To even be considered for this list of veggie exclusives, recipes have got to be quick, tasty and naturally vegetarian, and suitable for the ketogenic diet. Enter your email & we’ll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from us every week! By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Hurry the Food Up.
Recipes for the vegetarian keto diet
As you know peeps on a keto diet have to be picky with their recipes to make it all work. Here are the requirements that all of the recipes in this list fulfill:
each meal contains max 10 grams of carbs quick and healthy (max prep/cook time of 40 mins, total) simple ingredients/staples keeps well for a couple of days
So without any further ado, here are our favorite vegetarian keto ideas!
We’ve also taken the time out to sort these tasty recipes into the classic breakfast, lunch and dinner categories. Scroll down to see!
Breakfast
Carbs: 2.7gBonus: very easy, quick and super-tasty 🙂 The 2 ingredient Low Carb Cream Cheese Pancakes. Just mix eggs and cream cheese to get delicious low carb, high taste pancakes. Ready in 10 minutes. Carbs: 4gBonus: quick and nutritious breakfast, very delicious! Simple recipe, great taste, with bell pepper adding a delightful crunch. Low carb and high in protein. Perfect as a full meal or filling snack. Protein: 7gCarbs: 5gCalories: 106kcalReady in: 30 minutesRecipe by: AnEdibleMosaicBonus: low carb, gluten-free Leftover cauliflower rice comes alive in these hash browns that are crunchy, savoury with spices and cheese, and perfect paired with eggs. Make a big batch and freeze for use later. Carbs: 6gRecipe by: HurrytheFoodUpBonus: tastes like holiday! Fresh basil, salty feta, tangy sun-dried tomatoes, and sweet cherry tomatoes: that’s the beautiful combo that gives these breakfast egg muffins the name ‘Italian Style’. Protein: 16gCarbs: 6gCalories: 212 kcalReady in: 65 minutesRecipe by: KalynsKitchenBonus: perfect for Sunday brunch A wonderful medley of asparagus, mushrooms, and goat’s cheese, this makes a sumptuous and filling breakfast or brunch option. Full of keto vegetables. Serve it for lunch by making one of the salads in this collection to go with. Protein: 13gCarbs: 4gCalories: 209 kcalReady in: 60 minutesRecipe by: TheLiveinKitchenBonus: easy make-ahead recipe, gluten-free This is the perfect recipe to prep ahead for a weekend brunch to serve a crowd, or cook it up on Sunday, pop the slices in the freezer, and enjoy a no-fuss savory breakfast all week long. Made with eggs, cheese, cream, and a variety of veggies.
Lunch
Protein: 11gCarbs: 8gCalories: 207kcalReady in: 40 minutesRecipe by: KetoVegetarianRecipesBonus: gluten-free and oil-free Caprese salad meets risotto in this medley of cherry tomatoes, basil and mozzarella, in this keto-friendly Caprese Cauliflower Raisotto. Good for a weekend lunch or as a dinner option too. Protein: 7gCarbs: 2gCalories: 108kcalReady in: 20 minutesRecipe by: ResolutionEatsBonus: paleo, vegan, grain-free, gluten-free The hearty French stew, re-imagined as a salad! This recipe for low-carb ratatouille is a delicious blend of roasted eggplant, onions, yellow squash, and red bell peppers. Delicious served warm or cold, ideal for a packed lunch. Protein: 10gCarbs: 7gCalories: 236kcalReady in: 60 minutesRecipe by: PeelwithZealBonus: gluten-free, lunch-box friendly A new low-carb take on a Southern tradition, this crustless tomato pie recipe is naturally gluten-free and keto-friendly. Using fresh tomatoes, this classic southern tomato pie is full of flavor and perfect for weekend brunch or as a dinner side dish. Protein: 21gCarbs: 8gCalories: 123kcalReady in: 75 minutesRecipe by: MyPlantifulCookingBonus: high in protein, can be frozen This vegan seitan doner kebab is the meatless version of the classic Turkish ones. It is juicy, meaty, and packed with tons of flavor. This versatile dish is simple, fuss-free, and full of plant protein! Make ahead and serve it in a pita with fresh salad vegetables for a yummy packed lunch! Protein: 4.1gCarbs: 4.7gCalories: 103kcalReady in: 10 minutesRecipe by: TheDeliciousSpoonBonus: fresh, light and summery! A popular Italian salad brimming with garden veggies, sweet basil, and pearls of bocconcini cheese! Perfect for a light lunch or even as a dinner party appetizer. Protein: 2gCarbs: 10gCalories: 109kcalReady in: 20 minutesRecipe by: FlavourandSavourBonus: gluten-free and vegan Cooked quickly under the broiler, and then drizzled with aged balsamic vinegar, these Broiled Italian Tomatoes are full of the flavors of sunny Tuscany. A good recipe for summer garden tomatoes and it also elevates lacklustre winter tomatoes, too! Perfect for a light lunch or as an appetizer. Carbs: 4gBonus: light, easy, quick, and yummy 🙂 This classic creamy cucumber salad has been passed down for good reason – it’s incredible! It’s also simple and quick, just the way it should be.
Dinner
Carbs: 7gBonus: healthy and delicious, full of health benefits, can be stored for a while in the fridge This low-carb pie that’s keto-friendly is incredibly tasty – and the best thing – it takes only five minutes to prep! Seriously! In this writer/eater’s humble opinion, it’s probably the best vegetarian keto recipe out there. Try it right away! 🙂 Carbs: 1gBonus: mega quick, perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner! Just eggs in this deliciously simple and perfect natural omelette. Omelettes the way they should be. Vegetarian, healthy, and ready in 7 minutes. Protein: 16gCarbs: 7gCalories: 303kcalReady in: 1 hour 15 minutesRecipe by: WhatAGirlEatsBonus: Mexican, party entree This low-carb Hatch Chile Rellenos Casserole has all the flavor of regular chile Rellenos, but without the breading and frying. Try with poblanos, pasillas, or Anaheim chiles, if you cannot get your hands on authentic Hatch chiles. Protein: 3gCarbs: 8gCalories: 83kcalReady in: 1 hour 30 minutesRecipe by: EasyIndianCookbookBonus: perfect party showstopper Whole roasted cauliflower with Indian spices is a vegetarian centerpiece that is great for parties, gatherings, and family meals (more veggie keto Indian recipes this way). Made using Tandoori masala as the main spice, the cauliflower is cooked to perfection and is tender inside and crisp outside. Protein: 10gCarbs: 9gCalories: 242kcalReady in: 30 minutesRecipe by: LowCarbNoCarbBonus: low carb, grain-free and gluten-free Cherry tomatoes, garlic, and feta sing in this dish made with low-carb, plant-based noodles made from Hearts of Palm. So good you won’t even realize they are not “real” pasta! Protein: 12gCarbs: 9gCalories: 212kcalReady in: 30 minutes (plus 20 mins of prep)Recipe by: LowCarbSparkBonus: Perfect comfort food Melt-in-your-mouth eggplant rolls that are packed with flavor, the rollatini is stuffed with a creamy Italian-inspired cheese and spinach mixture. Even if you normally steer clear of eggplant, this will make you change your mind about the purple vegetable! Protein: 3gCarbs: 3gCalories: 82kcalReady in: 15 minutesRecipe by: TheBellyRulestheMindBonus: air-fryer-friendly recipe Delicately spiced, perfectly seared on the outside and tender on the inside, these are the best cabbage ‘steaks’ ever! A healthier alternative to heavier entrees!
Appetizer
Protein: 3.1gCarbs: 7.1gCalories: 46kcalReady in: 20 minutesRecipe by: TheFlavorBellsBonus: Works just as well in a regular oven Crispy from the outside and tender from the inside, this is Brussel Sprouts at their finest. Use your favorite spice to add the jazz to this super healthy and delicious veg. Carbs: 3gBonus: quick and easy, full of proteins, vitamins, and healthy fats Our secret to the best stuffed eggs recipe is in creating low-calorie deviled eggs with paprika, chives, garlic powder, lemon juice, and of course avocado! Shhh, don’t tell anyone! Protein: 7.4gCarbs: 1.6gCalories: 83kcalReady in: 40 minutesRecipe by: SummeryYuleBonus: light, airy, and just 3 ingredients! Grain-free, high-protein “bread” is typically made with eggs, cream cheese, cream of tartar, and spices of your choosing. If you have tried to make meringues (and/or cloud bread) before, with 100% failure, this recipe comes with a secret to ensure success! Protein: 3gCarbs: 3gCalories: 97kcalReady in: 30 minutesRecipe by: LowCarbSparkBonus: easy recipe, perfect for parties and for snacking! These mushrooms are stuffed with a delicious combination of cheese, cream cheese, onion, garlic, and spices, making them a fantastic appetizer for any occasion. This is a great and delicious way to cook some big mushrooms that are easy to make and always a crowd favorite! Protein: 3gCarbs: 4gCalories: 136kcalReady in: 25 minutesRecipe by: AnEdibleMosaicBonus: perfect for picnics! This Cauliflower Potato Salad recipe (aka mock potato salad) has a creamy mayo-based dressing with a touch of Dijon, dill, and a few spices. It’s every bit as delicious as regular potato salad, but with just 3g net carbs per serving!
So is vegetarian ketosis a real thing?
Sure it is! Generally, those on the ketogenic diet try to consume no more than 20g-50g of carbs per day. Or 15g-30g net carbs. Net carbs means: Total Carbs – Fiber – Sugar Alcohols. The same rules apply to vegetarians and non-vegetarians.
Can vegetarians get into ketosis?
Usually, after a couple of days – or sometimes up to three or four days of consuming no more than 20g-50g carbs a day – you’ll enter ‘ketosis’. This is when the body starts to break down fat and protein for energy – as it suddenly has no (or few) carbs to use, as it normally would.
Can you be keto and vegetarian at the same time?
So, yes, is the answer. It can be a little trickier using only vegetarian recipes as keto often leans heavily on meat and fish. But it’s certainly still possible on the vegetarian diet! Keto diets have been shown to be quite effective for short-term weight-loss and may help prevent cancer and heart disease, though more research is needed.However – it is not always easy to maintain – especially for vegetarians. The same goes for the vegan diet. It can be done with vegan recipes, but it is a little trickier.
Why do keto?
One of the most common reasons to do keto is for weight loss. It has also been suggested that keto diets help with epilepsy, and there are many studies investigating this. We would always advise speaking to a doctor before embarking on any type of new diet or lifestyle. If weight loss a vegetarian is something you are interested in, we suggest you check out our free 7-day vegetarian weight loss meal plan.
What are the best keto-low-carb foods?
Cauliflower Eggplant / Zucchini (you can make great zucchini noodles from these!) Kale Spinach Other leafy greens Mushrooms Green beans Berries Olives Cheese (both cottage and hard cheese like parmesan cheese) Full-fat yogurt (and many other dairy products) Eggs Many nuts (especially pecan, Brazil, macadamia and hazelnuts) Many seeds (like chia, flax, hemp and sesame) Nut butters like peanut, sunflower seed or almond butter (without added sugar)
As you can see, there are many to pick from! Many of the best tasty vegetarian keto recipes include ingredients from the list above. You can also use more processed goods like ‘keto bread’ or low-carb pasta like shirataki noodles. Essentially the ketogenic diet is a very low-carb diet and so will always feature low-carb recipes from keto breakfast to lunch to main course and dinner then dessert! Healthy fats play an important role too, so many of these recipes feature those. Alrighty, this brings up to the end of our Top 25 Vegetarian Keto Ideas, we hope you enjoy them! We selected them to be easy, quick and low-carb recipes. Are you looking for more weight-loss recipes? We have a whole load right over here as well. They’re not all keto, but they’re all delicious. Have a browse!
