Keto At Taco Bell: Best Low-Carb Orders

Taco Bell is a popular fast-food chain that offers a variety of menu options, including some keto-friendly choices. While eating keto can be challenging, especially when dining out, it is possible to stick to a keto diet at Taco Bell with a few simple modifications. The key is to focus on high-fat, moderate-protein, and low-carb options. This means avoiding taco shells, tortillas, beans, rice, and other high-carb ingredients while opting for proteins, healthy fats, and vegetables. With these considerations in mind, let's explore the keto possibilities at Taco Bell.

Keto-friendly sauces and cheese

When following a keto diet, it's important to be mindful of sauces and condiments, as they can contain hidden sugars and carbohydrates. The good news is that there are several keto-friendly sauces and cheeses that can enhance the flavour of your meals without compromising your dietary goals. Here are some options to consider:

Sauces

• Creamy Jalapeno Sauce: This sauce adds a spicy kick to your meal and has only 1 gram of carbohydrate per serving.
• Guacamole: Avocados are a great source of healthy fats and fibre, making guacamole an excellent keto-friendly choice. It has 1 gram of net carb per serving.
• Nacho Cheese Sauce: Indulge in the cheesy goodness of nacho cheese sauce without the carb guilt. It has just 1 gram of carbohydrate per serving.
• Creamy Chipotle Sauce: Spice up your meal with this creamy, smokey sauce, which has zero net carbs.
• Avocado Ranch Sauce: Enjoy the creamy, tangy flavour of ranch with the added goodness of avocado. It has 1 gram of net carb per serving.
• Spicy Ranch Sauce: If you like your food with a kick, this sauce combines the tanginess of ranch with a hint of spice, all for 1 gram of net carb.
• Red Sauce: This sauce will add a burst of colour and flavour to your meal, all while keeping the carb count low at 2 grams of carbohydrate per serving.

Cheese

• Shredded Cheese: Whether it's cheddar, Monterey Jack, or American cheese, shredded cheese is a versatile and keto-friendly option to sprinkle over your meals or use in recipes.
• Cream Cheese: Opt for full-fat cream cheese from a block rather than a spreadable version, as the latter often contains added stabilizers and water.
• Cheese Sauce: You can make your own keto-friendly cheese sauce at home using just a few simple ingredients, such as cream cheese, butter, heavy cream, and shredded cheese. This sauce is perfect for nachos, mac and cheese, or even as a dip.

Chicken options

Taco Bell offers a variety of chicken options that can be made keto-friendly with a few simple modifications. Here are some detailed suggestions to help you stick to your keto diet while enjoying your Taco Bell favourites:

Chicken Power Menu Bowl (no beans or rice)

The Chicken Power Menu Bowl is a great option for a keto-friendly meal. While it typically comes with beans and rice, you can customise your order by removing these items. Your bowl will then contain chicken, shredded cheese, guacamole, lettuce, sour cream, tomatoes, and an avocado-ranch sauce. This option is not only delicious but also keto-friendly, with only 4 grams of net carbs.

Chicken Quesadilla (no tortilla)

If you're craving the Chicken Quesadilla, simply order it without the tortilla. This modification will leave you with a generous portion of grilled chicken, shredded cheese, and a creamy jalapeño sauce. This option is not only keto-friendly but also protein-packed, with only 5 grams of total carbs.

Chicken Burrito Supreme (no tortilla or beans)

Transform the Chicken Burrito Supreme into a keto-friendly burrito bowl by ordering it without the tortilla and beans. You'll be left with a tasty combination of seasoned chicken, lettuce, and chopped tomatoes. This option provides a hearty and satisfying meal while sticking to your keto diet.

Grilled Chicken Power Bowl (no rice or beans)

The Grilled Chicken Power Bowl is an excellent choice for those on the keto diet. Order it without rice and beans, and you'll enjoy a filling meal containing guacamole, pico de gallo, ample chicken, sour cream, avocado ranch dressing, and low-carb lettuce. This bowl has 5 net carbs and is a great value for your money.

Chicken Chipotle Melt (no tortilla)

The Chicken Chipotle Melt is a budget-friendly option at just $1, and it's also keto-friendly. Order it without the tortilla, and you'll savour a delicious combination of grilled chicken, cheese, and a creamy chipotle sauce. This value menu item has less than 1 net carb per serving, making it a perfect keto snack or light meal.

Fiesta Taco Salad with Chicken (no beans, rice, shell, or chips)

For a refreshing and keto-friendly salad option, order the Fiesta Taco Salad with some modifications. Ask for no beans, rice, shell, or chips. Your salad will then be filled with healthy and tasty ingredients like lettuce, chicken, cheddar cheese, sour cream, guacamole, tomatoes, and salsa. Don't forget to add guacamole for some extra healthy fat.

Remember, when ordering chicken options at Taco Bell, it's essential to avoid high-carb items like tortillas, chips, beans, and rice. Instead, focus on adding healthy fats like guacamole and avocado-based sauces, along with low-carb vegetables like lettuce and tomatoes. With these modifications, you can enjoy your favourite chicken dishes at Taco Bell while sticking to your keto diet.

Beef options

Taco Bell has a range of beef options that can be made keto-friendly with a few adjustments. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Beefy 5-Layer Burrito

Order the Beefy 5-Layer Burrito without the tortilla and beans, and you've got yourself a keto-friendly bowl. This option lets you enjoy the beef filling, nacho cheese sauce, cheddar cheese, and sour cream. You can even add some lettuce for a refreshing crunch.

Beef Burrito Supreme

Turn the Beef Burrito Supreme into a burrito bowl by removing the tortilla and beans. This option still has veggies, making it a tasty and keto-friendly choice.

Crunchy Taco

The Crunchy Taco is a good option as the tortilla shell is on the smaller side. It comes with seasoned beef, shredded cheese, and lettuce. You can also add some extra fat and flavour with their keto-friendly sauces, such as the Creamy Jalapeno Sauce or Avocado Ranch Sauce.

Crunchwrap Supreme

For this option, you'll need to remove the shell and the tortilla. The Crunchwrap Supreme without these contains seasoned beef, cheese sauce, lettuce, tomato, and sour cream.

Cheesy Toasted Breakfast Burrito with Bacon

Customise the Cheesy Toasted Breakfast Burrito by swapping the tortilla for a bowl. You can add extra bacon, cheddar cheese, or sour cream to make it more filling. You can also include pico, guacamole, and lettuce.

Steak Burrito Supreme

Try the Steak Burrito Supreme without the tortilla and beans, and you'll have a tasty steak salad bowl. This option is a good choice if you're craving something hearty and meaty.

Grilled Steak Taco

The Grilled Steak Taco without the tortilla has about 3 net carbs. It's a budget-friendly option, costing only $2.89, and it's a great way to get your beef fix on a keto diet.

Fresco Beef Taco

The Fresco Beef Taco without the tortilla is a cheaper option than the chicken version, at $1.89, and has 2 net carbs. You can add some extra flavour with Taco Bell's Hot Sauce.

Remember, when ordering beef options at Taco Bell, it's best to avoid the tortilla, taco shells, rice, and beans. You can also bulk up your meal with extra meat, cheese, or keto-friendly sauces and sides.

Breakfast options

Taco Bell has a variety of keto-friendly breakfast options, though they may require some modifications. Here are some choices:

Cheesy Toasted Breakfast Burrito

Ordering the Cheesy Toasted Breakfast Burrito without the tortilla shell and with extra bacon, cheddar cheese, or sour cream can make it a keto-friendly option. You can also add pico, guacamole, and lettuce to this burrito, which includes sausage crumbles or bacon, egg, and nacho cheese sauce.

Grande Toasted Breakfast Burrito

The Grande Toasted Breakfast Burrito, which comes with sausage crumbles or bacon, a three-cheese blend, egg, and tomatoes, can be made keto-friendly by ordering it without the tortilla shell and potatoes. This option is ideal for those seeking a breakfast high in protein and fat, two essential components of the keto diet.

Grande Toasted Breakfast Burrito With Steak

For those who prefer steak, this option is similar to the previous one but includes steak instead of sausage or bacon. Ordering it without the tortilla shell and potatoes results in a meal containing steak, a three-cheese blend, egg, and tomatoes, all for 3 net carbs.

Naked Egg Taco Bundle

The Naked Egg Taco Bundle is another breakfast option. While it includes potatoes, these can be swapped out for steak, and you can add guacamole for extra fat. This taco is unique in that the "wrap" is actually an egg, eliminating the need to remove a tortilla.

Breakfast Soft Taco With Bacon

For a more substantial breakfast, you can order the Breakfast Soft Taco With Bacon without the soft taco shell and ask for the eggs and bacon to be served in a bowl. If you want to elevate this option, you can request to have it wrapped in the egg used in the Naked Egg Taco Bundle.

Chicken Chipotle Melt

The Chicken Chipotle Melt is another keto-friendly breakfast option at Taco Bell. It consists of grilled chicken, cheddar cheese, and a creamy, smoky chipotle sauce. Even with the tortilla, it has only 15 net carbs. Removing the tortilla brings it down to almost no carbs.

Sauces

When ordering breakfast at Taco Bell, it's important to be mindful of the sauces you choose. Many of Taco Bell's signature sauces are low in net carbs, making them ideal for the keto diet. The Creamy Chipotle, Spicy Ranch, Creamy Jalapeño, and Avocado Ranch sauces all have one net carb or less. If you're feeling adventurous, the Diablo sauce has zero net carbs but packs a spicy punch.

Customising your order

Taco Bell is open to menu modifications, so don't be afraid to get creative with your order. Here are some tips to customise your order to make it keto-friendly:

Tortillas and Shells

Tortillas and taco shells are typically high in carbohydrates, so it's best to avoid them or ask for your meal to be served without them. For example, you can order the Chicken Burrito Supreme without the tortilla, resulting in a bowl with seasoned chicken, tomatoes, and lettuce. Similarly, the Beefy 5-Layer Burrito can be turned into a keto-friendly option by ditching the tortilla and beans, leaving you with a bowl of beef filling, nacho cheese sauce, cheddar cheese, and sour cream.

Rice and Beans

Rice and beans are also high in carbohydrates and should be avoided or minimised when ordering keto-friendly meals. For instance, the Chicken Power Menu Bowl can be made keto-friendly by removing the beans and rice, leaving you with a high-fat, high-protein meal of chicken, shredded cheese, guacamole, lettuce, sour cream, tomatoes, and avocado-ranch sauce.

Add-Ons

When customising your order, focus on adding extra proteins and fats. You can ask for extra chicken, beef, bacon, or eggs. Additionally, add-ons like shredded cheese, sour cream, and guacamole are excellent choices for adding healthy fats to your meal.

Sauces

Most of the sauces at Taco Bell are keto-friendly, so feel free to add some flavour to your meal. The Creamy Chipotle, Spicy Ranch, Creamy Jalapeño, and Avocado Ranch sauces all have one net carb or less. If you prefer something spicier, the Diablo Sauce has zero net carbs.

Sides

If you're looking for a side dish, a small serving of black beans can fit into a keto diet. You can enhance the flavour by adding toppings such as guacamole, sour cream, jalapeños, or hot sauce.

Frequently asked questions