Pork, a versatile and delicious protein, is a fantastic choice for those following a ketogenic diet. From succulent chops to flavorful roasts, pork offers a wide range of options to satisfy your cravings while staying within your low-carb goals. This article explores various keto-friendly pork recipes, providing you with inspiration and guidance for creating delicious and satisfying meals.
Why Pork is Ideal for the Keto Diet
Pork is a keto dieter's dream for several reasons:
- Versatility: Pork can be cooked in countless ways - grilled, roasted, pan-fried, slow-cooked, and more.
- Variety of Cuts: From lean tenderloin to fatty bacon, there's a pork cut to suit every taste and nutritional need.
- Flavor: Pork readily absorbs flavors, making it perfect for global cuisines and diverse seasonings.
- Budget-Friendly: Certain cuts of pork, like pork chops and shoulder, are often affordable, making keto accessible.
Keto-Friendly Pork Recipes
This section showcases a variety of keto pork recipes, categorized for easy browsing.
Keto Pork Chop Recipes
Pork chops are a quick and easy meal option, and with the right seasoning, they can be incredibly flavorful.
- Keto Sesame Pork and Green Beans: Thinly sliced pork chops sautéed and coated in a sesame sauce made with sesame oil, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and rice vinegar, and a pinch of red pepper. Add fresh green beans to the skillet and pour the sauce over the beans and pork. These make great leftovers and would work well for meal planning!
- Keto Pork Chops with Dijon Sauce: These pork chops are topped with a simple dijon sauce that adds so much flavor to the tender pork chops. Made with just five ingredients (not counting salt and pepper). Season pork chops with salt and pepper. Cook in a cast iron skillet with oil for about 5 minutes per side or until the pork is cooked through and the chops are a nice golden brown. Add some chicken broth to the hot skillet and start whisking to scrape up any browned bits of pork on the bottom of the pan. Add in your Dijon mustard and heavy cream and then cook, stirring often, until the Dijon sauce has reduced and thickened to your liking. Finish by adding the seared pork chops back to the pan, drizzle with the Dijon sauce, and sprinkle with fresh parsley.
- Creamy Mushroom Pork Chops: Juicy pork chops smothered in a rich, creamy mushroom sauce made with homemade cream of mushroom soup.
- Easy Pork Chops with Cabbage Noodles: Pan-fried pork chops baked in the oven and served with crisp-tender lemon cabbage noodles.
- Keto Creamy Mustard Pork Chops with Green Beans: Pan-roasted pork chops served with crisp tender green beans and creamy mustard lemon sauce.
- Keto Apple Dijon Pork Chops: Tender, juicy pork chops with a tart and spiced apple dijon sauce.
- Keto Garlic Rosemary Pork Chops: Boneless pork chops cooked with bok choy, baby bella mushrooms, chicken stock, coconut aminos, garlic, and pork fat for an Asian-inspired flavor.
- French Onion Smothered Pork Chops: Juicy, cheesy pork chops loaded with rich, sautéed mushrooms and caramelized onions.
- Pork Marsala: Pork chops simmered in a creamy mushroom marsala sauce.
- Smothered Pork Chops: Pan seared and added to a deliciously rich and velvety low carb gravy.
- Keto Pork Chops with Cheese Sauce: Pork Chops with Cheese Sauce. Season pork chops with salt and pepper. Heat a separate pan over medium heat. Once hot, add in the pork chops and fry on each side for 2-3 minutes or until internal temperature is ~150F. Once done, set aside and cover with foil to rest.Pour any of the leftover pan juices from the pork chops into the cheese sauce and set on low heat to bring back up to serving temperature.While pork chops are resting, add butter to the same pan the pork chops were in over medium heat. Once butter is bubbling, add in the green beans. Season with salt and pepper, pan fry for a few minutes, then add garlic and continue cooking until preferred doneness.Plate the pork chop and green beans, then pour over the cheese sauce.
Keto Ground Pork Recipes
Ground pork is incredibly versatile and economical, perfect for a variety of dishes.
Read also: Juicy Keto Meatballs
- Keto Spicy Pork Meatballs: Ground pork meatballs with Italian-inspired flavors from basil and garlic, served with tomato sauce.
- Keto Pizza Meatball Bites: Keto pizza meatball bites recipe as an appetizer.
- Keto Egg Roll Bowls: A deconstructed egg roll in a bowl, featuring ground pork, garlic, onion, carrot, Chinese cabbage, and tamari soy sauce.
- Keto Eggplant Burgers [Chinese Qiezi He]: Ground pork and Japanese eggplant burgers seasoned with green onion, ginger, and sesame oil.
- Keto-friendly Meatballs with Marinara Sauce: Italian-inspired meatballs made with parmesan and garlic in tomato sauce.
- Keto Meatballs and Bok Choy: Meatballs with bacon, sun-dried tomatoes, and cream cheese.
- Keto Pork Burgers: Ground pork burgers seasoned with chili powder, onion powder, and garlic powder, topped with spicy mayo and bacon.
- Weeknight Meaty Keto Bolognese Sauce with Spaghetti Squash: Ground pork bolognese sauce served over spaghetti squash.
Keto Pork Roast Recipes
Pork roasts are ideal for meal prepping and feeding a crowd.
- Keto Orange Roast Pork Loin: Pork loin marinated in orange juice, lemon juice, lime juice, rosemary, and garlic.
- Keto Jamaican Jerk Pork Roast: Pork shoulder coated in Jamaican Jerk spice blend.
- Keto Pork Loin Roast with Herb Seasoning: Boneless pork loin roast with a simple herb rub.
- Herb, Bacon and Mushroom Stuffed Pork Loin: A super impressive and equally delicious entree that’s absolutely perfect for any holiday or special occasion dinner.
- Keto Glazed Ham: A mouth-watering, tender and juicy Keto Glazed Ham is baked until warm and golden brown. It’s super easy to make and is always a show stopping centerpiece on your holiday table.
Keto Pulled Pork Recipes
Pulled pork is perfect for sandwiches, salads, or enjoying on its own.
- Keto Pulled Pork Egg Wraps with Easy Salsa: Pulled pork served in egg wraps with salsa.
- Tasty Keto Pulled Pork Jalapeno Poppers with Spicy Mayo (Dairy-Free): Pulled pork mixed with cashew cheese and jalapenos, topped with spicy mayo.
- Tasty & Smoky Keto Slow Cooker Pulled Pork: Pulled pork made in a slow cooker with tomato paste, smoked paprika, and tamari sauce.
- Keto Carb Pulled Pork: A BBQ favorite made easy in the slow cooker.
- Instant Pot Mexican Pulled Pork: Tender and juicy shredded pork made in the Instant Pot, served Mexican style with Pico de Gallo, fresh avocado, cilantro and a squeeze of fresh lime!
Other Keto Pork Recipes
- Cevapcici (Balkan Cevapi Sausages): Homemade sausage recipe made with a mix of ground beef, pork, and lamb.
- Bacon & Avocado Chaffle Sandwich: A keto-friendly sandwich featuring a chaffle (cheese waffle) with bacon and avocado.
- Keto Bacon Twists 5 Ways: Multiple variations of bacon twists.
- Bell Pepper Sandwich with Bacon, Ham & Cheese: Low-carb bell pepper sandwiches.
- Taco Keto Bacon Liver Skillet: Tender taco chicken livers cooked with bacon, butter, mushrooms and broccoli.
- Easy Keto Bacon Onion Rings: Crispy bacon onion rings served with easy homemade chimichurri mayonnaise.
- Keto Curried Pork Chops with Cauliflower Rice: Pork chops served with cauliflower rice and homemade curry sauce.
- Bacon, Egg & Brussels Sprout Hash: A low-carb breakfast meal.
- Zero-Carb Panko Breadcrumbs: Keto, zero-carb breadcrumbs made from scratch.
- Caesar Salad with Zero-Carb Croutons: A classic Caesar salad made with crispy zero-carb croutons.
- Low-Carb Ranch Chicken Foil Packets: Easy to make with just a few common ingredients.
- Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin: Looks and tastes so decadent, but it it only take minutes to prepare.
- Crock Pot Italian Sausage and Peppers: Simmered in a homemade marinara sauce, it’s truly the perfect classic Italian-American comfort food, with an easy slow cooker twist.
- Egg Roll Soup: Filled with tender cabbage and pork, this Egg Roll Soup has all the traditional flavors of your favorite egg rolls.
- Cheese Stuffed Italian Sausages: Bursting with rich, gooey cheese and nestled in a flavorful herb tomato sauce.
- Air Fryer Stuffed Mushrooms: An easy, elegant and mouth-watering appetizer that’s always a crowd pleaser!
- Keto Sausage Balls: A tasty and healthy spin on traditional sausage balls with a fraction of the carbs!
- Shakshuka with Italian Sausage: Loaded with robust seasoning, zesty tomatoes and a little kick from red pepper flakes.
- Chorizo and Pepper Cauliflower Rice: Made in under 25 minutes, it’s perfect for busy weeknights!
- Cabbage Soup with Sausage: Loaded with smoky kielbasa and healthy flavorful veggies.
- Sausage Rotel Dip: Has a wonderful blend of spicy sausage and fire roasted tomatoes in a cheesy dip, making it the ultimate party appetizer.
- Slow Cooker Kielbasa and Sauerkraut: Combines the wonderful, smoky flavors of kielbasa sausage with tangy sauerkraut for an easy, one-pot meal that’s bursting with incredible flavor.
- Air Fryer Italian Sausage and Peppers: An Italian classic dish made easy, right in the air fryer.
- Crustless Pizza: Enjoy all your favorite pizza flavors and toppings in this Crustless Pizza recipe that’s so quick and easy to make, it’s perfect for busy weeknights!
- Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Chimichurri: Robust flavor, juicy texture, and a fresh, zesty sauce that pulls it all together.
- Easy Grilled Pork Chops: Thick, juicy chops marinated in a flavorful balsamic, rosemary and garlic mixture.
- Pan Fried Pork Chops: Prepared with a crispy gluten-free coating, they’re perfect for anyone on Keto or a low carb diet, but are so delicious the whole family will love them!
Tips for Cooking Keto Pork Recipes
- Choose the Right Cut: Consider your macros and desired cooking method when selecting pork cuts.
- Season Generously: Pork benefits from bold seasonings and marinades.
- Don't Overcook: Use a meat thermometer to ensure pork is cooked to a safe internal temperature without drying out.
- Pair with Keto-Friendly Sides: Opt for non-starchy vegetables, salads, or cauliflower rice to complete your meal.
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