10 Tasty Low Carb Side Dishes to Make Your Cookout Keto-Friendly

10 Delicious Low Carb Cookout Side Dishes for Your Next Backyard BBQ

Cookouts are a staple of summertime fun. But traditional cookout fare is often packed with carbs from potato salad, pasta salads, cornbread, and more. If you follow a lower carb or keto diet, cookouts can pose a challenge. But you don't have to miss out on these warm weather celebrations. With a little creativity, you can enjoy delicious low carb cookout sides that fit your dietary needs.

Keto Friendly Salad Side Dishes

Salads make fantastic low carb cookout options. Load them up with fresh veggies, protein, cheese, and healthy fats. Here are some tasty keto salad recipes:

Steak Caesar Salad

Romaine lettuce, grilled steak tips, parmesan cheese, avocado, and homemade Caesar dressing. Skip the croutons for a low carb option.

BLT Salad

Chopped romaine and spinach, crispy bacon bits, grape tomatoes, hard boiled eggs, and ranch dressing.

Chicken Antipasto Salad

Mixed greens, grilled chicken, salami, provolone, pepperoncinis, olives, tomatoes, and red wine vinaigrette.

Veggie-Packed Low Carb Sides

Veggies are a keto dieter's best friend. Grill them up as flavorful low carb cookout sides:

Zucchini Caprese Skewers

Cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil sandwiched between zucchini slices. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic glaze.

Hasselback Zucchini

Hasselback zucchini halves filled with a blend of cream cheese, parmesan, garlic, and herbs.

Spiralized Cucumber Salad

Spiralized cucumbers, red onion, avocado, feta cheese, lemon juice, olive oil, mint, and red pepper flakes.

Coleslaw and Cabbage Salads

Crunchy coleslaws and cabbage salads are cookout staples. Make them keto by ditching high-sugar dressings in favor of keto-friendly alternatives:

Carrot Bacon Slaw

Shredded cabbage and carrots, crumbled bacon, red onion, cilantro, and olive oil lemon dressing.

Jalapeno Lime Slaw

Shredded green and purple cabbage, diced jalapenos, cilantro, lime juice, olive oil, salt and pepper.

Tangy Red Cabbage Slaw

Shredded red cabbage, red onion, apple cider vinegar, olive oil, parsley, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds.

Cookout Side Dishes with a Kick

Spice up your cookout sides with these flavorful low carb options:

Chipotle Lime Cauliflower Rice

Riced cauliflower seasoned with smoked paprika, cumin, chipotle powder, lime juice, cilantro, and scallions.

Buffalo Chicken Jalapeno Poppers

Filling of buffalo chicken, cream cheese, and cheddar inside jalapeno halves. Coat in crushed pork rinds and hot sauce.

Pesto Zucchini Noodles

Spiralized zucchini noodles tossed in homemade basil pesto with cherry tomatoes and parmesan cheese.

Savory Low Carb Cookout Casseroles

These hearty casserole side dishes work well for potlucks:

Cheesy Cauliflower Bake

Cauliflower florets baked in a cheesy sauce of cream cheese, cheddar, and parmesan. Top with bacon crumbles.

Buffalo Chicken Casserole

Layers of shredded chicken, hot sauce, blue cheese, celery, and ranch dressing. Top with cheese and bake.

Zucchini Enchilada Bake

Thinly sliced zucchini baked with enchilada sauce, monterey jack cheese, black olives, and green onion.

Low Carb Cookout Vegetable Skewers

Grilled veggie skewers allow you to enjoy seasonal produce:

Caprese Skewers

Cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, and basil leaves.

Greek Skewers

Bell peppers, red onion, zucchini, mushrooms, and halloumi or feta cheese.

Pesto Veggie Skewers

Mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, zucchini, squash, bell peppers, and pesto marinade.

Keto-Friendly Cookout Dip and Spread Recipes

Dips and spreads using fresh ingredients make tasty low carb side dishes:

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Shredded chicken, cream cheese, hot sauce, ranch, and cheddar. Serve with celery sticks.

Jalapeno Popper Dip

Cream cheese, monterey jack, pickled jalapenos, bacon, onion, and cilantro.

Smoked Salmon Spread

Flaked smoked salmon blended with cream cheese, lemon juice, capers, and dill. Serve with cucumbers.

With a little innovation, you can enjoy delicious low carb cookout sides all summer long. Focus on fresh produce, proteins, healthy fats, and bold flavors in your recipes. Skip the sugary sauces and enjoy meatless veggie skewers. Now you can indulge guilt-free at your next cookout or BBQ on the keto diet!

FAQs

What are good keto cookout sides?

Some great low carb cookout side options include fresh salads, veggie skewers, cauliflower rice, coleslaw, zucchini noodles, roasted vegetables, dips, and spreads.

What can I bring to a BBQ on keto?

Great keto-friendly BBQ side dishes to bring include Caprese skewers, jalapeno popper dip, smoked salmon spread, steak Caesar salad, and buffalo chicken jalapeno poppers.

What are easy keto cookout recipes?

Some easy low carb cookout recipes include zucchini Caprese skewers, buffalo chicken dip, BLT salad, cucumber spirals, and cheeseburger salad.

Can you eat potato salad on keto?

Traditional potato salad is too high in carbs for keto. But you can make "mock potato" salad using diced turnips or rutabaga instead of potatoes in your recipe.

What can I substitute for pasta salad?

Zucchini noodle and spiralized cucumber salads make great low carb substitutes for pasta salads at a cookout while on the keto diet.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.