Top 25 Keto Mexican Recipes for Your Meals

Whether you’re looking for exciting keto Mexican recipes or simply want a tasty guide through delicious Mexican dishes, this article will provide you with the necessary information.

If you want to adapt these Mexican dishes into your diet, then you only need to have small alterations for them to be ketogenic.

These hearty Mexican recipes will provide you with high energy content with the lowest carbs intake. You should keep scrolling because I know people always have an appetite for Mexican dishes. Let’s improve your diet!

Healthy Keto Mexican Recipes To Try Right At Home

I know it’s challenging to go on a low-carb diet. That’s why I bring to you some of the easiest keto-friendly dishes from Mexican cuisine that will satisfy your craving. Remember, you may need some slight recipe modifications to meet the keto demands.

1. Keto Nacho

Total time: 45 – 50 minutes.

Starting with a dish packed full of flavor, Nacho originates from Tex-Mex cuisine, but many people speculate the dish was first invented in the Piedras Negras city of Coahuila state. People often serve Nacho as an appetizer with Tortilla chips (fried corn flour).

Many believe that a Mexican chef named Ignacia Anaya created the original dish in 1940 in the Victoria club. A conventional recipe for Nacho is a combination of crunchy Tortilla with melted cheese, meats, and a variety of condiments.

You need to swap out the traditional Mexican corn Tortilla for keto or almond Tortillas for a keto Nacho recipe. Most often, locals will arrange the Tortilla at the base of the baking tray, following that up with a layer of minced beef and Salsa (Mexican sauce).

The layering process is repeated until it reaches the height of the baking tray. For toppings, locals often use cheese or Jalapeno (Mexican chili) to sprinkle over the Nacho. If possible, you should do a quick broil so the meat juice doesn’t turn the Nacho soggy.

2. Keto Tortilla (Mexican Flatbread)

Total time: 30 minutes.

Tortilla needs little introduction to anyone. The iconic Mexican dish is a cornerstone of the country’s cuisine and often features in many dishes. The authentic Mexican Tortilla recipe requires using masa de maiz (a type of corn dough) to make.

Mexican locals will flatten the corn dough into a disk shape before giving a light grill. In today’s cuisine, wheat Tortilla is also establishing itself as a perfect substitution for the original corn variety.

I know what you’re here for. A healthy version of Tortilla that fits a ketogenic diet is usually made from almond flour. However, you will need to combine a little bit of baking powder for the grilling process. Almond-based Tortillas are super simple to make at home.

The best thing is that the keto version of the Tortilla has the same texture as the Mexican one. In addition, the almond flour gives a slight buttery flavor to the Tortilla.

Being on a keto diet won’t stop you from enjoying a delicious homemade Tortilla recipe.

3. Mexican Hot Chocolate

Total time: 3 – 10 minutes.

Hot chocolate is undeniably a popular beverage around the world. But did you know that Mexico is the home of most chocolate drinks? In addition, the unique Mexican chocolate is characterized by a rich flavor of cinnamon.

Mexican hot chocolate has a long history. The first chocolate drink was believed to exist 2500 – 3000 years ago in the Mayan civilization. In many places of the world, people started using the beverage when chocolate was introduced to the Old World from Mexico.

For a classic cup of Mexican hot chocolate, the addition of cinnamon is a must as it creates a distinct flavor for the Mexican beverage. Of course, you can add some chili powder if you want some spiciness to your cup of Mexican hot chocolate.

4. Carnitas (Mexican Pulled Pork)

Total time: 2 hours 30 minutes – 8 hours 5 minutes.

Say hello to Mexican delicious Carnitas, a staple dish originating from the Michoacán state of Mexico. Typically, Mexican locals will cook an entire chunk of meat for 3-4 hours before shredding it to serve on a taco.

People prefer using the pork butt or shoulder meat to make Carnitas because these areas of meat are more suitable for a long cooking process. Commonly, locals will include lime juice into the Carnitas to help tenderize the meat.

Since we’re on the topic of a keto diet, an almond Tortilla is best to accompany the shredded pork. However, you can also use lettuce leaves to wrap the pork instead. Normally, the pork of Carnitas has a tenderized and juicy texture.

5. Guacamole (Avocado Sauce)

Total time: 5 – 10 minutes.

It’s hard to imagine a Mexican party without bringing the ultimate Guacamole dip. The name Guacamole comes from the Nahuatl language, meaning “avocado sauce. In Mexico, locals rely on avocados as the base for the creamy dipping sauce.

Aside from the avocado, lime juice is a must-have ingredient to bring out the iconic flavor of Guacamole. In addition, you can balance the flavor by using salt. Although the keto version of Guacamole is no different from the original one, it’s the type of food you dip that matters.

I suggest staying away from dishes that have dough in them. The Guacamole should fare well with any low-carb menu in Mexican cuisine.

Your meal will never be boring with a delicious homemade bowl of Guacamole.

6. Keto Chicken Enchilada Soup

Total time: 40 minutes – 1 hour 10 minutes.

Mexican Enchilada soup is hearty and more flavorful than you think. The soup is entirely different from regular chicken soup recipes because of the thick soup consistency. It also serves as a great comfort dish.

The star of the soup is the Enchilada sauce, a mixture of tomato paste with chili powder and various Mexican condiments. However, tomato puree is also a perfect substitution for the soup flavor. The tomato-based sauce will help deepen the flavor of the chicken stock.

To enhance the soup’s creaminess, people will use sour cream along with some Jalapeno slices for an extra kick of spiciness. For the chicken, my advice is thigh or breast meat for the best texture.

7. Queso (Mexican Cheese Dip)

Total time: 20 minutes (conventional cooking method) – 2 hours 10 minutes (with a crock pot).

Queso is a cheesy dip of Mexican cuisine that locals often serve as an appetizer. Although there are many variations of Queso dip, the original recipe often features cheese and Jalapeno as the main ingredients.

To enhance the creamy texture of the dish, people often use cream cheese with either whipped cream or heavy cream for an added milky flavor. The nice thing about this recipe is that you can use any type of cheese for the Queso dip.

A small helpful tip, if your Queso is too thick, I suggest adding water to adjust the consistency to your liking. People tend to serve Queso sauce warm with a variety of dishes.

Surprisingly, you can make Queso with a crockpot for an effortless cooking experience, although it will take longer than the conventional method.

Learn how you can make this addictive Queso dip in your kitchen.

8. Chicken Fajita

Total time: 27 – 45 minutes.

Originating from Tex-Mex cuisine, Fajita is a Spanish word to refer to dishes that have strips of onions or meat. In the past, people used the term Fajita to talk about the skirt steak where the piece of meat was first used for the dish.

Seasoning is the most important step of any Fajita dish. Commonly, Mexican locals combine cumin with chili powder, garlic, and onion for the Fajita seasoning. If you want to save your time around condiments, then using Taco seasoning will have the same effect.

Chicken Fajita packs full of flavorful Mexican condiments. The chicken gets more tenderized the longer it’s cooked on the skillet. For toppings, avocado slices are a great choice to improve the overall taste of the dish.

A small piece of advice from me: If you’re thinking about serving Chicken Fajita on a Tortilla, then make sure to use the keto-friendly version of the flatbread.

9. Keto Chicken Quesadilla

Total time: 30 – 35 minutes.

If you like chewy Tortillas with filling, then Quesadilla is the perfect recipe for you. The dish is native to Mexican cuisine with a crunchy corn Tortilla shell and cheesy filling. Before serving, vendors often grill the Tortilla over a griddle or a stove to get that iconic crunchiness.

The only problem for keto diners is the Tortilla shell. However, you can easily fix this by using a nut-based Tortilla instead. Interestingly, Quesadilla offers various ways to customize your filling. Any kind of meat will do the job, but for this recipe, I use chicken to pair with cheese.

In addition, the appearance of avocado slices will help complement the flavor of the cheese and chicken. Despite the change in the Tortilla shell, the keto Quesadilla version still has a similar taste to the original recipe.

10. Pico De Gallo (Mexican Fresh Salsa)

Total time: 20 – 40 minutes.

Mexican cuisine divides Salsa into 2 categories; cooked and raw Salsa. Pico de Gallo is a perfect example of the latter variety, as the recipe involves no cooking steps. In Spanish, Pico de Gallo has many names like Salsa Fresca, Salsa Bandera, and Salsa Cruda.

Some Mexican regions even use the term Pico de Gallo for various Mexican salad dishes, salsa, or fillings that have tomatoes, avocados, and cucumbers as ingredients.

Pico de Gallo is far different from regular Salsa in terms of consistency. While Salsa is a thick sauce mixture, Pico de Gallo is more watery because of the fresh vegetable ingredients.

A common mix of Pico de Gallo consists of tomatoes, onion, and chopped cilantro. Since there’s no meat involved, Pico de Gallo is fit for a fresh meatless Mexican delight. You can also either use chili or Jalapeno to add the necessary kick to the sauce. 

Making Pico de Gallo is a breeze with this simple guide.

11. Horchata (Mexican Plant-Based Drink)

Total time: 5 minutes.

In many Spanish-speaking countries, Horchata is a drink that is embedded into many food cultures. The beverage is commonly a combination between milk and plant-based products. Horchata has numerous varieties, with each country having a different take on the recipe.

In Mexico, rice is often the main ingredient for this traditional Mexican beverage, as locals often soak the rice for a long time before blending it with a milk mixture. Typically, Horchata is sold as street food, but most locals often have the beverage as a homemade product.

Although the concept of keto Horchata may sound weird to you, it’s entirely plausible with a simple twist. You only need to use almond milk to replace the rice from the traditional recipes. The result you get is a creamy and sweet beverage that possesses a very low level of carbs.

12. Beef Tamale

Total time: 1 hour 50 minutes.

Tamale is an iconic dish of Mexican cuisine that first appeared in the Mesoamerica region from 8000 to 5000 BC. Most often, the Mexican residents create the Tamale by using corn dough to contain numerous types of fillings.

The traditional way of steaming Tamales is to place them in corn husks or banana leaves. In terms of flavor, Tamale has a neutral taste, making it perfect to combine with flavorful fillings. Additionally, the dish stands out with a firm and spongy texture.

For maintaining a healthy low-carb diet, the authentic Tamale recipe isn’t a good suggestion. However, you can still enjoy Tamales by swapping the standard corn dough for almond dough. The flavor will remain the same, but your carbohydrate intake will be significantly reduced.

For this recipe, the filling is a mixture of cheese and ground beef. If you’re feeling fancy, try making some delicious Mexican ground beef recipes to customize your filling. Ground beef offers more calories than other types of fillings, making sure you last longer after a meal.

13. Salsa Verde (Green Tomatillo Sauce)

Total time: At most 15 minutes.

If you’re already used to seeing red Salsa, then prepare to be amazed by the beautiful green Salsa. According to historical records, Salsa Verde’s origin dates back to the age of the Aztec empire. Mexican locals utilize tomatillos and green chili to create this delicious sauce.

To satisfy your curiosity, the tomatillo is close relative to the standard red tomato. However, the tomatillo has a husk covering the outside of the fruit. Instead of being red as a tomato, this Mexican staple fruit has a green color even when ripe.

If you’re on a low-carb diet, then there’s nothing to worry about Salsa Verde as the dish is completely carb-free.

Most often, people will broil or bake the Tomatillo to bring an extra smoky flavor to the dipping sauce. In addition, the appearance of Jalapeno helps bring that iconic Mexican heat to Salsa Verde. Remember you can always use a blender to combine all the ingredients.

Discover how you can recreate delicious salsa verde right at home.

14. Keto Sopa De Lima (Mexican Lime Soup)

Total time: 45 minutes.

There’s no soup in Mexican cuisine that can beat the uniqueness of Sopa de Lima. The dish is a specialty from the Yucatan state in Mexico, where residents cook meat in a mixture of lime juice and serve it with Tortilla chips as a side dish.

I know that you’re worried about the carb content from those Tortilla chips, but the dish can still taste amazing without them.

The main ingredient for Sopa de Lima is the chicken stock to set the soup’s tone. In addition, you can add tomatoes and various Mexican condiments for a flavorful soup. Don’t forget the lime juice, as it helps create the signature taste of Sopa de Lima.

For an extra lemon flavor to the soup, I suggest adding some lemon zest. Sopa de Lima has a light flavor with a slight citrus taste of lime. The soup has various toppings, but in my opinion, some simple avocado slices will work wonders. 

15. Keto Empanada (Mexican Turnover)

Total time: 25 – 40 minutes.

Empanada is a classic Spanish food that has a layer of pastry encasing a variety of fillings. Some people refer to the pastry dish as a Spanish version of the turnover. In Mexico, Empanada is also a popular dish, which locals often prepare with either savory or sweet fillings.

Instead of using all-purpose flour, my suggestion is almond flour to reduce the amount of carb intake. Typically, you can use any kind of fillings for an Empanada, but for a meal pack with calories, ground beef is a solid choice.

In addition, adding cheese will greatly enhance the overall flavor and texture of the Empanada. Commonly, people will fry or bake Empanadas before serving them hot.

16. Taco (Mexican Fried Corn Tortilla)

Total time: 28 – 30 minutes.

Taco is one of the most beloved staple dishes when anyone mentions popular Mexican food. The traditional Mexican recipe requires using a fried hand-size Tortilla, filled with all sorts of toppings. Although the origin of Taco remains undiscovered, the dish is still a famous street food.

Many ingredients of Taco, like meat, vegetables, and sauces, are already keto-friendly. Instead of using traditional flour or corn Tortillas to make the taco, you should resolve to an alternative solution like almond flour Tortillas.

If you’re fancy about customizing your taco shell, then I suggest using cheese for a crunchy and flavorful shell.

Keto Taco is surprisingly easy to make right at home.

17. Keto Sopa De Tacos (Mexican Taco Soup)

Total time: 25 minutes.

I know being on a keto diet can be tough, and sometimes, you just want to have a bite of a delicious Taco. Don’t worry because Sopa de Taco is exactly what you’re looking for. The soup is exactly everything you love about a traditional Taco from Mexico in terms of flavors.

Sopa de Taco is the combination of Taco fillings with a flavorful broth mixture. For a delicious broth, chicken stock and tomato puree make an outstanding duo to bring a balanced flavor. Interestingly, Carnitas is a terrific addition in terms of protein and flavor to the soup.

If you’re still worried about the Tortilla that Mexicans often serve along with the soup, then just skip it instead. Sopa de Tacos taste remains amazing without the Tortilla chips, although you may want to add some avocado slices or sour cream to deepen the flavor even more.

18. Caldo De Pollo (Mexican Chicken Soup)

Total time: Around 40 minutes.

Whether you’re on a diet or not, it’s never easy to resist a simple yet flavorful bowl of Caldo de Pollo. The soup appears in many Latin American countries as a simple mix of vegetables and chicken. In many regions, residents consider soup as a remedy to recover from a cold.

Any Mexican recipe for savory soups will start with a delicious broth to set the flavor for the entire dish. For Caldo de Pollo, you can make stock during the cooking process by boiling a variety of vegetables with the chicken.

When served, people tend to have Caldo de Pollo warm with some lime juice to balance the flavor. The vegetables taste amazing thanks to the chicken and various Mexican condiments in the broth.

19. Taco Casserole

Total time: 45 minutes – 1 hour.

To my surprise, Casserole has a French origin. People refer to the term Casserole as dishes cooked in a deep pan or bowl. The flavorful Mexican-themed casserole recipe is a fascinating twist to the original recipe when all ingredients are from Mexican cuisine.

Don’t let the word “taco” make you think that I’ll include high-carb Tortillas into the dish. Instead, the recipe only requires the taco filling and not the Tortilla shell. However, I recommend adding taco seasoning to the ingredients as it brings out the Mexican flavor.

For the filling, people use a mixture of ground beef with diced tomatoes or salsa sauce. Then, sour cream is added to improve the creamy texture and flavor. Top your baking tray with a variety of cheese and let the oven handle the rest of the cooking process.

20. Fish Taco

Total time: 2 hours 35 minutes (including 2 hours of marinating).

Maybe you’re already fed up with having beef or chicken for the high amount of calories, then give this tasty Mexican recipe with fish a shot. The crunchy fried fish nestles between low-carb shells will bring you a balanced meal.

Let’s face it: A conventional corn taco has a high carb level, which makes it unsuitable for a keto meal. However, grain- or corn-free Tortillas are the perfect solution to fix the problem. Better yet, you can also customize your dough by using a mixture of zucchini, cheese, and almond flour.

Most often, white fish meat or salmon will make a decent choice for the dish. Fish taco tastes amazing with simple lime juice over the fried fish.

Bring a new flavor to your next keto taco by using fish as the main filling.

21. Mexican Cauliflower Rice

Total time: 25 – 30 minutes.

Before you get tired and skip this cauliflower recipe, let me prove to you that Mexican cauliflower rice can taste amazing. The dish burst with everything you love about Mexican spices. I’m sure your cauliflower will never taste bland again.

Although the name may be confusing, cauliflower rice has nothing to do with rice. Instead, people break up the cauliflower into tiny bits that are similar to rice grains. Typically, the dish has a slightly chewy texture with a nutty flavor.

To spice up the cauliflower, you can use diced tomatoes or as a paste to accompany spicy Jalapeno. As for garnish, using chopped cilantro will greatly enhance the dish’s looks and flavor at the same time.

22. Keto Chicken Taquito

Total time: Around 45 minutes.

Flauta, taco dorados, or rolled taco are the most common names that people use to refer to Taquito, a popular Mexican street food.

In the country, the dish is made by rolling a corn Tortilla with different types of fillings before deep-frying to a crisp. Alternatively, you can also make this delicious Mexican dish using an air fryer to cut down on the oil.

You know the drill already, I won’t use any high-carb ingredients for this recipe, including the traditional corn Tortilla. Although you can use low-carb Tortillas to cut down on some time, I prefer making the crispy Tortilla shell from cheese.

To make the cheesy Tortilla shell, you need to melt the Monterey Jack and cheddar mixture in an oven. The golden brown edge is a perfect indication that the shells are ready. For the filling, I choose chicken for the best flavor and nutrients.

Taquitos may be small, but they are packed full of energy to start your day. It’s an amazing Mexican starter to activate your taste bud before the main dishes.

23. Camarones Al Mojo De Ajo (Mexican Shrimp With Garlic Sauce)

Total time: 22 – 28 minutes.

Camarones al Mojo de Ajo is a staple dish of Mexican coastal areas. The residents use fresh shrimp to simmer in a mixture of butter, oil, and a generous amount of garlic. Most Mexican locals have the dish with beans, corn, or salad.

For a traditional flavor of Camarones al Mojo de Ajo, the shrimp seasoning concoction needs to have cumin, paprika powder, and some squeezed lime juice.

Before cooking the amazing Mexican shrimp recipe, you need to sauteé the onion and garlic with the butter first to get that caramelized flavor. The shrimp should only take a couple of minutes to be ready, so make sure you don’t overcook it.

Although the recipe may recommend serving with rice or Tortilla, you should skip these ingredients to fit your keto diet. Instead, I recommend using keto-friendly products to suit such a menu.

Tasty Camarones al Mojo de Ajo is exactly what you need for your next meal.

24. Chori Pollo (Chorizo Sausage And Chicken)

Total time: 25 minutes.

Chori Pollo is a simple combination of Chorizo sausage with tender chicken, all on one hot pan. The dish is an easy-to-make Mexican early meal recipe that packs full of calories and energy for your day.

For those who are unfamiliar with Chorizo, it’s a Mexican sausage that has a distinct red brick color. Mexicans use minced meat to mix with an array of Mexican condiments. Commonly, Chorizo has a smoky and salty flavor with a touch of sweetness.

In the beginning, you need to sauteé the onion in a pan with butter until it has a caramelized color. Next, start cooking the Chorizo in the onion mixture before adding shredded chicken for extra proteins. I’m sure it’s hard to say no to a hot pan of Chori Pollo right in the morning.

25. Keto Chili Rellenos (Poblano Stuffed With Fillings)

Total time: 50 minutes.

The Poblano pepper is a native pepper of Mexican cuisine. It has a dark green color. Despite its large size, Poblano pepper has a relatively mild spice level. A traditional Chili Rellenos utilize the Poblano chili as a bowl to hold numerous flavorful fillings.

Before you even think about all the delicious fillings, make sure you give the Poblano chili a good grilling section over the stove or in the oven. Roasting the Poblano will help add a scent of smokiness to the dish.

The filling of Chili Rellenos is simple since you only have to include cheese and egg yolks. However, I have to remind you to use almond flour or coconut flour for the batter that coats the Poblano chili. Aside from that, you can finish the dish with a thick red salsa mixture on top.

Figuring Out Your Next Keto Mexican Meal Is Now Simpler

Are you excited about your next meal already? These Mexican dishes have slight alterations to their original recipes, but the flavors remain outstanding. I hope your planned meals are now more abundant than before.

Don’t be afraid to try these recipes in your kitchen. You may even amaze yourself with how simple it is to make a keto Mexican meal. If you like this article, share it with your friends and relatives so everyone can have a healthy meal for themselves.

I would love to hear more from you guys, so please drop your idea in the comment section. Thank you for spending your time.