFiber: 7 gramsNet carbs: 10 grams
Crunchwrap Supreme (no tortilla or shell): The Crunchwrap Supreme is a Taco Bell specialty that contains seasoned beef and cheese sauce, a crunchy taco shell, lettuce, tomato, and sour cream - all wrapped in a large flour tortilla and grilled. To make it keto, you’ll need to remove the shell and the tortilla. With these changes, it contains (5): Calories: 180Protein: 6 gramsFat: 10 gramsTotal carbs: 10 gramsFiber: 2 gramsNet carbs: 8 grams
Chicken Quesadilla (no tortilla): Taco Bell’s Chicken Quesadilla contains grilled chicken, shredded cheese, and a creamy jalapeño sauce in a large grilled tortilla. With no tortilla, it’s one of the most protein-packed keto-friendly items you can get at Taco Bell.It contains (5): Calories: 310Protein: 22 gramsFat: 21 gramsTotal carbs: 5 gramsFiber: 2 gramsNet carbs: 3 grams
Steak Quesadilla (no tortilla): The Steak Quesadilla contains grilled steak, cheese, and a creamy jalapeño sauce. Like the Chicken Quesadilla, it’s a great keto option if you ask for no tortilla. It provides (5): Calories: 320Protein: 21 gramsFat: 22 gramsTotal carbs: 5 gramsFiber: 2 gramsNet carbs: 3 grams
Chicken Chipotle Melt (no tortilla): The Chicken Chipotle Melt is a Value Menu item that contains grilled chicken, cheese, and a creamy chipotle sauce on a flour tortilla. Without the tortilla, it contains only 1 net carb per serving. A Chicken Chipotle Melt with no tortilla provides (5):Calories: 100Protein: 10 gramsFat: 6 gramsTotal carbs: 1 gramFiber: 0 gramsNet carbs: 1 gram
Nachos BellGrande (no chips or beans): Taco Bell’s popular Nachos BellGrande are usually loaded with carbs from tortilla chips and a hefty serving of refried beans. If you order it without the chips or beans, you’ll get seasoned beef with sour cream, tomatoes, and cheese sauce. It provides (5):Calories: 180Protein: 6 gramsFat: 12 gramsTotal carbs: 12 gramsFiber: 2 gramsNet carbs: 10 grams
Cheesy Toasted Breakfast Burrito (no tortilla): If you’re hitting the drive-through for a keto-friendly breakfast, you can still make Taco Bell work. The Cheesy Toasted Breakfast Burrito is loaded with keto-friendly ingredients: bacon, eggs, and cheese sauce. Just ask for no tortilla. It contains (5):Calories: 150Protein: 8 gramsFat: 11 gramsTotal carbs: 3 gramsFiber: 0 gramsNet carbs: 3 grams

Tips for a Keto-Friendly Taco Bell Experience

Here are a few more tips to help you make Taco Bell fit your keto diet:

Nix the tortilla, chips, and beans: These are the highest-carb items in most Taco Bell meals, so avoiding them will effortlessly make most of the Taco Bell menu keto-friendly, with the exception of desserts and sugary drinks (2, 6, 7).
Add guacamole: Taco Bell offers guacamole, which contains fat and fiber from the avocado it’s made with. This is a great addition to your keto Taco Bell order because it adds fat, fiber, and calories without adding lots of net carbs (8).
Add sauces: Taco Bell offers a variety of sauces that are all low in carbs. These include hot sauces, cheese sauce, reduced fat sour cream, and creamy sauces like their Jalapeno Ranch Sauce. They’re a great way to add flavor and extra fat and calories (9, 10).
Ask for extra meat or cheese: To get an extra dose of protein and fat in your meal, ask for extra meat or cheese. Note that Taco Bell meats do contain small amounts of carbs from their seasonings and additives (5, 11).
Get your order over lettuce: Most of these keto-friendly options will be served in bowls, so you can ask for the whole meal to be served over lettuce to add bulk without too many extra carbs. You can also add tomatoes, onions, or jalapeños (5).

Important Considerations

It’s important to note that Taco Bell is probably not the best food to eat regularly. Although you can make lots of Taco Bell menu items keto-friendly, they’re still highly processed - and highly processed foods appear to contribute to excess weight gain, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic health conditions much more than unprocessed foods (12).

Read also: Magnesium Supplements for Keto

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