What Is The Keto Diet? 20 Best Keto Cookbooks & Recipes For A Low-Carb, Fat-Burning Lifestyle
Make delicious dishes in your own kitchen.
getty What is the keto diet? You've most likely heard about it, but may not know the details.
The keto diet, also known as the ketogenic diet, is a low-carb, often high-fat diet meant to kickstart weight loss.
It’s very trendy right now, but that doesn’t mean it’s a quick and easy fix.
Anyone on a keto diet will have a diet that is mostly fat, with small amounts of protein, and little to no carbs. Foods like meat, seafood, eggs, vegetables, nuts, seeds, fats and oils, and some dairy products are fine, but fruit, grains, starches, legumes, beans, desserts, sweetened drinks, and alcohol are all off limits.
With most diet plans, especially more restrictive ones like the keto diet, your meal options are limited.
Says Lisa Moskovitz, RD, CDN, and CEO of NY Nutrition Group, “Without enough fresh ideas to liven things up, it can get very difficult to stick to any diet plan at all. Humans thrive on routine by nature, but, at the same time, require newness to stay interested and focused. A resourceful and comprehensive recipe book can inspire and motivate dieters and non-dieters alike.”
Rather than scouring your local neighborhood for keto diet recipes or cuisine you can eat, instead, you can make them all by yourself in the comfort of your kitchen.
Luckily, with the right keto cookbook, you can start losing weight, improve your confidence, and finally feel good about the foods you eat.
1. The Easy 5 Ingredient Ketogenic Diet Cookbook by Jen Fisch
“I am all about easy, quick and convenient. And five ingredient dishes check off all of those boxes,” says Moskovitz. This book has 125 quick, keto-compliant recipes using a handful of easy-to-find ingredients. With no-fuss recipes and no-nonsense guidance, this cookbook includes single container meal recipes, customization, and recipes.
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2. The Ketotarian: The Plant-Based Plan to Burn Fat, Boost Your Energy, Crush Cravings and Calm Inflammation by Will Cole
Adds Moskovitz, “One of the issues I have with the keto diet is its emphasis on pro-inflammatory, cholesterol-spiking fatty meats and dairy products. This book focuses on how to eat more plant-based on the diet, which can promote a healthier body on the outside and inside.” And this book is packed with expert tips, tricks, and advice for going and staying Ketotarian, including managing macronutrients, balancing electrolytes, and finding your carb sweet spot.
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3. Almost Keto: A Practical Approach to Lose Weight with Less Fat and Cleaner Keto Foods by Aimee Aristotelous
From the author of The Whole Pregnancy, Almost Keto provides a formal, lower fat, higher fiber, higher micronutrient nutrition plan while still employing cleaner keto-approved foods. It will help readers yield positive weight loss and blood sugar level results, while providing a more sustainable and healthier lifestyle. A practical how-to guide with nutrition education, this book also provides over 100 recipes, meal plans, and tactics.
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4. The Keto Diet Cookbook by Dr. Josh Axe
In Keto Diet Cookbook, Dr. Josh Axe builds on his national bestseller Keto Diet, offering 125+ mouthwatering, keto-friendly recipes to lose weight, fight inflammation, and optimize your body’s function, no matter your lifestyle or budget. Featuring a dazzling range of options for every meal of the day, this cookbook will never leave you without a delicious, satisfying option whenever hunger strikes.
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5. The Hormone Fix by Dr. Anna Cabeca
In her new book, The Hormone Fix, Dr. Anna provides Keto-Green diet planning worksheets and recipes along with invaluable advice, testimonials, and guidance to help women tap into unimagined energy sources, enhance intimacy levels, and completely revitalize their lives.
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6. Keto Comfort Foods: Family Favorite Recipes Made Low-Carb and Healthy by Maria Emmerich
In Keto Comfort Foods, Maria Emmerich has compiled her most soul-warming, happiness-invoking recipes. The book’s more than 170 tantalizing, hearty comfort food recipes include everything from cinnamon rolls to steak fries, and from chicken cordon bleu to tiramisu cheesecake. Maria has covered all the bases, giving you the recipes and tips you need to make delicious and healthy versions of your favorite dishes.
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7. The One Pot Ketogenic Diet Cookbook: 100+ Easy Weeknight Meals for Your Skillet, Slow Cooker, Sheet Pan, and More by Liz Williams
The One-Pot Ketogenic Diet Cookbook makes it easy to keep keto on the table every day of the week with family-friendly, one-pot meals for your skillet, slow cooker, sheet pans, stock pot, and more. With recipes ready to eat in under 45 minutes, this ketogenic diet cookbook is your go-to guide for setting the stress of staying in ketosis aside.
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8. Keto Fat Bombs, Sweets & Treats by Urvashi Pitre
Many of the more than 100 recipes require no more than 10 to 15 minutes of prep time, and they taste as delicious and indulgent as they sound. It includes recipes for delicious sweets like Chocolate Peanut Butter Pops, Mocha Cheesecake, or Almond Butter Bombs. Author Urvashi Pitre also includes recipes for tasty smoothies, savory dressings, and sauces to round out the collection.
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9. Keto For Carb Lovers: 100+ Amazing Low-Carb, High-Fat Recipes & 21-Day Meal Plan by the Editors of Delish & Women's Health
Keto for Carb Lovers pairs dozens of genius cooking hacks with the low-carb, high-fat keto diet so you can have the flavor and texture you love while still ditching the pounds. Recipes include cookie dough keto fat bombs, carrot cake keto balls, Brussels sprouts "chips," keto pancakes, cauliflower "toast," cauliflower "benedict," keto taco cups, cheese taco shells, keto lasagna, keto peanut butter cookies, keto pizza and much more.
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10. Dairy-Free Keto Cooking by Kyndra Holley
If you suffer from dairy intolerances or food allergies, this is the book for you. Kyndra Holly offers a dairy-free keto roadmap, and each one of her recipes is rooted in simplicity, offering dairy-free substitutions. Dairy-Free Keto Cooking will also teach you how to restore your health and wellness, while living a lifestyle that nourishes you in mind, body, and spirit.
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11. The Keto Vegan by Lydia Miller
Combine the ketogenic principals with the plant-based diet to reap the health, weight loss and energy benefits united with a vegan lifestyle. Prepare 101 plant-based dishes with a low carb count. Choose nutrient-dense nutrition and incorporate whole, natural foods that are rich in healthy fats and proteins in your diet.
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12. The Complete Ketogenic Diet for Beginners by Amy Ramos
An overview explaining the fundamentals of the ketogenic diet and handy charts illustrating nutritional information help you master keto in no time, it includes 75 recipes and a 14-day meal plan. Says Moskovitz, “If you're a keto newbie, this book can help get you started with the basics, but is also comprehensive enough to see you all the way through.”
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13. Keto Cooking With Your Instant Pot by Dr. Karen S. Lee
Use your Instant Pot to throw together nourishing keto dishes any night of the week. Serve up Perfect Pot Roast or Korean-Style Braised Short Ribs in under an hour. Simmer an amazing variety of soups, from Vietnamese Beef “Noodle” Soup to Low-Carb New England Clam Chowder without even watching the pot. With comforting dishes like Grain-Free Lobster Mac and Cheese and incredible desserts like Chocolate Lava Cake, you can't go wrong with this book.
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14. Easy Keto For Busy People by Jennifer Marie Garza
For anyone new to the keto lifestyle, Jennifer Marie explains the types of ketones, macronutrients, and the benefits of intermittent fasting. Also included are lists and charts of what to eat and what to avoid, a guide to special ingredients like keto-approved sweeteners and alternative flours, a list of essential kitchen tools, and even helpful advice for traveling and dining out while on the keto diet.
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15. Keto Air Fryer: 100+ Delicious Low-Carb Recipes to Heal Your Body & Help You Lose Weight by Maria Emmerich
Air fryers have gotten very trendy and they can be enjoyed on the keto diet as well! This book shares the best tips and tricks for success on the keto diet, and offers up a wide variety of delicious dishes. From air fryer classics like onion rings and chicken wings to unexpected additions like cookies even omelets, you'll find everything you could ever want.
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16. Simply Keto: A Practical Approach to Health & Weight Loss, with 100+ Easy Low-Carb Recipes by Suzanne Ryan
Simply Keto isn’t just a cookbook; it’s a portal into Suzanne’s life and dieting success. In this book, she shares everything you need to know to get started and find your own success, including helpful advice for starting keto, grocery shopping tips, keto and weight loss FAQs, more than 100 easy recipes, a structured 30-day meal plan, and guidance for living and thriving with the ketogenic lifestyle.
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17. The Wholesome Yum Easy Keto Cookbook: 100 Simple Low Carb Recipes, 10 Ingredients or Less by Maya Krampf
The Wholesome Yum Easy Keto Cookbook features 100 super-simple recipes including flourless chocolate chip peanut butter waffles, sheet pan sausage breakfast sandwiches, crispy keto chicken fingers, spaghetti squash ramen soup, keto garlic bread sticks, cinnamon roll pizza, and more. The book also features a primer on the keto diet, essential pantry-stocking tips, and a section dedicated to creating Maya's signature "fathead" keto dough that is used to prepare delicious keto breads, pastries, tortillas, and more.
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18. Keto Answers: Simplifying Everything You Need to Know about the World's Most Confusing Diet by Anthony Gustin and Chris Irvin
For people who want to lose fat and improve their health, these authors have spent over a decade using keto to battle their own health issues and to help thousands of patients and clients regain their health. And this book explains how to make keto work for you, and how to adapt it to your own lifestyle and needs.
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19. Keto Quick Start: A Beginner's Guide to a Whole-Foods Ketogenic Diet with More Than 100 Recipes by Diane Sanfilippo
This book includes 100 delicious keto recipes, four weekly meal plans, more than a dozen easy meal ideas (no recipe required!), and troubleshooting tips and tricks. It also features a unique and easy-to-use template that makes tracking your food quick and simple.
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20. The Simple Keto Diet Cookbook For Beginners: 601 Ketogenic Diet Recipes That Will Help You Lose Weight Fast And Make Your Life Easier by Elena Baker
This comprehensive cookbook contains over 600 simple recipes you need to stay on track with the keto diet. Each recipe features easily obtainable and inexpensive ingredients, nutritional information, preparation and cooking time, and step-by-step instructions.
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Aly Walansky is a NY-based lifestyles writer who focuses on health, wellness, and relationships. Her work appears in dozens of digital and print publications regularly. Visit her on Twitter or email her.
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