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Easy Keto BBQ Ideas

Written by Melissa Mitri, MS, RD on July 22, 2021

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From traditional BBQ chicken breasts to smoked ribs and grilled steaks, there are plenty of low-carb BBQ classics that can be enjoyed as part of a ketogenic lifestyle.

Whether you’re planning a camping trip feast or weekend backyard BBQ, we’re here to help with keto BBQ tips and easy keto recipes.

Simple Keto BBQ Recipes

Many keto-friendly foods are staples at backyard cookouts and summer BBQ. Protein-rich grilled foods, like burgers, steak, chicken, jerky, and seafood can all be enjoyed on a keto diet.

If you’re grilling up burgers and dogs, skip the buns or wrap your burger in iceberg or romaine lettuce leaves for fresh flavor and crunchy texture.

Store-bought BBQ sauce 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. Ketchup, a common ingredient in BBQ sauce, is also a common source of added sugar. Skip these and make your own low-sugar keto BBQ sauces and marinades—it’s easier than you think.

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. Cauliflower and green beans are low-carb swaps to effortlessly complement your keto bbq plate.

We’ve rounded up some of the best easy keto recipes from around the Internet to help you plan your next cookout.

1. Smoked Beef Jerky

Most store bought jerky is loaded with sugar and homemade recipes call for marinating meat in sugary concoctions. This jerky is sweet, spicy, and smoky thanks to a marinade of coconut aminos, chili sauce, and spices and several hours in a smoker.
Courtesy of Ketogasm.

2. Keto BBQ Sauce Three Ways

Keto BBQ Sauce

Here are 3 sugar-free BBQ sauce recipes. There’s a classic tomato based red sauce, mayo based white sauce, and a mustard based yellow sauce. These are all great low-carb options and could be easily used as a delicious dip for your Chomps.
Courtesy of Joy Filled Diets.

3. Bacon Cheeseburger Kebabs

Here’s a fun way to enjoy a cheeseburger, no bun required. Mini burger patties are skewered on kebabs with clawing low-carb toppings like bacon, lettuce, tomato, and pickle chips.
Courtesy of BonAppleTeach.

4. Keto Broccoli Salad courtesy of Whole Lotta Yum

Broccoli, cheddar cheese, bacon, and sunflower seeds are tossed in a creamy and tangy dressing. Traditional broccoli salad calls for a sweet and creamy dressing, but this one is sweetened with a keto-friendly sugar substitute.
Courtesy of Whole Lotta Yum.

5. Creamy Cauliflower Salad

This creamy salad has all the flavors of traditional potato salad, but is made with low-carb cauliflower instead of potatoes.
Courtesy of All Day I Dream About Food.

6. Grilled Fathead Pizza Dough with Mozzarella and Arugula

This grilled pizza starts with a homemade dough, known as Fathead dough, made from a blend cheese, almond flour, coconut flour, and ground flax seed.
Courtesy of Joy Filled Eats.

7. Barbecue Green Beans

BBQ Green Beans

Traditional baked or BBQ beans aren’t keto-friendly since most beans are high in carbs. This recipe used green beans, which are lower in carbs. To make it an easy keto recipe, be sure to use sugar-free ketchup and swap an alternative sweetener, such as allulose, for the brown sugar.
Courtesy of Belle of the Kitchen.

8. Grilled Caesar Salad

If you’re in need of a keto-friendly side dish 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. Just skip the croutons to make it keto.
Courtesy of The Recipe Critic.

9. BBQ Keto Ribs

Keto BBQ Ribs

These bbq ribs are made with a no-sugar DIY sauce and can be either baked or grilled for fall off the bone goodness.
Courtesy of Here to Cook.

10. Grilled Chimichurri Chicken

Chimichurri sauce is a keto-friendly option to sugary marinades and sauces. It’s made from fresh herbs, olive oil, and garlic so it packs tons of flavor and can complement a variety of proteins, from drumsticks to steak and salmon.
Courtesy of Tastes Lovely.

11. Grilled Cajun Shrimp & Sausage Skewers

Dry rubs and spice blends are another simple option for adding extra flavor to grilled proteins. This recipe includes a homemade cajun spice blend.
Courtesy of What Great Grandma Ate.

12. Grilled Cauliflower Bacon Mac & Cheese

Cauliflower Mac n 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 recipe. Cauliflower steaks are grilled and then crumbled into a creamy cheese sauce.
Courtesy of BonAppleTeach.


Of course, no cookout is complete without snacks and appetizers to munch on while you’re grilling. Chomps meat sticks are ready-to-eat and available in a variety of proteins and flavors. Try chopping them into small pieces for an easy, keto-friendly addition to cheese and charcuterie platters.

 

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✍️ ABOUT THE AUTHOR 📚

Melissa Mitri, MS, RD

Melissa Mitri, MS, RD

Melissa Mitri, RD Melissa is a health writer with over 12 years of experience in the field of nutrition. She specializes in helping women move away from restrictive habits that lead to vicious yo-yo weight cycles. Melissa enjoys writing about health, nutrition, and fitness with the goal of simplifying complex health topics for the reader. You can find out more about Melissa at www.melissamitri.com.