For those following a ketogenic diet, cravings for familiar takeout and restaurant meals can be a challenge. Fortunately, a plethora of "keto copycat" recipes exist, allowing you to indulge in your favorite flavors without derailing your low-carb lifestyle. These recipes cleverly recreate popular dishes, substituting high-carb ingredients with keto-friendly alternatives.
The Allure of Keto Copycat Recipes
Keto copycat recipes offer a satisfying solution to common dietary restrictions. They allow individuals to enjoy the taste and experience of their favorite meals while adhering to the principles of a ketogenic diet. This approach can make maintaining a keto lifestyle more sustainable and enjoyable.
Why Choose Keto Copycat Recipes?
- Satisfy Cravings: Address cravings for specific takeout or restaurant dishes without compromising your diet.
- Control Ingredients: By cooking at home, you have complete control over the ingredients, ensuring they align with your dietary needs and preferences.
- Healthier Options: Keto copycat recipes often use healthier ingredients and preparation methods compared to their restaurant counterparts.
- Cost-Effective: Making your own versions of takeout meals can be more affordable than ordering regularly.
Keto Chinese Food Copycat Recipes
Many classic Chinese dishes are high in carbohydrates due to the use of noodles, rice, and sugary sauces. Keto adaptations focus on replacing these elements with low-carb alternatives.
Key Strategies for Keto Chinese Food
- Sweetener Substitutions: Replace white or brown sugar in sauces with keto-friendly sweeteners like monk fruit or Swerve.
- Starch Replacements: Substitute rice and noodles with vegetables like roasted or steamed broccoli, or shirataki noodles.
- Coconut Milk: Embrace coconut milk, a common ingredient in Thai cuisine, as a low-carb dairy alternative.
Examples of Keto Chinese Food Recipes
- Low Carb Kung Pao Chicken: A gluten-free, low-carb, and keto-friendly dish with approximately 4 net carbs per serving.
- Keto Hot and Sour Soup: A simple and delicious soup option.
- Asian Chicken Zoodles: Tender sesame chicken served over zucchini noodles.
- Keto Beef and Broccoli: Thinly sliced steak with broccoli in stir-fry sauce.
- Keto Shrimp and Broccoli Stir-Fry: A quick one-pan recipe with about 6 net carbs per serving, featuring a sesame garlic sauce.
- Sesame Chicken Lettuce Wraps: Approximately 4 net carbs per serving.
- Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts with Asian Dipping Sauce: Brussels sprouts ready in 10 minutes with a 3-ingredient dipping sauce.
- Low Carb Stir Fry with Shirataki Noodles: Made with chicken, asparagus, mushrooms, and shirataki noodles.
- Asian Salmon: A quick and healthy weeknight dinner.
- Keto Asian Steak Rolls: A flavorful dinner option.
- Asian Pork Chops with Sesame Broccoli: Features a zesty marinade with sriracha and chili garlic sauce.
- Sesame Chicken Keto Stir Fry: Thinly sliced chicken and zucchini with Asian sauce.
- Sesame Shrimp Skewers: A keto and gluten-free dish for busy nights.
Bonus: Keto Thai Food
Thai cuisine often incorporates coconut milk, making it adaptable to a keto diet.
- Keto Peanut Sauce: A versatile sauce, similar to Indonesian satay sauce, used in various Thai dishes.
- Thai Chicken Marinade: A sweet and spicy marinade for grilled chicken.
- Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps: Filled with chopped chicken, vegetables, and Thai peanut sauce.
- Thai Curry Chicken Soup: A flavorful soup ready in 25 minutes.
- Thai Peanut Dressing: A sweet and spicy addition to salads.
- Thai Salad with Chicken: A copycat of the Panera salad.
- Thai Basil Chicken: A quick and easy dinner option.
- Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce: An Asian-inspired dish.
Keto Burger Copycat Recipes
Fast food burgers can be easily adapted to fit a ketogenic diet by replacing the bun with lettuce and using keto-friendly sauces.
Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers
Keto Copycat In N' Out Burger (Protein Style)
This recipe replicates the popular "protein style" burger from In N' Out, using lettuce as a bun.
Ingredients:
- Burgers:
- 1 lb Ground Beef (80/20 preferred)
- Salt & Pepper
- 4 slices Yellow American Cheese
- Sauce Ingredients:
- 1/3 cup Mayo (avocado mayo recommended)
- 1 Tbsp Sugar-Free Ketchup or 1 tsp Organic Tomato Paste
- 1 tsp Mustard
- 2 Tbsp Diced Pickles
- 1-2 tsp Pickle Juice
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tsp Paprika
- 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
- Toppings:
- Iceberg Lettuce “buns”
- Sliced tomato
- Pickles
- 1/2 Yellow Onion sliced thin (caramelized onions optional)
- Optional: Smart Buns
Instructions:
- Prepare the sauce: Combine mayo, sugar-free ketchup, mustard, pickles, pickle juice, and spices in a small bowl.
- Prep the hamburger patties: Measure out 2 oz of meat per patty and roll into a meatball. Season with salt and pepper.
- Cook the burgers: Preheat a cast iron or griddle to high heat. Place two meatballs onto the griddle, press down with a spatula (use a potato masher for added pressure). Baste with mustard (optional) before flipping.
- Add cheese: Place a slice of American cheese on one burger patty and stack the second patty over it.
- Assemble the burger: Start with a bottom piece of lettuce, add sliced onion, the double-stacked burger patty, tomato, pickles, and sauce. Cover with the second lettuce bun.
Other Keto Copycat Recipes
The possibilities for keto copycat recipes extend beyond Chinese food and burgers. Here's a glimpse into other categories:
Breakfast Copycat Recipes
- Waffle House Keto Waffles: Gluten-free waffles made without added sugar.
- Instant Pot Eggs Benedict: A quick and easy version of eggs benedict.
- Almond Flour Bread: A bread recipe with a bread-like texture.
- Grain-Free Granola: A low-carb and high-protein granola.
- Keto Green Smoothie: A nutrient-packed smoothie with kale, avocado, and chia seeds.
- Copycat Starbucks Egg Bites:
Bread & Cracker Copycat Recipes
- Chili Cheese Crackers: Low-carb crackers with a spicy flavor.
- Mozzarella Dough Bagels: Bagels with only 2.4 net grams of carbs per bagel.
- Cheesy Garlic Bread: Made with mozzarella dough.
- Sunflower Seed Crackers: Fiber-packed and wheat-free crackers.
Dinners & Takeouts, Low-Carb and Keto Style
- Keto Fried Chicken (Copycat KFC): Crispy chicken drumsticks with juicy meat.
- Meat-Lovers Pizza: A pizza crust recipe that is keto-friendly.
- Creamy Cauliflower Bacon Mac and Cheese: A cheesy dish without the noodles.
- Low-Carb Chicken Nuggets: Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside.
- Instant Pot Burrito Bowls (Copycat Chipotle): A one-bowl meal.
- Keto Chicken Curry with Turmeric Cauliflower Rice: A flavorful chicken curry with cauliflower rice.
- Keto Slow Cooker Pulled Pork: Smoky and slightly sweet pulled pork.
- Fat Head Nachos: Nachos with keto toppings like avocado, sour cream, and green onions.
- Crispy Calamari Rings: Tastes like onion rings.
- Thai Chicken Lettuce Cups: Filled with Thai flavors.
Desserts & Sweet Treats
- Slow Cooker Cheesecake: A cheesecake with an almond flour crust.
- Instant Pot Key Lime Cheesecake: Sweet and tangy.
- Dairy-Free Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Bars:
- Sugar-Free Nutella: Creamy hazelnut and chocolate spread.
Copycat Sauces
- Homemade Sugar-Free Ketchup: Made with tomatoes, mushrooms, spices, and vinegar.
- Sugar-Free Chia Jam: A jam with fiber and no sugars.
Copycat Drinks
- Whipped Dalgona Coffee: With a great texture and flavor.
- Keto Starbucks Recipes Vanilla frappuccino, mocha or the chai frappuccino.
- Low-Carb Pumpkin Spice Latte:
- Sugar-Free Chia Fresca:
Additional Keto Copycat Meal Ideas
- Factor Keto Meals: A meal subscription service offering ready-to-eat ketogenic meals.
- Queso Keto-Style: A classic Mexican appetizer with bubbling cheese and spiced meat sauce.
- Chicken & Bacon Melt: Shredded chicken, spinach, and bacon with smoked gouda, sharp cheddar, and cream cheese.
- Chorizo Chili: A protein-packed meal with ground pork, pork chorizo, and ground beef.
- Grilled Chicken with Broccoli Cheddar Grits: Grilled marinated chicken served over creamy broccoli cheddar grits.
- Indian Keto Dish: Garam masala-spiced chicken with cauliflower “rice”.
- High-Protein Marry Me Chicken:
- Keto Beef Stew
- Cheesy Broccoli Cheddar Spaghetti Squash
- Low-Carb Turkey Gyro Bowls
- Cauliflower Fried Rice
- Cheesy Bacon Ranch Chicken
- Greek Salmon
- Grilled Chicken Salad
- Sheet-Pan Garlicky Shrimp & Veggies
- Grilled Cod With Romesco Sauce
- Spaghetti Squash Carbonara
- Grilled Pork Tenderloin
- Cheeseburger Cabbage Wraps
- Cheesy Garlic Zucchini Steaks
- Zucchini Bun Hot Dogs
- Cacio E Pepe Egg Noodles
- Creamed Spinach Stuffed Salmon
- Mashed Cauliflower
- No-Bun Bruschetta Burgers
Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide
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