Keto Skillet Meal Recipes: Quick, Easy, and Delicious Low-Carb Dinners

Keto skillet meals are a fantastic solution for busy weeknights, offering minimal cleanup and quick cook times. These one-pan dinners are not only convenient but also packed with flavor and perfect for those following a ketogenic or low-carb lifestyle. With most recipes ready in under 30 minutes and requiring just a handful of ingredients, you can enjoy a satisfying and healthy meal without spending hours in the kitchen.

Keto Skillet Lasagna: A Low-Carb Twist on a Classic

If you love the traditional Italian flavors of lasagna but want to avoid the carbs, Keto Skillet Lasagna is the perfect recipe for you. This hearty and delicious dish captures all the essence of classic lasagna without the need for pasta.

Recipe Inspiration

This amazing Keto Skillet Lasagna recipe comes from the cookbook, Easy Keto in 30 Minutes, by Urvashi Pitre from Two Sleevers. The cookbook is full of a variety of recipes from around the world; from Keto versions of familiar recipes like Beef Stroganoff and Texas Chili to more exotic flavors like Hot and Sour Egg Drop Soup and Sichuan Smashed Cucumbers.

Understanding the Keto Diet

The ketogenic diet is a low-carb, high-fat diet where 60-75% of your daily calories come from fat. This dietary approach helps the body enter a state of ketosis, where it burns fat for fuel instead of carbohydrates.

Variations and Substitutions

When making Keto Lasagna, you have several options to customize the recipe to your liking:

Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers

• Meat: Some people use a combination of beef and pork, while others stick to just ground hamburger.
• Cheese: The biggest controversy when it comes to Lasagna is whether to use Ricotta or Cottage Cheese. This Keto Lasagna calls for Ricotta, but my family loves cottage cheese. You can swap the dairy mozzarella cheese as well as the ricotta to make this easy keto skillet lasagna dairy free. I’ve found dairy free shredded cheese to replace the mozzarella, made with almond milk as well as cashew milk, at Trader Joes and Whole Foods.
• Mozzarella: While pre-shredded mozzarella is convenient, grating a block of mozzarella while the Keto Lasagna is simmering is worth the extra few minutes.

Keto Skillet Lasagna Recipe

Ingredients:## Meat Layer:

• 1 tsp. extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 lb. 85% lean ground beef
• ¼ c. diced celery
• ¼ c. diced red onion
• 1 clove garlic minced
• ½ c. low-sugar marinara sauce
• 1 tsp. kosher salt
• 1 tsp. black pepper

Cheese Layer:

• 8 oz. ricotta cheese or cottage cheese
• 1 c. mozzarella cheese shredded
• ½ c. Parmesan cheese grated
• 2 large eggs lightly beaten
• 1 tsp. dried Italian seasoning
• ½ tsp. minced garlic
• ½ tsp. garlic powder
• ½ tsp. pepper

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Meat Layer: Heat an ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat; add the oil. Once the oil is hot, add the ground beef, celery, onion, and garlic. Cook, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, until no longer pink, 5 to 6 minutes. Stir in the marinara sauce, salt, and pepper. Reduce heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally, while you make the cheese layer.
2. Make the Cheese Layer: In a large bowl, stir together the ricotta, half of the mozzarella, the Parmesan, eggs, Italian seasoning, minced garlic, garlic power, and pepper.
3. Assemble and Cook: Spread the cheese mixture over the top of the meat mixture. Sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella cheese. Cover and cook on medium-low heat until the cheese is hot and cooked through, 10 to 15 minutes.
4. Finish: Meanwhile, preheat the broiler. Let rest 10 minutes for easiest serving.

Tips for the Best Keto Skillet Lasagna

• Use a cast iron skillet, especially when you have a stove top recipe but also need it to bake or finish cooking in the oven.
• Don’t get discouraged by the amount of cabbage, as it cooks it will reduce in volume.
• Spread the cheese mixture over the meat and sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella cheese.

Storage and Reheating Instructions

• Storage: The lasagna will keep in a covered container in the fridge for up to one week.
• Reheating: This Keto Lasagna is great for meal prep, because it reheats incredibly well.

Keto Stuffed Pepper Skillet: A Comfort Food Classic, Simplified

Craving the familiar comfort of stuffed peppers but short on time? This Keto Stuffed Pepper Skillet gives you all the hearty, nostalgic flavor in a simple one-pan meal. It’s the perfect shortcut when you want something wholesome and satisfying without spending hours in the kitchen.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• Easy comfort food: With simple, wholesome ingredients, this meal is ready in 30 minutes from start to finish.
• Low carb: Cauliflower rice replaces the conventional rice for a high protein keto dinner.
• Delicious leftovers: It reheats beautifully so it’s great for lunch or dinner the next day.

Key Ingredients

• Ground meat: I used ground beef for this recipe, but you can also use ground chicken or turkey.
• Onion: I use 1/4 cup of chopped onion to add flavor without raising the carb count too much.
• Cauliflower rice: I used fresh cauliflower rice for this recipe but it should work just as well with frozen.
• Tomatoes: I also went easy on the diced tomatoes and tomato paste.

Keto Stuffed Pepper Skillet Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
• 1 cup cauliflower rice
• 1 cup chopped bell peppers (any color)
• 1/2 cup diced tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions:

1. Brown the meat: Heat the oil in a large 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef, onion, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper and red pepper flakes. Cook, breaking up any clumps with the back of a wooden spoon, until the beef is nicely browned. You could drain the fat after the beef is done.
2. Add the veggies: Stir in the cauliflower rice, chopped peppers, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and water until well combined. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat to medium low and cook until the vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes.
3. Melt the cheese: Sprinkle the cheese evenly over the skillet and cover with a lid. Cook 3 to 4 minutes more, until the cheese is melted.
4. Enjoy: Dish into bowls and serve hot!

Tips for the Best Keto Stuffed Pepper Skillet

• Use a nice large skillet, at least 12 inches, so that everything fits comfortably without spilling over the sides of the pan.
• Brown the beef with the seasonings first, to make sure it cooks through properly.
• Mozzarella is great for the topping and makes it a bit meltier and gooier but you can use any cheese you prefer.

Storage and Reheating Instructions

• Storage Information: Store the leftovers in a covered container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
• Make Ahead: Absolutely! This dish reheats beautifully. You can cook it up to two days ahead, then store it in an airtight container in the fridge.
• Reheating: Warm it gently on the stovetop or in the microwave before serving. I recommend dishing up individual servings and reheating gently in the microwave. If you prefer not to use a microwave, then you can place the dish in the oven at 350ºF for 10 to 15 minutes.

Nutritional Information

This keto stuffed pepper skillet recipe has 7.5g of carbs and 2.1g of fiber per serving. That comes to 5.4g net carbs per serving.

Other Delicious Keto Skillet Meal Recipes

Here are a few more keto skillet meal ideas to add to your repertoire:

1. Taco Skillet

This Taco Skillet is made with taco meat, bell peppers, and diced tomatoes. Top with plenty of cheese, sour cream, and guacamole. It's a simple, quick, and satisfying meal that's perfect for a low-carb lifestyle.

Instructions:

1. In large non-stick skillet, cook beef, bell peppers, and yellow onion over medium-high heat 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently, until meat is thoroughly cooked and veggies are tender; drain.
2. Stir in water and taco seasoning mix; heat to boiling. Cook until water is absorbed.
3. Add the tomatoes and cook until liquid is gone.
4. Sprinkle the cheddar cheese on and let it melt by covering with a lid.

2. Sausage One-Skillet Meal

This sausage one-skillet meal is bursting with Italian and Cajun flavors and reminds me of jambalaya.

Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide

Instructions:

1. Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet on medium heat.
2. Add the sliced kielbasa sausage, bell pepper, and onion to the skillet and saute until tender and sausage is browned, about 6-8 minutes. Season the mixture with Cajun seasoning.
3. Add the marinara sauce, and stir until warm.

3. Pork Carnitas Salad

This pork carnitas salad is so hearty and delicious that you won’t even miss the carbs! We are starting with some yummy carnitas meat from Trader Joe’s. Your local grocery store may sell something similar.

Instructions:

1. Heat a skillet to medium heat, and saute onions and carnitas until tender and the meat is heated. Feel free to add other veggies to the skillet that you have on hand.
2. Add 1.5 cups of lettuce to each plate, along with carnitas meat on top.

4. Creamy Tuscan Salmon Recipe

This easy Tuscan salmon recipe is so creamy and delicious - Pan-fried salmon fillet smothered in a luscious creamy sauce packed with garlic, spinach, and sun-dried tomato. Ready in 20 minutes or less, this salmon recipe is a winner!

Read also: Magnesium Supplements for Keto

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