One of the most popular, buzzworthy diets of 2018 has been, hands down, the ketogenic — or keto — diet. But the fact of the matter is that the keto-style of eating has been around for 100 years to treat drug-resistant epilepsy, especially in children. And in the 1970s, Dr. Atkin's program included two weeks of a strict ketogenic protocol. For those unfamiliar with the diet, the plan involves significantly reducing carbohydrates and focusing on eating good fats and protein to convince cells in the body to stop using blood sugar from carbs as the body's primary source of energy and instead break down stored fat. When a person following the keto diet is able to flip this switch, they are "in ketosis."
Harvard Health notes that to get the body into ketosis takes about two to four days of eating fewer than 20 to 50 grams of carbohydrates per day. Instead of foods with carbohydrates, people following the diet eat meats, eggs, cheeses, fish, nuts, butter, oils, seeds, and fibrous vegetables.
Being able to eat all of these foods means the keto-faithful are able to enjoy very merry, satisfying holiday dishes that may look exactly as they did before following the diet (think lamb chops seasoned with rosemary and garlic) or that may be similar with a tweak (think scalloped turnips instead of potatoes). Even dinner rolls don't have to be off the table completely, because it's possible to make keto-friendly bread with the right ingredients.
That said, if one or more guests at Christmas dinner are restricting their carbs and doing their best to stay in ketosis through the holiday season, there are plenty of recipes to choose from. Here are 20 low-carb, sugar-free, and absolutely keto-friendly Christmas dinner options.
Mashed Cauliflower & Gravy
This creamy cauliflower and gravy from Keto Connect makes a healthy, low-carb Christmas dinner side.
Stuffing
This keto-friendly stuffing recipe from How to This and That is almost like the real thing — just made with keto rolls.
Cheesy Cauliflower Ham Casserole
This cheesy cauliflower ham casserole is a low-carb, comfort food dish sure to be a hit at Christmas dinner.
Green Bean Casserole
This green bean casserole from The Mermaid With Muscles gets a boost of nutrients from bone broth.
Garlic Parmesan Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Bacon
Heavy cream and bacon make this Brussels sprouts side dish from Warrior Made truly decadent.
Creamy Garlic Chicken
Full fat coconut milk boosts the creaminess of this garlic chicken from Real Simple Good.
Lamb Chops With Paleo Pesto
These keto-friendly lamb chops with pesto from Grass-Fed Girl make a festive entree.
Sausage Stuffed Portabello Mushrooms
Fox and Briar's sausage stuffed portabello mushrooms are low-carb and super-filling.
Shrimp Scampi With Zucchini Noodles
This delicious shrimp scampi with zucchini noodles from Well Plated is low-carb and would be a delicious option for a Feast of the Seven Fishes on Christmas Eve.
Pan-Seared Scallops With Bacon Cream Sauce
This pan-seared scallops with bacon cream sauce recipe from Cake n Knife is a dreamy, keto-friendly dish.
Garlic & Rosemary Grilled Lamb Chops
Simple, elegant protein-packed garlic and rosemary grilled lamb chops from Delish D'Lites are sure to be a hit.
Turkey Giblet Gravy
An almond flour roux makes this turkey giblet gravy from My PCOS Kitchen keto-friendly.
Better-Than-Sweet-Potato Casserole
This butternut squash cauliflower casserole from Wholesome Yum tastes like sweet potatoes, but is keto-friendly.
Cheddar Garlic Fathead Rolls
These cheddar garlic fathead rolls from All Day I Dream About Food are protein-packed and perfect for kicking a carb craving.
Creamed Spinach
This keto creamed spinach from Wholesome Yum takes just 15 minutes to make.
Scalloped Turnips
Scalloped potatoes are a holiday staple, and these scalloped turnips from Cast Iron Keto give the side dish a lower-carb twist.
Cheesy Brussels Sprouts Bake
This low-carb Brussels sprouts with cream sauce and bacon recipe from Whole Lotta Yum makes a perfect holiday side.
Parmesan Chicken
This low-carb chicken Parmesan from Baking Outside the Box is made with almond flour and makes a super-comforting Christmas dinner dish.
Rosemary Garlic Keto Dinner Rolls
These keto rosemary garlic dinner rolls from Maebells are sure to please a crowd.
Cauliflower Mac 'n' Cheese
This cheesy cauliflower bake from Domestically Creative is sure to be a guest-pleasing side.
