7 Low-Carb Foods That Fill You Up - Keto Tips (2024)

Despite what critics say, low-carb foods can be filling, delicious, and nutritious. When you’re following a ketogenic diet and leaving all those carbs behind, you don’t have to go hungry. You still have a tempting array of tasty, satiating low-carb foods to choose from. Of course, some low carb foods are better at giving you that full feeling than others. Stay on track with ketosis and your weight loss and health goals by stocking up on these low-carb foods that fill you up.

Low-Carb Foods That Fill You Up

1. Meat

Meat is pretty much fat and protein, both of which are known to hush hunger. If you’re a little hungry, chow down on a convenient piece of beef or turkey jerky. Ham and cheese or prosciutto and cheese roll-ups are also convenient meat-centric snacks.

When it’s time for a protein-rich keto dinner, choose a satisfying recipe from the talented recipe creators here at Ketogenic.com:

• Bone-in keto lamb chops with broccolini
• Pork medallions with broccoli and cauliflower
• One-pot creamy chicken and artichoke stew
• Buffalo air-fryer chicken wings
• Indian chicken kabobs
• Keto Mongolian beef
• Harissa spiced meatballs
• Turkey and mushroom cauliflower risotto

Seafood is high in filling, brain-healthy fats like omega-3s, as well as protein. Enjoy a keto dish featuring fish:

• Coconut crusted haddock
• Creamy lemon tilapia
• Baked cod and veggies in red pepper sauce
• Sesame-crusted seared ahi tuna
• Pan-seared sea bass
• Salsa steamed fish
• Keto poke bowl

2. Nuts and Seeds

Nuts and seeds provide fat, fiber, and plant protein. Macadamias, almonds, and pistachios are among the highest in protein and fat. Walnuts offer high amounts of beneficial omega-3 plant fats.

Prepare a nutty keto granola or cereal in advance and you’ll have it ready to go for breakfast or an anytime snack. You might also like a keto cinnamon porridge to start or end your day.

Snacks or desserts made with coconut flour, almond flour, or another nut flour tend to have plenty of fat and fiber that can crush your hunger and sweetness cravings. Try these keto blackberry muffins.

3. Smoothies

Smoothies are convenient to grab from the fridge when you’re on the go. You can pack plenty of nutrition and tasty, filling fats into your daily smoothie–just be sure it doesn’t contain too much fruit sugar. Choose a smoothie recipe from Ketogenic.com:

• Blueberry smoothie
• Coconut keto cherry smoothie
• Chocolate keto collagen smoothie with avocado
• Keto green smoothie
• Turmeric smoothie
• Strawberry smoothie

4. Yogurt

Fancify your Greek yogurt with nuts, berries, and your favorite trimmings. Greek yogurt makes a quick, easy, low-carb, high-protein snack or dessert. Check out our very own Dr. Ryan Lowery’s favorite protein-packed Greek yogurt. Full-fat cottage cheese is another satisfying alternative.

5. Cruciferous Veggies

Cruciferous veggies like cauliflower and broccoli can be surprisingly filling, and they also offer a plethora of health benefits. Adding healthy fats to your cruciferous vegetable dishes boosts satiety and can help your body absorb more of the vegetables’ nutrients. Cauliflower can replace many of your old carb-heavy comfort foods and side dishes, such as mashed potatoes and rice. Try this salmon sushi cauliflower rice bowl or a beef and cauliflower skillet.

6. Eggs

Eggs are a unique, versatile, and hunger-busting food, whether you make an omelet or a crustless quiche. The average egg contains around 6 grams of protein and 5 grams of fat.

7. Keto-Friendly Fruits

While many fruits are off-limits on keto, you can still experience the juicy flavor-bursting goodness of several keto-approved fruits like berries. Pairing energy-boosting, fibrous low-carb sweet fruits with a fat like coconut cream to slow the blood-sugar spike is a smart move for keto dieters. This sweet raspberry chia seed pudding does the trick.

Tricks for Making Your Keto Diet More Filling

Add More Fat

Fat is filling and provides more calories per gram compared to protein and carbohydrates. Boost your fat intake by adding butter or coconut oil when cooking meals or by making a salad dressing with olive oil or a dessert bowl of coconut cream, nuts, and berries. To avoid hunger and cravings, grab a healthy high-fat snack food like an avocado, a boiled egg, or a spoonful of nut butter.

Add More Fiber

Fiber feeds the healthy bacteria (probiotics) in your gut and helps you feel fuller for longer. Most keto health advocates and experts recommend a balanced low-carb diet with a wide variety of fiber-rich foods, such as leafy greens, eggplant, cauliflower, cruciferous veggies, berries, and asparagus.

Snack on zucchini or kale chips when you want a salty crunch. Make sure you cook your fibrous veggies with delicious fat like butter, duck fat, or coconut oil. Drizzle olive oil over colorful, healthy salads.

Enjoy a salad from the Ketogenic.com recipe creators:

• Brussels sprout salad with walnut and parmesan
• Chopped tahini salad
• Greek cauliflower salad
• BLT salad with zesty sesame mustard dressing
• Fennel salad with chicken and arugula
• Broccoli salad with chicken and kale

Transform your keto veggies into noodles and beyond:

• Chicken noodle soup
• Lemon pesto zoodles
• 15-minute halibut and zoodles

Drink More Water

When you think you’re hungry, you might just be thirsty. Drinking a large glass of water before you eat can help you feel full and even eat less. It’s also important you stay hydrated on keto and get enough sodium and other electrolytes. Some keto dieters add electrolyte and mineral powders to their drinks.

How do you stay full on keto? Share your thoughts, tips, and favorite filling foods with Ketogenic.com.