Perfect for parties, holiday dinners, or everyday meals, these 30+ keto side dish recipes add flavor and variety without the extra carbs. Each recipe is low-carb, easy to make, and designed to pair beautifully with your favorite mains.
From cheesy cauliflower bakes to roasted veggies and refreshing salads, these keto-friendly sides are guaranteed crowd-pleasers—even carb-lovers won’t miss the potatoes or bread. Whether you’re hosting a gathering or just sprucing up your weeknight dinners, these simple keto side dishes will keep everyone coming back for more.
Get ready to serve up something delicious with these low-carb, high-flavor keto sides that fit perfectly into your healthy lifestyle.
A great side dish can take any meal from basic to memorable, and when you’re following a keto lifestyle, having flavorful low-carb options makes all the difference. This collection of 30+ keto side dishes is packed with tasty recipes that pair perfectly with your favorite mains—without adding unnecessary carbs.
From crispy roasted vegetables to clever cauliflower side dishes, these recipes are all about keeping your meals exciting and satisfying. Whether you’re cooking for your family or hosting a get-together, these easy keto sides will bring color, flavor, and balance to the table—without breaking your carb budget.
When it comes to making keto side dishes, the key is using simple, low-carb ingredients that bring loads of flavor and texture. Here are some staples I always keep on hand:
Low-carb vegetables – Think leafy greens, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, zucchini, asparagus, avocado, and cabbage. These are the base for most keto-friendly sides.
Keto swaps – Cauliflower is a real MVP—it can be mashed, riced, or even turned into a pizza crust. Zoodles (zucchini noodles), eggplant, and cabbage noodles are also great for adding variety.
Dairy and cheese – Add richness with cream cheese, sour cream, heavy cream, or a mix of cheddar, mozzarella, and parmesan. Cheese makes everything better, right?
Healthy fats – Use olive oil, avocado oil, butter or ghee, and coconut oil to boost flavor and keep those fats up.
Nuts and seeds – A sprinkle of almonds, walnuts, chia seeds, or flaxseeds can add a satisfying crunch and extra nutrition.
Protein boosters – Add bacon, eggs, or even leftover grilled chicken to make your side dishes heartier and more filling.
Pickles and olives – These little flavor bombs are great for adding tang and punch with zero fuss.
Is It Important to Have a Side Dish?
While it’s not absolutely necessary, adding a side dish to your meal is a smart and satisfying choice—especially if you’re following a low-carb or keto lifestyle.
For starters, side dishes add variety. They balance out your plate, bring different textures and flavors, and make the whole meal feel more complete. Imagine a juicy grilled chicken breast—now add some buttery roasted broccoli or cheesy cauliflower mash. Instantly more exciting, right?
But it’s not just about taste. Healthy keto side dishes can boost your meal’s nutrition. Adding vegetables or healthy fats gives you extra fiber, vitamins, and minerals that support your overall wellness.
Plus, having a side can help with portion control. Instead of loading up on just one food, pairing your main dish with a nutrient-packed side helps you feel full and satisfied without overdoing it.
So even though it’s optional, including a simple side dish can take your meal from basic to balanced, flavorful, and totally keto-friendly.
If you're looking for a lighter, low-carb alternative to traditional mashed potatoes, this creamy cauliflower mashed potatoes is your new go-to. Made with just 5 simple ingredients and only 1g net carbs per serving, it’s a comforting side dish that's perfect for keto, low-carb, gluten-free, and diabetic-friendly lifestyles.
This Cauliflower Mac and Cheese recipe uses just a few simple ingredients and swaps cauliflower for the traditional pasta. If you are looking for a grain-free or veggie-forward take on macaroni and cheese, I know you’ll love this recipe!
This creamy cauliflower risotto is the perfect low-carb twist on the classic comfort food. It’s rich, flavorful, and ready in just 20 minutes, making it ideal for busy weeknights or when you’re craving something warm and satisfying.
This 15-minute Keto Fried Rice recipe is one of my favorite copycat keto Chinese take-out recipes. It requires less than 10 ingredients and one pan. While it’s a great side dish, you can also turn this keto cauliflower fried rice into a main course by adding shrimp, chicken, or pork.
You can whip up a scrumptious side dish of crispy air fryer cauliflower using only a few basic ingredients. This recipe guarantees a roasted flavor with crunchy edges, and it takes just 10 minutes from prep to plate, making it a nutritious and easy option for any meal.
These cheesy baked broccoli tots are the perfect low-carb, gluten-free snack or side dish. They’re crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and packed with flavor. Plus, each tot has only 38 calories and 2g of carbs!
Keto Zucchini Fritters with a homemade dipping sauce are a super tasty and low carb way to put all that delicious summer zucchini to use. They're perfect to serve at brunch, as an appetizer or guilt-free side dish!
Easy Air fryer broccoli gives you perfectly crispy and tender broccoli in just 6 minutes! Air Fried broccoli has the same great flavor as oven roasted broccoli in a fraction of the time!
Easy Oven Roasted Broccolini Recipe – Lightly sweet and perfectly spicy roasted baby broccoli is a flavorful side dish that’s a snap to prepare in under 20 minutes.
These zucchini noodles are the perfect low-carb and gluten-free alternative to traditional pasta. Ready in under 30 minutes, they’re fresh, vibrant, and super easy to make with just a handful of ingredients. Whether you’re following a keto diet, going gluten-free, or just trying to eat more vegetables, zoodles (zucchini noodles) are a delicious way to satisfy those pasta cravings — without the extra carbs.
Garlic butter sautéed zucchini is the easiest and most delicious dinner side dish! It’s super quick and pairs well with almost any main course. You’ll only need a handful of ingredients and 10 minutes to whip it up, plus it’s super low-carb.
Made with just 4 ingredients and ready in 20 minutes, these air fryer green beans are one of the easiest and healthiest side dishes you can make. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, or to serve during Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any holiday meal.
Keto side dishes can be flavorful, interesting, and nutritious, and these Sauteed Green Beans and Tomatoes are all those things and more! Loaded with flavor, fiber, and color, this simple keto side dish might just steal the show! Ready to jazz up your dinner plate? Read on, and I’ll show you all my chef tips and tricks to make this vegetable side dish perfectly every time!
Crunchy, flavorful, and guilt-free, Keto Onion Rings are a game-changer for low-carb enthusiasts. These golden delights deliver all the satisfying crunch and savory taste you crave, minus the carbs. Indulge in this keto-friendly snack and savor the onion ring experience without compromising your dietary goals.
Learn how to make the best jicama fries in the oven using just 5 ingredients and 5 minutes of prep. These crispy jicama fries are the perfect side dish for all French fries lovers without all those carbs and calories.
If you are looking for a quick keto snack or appetizer, try these easy keto bacon wrapped avocado fries that you can make in the air fryer. I only used 3 ingredients and it takes about 15 minutes to make. Easy Peasy. And not only are they decadent and delicious, they have only 0.5g net carbs!
Oven roasted Bacon Wrapped Asparagus is the perfect low carb/Keto and Whole30 appetizer or side dish. Made with just four ingredients, this recipe is deceivingly simply! I like to make it for holidays or weeknight dinners alike!
This side dish is the perfect thing to serve for dinner – air fryer turnips! Small turnips cook evenly in the air fryer and have a subtly sweet flavor you'll adore.
Get ready to impress your guests with the best low-carb appetizer—keto stuffed mushrooms. These bite-sized delights are made with tender, earthy mushrooms, filled with a savory, cheesy mixture, and baked to golden perfection. They're the kind of crowd-pleasing, flavor-packed snack that disappears in minutes at any party, holiday gathering, or even during a casual weeknight dinner.
These Garlic Butter Mushrooms with onions are the PERFECT versatile side dish for steak, burgers, chicken or pork! Mushrooms and Onions are an easy, savory side dish you can whip up about 10 minutes before you are going to eat them.
This Keto Roasted Vegetables recipe takes low-carb veggies to the next level! With a recipe this good, you’ll find yourself happily reaching for seconds.
Learn how to make the best coleslaw salad that's made from freshly shredded vegetables, perfectly mixed with a creamy and flavorful dressing. Coleslaw is a beloved side dish, perfect for picnics or BBQs, and the best part is that it can be prepared ahead of time!
Who says you can't have your favorite potluck side dish on the Ketogenic diet? This low-carb Keto salad has broccoli, bacon, cheese, onion, and sunflower/pumpkin seeds in a mayonnaise dressing.
This keto egg salad is the perfect quick and satisfying dish—ideal for a low-carb breakfast on keto bread toast or a light lunch wrapped in crisp lettuce leaves. It's made with simple, wholesome ingredients, and comes together in just 10 minutes.
Light, fresh, and perfect with so many different dishes, Keto Caprese Salad is a pretty dish that’s easy to pull together. And, with plenty of flavor, it can be a whole meal or just a side dish! Hungry? Read on and I, Chef Jenn, will show you all my tips for making this amazing salad perfectly every time!
This creamy cucumber salad is fresh, crunchy, and full of flavor—making it the perfect healthy summer side dish. Made with crisp cucumbers, sharp red onions, and a smooth, tangy dressing, it’s a quick and easy recipe that comes together in minutes using simple, everyday ingredients.
This easy, cheesy and delicious keto friendly recipe is made with just 4 ingredients: mozzarella, parmesan, an egg and garlic powder. That may not sound like much, but it’s the perfect combination needed to make the best low carb snack you’ll ever eat.
This easy keto cornbread is soft, buttery, and perfectly golden—just like the classic cornbread you know and love, but without the carbs. Made with almond flour instead of cornmeal, it delivers the same comforting texture and slightly sweet flavor without using any actual corn. It’s the perfect low-carb side dish to serve with soups, chili, stews, or even your favorite barbecue recipes. Ready in just 30 minutes with simple pantry ingredients, this low carb cornbread recipeis gluten-free, grain-free, and so satisfying that no one will believe it’s keto!
This Keto Broccoli Bread recipe is an ideal side dish for meat. You can even eat it for breakfast. I used broccoli as the main ingredient to make this cheesy broccoli bread. I also added a couple of tablespoons of almond flour to obtain a better consistency.
This homemade keto cranberry sauce is quick, easy, and made with fresh or frozen cranberries. Ready in just 15 minutes and has only 3g net carbs per serving—perfect for your low carb holiday table!
