Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer, a time for barbecues, gatherings with loved ones, and honoring those who have served. For those following a ketogenic lifestyle, navigating the abundance of carb-heavy foods and sugary drinks can be challenging. But fear not! This article provides a comprehensive collection of keto-friendly Memorial Day recipes, ensuring you can enjoy the festivities while staying true to your health goals.
Appetizers and Dips
Start your Memorial Day celebration with a selection of flavorful and satisfying low-carb appetizers and dips.
- Bacon Cheddar Dip: This creamy, cheesy dip is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. In just five minutes, you can whip up this flavorful dip loaded with crispy bacon and ranch seasoning. It's a staple at many Memorial Day gatherings. Serve with celery, raw peppers, or cucumbers for dipping.
- Cucumber Appetizers: These elegant yet simple appetizers come together in just 10 minutes. The combination of cold cucumber, smoked salmon, and tangy cream cheese is light, fresh, and impressive.
- Caprese Skewers: These skewers are a Memorial Day favorite for their simplicity and deliciousness. Cherry tomatoes, mozzarella pearls, and fresh basil are layered on skewers and drizzled with balsamic glaze for a light, low-carb treat.
- Avocado Deviled Eggs: This is a fresh, keto-friendly twist on a classic appetizer. Avocado and lemon add a creamy, tangy bite, making them irresistible and easy to eat.
- Cheesy Pickle Chips: This unexpected snack is surprisingly addictive. With just two ingredients and a quick bake in the oven, these pickle chips are crisp, tangy, and sure to be a conversation starter.
- Sugar Free Sweet & Spicy Bacon Wrapped Chicken Bites: A low carb, keto, easy, finger food healthy appetizer for any BBQ party! One serving has 0 net carbs!
- Cheesy Low Carb Keto Sweet Pepper Poppers: are a perfect finger food dish for a party or football game watching!
Salads
Salads are a refreshing and healthy addition to any Memorial Day spread, offering a variety of flavors and textures.
- Loaded Coleslaw: For a lighter, lower-sugar alternative to traditional coleslaw, try this loaded coleslaw recipe.
- Broccoli Salad: This creamy broccoli salad is perfect for summer barbecues. Made with a homemade dressing, sunflower seeds, and fresh vegetables, it's both nutritious and flavorful.
- Fresh Berry Grilled Chicken Salad: This colorful salad combines grilled chicken with fresh berries for a sweet and savory delight.
- Chicken Cobb Pasta Salad: A twist on the classic Cobb salad, this version includes chicken, eggs, cucumbers, and tomatoes.
- Creamy Avocado Spinach Pasta Salad: This pasta salad features avocado and berries for a unique and flavorful combination.
- Delicious Caprese Pasta Salad: Made with fresh mozzarella and tomatoes, this Caprese pasta salad is a simple yet elegant choice.
- Keto Avocado Egg Salad: Ready in minutes, this protein-packed salad is perfect for a quick and easy meal.
- Crunchy Asian Salad: This cabbage-based salad is both crunchy and sweet, making it a refreshing option for warm weather.
- Strawberry Spinach Salad: This sweet and healthy salad combines spinach with fresh strawberries.
- Avocado Chicken Salad: This salad offers a healthy alternative to bread, making it a great low-carb option.
- Kale Salad: A healthy take on the classic Caesar salad, this kale salad is perfect for warm weather.
- Shrimp Salad with Avocado and Spinach: This crispy salad features shrimp and avocado for a flavorful and satisfying dish.
- Tuna Salad: Easy to prepare, this tuna salad is filled with celery and red onions.
- Chicken Salad: This chicken salad can be served in lettuce cups or on low-carb bread.
- Chicken Cobb Salad: Loaded with protein and fresh vegetables, this salad is a healthy and traditional choice.
- Keto Salmon Salad: This salad features fresh tomatoes and avocados for an extra boost of protein.
- Low Carb avocado cucumber tomato salad: This salad is so easy to make and perfect for warm summer days! It’s gluten free, grain free, creamy and delicious!
- Dill Pickle Coleslaw: If you love pickles, then this easy to make dill pickleinfused coleslaw recipe is the perfect side dish packed with crispy crunchy cabbage, pickled veggies, and lots of fresh dill.
Main Meal Options
These healthy main protein options are perfect for grilling or oven-baking, offering a variety of flavors and cuisines.
- Grilled Steak: A tender steak with a flavorful dry rub is a classic choice for Memorial Day.
- Low-Carb Wraps: These wraps can be filled with various healthy proteins and are perfect for outdoor meals.
- Grilled Salmon: Juicy and delicious, grilled salmon is a go-to option for a healthy and flavorful meal.
- Barbecue Chicken Foil Packets: These foil packets are coated in a delicious barbecue sauce and are perfect for easy grilling.
- Chicken Fajita Foil Packets: Ready in minutes, these foil packets can be cooked on the grill or in the oven.
- Fajita Lettuce Wraps with Chicken: These lettuce wraps are a great low-carb option, packed with flavor and healthy ingredients.
- Grilled Chicken Fajitas: These chicken fajitas made on the grill are perfect for Memorial Day!
- Grilled Chicken: Tender and juicy, grilled chicken is a family favorite for any backyard meal.
- Teriyaki Salmon Foil Packets: Coated in a delicious teriyaki glaze, these salmon foil packets are tender and flavorful.
- Sheet Pan Steak Fajitas: This easy sheet pan recipe is perfect for enjoying afternoons or evenings in the backyard.
- Burger in a Bowl: Enjoy a burger without the bun with this easy and customizable recipe.
- Shrimp Fajita Foil Packets: These foil packets are delicious and can be enjoyed with or without tortillas.
- Lemon Garlic Shrimp Skewers: These skewers are loaded with garlic and lemon for a flavorful and easy-to-grill option.
- Canned Salmon Burgers: These burgers are a quick, healthy, and low-carb option that feels special enough for a holiday. Serve them on low-carb flatbread or lettuce wraps with lemon mayo.
- Smoked Hot and Fast Baby Back Ribs: A quick and tasty approach to keto friendly ribs on the grill, this recipe will walk you through the process of using the "hot n' fast" technique on your smoker and making some killer ribs.
- How To Smoke A Chuck Roast: Learn everything you need to know about how to smoke a beef chuck roast on your charcoal or pellet smoker with this easy, step by step tutorial.
- Copycat In N' Out Burger: Get your favorite smash burger fix at home with this keto double double "protein" style copycat burger recipe that tastes just like In N' Out!
- Homemade Quarter Pounder (Royale With Cheese): If you love a good trip to Mickey D's, now you can make your own keto copycat McDonalds quarter pounder burger at home. The perfect combo of seasoned ground beef, seared and smothered with two layers of cheese, all the fixings, and even keto friendly bun options!
- Classic Chicago Hot Dog Recipe: Following a ketogenic diet but want to splurge on a Chicago style dog? Believe it or not, you can! Grab the full guide to making this classic hot dog vendors across the city are known for with a low cab keto twist!
- Low Carb Loaded Kansas City Hot Dogs: Basic hot dogs stand aside with this fully loaded, low carb version of a Kansas City inspired style hot dog! All beef hot dog, filled with pulled pork, keto coleslaw and a keto KC style BBQ sauce too!
- Bacon Cheeseburger Kebabs: Cheeseburger on a stick anyone? These kebabs are the perfect deconstructed burger appetizer that are perfect for a healthier, keto friendly way to have your burger and eat it too!
- Homemade Sauerkraut: Memorial Day wouldn’t be complete without a jar of homemade sauerkraut on the table. It’s tangy, crunchy, and full of gut-friendly probiotics, made with nothing but cabbage and salt. We pile it onto burgers, eat it with sausages, or just fork it straight from the bowl.
- Beefy Burgers: These beefy burgers are a great way to sneak in zucchini without the family realizing it.
- Chicken Burgers: When you’re just wanting to enjoy a burger but want a little change to your traditional burger game, these chicken burgers will fit the bill.
Appetizers, Snacks, and Side Dishes
These simple recipes are perfect for warmer weather and make amazing additions to any Memorial Day barbecue.
Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers
- Salsa Ranchera: This salsa is much more than a basic salsa; it's low-carb and adds punch to the whole meal. Roasting the veggies gives them that smoky, bold flavor that your family can’t get enough of.
- Parmesan Chicken Wings: These wings are easy, crispy, and full of flavor without any breading. Toss them in a cheesy herb crust, bake them until golden, and serve with ranch on the side.
- Stuffed Mushrooms: These mushrooms have become a permanent fixture at Memorial Day get-togethers. The filling is rich and creamy with cream cheese, cheddar, bell pepper, and herbs, all packed into tender mushrooms and baked until perfectly golden.
- Cabbage Fritters: These fritters are light, crispy, and full of curry spice. Topped with a garam masala yogurt sauce, they feel like something you’d get from a street vendor.
- Crispy Sweet Potato Fries: Sweet and crispy, this recipe is perfect as a side dish or appetizer.
- Vegan Cauliflower Wings: These flavorful cauliflower wings are perfect for any holiday.
- Healthy Veggie Platter: This platter is loaded with fresh vegetables, making it a great addition to any backyard activity.
- Green Beans: These sauteed green beans are easy to make and a healthy addition to any meal.
- Paleo Cauliflower Gratin: This gratin is perfect for any occasion, enjoyed by itself or paired with other dishes.
- Air Fried Brussels Sprouts: These brussels sprouts are healthy and made in no time in the air fryer.
- Quick & Easy Pickled Onions: These tangy pickled onions are perfect for any occasion.
- Low Carb Cauliflower Casserole: This family-favorite casserole is kid-friendly and delicious.
- Homemade Guacamole Recipe: This guacamole comes together within minutes and is perfect for backyard fun.
- Crispy Zucchini Fries: These healthy zucchini fries are a great addition to any meal.
- Whole30 Roasted Broccoli: This roasted broccoli is full of flavor and perfect with any main protein.
- Cheesy Bacon Hasselback Zucchini: made on the grill, in the oven or air fryer, either way it’s a crowd pleasing easy recipe! Keto, Low Carb, Gluten Free, Crowd Pleaser healthy side dish!
Dessert Recipes
End your Memorial Day feast with these low-maintenance and delicious keto-friendly desserts.
- Mini Strawberry Shortcake: These shortcakes might look fancy, but they’re easy to make. Light muffins are filled with whipped cream and topped with fresh strawberries for a summery dessert.
- Red, White, and Blue Cheesecake-in-a-Cup: This dessert is perfect for Memorial Day with its patriotic theme.
- Blueberry Scones: These scones are a quick and reliable way to kick off Memorial Day morning, tasting like they came from a bakery.
- Easy Keto Smores Bars: They are easy to make, take a handful of keto friendly ingredients and are low on carbs, making a perfect sugar free smore recipe the whole family will love.
- Easy Keto Strawberry Cheesecake Bars: These easy keto strawberry cheesecake bars are the perfect gluten free, refined sugar free, low carb friendly dessert recipe that's perfect for any occasion anytime!
- Easy Almond Flour Keto Blonde Brownies: If you have been looking for the perfect sugar free, gluten free, and keto friendly blonde brownie, then look no further!
- Keto Sugar Cookie Fruit Pizza: Sugar cookie lovers unite! Check out this super easy, keto and low carb friendly fruit pizza recipe that’s a total crowd pleaser.
- Gluten Free Funfetti Sugar Cookie Bars: A super easy, gluten free and low carb friendly funfetti inspired cookie! They’re a soft and chewy cake batter inspired cookie bar, topped with whipped cream, and are so good that you can easily pass them off as a traditional cookie!
- Keto Skillet Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies: Learn how to make my favorite keto cookie recipe that's loaded with natural peanut butter and dark chocolate chips. It's low carb, sugar free, and gluten free too!
- Mixed Berry Cheesecake: This low-carb cheesecake is deliciously sweet.
- Easy Lemon Cake: Fluffy and irresistible, this lemon cake is bright and flavorful.
- Fresh Strawberry Parfaits: These parfaits are filled with fresh strawberries and cheesecake layers.
- Easy Strawberry Cheesecake: This cheesecake is loaded with fresh strawberries and requires no baking.
- Red, White, & Blue Fruit Pizza: Festive and full of colors, this fruit pizza features fresh flavors from the fruit.
- Low Carb Fruit Pizza: This pizza is Keto, Gluten Free and Nut Free, Almond flour free!
- Keto Sugar Free Coconut Lime Bars: have a buttery coconut flour crust, and a delicious, tart coconut lime filling.
- Easy Air Fryer recipe for Sugar Free Lemon Slice and Bake Cookies: is perfect for when you just want a small batch of cookies. It’s made a gluten-free diet, and nut free without almond flour.
- Pina Colada Cottage Cheese Fluff: With just 7 simple ingredients, this easy keto Pina Colada Cottage Cheese Fluff is full of tropical flavors.
- Angel Food Cake: This deliciously fluffy, light and airy keto angel food cake is sugar free, keto, nut free, grain free, and gluten free!
Refreshing Beverages
Quench your thirst with these sugar-free, low-carb, and keto-friendly beverages.
- Homemade Keto Electrolyte Drink: This drink is a fantastic way to get in vitamins and minerals with simple ingredients. You can control the sweetness using your favorite sugar-free sweetener.
- Copycat Chick-Fil-A Frozen Lemonade: This lemonade has just 2 grams of carbs per serving.
- Red, White, & Blue-tiful: A Tequila Cocktail: If you’re looking for the perfect low carb fourth of July cocktail recipe or the perfect red, white, and blue cocktail to celebrate your Patriotism, look no further! This tequila, lime, and blue curacao based drink is fun, festive, and refreshing!
- Strawberry Lemonade Whiskey Smash: A keto friendly whiskey cocktail that's a riff on a classic whiskey smash. This has all the delicious flavors you over about a strawberry lemonade combined with your favorite bourbon and served over crushed ice.
Keto Adaptations of Classic Dishes
Enjoy keto-friendly versions of your favorite comfort foods.
- Cheesy Bacon Ranch Chicken: This chicken dinner combines the flavors of bacon and ranch.
- Cauliflower Fried Rice: This recipe replaces rice with cauliflower for a low-carb alternative.
- Cheesy Broccoli Cheddar Spaghetti Squash: Enjoy the flavors of broccoli and cheddar with spaghetti squash instead of pasta.
- Cauliflower Pizza Crust: Use cauliflower as a base for a delicious and healthy pizza crust.
- Keto Chicken Parmesan: Enjoy this classic dish with a keto-friendly twist.
- Keto Beef Stew: This stew is just as comforting as the original, with simple swaps to make it keto-friendly.
- Cowboy Butter Steak: Sear a ribeye and baste it with a zesty, smoky butter.
- Cacio E Pepe Egg Noodles: Make your pasta from scratch with this lightened-up version of a classic dish.
- Philly Cheesesteak Lettuce Wraps: Enjoy the flavors of a cheesesteak in a lettuce wrap.
- French Onion Pot Roast: This pot roast combines the flavors of French onion soup.
- Keto Beef Stroganoff: Enjoy this creamy dish with a keto-friendly twist.
- Keto Mac & Cheese: This version removes the pasta without sacrificing flavor.
Tips for Staying Keto on Memorial Day
- Plan Ahead: Plan your meals the night before to stay on track.
- Portion Control: Be mindful of portion sizes to avoid overindulging.
- Load Up on Veggies: Fill your plate with plenty of non-starchy vegetables.
- Track Your Macros: Keep track of your carbohydrate intake to stay within your daily limits.
- Stay Active: Incorporate physical activity into your day to burn extra calories.
- Bring a Keto-Friendly Dish: Ensure there's at least one dish you can enjoy without worry.
Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide
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