If you’re wondering how to make meat stretch further or you’re looking for inexpensive dishes to make and still stay true to your keto/low-carb way of eating, then this list of 22 Cheap Keto Meal Ideas is the one for you! Grab a coffee, and check out this list of tried and true dishes from keto bloggers and recipe developers. Which will you make first?
Is Keto Expensive?
Many people are concerned that a keto diet, which is typically protein-heavy, is expensive. They’re worried that they can’t afford the ingredients that will let them eat a keto diet.
While this can certainly be true, there are plenty of inexpensive dishes, and ways to make meals stretch. And I, Chef Jenn, will tell you all my tips and tricks plus I’ll show you some of my favorite cheap keto recipes.
What Is The Best Meat For Keto – That’s Also Affordable?
Here are some of my favorites for keto dieters, and even keto carnivore diets:
- Ground beef
- Ground turkey
- Ground pork
- Sausage – just check the ingredient labels to make sure there are no starchy fillers
- Chicken leg quarters
- Pork shoulder
- Pot-roast cuts of beef
How To Buy Keto Friendly Meats
Shop on sale! Seriously – watch those flyers for your local stores. When meat goes on sale, buy in bulk. Here are some other tips:
- Family packs of meat are often cheaper per pound than smaller portions
- Store sales are usually a better value than everyday prices at stores like Walmart – Walmart isn’t always cheaper
- Buy unprocessed meats – pre-marinated, pre-sliced, and prepared meats are always more expensive.
- Freeze what you don’t use right away. I’ve got two colossal chest freezers packed with meat that I’ve bought on sale.
Keto on a Budget
Doing keto on a budget isn’t impossible. It just takes some planning. And, don’t get caught up in the latest fads and must-have ingredients. Here are some other tips:
- Anything labeled “keto” is suuuper expensive. Learn to cook clean instead and make your own pasta sauces, snacks, and convenience foods.
- Foods that are labeled keto often aren’t! There are no labeling regulations (yet) for keto so you can get anything in the ingredients, along with whole pile of chemicals.
- Invest in a freezer – seriously, bulk buying and cooking will save your bacon
- Skip the grass-fed butter and organic meats. Seriously. Unless you’re going super-strict keto, these ingredients are just not worth the extra expense.
Delicious Recipes For Cheap Keto Meals
Big flavors and inexpensive ground beef make this hearty Korean Beef Bowl a dinner winner! A touch of sweetness puts this over the top.
Stretch inexpensive ground beef with this cheesy pick that's loaded with all your favorite pizza flavors.
Affordable ground turkey gets a boost of flavor with this eye-catching and oh-so tasty dish!
This meaty and flavorful dish uses affordable sausages and when served with creamy mashed cauliflower, it's a budget-friendly dish that really satisfies.
Zucchini is tasty, easy to work with, and versatile, and with this fun and tasty dish, you can enjoy a hearty meal without breaking the bank!
Another one-dish wonder, it doesn't take much meat (ground beef or pork) to turn this dish into a family-pleasing meal that's ready in under 29 minutes.
Inexpensive sausage can turn this amazing dish into a side or the main event. If you're a Brussels sprouts fan, you're going to really LOVE this dish!
This is a popular dish that starts with a cheap bag of coleslaw shreds and with hardly any meat, it's a budget-friendly keto dish that everyone will love!
You don't get much cheaper than cabbage, and a little bit of bacon goes a LONG way to season this amazing side dish.
This is a cheap keto meal recipe that is a dump-and-go Instant Pot wonder. Cutting the sausage up into chunks really stretches it, making this a hearty dish with meaty flavor that's easy on your wallet.
Commercial keto tomato sauces are EXPENSIVE!!! Go easy on your wallet and make your own sauce easily in just about an hour. This sauce is a blank canvass for you to dress up with all your favorite flavors - and, it's super low carb!
Buy the ground beef on sale and after a short trip in your IP, you can have a hearty and inexpensive dinner on the table.
Need a healthy casserole recipe that’s quick and easy? This low carb casserole has loads of flavor with roasted cauliflower and a cheesy cream sauce!
This dish will remind you of a loaded mashed potato in a convenient casserole form. It's great made ahead and reheated or delicious hot from the oven.
This Instant Pot Garlic Parmesan Spaghetti Squash is one of the tastiest spaghetti squash recipes out there. And not only is it crazy good, but it's a great vegetarian side dish that's easy to make, and makes a beautiful presentation to boot.
Prep a cast iron vegetable frittata and enjoy all week long! This keto frittata recipe includes an easy 4-ingredient formula for how to make a frittata, with any vegetables you like.
Bacon Cauliflower soup is easy to make using the Instant Pot and uses simple, filling ingredients!
Straightforward ingredients with minimal preparation required, this keto bacon cheeseburger salad recipe is sure to become an instant household favorite!
This easy keto chili casserole recipe is a simple family-friendly recipe. A delicious dinner that's easy to freeze.
This Kielbasa and Cabbage Skillet is low carb Polish comfort food. An easy inexpensive keto dinner.
Keto Tuna Patties are a canned tuna recipe that is mixed with ginger-garlic, onion, coriander, and egg and formed into patties. It is very easy and affordable since canned tuna is the main ingredient!
Cooking on budget doesn’t have to be boring. Try something different with ground beef and eggs, like this Balkan style ground beef hash!
Easy keto ground beef recipe is made with a few pantry ingredients. With only 8 grams of carb, this dish is savory, sweet, and tangy. It’s affordable and easily freezable, making it the perfect budget friendly and healthy meal when you want it fast and easy!
Looking for something different? Give this simple low carb mashed cauliflower shepherds pie a try! This dish has all of the elements of a traditional shepherd’s pie with a few delicious twists!
Yes! Many of them are. Check out each recipe for freezing instructions
Yes! Each one is 10 grams of net carbs or less per serving.
No! Each recipe is pretty easy, with clear instructions on how to make it a no-fail dish!
Thanks for the post! The perfect roundup for my right now as my hubby LOVES high protein meals but all the meat is getting expensive to buy.
Thank you for sharing, I am doing the Keto right now so I can add these to my recipes.
Amazing collection of meal ifeas. Thanks for sharing.
Such and incredible collection of Keto recipes! Saving this one, thank you for sharing!
What a delicious collection of budget-friendly Keto meals! I look forward to cooking my way down mouthwatering list. Yum. Yum.
Thanks. Amazing recipes. Budget friendly and healthy too.
Absolutely delicious! This roundup is perfect for me right now, I was planning on getting back into keto and needed some yummy recipes! I can’t wait to make them!