Regarding the culinary arts, each region of the world has its unique style and flavor. Mexico is no different. The country is known for its vibrant and flavorful cuisine that often incorporates a variety of spices, herbs, and fresh ingredients.
One of the best things about Mexican food is that it can be easily adapted to fit a ketogenic diet. Plenty of delicious keto-friendly Mexican dishes are perfect for those on a low-carbohydrate diet.
In this article, we will share some of the best keto Mexican dishes you can enjoy without worrying about kickstarting your carb cravings. So, we’ve got you covered whether you’re in the mood for tacos, enchiladas, or something else.
30 Most Popular Keto Mexican Dishes
The biggest challenge when writing this article was that many popular Mexican dishes incorporate high-carb ingredients, especially corn, beans, and flour. However, we found some delicious keto-friendly alternatives that are just as good, if not better, than the real thing.
1. Keto Tortillas
Instead of starting with an actual dish, we figured that it would be appropriate that we first showcased a recipe for something that’s a staple of Mexican cuisine: the everyday tortilla.
This recipe for keto tortillas is made with almond flour, which makes them low in carbs and high in healthy fats.
They’re perfect for making tacos, enchiladas, or even just eating them as a snack, so make sure that you bookmark the recipe since you’ll surely need it for some of the other entries to follow.
Ingredients:
- Apple cider vinegar
- Ground linseeds
- Baking powder
- Xanthan gum
- Almond flour
- Eggs
- Salt
Almond flour is one of the best flour substitutes that you can ever use, and besides wheat flour, it’s also good at replacing corn flour.
Unfortunately, almond flour lacks any gluten, and that’s where the eggs and the Xanthan gum come into play since they help bind the tortilla dough together.
A single tortilla contains 93 calories and just 2 grams of net carbs, making it a perfect addition to any Mexican keto dish.
2. Keto Chicken Fajitas
If you’re a big fan of chicken and colorful veggies, you’ll love this recipe for keto chicken fajitas.
This dish is traditionally made with wheat flour tortillas, but we managed to create a deconstructed version of this dish, meaning that we got rid of the tortillas and served the fajitas in a bowl.
Ingredients:
- Boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- Garlic powder
- Ground cumin
- White onions
- Chili powder
- Bell peppers
- Kosher salt
- Sour cream
- Avocados
- Olive oil
- Limes
- Cayenne pepper (optional)
The great thing about this recipe is that you don’t have to buy any chicken since chicken leftovers will work just fine; just shred them up into strips.
This dish is also a good source of healthy fats, thanks to avocados, as well as being high in protein and low in carbs.
A single serving of this dish contains 310 calories, 6 grams of net carbs, and 22 grams of protein, so it’s perfect if you want a dish that’s a bit leaner.
Note: There are dozens of ways to cook this dish, so we compiled a list of the best keto chicken fajita recipes.
3. Keto Taco Salad
Since we’ve presented a deconstructed version of the chicken fajita, we figured we would do the same to yet another fan-favorite Mexican dish: the taco.
This keto taco salad is made up of everything you’d find in a taco filling, sans the corn, of course, so it has everything a normal taco has, except for the carbs.
Ingredients:
- Homemade taco seasoning
- Chopped romaine lettuce
- Fresh tomato salsa
- Shredded cheese
- Sliced avocados
- Ground beef
- Sour cream
- Limes (optional)
We recommend making your own taco seasoning instead of using store-bought mixes since those usually contain other additives and preservatives.
You can make some at home using chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic and onion powder, oregano, and black pepper.
A single serving of this salad has 486 calories and 6 grams of net carbs, and since it’s made with lots of beef, it also contains about 34 grams of protein, so it’s perfect if you’re looking for a filling meal.
4. Keto Chili without Beans
Chili is a dish so deeply associated with Mexican cuisine that it’s hard to imagine a list of keto Mexican dishes without it.
The good news is that we, too, have our own recipe for some keto chili, and the even better news is that it’s made without beans (which are high in carbs).
Ingredients:
- Fire-roasted tomatoes and chiles
- Beef or chicken stock
- Minced jalapenos
- Minced garlic
- Diced onions
- Ground beef
- Chili powder
- Oregano
- Olive oil
- Bacon
- Cumin
- Salt
One great thing about this chili is that you can prepare it in either an Instant Pot or a slow cooker, depending on your preferences, and we’ve prepared instructions for both methods.
Because the chili lacks beans, the protein-to-carb ratio is through the roof, making it an ideal dish for anyone looking to maintain muscle mass while on a keto diet.
This chili serves 417 calories, 4 grams of net carbs, and 39 grams of protein.
5. Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas
As mentioned at the beginning of our guide, the biggest challenge with Mexican dishes is that they usually contain lots of carbs in the form of tortillas, and a perfect example is a classic enchilada.
We came up with a recipe for some keto chicken enchiladas, but instead of skipping the tortilla completely as we did before, we replaced them with rolled-up zucchini sliced instead.
Ingredients:
- Cooked and shredded chicken
- Canned diced green chiles
- Chopped tomatoes
- Green chile sauce
- Shredded cheese
- Chopped cilantro
- Sliced zucchini
- Cream cheese
- Ground cumin
- Chili powder
- Sour cream
You’ll need to know your way around using a mandolin or a vegetable peeler if you want to make the faux tortilla rolls, especially if your goal is to make enchiladas that look very convincing.
As for the filling, the combination of chicken and cheese seasoned with cumin and chili powder is pretty hard to beat.
A single serving of this dish contains 346 calories and 9 grams of net carbs.
6. Keto Cheese Chips
Sometimes you are not interested in making a full-course meal and just want something quick and easy to snack on.
These keto cheese chips are perfect in that scenario, and they only require two ingredients: cheese and jalapenos.
Not only are they naturally cheese-flavored, but since these chips contain no traces of potatoes, they’re zero-carb foods.
Ingredients:
- Slices of cheese, cut into squares
- Grated parmesan cheese (optional)
- Jalapeño pepper slices (optional)
The entire idea behind these chips is that you heat them well beyond their melting point until they turn crispy, all while ensuring that you don’t burn them.
The jalapeño slices are only there to give the chips a bit of a kick, so feel free to leave them out if you don’t like spicy food.
A single chip contains about 20 calories with no carbs, so you can eat plenty of them since they won’t affect your daily carb intake.
7. Keto Cheese Sauce
Now that you know how to make chips, maybe it’s time you learned about making some dip as well, and since we talked about cheesy and spicy chips, how about we present a sauce that shares those qualities?
This keto cheese sauce is an ideal dip, but you can also use it as a dressing or a sauce for your vegetables.
Ingredients:
- Shredded Cheddar cheese
- Grated Parmesan cheese
- Mustard powder
- Garlic powder
- Heavy cream
- Black pepper
- Salt
Just like with the cheese chips, we highly recommend that you make your cheese sauces instead of buying the ones on the naco aisle in supermarkets.
Sure enough, the only drawback is that you’ll need to heat this sauce if you want to serve it, but at least you know that all the ingredients used are 100% natural.
One serving of this sauce contains 177 calories and 2 grams of net carbs, so don’t be afraid to pair this sauce with your favorite chips; it won’t ruin your diet goals.
8. Keto Tortilla Chips
The most Mexican chips you could make at home are tortilla chips, and if you’re planning on making a batch of these at home, then almond flour will be your main ingredient.
These keto tortilla chips look like regular ones and have pretty much the same crunch, and if you season them properly, you’d never be able to tell they aren’t made with corn.
Ingredients:
- Shredded mozzarella
- Cream cheese
- Garlic powder
- Almond flour
- Chilli powder
- Cayenne
- Cumin
- Eggs
- Salt
These tortilla chips will require a bit of work on your behalf, but considering that you get to eat them with only a fraction of the calories and carbs of regular tortilla chips, we think the effort is worth it.
Also, feel free to season the tortilla chips with whatever flavors you want (BBQ, nacho, ranch, etc.); the options are limitless.
A serving of these nachos contains 94 calories and 2 grams of net carbs.
9. Keto Guacamole
Tortilla chips and regular chips go well with guacamole, so it was obvious that we included at least one recipe for guacamole on our list.
We went with this recipe from Lemons for Lulu mainly because it’s a timeless classic that everyone loves, but it also doesn’t try to complicate things too much.
Ingredients:
- Chopped cilantro
- Lime juice
- Avocados
- Cumin
- Salt
Avocados are a welcome addition to the keto diet since they not only contain next to no carbs at all, but they’re also rich in some of the healthiest fats that nature offers.
Cilantro is there to give the guacamole a bit of flavor, while the lime juice prevents the guacamole from turning brown and also cuts down on its richness.
One serving of this guacamole contains 123 calories and 2 grams of net carbs, and you can eat it as a spread on top of a nice keto breakfast chaffle.
10. Mexican Hot Chocolate
You can find all kinds of chocolates nowadays featuring all sorts of flavors, but did it ever cross your mind to see what happens when you mix chocolate and chile powder?
Mexicans did, and this recipe for Mexican hot chocolate that we found at Lemons for Lulu shows us that the combination works perfectly.
Ingredients:
- Cinnamon
- Half and half
- Heavy cream
- Cocoa powder
- Ancho chile powder
- Splenda® Naturals Stevia Sweetener
- Semi-sweet chocolate (to be replaced)
The chile powder gives this hot chocolate a nice kick, but feel free to tone it down if you want a more traditional flavor profile.
Cocoa beans by themselves are very low in carbs, but we’re the ones that make chocolate bars and chocolate chips with all sorts of added sugars, so we need to be careful.
We recommend that instead of semi-sweet chocolate, you use zero-sugar dark chocolate or milk chocolate and simply use some extra sweetener to compensate.
11. Homemade Salsa Roja
One staple of Mexican cuisine is the abundance of spicy dips and sauces, and salsa is no different.
This recipe for salsa Roja that we found at Diys.com is not only delicious but also very easy to make, and you don’t need to do any special shopping for ingredients.
Ingredients:
- Quartered Roma tomatoes
- Quartered onions
- Chopped cilantro
- Minced garlic
- Avocado oil
- Jalapeños
- Lime juice
- Pepper
- Salt
Unlike typical salsa dips, where you just blend all the ingredients, salsa Roja is made by first boiling and baking the tomatoes, jalapeños, and onions with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Only after they’re cooked are they then transferred in a blender with the remaining ingredients.
This gives the salsa a bit more depth of flavor, and we think it’s worth the extra effort.
A serving of this salsa contains just 219 calories and 18 grams of net carbs, so make sure you don’t consume the whole batch in one sitting.
12. Keto Burritos
Another trademark Mexican dish is the burrito, which everyone has tried at least once.
Unfortunately, traditional burritos are filled to the brim with carbs, but this keto-friendly recipe from Gnom-Gnom shows us that it’s possible to make a gluten-free and low-carb burrito.
Ingredients:
- Extra-virgin olive oil or avocado oil
- Mexican crema or sour cream
- Finely chopped red onions
- Finely chopped onions
- Queso or feta cheese
- Finely minced garlic
- Cauliflower rice
- Chopped bacon
- Dried oregano
- Ground cumin
- Garlic powder
- Black pepper
- Keto tortillas
- Ground beef
- Kosher salt
- Guacamole
- Jalapeños
- Paprika
What we liked most about this recipe is that the folks at Gnom-Gnom tried their best to replicate the exact taste and feel of authentic Mexican burritos. They successfully substituted the high-carb ingredients with classic keto substitutes such as keto tortillas or cauliflower rice.
One burrito contains 236 calories and 5 grams of net carbs, but you can adjust these macros depending on how big you make them.
13. Keto Quesadillas
Besides being very efficient at helping you lose weight, being on the keto diet offers you one extra great opportunity: you get to eat copious amounts of cheese.
If cheesy is how you like all your dishes, you can’t get any cheesier than with these nice keto quesadillas from Delish.
Ingredients:
- Shredded Monterey Jack
- Thinly sliced green onion
- Thinly sliced avocado
- Ground black pepper
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- Sliced yellow onions
- Sliced bell peppers
- Shredded cheddar
- Shredded chicken
- Chili powder
- Sour cream
- Kosher salt
Instead of melting the cheese as you might expect, it will be baked until it becomes a cheese tortilla shell. This zero-carb tortilla shell is then filled with the rest of the ingredients and then served together with some green onions and some sour cream.
You only need about half an hour to make 4 of these quesadillas, so it’s the perfect weeknight snack, lunch, or dinner.
14. Keto Carnitas
Another advantage of the keto diet is that besides cheese, you can eat large quantities of meat as well, and if you’re an avid meat lover, what better dish to try out than something than carnitas, which translates to “little meats“?
This recipe from All Day I Dream About Food uses pork as the main ingredient, but you can use any type of meat you prefer.
Ingredients:
- Boneless pork butt
- Pure lard or bacon grease
- Chipotle pepper in adobo
- Salt and pepper
- Quartered lime
- Minced garlic
- Oregano
- Cumin
- Water
- Quartered orange (to be replaced)
Long story short, this keto carnitas recipe is like a Mexican version of pulled pork since it’s slow-cooked in a Dutch oven and then broiled, so you know the meat will turn out juicy and tender.
As for the other ingredients, we recommend that you skip the orange slices or replace them with some kind of zero-sugar orange syrup instead since it’s only there to give the dish some flavor.
One serving of this meaty dish contains 405 calories and 2 grams of carbs, but the real highlight here is the protein content, with 48 grams per serving.
15. Keto Carne Asada
If you’re more of a steak than a pork person, this recipe for keto carne asada from Trifecta Nutrition is the perfect dish for you.
It means grilled meat, and it’s a dish that’s meant to bring out the best that steak has to offer.
Ingredients:
- Romaine or Butterhead lettuce leaves
- Salsa of your choice or pico de gallo
- Chili powder or smoked paprika
- Chopped cilantro with stems
- Chopped yellow onions
- Minced jalapeño
- Quartered limes
- Diced avocado
- Flat iron steak
- Dried oregano
- Garlic powder
- Orange juice
- Avocado oil
- Lime juice
The secret behind getting the carne asada right is marinating it properly and giving the meat enough time to soak up all the flavors.
Once the meat is marinated, grill it, slice it into long strips, and place it in your taco shell along with whatever toppings you like.
One serving of this grilled beef dish contains 340 calories, 9 grams of carbs, and 23 grams of protein, so you can easily eat 2 of them without feeling stuffed.
Note: We wrote an entire article where we listed some of the best carne asada recipes, so go ahead and check it out.
16. Keto Churros
Ask anyone to give you some examples of Mexican street food, and it will be impossible for them not to mention churros.
This delicious treat is made from deep-frying dough and covering it with lots of granulated or powdered sugar, so it’s easy to see why it’s not a keto-friendly dish.
Well, the folks at Wholesome Yum have come up with a low-carb version of this popular snack, and it certainly sounds promising.
Ingredients:
- Blanched almond flour
- Monk fruit sweetener
- Whey protein powder
- Unsalted butter
- Vanilla extract
- Xanthan gum
- Avocado oil
- Cinnamon
- Sea salt
- Water
- Eggs
While this recipe is far from what traditional churros are made of, they manage to replicate perfectly the look, taste, and crunchy consistency of real churros.
As for the sugary coating, you can use a mix of cinnamon and any powdered sugar substitute that you can find, such as monk fruit or erythritol.
Moreover, one churro only contains 144 calories and 1 gram of net carbs, so feel free to indulge.
17. Keto Tamales
Whenever we encounter a dish made almost entirely out of high-carb ingredients, we see it as a challenge to find a keto-friendly way to make it.
Such is the case with tamales, which are little cornmeal dumplings wrapped in a corn husk and then steamed.
So how do you make keto tamales? Well, the people at Keen for Keto have come up with a great recipe that uses almond flour instead of cornmeal.
Ingredients:
- Konjac powder, psyllium husk powder, or flax meal
- Corn husks for wrapping
- Keto tamale filling
- Bacon drippings
- Baking powder
- Lard or butter
- Almond flour
- Corn extract
- Cumin
- Water
- Salt
In short, you spread the cleaned corn husks, spread masa dough on top, add the filling of your choice in the middle, and then fold them into little tamales.
Once they’re all wrapped up, you place them in a steamer and let them cook for about an hour.
According to this recipe, one tamale contains 245 calories and 4 grams of net carbs.
By comparison, one regular tamale contains almost 19 grams of carbs, which is almost your daily carb limit for the keto diet.
18. Keto Tostadas
You may have noticed by now that many Mexican dishes use tortillas in various forms, and tostadas are no exception.
A tostada is a fried or baked tortilla that’s topped with various ingredients, and we found a recipe for crispy keto tostadas at Keto Bosh.
Ingredients:
- Shredded whole milk cheese
- Egg whites
Instead of using some kind of keto flour to create the tostadas, you’ll use a blend of cheese and egg whites to create an almost zero-carb tortilla.
Once they are cooked and have developed a semi-crunchy texture, you can fill them with whatever Mexican meat and vegetable toppings you like.
One tostada made with this recipe contains only 99 calories and 1 gram of net carbs, so they’re a welcome addition to whatever dish you pair them with.
19. Keto Chilaquiles
If you’re tired of having omelets, waffles, or pancakes for breakfast, then here’s a way you can incorporate keto tostadas into your early morning meal.
Chilaquiles is a Mexican-style breakfast dish made using tortilla chips, salsa, eggs, and cheese, and we found a recipe for it over at Convenient Keto.
Ingredients:
- Fired or scrambled eggs
- Keto corn tostadas
- Fire-roasted salsa
- Chopped cilantro
- Queso fresco
- Avocado oil
- Diced red onions (optional)
- Mexican crema (optional)
- Sliced avocado (optional)
Unlike the previous recipe, where you make the tostadas from scratch, you’ll be using store-bought keto tostadas that you’ll be breaking down and incorporating into the dish.
The fire-roasted salsa and the eggs are the stars of this recipe, giving this dish its signature taste and abundance of nutrients.
Speaking of nutrients, one serving of this dish contains only 222 calories and 5 grams of net carbs, making it a great option for those looking to start their day on the right foot.
20. Keto Huevos Rancheros with Chorizo
If you like the Mexican eggs listed above but are looking for something with a more distinct American flavor, this recipe is for you. Huevos rancheros literally translate to “ranch-style eggs,” and this dish is a typical breakfast item served in the American Southwest.
We chose this recipe for keto huevos rancheros with chorizo from Tasty Low Carb because it cuts out the tortillas and uses a more flavorful sausage.
Ingredients:
- Crumbled queso fresco
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- Chopped red onions
- Chopped jalapeños
- Chopped avocados
- Chopped cilantro
- Shredded lettuce
- Minced tomatoes
- Mexican chorizo
- Keto tortillas
- Green chiles
- Sea salt
- Pepper
- Cumin
- Eggs
The Mexican chorizo gives this dish both a deep spicy flavor and a nice reddish color, and since the eggs are cooked over easy in a mix of green chilies, chopped jalapeño, and tomatoes, they too take on a fiery hue.
One serving of this dish contains 234 calories and 5.9 grams of net carbs, making it a filling meal that will help you through your day up until lunch.
21. Mexican Chicken Tortilla Soup
You read that right; apparently, tortillas can be used as part of a soup too.
This dish is commonly known as tortilla soup, and it’s typically made with chicken, tomatoes, and various vegetables.
Wholesome Yum has developed a keto-friendly version that uses low-carb tortillas to create a delicious and hearty soup.
Ingredients:
- Fire roasted diced tomatoes
- Low-sodium chicken broth
- Diced white onion
- Chicken breast
- Minced garlic
- Black pepper
- Bell peppers
- Chili powder
- Jalapeños
- Olive oil
- Sea salt
- Cumin
- Shredded Monterey jack cheese (optional)
- Keto tortilla chips (optional)
- Sliced avocados (optional)
- Fresh cilantro (optional)
- Sour cream (optional)
- Limes (optional)
Despite being labeled as a soup, this dish is very filling, especially with all the toppings you can add.
As for the taste, it’s a pretty spicy dish, so if you’re not a fan of spicy food, we suggest you cut down or skip the jalapeños entirely.
One bowl of this soup with all the toppings contains 374 calories and 10 grams of net carbs, so it’s one of those soups that will keep your stomach full for a long time.
22. Avocado Chicken Posole (Pozole)
If you’re a big fan of soups but want something that tastes even more authentic, you should get your hands on a nice hot bowl of Mexican pozole.
Traditionally made using hominy and meat, it’s a popular dish in Mexico. The people at Better Than Bread Keto have developed a keto-friendly version of this dish. It’s one of the tastiest things we’ve ever had.
Ingredients:
- Boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- Sliced poblano peppers
- Quartered white onions
- Ground black pepper
- Pink Himalayan salt
- Sliced avocados
- Chicken stock
- Minced garlic
- Chili powder
- Oregano
- Cumin
- Butter
- Cilantro (for garnish)
The slow cooker is your best friend in this recipe since you’ll be using it for about 6 or 7 hours to cook the chicken until it’s falling apart.
Unlike typical soups with chicken and vegetables floating in lots of broth, this dish is more like a stew since it’s made up of a lot of shredded chicken, pieces of avocados, and just enough broth to bring everything together.
One serving of this dish contains 410 calories, 4 grams of net carbs, and 18 grams of protein, thanks to all that chicken.
23. Keto Pork Menudo
Another well-known traditional Mexican soup is the Menudo, which is usually made from a cow’s stomach (tripe) cooked in broth with a red chili pepper base.
Common spices used in Menudo include hominy, lime, onions, and oregano.
We found a recipe for Menudo Rojo at Serious Eats, and while not specifically labeled as keto, you can tell from the ingredients that it’s low in carbs.
Ingredients:
- Beef honeycomb tripe
- Chopped onions
- Chopped garlic
- Dried oregano
- Ground cumin
- Dried chiles
- Limes
- Lime
- Salt
This recipe can best be described as an acquired taste since people are usually divided when it comes to any recipe that involves cooking cows’ stomachs.
However, if you’re among those who enjoy tripe-based dishes, our only advice, if you plan on going through with this meal, is to make sure that the tripe is cooked properly since it can be quite tough and chewy if not done right.
A single serving of this dish contains 194 calories and only 13 grams of net carbs, so it’s a hearty and filling meal.
24. Keto Chiles en Nogada
Walnuts are an excellent source of healthy fats; they go well with sweet fruits like pears and apples. But did you know that they can also be used to make a delicious sauce for meat? If not, you’re in for a treat with this dish from Hungry Edit.
It’s a traditional Mexican dish made using poblano peppers stuffed with ground meat and fruit and then smothered in a walnut sauce.
Ingredients:
- Cream cheese, queso fresco, or goat cheese
- Mexican crema or crème fraîche
- Chopped blanched almonds
- Granulated sweetener
- Heavy whipping cream
- Diced white onions
- Poblano peppers
- Mexican oregano
- Diced tomatoes
- Shelled walnuts
- Diced zucchini
- Diced carrots
- White pepper
- Black pepper
- Ground pork
- Cinnamon
- Olive oil
- Cloves
- Salt
As you can see, the list of ingredients isn’t exactly short, and some of the ingredients are also quite hard to find.
But if you can get your hands on all of them, you’re in for a real treat because this dish is amazing.
It’s one of those rare dishes that are both sweet and savory at the same time, and it’s also very filling, thanks to all the meat and vegetables.
One Mexican-style stuffed pepper contains 494 calories and 11.3 grams of net carbs, which is more than enough to stuff yourself.
25. Keto Mexican Mole Sauce with Chicken
Mole sauce is a traditional Mexican sauce that’s made using a lot of ingredients (around 30+, depending on the recipe), and a lot of them aren’t even keto.
But the people over at Gnom-Gnom have come up with a keto-friendly version of this sauce, and it’s hard to describe what it tastes like since it’s unlike anything we’ve ever had.
Ingredients:
- Skinless bone-in chicken thighs
- Finely chopped onions
- Raw unsalted peanuts
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- Black peppercorns
- Dried ancho chilis
- Xylitol or Swerve
- Chipotle powder
- Plum tomatoes
- Dark chocolate
- Sesame seeds
- Dried oregano
- Chicken broth
- Minced garlic
- Red peppers
- Cumin seeds
- Kosher salt
- Cinnamon
- Bay leaves
- Star anise
- Almonds
- Cloves
- Lightly toasted sesame seeds (for serving)
- Cauliflower rice (for serving)
- Keto tortillas (for serving)
Admittedly, even the shortened version of this recipe will still require that you do a bit of shopping, especially regarding vegetables and spices, but it’s worth it.
The sauce takes a bit of time to make, but it’s well worth the effort since you’ll end up with a big batch of keto mole sauce that you can use for other recipes.
One serving of this sauce alone contains 133 calories and 3 grams of net carbs, so keep that in mind when you’re thinking about what dishes to pair it with
26. Keto Machaca
As you can see, Mexican chefs sure know their way around meats, and Machaca is no exception.
It’s a dish typically made using dried beef (somewhat similar to corned beef) that’s been cooked and shredded, and it can be used in various dishes.
We wanted a recipe that was both keto and as authentic as possible, and we found it over at Fluffy Chix Cook.
Ingredients:
- Keto beef rags (or any kind of shredded slow-cooked beef)
- Worcestershire Sauce
- Ground coriander
- Unsalted butter
- Ground cumin
- Hot salsa
Since the slow-cooked beef is already flavorful from how it was prepared, you won’t have to add a lot of additional spices to give it a Mexican twist.
Add some hot salsa, some extra seasoning, and a dash of Worcestershire sauce, and you can pair this meat with any keto side dish you want.
One serving of Machaca contains 402 calories, almost 0 carbs, and an astonishing 39 grams of protein.
27. Keto Aguachile
So far, we’ve showcased a lot of recipes where meat is the star of the show, but this next dish is all about seafood.
Aquachile is a Mexican ceviche that’s typically made using fish (often whitefish like tilapia or halibut) or seafood such as shrimp, and it’s served with various vegetables.
This recipe from Stylish Cravings uses shrimp, but you can easily use another type of seafood.
Ingredients:
- Peeled and deveined shrimp
- Chopped Serrano peppers
- Thinly sliced red onions
- Chopped cucumbers
- Lime juice
- Pepper
- Water
- Salt
- Chopped parsley (for garnish)
- Lime slices (for garnish)
As for how you can make this ceviche, all you have to do is soak the shrimp, onions, and cucumber in a mix of blended water and chilis and let them soak up all of the flavors.
One of the reasons why this dish is keto-friendly is because most of the ingredients are low-carb vegetables, and shrimp contain no carbs at all, so when you add everything up, it’s not a lot of carbs per serving.
Speaking of which, one serving contains 95 calories and 1 gram of net carbs, and it’s a great option if you’re looking for a light but satisfying meal.
28. Keto Avocado and Shrimp Ceviche Salad
If you liked the shrimp ceviche, but are looking for something that’s a bit more filling, then we recommend you check out this keto avocado shrimp ceviche salad recipe.
The credits for this recipe go to the Keto Diet App, and it’s a great way to get your fill of healthy fats, protein, and vitamins all in one dish.
Ingredients:
- Chopped, cooked shrimp
- Minced jalapeño peppers
- Extra-virgin olive oil
- Diced tomatoes
- Lime juice
- Lemon juice
- Minced garlic
- Minced cilantro
- Diced avocados
- Diced red onions
- Diced cucumbers
- Sea salt or pink Himalayan salt
The highlight of this recipe is that there aren’t any complicated steps or ingredients, so it’s a cinch to make. You must mix everything in a large bowl and let the flavors mingle for about 2 hours.
Each serving of this salad contains 278 calories and 7.5 grams of net carbs.
29. Keto Camarones a la Diabla
Like most other types of seafood, shrimp has a very mild taste that many of us try to enhance with different seasonings and sauces.
This recipe for Camarones a la Diabla (or “Devilish Shrimp”) from Elote Sisters does just that, and it’s a great way to check what it’s like to have shrimp set your mouth on fire.
Ingredients:
- Peeled and deveined shrimp
- Dried chiles de arbol
- Dried Guajillo chiles
- Roma tomatoes
- Fresh oregano
- White onions
- Kosher salt
- Cooking oil
- Garlic
- Water
It’s only fair to warn you that this recipe is not for those who can’t stand the extra heat, but if you’re looking for a new way to prepare shrimp, this is it.
One way to mellow out the dish is to serve it next to something with a neutral taste, like some cauliflower rice, or something fatty, like some avocado slices.
30. Keto Pipian Verde
Everyone is familiar with guacamole, but another green sauce that’s pretty popular in Mexican cuisine is the Pipian Verde, which is made out of roasted pumpkin seeds that have been pureed together with some other cooked vegetables.
We chose to include the recipe for keto Pipian Verde from Sun Kissed Kitchen because it has a nice balance of ingredients and is also pretty quick and easy to make.
Ingredients:
- Chicken broth or vegetable stock
- Tomatillos removed from husks
- Toasted pumpkin seeds
- Quartered onions
- Mexican oregano
- Serrano chilis
- Black pepper
- Lime juice
- Olive oil
- Sea salt
- Cilantro
- Cumin
- Garlic
- Sesame seeds (optional)
Like avocados, toasted pumpkin seeds (a.ka. pepitas) are rich in healthy fats and contain a good amount of protein and fiber, which is why we wanted to include a version of this sauce in our list.
However, be warned that despite looking green and refreshing, this sauce can turn out extremely spicy, so the original author of the recipe advises that you devein and remove the seeds from the green chiles to reduce heat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Many of you are probably wondering how Mexican dishes fit into the keto diet and whether or not there are restrictions on what you can and cannot eat.
That’s why we’ve compiled a list of some of the most frequently asked questions about the keto diet and Mexican food.
Can I eat fajitas on keto?
It all depends on how you plan on serving the fajitas.
Traditional fajitas are grilled meat, and low-carb vegetables (e.g., bell peppers, onions, etc.) served on a corn tortilla.
Unfortunately, corn tortillas are high in carbs, so you’ll have to forego the tortilla or find a low-carb alternative.
What Mexican food is low carb?
Technically, any Mexican food can be made keto with the right ingredients. Still, if you’re wondering what Mexican dishes are keto without any modifications, then some of your best options include dishes like:
- Ceviche
- Menudo
- Machaca
- Aguachile
- Guacamole
- Carne asada
Is queso at Mexican restaurants keto?
Unfortunately, unless restaurants use actual melted cheese to make the queso, there’s a high chance that they’re using flour as a thickener, which means that the queso is not keto.
Is Taco keto-friendly?
Your taco should be keto-friendly as long as you replace the corn tortilla with a keto alternative and don’t add ingredients such as beans to the filling.
All other typical ingredients used to make tacos are either high in protein, high in fats, or a mix of both.
Are corn tortillas OK for keto?
The entire point of the keto diet is to limit your daily carb consumption to around 20-50 grams per day, depending on your frame and how strict you want your diet to be.
According to the USDA nutritional database, one corn tortilla contains around 218 calories and about 43 grams of net carbs.
This means that, unless you have a larger build and are following a more relaxed version of the keto diet, eating just one could kick you out of ketosis.
Closing Thoughts
Mexican food is delicious and can be incorporated into the keto diet. However, it’s important to be mindful of your ingredients, as some of them may be high in carbs.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with different recipes and ingredients until you find a combination that works for you.
And lastly, always remember to drink plenty of water and get enough electrolytes to avoid any unwanted side effects from the keto diet.
