In between your keto meals, you might find yourself craving a tasty snack to satiate your hunger or just satisfy your taste buds. While a bag of potato chips might sound really good at this time, it’s not exactly a good fit for your keto diet macros.
Not to worry, we listed 15 of the best keto-friendly alternatives to junk food that you can snack on every time hunger strikes. Ditch the cookies, candy, or flavored fries and instead opt for these delicious and filling keto-friendly junk foods.
Keto Junk Food Alternatives: Our Top 15 Alternatives
Southern Recipe Original Pork Rinds
If you’re ever craving something salty with a satisfying crunch, you can’t go wrong with pork rinds. TheSouthern Recipe Original Pork Rinds is more suitable for your keto diet than potato chips, containing 0 grams of carbohydrates and 9 grams of protein per serving! It’s also a great source of essential nutrients like B12, selenium, and riboflavin.
Oh, and did we mention how tasty, crunchy, and savory pork rinds are? Aside from their keto benefits, their flavor and texture are a huge upgrade from your regular potato chips.
Keto Pizza Bites From Hog Heaven
Does a slice of Hawaiian pizza sound good right about now? Instead of ordering a high-carb pizza from your favorite restaurant, why don’t you make your ownketo-friendly pizza bites?
This recipe substitutes pizza dough with tasty pork rinds or chicharrones, creating a flavorful crust with your favorite toppings — add pepperoni, mozzarella cheese, olives, and more! Plus, they’re bite-sized — no mess, no guilt — just pure heavenly goodness.
Keto Jalapeño Popper Burgers
Ah, burgers. They’re the perfect midday snack, especially if you’re feeling particularly famished. This no-bunKeto Jalepeño Popper Burgers will let you enjoy the classic American burger without the carbs — just a pound of ground beef, cheese, green onions, and jalapeños for that extra spicy kick!
And if you want fries with that, we recommend something even better — enjoy it with pork rinds or cracklins on the side!
Family Size Chili & Lime Pork Rinds
Instead of flavored fries for a post-lunch snack, opt for the. Drizzled in tangy lime juice and a bit of heat, this is sure to satisfy your junk food cravings. You can even enjoy it with a salsa or guacamole dip for extra flavor!
Get the family pack, with 8 ounces of pure goodness — that’s 16 massive servings! Don’t worry about exceeding your carb limits as it has zero carbs and zero trans fat. You even get 9 grams of protein per serving! Trust us, even your non-keto friends and family members will love this.
Keto Donuts - Krispy Kreme* Copycat Recipe
If sweets are what you’re craving for, then we have good news for you. Krispy Kreme donuts aren’t off the table — the only catch is making them yourself with keto-friendly ingredients. Don’t worry, thisKrispy Kreme copycat recipe is easy to follow.
Low-carb, gluten-free, and keto-friendly, you only need pork rinds, almond flour, keto sweetener, eggs, milk, baking soda, apple cider vinegar, and keto-compliant icing and sprinkles! You’ll yield donuts that taste just like the real thing but without the guilt.
Keto Roast Beef Sandwiches
Looking for something more filling? How about a heartyketo roast beef sandwich? Substituting the buns with pork rinds, this recipe will yield a crunchy and delicious snack with a full-bodied flavor.
Once you try this low-carb, high-fat sandwich alternative, you’ll never go back to eating regular roast beef sandwiches again. You might even opt for this during your keto cheat days instead of driving to the nearest sandwich shop.
Spicy Dill Pork Rinds
Tangy, sour, and with a spicy kick, theSouthern Recipe Spicy Dill Pork Rinds are the perfect go-to snack. Each bite is a zesty, crunchy, and savory experience that will make you keep grabbing another bite until you’ve finished the entire pack.
And if you do, there’s nothing to worry about — it only has less than 1 gram of total carbs per serving and 30% less sodium than your traditional pork rinds.
Party-Approved Keto Philly Cheesesteak Bites
Philly cheesesteak is a classic snack food that almost everyone craves for in the middle of the day. Lucky for you, we’ve come up with a keto-friendly alternative. TheseKeto Philly Cheesesteak Bites taste like they’re made in heaven, baked to perfection with a whole lot of flavor.
The best part is they’re low-carb! Enjoy 4 servings of these on your own or make a bigger batch for your next house party — everyone, keto dieter or not, won’t be able to get enough of this.
Keto Chicken Nuggets With Pork Rinds
Ordering chicken nuggets from McDonald’s or KFC? Stop right there! We have something even better. Make your ownketo-friendly chicken nuggets with a bag of pork rinds and chicken breasts. This recipe tastes just like the real thing — except crunchier, more savory, and low-carb!
If you want to level up the flavor, you can season it with ground cumin, black pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, or cayenne pepper for some heat. Then serve it with low-carb honey mustard for a unique but incredibly satisfying flavor. You can also opt for your regular dips, like mustard, mayonnaise, or zero-sugar ketchup.
Crunchy Pork Rind Taco Shells Recipe
The best thing about thisCrunchy Pork Rind Taco Shells Recipe is you get to enjoy Taco Tuesdays while on keto — but on a whole other level! Replacing flour or corn shells with pork rinds turns out to be the best decision ever, creating a savory dish with a bold flavor, unique texture, and oh-so-satisfying crunch.
Add your favorite taco toppings (lettuce, tomato, cheese, salsa, guacamole — you name it!) and this recipe will be your go-to every time you crave a crunchy taco.
Keto Chicken Fried Steak Bites
Americans, rejoice! We created a keto-friendly version of the infamous Chicken Fried Steak. All it took was replacing a few ingredients to achieve a low-carb alternative — almond flour and crushed pork rinds instead of breadcrumbs, and a keto-friendly gravy.
We promise thisKeto Chicken Fried Steak Bites will taste just as good as the classic — maybe you’ll like it even better.
BBQ Pork Rinds
Who doesn’t love barbecue-flavored chips? We’ll tell you — absolutely nobody. ThisSouthern Recipe BBQ Pork Rinds brings you an old-fashioned flavor that’s simply delicious and irresistible. Couple that with the crunchy texture of chicharrones and you’ll love munching on this while watching TV or chilling in your backyard.
A bag of BBQ pork rinds is zero carb — plus you get 5 grams of total fat per serving. Tasty, crunchy, and absolutely no guilt — mix it all together and it makes for a great snack food.
Pork Rind Pizza Crust
Who says you can’t have pizza on keto? You can as long as you substitute pizza dough with keto-friendly ingredients. ThisPork Rind Pizza Crust recipe recreates traditional pizza dough with pork rinds for a crunchier, crispier, and more savory crust.
Instead of being high in carbs like regular pizza, this has virtually no carbs but a whole lot of protein and fat — just what you need to meet your daily keto macros.
Keto Onion Rings with Pork Rinds
This rendition of everyone’s favorite finger food is a welcome twist to traditional onion rings. Substituting bread crumbs for pork rinds, thisKeto Onion Rings recipe balances the tangy and umami flavors of onions with the savory and crunchy goodness of pork rinds.
You can serve this with your favorite low-carb dipping sauces like mayonnaise, mustard, or hot sauce! But trust us when we say they’re tasty on their own too.
Keto Crunch: Zucchini Fries with a Pork Rind Twist
Fries are off the table when observing the keto diet. Not to worry, though, as you’ll enjoy theseZucchini Fries with a Pork Rind Twist just as well. The main ingredient, zucchini, is a keto favorite because of its high nutritional value and low carb content.
Coat them with crunchy pork rinds and you have yourself a savory and crispy snack that will be your go-to every time you need something to munch on. You won’t even notice you’re eating vegetables.
Conclusion
Even when observing the keto diet, you can enjoy the flavors of your favorite junk foods with keto-friendly alternatives. The snack options we listed above should satisfy your cravings while keeping you true to your daily macros. You might like them even better than their high-carb options — we know we do!
Keto Junk Food: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I eat junk food on the keto diet?
Regular junk food is not keto-compliant. They are high in carbohydrates and salt which can have negative effects on your health. Instead of your usual bag of potato chips or a plate of fast food dishes, opt for keto-friendly alternative snacks to stay on ketosis.
What snack foods can I eat on keto?
If you need a little snack in between your keto meals, we recommend the following low-carb alternatives:
- Olives:1.2 grams of carbs per 100-gram serving
- Raw, whole almonds:5 grams of carbsper 30-gram serving
- Boiled eggs:0.56 grams of carbs for 1 large egg (50 grams)
- Green bell peppers:4 grams of carbs per 85-gram serving
- Carrot sticks:7 grams of carbs per 85-gram serving
- Celery sticks:3 grams of carbs per 110-gram serving
What are dirty keto foods?
Dirty keto is a variation of the keto diet that follows the same macros as regular keto but doesn’t mind where macronutrients come from. Some of the foods you’ll see in a dirty keto list include processed cheese, sugar-free sodas, no-bun fast-food burgers, pre-packaged meats, chocolates, potato chips, and low-carb cookies.
Can I eat KFC on keto?
KFC fried chicken contains around 3 to 11 grams of carbs depending on the cut. You may be able to eat KFC while observing keto — just opt for their grilled chicken or a wing/ drumstick part of their original recipe.
