Mexican Cheese On Keto: What You Need To Know

Mexican food is one of the most flavorful, nutritious, and keto-friendly cuisines. While it may seem difficult to eat at Mexican restaurants while on the keto diet due to high-carb foods like tortillas, rice, and beans, there are still plenty of keto-friendly options to choose from. One of these options is Mexican cheese, or queso. Queso fresco, a Mexican white cheese, contains 0.8g of net carbs per ounce, making it a good option for those on the keto diet. Other cheeses that are suitable for the keto diet include cheddar, gouda, goat cheese, and blue cheese.

Mexican cheese keto recipes

Mexican food is a flavorful, nutritious, and keto-friendly cuisine. Here are some Mexican cheese keto recipes to try:

Keto Queso Fresco

Queso fresco, or Mexican white cheese, is a good option for keto dieters. One ounce of this cheese contains only 0.8 grams of total carbs and 6.8 grams of fat, making it a suitable choice for those on the keto diet.

Keto Guacamole

Guacamole is a keto-friendly dip made from smashed avocado, which is naturally high in fat and fiber and low in net carbs. You can add small amounts of lime juice, onion, jalapeño, tomato, or cilantro to taste. Just be sure to avoid the chips it's typically served with.

Keto Fajitas

Fajitas are a popular Mexican dish that can easily be made keto-friendly. Simply skip the tortillas and enjoy the fajita filling, which typically includes bell peppers, onions, and a protein like chicken, beef, or shrimp. Be mindful of the carbs from onions, and consider cooking a small portion or splitting your meal into two servings.

Keto Carne Asada

Carne asada is a marinated, grilled steak dish that is perfect for keto dieters. The steak itself has no carbs, but be aware that the marinade may add a trace amount. You can purchase raw, ready-to-grill carne asada from Mexican markets or make it at home.

Keto Taco Salad

Taco salads are a great keto option as they typically include lettuce, tomato, cheese, sour cream, guacamole, and a protein like seasoned ground beef or chicken. Just be sure to skip the fried taco shell and refried beans to keep it keto-friendly.

Keto Chicken Fajita Taquitos

For a fun twist on traditional fajitas, try making keto chicken fajita taquitos. These crispy cheese shells are packed with chicken and vegetables and have only 1.3 net carbs per serving.

Keto Enchiladas

You can also make keto-friendly enchiladas by using low-carb tortillas and filling them with shredded chicken, Mexican enchilada sauce, and melty cheese. Easy to make and customize, these enchiladas are a perfect family dinner option.

Keto Chimichangas

For a low-carb Mexican dinner option, try making keto chimichangas. These super crispy and stuffed chimichangas are perfect for meal prep and have less than 7 net carbs per serving.

Keto Pollo Con Queso

This one-pan dish is a kid-friendly and easy weeknight dinner option. Ready in just 20 minutes, this low-carb meal is a tasty and quick option for busy keto dieters.

Keto Shrimp Con Queso

Impress your family with this delicious shrimp con queso recipe. This one-pan meal features shrimp fajitas covered in a homemade queso sauce and is ready in just 20 minutes.

Keto Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas

These keto sour cream chicken enchiladas are a tasty and easy dinner option. Loaded with shredded chicken, green chiles, sour cream, and cheese, you can enjoy two enchiladas for under 8 net carbs.

Mexican cheese keto dips

Mexican food is one of the most flavorful, nutritious, and keto-friendly cuisines, especially if you make certain dishes at home. Here are some ideas for Mexican cheese keto dips:

Keto Queso Dip

Queso dip is a favourite for just about anyone, and it can easily be made keto-friendly. This dip typically includes a lot of milk or thickeners that have carbs, but it can be made with keto-friendly ingredients. Here's a recipe:

Ingredients:

• Butter
• White cheddar cheese
• Monterey Jack cheese
• Heavy whipping cream
• Water
• Green chillies
• Garlic cloves
• Chili powder
• Cumin
• Salt
• Black pepper
• Cilantro

Directions:

• In a double boiler, combine butter, heavy whipping cream, spices (reserving some cilantro to sprinkle on top before serving), and water. Bring to a slow boil, then reduce to low heat.
• Slowly add cheese one handful at a time, stirring continuously with a whisk until all the cheese is added.
• Add the drained green chillies and stir to combine.
• Sprinkle cilantro on top, or leave it out if you prefer.
• Serve immediately or pour into a small crockpot to keep warm.

Spicy Sausage Cheese Dip

This dip is perfect for those who love spicy foods. It includes hot Italian sausage, diced tomatoes with green chillies, cream cheese, sour cream, and pepper jack cheese. Here's the recipe:

Ingredients:

• Hot Italian ground sausage
• Can of RoTel Hot Diced Tomato with Habaneros
• Green onions
• Cream cheese
• Sour cream
• Pepper jack cheese

Directions:

• Cook the sausage in a saucepan over medium heat until lightly browned.
• Stir in the can of Ro*Tel and cook for a few minutes.
• Mix in the green onions and turn off the heat once the sausage is fully browned.
• Set a slow cooker to high and layer the bottom with pepper jack cheese and cream cheese cut into chunks.
• Pour the sausage mixture on top of the cheese.
• Spread the sour cream on top of the sausage.
• After about an hour, stir the dip until the cheese is fully incorporated, then continue cooking for a total of about two hours.

Low-Carb Queso Blanco (White Cheese Dip)

This tasty white queso dip is a more elegant and Southwestern take on the classic Tex-Mex chile con queso. It's made with a variety of cheeses, spices, and vegetables. Here's the recipe:

Ingredients:

• Unsalted butter
• Onion, diced
• Fresh cilantro, chopped
• Garlic, chopped or pressed
• Poblano chile, roasted, peeled, seeded, and diced
• Green chiles, chopped
• Pickled jalapeno peppers, chopped
• Cumin
• Black pepper
• Pickled jalapeno juice
• Baby spinach, coarsely chopped
• White American cheese or Velveeta, cubed
• Asadero cheese or Oaxacan cheese, shredded
• Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
• Pepper jack cheese, shredded
• Chili powder

Directions:

• Roast the poblano chile over a hot fire until the outer skin is blackened. Transfer to a bowl to cool, then scrape off the charred skin. Seed and chop the poblano.
• In a non-stick skillet, sweat the onion, cilantro, and garlic in butter until translucent and tender. Add the diced poblano, green chiles, jalapeno, spices, and jalapeno juice. Cook until the vegetables are wilted but not coloured.
• In a saucepan, heat water and cream and bring to a slow boil. Reduce the heat and add the American cheese cubes, letting them melt.
• Slowly add the shredded cheeses, sprinkling them into the melted cheese base. Stir until fully melted.
• Add the vegetable mixture and chopped baby spinach, stirring until combined.
• Transfer the queso to a crockpot set to warm, or to a pre-warmed bowl. Serve hot and melted.

Mexican cheese keto alternatives

Mexican food is one of the most flavorful, nutritious, and keto-friendly cuisines. While some Mexican cheeses are keto-friendly, there are also some great alternatives to choose from. Here are some keto-friendly Mexican cheese alternatives to consider:

Queso Fresco

Queso fresco, or Mexican white cheese, is a fresh, crumbling cheese with a mild flavour. It has a low carb content, with only 0.8g of total carbs and net carbs per ounce. This makes it a good option for those on the keto diet.

Other Low-Carb Cheeses

There are hundreds of types of cheese, and most of them are very low in carbs and high in fat, making them suitable for the keto diet. For example, an ounce of cheddar cheese contains just 1 gram of carbohydrates. Other keto-friendly cheeses include ricotta, cream cheese, Swiss cheese, and mozzarella.

Homemade Cheese Crisps

If you're looking for a crunchy snack, you can make your own cheese crisps at home. Simply grate your favourite low-carb cheese and bake it in the oven until crispy. These crisps are perfect for dipping into keto-friendly dips like salsa or guacamole.

Cauliflower Cheese Crisps

For a vegetable-based alternative, you can make cauliflower cheese crisps. Mix grated cauliflower with shredded cheese and spices, then bake until crispy. These crisps are a great way to add some extra vegetables to your diet while still enjoying the taste of cheese.

Avocado

Avocados are technically fruits, but they are unique among vegetables in that they are high in healthy fats. They are also low in net carbs, making them a keto-friendly option. Avocados can be used as a spread, dip, or topping, and they add a creamy texture and delicious flavour to any dish.

Mexican cheese keto-friendly dishes

Mexican food is one of the most flavorful, nutritious, and keto-friendly cuisines, especially if you make certain dishes at home. Here are some Mexican cheese keto-friendly dishes:

Fajitas

Fajitas are a popular sizzling-hot dish that usually includes bell peppers and onions, along with a protein like chicken, beef, or shrimp. They are typically served with tortillas, but you can skip those and eat the fajita filling without the carbs. You can also use lettuce leaves instead of tortillas. Top your fajitas with guacamole, sour cream, and fresh salsa for a flavourful, keto-friendly meal.

Carne Asada

Carne asada is a marinated, grilled steak dish. The steak itself has no carbs, but the marinade may provide a trace amount. You can find this dish at many Mexican restaurants or purchase raw, ready-to-grill carne asada from Mexican markets. Skip the tortillas and load up on toppings like sour cream, guacamole, pico de gallo, and red onion to make it a keto-friendly meal.

Guacamole

Guacamole is made from smashed avocado, which is naturally high in fat and fiber and low in net carbs. It may also contain small amounts of lime juice, onion, jalapeño, tomato, or cilantro. While guacamole is typically served with chips, it is perfectly keto-friendly without them. You can also use veggies like jicama, tomatoes, romaine lettuce spears, and radishes for dipping.

Queso

Queso is a Spanish word for "cheese", but in the United States, it often refers to a cheese dip. These dips are usually very low in carbs, but some may contain carbs from milk or starch-based thickeners, so be sure to check the label or make your own low-carb version at home. Enjoy queso with pork rinds or homemade tortilla chips made from low-carb tortillas.

Tacos

If you are flexible with your carb intake, you can enjoy traditional tacos made with corn tortillas, which have fewer carbs than flour tortillas. You can also make your own taco shells using cheese or low-carb tortillas. Fill your tacos with meat, shredded cheese, sour cream, jalapeño, red onion, tomato, fresh cilantro, and a squeeze of lime juice.

Taco Salads

Taco salads typically include lettuce, tomato, cheese, sour cream, guacamole, and a meat such as seasoned ground beef or chicken. They may be served in a fried taco shell or over tortilla chips, but you can make them keto-friendly by skipping the shell and choosing a bed of greens instead. Top with your favourite keto-friendly toppings.

Mexican cheese keto-friendly restaurants

Mexican food is one of the most flavorful, nutritious, and keto-friendly cuisines, especially if you make certain dishes at home. Here are some tips for eating keto at a Mexican restaurant:

Rules for Eating Keto at Mexican Restaurants

• Rule No. 1: Don't touch the tortilla chips! Instead, ask your waiter if they have house-made chicharrones (pork rinds) or bring your own from a gas station.
• Rule No. 2: Do not eat rice and beans! Substitute with salad, pico de gallo, guacamole, or queso. Ask your waiter if you can substitute extra vegetables.
• Rule No. 3: Avoid fruity alcoholic drinks! Opt for tequila with soda water and lime or a low-carb beer.

Keto-Friendly Mexican Dishes

• Fajitas: Ask for no tortillas and smother the meat and veggies in queso, sour cream, and/or guacamole.
• Taco Salads: Don't eat the shell! Ask for extra cheese, sour cream, and guacamole.
• Guacamole: This is high in healthy fats and low in carbs. Ask for veggies for dipping, like jicama, tomatoes, romaine lettuce spears, and radishes.
• Pico de gallo: This fresh salsa is made from chopped tomatoes, onion, cilantro, and jalapeno and is low in carbs.
• Salads: Skip the tortilla shell bowl and any starchy veggies, and ask for extra meat and cheese instead.
• Ceviche: This seafood salad is high in protein and can be made into a full meal with a side of guacamole.
• Carne Asada: Skip the tortillas and load up with sour cream, guacamole, pico de gallo, and red onion.
• Chorizo: Ask for a side order of this spicy Mexican sausage.
• Chicken Enchiladas Verde: Ask for just the filling and smother it in cheese, sour cream, and guacamole. Hold the rice and beans.
• Tacos: Forego the tortillas and eat the al pastor pork with a side salad.
• Carnitas: This shredded slow-cooked pork is keto-friendly, especially with a side of guacamole.

Keto-Friendly Mexican Restaurants

While I can't recommend specific Mexican restaurants, the above dishes are widely available and can be made keto-friendly with a few adjustments. Remember to check the menu online beforehand and come up with a plan. Ask the waiter about ingredients and substitutions, and don't be afraid to make special requests to keep your meal keto-friendly.

Frequently asked questions