Nachos are normally made with tortilla chips, which are highly processed and not allowed on a keto diet. Luckily, if you swap out the unhealthy tortilla chips for healthy, low-carb ingredients, you can still enjoy nachos!
This Keto Nachos recipe is perfect for Superbowl Sunday or any party, really. You can serve it as an appetizer or even alongside a main dish. It’s cheesy, hearty, and doesn’t contain any inflammatory ingredients like traditional nacho dishes do.
The tortilla chips serve as a base for your nachos. My low carb tortilla chips recipe calls for almond flour, cheddar cheese, cream cheese, melted butter, and a small egg. Some people might call these fathead tortilla chips.
On the other hand, most tortilla chips are made with corn, vegetable oil, preservatives, more salt than you need, and sometimes even added sugar. These ingredients are highly inflammatory and will send your blood sugar levels soaring.
Almond flour makes a great keto “chip.” It’s high in fiber, low in calories, and contains healthy fats to fill you up. Plus, it pairs well with cheese!
You can top your nachos with just about anything you want, as long as it’s low-carb. This recipe calls for the basic nacho toppings, including ground beef, sour cream, and tomatoes.
You can also add more cheese on top if you would like! I serve these nachos with homemade guacamole. This is a perfect low carb party food!
It greatly enhances the nutritional value of the dish by providing vitamins A, B6, C, E and K, omega-3 fatty acids, as well as riboflavin, niacin, folate, pantothenic acid, calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, iron, copper and manganese.
Ground beef is a good source of 14 essential nutrients, including protein, zinc, iron, selenium, thiamine, niacin, riboflavin, vitamin D, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, pantothenate, phosphorus, magnesium and potassium.
I recommend buying a brand of ground beef that comes from grass-finished sources. It should not contain any antibiotics, hormones, or preservatives.
The oregano helps give the chip base a savory flavor. Oregano also contains anti-inflammatory benefits. Research shows that oregano also contains antibacterial properties that may help treat bacterial infections and protect against antibiotic-resistant complications (1, 2).
This occurs when the body becomes resistant to antibiotics, usually because you are being overexposed in the foods you eat, and it stops responding to the treatment. So these nachos aren’t just tasty- they also help keep your body healthy!
How to Make Fathead Tortilla Chips
There are many ways to make low carb tortilla dough. For example, I made Flaxseed Tortillas, Zucchini Tortillas, Cauliflower Tortillas and Coconut Tortillas before.
For this particular recipe, I want the chips extra crispy so I made the fathead tortillas. Start by making the fathead dough. In a bowl, mix the almond flour, butter, oregano, cream cheese and salt. Flatten the dough using a rolling pin.
Cut the dough into small rectangles and top with cheddar cheese slices. You can also use shredded cheese such as mozzarella. Bake in the oven for about 10 minutes or until golden brown.
How to Make Low Carb Nachos with Ground Beef Topping
In the meantime, make the filling by browning the ground meat in a stovetop pan with oil, minced garlic or garlic powder, pepper, bay leaves, and salt. Add the tomato after 10 minutes and cook for another 5 minutes. Sprinkle with a little bit of chili powder if you wish. Remove from heat.
Prepare the guacamole by mixing together the avocado, cilantro, tomato, onion, and salt and pepper.
Assemble the nachos with the meat on top and serve with guacamole or cheese sauce.
You might love trying these:
- Keto Mexican Pizza
- Mexican Chicken Casserole
- Buffalo Chicken Totchos with Cauliflower Tater Tots
- Keto Fathead Pizza
- Keto Tacos
- Keto Chicken Enchiladas
- Keto Beef Taquitos
Keto Nachos
Ingredients
For Low Carb Tortilla Chips
- ½ cup almond flour
- 4 slices cheddar cheese can also use grated mozzarella cheese
- 2 tbsp butter melted
- 2 tbsp cream cheese
- 1 egg small, optional
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp salt to taste
- ½ tsp xanthan gum optional
For Ground Beef Topping
- 1/2 lb ground beef
- 1 tomato small, chopped
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1/2 tsp ground pepper
- 2 bay leaves optional
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
For Guacamole
- 1 avocado medium, peeled and chopped
- 1 tbsp fresh cilantro chopped
- 1 tomato small, chopped
- 1 tbsp onion chopped
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F°.
- Mix the almond flour, butter, oregano, cream cheese and 1 tsp salt in a bowl. Make sure to mix until the dough looks soft so you can use a rolling pin to flatten it.
- Cut small rectangles to form the crackers and place cheddar cheese on each cracker. Place them on a baking sheet and then in the oven for about 10 minutes or until they look brown. Set aside.
- In the meantime, add oil to a preheated skillet and add the garlic clove, bay leaves, ground beef, pepper, and salt.
- Let it cook for 10 minutes and then add chopped tomato. Cook for 5 more minutes and remove from heat.
- For the guacamole, mix the avocado, 1 chopped tomato, cilantro, and onion. Add salt to taste.
- Serve nacho crackers with meat and sour cream on top along with guacamole and enjoy!
Video
Nutrition/Macros
FAQ
Is nachos OK for keto diet?
Traditional nachos made with corn tortilla chips are not keto-friendly due to their high carb content. However, you can opt for nachos made with low-carb chips alternatives like almond flour chips or cheese crisps.
What can I use instead of chips for nachos on keto?
On a keto diet, I would suggest you replace traditional tortilla chips with alternatives like cheese crisps, almond flour or coconut flour tortilla chips, fathead chips, pork rinds, sliced bell peppers, or baked zucchini or eggplant slices for a low-carb nacho base.
What is pork rind nachos?
Pork rind nachos, often referred to as “pork nachos” or “chicharron nachos,” are a low-carb, keto-friendly version of traditional nachos. Instead of using flour tortilla chips, crispy pork rinds serve as the base. They are then topped with traditional nacho ingredients like cheese, jalapeños, sour cream, and guacamole. The pork rinds provide a crunchy texture similar to chips but without the carbs. I suggest you also track your protein macros when eating pork rinds as they’re a high protein snack.
How to store keto nachos
To store keto nachos, separate the toppings from the low-carb chips. Place the chips in an airtight container to maintain their crispness, and store the toppings in separate containers in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days. When ready to eat, reassemble and reheat as needed.
How to reheat nachos
To reheat nachos without making them soggy, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Spread the nachos evenly on a baking sheet and bake for 5-7 minutes or until the cheese is melted and toppings are heated through. Avoid using a microwave, as it can make the nachos soggy. If your nachos contain delicate toppings, consider adding them after reheating.
Can you reheat nachos in an air fryer?
Yes, you can reheat nachos in an air fryer. Set the air fryer to 350°F (175°C) and heat the nachos for 3-5 minutes or until the cheese is melted and toppings are warmed through.
