If you need fast, low-carb dinners that won’t break the budget, this guide gives three reliable keto meals you can make on busy weeknights. Each recipe focuses on inexpensive, pantry-friendly ingredients, straightforward steps, and minimal cleanup. You’ll find clear ingredient lists with exact quantities, step-by-step instructions, practical prep tips, and quick answers to common questions — all designed to get dinner on the table in 15–35 minutes.
Highlights
- Total time: 15–35 minutes (depending on recipe)
- Servings: 2–4 (see individual recipe notes)
- Difficulty: Easy
- Main equipment: Large skillet (12″), sheet pan or air fryer, chef’s knife, cutting board
Ingredients and Ingredient Tips
Ingredients
Below are three complete recipes with exact quantities.
1) Cheesy Chicken & Spinach Skillet (serves 2)
- 12 oz (340 g) boneless skinless chicken thighs, trimmed and cut into 1″ pieces
- 1 tablespoon olive oil (15 ml)
- 2 cups fresh spinach, packed (about 60 g)
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese (56 g)
- 1/4 cup heavy cream (60 ml)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder (3 g)
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika (1 g)
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (3 g)
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper (1 g)
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)
2) Garlic Butter Shrimp with Zucchini Noodles (serves 2)
- 12 oz (340 g) raw shrimp, peeled and deveined (medium, tail-off)
- 2 medium zucchini (approx. 500 g total) — spiralized into noodles (~4 cups)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (28 g)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced (6 g)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (15 ml)
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (3 g)
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper (1 g)
- 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan (optional, for serving)
3) Bacon & Egg Stuffed Portobellos (serves 2)
- 2 large portobello mushroom caps (about 10–12 oz / 300–350 g total)
- 4 large eggs
- 4 slices center-cut bacon (approx. 4 oz / 115 g)
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped green onion (12 g)
- 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella (28 g)
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning (1 g)
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt (1.5 g)
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper (0.5 g)
Ingredient Tips
- Use chicken thighs instead of breasts — they’re cheaper and stay moist for skillet recipes.
- Buy large bags of frozen shrimp (peeled, deveined) when on sale and thaw in the fridge overnight.
- Choose firm zucchini for spiralizing; remove excess moisture by squeezing noodles in a clean towel before cooking.
- For bacon, center-cut gives a better fat-to-meat ratio for keto while reducing waste.
- Keep basic pantry staples (garlic powder, smoked paprika, Italian seasoning) on hand — they transform inexpensive proteins.
Go to Page 2 for step-by-step instructions and preparation tips.