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- Cheese-Lovers, Here's All the Dairy You Can Eat on the Keto Diet
Cheese-Lovers, Here's All the Dairy You Can Eat on the Keto Diet
by
alicia lu
Getty / Cavan Images
Over the last few years, the keto diet has skyrocketed in popularity, probably for one very distinct reason: it encourages you to eat satisfying, fatty foods. The only major caveat is that you have to keep your carb intake low. Offsetting this difficult task, however, is the keto diet’s allowance of another beloved food group: dairy. Most cheeses are low in carbs, making them perfectly acceptable for the keto meal plan, and the same goes for other dairy foods like butter and heavy cream.
Although you won’t be able to enjoy the glorious combination that is cheese and bread (bye-bye, buttered toast and bagels with cream cheese) if you’ve gone keto, you’ll still be able to enjoy plenty of decadent recipes. Read through to see which dairy products you can eat on the keto diet, along with some dairy-filled, keto-friendly recipe ideas.
Related: What Happened When I Went Keto For 30 Days – and Then Stopped
Getty / Juanmonino
Muenster Cheese
At just 0.3 grams of carbs per ounce, Muenster cheese is one of the best dairy options for the keto diet. Enjoy it in this mac and cheese recipe, which you can make keto-friendly by swapping out the pasta for cauliflower.
Getty / istetiana
Blue Cheese
No need to kick stinky blue cheese out of your fridge just because you’re on the keto diet. One ounce of blue cheese has just 0.7 grams of carbs. That means you can continue pairing your fresh salads and veggies with chunky blue cheese dressing.
Getty / Creativ Studio Heinemann
Butter
Because it’s so high in fat, butter is one of the best dairy foods for the keto diet. It’s easy to sneak into pretty much any dish, but you can take your butter game to the next level by making this supereasy and decadent herb butter.
Getty / Adam Gault
Cheddar Cheese
A world without cheddar cheese is a bleak one, so thank goodness it only has 0.4 grams of carbs per ounce, making it perfectly acceptable on the keto diet. Get your fix with this healthy cheddar-cauliflower soup.
Getty / Flavia Morlachetti
Brie
Soft and gooey brie only has 0.1 grams of carbs per ounce. That means you can enjoy all the baked brie your dairy-loving heart desires and still be keto-compliant.
heavy cream by Nico Paix CC by 2.0
Heavy Cream
Full-fat heavy cream is a staple in the keto diet, since it replaces milk, half-and-half, and other lighter creams. You can get your daily intake by adding it to coffee or whipping up Chrissy Teigen’s favorite scrambled eggs.
Getty / Image Source
Mozzarella
Not only is mozzarella low in carbs – just 0.6 grams per ounce – but, as a main component of caprese salad, it’s also one of the most refreshing ways to enjoy dairy.
Getty / kolderal
Gouda
Smoky Gouda is one of the most distinct cheeses, and lucky for keto dieters, it’s low in carbs. Add it to this insanely rich cheese sauce, but just make sure to pair it with something keto-friendly.
Getty / annick vanderschelden photography
Cream Cheese
You won’t see carb-heavy bagels on the keto diet, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up cream cheese too. You can still enjoy lox and cream cheese – just swap out the bread for lettuce wraps or cucumber slices.
Getty / Евгения Матвеец
Ghee
Ghee is clarified butter, or butter that’s been simmered down to remove all water and milk solids. In other words, it’s pure butter fat, making it ideal for those on the keto diet. Use it in this roasted chicken recipe for extrajuicy results.
Getty / Gabor Geissler
Swiss Cheese
At 1.5 grams of carbs per ounce, Swiss cheese is a little more carb-heavy than other cheeses. You can still enjoy it in moderation, though, especially when it’s paired with healthy cauliflower.
Getty / fcafotodigital
Burrata
Cold, creamy, and a cheese that melts in your mouth, burrata is one of the most pleasurable eating experiences you can have. Lucky for keto people, it also has zero grams of carbs! Impress your friends at your next dinner party by making these burrata-stuffed squash blossoms.
Getty / Magone
Sour Cream
At just 0.3 carbs per ounce, sour cream is a great topping for keto people. Scoop it onto these chicken enchiladas, but be conservative with the tortillas.
Getty / James Baigrie
Parmesan
Going low- to no-carb might be the biggest struggle of the keto diet for pasta-lovers, so you’ll be happy to know that you can at least still have your beloved Parmesan. Instead of pasta, try grating it over zoodles or eggplant.
Getty / LauriPatterson
Cottage Cheese
You can still enjoy cottage cheese on the keto diet, but be mindful of how much you’re consuming since it contains four grams of carbs per half cup. Try topping it over fruit or avocados or mixing it into ranch dressing.
