Keto Ranch Chicken

If you’re looking for an easy recipe the whole family will love, this crock pot chicken recipe is one of the best ways to create a cozy dinner without spending hours in the kitchen.

Tender spicy chicken breasts slow cooked in a rich creamy asiago cheese sauce with herbs, garlic powder, cream cheese, chicken broth, and ranch-inspired flavors makes this a fast food favorite copycat made healthier at home.

Whether you’re following a keto lifestyle, low-carb health plan, or my Midlife Macro approach with higher protein and moderate fat, this delicious recipe delivers satisfying comfort while helping you stay on track with your macro targets.

Simple ingredients on hand like boneless chicken breast, broth and cheese makes this an easy recipe to whip up.

If you need this to be ready after a long day at work, just cook on low for 6 hours and 30 minutes then keep warm until you get home.

It’s creamy and comforting without all the carbs. You could of course serve this over pasta if you desire.

My family enjoyed it topped with bacon as a sandwich. The buns you see below are Against the Grain rolls and made from mozzarella cheese in fact. They aren’t low carb so I skipped the bun and just enjoyed this chicken with a side salad topped with bacon of course!

My only suggestion is to make sure to pound the breasts thinner than you see in my picture above. I could not find my meat tenderizer tool and tried to pound the chicken with plastic wrap between the pieces and a wooden spoon, didn’t work that great. So moral of the story, proper tools in the kitchen make a difference lol!

Why Slow Cooker Meals Make Life Easier

Using a crock pot during busy seasons of life has always been one of my favorite health habits. Between work, activities, exercise tracker goals, appointments, and trying to stay consistent with healthy eating, having simple low carb keto recipes ready to go is a game changer.

One of the best tips I can give anyone trying to stay consistent with healthy eating is this:

• Plan ahead
• Keep simple ingredients stocked
• Use kitchen tools that make life easier
• Prep protein in advance

That’s exactly why this creamy asiago ranch chicken has become one of my favorite weekly meal ideas.

The slow cooker does all the work while you focus on your day. Then dinner is ready when you need it.

If you’re someone who struggles with grabbing takeout or drive-thru meals during hectic evenings, having easy recipes like this on hand can completely change your routine.

What Makes This Creamy Asiago Chicken So Good

This isn’t just another basic crock pot chicken recipe.

The combination of:

• Asiago cheese
• Cream cheese
• Chicken broth
• Garlic powder
• Fresh herbs
• White wine
• Ranch-inspired seasoning

creates an ultra creamy sauce with rich flavor and juicy tender chicken thighs or chicken breasts.

The asiago cheese adds a bold savory flavor that takes this dish to the next level compared to traditional creamy chicken recipes.

The best part?

It tastes indulgent while still being:

• low carb
• keto friendly
• high protein
• gluten free
• comforting and satisfying

Low Carb Comfort Food Without the Heavy Carbs

Traditional creamy chicken dishes are often served over pasta, rice, or potatoes which can quickly increase total carbs and make blood sugar management more difficult.

This low carb version keeps the flavor while dramatically lowering the carb count. Full macronutrient breakdown is at the bottom of this page on the printable recipe card.

Nutrition Facts for one serving provides:

• 38 g protein
• 4.6 g total carbs
• 15.8 g fat

Making this an excellent option for:

• macro targets
• glucose tracking
• high protein meal plans
• keto diet recipes
• midlife weight loss goals

For my Midlife Macro approach, this recipe works beautifully because it prioritizes protein first while keeping fat moderate instead of excessive like classic keto recipes.

Midlife Macros vs Classic Keto

Many women discover that traditional high fat keto no longer works as effectively in midlife.

While keto helped me eliminate cravings years ago, my body changed in perimenopause and menopause. I needed:

• more protein
• moderate fat
• lower carbs
• balanced calories

That’s exactly why recipes like this fit perfectly into my Midlife Macro lifestyle.

Instead of drowning chicken in tons of butter and heavy cream, this recipe keeps portions balanced while still tasting creamy and comforting.

This helps support:

• energy levels
• satiety
• muscle preservation
• blood sugar balance
• sustainable fat loss

Helpful Tips for the Best Crock Pot Asiago Ranch Chicken

Pound the Chicken Evenly

One of the biggest lessons from testing this recipe was realizing how important proper kitchen tools can be.

Pounding the chicken thinner helps it cook evenly and absorb more flavor.

A meat tenderizer works best, but if needed you can place plastic wrap over the chicken and use:

• a rolling pin
• heavy pan
• wooden spoon

though I definitely recommend investing in a proper tenderizer if you cook chicken often!

Use Freshly Grated Asiago Cheese

Fresh grated asiago melts better and creates a smoother creamy sauce than pre-shredded cheese.

Pre-shredded cheeses often contain anti-caking agents that can affect texture.

Don’t Skip the Cream Cheese

The cream cheese helps create that silky creamy asiago chicken texture everyone loves.

It also:

• adds richness
• balances flavors
• helps thicken the sauce naturally

Cook Low and Slow for Best Results

If you need dinner ready after work, cooking on low heat for 6 to 6½ hours creates the most tender chicken but high for 3 hours is also an option.

The slow cooker helps lock in moisture while blending all the flavors together beautifully.

Easy Ways to Serve This Recipe

One of my favorite things about this creamy asiago chicken is how versatile it is.

Here are some low carb serving ideas:

Low Carb Options

• cauliflower rice
• roasted broccoli
• zucchini noodles
• spaghetti squash
• side salad
• sautéed green beans
• low carb pasta like shirataki or egg white noodles

Family Friendly Options

For family members not eating low carb, you can also serve this over:

• pasta
• rice
• mashed potatoes

My family especially loved this served as an Asiago Ranch Chicken Club sandwich topped with crispy bacon.

Can I Use Chicken Thighs Instead of Chicken Breasts?

Absolutely!

Chicken thighs work wonderfully in this recipe and stay very juicy in the crock pot.

Just note:

• thighs are slightly higher in fat
• breasts are leaner and higher protein

Both are delicious options depending on your macro targets.

Can I Skip the White Wine?

Yes.

You can replace the dry white wine with:

• additional chicken broth
• bone broth
• unsweetened almond milk

Can I Make This in the Instant Pot?

Yes, though the texture is slightly different.

For Instant Pot instructions:

• pressure cook chicken for 10 minutes
• quick release
• stir in cream cheese and asiago after cooking

The slow cooker version still gives the best creamy texture in my opinion.

Meal Prep and Storage Tips

This recipe is fantastic for weekly meal prep because leftovers reheat beautifully.

Storage Tips

• Store in airtight container
• Refrigerate up to 4 days
• Freeze up to 2 months

Reheating Tips

Reheat gently on the stovetop or microwave with a splash of chicken broth to maintain the creamy texture.

Creamy Slow Cooker Low Carb Keto Asiago Ranch Chicken

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Creamy Low Carb Keto Asiago Ranch Chicken

This creamy keto asiago ranch chicken is packed with flavor, easy to prepare, high in protein, and fits perfectly into a low carb lifestyle, keto diet recipes collection, or even your weekly meal prep routine. 38 grams of protein and less than 5 g net carbs per serving!

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 3 hours hours 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 3 hours hours 45 minutes minutes

Servings 8 servings

Calories 322kcal

Author Brenda Bennett | Sugar Free Mom

Ingredients

• 2. 5 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 2 teaspoons garlic power
• 1 tablespoon dried minced onion
• 1 tablespoon fresh minced dill
• 1 tablespoon fresh minced parsley
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 1/2 cup chicken broth low sodium
• 2 garlic cloves minced
• 8 ounces cream cheese softened
• 1/2 cup grated Asiago cheese plus 1/4 cup
• 2 tsp glucomannan powder to thicken sauce

Instructions

• Slice the chicken lengthwise and pound thin. Set aside.
• Whisk the dry seasonings together and sprinkle on both sides of the chicken.
• Combine the wine, broth, garlic, cream cheese and 1/2 cup of Asiago cheese in a bowl and stir to combine well.
• Pour half this mixture into the bottom of the crock pot. Reserve the rest and keep in the fridge.
• Add the chicken breasts to the crock pot.
• Cover and cook on high 3 hours or 6 hours on low.
• Sprinkle glucomannan into reserved sauce and stir until thickens then pour sauce over the chicken and sprinkle with remaining Asiago cheese.
• Cook an additional 30 minutes until internal temperature of chicken registers 165 degrees F.

Notes

This recipe was first published in May 2015.

Midlife Macro Approved

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 322kcal | Carbohydrates: 4.6g | Protein: 38g | Fat: 15.8g | Saturated Fat: 8.6g | Cholesterol: 128mg | Sodium: 586mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 0.8g

The post Creamy Slow Cooker Low Carb Keto Asiago Ranch Chicken appeared first on Sugar-Free Mom.

French Onion Slow Cooker Chicken Soup (Keto, High Protein & Cozy)

I originally tested this French Onion Slow Cooker Chicken Soup on New Year’s Eve with friends.

It was one of those nights where you want something warm, comforting, and special — but still aligned with how you eat. Everyone loved it. Bowls were scraped clean.

Now it’s February and it’s become a family favorite and been on repeat. While New Year’s Eve is behind us, winter absolutely is not. Cozy soups are still very much in season.

In fact, this is the time of year when we crave warm, rich meals the most, don’t you think?

This recipe takes everything we love about classic French onion soup — the sweet caramelized onions, the deep flavor, the melted cheese — and turns it into a high-protein, low carb, keto French onion chicken recipe that actually satisfies.

And that protein piece? That matters more than ever in midlife.

Why This Is the Best Keto French Onion Chicken Soup for Midlife

Traditional French onion soup is mostly bread, cheese, and broth. Delicious? Yes. Satisfying long term? Not always.

This version swaps in:

• chicken breasts
• yellow onions
• Rich chicken broth
• Creamy, nutty Gruyere cheese
• Fresh thyme and a quick keto bread on top, optional of course

You still get that deep golden brown, caramelized onion flavor. But instead of relying on bread for bulk, we prioritize tender chicken.

The result is an easy French onion chicken soup with:

• Higher protein
• Moderate fat
• Lower net carbs
• Long-lasting satiety

That’s what makes this one of my favorite low carb recipes for winter.

Why Protein Is So Important in Midlife

Let’s talk about something that doesn’t get enough attention: protein and satiety.

As we move through perimenopause and menopause, muscle loss naturally accelerates. If we’re not intentionally prioritizing protein, we lose lean mass. And when we lose muscle, metabolism slows, bones get weaker, and we can’t bounce back from injury as we did when we were younger.

Protein does several powerful things:

• Helps preserve muscle
• Supports blood sugar stability
• Increases satiety
• Reduces cravings later in the day
• Helps prevent overeating

When you eat a bowl of traditional French onion soup, it may taste comforting, but it’s often lacking protein. That can lead to feeling hungry again quickly.

This keto French onion chicken recipe gives you the same comfort-but because it’s built around chicken, it helps you stay full longer.

This fits beautifully into my midlife macro approach:

• High protein
• Moderate fat
• Controlled carbs
• Whole food focused

It’s comfort food with intention.

Serving topping Option 1: 90 second Bread

For New Year’s Eve, I used my 90-second cottage cheese bread.

I made one batch (4 servings) in an 8 by 4 loaf pan and microwaved it for 2.5 minutes, sliced it, then toasted the slices and laid a slice right into each bowl of soup.

Then I:

• Sprinkled extra Gruyere on top
• Ladled hot broth over the bread

That’s it. No broiling.

The bread softens slightly and absorbs that beautiful broth without becoming mushy.

You still get the French onion experience, just with protein-forward bread instead of a carb-heavy baguette.

Serving Topping Option 2: Parmesan Biscotti

Another incredible option!

My savory parmesan biscotti recipe.

These crisp, cheesy slices are perfect for dipping into the soup.

They hold up beautifully in broth and add texture without the heavy carb load of traditional bread.

It feels elegant. Restaurant-worthy. But still aligned with keto, THM recipes, and midlife macros.

Ingredient Swaps & Great Options

You can easily customize this recipe:

Protein Swaps

• Use skinless chicken thighs for more richness.
• Add a splash of Worcestershire sauce.
• Combine chicken broth with a little beef broth for deeper flavor.

Onion Options

• Try white onions or red onions.
• Add a splash of white wine, red wine, or balsamic vinegar while caramelizing.

Fat Options

• Swap olive oil for avocado oil or coconut oil.
• Stir in a little additional butter at the end for extra richness.

Cheese Options

Swiss works beautifully too.

Substitute mozzarella cheese if needed.

Why This Works So Well in Midlife

This soup isn’t just cozy. It’s strategic.

Because it prioritizes protein, it helps:

• Keep you full
• Reduce late-night snacking
• Support muscle retention
• Stabilize blood sugar

Instead of relying on bread and cheese for fullness, we build the base with chicken and caramelized onions.

That’s how you enjoy comfort food without derailing progress.

This is what it looks like when classic comfort food evolves.

Deep flavor. Melted cheese. Sweet onions. Tender chicken.

Still winter. Still cozy.

Just smarter.

Storage & Meal Prep

• Store in an airtight container up to 4 days.
• Freeze in a freezer-safe container up to 3 months.
• Portion into single servings for easy lunches.

Reheat gently over medium heat.

Slow Cooker Low Carb Keto French Onion Chicken Soup

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Slow Cooker Low Carb Keto French Onion Chicken Soup

Prep Time 35 minutes minutes

Cook Time 3 hours hours

Servings 9 servings @ 1.5 cups

Calories 282kcal

Author Brenda Bennett/Sugar Free Mom

Ingredients

• 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 5 large yellow onions thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 8 cups chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme or 1 tbsp fresh
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1.5 cups Gruyere cheese shredded

Optional "Croutons"

• 1 90-second Cottage Cheese bread for each serving

Instructions

Slow Cooker Method

• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
• Add 5 large thinly sliced yellow onions.
• Cook for 10–15 minutes, stirring every 2–3 minutes.
• Reduce to medium-low heat and continue cooking until the onions become soft, sweet, and deep golden brown.
• Scrape the flavorful bits from the bottom of the pan — this creates that rich caramelized onion sauce flavor.
• Add the caramelized onions to your slow cooker.
• Place 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts on top. Add minced garlic, thyme, apple cider vinegar.
• Pour in 8 cups chicken broth.
• Cook on Low for 6–7 hours OR on High for 3–4 hours.
• The chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. Use a meat thermometer or instant-read thermometer to check.
• Remove the chicken breasts and shred with two forks. Return shredded chicken to the slow cooker.

Stove Top Method

• Caramelize onions in a large Dutch oven as directed above.
• Add chicken breasts, broth, garlic, thyme, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil over medium heat.
• Reduce to a simmer and cook 25–30 minutes.
• Check internal temperature (165 degrees F). Shred chicken and return to pot.

Adding Cheese to Serve

• Option 1: Add Cheese to Individual Bowls (What I Did)

  Ladle hot soup into serving bowls. Add keto bread or croutons if using.

  Top each with shredded Gruyere cheese. Pour hot broth over the top to melt the cheese.

• Option 2: Stir Cheese Into the Entire Slow Cooker or Dutch oven

  If you prefer a richer, more uniform soup:

  Add 1½ cups shredded Gruyere directly to the slow cooker. Stir until fully melted and incorporated.

Storage

• Store in an airtight container up to 4 days. Freeze in a freezer-safe container up to 3 months. Portion into single servings for easy lunches.

Notes

Nutritional information is for soup only, not optional keto bread on top. 

8 g net carbs per serving. One serving is 1.5 cups. 

Midlife Macros™ Approved

See the video tutorial on Pinterest.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving @ 1.5 cups | Calories: 282kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 93mg | Sodium: 1053mg | Potassium: 555mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 249IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 258mg | Iron: 1mg

The post Slow Cooker Low Carb Keto French Onion Chicken Soup appeared first on Sugar-Free Mom.

Leftover Turkey Recipes for the Holidays

This slow cooker keto turkey rice soup is the comforting bowl your body craves after Thanksgiving, Christmas, or whenever you’ve got leftover turkey meat waiting to be used.

Warm, soothing, and loaded with vegetables, this nutrient-packed low-carb turkey tasty soup fits perfectly into a keto diet, low-glycemic diet, low-carb lifestyle, or even just your weekend food prep routine.

With simple ingredients like turkey broth, bone broth, fresh herbs, and your choice of miracle rice or cauliflower rice, this recipe delivers huge flavor with minimal work.

Whether you enjoy this on a chilly cold day, after a long day of holiday cooking, or as part of your weekly low-carb meal prep, this savory, nourishing soup is one of the best ways to use leftover turkey.

Why You’ll Love This Low-Carb Turkey Soup

This low-carb soup recipe has been a reader favorite since 2013 for three reasons:

✔ Perfect for Leftover Turkey

During the holidays we always end up with leftover Thanksgiving turkey or even a turkey carcass that can be simmered into a delicious homemade turkey stock.

Instead of letting it go to waste, turn it into this deeply flavorful soup. But don’t worry—if you don’t have leftovers, use leftover chicken for chicken soup or ground turkey or chopped raw turkey breast also works and cooks beautifully in the slow cooker.

✔ Supports Keto, Low-Carb, & Midlife Macros

Using miracle rice keeps the net carbs extremely low. You’ll get all the texture and satisfaction of a classic turkey rice leftover soup but without white rice, brown rice, or wild rice—all of which traditionally add too many carbs for keto or low-glycemic diets.

✔ Easy Slow Cooker Recipe

Just toss everything into a large stock pot or slow cooker, set to medium heat or medium-high heat, and let the flavors develop as it simmers for hours. Perfect for busy schedules, post-holiday recovery, or stress-free winter cooking.

Choosing Miracle Rice vs. Cauliflower Rice

Both work beautifully here.

Miracle Rice (Shirataki/Konjac Rice)

• Zero calories
• Zero net carbs
• Takes on the best flavor of the broth and seasoning
• Great option for low-carb or keto soup recipes
• Rinse well before adding to remove its natural aroma

Miracle rice is made from glucomannan, an indigestible fiber from the konjac yam, making it ideal for anyone following a keto & low net carb lifestyle.

Cauliflower Rice

• Still low carb but higher than miracle rice
• Adds great texture
• Naturally blends with turkey soup flavors
• Add during the last 20–30 minutes to keep from overcooking

This swap is perfect if you prefer whole-food ingredients or don’t love konjac-based products.

What Makes a Really Delicious Leftover Turkey Soup Recipe?

This soup builds layers of flavor by sautéing shallots, garlic cloves, carrots, and stalks of celery before slow cooking.

Adding herbs like thyme, oregano, basil, and bay leaf (optional) infuses the broth with depth. Using either turkey broth, chicken broth, or bone broth ensures every sip is rich and satisfying.

Want an extra punch? Add a tiny bit of:

A splash of lime juice for brightness

Poultry seasoning

Creole seasoning (for a subtle kick)

Fresh parsley

Black pepper

How to Build the Best Low-Carb Leftover Turkey Soup

Creating a truly delicious turkey soup is all about layering flavors and choosing quality ingredients. Start by sautéing aromatics over medium heat or medium-high heat—this step adds a richness you never achieve by tossing everything into the pot raw. While some slow cooker recipes skip this, don’t! It’s the first step toward exceptional flavor.

Next, consider your broth. A turkey broth, homemade turkey stock, seasoned chicken stock, or bone broth works beautifully. Bone broth especially adds collagen, minerals, and depth to the soup, making it both deeply satisfying and nourishing.

Then think about your “rice.” Traditional long-grain rice, white rice, or brown rice will spike carbs too high for keto or low-glycemic diets. That’s why miracle rice and cauliflower rice are the perfect alternatives.

Miracle rice offers a nearly zero-carb solution, while cauliflower rice gives you a whole-food option with the same comfort you expect from a warm bowl of turkey rice soup.

Finally, finish your soup with fresh herbs like parsley, thyme, or basil. The brightness cuts through the richness of the broth and brings the soup to life.

Make This Soup Your Own

This recipe is easy to modify depending on what you have during the holiday season or weekend food prep:

• Add daikon radish for a potato-like texture
• Add extra vegetables processed in the food processor for a finer texture
• Add more spice with creole seasoning
• Use coconut-lime turkey rice soup flavors: add coconut milk + lime juice
• Add a squeeze of lemon for acidity
• Swap kale for spinach if you prefer a softer green

You can even include leftover vegetables from Thanksgiving—green beans, roasted carrots, or even leftover celery from stuffing prep.

Why This Turkey Soup Is Perfect After Thanksgiving

Holiday meals are often rich, heavy, and high in fat. The next day, most of us crave something warm, hydrating, and nourishing. This soup checks every box:

• Hydrating from broth
• Low in carbs
• Packed with protein
• Gentle on digestion
• Comforting without feeling heavy

It’s the perfect leftover turkey recipe when you want to get back on track without sacrificing flavor or satisfaction.

More Low-Carb recipes you might like:

• Crock Pot Shredded Mexican Style Chicken
• Crock Pot Balsamic Chicken

Recipe Notes & Substitutions

Add soy sauce or coconut aminos for deeper umami flavor.

Net Carbs: 4g

If you’re not a fan of miracle rice, sub cauliflower rice but note this raises the carbs.

Add a little coconut milk for a creamy version.

Use leftover turkey bones to make your own broth for even better flavor.

This recipe works with a slow cooker, crock pot, or instant pot recipes with minor adjustments.

Great for Meal Prep & Storage

This soup stores beautifully, making it perfect for meal prep, holiday dinners, weekend food prep, or busy weeknights.

Freeze without the miracle rice for longer storage, then add fresh when reheating.

Store in an airtight container or mason jar for 3–4 days.

The flavors deepen as it sits—seriously even better the next day!

Slow Cooker Keto Turkey Rice Soup Recipe

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Slow Cooker Keto Turkey Kale Rice Soup

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 8 hours hours

Total Time 8 hours hours 15 minutes minutes

Servings 8 servings @ 1.75 cups

Calories 81kcal

Author Brenda Bennett / Sugar Free Mom

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon avocado oil or olive
• 1/2 cup shallots chopped
• 1 clove garlic minced
• 1/2 cup carrots sliced
• 1 cup celery sliced
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 2 cups turkey cooked, chopped
• 4 cup turkey broth or chicken or bone broth
• 4 cups water
• 1 cup miracle rice
• 4 cups kale stems removed, chopped or 100 grams
• optional topping: 1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

• Heat oil in a large skillet and cook shallots, garlic, carrots, and celery stirring frequently until veggies are softened, about 10 minutes.
• Add salt, pepper, basil, oregano, and thyme and cook about a minute more.
• Add all the ingredients, except miracle rice to a large crock pot.
• Cook 3-4  hours on high until kale is soft. Rinse miracle rice well and drain then add to pot the last 30 minutes of cooking time.
• Top with fresh parsley and Parmesan cheese.

Video

Notes

Net Carbs 4 g net carbs for  1.75  cup serving

This recipe was first published in January 2013 using white rice.

Updated in December 2019 using miracle rice, and updated photos.

If you’re not a fan of miracle rice, you could swap it  with cauliflower rice. Please note that will increase your total carbs. 

Midlife Macros™ approved! 

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving @ 1.75 cups | Calories: 81kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 18mg | Sodium: 783mg | Potassium: 373mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 4754IU | Vitamin C: 49mg | Calcium: 75mg | Iron: 1mg

The post Easy Slow Cooker Leftover Low Carb Turkey Rice Soup appeared first on Sugar-Free Mom.

Easy Crock Pot Fudge

This Easy Sugar-Free Fudge recipe is made with just 5 simple ingredients and in the Slow Cooker! You can’t beat an easier dessert for a sweet tooth and for the summer time or for the Holidays!

I originally created this recipe in 2011 before I was even low carb and did use honey. You can use any sweetener you prefer but the full printable recipe on the recipe card below is by far my favorite! It’s Keto, Gluten Free, and completely Sugar-Free so it’s a diabetic-friendly recipe!

Easy Fudge Recipe

Other Easy Desserts for the Holidays that make life less stressful are my Paleo Snowball Cookies, Peppermint Brownie Bark and White Chocolate Fudge and NO Bake Peppermint Bites! 

My family asks for this fudge all year through, not just for the holidays! When I first made this recipe in 2011 it was before Lily’s Sweets created their amazing Sugar-Free Chocolate chips.

My orginial recipe also used carob chips which are naturally unsweetened, but Lily’s Chocolate Chips are the perfect solution for a low carb fudge!

Low Carb Sweeteners

Although I’m not much of a fudge girl, my family loves it! I was inspired to make some after seeing a recipe from Skinny Crock Pot that seemed to be an easy recipe and simple to do and one that wouldn’t involve too much time on my part. 

I adapted the original recipe to eliminate honey and make it with Stevia instead so it didn’t spike my own blood glucose levels.

Although it is a bit sticky to the touch, it IS delicious and everyone who tried it couldn’t believe it was sugar-free and dairy free! Of course you could still use honey or maple syrup, but not having tried it that way I can not comment on taste or texture.

Please note that changing any ingredients from my recipe below will alter the nutritional information on the recipe card. 

A smaller crock pot, 3 or 4 quart will work better than a larger one.  If you plan ahead and have the ingredients ready, you could make this for Christmas now and freeze until your ready to serve!

You could certainly add some chopped nuts within the fudge mixture before spreading into the dish and refrigerating. I will be a favorite sweet treat for the whole family! 

OLD PIC Below from 2011!!!! Above pics are with Lily’s Sugar-Free Chocolate chips.

Can I use fresh coconut milk instead of canned? 

UPDATE: May 2014: Recently I tried this recipe using fresh coconut milk from Silk and it was phenomenal. In fact I think even better than using canned coconut milk and again made with sugar-free chocolate chips as mentioned. A big hit with my entire family!

​​Can I use coconut oil instead of coconut milk?

I would not recommend swapping coconut oil for the coconut milk because it will be quite greasy and not creamy homemade fudge.

Can I use cocoa powder instead of chocolate chips?

No I do not recommend swapping the sugar free chocolate chips with unsweetened cocoa powder because the chocolate chips are sweetened with low carb sweetener so you would need to add quite a lot of sweetener and I think the end result would also be very dry because of the cocoa powder.  

​Can I swap the coconut milk with dairy milk?

Yes you could swap the coconut milk with whole milk if you don’t need the fudge to be dairy free, You could also heavy cream

​Can I use unsweetened chocolate?

You can use unsweetened chocolate if you prefer but you will have to add a significant amount of sweetener to make it taste like a traditional fudge recipe.

Creamy Keto Fudge Recipe

This dairy-free fudge may be sweet enough for you with just the sugar-free chocolate chips.

Typically those who are not on a low carb diet are used to very sweet type dark chocolate fudge, so if you are making this for others I would suggest adding in additional sweetener as I did in the video.

Chocolate Liquid Stevia would be fantastic here but I do love my Vanilla Creme Stevia the best.

This recipe was first published on my blog in December of 2011.

More Easy Keto Fudge Recipes

Keto Cottage Cheese Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge

Keto White Chocolate Fudge

Keto Peanut Butter Fudge

​Sugar-Free Dairy Free Low-Carb Fudge

Print

Sugar-Free Dairy Free Keto Low Carb Fudge

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 2 hours hours

Total Time 2 hours hours 5 minutes minutes

Servings 30 pieces

Calories 65kcal

Author Brenda Bennett |Sugar-Free Mom

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 cups dairy free sugar-free chocolate chips
• 1/3 cup coconut milk thick cream part, not watery liquid or heavy cream if your prefer
• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• a dash of salt
• 2 teaspoons vanilla liquid stevia (optional)

Instructions

Slow Cooker method

• Scoop just the thick part from the can of coconut milk, save the rest for a smoothie, add chocolate chips, vanilla, optional stevia and salt in a small 3 or 4 quart crock pot.
• Cover and cook on low 2 hours.
• Uncover, turn off and let sit (no stirring please) for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
• Stir well for 5 minutes until smooth.
• Line a one quart casserole dish with parchment paper and spread mixture in. 
• Chill 30 minutes or until firm then slice pieces with a sharp knife. 
• Store low-carb fudge recipe in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. 

Stove Top method

• Add the coconut milk, and sugar free chocolate chips to a double boiler and cook over low heat until melted.

  Stir in sweetener, vanilla extract and salt until smooth. Remove from heat.

  Taste and decide if you need more sweetness. Spread batter into a parchment lined loaf pan. Refrigerate 30 minutes.

Video

Notes

This recipe was first published in December 2011.

Nutrition

Serving: 1piece | Calories: 65kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Potassium: 5mg | Iron: 0.1mg

The post Easy Slow Cooker Sugar Free Low Carb Dairy Free Fudge appeared first on Sugar-Free Mom.

Traditional Slow Cooker Roast Beef

​Many slow cooker recipes that aren’t specifically for a low carb or keto diet can easily be made into a great recipe for this lifestyle by swapping out the typical ingredients like sugar, brown sugar, soy sauce, maple syrup or balsamic glaze. 

​Slow cooking any cut of beef for a long cooking time, preferably 8-10 hours in a slow cooker is the way to getting a tender beef every time. Prep time for this tasty recipe is just about 15 minutes.

You could prepare this easy meal ahead of time the night before, place in the fridge and in the morning, set the slow cooker and go about your day. Less stress for mom and the whole family when dinner time is so easy.

​Our Balsamic Beef roast recipe uses a chuck beef roast but other cuts can also be used. All the nutritional information is located at the bottom of this page on the printable recipe card. 

What is White Balsamic?

I’m using white or golden balsamic in this recipe because I like the subtle flavor, not as strong as regular balsamic and it also has less natural occurring sugar in it.

You can use either in this easy chuck roast recipe. If you can’t find white balsamic vinegar you can use regular balsamic. I also like this organic golden balsamic from iherb.com. I found my white balsamic at Trader Joes.

Our Homeschool Story (Use the Jump to Recipe Button at top to skip)

Some people freak out when they hear I homeschool my kids and have been doing so since my oldest, now 14, was 4 years old. “Why?” some ask. “How?” some question.  “Oh goodness I could NEVER do what you do!” some exclaim.

Without question it isn’t easy and I often wonder myself how in the world I’ve been doing this for all these years when I had no desire or any idea I would continue into the high school years. My oldest just started 9th grade and I’m happy to report, all the work is really on him, not me at all. I always thought, “I’m not high school teacher material, my kids will need to go to high school ’cause I don’t want to teach them!” 

But things happen and change and you get to the point where resources available make homeschooling through high school so much easier than one would think.

For my teen, he has classes online as well as classes at our local co op each week. The skills he is learning about time management are quite impressive and something I never thought he’d get a handle on until college and having to work with a syllabus! He’s learning these skills now and I’m not having to nag him to get his work done. Point of the story, spending a little more money on online courses for high school has been the BEST investment and I’m grateful my hubby supported these choices.

Our reasons for homeschooling our kids are many, but when we began it was out of necessity. I was working as a teacher at our local middle skill teaching special education and my teen was in daycare. We did this for two agonizing years. His first year we dealt with numerous nights of coughing and sickness and a doctor telling me he was bound to get sick because he was in daycare, just deal with it. 

We finally sought a different doctor who helped us determine it was due to allergens and ultimately acid reflux, asthma and bronchitis more times than I can count. By the second year we discovered he was getting bit and bullied at daycare and then had pneumonia. It was a torturous 2 years to say the least. I was a pretty sad and distraught mother and having a second baby by the time my oldest was 3.

We decided to take a leap of faith and have me not return to teaching but instead tutor privately. It was a huge cut in our salary because at the time I was making more income than my husband. Best decision though we ever made. When my oldest turned 4 I saw no reason to make him go to preschool when I could do the same for him at home and I was so scarred from all the trauma and sickness for him, I just honestly couldn’t send him to school.

And that is how it all began! Each year I said, “he doesn’t need to go to Kindergarten, I can do that!”, then it was first grade, then second and so on. We took it year by year and now well, guess you could say we are quite invested and wouldn’t have it any other way!

Homeschooling three kids, one in 6th and one also in 4th, is a bit more challenging than just one when we started.  But like I said, now that the oldest is in high school, my part is really just as a facilitator and I can’t say I mind that, not one bit. 

Can I make this in the Instant Pot?

Yes if you prefer to make this in an instant pot or pressure cooker, no problem. Directions are provided on the recipe card below. 

What to Serve with Slow Cooker Balsamic Roast Beef

​Mock Mashed Potatoes

Roasted Garlic Parmesan Cauliflower Rice

Loaded Mashed Cauliflower

Broccoli Salad

Mock Potato salad

More Keto Low Carb Easy Crock Pot Recipes

I’m in love with this recipe I’m sharing today as it was adapted from my very popular crock pot balsamic chicken thigh recipe.

There’s really no way  one could mess up this deliciousness because with the crock pot, just like homeschooling my high schooler, you are just the facilitator, letting IT do all the work for you!

​Slow Cooker Cheesy Turkey Meatballs

Slow cooker Pork Tenderloin

Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Chicken

Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos

Slow Cooker Balsamic Pot Roast Beef

Print

Crock Pot Balsamic Roast Beef

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 5 hours hours

Total Time 5 hours hours 15 minutes minutes

Servings 12 servings

Calories 308kcal

Author Brenda Bennett | Sugar-Free Mom

Ingredients

• 4 pounds beef chuck roast boneless or rump roast

Dry Rub

• 2 teaspoons dried onion
• 2 teaspoons dried basil
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Sauce

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 teaspoons minced garlic cloves
• 1 cup beef broth or bone broth or beef stock
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 cup white balsamic vinegar or regular balsamic
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1/4 tsp glucomannan to thicken gravy

Instructions

Slow Cooker Instructions

• Place the roast in the crock pot.
• In a small bowl combine together the 6 dry ingredients for the dry rub.
• Coat roast all over with the dry rub mixture.
• Heat the oil and garlic in a large skillet and cook until garlic is fragrant.
• Add the roast and brown on each side over medium heat.
• Once browned place back into the crock pot.
• Whisk the broth, vinegar, red pepper in small bowl then de-glaze the skillet used and pour the balsamic gravy sauce over the roast.
• Cover and cook on high 5 hours or low for 10.
• Shred meat with two forks and keep warm until ready to serve. You can take these cooking juices from the slow cooker and make a thicker sauce by adding some glucomannan to the juices.

  Remove the liquids from the slow cooker into a small sauce pan over medium heat. Whisk 1/4 teaspoon of glucoamman and stir over medium high heat until the savory sauce thickens, about 3-4 minutes. 

Instant Pot Instructions

• Combine dry ingredients for the dry rub and coat roast. 
• Add oil to the Instant Pot. Set to Sauté, high and sear the meat for 3 minutes. Add the garlic for 1  minute and cook until the meat is seared on all sides.
• Whisk broth, vinegar and pepper into the pot.
• Set the Instant Pot to pressure cook, high for 75 mins. Allow to slow release for 10 minutes.
• Remove the meat using a slotted spoon. Pull the meat apart with a fork so it shreds. It should be so tender it will do this easily.
• Option to set the Instant Pot to sauté again and cook down the gravy to thicken. Option to add a little, about 1/4 tsp, glucomannan if you like a thicker gravy.

Storage

• Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. This is the perfect dish for a freezer meal as well. Freeze for up to 3 months. 

Notes

2 g net carbs per serving

This recipe was first published in Sept 2014.

Nutrition

Serving: 5ounces | Calories: 308kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 104mg | Sodium: 260mg | Potassium: 576mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 32IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 3mg

The post Slow Cooker Low Carb Keto Balsamic Roast Beef Recipe appeared first on Sugar-Free Mom.

Keto Sugar Free Granola

Here’s a crunchy granola snack that’s made easily in your crock pot and perfect for an on-the-go treat!

Slow cooking makes my life so much better as a busy momma. Dump in the ingredients and be on my way to do other things is why I love my crock pot! 

I recently bought a new one by Hamilton that has 3 different settings. If you choose timer you can make sure your food stops cooking when it hits a certain temperature so there’s no need of worrying about anything overcooking and drying out.

This recipe was first published in September of 2015 and the method was only for the slow cooker. I’ve updated this great recipe to now include a quick and easy oven method that takes under 30 minutes!

Carbs in Traditional Granola

Store-bought granola usually has oats in it and high carb flours.

According to the app Cronometer, Quaker Simply Granola with Oats, honey and almonds has 35 grams of carbs in 1/2 cup.

Much too high for anyone following a keto diet, since many stay under 30 total carbs a day. It might fit into someone following a low carb diet as often low carb could range from 50-100 grams of carbs a day. 

Carbs in our Low Carb Granola Recipe

All nutrition facts information is on the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Our granola has 6 grams of total carbs per serving which can definitely fit into daily macros for anyone following a ketogenic diet. 

This recipe makes a big batch so packing the servings up into smaller pieces with desired size in little containers is a great way to have something as a grab-n-go snack. 

Can this homemade keto granola recipe be made nut free?

My youngest son has a tree nut and peanut allergy, but my hubby, myself and my daughter do not. I make plenty of yummy snacks that are nut free, but sometimes hubby, daughter and I really want some nutty delicious low carb granola.

If you have a nut allergy and need to keep it nut free, you have a couple of options.

Increase the low carb ingredients like pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds I used in the recipe to swap out the amount of nuts used. It might even be lower carb than using the nuts.

You can also increase the shredded unsweetened coconut in the recipe or even swap it with some bigger coconut chips. 

Lastly, you can add some unsweetened coconut flakes, sesame seeds and hemp hearts seeds and/or chia seeds to provide it a little but of a difference in textures. You could also toss in some sugar free chocolate chips after the seeds bake and the mixture is cooling.

How do I get the granola clusters?

Once cooked in the slow cooker you lay it out on a baking sheet and let it cool. 

Allowing the mixture to cool completely before disturbing it is the key to clusters and clumps. It hardens nicely then you can store it as you like.

You can also speed up the process and place in the fridge.

Can I replace the nuts I don’t like?

The best part about this easy recipe is that You can absolutely replace any of the nuts I used. Just swap with your favorite nuts you prefer to equal the same amounts in the low-carb granola recipe.

Place your yummy grain-free granola in a mason jar and cover or make individual little baggies up for the kids in the cupboard when they want a snack to grab!

How to Make Keto Granola in the Slow Cooker

Directions

Turn the Slow Cooker to low and add coconut oil and allow it to melt.

Once melted add vanilla extract and stevia.Stir well before adding nuts, seeds and coconut. Stir the granola mixture well to make sure all is coated.

Whisk Sweetener, cinnamon and salt together then sprinkle over the nut and seed mixture.

Cover and cook on low 2 hours or until you can smell them and they appear browned and toasted. Stir every 30 minutes.

Pour and spread out onto a baking pan and allow granola cool and/or refrigerate.

UPDATE: After reading several comments that many people were getting burned granola, I’ve adjusted the temperature from high in orginial recipe to low, still works great but all crock pots are different and some heat better than others. On low this may take you longer than 2 hours to get them toasted.

How to Make Keto Granola in the Oven

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

In a large mixing bowl, add melted coconut oil, vanilla extract and stevia. Mix to combine.

Add all your nuts, seeds and shredded coconut to the bowl. Sprinkle the sweetener, cinnamon, and salt. Toss to fully coat the mixture.

Spread the mixture onto a large baking sheet pan. Keep the mixture touching each other, no gaps, but press down to make an even layer on the baking tray.

Bake for 15 minutes then remove, toss and pat down mixture again.

Bake another 10 minutes or until the nut mixture is golden brown. Allow to cool 30 minutes then break apart clumps.

Store in an airtight container for up to two weeks.

Can I leave out the sweetener?

If you want to leave out the sweeteners I used, that is fine to do so, but please note; the granulated low carb sweetener used here is what helps make the small pieces of clusters and clumps in the granola.

Leaving out the sweetener may result in a granola that does not form clusters.

Keto Low Carb Granola

Print

Keto Low Carb Granola

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 2 hours hours

Total Time 2 hours hours 10 minutes minutes

Servings 14 @ 1/3 cup

Calories 263kcal

Author Brenda Bennett | Sugar Free Mom

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup coconut oil melted or room temperature butter
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp vanilla liquid stevia
• 1/2 cup almonds
• 1/2 cup walnuts
• 1/2 cup pecans
• 1/2 cup macadamia nuts
• 1 cup sunflower seeds
• 1 cup pumpkin seeds
• 1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
• 1/2 cup Monk Fruit sweetener or other sugar free sub of choice
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp salt

Instructions

Slow Cooker Method

• Turn the Slow Cooker to low and add coconut oil and allow it to melt.
• Once melted add vanilla extract and stevia.
• Stir well before adding nuts, seeds and coconut.
• Stir the granola mixture well to make sure all is coated.
• Whisk Swerve, cinnamon and salt together then sprinkle over the nut and seed mixture.
• Cover and cook on low 2 hours or until you can smell them and they appear browned and toasted.
• Stir every 30 minutes.
• Pour and spread out onto a baking pan to cool and/or refrigerate.

Oven Method

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
• In a large bowl, add melted coconut oil, vanilla extract and stevia. Mix to combine.
• Add all your nuts, seeds and shredded coconut to the bowl. Sprinkle the sweetener, cinnamon, and salt. Toss to fully coat the mixture.
• Spread the mixture onto a large baking sheet pan. Keep the mixture touching each other, no gaps, but press down to make an even layer.
• Bake for 15 minutes then remove, toss and pat down mixture again.
• Bake another 10 minutes or until the nut mixture is golden brown. Allow to cool 30 minutes then break apart clumps.
• Store in an airtight container for up to two weeks.

Video

Notes

3 g net carbs for one serving

Serving size is 1/3 cup or 50 grams.

This recipe was first published in September of 2015 and the method was only for the slow cooker.

I’ve updated this great recipe to now include a quick and easy oven method that takes under 30 minutes!

 

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving @1/3 cup | Calories: 263kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 169mg | Potassium: 206mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 9IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 2mg

The post Easy Crunchy Sugar-Free Low Carb Keto Granola Recipe appeared first on Sugar-Free Mom.

Easy Pulled Barbecue Chicken Recipe

I love nothing more than to make a crock pot recipe in the morning and come home to smell a fantastic dinner waiting for us. Little effort equals big reward. Those are my kind of meals! These chicken thighs can be served one of two ways. 

Enjoy as is coming right of the crock pot full of all this amazing barbecue sauce and tender chicken.

Add a simple side and dinner is done. Or shred the chicken thighs as you would for a pulled pork recipe and some Italian style coleslaw you’ve got a delicious low carb meal the whole family will love. You might also enjoy adding some Keto Fathead Rolls to this delicious pulled chicken meal.

Sugar Free BBQ Pulled Chicken

I did just that when I made this for my family. My recipe for the sugar free BBQ came from my Crock Pot BBQ Baby Back Rib recipe.  

I knew it would be fantastic on chicken thighs so I went ahead with the idea for easy pulled chicken in the crock pot. Did the kids love it? Absolutely! Did the picky hubby who doesn’t love sugar free much love it? Oh yes he did!

Keto BBQ Pulled Chicken & Side Dishes

There are many different ways to enjoy this keto chicken recipe!

One of the easiest way to serve this easy recipe is over a bowl of Italian Style keto coleslaw. 

I made if for the kids in a little low carb tortilla wrap as a burrito. My oldest, the picky teen, let me put some coleslaw in the burrito because I told him how incredible the crunchy slaw with the tender chicken would be.

You could also make bbq chicken sandwiches by serving in a low carb bun or another great option is with keto cornbread or even over cauliflower rice.

My oldest ate it but wasn’t a fan of the slaw. However you decide to enjoy this crockpot bbq chicken, this is a great keto low carb crowd pleaser recipe!

Kids right? They will love different foods as they age I guess, just as I did. I didn’t care much, more slaw for me and the hubby! So tasty and no guilt, all low carb and sugar-free!

My favorite way to serve this juicy chicken is in a bowl like this above worked and I’d eat it like that all day long.

This recipe was originally posted in April of 2015 and I decided to bring it out of the archives for the summer with a brand new video to showcase this awesome recipe!

STORE-BOUGHT SUGAR FREE KETO BBQ SAUCE AND SUGAR FREE KETCHUP

If you want to skip all the seasonings and ingredients for the low carb BBQ sauce, you can certainly just buy it on Amazon or your local grocery store. 

Just be sure to check the ingredients for added sugar and inflammatory oils like canola oil or soybean oil.

If you don’t have time to make my homemade sugar free ketchup recipe for this easy sugar free barbecue sauce recipe then the best option is to buy a good brand that uses great ingredients.

I recommend Primal Kitchen Sugar-Free BBQ sauce and Ketchup as the best store bought option and they also have lots of great condiments and dressings with a great ingredient list of good quality oils.

Swapping Sugar Free Low Carb Sweeteners

I used clear liquid stevia for this recipe, but you can use any low carb sweetener you like.

Allulose would be another option, but again it isn’t as sweet as using the Better than Sugar sweetener. Allulose comes in a liquid, and granulated form.

I’ve found this product that combines Allulose and Monk Fruit Sweetener and it does have a brown sugar sweetener, though I’ve not tested this product in this low carb sauce. 

My updated Sweetener Conversion chart will provide you the ultimate guide into all the natural sweeteners to use as opposed to artificial sweeteners and this will be your guide to look up the different low carb sweetener options that you may want to swap in my recipes.

Why do you add cocoa powder?

Chocolate is one of the main ingredients in Mexican mole sauce since it helps to balance out the spices used. It also adds a nice rich dark color and in my opinion just enhances all the flavors for the barbecue sauce.

This easy pulled bbq chicken has undeniable delicious flavors and I think the secret ingredient is to use cocoa powder just like I used in my keto chili recipe.

More Keto BBQ Recipes

BBQ Chicken Wings

BBQ Baby Back Ribs

Low Carb Hamburger Bun Recipes

Cottage Cheese Cloud Bread Rolls

Single Serve Hamburger Roll

Keto Hamburger Buns

Crock Pot Sugar Free BBQ Pulled Chicken

Print

Crock Pot Sugar Free BBQ Pulled Chicken

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 4 hours hours

Total Time 4 hours hours 15 minutes minutes

Servings 8

Calories 219kcal

Author Brenda Bennett | Sugar Free Mom

Ingredients

• 3 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

BBQ Sauce Ingredients

• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 cup sugar free ketchup
• 1 teaspoon maple extract
• 1/4 teaspoon cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon cocoa powder unsweetened
• 1/2 teaspoon clear liquid stevia or see notes above for using a brown sugar substitute

Instructions

• Place the chicken on a baking sheet.
• Whisk the paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, salt and pepper together.
• Rub the dry seasonings onto the chicken on both sides. Set aside.

For the BBQ Sauce

• Pour the water, apple cider vinegar, and ketchup into the bottom of the crock pot.
• Stir until combined then add the remaining ingredients to the crock pot.
• Stir well then add the chicken thighs to the crock pot.

Slow Cooker Method

• Cover and cook on high 3-4 hours or low 8-10 hours.
• Uncover when finished cooking and shred thighs with 2 forks.

Instant Pot Instructions

• Follow the same preparing of the chicken and sauce but instead of placing sauce into slow cooker, place into instant pot. Stir well then add thighs to the pot.
• Cover and set to manual, high pressure for 25 minutes. 
• Natural release for 5 minutes, then manually release pressure.
• Enjoy shredded bbq chicken over coleslaw or in a low carb tortilla as a burrito.
• Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. 

Video

Notes

This recipe was originally posted in April of 2015 and I decided to bring it out of the archives for the summer with a brand new video to showcase this awesome recipe!

Midlife Macro Method™ Approved! 

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving @ 6 ounces | Calories: 219kcal | Carbohydrates: 4.3g | Protein: 33.8g | Fat: 7.2g | Saturated Fat: 1.5g | Cholesterol: 142mg | Sodium: 277mg | Fiber: 0.6g | Sugar: 1.1g

The post Sugar Free Low Carb Keto BBQ Pulled Chicken Recipe appeared first on Sugar-Free Mom.

Low Carb Custard Lemon Cake Recipe

If you love creamy custard and you love all things lemon, you will love this easy lemon cake made in the slow cooker or oven directions provided below!

This combo of custard plus cake textures will rock your boat! Lemon lovers should look no further, this is full of lemony, zesty flavor, but even if you’re not much into lemon you can easily adjust the amount used in this recipe to your liking!

If you’ve never made a dessert in a crock pot, welcome to a whole new world you will soon fall in love with! If you can accept a free form style of dessert, using the slow cooker is the way to a stress free dessert experience!

Carbs in Traditional Custard Cake

According to the Cronometer app I use, 100 grams or one serving of custard cake that uses regular sugar has 54.2 grams of carbs and 370 calories. That is a blood sugar spike instantly after eating it.

​Our keto version of custard cake has 191 calories and just 3 grams of carbs for one serving plus 2 grams dietary fiber so that is just 1 g net carbs.

Much better for those of us on a keto diet or low carb diet and being careful of raising blood sugar. The full nutritional information is at the bottom of this blog post in the recipe card. 

How many carbs should I eat on Keto?

​Balanced blood sugar is an important part to pay attention to if you are working on weight loss.

Whether you follow a ketogenic diet or not, if you spike your blood sugar eating high carb and sugar foods, you stop your bodies ability to tap into it’s own fat stores to lose weight.

High blood sugar means fat storage.

I recommend to my coaching clients to eat no more than 40-50 total carbs per day if you are on a low carb diet and 20-30 total carbs per day on a keto diet. 

How much fat should I be eating to lose weight?

​Each person is different and there is no one size fits all that works for everyone. A keto diet also does not mean you need to eat a high fat diet.

If you haven’t been successful losing weight on a traditional keto diet eating 70% fat, try reducing it to 60% or 50% daily fat intake a few days a week which may help budge your weight loss.

That’s exactly what I needed to do in my own life in order to get the needle to move in the right direction.

I even created a course called Stall Busters which provides you 4 weeks of meal plans plus a weekly quiz that accesses your progress and recommends meal plans that I provide with 50%, 60% and 70% fat intake. 

Slow Cooker Keto Custard Cake

Crock Pots or slow cookers, whatever you like to call them, are awesome to use for savory meals any time of the year.  

But once you venture to the dessert side, you will be surprised at how quickly you will be hooked to making a slow cooked low carb dessert for friends and family.

As long as you’re not looking for a perfect looking cake, neat and tidy kind of cake and you’re more interested in delicious recipes with simple ingredients, this tasty treat is perfect for family and/or company. This is a perfect dessert in the crock pot!

Dump the cake batter, make sure it’s plugged in, cover and set! Come back in a few hours for some delicious custard cake with the perfect balance of bright lemon flavors!

Coconut is Not a Nut

My youngest child, who is quite the coconut hater, can’t tell this slow cooker cake is made with coconut, and that has been what has driven me to continue to persevere with coconut flour.

Youngest has a tree nut allergy so very often I’ve got to make low carb recipes using coconut flour as opposed to almond flour. Often he can detect it and makes complaints. But not this year folks, not this year. I am winning 5 out of 5 thus far!

I’d like to clear up this constant question get asked almost daily about whether coconut is a nut. While the US Food & drug Administration (FDA) claims that coconut is a tree nut becomes it comes from a tree, it is in fact a FRUIT. People who have tree nut allergies may be allergic to coconut as well, but being allergic to coconut is not the same as having a tree nut allergy.

My own son was diagnosed with a Peanut and Tree Nut allergy at the age of 2. He has safely eaten coconut all these years without issue and he is now 14. Coconut is a fruit, called a drupe. It’s like a peach with a pit. 

The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology says it well: “Coconut is not a botanical nut: it is classified as a fruit, even though the FDA recognizes coconut as a tree nut.

While allergic reactions to coconut have been documented, most people who are allergic to tree nuts can safely eat coconut. If you are allergic to tree nuts, talk to your allergist before adding coconut to your diet.”

I’ve made a Chocolate Tiramisu Cake Roll, Low Carb Cheddar Sausage Bagels, Tiramisu Mug Cake  Low Carb Banana Cream Pie Cupcakes and now this and he’s had no idea!

Easy Slow Cooker Keto Cake

The texture of the cake is amazing!

It tastes like a custard, but it is formed like a cake! Easy to make, no oven required! Set it and forget it!

Top with some sugar free whipped cream and a few berries and call it a day!

Can I swap the sweetener used?

You can substitute the Swerve sweetener with another sugar free sweetener of choice, but often other brands are sweeter so I would either use 1/4 cup of something else or eliminate the lemon stevia.

If you don’t want to use any sweetener that contains erythritol, you could swap the Swerve sweetener I used with this Monk Fruit Sweetener that also includes Allulose in it’s blend and no erythritol. 

Here’s my Sweetener Guide & Conversion Chart.

Can I swap the heavy cream?

You could even use canned coconut milk in place of the heavy cream and make it dairy free. I don’t recommend using unsweetened almond milk and it doesn’t have enough fat to make this cake custard like in texture. 

Can I swap the lemon?

If you’re not a fan of lemon as much, reduce the amount of juice I used here to just 1/4 cup or you could even swap it with lime juice if you prefer. 

If you’re not much of a fan of lemon than perhaps you’d like my Crock Pot Fudge.

Can I swap the coconut flour with almond?

​I get asked this question almost daily and the short answer is no they can’t be swapped, at least not with the same amount. Coconut flour is dense and needs more liquids and eggs.

About 1/4 cup of coconut flour is equal to about 1 cup almond flour. 

I would still recommend using coconut flour as you really will not detect a coconut flavor because the lemon is a strong flavor and takes over in this lemon cake. 

Can I make this in the oven instead?

Yes if you don’t want to use the slow cooker, you could bake this in the oven instead.

I’d recommend preheating your oven to 325 degrees and greasing a 9 by 13 baking dish.

Follow the instructions and pour the batter into the greased baking dish. Baking time will vary depending on whether you have a gas or electric oven. 

If you have an electric oven bake for 30 minutes or until the center is puffed and a toothpick in center comes clean. If you have a gas oven you may need to bake 5-10 minutes longer. 

More Keto Lemon Desserts

​Sugar Free Lemon Cream Pie

Sugar Free Lemon Meringue Pie

Lemon Keto Cheesecake Mousse

Low Carb Lemon Cheesecake Jars with Lemon Cookie

Keto Lemon Pound Cake

Keto Sugar Free Lemon Curd Parfaits

Magic Custard Cakes

Italian Keto Lemon Layer Cake

Lemon Cottage Cheese Fluff

Slow Cooker Keto Lemon Custard Cake Recipe

Print

CrockPot Blueberry Lemon Custard Cake

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 3 hours hours

Total Time 3 hours hours 15 minutes minutes

Servings 12

Calories 186kcal

Author Brenda Bennett | Sugar-Free Mom

Ingredients

• 6 eggs separated
• 1/2 cup Coconut Flour
• 2 tsp lemon zest
• 1/3 cup lemon juice or see notes above
• 1 tsp lemon liquid stevia
• 1/2 cup Monk Fruit Allulose confectioners sweetener or see notes above
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1/2 cup fresh blueberries optional or any fresh berries you like
• optional toppings; sugar free whipped cream or sour cream, lemon zest

Instructions

• Place the egg whites into a stand mixer and whip until stiff peaks form. Set aside.
• In another bowl, whisk the yolks and remaining ingredients together except blueberries.
• Fold the egg whites a little at a time into the batter until just combined.
• Grease the crock pot and pour the mixture into the pot.
• Sprinkle the blueberries over the batter.
• Cover and cook on low 3 hours or until a toothpick come out clean.
• Allow to cool with cover off for 1 hour then place in the refrigerator to chill for 2 hours or overnight.
• Serve cold with a little sugar free whipped cream if desired.
• Cover with plastic wrap or store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. 

Video

 

Notes

Net Carbs: 1 g for the custard cake only, not optional ingredients.

This recipe was first  published in August 2016.

Nutrition

Serving: 1piece | Calories: 186kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 82mg | Sodium: 128mg | Potassium: 38mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 0.3g | Vitamin A: 119IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 0.4mg

The post Easy Slow Cooker Low Carb Keto Lemon Custard Cake appeared first on Sugar-Free Mom.

Corned Beef and Cabbage

Whether you are Irish or not, when St. Patrick’s day comes around during the month of March, Corned Beef and Cabbage can be found in abundance in all supermarkets. It makes for the ultimate satisfying Sunday dinner!

Being Italian we never ate corned beef and cabbage meal, but once I met my husband and married 19 years ago, it was a must for him, especially at this time of the year and I fell in love with this tasty beef brisket.

What is Corned Beef?

There is no corn involved in making corned beef. It got it’s name from the curing of the beef in salt sometimes called, ‘corns’ of salt.

You can cure your own beef but for this very simple recipe, and around this time of year in March, in the United States, you can easily find corned beef in most local grocery stores.

This classic cabbage recipe for St Patrick’s day just needed a little tweak to make it lower in carbs. Just by removing the potatoes typically in this recipe, it is much lower carb and a keto-friendly meal.

Of course, if carbs are not a problem for you and you’re not on a keto diet, just add them back into the mix of veggies I’ve used here.

Even my kids who aren’t too keen on boiled veggies especially soft cabbage, of course they prefer a larger portion of the corned beef brisket as opposed to the veggies, but it’s all good to me.

It’s a winning recipe for my whole family! I always just throw away the seasoning packet.

But my kids do also love my Reuben Cabbage Rolls and Reuben Calzone! 

Sides to Serve with Corned Beef

Add some Irish Soda Bread or Irish Soda Muffins to make these a full meal! 

Best Instant Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage

Some of you may not have an Instant Pot which is basically a pressure cooker, that is certainly fine as I’ve provided directions for making this in a crock pot or slow cooker as well.

Both taste equally delicious, but the Instant Pot cuts the cook time down by half if you were making this on the stove top in a Dutch oven.

Whichever method you choose to use to cook this scrumptious meal, I’m sure you won’t have any complaints from the family. It’s tasty and comforting!

Even my picky hubby who is a meat and potatoes man but recently is eating low carb recipe, didn’t complain there were no potatoes in this. That is a little miracle to me to be honest with you!

How to Make Low Carb Instant Pot Corned Beef and Cabbage

This classic Irish Corned Beef Dish is made in half the time when you pressure cook it but down below in the recipe card you will also find instructions for an alternate cooking method for making this in your slow cooker.

Nutritional information is also located at the bottom of the printable recipe card.

Simple Ingredients

Corned beef brisket

Black peppercorns

Garlic

Dried mustard or mustard seeds

1 large head of cabbage 

Onions 

Carrots 

Celery

Optional: red pepper flakes

Instructions

Place beef brisket into the pot. Discard the spice packet that comes with the meat.

Cover the beef with cold water, add enough water to cover the meat in the pot.

Add the spices into the pot.

Cover and set on “Meat/Stew” for 60 minutes cooking time on high pressure.

Hit Cancel then use the Natural Release method, about 20 minutes.

Remove cover carefully, watch for steam, remove brisket and keep warm.

Add the vegetables to the pot and press “Soup” setting for 15 minutes.

Use the Quick Release method.

Uncover and add the beef back to the pot to warm through.

Enjoy immediately!

How to Store

Store any leftover corned beef and cabbage in an airtight container after it’s been cooked and cooled and refrigerate for up to 3 days.

The next day, if it seems a bit dry, warm cuts of meat with chicken broth.

More Low Carb Keto Instant Pot Recipes

Instant Pot White Chicken Chili

Instant Pot Chili

Instant Pot Chicken Tacos

Instant Pot Keto Corned Beef and Cabbage

Print

Instant Pot Low Carb Corned Beef and Cabbage

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour 35 minutes minutes

Total Time 1 hour hour 50 minutes minutes

Servings 8 servings (6 ounces beef, 1 cup cabbage, 1/4 each carrots and celery

Calories 499kcal

Author Brenda Bennett | Sugar-Free Mom

Ingredients

• 4 pounds corned beef brisket
• 6 cups water
• 2 tsp black peppercorns
• 4 cloves garlic
• 2 tsp dried mustard
• 1 cabbage cut into wedges or 8 cups
• 1 cup onions sliced
• 1 cup carrots sliced into thirds
• 1 cup celery stalks chopped

Instructions

• Place beef brisket into the pot. Discard the spice packet that comes with the meat.
• Cover the beef with water, add more to cover if needed.
• Add the spices into the pot.
• Cover and set on “Meat/Stew” for 60 minutes on high.
• Hit Cancel then use the Natural Release method, about 20 minutes.
• Remove cover carefully, watch for steam, remove brisket and keep warm.
• Add the vegetables to the pot and press “Soup” setting for 15 minutes.
• Use the “Quick” Release method.
• Uncover and add the beef back to the pot to warm through.
• Enjoy immediately!

Slow Cooker Directions:

• Add all ingredients into the crock pot except the cabbage. Make sure the meat is fat side up.
• Cook on low 6 hours or until vegetables are tender.
• In the last hour add the cabbage.
• Enjoy!

Video

Notes

Net Carbs: 7 g for serving size of 6 ounces beef, 1 cup cabbage, 1/4 each carrots and celery

This recipe was first published in March 2016 and updated with video in March 2019.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 499kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 122mg | Sodium: 2812mg | Potassium: 1000mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 2840IU | Vitamin C: 106.1mg | Calcium: 89mg | Iron: 4.6mg

The post Instant Pot Low Carb Keto Corned Beef and Cabbage appeared first on Sugar-Free Mom.

WHAT IS CABBAGE ROLL SOUP?

Soup recipes are the epitome of winter in my opinion! This unstuffed cabbage soup has been a favorite since I first posted it in January of 2016!!

​Cabbage roll soup is essentially deconstructed classic cabbage rolls in soup form! 

You may or may not be a cabbage fan, but honestly you must try this great recipe which might just win you over!

One of the most comforting meals on a cold winter’s day made in your slow cooker or just simmer in a large pot on the stove, but either way it’s a hearty soup for the whole family with all the flavors of traditional cabbage rolls but lots less work.

Often cabbage roll soup has white rice or brown rice in it, but to make this keto friendly, I swapped it out with cauliflower rice.

You will love how thick the texture is because of using riced cauliflower and you’ll love how much lower in carbs it is than traditional cabbage roll soup. In fact, I think you’ll love it even more than traditional cabbage roll soup with rice!

Carbs in Classic Cabbage Roll Soup

One cup serving, according to Cronometer, has about 31 grams of carbs.

Carbs in our Keto Unstuffed Cabbage Soup

Our serving is actually 1.5 cups for just 8 grams of carbs!

CARBS IN MARINARA SAUCE

Tomatoes and tomato sauce can be enjoyed on a low-carb or keto diet. There is no food that is keto. Ketosis is a nutritional state your body is in when you lower the carbs enough to get into ketosis.

1 large tomato is about 7 carbs. Contrary to popular belief, you can enjoy a small amount of tomatoes within a recipe. Granted you may not be able to eat a whole tomato and stay in ketosis but, a small amount can be enjoyed.

1/2 cup of my homemade low carb marinara sauce is 6 total carbs. You can also purchase Rao’s brand which is low carb if you don’t want to make my recipe.

This unstuffed cabbage roll soup provides you a whole lot of servings so the total carbs per serving are 8 and if you follow net carbs just 6 grams per 1.5 cups of this delicious soup!

LOW-CARB Options for RICE

There are a many options for a low carb rice that you could use in this cabbage roll soup. I chose cauliflower rice but there are plenty of others if you aren’t a fan.

Palmini rice is made from Hearts of palm and has about the same amount of carbs as cauliflower rice.

Miracle rice or Shirataki rice is another low carb option with the lowest amount of carbs, just 4 per serving.

If you choose to use rice instead of cauliflower then I would suggest 1 cup of cooked rice and eliminate the cauliflower.

You can eliminate the cauliflower in the recipe if you prefer. I feel it was a good substitute for rice which is usually in cabbage rolls. I think it thickened this slow cooker soup nicely without being very noticeable in texture.

I will tell you that not even my hubby noticed cauliflower was in this soup and everyone who was at our party raved about it and asked for the recipe and none of them are low carb!

SLOW COOKER VERSUS STOVE TOP METHOD

The slow cooker is great if you have the time in the morning to make before heading out to work. It will be amazing to come home to the aromas of an amazing cabbage roll soup.

But don’t fret if you don’t have a slow cooker or don’t have the time. I’ve provided directions below for making this recipe in your stove top in about an hour.

Either cooking method will provide you a satisfying meal for the whole family and plenty of left overs!

HOW TO MAKE Instant Pot CABBAGE ROLL SOUP Recipe

Set your instant pot to saute mode and heat olive oil and garlic. Add onions and shallots and cook until softened.

Add ground beef and cook until browned and no longer pink.

Add seasonings to beef, marinara sauce and remaining ingredients (the riced cauliflower, broth and cabbage). 

Stir to combine everything and cover. Set to manual mode on high pressure for 30 minutes. Quick release and carefully uncover once pressure seal has released. 

Top with some fresh parsley and enjoy!

How to Store Keto Cabbage Roll Soup 

Store this easy soup, once cooled, in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. 

How to Serve Easy Cabbage Roll Soup

I think this is a one-pot meal in itself and you may not want anything else, but here are some low carb keto bread options you might like:

Cheesy Air Fryer Rolls

Italian Buns

Cloud Bread Loaf

​This healthy soup can also be served with any of these low-carb vegetable side dishes.

Tomato Avocado Salad

Cucumber Dill Salad

LOW-CARB VERSUS KETO

If you’ve had a reluctant family member not ready to embrace a sugar free and/or low carb lifestyle, try comforting recipes like this that they won’t even notice is grain free and healthy!

They will hopefully realize it’s not that hard to give up processed carbs and sugar.

Unsure about the differences between sugar-free and low carb? I’ve cleared it up for you in this post as well as low-carb versus keto to help you figure out the best plan for you!

KETO UNSTUFFED Slow Cooker CABBAGE ROLL SOUP

Print

Crock Pot Low Carb Un-Stuffed Cabbage Roll Soup

Course Entree

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 3 hours hours

Total Time 3 hours hours 20 minutes minutes

Servings 9

Calories 356kcal

Author Brenda Bennett | Sugar-Free Mom

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves minced
• 1/2 cup onion chopped
• 1/2 cup shallots chopped
• 2 pounds ground beef
• 1 tsp dried parsley
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper
• 16 ounces low carb marinara sauce
• 2 cups cauliflower riced
• 5 cups beef broth low sodium
• 8 cups cabbage sliced

Instructions

• Heat olive oil and garlic on medium high heat.
• Add onions and shallots and cook until softened.
• Add ground beef and cook until browned and no longer pink.
• Add seasonings to beef and marinara sauce.
• Add the riced cauliflower to the beef mixture and stir until coated.
• Pour the beef into the crock pot.
• Pour beef broth into crock pot and add cabbage.
• Stir to combine everything.
• Cook on high 3 hours or low 6 hours. If you don't have a crock pot, simply cook ground beef in a dutch oven or heavy soup pot, follow recipe and simmer on low, covered for about an hour until cabbage is tender.

Video

Notes

Net Carbs: 6g

Brenda’s Notes:

• This recipe was first published in January 2016 and updated with video in October 2018.
• You can subscribe for free by email so you won’t ever miss any recipes I share on social media. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1.5cups | Calories: 356kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 71mg | Sodium: 990mg | Potassium: 534mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 60IU | Vitamin C: 35.1mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 2.6mg

The post Slow Cooker UnStuffed Low Carb Keto Cabbage Roll Soup appeared first on Sugar-Free Mom.

Low Carb Soups & Stews

Traditional soups and stews often use high carb foods like rice or pasta, but a great way to reduce the carbs in soups and stews is by swapping high carb foods with things like cauliflower rice, shirataki rice or pasta, Palmini rice or pasta or zucchini noodles.

These soups and stews are fabulous keto dinner ideas for any night of the week!

LOW-CARB KETO ITALIAN WEDDING SOUP

Nothing beats a large bowl of traditional Italian wedding soup on cold days of the fall and winter season, but if you’re on a keto diet or even low-carb diet, this sensational Italian soup is too high carb to fit into your daily macros.

Our Homemade Italian wedding soup is a delicious keto meatball soup with just 5 g net carbs per serving! Enjoy our low carb soup whenever you like without guilt!

LOW CARB KETO CHICKEN MINESTRONE SOUP

This incredibly flavorsome Keto Chicken Minestrone Soup will be a firm favorite in your low-carb soup repertoire. Packed full of healthy vegetables and chicken, and just 5 net carbs per serving.

SLOW COOKER UNSTUFFED LOW CARB CABBAGE ROLL SOUP

This Keto Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Soup is a comforting, hearty, low carb meal made easily in your slow cooker for any busy weeknight!

One of the most comforting meals on a cold winter’s day made in your slow cooker or just simmer on the stove, but either way it’s a hearty meal for the whole family.

KETO CREAM OF CHICKEN SOUP WITH CABBAGE

This Easy One Pot Keto Cream of Chicken Soup with Cabbage is the most comforting and delicious low carb soup to make in any season! Just 4 net carbs for this creamy keto chicken soup recipe! 

SLOW COOKER CABBAGE SOUP WITH SAUSAGE

Slow Cooker Cabbage Soup with Sausage is a keto, low carb, gluten free, scrumptious easy, hearty soup any day of the week! Slow cooker or Dutch oven cooking options! Just 3 net carbs per serving!

EASY KETO TACO SOUP

This easy keto taco soup recipe is a quick meal that can be made in under 30 minutes and is perfect for a cool day when you need some comfort in a bowl! Soup is one of the easiest ways to get a hearty meal on the table in no time at all.

LOW CARB CREAMY CHICKEN SOUP (KETO, GLUTEN FREE)

This Creamy Chicken soup is a low carb bowl of comfort waiting for you! It’s keto, gluten free and easy to make! It’s creamy and rich and so nourishing. 

It comes together in only a very short time yet is impressive enough to serve as a dinner party starter.

KETO LOW-CARB BROCCOLI CHEESE SOUP (GLUTEN FREE)

Creamy broccoli cheddar soup is the perfect meal to enjoy on a cold winter’s day! It’s keto, low carb and vegetarian too! Broccoli cheese soup is one of the creamiest soups you will ever try.

You can make this easy creamy broccoli cheddar soup at home with just 9 total carbs! Plus it doesn’t contain any gluten or wheat or potato to thicken it!

LOW CARB CAULIFLOWER AND THYME SOUP

Cauliflower and Thyme Soup is a low carb, satisfying, vegetarian soup perfect for a cold winter’s day! 

SLOW COOKER KETO TURKEY KALE RICE SOUP

This slow cooker keto turkey rice soup is a warm comforting meal on a cold day or any day! If you have any leftover turkey tucked away in your freezer, thaw it now to make this comforting bowl of soup.

But even if not, you can use chopped raw turkey breast and it will cook up nicely with all the wonderful veggies and miracle rice. 

QUICK ITALIAN SAUSAGE & PEPPER SOUP

This Easy and Quick Italian Sausage & Pepper Soup is a low carb, gluten free, grain free, comforting soup made in an Instant Pot with an option to also make in a slow cooker.

CREAMY CREAMLESS TOMATO SOUP

Creamy Cream-less Tomato soup made with unsweetened vanilla almond milk makes for a delicious lunch or dinner on a cold night that your whole family will enjoy. 

KETO BEEF ALE STEW

This amazing, tender, keto beef stew is perfect for a cold winter night and made all in one pot for an easy clean up! This easy one pot dinner is the best of the best beef stew you will ever have!

It’s started in one pot on the stove, braising the beef until nicely browned, then adding in all the fabulous flavors from mushrooms, shallots, garlic and herbs. The beer or ale adds great flavor and is a wonderful addition to this stew.

LOW CARB INSTANT POT KETO BEEF STEW

This Low Carb Instant Pot Keto Beef Stew takes under an hour from start to finish using fresh, whole nutrient dense foods and is comfort in a bowl on a cold winter’s day! Stove top cooking method is also provided below.

LOW CARB SLOW COOKER

The best fall keto recipes must include using the slow cooker in my opinion. It’s the perfect choice when it comes to being a busy working mom on busy weeknights and all these low carb recipes can easily be prepped the night before or the morning before you are headed out for the day. 

SLOW COOKER LOW CARB BEEF SHORT RIBS (PALEO, KETO)

These Crock Pot Low Carb Keto Beef Short Ribs recipe make the most satisfying and delicious meal, served over mashed cauliflower.

It’s comfort in a dish! Sear ribs to perfection then slow cooking the meat makes it simply fall apart. And that first bite and that flavorful sauce does not disappoint. It’s everything you hoped it would be and more.

CROCK POT LOW CARB BBQ BABY BACK RIBS

Crock Pot BBQ baby back ribs are made healthier and without added sugar! They’re the ultimate football food! Perfect for any party you’re having! I can’t think of anything more fun to eat then finger licking good ribs! 

EASY LOW CARB KETO CHILI (SLOW COOKER OR INSTANT POT)

This Easy Slow Cooker Keto Chili is a hearty, no-bean, low carb, keto, gluten free chili and no one will miss the beans!

This keto-friendly chili has 7 grams of net carbs per serving and total carbs are 9 grams. On a cold winter’s day there is nothing like a warm bowl of chili served up with a side of low carb cornbread!

KETO WHITE CHICKEN CHILI (INSTANT POT OR SLOW COOKER)

This delicious Keto White Chicken Chili can be made in the Instant Pot in 20 minutes or slow cooker if you prefer. Perfect for a busy weeknight! Just 5 net carbs per serving which will fit easily on your low carb diet or keto diet.

KETO LOW CARB SLOW COOKER BALSAMIC CHICKEN THIGHS

Low Carb Keto Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken Thighs are a perfect meal for a busy weeknight. You can make this in your slow cooker, Instant pot or you can bake them! Just 4 carbs per serving!

With a few ingredients and 2-4 hours in your slow cooker, you have the most tender, mouthwatering, flavorful, chicken the whole family will love!

SLOW COOKER TAHINI CHICKEN THIGHS (LOW CARB AND GLUTEN FREE)

Juiciest Low Carb Chicken Thighs you will ever taste made easily in your slow cooker! This tasty Tahini mixture is spread over the chicken making a luscious broth. It’s made with just 8 ingredients and its gluten free too!

SLOW COOKER BALSAMIC PORK TENDERLOIN (KETO, LOW CARB)

Slow Cooker Balsamic Pork Tenderloin is a wonderful keto, low carb, gluten free dinner the whole family will enjoy!

If you’re looking for a lean protein pork tenderloin is a fantastic choice! Seasoned perfectly and seared well before cooking in the slow cooker and you’ve got an easy weeknight meal or weekend.

KETO SLOW COOKER BALSAMIC CAPRESE STUFFED CHICKEN THIGHS

This easy slow cooker recipe for Balsamic Caprese Stuffed Chicken Thighs is out of this world delicious! It’s also keto, low carb, gluten free and grain free! Quick Skillet directions also provided!

CROCK POT LOW CARB CHEESEBURGER CHILI

Crock Pot Low Carb Cheeseburger Chili is a cheeseburger lover’s dream, all made low carb and in the slow cooker!

Cheeseburger Chili is a great idea mashed up with all the flavors or a juicy burger, topped with a cheddar cheese sauce and cheddar cheese croutons.

CROCK POT LOW SUGAR MAPLE BBQ PULLED BEEF

No Sugar Added Maple BBQ Pulled Beef made low carb and in your slow cooker! This is easy, tasty and fool proof for picky eaters.  Toss it on a bun or a make a taco or top it on a portobello mushroom cap as seen here!

CROCK POT CHICKEN MARSALA

Traditional Chicken Marsala made simple in the slow cooker! I can’t think of an easier meal than one made in the crock pot. 

When you have the right recipe with the perfect amount of liquids and ingredients you can make some magic in the crock pot!

SLOW COOKER KETO MEXICAN BREAKFAST CASSEROLE {LOW CARB & GLUTEN FREE}

This Slow Cooker Keto Mexican Breakfast Casserole is low carb and naturally gluten free! Slow cooker or baking option included! Having breakfast warm and ready is key to starting a day on the right foot.

You can actually prep this the night before if you prefer, just wait to slow cooker until the morning. Or make it on the weekend and store in the fridge for an easy breakfast that everyone can just help themselves with. 

EASY LOW CARB SKILLET RECIPES

When I can make keto dinners for the whole family in one pan on the stove, I am a happy woman! The following are all my easy keto recipes made on your stove top in under 30 minutes!

SUGAR FREE LOW CARB KETO PUMPKIN CHILI

This hearty, comforting low carb pumpkin chili has all the flavors of fall and is gluten free, low carb, sugar free, and keto!

It’s made easily in a skillet on your stove top! If you’ve never made an easy skillet chili, you are going to love this skillet pumpkin chili recipe today! If you’ve never tried roasted fresh pumpkin in your chili before, you are going to be blown away!

LOW CARB LEMON CHICKEN PICCATA MEATBALLS (KETO, NUT FREE, GLUTEN FREE)

When you’re looking for a quick and easy, low carb dinner you can get on the table for the family in under 30 minutes, these lemon chicken piccata meatballs should be on the menu! 

Just 15 minutes to prep these delicious, low carb lemon chicken piccata meatballs and just under 15 minutes to cook in a luscious, buttery, creamy piccata sauce! Keto friendly, gluten free, nut free and just 2 net carbs per serving!

 KETO CHICKEN MUSHROOM CASSEROLE (ONE PAN)

Keto Chicken Mushroom Casserole is a perfect low carb meal made quickly and easily in one pan! The whole family will love this creamy casserole, even the picky ones! Creamy chicken and mushrooms go so well together.

QUICK KETO SKILLET LASAGNA

This Quick Easy Keto Skillet Lasagna uses simple ingredients and is ready in under 30 minutes! Having simple recipes with just a few ingredients is the best way to handle busy work weeks with a family.

When you can make simple low carb dinners in under 30 minutes that the whole family will enjoy and not complain about, that my friend is priceless!

LOW CARB FRENCH ONION MEATBALLS (GLUTEN FREE, KETO)

These tasty keto meatballs have all the flavors of French Onion soup packed in a perfect sized meatball! They are gluten free, grain free, low carb and perfect for a family meal!

Just a few simple ingredients and a short amount of time in the kitchen and this is an easy weeknight meal for a family. Double the recipe and freeze unbaked meatballs for another night when you’re short on time. 

KETO SKILLET CHICKEN PARMESAN (NUT FREE, LOW CARB)

This Easy Low Carb Keto Skillet Chicken Parmesan is made in one pan and in 30 minutes! It’s a nut free, keto, low carb chicken parmesan that is as good as grandma’s!

Now you can enjoy a delicious low carb chicken parmesan even on a busy weeknight! This recipe makes it quicker, easier and still just as delicious as if you had baked it!

KETO BACON CHICKEN ROSTI SKILLET

If you love a good keto chicken pot pie filling, but don’t want all the heavy pastry, this Low-Carb Chicken and Bacon Rosti Pie Skillet is made for you!

It combines two great loves, a classic creamy chicken bacon pie filling with a keto friendly Rosti topping, made from zucchini and turnip! 

QUICK KETO ITALIAN SAUSAGE ZUCCHINI SKILLET (ONE PAN MEAL)

This quick and easy family-friendly keto meal is made with just 8 ingredients and takes less then 30 minutes from start to finish!

The savory spices in the scrumptious Italian sausage once cooked creates an amazing juice to then cook your veggies in, all in one pan. It’s a win win using one skillet, not only for all the amazing the flavors that it creates but for the ease of cleaning up!

LOW CARB MEXICAN TAMALE SKILLET PIE (GLUTEN FREE, GRAIN FREE)

This Low Carb Mexican Tamale Skillet Pie is Gluten Free and Grain Free too! What is it about Mexican food that makes you want to indulge? Is it the spicy flavors or all the cheese? 

Whatever it may be that makes you swoon, this Mexican Skillet pie is anything but sinful!

AIR FRYER & INSTANT POT

During the holiday season, your oven might be full and packed but having an air fryer or instant pot can help get more food cooked in less time!

Hearty stews and creamy soups can be cooked in half the time as on the stove top or in the slow cooker. These easy keto dinner recipes are perfect for the cold weather nights.  

KETO INSTANT POT CHICKEN CARNITAS (OVEN DIRECTIONS INCLUDED)

This Keto Instant Pot Chicken recipe is perfect for any night of the week! Oven directions also provided!

These Keto Crispy Chicken Carnitas are made in the instant pot for the ultimate in succulent meat. Then crisped under the broiler to add that delicious crispy flavor.

 KETO LOW CARB INSTANT POT ITALIAN BEEF

This Low Carb Keto Instant Pot Italian Beef recipe is quick, easy and full of amazing flavor! Slow cooker option also available! Either cooking method will produce juicy, tender beef that the whole family will love! Just 4 grams net carbs!

INSTANT POT COPYCAT CHIPOTLE BARBACOA BEEF (KETO, LOW CARB)

This Instant Pot Copycat Chipotle Barbacoa beef tastes just like the traditional and it’s even better knowing it’s keto and low carb! Slow cooker method is also provided.

The Instant Pot is one of the best ways to get that slow cooked and tender meat you’re looking for in less than half the time it would typically take if slow cooked.

INSTANT POT (PRESSURE COOKER) LOW CARB WHOLE CHICKEN AND GRAVY

This Easy Instant Pot, or rather, Electric Pressure cooker recipe, for a Whole Chicken and Low Carb Gravy is perfect for any busy person when weeknight dinners are difficult because time is short.

This can be made from start to finish in under an hour for any weeknight!

KETO BACON CHEDDAR STUFFED AIR FRYER BURGERS

A delicious, bacon cheddar stuffed air fryer burger for any busy weeknight made in under 30 minutes! Air Fryer burgers takes dinner to a stress free level.

No need to heat the grill or the oven, the air fryer does all the work! All you need to do is a simple flip, half way through cooking, top with cheese if desired and you’re done!

KETO AIR FRYER SALMON

This easy keto air fryer salmon recipe is a quick low-carb, high protein, whole30 easy dinner that can be ready in 15 minutes with a delicious zingy, sugar-free dressing and perfect served with a side of any low-carb vegetable you enjoy!

GLUTEN FREE LOW CARB KETO COCONUT SHRIMP (NUT FREE, AIR FRYER OPTION)

This Keto Coconut Fried Shrimp recipe will hit all the right notes in your mouth! It’s a tasty, finger food party appetizer or entree to serve to even the non low carb family and friends!

If you’ve never tried coconut shrimp, now is the time my friends! It’s basically an easy way to enjoy tasty shrimp! Fresh Shrimp coated in shredded coconut which is then fried, pan-fried, baked or even air fried!

AIR FRYER KETO BREADED MUSHROOMS

These gluten-free, air fryer, crispy keto breaded mushrooms make a great side dish to serve with any protein of choice or enjoy as a delicious appetizer with your favorite dipping sauce! Just 4 total grams of carbohydrates or 3 net carbs per serving!

KETO LOW CARB CASSEROLES

When the cooler weather hits, I love me some cozy casseroles that include delicious protein, with keto vegetables, fresh herbs and are all in one dish for a complete meal. 

LOW CARB HASHBROWN BREAKFAST CASSEROLE

This comforting low carb hashbrown breakfast casserole is perfect to feed a crowd, great for making ahead, and provides amazing leftovers! Full of protein and only 2 net carbs per serving!

It’s a hearty, satisfying meal that can be enjoyed for breakfast, lunch of dinner! You can easily make this a day or two ahead, keep refrigerated until ready to bake.

 LOW CARB KETO BREAKFAST CASSEROLE WITH SAUSAGE AND CHEESE (GLUTEN FREE)

If you’re looking for a delicious breakfast the whole family will love and an easy meal prep to make ahead for busy mornings, this easy keto breakfast casserole recipe is the perfect recipe for you! Just 4 total carbs per serving or 3 net carbs.

KETO CAESAR CHICKEN CASSEROLE WITH BROCCOLI

This Keto Caesar Chicken Casserole is an exclusive recipe I’m sharing from my cookbook, Naturally Keto! 

This Caesar chicken casserole has all the flavors of an amazing, hearty low carb meal made quick and easy for the whole family. Caesar dressing mixed with delicious Rotisserie chicken, broccoli and of course cheese, is an all in one, family winning recipe everyone will devour! 

LOW CARB REUBEN STYLE CAULIFLOWER CASSEROLE WITH PASTRAMI MEATBALLS

Low Carb Reuben Style Cauliflower Casserole with Pastrami Meatballs is a combination of the flavors of a classic Reuben sandwich, but with a family friendly twist in casserole form.

The classic pastrami and dressing that makes the Reuben what it is, makes for a tasty way to spice up a casserole meal for a family.

KETO PIZZA CAULIFLOWER CASSEROLE (LOW CARB AND GLUTEN FREE)

This Keto Pizza Cauliflower Casserole is a low carb lover’s pizza dream! I’ve finally found a way to enjoy everything I love about a meat lover’s pizza with a whole lot less carbs. It’s my hidden cauliflower recipe strikes again!

KETO CORNBREAD CASSEROLE (LOW CARB AND GLUTEN FREE)

This Easy Mexican Cornbread Casserole is Keto, Low Carb, Gluten Free, Grain Free and one of the most comforting and satisfying meals you can make for your family!

With a layer of cornbread as the base, a mixture of spices with organic grass fed ground beef and another layer of cheesy cornbread on top, this scrumptious meal is not only a family friendly one, but simple enough for any busy weeknight!

KETO BACON CHEESEBURGER CASSEROLE (NEW & IMPROVED!)

This Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole is made low carb secretly using cauliflower as the base and no one will know! It’s low carb, keto, gluten free, nut free and grain free!

New & Improved Method makes this a much easier casserole to get on the table fast even on a busy weeknight! Just 4 grams of net carbs per serving, perfect for those on a low carb diet or keto diet!

LOW CARB SIDE DISHES

Side dishes with fewer carbs make the holidays happier for those of us on a keto diet or low carb diet. These keto fall recipes are some of our favorites for the holiday season.

LOW CARB APPLE SAUSAGE CORNBREAD STUFFING

This Apple Sausage Cornbread Stuffing is a fantastic low carb stuffing that is full of flavor, no one will notice it’s low in carbs! In memory of my sweet grandma who always made the spiciest of stuffings, I made my version on the spicy side.

Now it’s not as spicy and she used to make where you actually needed a moment between bites to sit back and wipe the sweat off your brow. You can really alter the flavor and spices and much as you like.

 KETO ITALIAN SAUSAGE STUFFING (LOW CARB, GLUTEN FREE, NUT FREE)

If you’re on a keto or low carb diet, you can still enjoy stuffing for Thanksgiving using my keto coconut flour bread! This tastes just like my Italian Grandma’s Authentic stuffing and I know you are going to love it! 

KETO LOW CARB CRANBERRY SAUCE

This easy keto, low carb cranberry sauce has a hint of orange, and is perfectly sweet, but made without adding sugar and has just 5 ingredients!

This easy keto cranberry sauce takes little time in the kitchen and is packed full of flavor! No one will be able to tell this cranberry sauce is sugar free and low carb!

KETO BROCCOLI TOTS

These easy keto broccoli tots are a delicious, nutritious snack or side with any entree. The whole family will love, even the non low carbers. Just 5 net carbs per serving!

If you’re looking for a really tasty low-carb savory snack or even breakfast, these Keto Broccoli Tots are a favorite. They’re great for both adults and kids so if you need to fuel the whole household in one easy meal.

LOW-CARB KETO GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE

Low Carb Keto Green Bean Casserole is creamy, easy and the perfect side dish! Creating a delicious, low carb, keto version isn’t as difficult as you would think and is a even tastier, in my opinion, using fresh ingredients.

KETO SLOW COOKER CABBAGE AND ONIONS

Slow Cooker Cabbage and Onions is a classic side dish that can be enjoyed with any main entree! It’s keto, low carb, gluten free and easy!

Besides the ease of using the slow cooker, the cabbage takes on a different flavor when all the delicious seasonings and onions have a change to hang out together cooking low and slow.

KETO LOW CARB PUMPKIN CAULIFLOWER MASH

This pureed pumpkin and cauliflower mash is a delightful twist on the typical Thanksgiving and fall favorites. This recipe is my idea of boycotting the mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes for a lower carb dish that I can enjoy.

SLOW COOKER CREAMY CAULIFLOWER MASH

This Easy Slow Cooker Recipe for Creamy Mashed Cauliflower is a winning Low Carb, gluten free recipe! Instructions also include steaming cauliflower if you don’t own a slow cooker.

Creamy Mashed Cauliflower can be as comforting as creamy mashed potatoes when you have the perfect combination of ingredients. This recipe is a winning recipe!

LOW CARB BREADS

We all know when it comes to weight loss, indulging in breads too often is a sure fire way to fail on your goals.

The best part about these quick breads is your taste buds won’t notice the difference in their lower carb count and the best thing is that none will spike your blood sugar. 

KETO BROWN BUTTER PUMPKIN BREAD (NUT FREE, LOW CARB)

This Delicious Keto Low Carb, Nut Free, Brown Butter Pumpkin Bread is the perfect fall bread for the fall season to enjoy with your coffee or tea! Ideal if you’re on a ketogenic diet with just 3 grams of net carbs. It’s also almond flour free, and gluten free!

PUMPKIN CLOUD BREAD (LOW CARB AND GLUTEN FREE)

This Easy Fool Proof Recipe for Keto Low Carb Cloud Bread is not only scrumptious for the Fall season, but makes perfect Low Carb Pumpkin French Toast! Just 84 calories per slice and 2 Net Carbs!

SUGAR-FREE LOW CARB CHOCOLATE PUMPKIN BREAD (NUT FREE)

This Keto Sugar-Free, Low Carb but Nut Free Chocolate Pumpkin Bread is gluten free and grain free as well! It’s the season for all things pumpkin and the combo of chocolate and pumpkin in bread form has always and will continue to be the worlds best of the best of the fall recipes!

KETO PUMPKIN TWISTS (NUT FREE FATHEAD DOUGH)

These Sugar-Free Low Carb Pumpkin Twists are very easy to make, gluten free, grain free and perfect for holiday parties! No utensil required, just grab a napkin! Or enjoy these for a comforting brunch or breakfast on the weekend.

They taste sinful and indulgent but are healthfully made with the low carb in mind.

KETO NUT FREE GARLIC BREAD

This amazing recipe for keto nut free garlic bread is easy to make at home and so tasty your family will be requesting it often! Just 3 net carbs per serving and enjoy with your favorite entree! 

FOR REAL KETO TORTILLAS (NUT FREE, PALEO)

If you’re looking for an authentic yet Low Carb Tortilla, try these nut free, keto, paleo and gluten free tortillas! These are the most legit keto tortilla you will ever have! Just 1 net carb per tortilla! This recipe comes from my cookbook Naturally Keto!

LOW CARB DESSERTS & SNACKS

We’ve got all your favorite keto pumpkin desserts and many other favorites for a perfect dessert for the fall and winer season. A satisfying easy keto dessert will always include a healthy fat so you only need a small piece for a special occasion.

KETO LOW CARB APPLE DUMP CAKE (GLUTEN FREE)

Keto Low Carb Apple Dump Cake is a simple recipe that is grain free, gluten free and made with no added sugar! Just 5 g net carbs using apples for those on a low carb diet and 1 g net carbs using zucchini for those on a keto diet.

SUGAR FREE LOW CARB KETO APPLE POKE CAKE RECIPE

This is the ultimate keto cake for fall or special occasions the whole family will enjoy. This Low-Carb Keto Poke Cake uses zucchini instead of apple, and just 4 g net carbs per serving.

Thanks to the quick homemade easy recipe for cinnamon apple puree, this delicious cake is flavorsome and moist.

KETO LOW CARB CARAMEL APPLE CHEESECAKE BARS

These Amazing Keto, Low Carb, Gluten Free Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars are a perfect Fall dessert that even your non sugar-free low carb friends will devour! It’s a pretty simple recipe with 3 easy layers of deliciousness!

EASY SUGAR-FREE PUMPKIN PIE (KETO, LOW CARB)

This Easy Sugar Free Pumpkin Pie has a low carb, gluten free and nut free pie crust with a creamy keto pumpkin pie custard filling all made sugar free! Just 4 net carbs per serving! Or make in the slow cooker as keto pumpkin bars instead.

LOW CARB MINI KETO PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE

This keto pumpkin no bake cheesecake recipe is perfectly portioned into mini cheesecakes for easy entertaining!

Whether you are following a keto diet or low carb diet or just looking to reduce your sugar, these are just 4 grams of net carbs per serving!

SUGAR FREE LOW CARB PUMPKIN PIE CUPCAKES (KETO, GLUTEN FREE)

These Sugar Free Keto Low Carb Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes are heavenly! You’d never notice they are made grain free, gluten free, sugar free and even low in calories!

These sugar free pumpkin pie cupcakes are basically mini pumpkin pies without a crust and served with a luscious sugar free pumpkin cheesecake mousse as the frosting!

Sugar Free Keto Pumpkin Mousse

SUGAR FREE KETO COCONUT FLAN {DAIRY FREE & GLUTEN FREE}

This Keto Sugar-Free Flan is dairy free, low carb and gluten free! Just 8 ingredients needed to make this fancy looking, tasty, perfect keto dessert for your keto diet! Just 3 net carbs per serving!

LOW CARB CANDIED BACON PECAN PIE BARS

These Low Carb Candied Bacon Pecan Pie Bars are grain free, keto, sugar-free and absolutely amazing in texture and taste! This recipe will be the perfect option to bring to a holiday party and even your non low carb loving friends will be shocked these candied bacon pecan pie bars are sugar free!

Sugar Free Keto Chocolate Pumpkin Mousse Cake

EASY SLOW COOKER SUGAR-FREE LOW CARB KETO FUDGE (DAIRY FREE & STOVE TOP OPTION)

Crock Pot Dairy Free Fudge couldn’t be any easier or more delicious! Now made completely sugar free with a few adaptions from the original!

This Easy Fudge recipe is made with just 5 ingredients and in the Slow Cooker! You can’t beat an easier dessert!

The post 75 Best Low-Carb Keto Recipes for Fall & Winter appeared first on Sugar-Free Mom.

Keto Short Ribs

Slow cooking the meat makes it simply fall apart when you touch it gently with a fork and will make anyone swoon with excitement knowing what’s next. And That first bite and that flavorful sauce does not disappoint. It’s everything you hoped it would be and more.

This slow-cooker recipe is your fool proof way to get the most tender meat you’ve ever had!

My family can’t get enough of this short rib recipe, even my picky daughter who doesn’t like any cut of beef, enjoys this because of how tender it is.

Slow Cooker Keto Ribs

Seared ribs to perfection then a few simple ingredients you probably have in your kitchen already, all placed in the slow cooker to do it’s thing for a few hours. Add some mashed cauliflower or riced cauliflower for the bed and dinner is served.

Crockpot Short ribs are truly a comfort dish in any season, but especially wonderful on a cold winter’s night!

I’ve only made this recipe using boneless short ribs but you can use bone-in if that’s all you can find. I’m sure either will work, they just need plenty of time to get tender.

Also it’s totally optional to add some carrots if your spouse is not into a keto diet or low carb lifestyle, like mine is not. Just throw them in when cooking the onion and remaining ingredients.

How to Make slow Cooker Beef Ribs

Exact measurements, nutritional information is all located in the recipe card at the bottom of this blog post.

Ingredients

boneless or bone in, beef short ribs cut crosswise into 2 inch pieces

salt

black pepper

olive oil or avocado oil

beef bone broth

onion

garlic 

Worcestershire sauce homemade

tomato paste

red wine

Instructions

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season one side of your short ribs generously with salt and pepper. 

Place half of the ribs, seasoned side down onto the hot skillet and brown. Season the top of the ribs in the skillet with salt and pepper. Flip once the bottom is browned. Remove and set aside while browning the rest of the meat.

Add beef stock to slow cooker and place short ribs into crock pot. 

To the same skillet add your remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Cook for 5 minutes or until onion is tender. Pour this over the ribs in the crock pot. 

Cover and cook on high 4-6 hours or low 8-10 hours. 

How to Store

Once cooked, and cooled, store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 days.

Instant Pot Beef Method

You could probably make this in your Instant Pot as well but I’m not sure if you could fit the 4 pounds as I have in the recipe.

I would use the saute button and brown the meat on both sides then add in remaining ingredients. I think it would need at least 45 minutes to 1 hour of cooking time on high pressure, to get the tenderest meat desired.

Quick release, then enjoy topped with the amazing flavor from the braising liquid.

Oven Cooking Method

You could also make this in your oven. Follow my directions but start with a Dutch Oven to sear the meat. Once all the meat is seared set aside and add remaining sauce ingredients.

Once onion is tender add back the meat and place it covered in your oven at 350 degrees F for 2-3 hours. Check it half way through as you may need to add an additional cup of beef broth.

Low Carb Sides to Serve with Slow Cooker Keto Short Ribs

Cauliflower Rice

Cauliflower Mash

More Low Carb Slow Cooker Recipes

Slow Cooker Keto Chili

Slow Cooker Cabbage Soup

Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken Thighs

Hope you enjoy this luscious crockpot beef ribs recipe as much as we do!

Slow Cooker Low Carb Keto Beef Ribs (Instant Pot, Oven)

Print

Slow Cooker Low Carb Beef Short Ribs

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 4 hours hours

Total Time 4 hours hours 15 minutes minutes

Servings 12 people

Calories 489kcal

Author Brenda Bennett | Sugar-Free Mom

Ingredients

• 4 lbs boneless or bone in, beef short ribs cut crosswise into 2 inch pieces
• salt
• pepper
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 cup beef broth
• 1.5 cup onion chopped
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce homemade
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1.5 cup red wine

Optional: celery, carrots

Instructions

• Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Season one side of your short ribs generously with salt and pepper. 
• Place half of the ribs, seasoned side down onto the hot skillet and brown. Season the top of the ribs in the skillet with salt and pepper. Flip once the bottom is browned. Remove and set aside while browning the rest fo the meat.
• Add beef broth to slow cooker and place short ribs into crock pot. 
• To the same skillet add your remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Cook for 5 minutes or until onion is tender. Pour this over the ribs in the crock pot. 
• Cover and cook on high 4-6 hours or low 8-10 hours. 

Notes

This recipe was first published in Jan. 2018.

Nutrition

Serving: 5.3ounces | Calories: 489kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 42g | Saturated Fat: 17g | Cholesterol: 83mg | Sodium: 179mg | Potassium: 386mg | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 40IU | Vitamin C: 2.6mg | Calcium: 23mg | Iron: 2.2mg

The post Slow Cooker Low Carb Beef Short Ribs (Paleo, Keto) appeared first on Sugar-Free Mom.

Traditional Custard Recipe versus Keto Custard Recipe

Flavors of fall and winter always include some maple and cinnamon and that’s exactly what you’ll find in this creamy custard!

Made with a secret ingredient to keep this beauty of a dessert low carb you won’t care or notice it’s made minus real maple syrup!

The smooth texture goes on for days with each spoonful and the maple and cinnamon linger on your tastebuds making this the best combination in the world!

Slow Cooker Low-Carb Desserts

Would you believe these custards were made in the slow cooker?

Making dessert in the crock pot or slow cooker might not be something you’ve ever done, but once you try it, you’ll wonder why it took you so long in the first place! 

My favorite easy keto desserts in the slow cooker include; Crock Pot Pumpkin Pie Bars, Crock Pot Dairy Free Fudge and my Blueberry Custard!

My whole family, all 3 picky kids and the picky hubs loved this keto version of custard!

My oldest teen said, “It tastes like perfect French Toast, but without the bread!”

My youngest was happy no tree nuts were involved in the making of this recipe since he has a tree nut and peanut allergy.

And my daughter said it was so delicious and, “Can I have more Whipped Cream on it?” So to me, it’s a winner and it was so completely easy!

Easy Low Carb Egg Custard Recipe

Just 5 main ingredients for this creamy dessert. Whole eggs, heavy cream, coconut milk, low carb sweetener and maple extract.

We also like a pinch of sea salt and a little ground cinnamon, but it is optional.

Mix it all up in a small bowl, pour into individual ramekins like I did for this delicious keto dessert or even make it in one large dish or right in the crock pot itself. But please note, cook time will increase making it as one large sugar free custard.

I prefer the perfectly portioned small ramekins and that way no one can overindulge.

How to Make Easy Keto Custard in Slow Cooker

To view the nutritional information, scroll to the bottom of this blog post and you will find the recipe card.

Instructions

Combine all the ingredients into a stand mixer or large bowl using a hand mixer and blend on medium high until well combined.

Grease six- 4 ounce capacity ramekins and evenly pour batter into each, filling each only 3/4 of the way, essentially about 3 ounces filled.

Place 4 ramekins on the bottom of the slow cooker. Arrange the other two carefully against a side of the slow cooker, and slightly on the edges of the bottom ramekins. 

Close the lid and cook for 2 hours on high or when the center is set but still jiggly in the middle. 

Remove from the slow cooker and cool to room temperature for 1 hour then place in the fridge to chill for 2-3 hours.

Enjoy with some Sugar-Free Whipped Cream, fresh berries and a sprinkle of cinnamon!

Oven Directions

If you prefer to make this in an oven instead of the slow cooker, place ramekins in a large baking pan. I would suggest preheating your oven to 325 degrees F.

Pour hot water into the large baking dish to bake these in a water bath for 45 minutes to one hour.

Brenda’s Pro Tip FAQs

What if I don’t have maple extract?

If you don’t have maple extract you can certainly use real maple syrup, but of course that will change the calories and carbs of the entire recipe.

You could also try Lakanto Sugar Free Maple Syrup, but use just a very small amount. You could also use vanilla extract to replace the maple extract.

Can I use a different sweetener?

I am currently loving this Monk Fruit Allulose blend as a replacement for all things that need that brown sugar flavor and this product works perfectly in this recipe, but if you don’t have it on hand you can sub with whatever sweetener you prefer.

Use my Sweetener Guide & Conversion chart that provides you other sweetener options and amounts.

Can I replace egg yolks with egg whites?

No, the custard won’t thicken without adding the yolks.

Can I make this dairy free?

You could use all coconut milk or coconut cream if you can’t have heavy cream.

I’ve made this with all heavy whipping cream instead of using coconut milk, it was equally as delicious. Using all heavy cream will also increase your calories but will reduce your carbs.

What size are the ramekins?

These are the Ramekins I purchased for my Slow Cooker. 

Easy Keto Dessert recipes you might like:

All our favorite custard keto desserts!

• Keto Custard Pie
• Keto Egg Custard Tarts
• Coffee Roll Egg Custard
• Lemon Custard Pie
• Keto Vanilla Custard
• Pumpkin Custard
• Keto Creme Brulee

Keto Slow Cooker Low Carb Custard Recipe

Print

Slow Cooker Keto Maple Custard

Servings 6 custards

Calories 212kcal

Author Brenda Bennett/Sugar-Free Mom

Ingredients

• 2 egg yolks
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup coconut milk full fat, canned
• 1/4 cup Monk Fruit Allulose Brown sugar sub or another sugar-free brown sugar substitute
• 1 tsp maple extract
• 1/4 tsp salt optional
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon optional

Instructions

• Combine all the ingredients into a stand mixer and blend on medium high until well combined.
• Grease six 4 ounce capacity ramekins and evenly pour batter into each, filling each only 3/4 way, essentially about 3 ounces filled.
• Place 4 ramekins on the bottom of the slow cooker. Arrange the other two carefully against a side of the slow cooker, and slightly on the edges of the bottom ramekins. 
• Close the lid and cook for 2 hours on high or when the center is set but still jiggly in the middle. (Oven directions are above in blog post)
• Remove from the slow cooker and cool to room temperature for 1 hour then place in the fridge to chill for 2 hours.
• Enjoy with some Sugar-Free Whipped Cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon!

Video

Notes

Net carbs: 1g

This recipe was first published in October 2017 and updated with video in October 2020. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1custard | Calories: 212kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 174mg | Sodium: 138mg | Potassium: 57mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 749IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 44mg | Iron: 1mg

The post Low Carb Maple Slow Cooker Keto Custard appeared first on Sugar-Free Mom.

Best Keto Chili Recipe

On a cold winter’s day there is nothing like a warm bowl of chili served up with a side of low carb cornbread!

This comforting no bean chili recipe is amazing whether you’re on a low carb diet or following a ketogenic diet!

Even if you’re a die hard bean lover when it comes to enjoying your favorite traditional chili recipe, I can almost guarantee, you won’t miss the beans here. My keto version is filling, satisfying and delicious!

It’s a great way to feed a crowd for a party as well!

Keto Sides to serve with Chili

I have to admit when I served this bowl of no-bean, but hearty low carb chili to my hubby, I was sure to get a few snarks and grumbles.

In fact, I never even mentioned there were no beans in it when I handed him the bowl. I made sure to have a nice piece of my Keto Cornbread on the side so he wouldn’t complain too much.

More easy sides:

Mexican Cauliflower Rice

Avocado Tomato Salad

Green Beans

Arugula salad

If you’re new to my blog then you may not know that my hubby is a non low carber and one who loves his meat, potatoes and carbs.

We’ve been happily married for 25 years but 16 of them I’ve been sugar-free and the last 8 low carb. He “tried” for a short time last New Years to eat low carb, even with all the delicious meals I make, he still can’t seem to give up sugar or carbs.

I’ve learned that you just can’t make someone do anything they don’t want to do. Motivation has to come from within and no amount of nagging will help the situation as much as I want him to be healthier. The best way to help him is to show him how I sustain my low carb lifestyle with amazing tasty recipes!

You can read all about my Low Carb Journey here.

At least he eats everything I make and usually loves everything I make, but a NO BEAN CHILI? I was worried I’d pushed my luck too far!

To my complete surprise he LOVED it! I was shocked! Not because I don’t think it’s fabulous. But because this man of mine loves beans!

Shocked I was. Happy, but utterly shocked. He said he didn’t even mind there weren’t beans and said this was the best chili I’ve ever made, plus less tooting later if you know what I mean LOL!

How to Make Easy Keto Chili Recipe in the Instant Pot

To view the exact measurements, print the recipe and see nutritional information please scroll to the bottom of the blog post to view the recipe card.

Ingredients

Ground beef

Onion 

Garlic 

Ground cumin

Chili powder

Dried oregano

Sea salt

Black pepper

Red or green peppers

Jalapeno 

Marinara sauce

Diced tomatoes

Tomato paste

Unsweetened cocoa powder

Beef broth

Favorite toppings; sour cream, cheddar cheese, green onions, fresh chopped cilantro, avocado, green chilies

Directions for Instant Pot Chili

Set a 6-quart Instant pot to the saute mode and pour in the oil. Add the onions, jalapeños and bell peppers and saute for 4 to 6 minutes or until tender.

Add the ground beef, garlic, and dry seasonings and cook until browned and no longer pink, stirring often to crumble the meat.

Stir in the marinara sauce, broth, tomatoes with green chilis, tomato paste, and cocoa powder. Cover and set the Instant Pot to the manual mode on high pressure for 20 minutes. Perform a quick release of the pressure. Remove the lid carefully, watching out for the steam.

Serve hot, with or without the optional toppings.

Store any leftover chili after it has cooked and cooled in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. This can also be frozen for up to 2 months.

Brenda’s Notes:

• The sugar grams you see in the nutrition info below come from the tomatoes used in the recipe. You could always increase the beef broth and reduce the tomatoes used but it wont be as thick as you see in the pictures here.
• You could certainly reduce the calories if you need to by replacing the ground beef with ground turkey. You will need a little bit of oil to brown the turkey in a skillet.
• You can add more spice, just taste and adjust seasonings to your preferences.
• You could also make this on the stove top by cooking the beef, onions, peppers, garlic in a large Dutch oven over medium heat until meat is no longer pink. Add all remaining ingredients, bring to a boil then reduce heat to low and simmer 1 hour or longer. The longer you simmer it the better!
• Here’s the Low Carb “Corn” Bread recipe and I made it in a cast iron skillet.

More Chili Keto Recipes

White Chicken Chili

Pumpkin Low-Carb Chili

Cheeseburger Chili

Keto Low-Carb Chili

Print

Slow Cooker Low Carb No-Bean Chili

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 8 hours hours

Total Time 8 hours hours 15 minutes minutes

Servings 12 @1.5 cups

Calories 363kcal

Author Brenda Bennett | Sugar-Free Mom

Ingredients

• 3 pounds ground beef I use Butcherbox
• 2 cups onion chopped
• 4 cloves garlic minced
• 1 tbsp ground cumin
• 1-3 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper
• 3/4 cup sweet red pepper chopped
• 1 small jalapeno seeded, finely chopped
• 24 ounces marinara sauce
• 14 ounces diced tomatoes
• 4 tbsp tomato paste
• 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 3 cups beef broth

Instructions

• Brown your ground beef with the onion and garlic in a large skillet until no longer pink.
• Stir in the dry seasonings then place it into the slow cooker.
• Add all remaining ingredients into the slow cooker and stir to combine.
• Cook on low 8 hours or high 4 hours. (To make in the Instant Pot please see blog post above)
• Optional toppings: green chiles, cheddar cheese, sour cream, avocado

Notes

Net Carbs: 7g

This recipe was first published in Jan. 2016 and updated in 2017 with a video and some adaptions. I reduced the beef broth by half from the orginial recipe because some comments mentioned it wasn’t as thick as a chili should be. You can reduce the broth even more or even eliminate it if the canned tomatoes seem like enough to you. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1.5cups | Calories: 363kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 80mg | Sodium: 713mg | Potassium: 544mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 495IU | Vitamin C: 19.8mg | Calcium: 51mg | Iron: 3.4mg

The post Easy Low Carb Keto Chili (Slow Cooker or Instant Pot) appeared first on Sugar-Free Mom.

Best Cabbage Sausage Soup Recipe

If you love a hot bowl of soup when cold weather hits, this keto cabbage soup is going to be your new favorite soup for a cold day!

I don’t mind pretty snow, but this is getting tough. The amount we have to shovel just to get out of the driveway makes me shudder every time to think about it.

So when snow is on the horizon I try to plan slow cooker meals so I can have it ready for this crazy cold days.

This cabbage soup recipe is not only easy, but one of the tastiest cabbage soups you’ll ever have! Lots of great flavors, a little spice and Italian seasoning and a satisfying, comforting soup for winter months.

My hubby does have a snow blower, but goes and helps all the elderly neighbors which is around 5 houses we we live. This takes him over 3-4 hours some days. When he comes in from outside this man is hungry. This hearty Cabbage Soup is ready to go for him!

The kids and I help him by removing the snow off everyone’s cars and shoveling their walk ways and steps.

Sure it’s a fabulous work out but I’m totally ready for Spring!

How to Make Slow Cooker Cabbage Soup

To view the exact ingredients, see nutritional information and print this recipe please scroll to the bottom of this page to view the recipe card.

Ingredients

Andouille sausage sliced (4 links) or smoked sausage

Extra virgin olive oil

Shallots or diced onion

Garlic cloves, minced

Cabbage, thinly sliced

Carrots, chopped

Chicken broth or chicken stock

Water

Apple cider vinegar

Onion powder

Salt, I used celery salt, but sea salt is fine as well

Dried thyme

Caraway seeds

Fennel seeds

Black pepper

Instructions

Heat the oil in a medium skillet over medium heat.

Cook the sausage with the garlic and shallots until softened and sausage is browned.

Add this to the crock pot along with the rest of the ingredients.

Cover and cook on high 4 hours or low 8 hours.

To serve, add a little bit of fresh parsley and some red pepper flakes if you like and enjoy!

How to Make Cabbage Soup on the Stove Top

Use a large pot or Dutch oven and heat the oil. Add the sausage, garlic, shallots, carrots and cook until shallots are softened and sausage is browned.

Add remaining ingredients into the pot and bring to a full boil. Simmer for 1 hour or until cabbage is tender.

FAQs

Can I swap the sausage with ground beef?

Yes if you would prefer to use beef instead of sausage that is fine, just swap the chicken broth with beef broth instead.

Can I freeze leftover soup?

Yes, once cooled you can freeze in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Can I use turkey sausage or chicken sausage or kielbasa sausage?

Yes any of your favorite sausage can be used for this recipe. If spicy andouille sausage isn’t your thing, you could also try mild Italian sausage.

Can I add leafy greens to this soup?

Sure, if you would like to add some fresh spinach or kale that would add a delicious amount of flavor!

What kind of cabbage is best to use?

I used regular green cabbage, but savoy cabbage is also a good choice. I would not recommend red cabbage.

All of you who live in warm weather and don’t have to deal with snow like this are feeling pretty grateful right about now aren’t you?

But whether you live in a warm or cold climate, the crock pot is not a seasonal item. You can use it all year long.In fact it’s even wonderful in the summer if you don’t want to heat your kitchen up using the oven. I use my slow cooker every change I get.

For anyone who just leads a busy life, this cabbage soup will be a welcome reward to come home to!

More Easy Recipes you might enjoy:

• Crock Pot Unstuffed Cabbage Roll Soup
• Instant Pot or Crock Pot Corned Beef & Cabbage
• Crock Pot Turkey Meatballs Stuffed with Cheese
• Cream of Chicken Soup
• Quick Italian Sausage & Pepper Soup
• Italian Wedding Soup

If you like this recipe, there are many more like this in my Meal Planning Membership! You can have a sustainable low carb/keto lifestyle when you’re well prepared and planning meals is the key! GET STARTED TODAY!

Slow Cooker Cabbage Soup with Sausage

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Crock Pot Andouille Sausage Cabbage Soup

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 4 hours hours

Total Time 4 hours hours 15 minutes minutes

Servings 12 @ 2 cups

Calories 132kcal

Author Brenda Bennett | Sugar Free Mom

Ingredients

• 12 ounces andouille sausage sliced (4 links)
• 1 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 cup shallots chopped
• 4 cloves garlic minced
• 8 cups cabbage thinly sliced
• 1 cup carrots chopped
• 6 cups chicken broth
• 4 cups water
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon celery salt
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon caraway seeds
• 1 teaspoon fennel seeds

Instructions

• Heat the oil in a medium skillet.
• Cook the sausage with the garlic and shallots until softened and sausage is browned.
• Add this to the crock pot along with the rest of the ingredients.
• Cover and cook on high 4 hours or low 8 hours.

Notes

Net Carbs: 3g

Serving is 2 cups.

This recipe was first posted in February 2015 and updated with video on January 2019. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving @ 2 cups | Calories: 132kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 898mg | Potassium: 294mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1840IU | Vitamin C: 26.5mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 1mg

The post Slow Cooker Cabbage Soup with Sausage appeared first on Sugar-Free Mom.