I used to keep a stack of takeout menus in my kitchen drawer. Chinese on Fridays, Thai when I didn’t feel like cooking, Indian whenever my girlfriend picked. Going keto, I figured that whole drawer was getting tossed.
Turns out I was wrong. With the right swaps (cauliflower rice for white rice, almond flour for cornstarch, keto sweeteners for sugar), you can make takeout at home that tastes as good as the restaurant version. Better, actually, because the ingredients are cleaner and you’re not paying a $5 delivery fee.
These 10 recipes cover Chinese, Thai, Indian, and Mexican flavors. I’ve been making most of them for over a year now, and they’ve replaced the takeout menus entirely. My favorite nights are when I pick two or three and do a full spread.
From keto sweet and sour chicken to slow cooker tikka masala, these 10 low-carb copycat takeout recipes replace your favorite restaurant orders with homemade versions that fit your macros.
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Low Carb Sweet & Sour Chicken
Chinese food has been a weakness for me since I first tasted it. Fried rice, sweet and sour chicken, general tso's, chow mein. Eve...
Keto Bites: General Tso’s Chicken
One of my all-time favorites. My go-to when I used to order from the Chinese take away. One of the reasons I got fat in the first ...
Keto Sushi
Yes, you read it right! Keto sushi is here and it truly is amazing. I used to be a big eater of sushi and have missed it greatly. ...
Keto Chicken Pad Thai
Sometimes we really miss going to a Thai restaurant and being able to sit down and enjoy the food. But, being keto we try to find ...
Keto Thai Chicken Flatbread Pizza
My girlfriend has been begging me to make a keto copycat of her favorite pizza: the Thai Chicken Pizza from California Pizza Kitch...
Pork Carne Asada Tacos
It's not often that I say that I'm having pork tacos on a ketogenic diet, but you can have your tacos and eat them too! The cilant...
Slow Cooker Keto Chicken Tikka Masala
Chicken Tikka Masala is a super delicious and flavorful curry that you can now make keto! You can serve this on its own and it's a...
Keto Kung Pao Chicken
If you all didn't know by now, Asian food is in one of my favorite categories of food. Prior to keto, grabbing take-out was the ti...
Low Carb Pancake Sandwich
I really wanted to share with everyone a recipe from my cookbook. It's one of the fan-favorites when it comes to breakfasts, for b...
Thai Style Low Carb Peanut Chicken
This is a beautiful dish that combines elements of earthy peanuts, acidic citrus, and umami; finishing off with a slightly sweet a...
1. Keto Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe
Per serving: 477 cal | 28.4g fat | 3.6g net carbs | 44.9g protein
This was the recipe that made me stop ordering Chinese takeout. The keto-friendly batter gets crispy in the pan, and the low-carb sweet and sour sauce nails that sticky, tangy flavor you remember.
Paired with bell peppers and served over cauliflower rice, it’s a full takeout experience from your own kitchen. I made this last Tuesday and my girlfriend ate the leftovers for lunch the next day before I could get to them.
Fun fact: bell peppers have more vitamin C than oranges. A single red pepper gives you over twice your daily dose.
2. Keto General Tso Chicken Recipe
Per serving: 559 cal | 33.8g fat | 4.3g net carbs | 53.7g protein
General Tso’s is one of the most ordered Chinese dishes in America, and the keto version is just as good. Almond flour for the coating, keto sweeteners and soy sauce for the sauce, no cornstarch or sugar needed.
The sauce coats the crispy chicken pieces and gets that sticky-sweet thing going that makes this dish so hard to stop eating. I usually double the chicken because the sauce stretches easily and it reheats well for lunch the next day.
Ginger and garlic aren’t just there for flavor: both are solid for your immune system and digestion.
3. Keto Sushi Roll Recipe
Per serving: 359 cal | 26.8g fat | 7.9g net carbs | 18.3g protein
Sushi on keto sounds impossible until you try it. Cauliflower rice seasoned with rice vinegar stands in for the real thing, and it holds together better than you’d expect.
Fill your rolls with salmon, cucumber, avocado, cream cheese, whatever you like. I was skeptical the first time, but now this is a regular weekend thing at my house. We set out all the fillings and everyone rolls their own. Add a spicy mayo made from homemade keto mayo and sriracha for dipping.
If you go with salmon, you’re getting a solid dose of omega-3s, good for your heart and your brain.
4. Keto Chicken Pad Thai Recipe
Per serving: 659 cal | 58.3g fat | 5.0g net carbs | 28.5g protein
Pad Thai is a Thai street food classic: rice noodles, sugar, the works. The keto version swaps in shirataki or zucchini noodles and uses keto sweeteners, but keeps that sweet-sour-salty balance that makes pad Thai so good.
The sauce is fish sauce, lime, and a touch of sweetener. Top it with crushed peanuts, bean sprouts, and more lime. I served this to friends last month and nobody knew it was keto until I mentioned it after dinner.
The crushed peanuts on top aren’t just for crunch: they’re packed with healthy monounsaturated fats, the same kind you find in olive oil.
5. Keto Thai Chicken Flatbread Pizza Recipe
Per serving: 282 cal | 21.1g fat | 3.8g net carbs | 16.9g protein
Thai peanut sauce on a keto pizza crust. I wasn’t sure about this one until I tasted it, then I couldn’t stop eating it. It’s the kind of fusion thing you’d pay $18 for at a trendy restaurant, but it takes maybe 25 minutes at home.
The crust is mozzarella and almond flour, my go-to keto pizza dough. The peanut sauce makes a rich, nutty base that works with the melted cheese and whatever vegetables you throw on top. Pile on extra chicken if you want more protein.
6. Pork Carne Asada Tacos
Per serving: 718 cal | 67.6g fat | 3.2g net carbs | 35.7g protein
Taco truck flavors, keto-friendly ingredients. The pork gets marinated in lime juice, cilantro, cumin, and garlic, then grilled until it’s charred on the edges.
Serve in low-carb tortillas with fresh salsa, avocado, and more lime. I make these twice a month minimum: they’re always a hit with everyone at the table, keto or not.
7. Slow Cooker Keto Chicken Tikka Masala
Per serving: 726 cal | 62.5g fat | 5.9g net carbs | 35.3g protein
This is one of my favorites on the whole list. Throw the spiced chicken and creamy tomato sauce in the slow cooker before work, and you come home to a house that smells like an Indian restaurant.
The chicken comes out fall-apart tender, and the sauce is rich with garam masala, cumin, turmeric, and paprika. Serve it over cauliflower rice or with keto naan. I set this up on Monday mornings and it gets me through the start of the week.
Quick tip: add black pepper to this dish. It increases your body’s absorption of turmeric by about 2,000%, so you get way more out of the spices you’re already using.
8. Keto Kung Pao Chicken
Per serving: 232 cal | 16.5g fat | 4.2g net carbs | 16.6g protein
If you tried the General Tso’s earlier on this list, think of this as its spicier, nuttier cousin. Chicken stir-fried with peanuts, dried chili peppers, and a savory sauce: all the Sichuan flavor, none of the cornstarch.
It comes together in under 30 minutes, which is faster than delivery. I make this when I want something with real heat.
9. Low Carb Pancake Sandwich
Per serving: 668 cal | 50.9g fat | 5.1g net carbs | 43.3g protein
The keto McGriddle. Fluffy almond flour pancakes sandwiching sausage, egg, and cheese. I make a batch every Sunday and reheat them through the week, fastest keto breakfast going.
The pancakes use almond flour and cream cheese, so they come out tender with a slightly sweet edge that works with the savory fillings. My girlfriend demolished three of these the first time I made them.
Eggs are one of the best sources of choline, a nutrient most people don’t get enough of. It’s important for brain function and liver health, and you’re getting it wrapped in a breakfast sandwich.
10. Thai Style Low Carb Peanut Chicken
Per serving: 409 cal | 28.6g fat | 4.5g net carbs | 36.9g protein
Saving the best for last. Creamy peanut sauce with coconut milk, lime, and fish sauce: the chicken simmers in it and soaks up everything. Serve over cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles.
This is the one I make when I want to end a keto takeout night on a high note. Use full-fat coconut milk and don’t hold back on the peanut butter.
Coconut milk contains MCTs, medium-chain fats that your body converts to ketones faster than regular fats. So this dish can actually help keep you in ketosis while tasting like takeout.
More Keto Takeout-Inspired Recipes to Try
Still craving more restaurant-style flavors? These keto recipes from my collection will keep your taste buds traveling the globe without leaving your kitchen:
- Keto Asian Turkey & Green Bean Stir Fry: This is a deliciously easy recipe that combines savory ground turkey with crisp green beans in a tangy, Asian-inspired sauce.
- Keto Thai Turkey Stir Fry: Take your taste buds on a trip with our Keto Thai Turkey Stir Fry.
- Keto Chicken and Bacon Sausage Stir Fry in 25 Minutes: Try this scrumptious keto chicken and bacon sausage stiry fry next time you want a balanced low carb meal in under 25 minutes.
- Easy Keto Turkey Stir Fry: This dish features lean ground turkey sautéed with a vibrant mix of colorful vegetables, offering a satisfying crunch and a burst of flavor in every bite.
- Keto Stir Fry Recipe: Quality keto cooking doesn’t have to be a time-consuming chore.
- Keto Italian Cabbage Stir Fry: This easy and good keto Italian cabbage stir fry is will stick in your weekday favorites.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you eat takeout on keto?
Yes, but it requires careful menu navigation. Many takeout dishes contain hidden sugars, starches, and thickeners that add carbs quickly. The best strategy is to make your own keto versions of takeout favorites at home, where you control every ingredient. If you’re new to keto, check out our complete guide to the ketogenic diet to learn which ingredients to watch for.
What Chinese food can you eat on keto?
Traditional Chinese dishes like stir fries, steamed protein with vegetables, and egg drop soup can be keto-friendly when made without cornstarch, sugar, and rice. The keto sweet and sour chicken, General Tso’s, and Kung Pao chicken recipes in this roundup show you how to enjoy these classic flavors without the carbs.
Is Thai food keto-friendly?
Thai food can be adapted for keto by replacing rice noodles with zucchini noodles or shirataki noodles, using keto-friendly sweeteners instead of sugar, and choosing dishes based around protein and coconut milk. Curries, satay, and peanut-based dishes are particularly easy to make low-carb.
How do you make keto-friendly sushi?
The key to keto sushi is replacing the vinegared white rice with seasoned cauliflower rice. It holds together well when pressed firmly, and the rice vinegar seasoning gives it a similar tangy flavor. Fill with your favorite fish, avocado, cream cheese, and vegetables, then roll with nori sheets just like traditional sushi. Check out our keto sushi recipe for the full step-by-step.
What are the best low-carb substitutes for takeout staples?
For rice, use cauliflower rice. For noodles, try zucchini noodles (zoodles) or shirataki noodles. For breading, almond flour or coconut flour work great. For sweet sauces, use erythritol or monk fruit sweetener. For tortillas and wraps, use low-carb tortillas made with almond flour or coconut flour.
Putting It All Together: 10 Keto Copycat Takeout Recipes
That’s the lineup: 10 takeout copycats that I actually cook on a regular basis. Chinese, Thai, Indian, Mexican: all keto, all made with clean ingredients, and none of them taste like diet food.
Most come together in 30 minutes or less, which means you can have dinner on the table before a delivery driver could get to your door. Pick a couple that sound good, give them a shot this week, and I think you’ll be surprised how fast they replace the real thing.
For your convenience, here are the links to all the recipes I covered in this roundup:
- Keto Sweet and Sour Chicken Recipe: Discover our easy step by step keto sweet and sour chicken recipe.
- Keto General Tso Chicken Recipe: The sweet, spicy, savory mixture of general tso’s sauce is something I never wanted to give up.
- Keto Sushi Roll Recipe: Yes, you read it right! Keto sushi is here and it truly is amazing.
- Keto Chicken Pad Thai Recipe: Sometimes we really miss going to a Thai restaurant & enjoying the food.
- Keto Thai Chicken Flatbread Pizza Recipe: Our simple keto friendly thai chicken flatbread pizza recipe is perfect for a low-carb lifestyle.
- Pork Carne Asada Tacos: It’s not often that I say that I’m having pork tacos on a ketogenic diet.
- Slow Cooker Keto Chicken Tikka Masala: Chicken Tikka Masala is a super delicious and flavorful curry that you can now make keto! You can serve this on its own and it’s an amazing dish.
- Low Carb Pancake Sandwich: I really wanted to share with everyone a recipe from my cookbook.
- Thai Style Low Carb Peanut Chicken: This is a beautiful dish that combines elements of earthy peanuts, acidic citrus, and umami; finishing off with a slightly sweet and spice from the chili.
Ready to get started? Use our free keto calculator to find your ideal macros, and check out our keto meal plan for a full week of delicious low-carb recipes.
The recipes and nutritional information in this post are shared for informational purposes. If you have health conditions or concerns about the keto diet, please talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian before making changes to your diet.
Sources
- Bell Peppers 101: Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits – Healthline
- 11 Proven Health Benefits of Ginger – Healthline
- Immunomodulation and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Garlic Compounds – NCBI
- 17 Science-Based Benefits of Omega-3 Fatty Acids – Healthline
- 10 Proven Health Benefits of Turmeric and Curcumin – Healthline
- Capsaicin: When Used on Skin, Helps Relieve Pain – NCBI
- 12 Proven Health Benefits of Avocado – Healthline
- 6 Reasons Why Eggs Are The Healthiest Food on The Planet – Healthline
- Choline: An Essential Nutrient for Public Health – NCBI
- MCTs and Ketone Production – Healthline
- Why Almond Flour Is Better Than Most Other Flours – Healthline
- In vitro free radical scavenging and DNA damage protective property of Coriandrum sativum L. leaves extract – NCBI
- Piperine enhances the bioavailability of curcumin in humans – NCBI
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