Are you thinking about switching to a keto diet? If so, you may be worried about the cost.
After all, high carb foods like bread and pasta are dirt cheap. Compared to low carb foods like meat and fresh berries.
But with the right planning, you can eat on the cheap. Even on a keto diet.
Today, I’m sharing 25 low budget keto meals. They’re not only cheap but delicious as well.
I’m also sharing the macros so you can keep track of your diet. So, dig right in!
1. Keto 2 Minute Noodle Soup
Source: madcreationshub.com
We all live busy lives, myself included. So, convenience is pretty important.
This noodle soup takes just a few minutes to take. And it tastes even better than those instant noodle soups that you get at the supermarket.
That’s because it contains 6 different spices. Spices like chili flakes, turmeric, and onion salt. Yum!
And it’s much lower in carbs too. One serving contains only 1 gram of net carbs.
The key to it being so low in carbs is that you use edamame spaghetti. This is a low carb spaghetti that is made from edamame bean flour.
It tastes just as good as regular pasta. And it is packed with protein and fiber, which help keep you full. If you would like to give it a try, you can get some here.
Check out more ketogenic soup recipes here.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 28
- Fats: 2g
- Protein: 1g
- Net Carbs: 1g
2. Salsa Chicken Recipe
Source: whiskaffair.com
Chicken breasts can be quite bland. That’s because they don’t contain much fat.
These salsa-topped chicken breasts are anything but bland. They’re saucy and cheesy, and the taco seasoning gives them some Mexican flare.
You only need 5 ingredients to make this tasty dish. These are chicken breasts, taco seasoning, tomato seasoning, cheddar cheese, and some parsley.
You’ll want to make sure to pound your chicken breasts first. This flattens them, so they take a long time to cook.
So make sure you have a good kitchen mallet like this one.
This salsa chicken dish is great just the way it is. But if you like, you can add some crispy bacon for extra flavor and fat.
If you find yourself loving salsa chicken, you might like this meal prep here.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 412
- Fats: 15g
- Protein: 57g
- Net Carbs: 7g
3. Oven Roasted Chicken Thighs With Creamy Mustard Sauce
Source: theketoqueens.com
When it comes to a keto diet, chicken thighs rule. That’s because they contain more fat than chicken breasts.
And not only are they more flavorful, but they’re also cheaper.
These chicken thighs are tender and juicy. The mustard sauce is creamy and sweet and has a hint of heat from the Dijon mustard.
Make sure you have some liquid stevia on hand. That’s what gives the sauce its sweetness without blowing your ketosis. If you don’t have any, you can get some here.
Serve with cauliflower mash or broccoli mash. Get your steamer set here to make the cauliflower rice. You will also need a food processor which you can get here.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 625
- Fats: 49g
- Protein: 41g
- Net Carbs: 4g
4. Beef & Broccoli Bake
Source: dancingthroughtherain.com
Another thing you can save money on is ground beef. The leaner your ground beef, the more expensive it is.
Thankfully, on a keto diet, you actually want your beef to have a bit more fat. So, your ground beef ends up being cheaper.
This dish is the perfect way to get your kids to eat their veggies. The beef is nicely browned, while the broccoli is sauteed in butter.
All topped with ooey, gooey melted cheese.
The best part is that this dish takes only 20 minutes to make. So, it’s perfect for those busy weekday nights.
Check out more ketogenic dinner ideas recipes here.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 485
- Fats: 21g
- Protein: 27g
- Net Carbs: 4g
5. The Best Chicken Salad Recipe
Source: theketoqueens.com
Meal prepping is another great way to save meals on a keto diet. And this chicken salad is not only tasty, it’s also great for meal prepping.
It’s creamy and full of chicken pieces. The crunchiness of the toasted almonds melds perfectly with the creaminess of the mayonnaise.
And because you’re using 6 different herbs and spices, it’s packed with flavor. To measure them, make sure you have a set of measuring spoons handy. I like these ones because they don’t rust or get stained.
This recipe makes 3 servings, but you can just double it. That way, you can have all your lunches prepped for the week.
Just be sure to keep your leftovers in good airtight storage containers like these. That’s so they stay fresh longer.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 353
- Fats: 28g
- Protein: 19g
- Net Carbs: 3g
6. Low Carb Beef Cabbage Soup
Source: myproductivebackyard.com
Veggies can get quite expensive. Especially when they’re out of season.
But cabbage tends to be cheaper. And you a good bang for your buck from them too.
Besides being low carb, cabbage is good for you too. It is chock full of vitamin C, which is good for your immune system.
Eating cabbage may also help lower your cholesterol levels. So eat up that cabbage!
On the menu is nicely ground beef simmered in tomato juice with cabbage and bell peppers. It makes for a pretty tasty and comforting soup.
And since it makes 11 servings, it’s great for meal prep too.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 150
- Fats: 8g
- Protein: 13g
- Net Carbs: 6g
7. Low Carb Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole
Source: curbingcarbs.com
This casserole is a cheeseburger lover’s delight-without the bun. It’s meaty, creamy, and packed with cheesy goodness.
The bacon puts it over the top. It even has pickles. After all, what’s a cheeseburger without a pickle?
It’s a good thing, it makes 10 servings. Because it’s sure to be gobbled up quickly.
Check out more keto casserole recipes here.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 336
- Fats: 25g
- Protein: 23g
- Net Carbs: 3g
8. Best Homemade Chicken Soup Recipe
Source: creativegreenliving.com
Life’s busy and stressful. And sometimes you just need to slow down… and eat chicken soup.
But canned chicken soup can get pricey. So, it’s much better to make your own.
This one is pretty simple to make. And because you use a whole chicken instead of chicken parts, you save even more money… Bonus!
The homemade broth is super flavorful. The carrots and celery add freshness and fight inflammation too.
The chicken is nice and tender. That’s because it’s been simmering for hours in a slow cooker. Don’t have a slow cooker? Here is a slow cooker I recommend. Cheap and does the job.
One interesting ingredient you’ll be adding to your soup is apple cider vinegar. Don’t skip it!
The apple cider vinegar adds depth of flavor to the soup. And did you know that it may even help you lose belly fat too?
Check out more ketogenic slow cooker meals here.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 403
- Fats: 26.9
- Protein: 32.8
- Net Carbs: 6.4
9. Keto Pizza Casserole
Source: jenniferbanz.com
Now it’s time for pizza casserole. If you’ve been missing pizza, you’re in for a treat.
You’ve got spicy Italian sausage, nicely browned ground beef, pepperoni, oeey gooey cheese, fresh green bell peppers, and saucy marinara sauce all baked in a casserole.
You definitely won’t miss the crust. After all, pizza is all about the toppings, right?
And to make it even more “pizza-like,” feel free to add some black olives or even mushrooms.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 560
- Fats: 41
- Protein: 41
- Net Carbs: 7
10. Keto Slow Cooker Meatballs
Source: countryhillcottage.com
Craving even more Italian food? Then try these meatballs.
Now you would think meatballs are keto-friendly. After all, they contain ground beef and eggs, right?
But because they also contain breadcrumbs, traditional meatballs are a no-no. However, these ones are A-okay!
They’re tender and juicy and simmered in a homemade marinara sauce. All you’ll need to make the marinara sauce are crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, onion, and bay leaf.
And instead of breadcrumbs, you’ll be adding mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese to your meatball mixture. So, not only are your meatballs super tender, they’re also cheesy too. In fact, I prefer these meatballs to your traditional meatballs.
Serve with zucchini noodles. To make zucchini noodles, get a spiralizer like this one here.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 64
- Fats: 4g
- Protein: 33g
- Net Carbs: 5g
11. Asparagus Stuffed Chicken Breast Recipe
Source: creativegreenliving.com
When you’re on a keto diet, entertaining can be a hassle. Because of your keto requirements, you may end up making two separate dishes; one for you and one for your dinner guests.
Not only is this more stressful, it ends up being more expensive too. Cha-ching, cha-ching!
So, why not make one dish that everyone will enjoy? And save money too.
These stuffed chicken breasts look and taste amazing. The provolone cheese and asparagus work wonderfully in the chicken breasts, while the melted Italian cheese blend makes a great topping… your guests will be asking for seconds.
And they’re really easy to make too. You’ll be starting off your chicken breasts on the stove before finishing them off in the oven, so make sure you have a good oven-safe skillet.
Iron skillets are best to use because they’re not only oven-safe, they also sear your chicken beautifully. If you’re looking to save some money, there’s a deal right now on this high quality iron skillet.
Check out more keto chicken dinner recipes here.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 715
- Fats: 26.8
- Protein: 112.5
- Net Carbs: 3.5
12. Roasted Yellow Squash With Parmesan Cheese
Source: poshjournal.com
Besides your meats, low carb veggies are important on a keto diet. Without them, you’ll be missing valuable nutrients like fiber, and many vitamins and minerals.
But let’s face it: it can be really hard eating more veggies. Particularly if they taste like grass.
This roasted yellow squash will get you eating more veggies. It’s cheesy, sweet, and has aromatic flavors. If you like it hot, feel free to add cayenne pepper.
This dish makes an amazing side dish. Feel free to pair it with some steak or roasted chicken.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 99
- Fats: 7g
- Protein: 5g
- Net Carbs: 3g
13. Keto Baked Breaded Chicken Breast
Source: platingpixels.com
Don’t you just love breaded chicken breast? But they don’t exactly love you back. That’s because of the breadcrumbs.
These breaded chicken breasts are super moist on the inside and crunchy on the outside. And because they’re baked instead of fried, they’re healthier for you too.
And they only contain 2 grams of net carbs per serving.
The key to them being low carb is the breading. Instead of using breadcrumbs, you use almond meal. It’s a great ketogenic substitute.
Besides being lower in net carbs, almond meal is also an excellent source of vitamin E, which promotes healthy skin.
Don’t have almond meal? You can stock up on some here or process some almonds in a food processor to make your own.
To make it a meal, serve with zucchini fries and low carb ketchup.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 345
- Fats: 20g
- Protein: 36g
- Net Carbs: 2g
14. Easy Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs
Source: ieatketo.com
And talking about saving money: time is money, so let’s try and save time in the kitchen!
These chicken thighs are juicy on the inside. And since they’re skin-on thighs, they’re extra crispy on the outside.
The greens beans are really delicious too. That’s because you sautee them in butter, chicken grease, and a yummy garlic-herb mixture.
What I love is that this is a one-skillet meal. So you spend less time cleaning up.
Check out more ketogenic one-pan meals here.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 786
- Fats: 28g
- Protein: 40g
- Net Carbs: 5.2
15. Stuffed Pepper Without Rice
Source: wholelottayum.com
Want to save more time? Stuffed peppers are cheap… and save you time in the kitchen.
These peppers are packed with ground beef, a 3-cheese blend, and chunky marinara sauce.
And let’s not forget the rice. For the rice, you use cauliflower rice.
It adds a rice-like texture and added nutrition. It could also do a for a filling ketogenic snack!
Per Serving:
- Calories: 413
- Fats: 16g
- Protein: 43g
- Net Carbs: 7g
16. Keto Fish Pie
Source: ieatketo.com
Are there any seafood lovers in the house? This one’s for you.
On the menu is keto fish pie. Fish pie is traditional British comfort food.
It’s actually a mixture of different kinds of fish in a cream sauce. All topped with mashed potatoes.
Now, some people use lobster. But to keep it budget-friendly, you’ll leave that out.
Instead, you’ll be using cheaper seafood like salmon, cod, and smoked mackerel. And instead of the mashed potatoes, you’ll be using cauliflower mash.
What you get is a creamy, cheesy fish pie that’s super comforting. And since it has omega-3s, it’s good for your brain too.
Check out these keto fish recipes if you’re a fan of seafood!
Per Serving:
- Calories: 573
- Fats: 43g
- Protein: 34g
- Net Carbs: 10g
17. Turkey Taco Lettuce Wraps
Source: skinnytaste.com
Not in the mood for heavy food? You’ll love these lettuce wraps.
They’re filled with perfectly seasoned ground turkey. The bell peppers add some Mexican flare, as does the taco seasoning.
You’ll be making your own taco seasoning. This saves you money, and as an added bonus, there is no added sugar or preservatives.
Like some heat? Feel free to add some jalapenos.
Check out these sweet chili pork lettuce wraps if you’re a fan of keto wraps in general.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 255
- Fats: 11g
- Protein: 30g
- Net Carbs: 4g
18. Easy Broccoli Cheese Soup
Source: wholesomeyum.com
I love eating meat, as I’m sure many of you do too. But sometimes you need a break from meat.
This soup is cheesy and creamy, and it’s pretty filling. And since it contains veggies, it’s a complete meal.
All you need to make it are 5 ingredients: broccoli, garlic, broth, heavy cream, and cheddar cheese. And in 20 minutes, dinner is served.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 292
- Fats: 25g
- Protein: 13g
- Net Carbs: 4g
19. One-Pot Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs With Mushrooms
Source: sweetcsdesigns.com
Need a dish that is fancy enough to serve your dinner guests? Give this a try.
It tastes amazing. What brings it over the top is the garlic butter sauce.
It’s pretty rich and fragrant. It will have your guests licking their plates.
Serve over cauliflower rice. Check out more ketogenic mushroom recipes here.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 335
- Fats: 11g
- Protein: 25g
- Net Carbs: 6g
20. Sausage, Pepper, & Cauliflower Fried Rice
Source: eatwell101.com
Do you love fried rice? This is sure to satisfy your cravings.
You’ve got nicely browned smoked sausage, a medley of red, green and yellow peppers, and some nicely seasoned cauliflower fried rice.
For convenience, you can use packaged cauliflower rice. But to save money, you can make yours from scratch.
Just cut your cauliflower into small pieces. Then pulse in a food processor until rice-like. This food processor should do the trick.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 320.98
- Fats: 29.72g
- Protein: 8.74g
- Net Carbs: 4.48
21. Zucchini Casserole
Source: homemadeinterest.com
Casseroles are oh, so yummy. They’re also super comforting.
This zucchini casserole is creamy and cheesy. The zucchini adds tons of freshness and nutrition.
It’s also a good source of magnesium and potassium. So, it can help you fight symptoms of the keto flu.
Making this casserole is pretty easy. It’s just slicing up the zucchini that will take more time. To save time, you can simply use a mandolin slicer instead.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 275
- Fats: 21g
- Protein: 13g
- Net Carbs: 6g
22. Broccoli Chicken Casserole With Cream Cheese & Mozzarella
Source: eatwell101.com
Here’s another casserole. After all, you can never have enough casseroles, right?
This one is as beautiful to look at as it is to eat. It’s creamy, cheesy, and packed with chicken and broccoli… Thus, a great way to get your kids to eat their veggies.
It’s also packed with protein. So, it’s great for growing kids.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 419.14
- Fats: 29.15g
- Protein: 31.75g
- Net Carbs: 6.18g
23. Low Carb Crock Pot Mexican Chicken Soup
Source: lowcarbyum.com
Soups are a great way to fill up. They’re also a great way to save money too.
And who doesn’t love a comforting bowl of soup? This chicken soup is as comforting as they come.
It’s packed with tender pieces of chicken. And the chunky salsa and Pepper Jack cheese add Mexican flair.
Making this soup is pretty easy. Just dump your ingredients in your slow cooker and go. Now, that’s how I like to roll.
Here is a slow cooker that’s low budget but good quality.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 331
- Fats: 23g
- Protein: 25g
- Net Carbs: 4g
24. Low Carb Tuna Casserole
Source: healthyrecipesblogs.com
Don’t you just love canned tuna? Not only is it tasty, but it’s also pretty cheap.
It’s also a great source of brain-boosting Omega-3s. So, eat up that tuna!
This tuna casserole is packed with cheesy goodness. It also has a bit of heat and sweetness thanks to the Dijon mustard, cayenne pepper, and red onions.
And because you’re not using any noodles, it’s pretty low in carbs too. Now that’s a win-win situation in my books.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 465
- Fats: 36g
- Protein: 33g
- Net Carbs: 2g
25. Instant Pot Lemon Garlic Chicken
Source: lifemadeketo.com
Chicken is a great budget-friendly way to get your protein and fat. But after a while, it can get kind of boring.
So, if you need to jazz up your chicken, this is the way to go. The chicken is juicy and tender and packed with flavor.
That’s because it’s cooked in a lemon garlic sauce. But the best part is this is a one-pot dish.
You do all your cooking in an Instant Pot. So, you have less cleanup at the end.
Don’t have an Instant Pot yet? You can save a ton of money on this one now.
Check out more of instant pot keto recipes here.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 346
- Fats: 15g
- Protein: 18g
- Net Carbs: 1g
Conclusion
Are you going to try any of these low budget meals? Let me know which one is your favorite!
