Mexican-inspired keto and low carb recipes

What can I eat at a Mexican restaurant on a keto diet?

Eating out doesn’t mean you have to leave your low-carb lifestyle at home. Mexican restaurants often have plenty of meat, seafood, cheese, avocado, salsa, and vegetable-based options that can make ordering keto or low carb surprisingly easy.

1. Keep it simple. Look for grilled or skillet-cooked meat, chicken, or seafood and pair it with vegetables, salad, avocado, cheese, or other low-carb sides.
2. Load up on flavor. Salsa fresca or pico de gallo, guacamole, sour cream, shredded cheese, fresh cilantro, and lime can add plenty of flavor without relying on tortillas or rice.
3. Ask what’s in the sauce. Some salsas, moles, marinades, and cheese sauces may contain added sugar, fruit, flour, or other higher-carb ingredients. If you’re unsure, ask how they’re prepared.
4. Skip the chips and tortillas. Enjoy the fillings from tacos, burritos, or fajitas without the tortilla, or choose low-carb vegetables for dipping. At home, try our keto cheese chips or low-carb zucchini nacho chips.
5. Swap the sides. Ask for extra vegetables, avocado, guacamole, or a side salad instead of rice, beans, or tortillas.

Authentic Mexican favorites

Mexican cuisine is much more than tacos and burritos. These handpicked favorites take inspiration from traditional Mexican dishes, ingredients, and flavors while keeping the carbs low. From creamy guacamole and slow-cooked carnitas to fresh aguachile and rich cochinita pibil, there’s plenty to explore.

Low-carb guacamole

Creamy avocado, fresh lime, tomato, onion, and cilantro come together in this Mexican classic. Serve it as a dip, spoon it over tacos, or add it to grilled meat, chicken, or seafood.

Low-carb guacamole

Guacamole

Keto carnitas

Tender, flavorful pork is cooked until juicy and delicious for a keto take on this Mexican favorite. Serve it with low-carb tortillas or pile it into a bowl with avocado, salsa, and your favorite toppings.

Keto carnitas

Keto carnitas

Keto quesadillas

Crispy, cheesy, and satisfying, these keto quesadillas deliver the comfort of a Mexican favorite without traditional high-carb tortillas.

Keto quesadillas

Keto quesadillas

Keto Mexican shrimp ceviche – aguachile

Fresh, bright, and full of flavor, this Mexican-inspired shrimp dish combines seafood with chili, citrus, and fresh ingredients for a refreshing low-carb meal.

Keto Mexican shrimp ceviche – aguachile

Mexican shrimp ceviche (aguachile)

Green onion no-chile chicken enchiladas

These creamy chicken enchiladas offer plenty of Mexican-inspired flavor without the heat, making them a great option when you want something rich, comforting, and mild.

Green onion no-chile chicken enchiladas

Green onion no-Chile chicken enchiladas

Mexican low-carb cochinita pibil

Inspired by the traditional flavors of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, this slow-cooked pork dish is rich, aromatic, and packed with flavor.

Mexican low-carb cochinita pibil

Slow cooker Mexican Cochinita Pibil

Low-carb Mexican hot chocolate – champurrado

Warm, rich, and deeply comforting, this low-carb take on Mexican champurrado brings chocolate and warming spices together in a cozy drink.

Low-carb Mexican hot chocolate – champurrado

Low carb Mexican hot chocolate (champurrado)