20 Ketogenic Mexican-Inspired Recipes That Boast All the Meat, Cheese and Veggies (2024)

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Photo: Liz Andrew/ Styling: Erin McDowell

1. Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas

• Time Commitment: 7 hours and 15 minutes
• Why We Love It: slow cooker recipe, low carb, keto-friendly, high protein, crowd-pleaser

A few pantry staples transform pork shoulder into something spectacular. Skip the tortillas to keep it low-carb and save the leftovers for tomorrow’s breakfast hash.

2. Skillet Chicken Fajitas

• Time Commitment: 1 hour
• Why We Love It: one pan, make ahead, high protein

Nix the tortillas (or substitute low-carb ones) and you're in the clear. Prep ahead by seasoning the chicken and veggies in the morning, so all you have to do at dinnertime is pop them in the oven.

3. Mexican Street Corn Deviled Eggs

• Time Commitment: 40 minutes
• Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, low-carb, keto-friendly, special occasion-worthy

All the flavor of an elote with minimal carbs (and bonus protein from the eggs).

4. Classic Guacamole

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why We Love It: no cook, <10 ingredients, kid friendly

No party spread is complete without it. Serve the guac with low-carb chips or vegetables for dipping.

5. Low-carb Zucchini Enchiladas

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
• Why We Love It: low carb, crowd-pleaser, high protein

Strips of zucchini stand in for traditional tortillas to make this dinner keto-friendly. Skip the black beans to keep the carbs to a minimum.

6. Whole Roasted Chipotle Chicken

• Time Commitment: 3 hours and 50 minutes
• Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, one pan, crowd-pleaser

Canned chipotle peppers in adobo go a long way in the flavor department. Serve the chicken with cauliflower rice or a side salad.

7. Camarones Al Mojo De Ajo (shrimp In Garlic Sauce)

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, pescatarian, special occasion-worthy

This lightning-fast shrimp dish is best served alfresco with lemon wedges for spritzing. Go ahead and spring for low-carb dinner rolls too—you won't want to waste a single drop of the butter sauce.

8. Flank Steak Tacos With Cucumber Salsa

• Time Commitment: 1 hour and 50 minutes
• Why We Love It: high protein, special occasion-worthy

The citrusy, cilantro-laced salsa couldn't be any more refreshing. Plate the flank steak atop low-carb tortillas or skip them altogether in favor of cauliflower rice.

9. Skillet Nacho Dip

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, high protein

Ground beef, fire-roasted tomatoes, pickled jalapeños and two types of cheese—the gang's all here. All that's missing is a generous dollop of sour cream.

10. Chicken Tinga Tacos

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why We Love It: high protein, beginner-friendly

How can you pull off this classic dish in just half an hour, you ask? Chalk it up to shredded store-bought rotisserie chicken.

11. Cauliflower Tortillas

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why We Love It: low carb, kid-friendly, keto-friendly, <10 ingredients

Taco Tuesday is within reach, thanks to this flour-free tortilla alternative.

Hey Keto Mama

12. Keto Cheese Shell Taco Cup

• Time Commitment: 45 minutes
• Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, low carb, keto-friendly

Crispy browned vessels made of colby jack cheese > tortillas. It's just a fact.

Hey Keto Mama

13. Keto Chicken Enchilada Bowl

• Time Commitment: 50 minutes
• Why We Love It: high protein, low carb, keto-friendly

Don't sweat the wrap-less bowl—the filling is the best part anyway. If you want to make it more satisfying, serve the toppings over cauliflower rice.

Life Made Sweeter

14. Low-carb Chicken Fajita Salad

• Time Commitment: 25 minutes
• Why We Love It: high protein, low carb, keto-friendly

Now that's our kind of salad. Save some time by buying pre-mixed fajita seasoning instead of making your own.

15. Keto Salsa

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why We Love It: no cook, low carb, vegetarian, crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients

Spoon it over grilled fish, pile it onto steak tacos, mix it into guacamole or scoop it up with pork rinds.

16. Authentic Beef Birria Stew

• Time Commitment: 7 hours
• Why We Love It: high protein, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy

This Jalisco delicacy has made major waves stateside, so we tapped a Mexican chef for the real-deal recipe. Use the meat in sandwiches, burrito bowls, tacos or quesadillas.

17. Chipotle Salmon With Mango Salsa

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, pescatarian

Helloooo, omega-3s. Go easy on the mango salsa to keep the carbs low (but don't sweat the honey—it'll only cost you a few grams if you split the salmon six ways).

18. Low-carb Keto Nachos

• Time Commitment: 30 minutes
• Why We Love It: low carb, high protein, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly

Complete with spicy chicken and savory cheese crisps instead of tortilla chips. You'll want to bookmark these nachos for your next game day gathering.

19. Sizzling Steak Fajita Roll-ups

• Time Commitment: 20 minutes
• Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, high protein

Think spiced, sautéed fajita veggies wrapped in strips of juicy flank steak. Grill them on the barbecue instead of on the stove if the weather permits.

20. Queso Dip

• Time Commitment: 15 minutes
• Why We Love It: <30 minutes, gluten free, vegetarian, crowd-pleaser

You can drizzle it onto just about any protein or veggie imaginable. Might we suggest zhuzhing it up with ground chorizo?

For even more great recipes, check out our first cookbook, Only the Good Stuff.

Food Editor

Taryn Pire is PureWow’s food editor and has been writing about all things delicious since 2016. She’s developed recipes, reviewed restaurants and investigated food trends at...