No-Carb Foods: A Complete List of Zero-Carb Foods

No-Carb Meats

Meat is the star category in this list of foods with no carbs. Practically any meat in its natural form is zero-carb. So eat your steaks, bake that chicken, and stay full with these high-protein, zero carb foods.

Beef

Any beef you want is up for grabs! Just remember that some diets like Whole30 also require you to eat grass-fed or organic to avoid preservatives, additives, and other harmful ingredients found in low-quality beef.

Plus, when you opt for high-quality, grass-fed beef you get all kinds of extra health benefits like Vitamin E and rich Omega-3 fatty acids that can reduce your risk of heart disease.

Carbs: zero.

Chicken

Chicken is a lean meat that is packed with protein. If you want to grow muscle and keep your diet to foods without carbs, then chicken is a great choice.

Carbs: zero.

Lamb

Eating no carb usually means eating more meat, so it's nice to know that lamb is an option for when you want to switch it up.

Lamb is also a fantastic source of Vitamin B12, which helps your body form its red blood cells.

Carbs: zero.

Pork

Out of all the major meat categories, you need to watch out for added sugars, additives, and other harmful or carb-containing ingredients when eating pork. The industrial pork industry is notoriously unhealthy. 

Carbs: zero.

Other Zero-Carb Meats

• Veal
• Venison and other game
• Duck
• Hot dogs
• Sausages
• Deli meats
• Most organ meats, except liver

The Bottom Line

When consuming no-carb foods like the meats above, be cautious of added sugars, additives, and other harmful ingredients - especially in pork and processed meats like hot dogs, sausages, and deli meats. Opt for high-quality, grass-fed options like Chomps’ meat sticks.  

No-Carb Fish and Seafood

Fish are a great source of protein and are also a safe choice among zero carb foods. You have a ton of options here.

Note: some seafood and shellfish, surprisingly, have trace amounts of carbs. It's not much, but it's enough to remove them from the no-carb camp. These include oysters, shrimp, crab, mussels, lobster, and all other shellfish.

Salmon

Salmon is one of my favorite foods, and fortunately it falls into the camp of no carb foods.

It's also a fantastic source of B Vitamins, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, protein, and potassium, which helps regulate blood pressure.

My favorite way to cook it is low and slow a la Samin Nosrat.

Carbs: zero.

Tilapia

The famous white fish is also on the menu of no carb foods. People love it for its mild, non-fishy flavor.

Carbs: zero.

Tuna

Keep an eye on the mercury, but stocking your pantry with a bunch of tuna is one of the best surefire carb-free foods to have for a no-carb dinner or snack.

Apart from chicken, it's hard to beat tuna's protein to calorie and carb ratio.

Carbs: zero.

Catfish

You can't have catfish battered and fried at your local meat and three joint, but grilled, baked, or sautéed catfish is fair game when it comes to 0 carb foods.

Similar to salmon, catfish is a great source of Omega-3 Fatty Acids, protein, and Vitamin B.

Carbs: zero.

Other Zero-Carb Fish

• Trout
• Sardines
• Cod
• Bass
• Haddock

The Bottom Line

Be aware that some shellfish like oysters, shrimp, crab, and lobster have trace amounts of carbs. Choose for carb free foods like salmon, tilapia, tuna, and catfish instead.

No-Carb Fats and Oils

Lots of times eating carb free foods means eating more fats. Here are the no-carb oils and fats available to you.

Butter

Butter is just the fat and protein of milk or cream, and is naturally part of our no carb food list.

Carbs: zero.

Olive Oil

This kitchen staple is also part of our list of foods with no carbs — plus it's loaded with antioxidants that fight inflammation and may help prevent strokes.

Pro tip: if you want the best tasting olive oil, try to get some that was pressed in the last few months.

Carbs: zero.

Coconut Oil

We love using coconut oil with tilapia. It's a nice way to impart some extra flavor while enjoying one of our favorite zero carb foods.

Apart from being tasty, coconut oil may boost heart health and encourage fat-burning.

Carbs: zero.

Canola Oil

Canola oil is okay as well when sticking only to carb-free foods, although many people opt for olive due to canola's low nutrient profile and small amounts of trans fats.

Carbs: zero.

Other Zero-Carb Fats and Oils

• Lard
• Suet
• Tallow
• Ghee
• MCT oil

The Bottom Line

While butter, olive oil, and coconut oil are excellent choices for zero carb foods, be cautious with canola oil due to its low nutrient profile and small amounts of trans fats. Opt for high-quality options like ghee and MCT oil for added health benefits.

No-Carb Drinks

The list of 0 carb foods is fairly short for beverages. As long as you skip the sugar and juice drinks, you'll be okay.

Water

No surprises here, but water is completely free of carbs.

Pro-tip: Wake up and chug a glass of water immediately to get my day started feeling awake and refreshed.

Carbs: zero.

Coffee

Don't worry coffee drinkers, you can still drink your joe while eating carb free foods. You can't have cream, sugar, or Starbucks frappe, but black coffee is just fine.

If you can’t live without the creamer check out our keto coffee creamer guide.

Carbs: zero.

Carbonated Water

That includes seltzer water, soda water/club soda, and sparkling water — all of which are pretty much the same thing.

This doesn't include tonic water, though. It includes sugar, which disqualifies it from our list of foods without carbs.

Carbs: zero.

Tea

Some teas have very small traces of carbs, but most teas would be considered zero carb foods. Just skip the cream and sugar here as well.

Carbs: zero.

Other Zero-Carb Beverages

• Diet soda
• Clear, unflavored liquors
• Water with lemon or lime

The Bottom Line

Stick to simple, unflavored options to drink with no carb foods. Water, black coffee, and plain tea are excellent choices. For a twist, add lemon or lime to your water. 

No-Carb Seasonings

Almost all spices and herbs have some traces of carbs — we just don't use enough of them to bother calculating them into our carb counts with the possible exception of cinnamon or red spices like paprika or red pepper.

With that in mind, we've included below some spices that would go well with zero carb foods and then a few others that are almost zero-carb. But again, you probably don't have to worry too much about eating herbs and spices unless you are being incredibly strict.

Salt

Salt, the king of all spices, is free from any and all carbs.

Carbs: zero.

Black Pepper

While black pepper technically contains carbs, it is so small most zero-carb dieters don't worry about it.

One "dash" or crack has around 0.1g of carbs — a.k.a. not enough to get hung up over while seasoning foods without carbs.

Carbs: almost zero.

Mustard Powder

Mustard also has a very tiny amount of carbohydrates, but it's so small that it doesn't register even when you use a teaspoon on your foods without carbs.

Carbs: almost zero.

Everything Bagel Seasoning

Same story here. This blend of poppy seeds, garlic, salt, onion, and sesame seeds also registers so low per serving that it is "zero-carb" — even though it does have a small amount of carbohydrates.

Carbs: almost zero.

Other Zero-Carb Seasonings

• Basil
• Thyme
• Parsley
• Clove
• Herbs de Provence
• Italian seasoning
• Curry powder
• Oregano
• Onion powder

The Bottom Line

Most spices and herbs have trace carbs that are negligible. Stick to salt, black pepper, mustard powder, and everything bagel seasoning for while seasoning foods with no carbs.

No-Carb Condiments and Dips

If you're looking for dipping sauces and dressings, then your options are limited but not completely dry. Vinegar is definitely your friend in the world of carb free foods.

Vinegar

Vinegar is fair game. Use a fork to mix it with olive oil and salt for an easy homemade vinaigrette with your 0 carb foods.

Carbs: zero.

Mayonnaise

Mayonnaise is just eggs and oil, and if it's made naturally, then the carb count usually registers at 0g per serving.

Just check your labels since some mayo has sugar.

Carbs: usually zero.

Liquid Aminos

Liquid aminos are a naturally gluten-free substitute for soy sauce and are great for stir frying vegetables and no carb foods like meats.

Just keep an eye on your sodium intake when using liquid aminos.

Carbs: zero.

Hot Sauces

Hot sauces may have really small amounts of carbs. But when just using a dash or two, the serving size will often show 0g — assuming it's not a variety high in sugar.

Carbs: usually zero.

Other Zero-Carb Condiments

• Olive oil + herbs and other seasonings
• Dijon mustard (usually zero)
• Sriracha and other chili garlic sauces (usually zero)
• Spicy mayo

The Bottom Line

For condiments to eat with zero carb foods, choose vinegar, mayonnaise, liquid aminos, and some hot sauces. Always check labels for hidden carbs, especially in mayo and hot sauces.

No-Carb Sweeteners

While we would argue that it's a smarter long-term health decision to kick the sweet habit altogether, it can be difficult to do that.

Here are a few of the best sweeteners for when you need that extra bit of sweetness with your no-carb foods.

Stevia

Stevia is an extremely popular sweetener with carb-free foods and is known as the "sugar leaf".

It's also "non-nutritive", meaning it contains zero calories or nutrients. 

Carbs: zero.

Pure Erythritol

Pure erythritol is a type of sugar alternative that has just 6% of the calories of sugar while keeping 70% of the sweetness.

Plus, it doesn't raise blood sugar levels like normal sugar and may even reduce the risk of heart disease while adding it to foods without carbs.

Carbs: zero.

Monk Fruit

Monk fruit is zero-carb, but it's almost up to 200x sweeter than sugar, so make sure you adjust for that.

Carbs: zero.

Splenda

Splenda, a.k.a. sucralose, is great for sweetening zero carb foods. But it also contains dextrose and maltodextrin, which can kick you out of ketosis. So if keto is your goal, I would avoid this.

Carbs: zero.

Other Zero-Carb Sweeteners

• Xylitol
• Swerve

The Bottom Line

We recommend stevia, pure erythritol, monk fruit, and xylitol. Avoid Splenda if on keto. Always check labels to ensure content works with zero carb foods.

Almost No-Carb Foods

While we just gave you foods that are carb-free, now we will go into a list of nearly no carb foods. Because fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds are the only source of natural carbohydrates, they always contain them — even in small amounts.

So while we can't say any fruit or vegetable qualifies perfectly as carb free foods, many people do include certain vegetables and fruits into their own version of a zero-carb diet plan to maintain a healthy diet.

Dairy and eggs are similar. No natural dairy or egg product is without some amount of carbs, but many people include a bit of dairy and eggs in their diets with purely zero-carb foods.

Here's a short list of foods that are often eaten as a small portion of a "zero-carb" diet.

Fruits

When eating fruits, you want to stick to the fruits that have the lowest amount of natural sugars or to the fruits that you don't naturally use a lot of like lemons or limes.

Oranges and apples are two of the biggest hoarders of carbohydrates, so make sure you skip those!

Here are a few of your best fruit options among nearly zero carb foods:

• Avocado
• Olives
• Strawberries
• Kiwis
• Lemons
• Limes

Vegetables

In the world of vegetables, the greener the better. Go leafy over starchy with your zero carb foods — any day of the week. The cruciferous family in particular is a good place to start.

Here are a few of your best vegetable options mong our almost no carb food list:

• Broccoli
• Kale
• Spinach
• Onions
• Mushrooms
• Sprouts

Nuts and Seeds

Nuts are all over the place when it comes to carb content, so always check your labels. In general, seeds are preferable over nuts — so try and stick to those.

Here are a few of your best nut and seed options on our list of nearly 0 carb foods:

• Macadamia nuts
• Pecans
• Chia seeds
• Sunflower seeds
• Pumpkin seeds

Dairy

When it comes to dairy, only eat the full-fat versions. Low-fat dairy typically includes a lot of extra sugars. That means no skim or 2% — stick to what's natural when consuming with no carb foods.

Here are a few of your best dairy options:

• Heavy cream
• Asiago cheese
• Mozzarella cheese
• Parmesan cheese
• Provolone cheese
• Blue cheese
• Goat cheese

The Bottom Line

Almost no-carb foods include certain fruits (like avocados and strawberries), vegetables (like broccoli and spinach), nuts and seeds (like macadamia nuts and chia seeds), and full-fat dairy products.

Find Foods With No Carbs

While there aren't a ton of strictly no carb foods, it's useful to know that meat, fish, most oils, and some condiments are free from them.

Then, you can use that as your base and build nearly no carbsides around them for healthy meals.

Always remember to check your labels and eat as natural, organic, and fresh as possible. This reduces your risk of extra sugar or other additives messing with your carb count.

Frozen and canned foods are notorious for additives, so start by avoiding those or being extra careful when you're eating them.

FAQs

Which foods have no carbs?

Meat, fish, and certain oils are no carb foods. Try keto-compliant jerky like Chomps meat sticks for convenient snack foods with no carbs. Subscribe and save for regular delivery.

What food can replace carbs?

Replace carbs with proteins and healthy fats like meat, fish, eggs, and avocados. Nuts, seeds, and leafy greens are excellent nearly 0 carb foods.

What happens if you eat no carbs for a week?