Planning a BBQ while staying on keto doesn't mean sacrificing flavor or variety. With a few smart swaps and creative recipes, you can enjoy all the fun of grilling season without derailing your low-carb lifestyle. This article provides a comprehensive guide to keto-friendly BBQ side dishes, ensuring your next cookout is both delicious and compliant with your dietary needs.
Understanding Keto and BBQ
Many keto-friendly foods are staples at backyard cookouts and summer BBQs. However, traditional BBQ can be tricky for those following a ketogenic diet. Store-bought BBQ sauces and marinades tend to be high in added sugar. Most traditional BBQ sauce recipes call for sugar, usually in the form of brown sugar, molasses, or honey. Side dish staples, like pasta salad, potato salad, and baked beans, pack too many carbs to be keto-friendly. But, that doesn’t mean you have to fill your plate with meat alone.
Keto-Friendly BBQ Sauce and Marinades
The foundation of any great BBQ is the sauce. The good news is that you can easily make your own keto-friendly BBQ sauce.
Sugar-Free Keto BBQ Sauce Recipes
Here are 3 sugar-free keto BBQ sauce recipes:
- Classic Tomato-Based Red Sauce: A traditional BBQ sauce flavor without the added sugar.
- Mayo-Based White Sauce: A creamy, tangy alternative that's perfect for chicken or pork.
- Mustard-Based Yellow Sauce: A zesty and flavorful option that adds a kick to any dish.
Chimichurri Sauce
Chimichurri sauce is a keto-friendly option to sugary marinades and sauces. Fresh parsley and oregano enhance the Mediterranean flavors.
Read also: Delicious Keto Holiday Recipes
Dry Rubs and Spice Blends
Dry rubs and spice blends are another simple option for adding extra flavor to keto side dishes for BBQ. This recipe includes a homemade Cajun spice blend. Avoiding sugar in your rubs: Dry rubs can transform an ordinary piece of protein into something extraordinary. However, many store-bought rubs contain sugar, which certainly doesn’t align with the keto diet. If you’re making a homemade version, feel free to add spices like salt, pepper, garlic powder, and cumin (for added smokiness).
Keto-Friendly Side Dish Recipes
Every family cookout needs a few refreshing side dishes to stand out against all of the rich and fatty meats you will be eating. These delicious side dishes include remakes of things like traditional potato salad and pasta salads. But, also other options for your whole family.
Cauliflower "Mac" & Cheese
There’s no need to go without a side of mac and cheese with your BBQ ribs. Pasta is replaced with low-carb cauliflower in this next of our recommended keto grilling recipes. Mac and Cheese is another one of the most satisfying comfort foods, and the barbecue is a great place to enjoy it! Traditional mac and cheese recipes may not align with the keto diet, but this gluten-free version most certainly does. This mac and cheese is low in net carbs thanks to shirataki macaroni, but you can also sub cauliflower florets if you prefer. Trying to keep things dairy-free? Just don’t add any cheese. Are you a mac and cheese lover wondering whether to give it all up for diet’s sake? Worry no more because this keto cauliflower dish is your fix.
- Cauliflower "Mac" & Cheese Recipe: The most comforting of side dishes, made low-carb.
Creamed Brussels Sprouts
Of all the ways to make Brussels, this one is definitely in the top five.
- Creamed Brussels Sprouts Recipe:
Keto Tortilla Chips
Mexican night is back on! Turn these into nachos, accompaniments for keto taco casserole, the possibilities go on and on…
Read also: Low-Carb Burger Sides
- Keto Tortilla Chips Recipe:
Mashed Butternut Squash
We might even prefer this to mashed potatoes. Butternut squash is an amazing, often overlooked, ingredient to have in your arsenal for easy keto cooking.
- Mashed Butternut Squash Recipe:
Keto Bacon and Cheese Biscuits
Serve these with keto gravy for the perfect Southern side dish.
- Keto Bacon and Cheese Biscuits Recipe:
Creamed Spinach
The creaminess in this dish will turn anyone into a spinach fan.
- Creamed Spinach Recipe:
Caprese Zoodles
You can't go wrong with caprese anything.
- Caprese Zoodles Recipe:
Garlic Butter Mushrooms
Butter me up. Even if you’re not typically a fan of mushrooms, the sausage stuffed variety is definitely worth trying. You may want to double the recipe though, especially if you’re bringing them to a potluck BBQ.
Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers
- Garlic Butter Mushrooms Recipe:
Bacon Avocado Fries
The main ingredients are bacon and avocado. Bacon is the king of flavor and avocados provide healthy fats.
Low-Carb Cauliflower Stuffing
Feel free to add sausage for even more protein!
- Low-Carb Cauliflower Stuffing Recipe:
Cheesy Baked Asparagus
No. 1 best way to eat asparagus.
- Cheesy Baked Asparagus Recipe:
Carrot Fries
Feed your french fry craving sans carbs with these low-carb carrot fries. Say goodbye to French fries and hello to the goodness supplied by these low-carb wannabe spuds.
- Carrot Fries Recipe:
Cheesy Brussels Sprout Bake
Prepare to be obsessed with this side dish.
- Cheesy Brussels Sprout Bake Recipe:
Classic Greek Salad
Feta fiends, let's go.
- Classic Greek Salad Recipe:
Creamy Mashed Cauliflower
Between the butter, cream cheese, and milk, these are definitely keto-friendly.
- Creamy Mashed Cauliflower Recipe:
Holiday Roasted Vegetables
These veggies are perfect for a holiday meal, but we like making them year round.
- Holiday Roasted Vegetables Recipe:
Chicken Fried Cauliflower
Maybe the most amazing thing we've ever done with cauliflower.
- Chicken Fried Cauliflower Recipe:
Spaghetti Squash Pizza Nests
Pop a few of these on your plate and your dinner will automatically become a 10/10.
- Spaghetti Squash Pizza Nests Recipe:
Keto Burger Bombs
Now this is a side people will remember.
- Keto Burger Bombs Recipe:
Cheesy Baked Green Beans
Even the biggest veggie hater will like these green beans. Green beans are a quick and easy side dish for most grilled and BBQ main dishes. It's ready in about 12 minutes and is loaded with flavor and nutrients.
- Cheesy Baked Green Beans Recipe:
Broccoli Salad
Broccoli, cheddar cheese, bacon, and sunflower seeds are tossed in a creamy and tangy dressing. One cup of broccoli has only 3.5 net carbs, making this salad one of those keto side dishes that you can pile high on your plate guilt free. Unlike the traditional broccoli salad that’s sugar-loaded, this recipe omits the sugar and uses a keto-friendly salad dressing.
Cauliflower Potato Salad
This creamy salad has all the flavors of traditional potato salad, but is made with low-carb cauliflower instead of potatoes. Potato salad is one of those side dishes that you can easily find yourself scooping onto a plate and devouring a heaping amount within minutes. This easy recipe is the perfect side dish for those craving potato salad. By using cauliflower, you can skip the carbs in potatoes. This southern-style potato salad (minus potatoes) is perfect for a cookout. It includes radishes, which have the look and feel of potatoes while you are eating it. Pro tip: Not a fan of radishes?
Caesar Salad
If you like the traditional caesar salad, this keto version may become your favorite. Cheese crisps replace the high-carb croutons to achieve equally-tantalizing keto-friendly results. You just need 6 ingredients and 10 minutes make this. This recipe includes my creamy Caesar dressing.
Tuna Salad
Most classic tuna salads are keto-friendly, but this particular recipe uses more spices for added flavor and has no added sugar.
Antipasto Salad
The best low-carb side dishes for BBQ are loaded with vegetables, and this is what antipasto salad is all about. This easy low carb recipe has a few ingredients like bacon bits! The creamy lemon dressing is an awesome topping.
Collard Greens
Using collard greens with ham hocks as the main ingredients, you can make this staple side dish at home. One of the most traditional barbecue sides around, collard greens can be prepared in a number of different ways.
Cabbage Salad
This dish is a quick fix that goes well with many grilled foods. All you need is a chopped cabbage and about 8 ingredients to add nutrients and flavor.
Balsamic Tomato Basil Salad
Are you looking for a simple garden-fresh salad recipe to complete your barbecue meal? Balsamic tomato basil salad is the real deal. This salad is loaded with freshness, color, and flavor. It includes various low-carb vegetables and balances proteins and fats.
Cucumber Salad
You’ll find cucumbers in many low-carb dishes for BBQ. If you want a creative and healthy way to make a salad, try this recipe. You only need 3 ingredients to make this flavorful summer salad for barbecue. It’s low-carb and works with most BBQ main dishes. This salad can stay fresh in the fridge for several days. I bet it gets more flavorful with time. If you need a hassle-free salad recipe for your keto BBQ or meal preps, this is it. It’s easy to prepare and can stay fresh in the fridge for up to a week.
Jalapeño Poppers
Jalapeño poppers are one of the most classic keto recipes. These poppers are a fantastic complement to your BBQ main dishes.
Keto Hummus
Keto Hummus? That’s right! Even more important than the carbs is that most store-bought hummus brands use harmful oils like soybean, canola and sunflower oils. Elevate this side dish by roasting the veggies before blending the hummus.
Stuffed Peppers
Stuffed peppers are always a treat. Sometimes they make a great entrée, other times they are the perfect side dish.
Keto Grilling Recipes
Bunless Burgers
Here’s one of many keto grilling recipes that’s a fun way to enjoy a cheeseburger, no bun required. Are you tired of bunless burgers and lettuce wraps? Our fathead buns are exactly what you need to enjoy a traditional hamburger, low carb style. Absolutely! Make sure you’re reading your nutrition and ingredient labels. Finally, remember to skip the buns and use lettuce wraps instead.
Pizza with Fathead Dough
Next on our list of keto grilling recipes is this pizza that starts with a homemade dough, known as Fathead dough. Prefer a dough made from cauliflower instead? If you’re looking for a gluten free recipe that’s easy to make and tastes like the real thing, this tried and true keto cornbread is copycat recipe perfection. Plus the combination of coconut flour and almond flour gives our cornbread the perfect consistency.
Ribs with No-Sugar DIY Sauce
These ribs are one of our favorite grilled keto recipes because they’re made with a no-sugar DIY sauce.
Grilled Salad
If you’re in need of keto BBQ sides for grilled chicken or fish, try this grilled salad. Romaine hearts are grilled until lightly charred and topped with parmesan cheese and an easy Caesar salad.
Kabobs
These kabobs are perfect keto side dishes for your next BBQ gathering. These skewers may be 11th on our list of keto cookout ideas. Switch things up by serving this keto-friendly salad on a stick.
Additional Tips for a Keto-Friendly BBQ
- Choose quality protein sources: When selecting protein sources for your backyard BBQ, make sure to pick ones that are of the highest quality. For example, grass-fed beef is superior to grain-fed since it contains a healthier balance of fatty acids.
- Offer sugar-free beverage options: Instead of stocking your coolers with soda, juice and other sugary drinks found at a typical BBQ, make sure you have sugar-free beverage options available.
- Host activities so people are moving around: Food may be the focus of a BBQ, but that doesn’t mean everyone has to sit down and eat the entire time. Try hosting different activities that promote movement and social interaction.
- As keto popularity grows, there are an increasing number of options for keto chips.
- If it’s easy and it’s cheesy, count us in! Not sure how to serve it? Pimento cheese is always great with pork rinds, fresh veggies, or low carb crackers.
- This casserole is a savory dream. You might associate casseroles with the holiday season because they’re one of the ultimate warm and filling comfort foods, but they’ve certainly earned their spot at the cookout.
- This dish is definitive proof of the classic side dishes’ staying power, but you know we had to innovate. And by low carb, we mean very low.
- Whether you serve it as an appetizer or as a side dish to your featured protein, this beanless keto chili will surely go over well with your guests. If you’re worried about your chili being too watery, we’ve got you covered.
- A keto side dish that hits all the marks in terms of flavor, presentation and texture, these deviled eggs not only taste divine, but they’re also incredibly macro-friendly.
- Not all BBQ side dishes require an oven or stovetop to prepare. Show off your knife skills with this chopped salad recipe that’s colorful, crunchy and low in carbohydrates.
- Transport your guests across the world with a prosciutto-wrapped asparagus side dish that’ll take their taste buds on a tour of Italy. Plus, this will become one of your favorite keto recipes since it only takes 20 minutes to make.
- Your idea of grilling season may not include tacos, but you should still give this guacamole recipe a try.
- An approved member of the Bulletproof Diet, turnips are a terrific low-carb alternative to potatoes.
- Want to take your keto salad game to the next level?
- Caught in a bit of a time crunch?
- Don’t have meatballs on hand? Use shredded chicken or another protein source. Have extra veggies in your fridge?
Conclusion
From low-carb versions of comfort food classics to unique Bulletproof-backed recipes, there’s no shortage of keto BBQ sides you can serve at your next cookout. Being on a keto or low-carb diet doesn’t mean you cannot enjoy your favorite barbecue sides. There are lots of options to keep the fun going without taking ketosis out of the equation. The best keto recipes swap out high-carb ingredients for low-carb alternatives without sacrificing flavor or texture. Grandma’s broccoli salad can sit this one out. Instead, opt for something more sophisticated and visually impressive. Give your guests the gift of quality fats by putting a few of these delicious, nutrient-dense side dish options on the picnic table. Did this list get you ready to fire up the grill and put together some tasty sides? Looking for even more low carb, high fat recipes to add to your keto BBQ rotation? What low carb recipes do you like to bring to your barbecues?