Do you have to follow keto perfectly to see changes in your body? NO! You can absolutely go about this the “Lazy Keto” way, and feel amazing, lose weight, get mental clarity, improve your skin complexion, and more.

Eating healthfully and cutting out excess carbohydrates can be SIMPLE, delicious, and even work in social situations when you’re out to eat. You don’t have to become obsessive over counting an exact number of carbohydrates. You can cut back on starchy carbohydrates and excess sugars in the diet in an easy, “lazy” way!

20 Lazy Keto Recipes

What Is Lazy Keto?

If you’re strictly following Keto, macro percentages are 55% to 60% calories from fat, 30% to 35% calories from protein, and 5% to 10% of calories from carbohydrates.

But since you’re reading this, I’m guessing you’re interested in something a little more flexible – strictly following keto can be tough in social situations, and just in every day living. And honestly, in my opinion, it’s NOT necessary to see amazing results.

I’m sure there’s an exact definition for what “lazy keto” means – but honestly, it doesn’t matter. What matters for your health & your weight is reducing excess carbohydrates in all forms (starches, fruits, sauces, etc.).

So this is what I mean by “lazy keto” – cutting out excess carbohydrates so we can get the health benefits from a low carb approach, but being able to live our normal lives without making crazy adjustments at home or in social situations.

How Many Carbs Are Allowed in Lazy Keto?

Honestly I don’t recommend counting carbohydrates. My general guideline is to stick with 1 starchy food per day – you can see a list of starches & their serving sizes here.

But typically this means:
– 1 thick slice of bread
– 1/2 cup of cooked grain like pasta or rice
– 1/2 cup of beans or lentils
– 1 cup starchy vegetables like corn, peas, and butternut squash

If you’re really set on tracking carbohydrates, the keto guidelines for staying in ketosis are sticking with 20-50 grams of carb per day.

In this blog post I’ll list 10 lazy keto breakfasts & snacks, and 10 lazy keto lunch & dinner recipes.

10 Lazy Keto Breakfasts & Snacks

Huevos Rancheros sans Tortilla

391 calories

Ingredients:

• 2 egg, large

• 1/2 cup beans & legumes, cooked, black beans

• 1/3 cup cheese, crumbled, feta

• 2 Tbsp cilantro

• 1 tsp red pepper flakes

Directions:

1. Spray pan with oil spray & turn to high heat

2. When pan is hot, crack in eggs, cook to desired consistency

3. Mix beans, feta, red pepper and cilantro as a side

Jalapeño Poppers

413 calories

Ingredients:

• 3 Tbsp whipped cream cheese

• 1 uncured bacon, slice

• 1/3 cup cheese, shredded, cheddar

• 1/3 cup cheese, shredded, mozzarella

• 1 jalapeño

Directions:

1. This recipe works best when making 2-3 servings

2. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

3. In a small bowl, stir/mash together the cream cheese and shredded cheeses (microwave the cream cheese for a few seconds first

4. Fill the jalapeno halves with mixture and wrap each with ½ strip bacon. Place onto baking sheet.

5. Bake for 15-20 minutes

PB&J Box

474 calories

Ingredients:

• 1 egg, large

• 1 cup grapes, red

• 1 oz cheese, sliced cheese, full fat/regular

• 2 Tbsp peanut butter

Directions:

1. Hard boil egg

2. Many ladies like dipping the grapes in the PB “PB & J” 🙂

3. No dairy? Have an extra egg

Peach & Yogurt Box with 1/8 Cup Nuts

413 calories

Ingredients:

• 1 peach

• 1 yogurt, plain, Greek, 2%, single-serving container

• 1/8 cup nuts

• 2 eggs, large

• Dash: everything bagel seasoning

Directions:

1. Hard boil eggs

2. If you want to use a flavored yogurt, choose one with less than 15 gm sugar – or chop up the peach & add it to the plain yogurt for flavor!

3. Use salt & pepper if you don’t have everything bagel seasoning

4. Recommend only making 2-3 days ahead of time to preserve freshness

Salty Apple Cookies

476 calories

Ingredients:

• 1 apple, medium

• 2 Tbsp peanut butter

• 1/8 cup nuts

• 1/8 cup sunflower seeds, hulled

Directions:

1. Slice apple as shown in picture 

2. Spread PB on apples 

3. Top with nuts & seeds (separately or together!)

Salami Pickle Bites

324 calories

Ingredients:

• 12 pickles, slices, dill

• 3 oz salami

Directions:

1. Wrap salami around pickles and spear with toothpick to hold together.

2. Eat any extra salami or pickles on the side.

Banana Pancakes with 1 Tbsp PB

271 calories

Ingredients:

• 1 banana

• 1 egg, large

• 1 Tbsp peanut butter

• Dash: cinnamon

Directions:

1. Whisk banana and eggs. Add in cinnamon.

2. Spray a non-stick pan with an oil spray

3. Add small amount of batter to pan, flip when you can easily slide turner under it

4. Make a sandwich with the PB or dip pieces of pancakes into the PB on the side

Broccoli Frittata

299 calories

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs, large

• 1/2 cup broccoli

• 1/3 cup cheese, shredded, mozzarella

• 1/2 onion, yellow

• Dash: salt

Directions:

1. This recipe works best when making 2-3 servings

2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F

3. Spray a pan with an oil spray

4. Add in veggies (chopped), stir-fry for 6-7 minutes

5. Crack eggs into a bowl, whisk with a fork, add in cheese and seasonings

6. Spray an oven-safe pan (e.g. cast iron skillet) with an oil spray

7. Add in veggies to the oven-safe pan

8. Add in eggs & cheese mixture to the oven-safe pan

9. Bake for 25 minutes, or until eggs have cooked through

Buffalo Cauliflower Bites

105 calories

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cauliflower florets

• 2 Tbsp barbeque sauce

• 1 Tbsp cheese, Parmesan, grated

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees 

2. Spray baking sheet with an oil spray 

3. Bake cauliflower for 30 minutes 

4. Take cauliflower out, mix with BBQ sauce and Parmesan cheese, bake for an additional 5 minutes 

Egg, Feta & Spinach Bowl with Cauliflower Rice

347 calories

Ingredients:

• 1 cup leafy greens, spinach, raw

• 2 eggs, large

• 1 cup veggies noodles/rice, cauliflower “rice”, raw

• 1 Tbsp cheese, Parmesan, grated

• 1/3 cup cheese, crumbled, feta

• Dash: garlic

Directions:

1. Spray pan with an oil spray. Add in cauliflower rice. Stir fry until you see some browning. Add in Parmesan cheese and garlic salt. Remove from pan.

2. Spray pan again with oil spray and fry eggs

3. In a bowl combine eggs, cauliflower rice, feta, and spinach

10 Lazy Keto Lunches & Dinners

Asian Chicken Bowl

343 calories

Ingredients:

• 1 cup mixed greens

• 1/8 cup cashews

• 1/2 cup cabbage, shredded

• 1/2 cup mandarin oranges, canned

• 1/2 cup shredded carrots

• 3 oz chicken breast, boneless, skinless, raw

• 1 Tbsp cilantro

• 1 Tbsp peanut sauce

Directions:

1. Spray pan with an oil spray. Cook chicken for 5 minutes on each side. Use an instant read thermometer to make sure chicken gets to 165 degrees internally

2. Combine all ingredients into a salad

Avocado Chicken Fresh Salad

188 calories

Ingredients:

• 1 tomato, medium

• 2 cups leafy greens, spinach, raw

• 1/2 avocado, small

• 2 Tbsp vinaigrette, less than 50 calories per 2 Tbsp

• Dashes: salt, pepper

Directions:

1. Spray pan with an oil spray. Cook chicken for 7-8 minutes on each side. Use an instant read thermometer to make sure chicken gets to 165 degrees internally.

2. Slice avocado and tomato.

3. Mix chicken (chopped), tomato, and avocado with spinach.

4. Top with dressing & seasonings.

5. No chicken? Use tofu or fish.

Avocado Turkey Bento Boxes

430 calories

Ingredients:

• 4 oz deli slices, turkey

• 1/2 avocado, small

• 1 cucumber, medium

• 1 cup tomatoes, grape

• 1 Tbsp olive oil

• Dash: everything bagel seasoning

Directions:

1. Cut tomatoes in halves & slice cucumbers

2. Mix tomatoes and cucumbers together with oil and dash everything bagel seasoning

3. If you like, add another dash of everything bagel seasoning to the avocado half

4. Store salad and deli turkey/ avocado separately if you prefer

5. Make for only 2-3 days ahead of time to preserve freshness

6. Keep avocados fresh after cutting: Rinse with water & keep in an air-tight container

(Ground) Beef & Broccoli

323 calories

Ingredients:

• 2 cups broccoli, frozen

• 3 oz ground beef, 85% lean, raw

• 3 tsp sesame seeds

• 1/3 Tbsp garlic, minced

• 2 Tbsp soy ginger sauce

Directions:

1. Spray a pan with an oil spray. Add in garlic. Stir fry beef and broccoli for 5-6 minutes.

2. Remove broccoli & cut into small pieces. Add back into pan. Stir fry for another 3-4 minutes.

3. Add in sauce.

4. Top with sesame seeds when ready to eat.

5. Notes: No soy ginger sauce? Use soy sauce. No beef? Use ground turkey or tofu. Fresh or frozen broccoli can be used here – whatever you have! Also, if you have another % lean meat, that is also fine, use what you have.

Asparagus and Fresh Mozzarella Chicken

324 calories

Ingredients:

• 2 cups asparagus spears

• 5 oz chicken thigh, boneless, skinless, raw

• 1 oz cheese, sliced cheese, full fat/regular

Directions:

1. Spray pan with an oil spray. Cook chicken for 7-8 minutes on each side. Use an instant read thermometer to make sure chicken gets to 165 degrees internally

2. Add in asparagus during the last 5 minutes of cooking

3. Top chicken with cheese (once chicken gets to 165 degrees) and let melt for 1 minute before eating

4. No dairy? Use a dairy-free cheese or 1/2 an avocado. No animal protein? Use fish or tofu

BBQ Chicken Bowl with Broccoli

468 calories

Ingredients:

• 5 oz chicken breast, boneless, skinless, raw

• 1 potato, sweet, medium, 5 inches

• 2 cups broccoli

• 1/4 onion, red

• 1 Tbsp barbeque sauce

• 1 Tbsp vinaigrette, less than 50 calories per 2 Tbsp

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees 

2. Cut sweet potato into small pieces; cut chicken into chunks  

3. Line baking sheet with tin foil or parchment paper and spray it with an oil spray

4. Bake sweet potato pieces for 45 minutes; add in chicken for the last 30 minutes

5. Make sure chicken gets to 165 degrees F internally (use an instant-read thermometer) 

6. While chicken and potato are cooking: spray a pan with an oil spray and stir fry broccoli and diced onion for ~5 minutes

7. When chicken is done cooking, mix chicken with BBQ sauce

8. Mix all ingredients together and enjoy! 

9. No chicken? Use tofu or fish.

BBQ Pineapple Chicken Bake

444 calories

Ingredients:

• 5 oz chicken breast, boneless, skinless, raw

• 1 cup pineapple, frozen chunks, unsweetened

• 1/2 onion, red

• 1 cup leafy greens, lettuce, raw

• 1/3 cup cheese, shredded, mozzarella

• 1 Tbsp green onions

• 1 Tbsp barbeque sauce

• Dash: garlic salt

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees  

2. Spray baking sheet or casserole dish with an oil spray 

3. Add in chicken, top with BBQ sauce, 1/2 cup pineapple (per serving), cheese, a quarter of the the onion (sliced)

4. Bake for 35 minutes 

5. Make sure chicken gets to 165 degrees F – use an instant read thermometer 

6. Serve on top of a mixed salad of lettuce, and the rest of the onion (diced) and pineapple

Beef & Cabbage Soup

408 calories

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cabbage, shredded

• 5 oz stew meat, raw

• 2 cups broth, chicken or beef

• 1 Tbsp olive oil

• 1/4 Tbsp garlic, minced

• Dashes: salt, pepper

Directions:

1. Spray a pan with an oil spray. Heat garlic for 1-2 minutes. Stir fry beef with garlic until no longer pink.

2. Add oil to pot. Stir fry cabbage for 2-3 minutes. Add in seasonings.

3. Add in broth and beef.

4. Turn the burner to low heat & let sit, covered, for a minimum of 10 minutes. Stir occasionally.

5. Lasts for 3 days. Freeze if not using.

6. No beef? Use chicken or tofu.

Bell Pepper Sandwiches with Tomato Mozzarella Salad

458 calories

Ingredients:

• 2 bell peppers, green

• 1 cup tomatoes, grape

• 1/4 onion, white

• 1 cucumber, medium

• 1/5 avocado, small

• 1 oz mozzarella balls, mini

• 1 Tbsp olive oil

Directions:

1. Mix all ingredients except bell peppers

2. Cut open bell peppers, scoop out seeds and remove stems. Fill with salad

3. If making multiple servings, recommend only make for 2-3 days ahead of time to preserve freshness

Broccoli Feta Bacon Salad

439 calories

Ingredients:

• 2 cups broccoli

• 2 servings uncured bacon. slice

• 1/3 cheese, crumbled, feta

• 1/2 onion, yellow

• 1/8 cup sunflower seeds, hulled

• 2 Tbsp vinaigrette, less than 50 calories per 2 Tbsp

Directions:

1. Cut broccoli florets into smaller pieces

2. Cook bacon on the stovetop (or microwave or oven if you prefer) and cut into small pieces

3. Roasted & salted sunflower seeds are fine

4. Mix all ingredients together

5. No dairy? Use a dairy-free cheese, see supplemental materials. No bacon? Use turkey or soy bacon.

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