Carnivore pancakes offer a delightful way to add variety to a meat-based diet. Whether you strictly adhere to the carnivore diet or follow a "ketovore" approach, these recipes provide a satisfying and nutritious alternative to traditional pancakes. Here's a comprehensive guide to making carnivore pancakes.
Two-Ingredient Cream Cheese Pancakes
These delicate cream cheese pancakes are essentially the easiest crepes you'll ever make, requiring only two ingredients: cream cheese and eggs.
Ingredients
- 4 ounces of cream cheese
- 4 eggs
Instructions
- Soften the cream cheese by letting it sit at room temperature for at least an hour.
- Blend the cream cheese and eggs well in a blender or food processor until smooth.
- Heat a skillet or griddle over medium heat.
- Butter the hot skillet or griddle.
- Pour about 1/8 cup (or two tablespoons) of the mixture onto the hot surface. Remember that it will spread out a lot; these are very thin pancakes.
- Cook for just a couple of minutes on the first side, until golden.
- Carefully flip and cook another minute or so on the other side.
- Plate and top with your choice of toppings.
These pancakes are great on their own or with butter. If you allow some spices, whip up a quick batch of cinnamon butter. Like vanilla, cinnamon is another flavor we usually associate with sweet foods, so it can make these pancakes taste like a dessert without any sweetener. Or, check out my recipe for savory smoked salmon cream cheese crepes! If you struggle with snacking, keep a batch of batter in your fridge and quickly cook up a couple pancakes when you're tempted to reach for something else.
Collagen and Gelatin Carnivore Pancakes
These pancakes are made with eggs, collagen peptides (aka. collagen powder or hydrolyzed collagen) and gelatin powder. Even though, we completely pass on flours and nut flours for this recipe, the pancakes DON’T taste eggy. While they don’t taste like regular high-carb pancakes, both their texture and flavor will remind you of traditional pancakes. The secret really is in the preparation! We will beat the egg whites and yolks separately before adding the collagen and gelatin. This will give our pancakes a soft texture and takes some of that eggy taste away. Both collagen peptides and gelatin are nutritious superfoods that are derived from animals. I use high-quality, grass-feed beef collagen and gelatin. Collagen is a protein that we find in joints, bones, ligaments, and skin. It’s the stuff that makes your skin elastic and plump. And there is evidence that supplementing your diet with collagen improves skin elasticity, joint mobility, and decreases joint pain.
Ingredients
- Eggs
- Collagen peptides (hydrolyzed)
- Gelatin powder
- Salt
- Bacon grease, ghee, or butter for greasing the pan
Instructions
- Separate the eggs. Ensure no yolk finds its way into the egg whites. Use a grease-free bowl to beat your egg whites with salt while slowly adding your gelatin powder. Beat the whites until they are very stiff.
- Use the same attachments to beat your yolks until they are pale yellow and creamy.
- Carefully fold the whites into the yolks, 1/3 at a time, until no white streaks are visible any more.
- Heat a frying pan with a lid on low heat (not the lowest setting, but between low and medium-low). Grease the pan with bacon grease, ghee, or butter.
- Add about one heaping tablespoon of batter into the pan for each pancake. Shape into a small circle (about 2 inches wide), place lid on top, and fry for about 8 minutes until the top looks set and the bottom is golden-brown.
- Flip over, add lid, and cook the other side for another 5 minutes.
- Serve with toppings of your choice, such as Swerve Confectioner and cinnamon powder, honey (if not keto), sugar-free maple syrup (if not carnivore), or melted butter (if not dairy-free).
High-Protein Carnivore Pancakes
These easy protein pancakes have 46 grams of protein per serving which is 6 low carb pancakes on recipe card below! It’s literally just 3 eggs for 6 fluffy protein pancakes but if feels so hearty and filling! No dietary fiber so no net carbs. The best part about these amazing carnivore pancake batter is that you can fry in a frying pan or bake them in the oven for less work.
Read also: The Carnivore Diet: An Autoimmune Solution?
Ingredients
- Eggs
- Gelatin
- Collagen
Instructions
- Place the egg whites into a stand mixer or large bowl and use an electric hand mixer. Using the whisk attachment in the mixer, start on low speed and sprinkle 1 teaspoon of gelatin at a time into the whites. Increase speed to whip egg whites to stiff peaks. Set aside.
- Place the egg yolks into a large bowl and sprinkle in collagen. Stir together until smooth.
- Fold the yolk mixture into the whipped egg whites. Sprinkle in salt.
- Add your favorite fat or oil to a large skillet and heat on medium heat. Using a 1/3 measuring cup, scoop batter into a hot skillet. Make 6 mounds and lower to medium/low heat.
- Flatten tops, then cover and cook for 3-4 minutes. Uncover, if bottoms are golden brown, flip over to the second side and cover again. Continue to cook another 3-5 minutes.
Baking Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease two- 6 capacity- silicone hamburger bun pan. Place the silicone pans onto a large baking sheet pan.
- Using a large ice cream scoop, measuring about 3 ounces or 1/3 cup, drop batter into each. Level tops with a butter knife.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes until lightly golden brown. Gently lift the bottoms to check if nicely browned. Flip silicone pan over to remove.
Pork Rind Pancakes
This recipe utilizes pork rinds to create a unique carnivore pancake.
Ingredients
- Pork rind powder
- Cream cheese
- Eggs
- Erythritol (optional, for "ketovore" version)
Instructions
- Grind unseasoned pork rinds into a powder using a rolling pin or food processor.
- Combine the pork rind powder, cream cheese, and eggs in a food processor. Add erythritol if desired.
- Process until thoroughly combined.
- Let the batter rest for 5-10 minutes while preheating a griddle to between 300F and 325F (150C - 160C).
- Pour the batter onto the griddle to make pancakes that are roughly 4 inches (10cm) in size. The batter should yield 8 pancakes.
- Cook until golden brown on both sides.
Tips for Perfect Carnivore Pancakes
- Consistency: The batter will often seem thin, but it will thicken slightly as it rests.
- Cooking Temperature: Maintain a low to medium-low heat to ensure the pancakes cook evenly without burning.
- Patience: Allow the pancakes to cook thoroughly on each side before flipping.
- Fat is Key: Use a generous amount of butter or tallow to fry each pancake to golden perfection.
Carnivore Pancake FAQs
- Is this recipe complicated? No, these recipes are simple and easy to make.
- Can I make them dairy-free? The two-ingredient cream cheese pancake recipe cannot be made dairy-free.
- How do I prevent the pancakes from sticking? Use a generous amount of fat, such as butter or tallow, and maintain a mellow medium-low heat.
- Are these pancakes zero-carb? Yes, these pancakes are zero-carb.
- Can I make them in advance? For the best taste and texture, cook them fresh and devour immediately.
Variations and Serving Suggestions
Jazz up your carnivore pancakes with these variations and serving suggestions:
- Crispy Chicken Skin Pancakes: Crumble fried chicken skin over your pancakes for a delightful crunch.
- Smoked Salmon Pancakes: Incorporate bits of smoked salmon into the batter for an omega-3 boost.
- Bacon Bits Pancakes: Mix cooked, crumbled bacon into your batter for a smoky, meaty flavor.
- Herbed Butter Pancakes: Infuse your butter or tallow with herbs like rosemary or thyme for an aromatic twist.
- Cheese-Stuffed Pancakes: Stuff small chunks of your favorite hard cheese inside the pancake batter before cooking.
For those who are not strictly carnivore, consider these options:
- Sweetened Keto Vanilla Pancakes: Add a keto-friendly sweetener such as erythritol, allulose, stevia, or monk fruit sweetener and a pinch of vanilla powder to the original batter for a sweet twist on your pancakes.
- Almond Flour Pancakes: Incorporate 1/4 cup (60 ml) almond flour into the batter to give the pancakes a more traditional texture while still keeping them keto-friendly.
- Coconut Cream Pancakes: Mix in a tablespoon of thick coconut cream into your batter for a tropical flavor. Feel free to add 1 teaspoon all-natural coconut extract, too.
- Savory Herb Pancakes: Add some dried herbs like oregano, basil, or thyme to the batter for a savory pancake option.
- Chocolate Chip Pancakes: Stir sugar-free chocolate chips into the batter for a sweet and indulgent treat that’s still low in carbs.
- Sour Cream and Onion Keto Pancakes: Stir in a generous dollop of sour cream, a teaspoon of onion powder, and a pinch of unrefined sea salt into your pancake batter for a savory, tangy twist that’s sure to tantalize your taste buds. Serve these flavorful pancakes with a side of crispy, crumbled bacon or a few slices of smoked salmon for an extra boost of keto-friendly decadence. Top with a sprinkle of chives or green onions for a gourmet touch that brings out the sour cream and onion theme.
Read also: The Carnivore Diet's Impact on Sleep
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