This is the supreme guide to keto side dishes and is perfect for beginners. Discover the BEST side dish recipes for beef that are keto-friendly.
What’s for dinner? If the answer is beef, you’ll undoubtedly want to serve a delicious side dish along with your red meat. Here are my favourite beef sides that will keep your carb count in check!
Ah, there’s nothing quite like a juicy steak. In fact, a steak dinner is one of my all-time favourite meals, particularly when paired with guilt free sides that even the pickiest eaters gobble up. Try one or try them all…every dish here is a proven winner!
Is beef low carb?
Beef is very low carb! In fact, there are 0 carbs in red meat. It’s also surprisingly low in calories. For example, 3 oz of beef tenderloin is just 275 calories.
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Depending on the cut of meat you can, it can also be low or high fat. While the fattier cuts are more caloric, they will also be more satiating and flavourful.
Beef is also high-protein and is jam-packed with nutrients and vitamins such as zinc, iron, selenium, and B12, just to name a few. It definitely deserves a spot at your dinner table!
Beef nutrition
Ground beef is a versatile meat and is a nutritious source of protein, iron, and Vitamin B12.
The amount of protein and fat in any cut of beef will be dictated by which variety of beef you buy. The higher the fat content, the lower the protein.
| Per 100g (3.5oz) | Carbs | Protein | Fat | Calories |
| Ground beef 70% lean | 0 | 14.4g | 30g | 332 |
| Ground beef 80% lean | 0 | 17.2g | 20g | 254 |
| Ground beef 90% lean | 0 | 20.0g | 10g | 176 |
| Ground beef 95% lean | 0 | 21.4g | 5g | 137 |
The best low carb sides for beef
Now, on to the good part – the sides! These dishes will add extra flavor while also being easy on carbohydrates.
Mashed cauliflower
First, let’s address the elephant in the room. There are many classic pairings for steak that are very high in carbohydrates (I’m looking at you, mashed potatoes!).
However, I’ve found an excellent substitution for mashed potatoes…mashed cauliflower. You’ll barely note the difference, particularly when you season them properly.
Learn how to make 4 different flavours of mashed cauliflower – the cheesy or butter versions pair particularly well with a nice steak!
Caesar salad
The perfect low-carb high-protein salad has to be keto Caesar salad. Add extra bacon and poached eggs and throw away any croutons.
Mac and cheese
No, your standard blue box of mac and cheese doesn’t count as a low carb side, sorry! But, you can easily get all the flavour (and none of the guilt) with this creamy cauliflower bacon mac and cheese!
Creamed brussels sprouts
Dreaming of enjoying your steak with a creamy sauce? Look no further than these fantastic creamy Brussels sprouts! This classic recipe is cooked in a delicious garlic parmesan sauce that you’ll love dipping your meat into.
Bacon, broccoli, and cauliflower salad
Smoky bacon makes anything amazing tasting! But this side takes it a step further and uses sour cream to add even more yum.
Spaghetti squash
Missing sweet potatoes? Try spaghetti squash! It has all the flavour you are missing with just a fraction of the carbs. You can even add a drizzle of keto maple syrup to up the sweetness factor.
Prosciutto-wraped asparagus
If you are going to cook your steak on the grill, this recipe is the perfect match to go along with it! You can also cook this in the oven, but I love the smoky grill flavour with this asparagus side dish.
Stuffed mushrooms
Okay, this one is a bit of a cheat because it’s a side that also has beef within it! Make these stuffed mushrooms for a dinner one evening, then set aside a few to enjoy along with steak the next day!
Cheesy garlic bread
There is nothing quite like garlic bread. Everyone loves it at the dinner table. You will fall in love with buttery, cheesy keto garlic bread.
Crusty bread
If you love enjoying your beef with a side of crusty bread, you’re in luck! You really can have it all with this keto-friendly focaccia bread.
I like to serve this with a small dish that has olive oil and balsamic vinegar along with some chopped garlic, then dip my bread into it.
Baked zucchini chips
Sometimes when you fry up a burger you just want some french fries or chips. While potatoes are a no-go on a low carb diet, these zucchini chips are one of the best dishes to scratch that itch.
This post shows you how to make them in different ways including a basic salt and pepper chip, oil and vinegar chips, Mexican chips, garlic chips, and cheesy chips too!
Keto cheesy baked asparagus
Looking for a sauce with a creamy texture? If so, you’ll love this delicious baked asparagus side dish.
The veggies are baked in the oven in a creamy sauce made with cream cheese and mozzarella. This cheesy asparagus bake is a healthy take on scalloped potatoes.
This one is my go to recipe for a dinner party. Everyone loves it! Feel free to make it for your next dinner party and see just how much people love this side dish.
Brussels sprouts with bacon
Yum. It honestly doesn’t get better than bacon and Brussels sprouts! This is one of my favorite side dishes of all time. It has a lovely smoky flavour thanks to the bacon, but this side dish also calls for orange zest which contrasts beautifully.
Cauliflower rice
Cauliflower strikes again! This simple, mess-free method for cauliflower rice is the perfect side dish for beef. Plus, you can flavour it in so many ways. Turn it into a stir fry with veg, or mix it with heavy cream and cheese for a delicious cheesy rice.
Zoodles
Zoodles, aka zucchini noodles, are an excellent low-carb substitute for pasta. While you can certainly enjoy these noodles warm, I actually prefer them cold as a side for my steak!
Baked broccoli and cauliflower
Looking for a new way to enjoy your veggies? Try this baked broccoli and cauliflower! The vegetables are cooked in a cheat’s cheese sauce that’s incredibly easy to make, and delicious.
Low carb Mexican coleslaw
Every once in a while, I crave a nice crunchy side dish with my beef. This Mexican coleslaw is the perfect thing to serve. It’s got a bright, zesty lime sauce that you’ll keep coming back to!
Simple side dish ideas for beef (no recipe needed)
These ideas are so simple that there’s no recipe required! I love experimenting with all the different flavors, sauces, and seasonings that make each of these side dishes the perfect match for beef! Choose a few of these side dishes and enjoy.
Green beans
Whether you sautee fresh green beans in butter or grab a can of green beans and re-heat, this side pairs well with red meat.
I particularly like mine with a squeeze of lemon juice over the top for extra flavor. Green beans however are a higher carb vegetable so make sure you portion control them and add them into your daily carb limit.
Salad
Salad is a simple and versatile side dish that can be made a million different ways. Make a pile of leafy greens and add extra virgin olive oil and low-sugar balsamic vinegar dressing, or squeeze some lemon juice on.
You can even just grab a salad kit from the grocery store – just make sure to watch for sneakily added carbs! Keto Caesar salad is a wonderful high-protein salad. Just remember to ditch the croutons and add extra bacon.
Roasted veggies
Grab some cauliflower, broccoli or any other hardy veggie like carrots (just watch the carbs). Chop them into uniform pieces, add some oil and spices like thyme, and roast until they are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside!
Sauteed greens
Heat some olive oil and garlic over a pan, then add in your greens. You can enjoy collard greens, chard, kale, or spinach—or a combination! Feel free to experiment with seasonings and toppings. Its truly delicious!
Simple steamed low-carb vegetables
Simple steamed or boiled broccoli and cauliflower are easy mid-week side dishes. Always keep a supply of fresh or frozen vegetables at hand.
Low-carb condiments for your steak
Last, but not least, part of the fun of enjoying steak is the sauce you serve it with!
Here are some of my favourite steak toppings and seasonings:
- blue cheese – the creamy tanginess of blue cheese is the perfect pairing for tender, juicy steak. If you aren’t a blue cheese fan, try gargonzola cheese or even shaved parmesan.
- ketchup – but make sure to watch the carbs and added sugar. Get my Instant Pot sugar-free ketchup recipe here.
- bbq sauce – again, you’ll have to watch out for the carb count. If you want a guilt free version, try my delicious tangy keto bbq sauce. It only has 1 gram net carbs per 2 tablespoons!
- a creamy sauce like this cream cheese mushroom sauce. It’s fantastic!
- minced garlic and butter – another classic topping. It’s as simple as adding a generous pat of butter and some garlic or chives on top of your steak.
- red wine sauce – cook your steak in a red wine reduction with some seasonings.
- salt and pepper for classic flavor.
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