150 Foods You Can Eat On the Keto Diet

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Thinking about making the keto diet your new solution to shedding some pounds? Then it's time to find out what foods you can eat on keto—and we've got you covered!

According to the Cleveland Clinic, a keto high-fat eating plan aims to change your metabolism from carbohydrate to fat; the theory is that you'll then burn fat using ketones as energy as opposed to glucose. A fat-based diet like keto will stop your insulin levels from spiking when you eat, so you don't store fat.

Then, your liver will make ketones, so your energy is compensated for. Within a couple of days on a keto plan (eating between 70-80% fat, 15-25% protein, and around 5-10% carbohydrate), your metabolism will most likely get faster and you'll start losing weight. You want to focus on eating "good" fats on keto, which are unsaturated and monounsaturated.

Related: What Is the Keto Diet and How Does It Work?

So what foods can you eat exactly on keto? Focus on your favorites, but don't be afraid to try new things, too—being on keto can truly open up your taste buds, in addition to shrinking your waistline.

We came up with a food list for the keto diet to help you stay on track. And trust us: A lot of them are delicious and may be things you're already eating. Get ready to stock up and eat up!

Keto Diet Foods

Keto dairy foods

1. Butter. Cooking with it on Keto is OK.

2. Heavy cream. Add it to recipes rather than the low-fat variety.

3. Plain yogurt. Make it high-fat, but avoid any sugary varieties.

4. Mayonnaise. Top a cheeseburger with it instead of ketchup.

5. Sour cream. Use as a dip with veggies and avoid reduced fat.

Related: Easy Keto Recipes for Beginners

6. Cottage cheese. High in protein and calcium, cottage cheese can be a great mid-day snack.

7. Cream cheese. Surprisingly delicious with berries!  Give it a try.

8. Parmesan cheese. Tasty with veggies for a quick lunch.

9. Swiss cheese. Packs a protein punch, with 27 grams per serving.

10. Feta cheese. Make a Greek salad with feta, bell peppers, olives and onion—so good!

Related: 14 Tips To Eat Keto On A Budget

11. Cheddar cheese. The ideal addition to a Chef's salad with egg, ham, chicken, lettuce, onion and dressing.

12. Brie cheese. Protein-rich and rich-tasting, too.

13. Monterey jack cheese. Mix with scrambled eggs for a different spin on breakfast.

14. Mozzarella cheese. Go Caprese by adding tomato and dressing, and season to taste.

15. Bleu cheese. Add to ground beef burgers with fresh onion and lettuce.

16. Plain Greek yogurt. No need to give up your favorite breakfast on keto!

Related: 35 Low-Carb High-Protein Breakfast Recipes

Keto protein sources

17. Eggs. The perfect solution for breakfast, lunch or dinner?  A cheesy, veggie-filled omelet.

18. Salmon. Heart-healthy and packed with Vitamin D.

19. Tuna. Tuna salad for lunch on the go is perfectly keto.

20. Mackerel. Try this tasty fish if you haven't—it may become a go-to.

21. Clams. Steamers with drawn butter seem like a luxury, not diet food.

22. Mussels. Another real treat when you serve them steamed.

23. Squid. Sautée with butter, garlic, onion, parmesan and lime juice.

Related: What Is Lazy Keto and Should You Try It?

24. Chicken. Avoid breaded varieties, but baked or stir-fried chicken with a big salad is perfect for dinner.

25. Turkey. From roast turkey to deep-fried to deli meat, turkey is a great keto option.

26. Bacon. Have it with eggs to get your day off to a substantial start.

27. Sausage. Any kind is fine—delicious with bell pepper and onion.

28. Goat. If you're a meat eater, you can give it a try if you're curious.

29 Liver. If you think you don't like liver, reconsider—this iron-rich organ meat is great with onions.

30. Trout. Rich in Vitamin B12.

31. Halibut. An excellent source of Vitamin V12, too, as well as Vitamin B6, magnesium and potassium.

33. Cod. Delicious when sautéed with olive oil and pepper.

34. Catfish. Try baking it with oil, cayenne pepper and lemon juice.

Related: The Best Keto Foods at Trader Joe's

35. Mahi-mahi. Delicious when prepared with lemon juice, basil and pepper.

36. Quail. It can be roasted like chicken.

37. Duck. Duck can be as well.

38. Heart. If you're up for the challenge ... organ meats are A-OK on keto!

39. Tongue. Again ... if you're up for it ...

40. Kidney. Don't let us stop you!

41. Hen. Can be roasted like chicken as well, as can ...

42. Goose. As can ...

43. Pheasant. A good source of phosphorus and selenium.

44. Venison. Low in saturated fat.

45.  Steak. Enjoy your favorite cut along with a salad and/or sautéed veggies.

46. Veal. Make a keto-friendly veal parm by baking it with fresh tomato and cheese.

47. Roast beef. Enjoy with cheddar cheese and salad.

48. Ground beef. A burger on keto can be topped with any number of cheeses or veggies, plus condiments.

49. Oysters. Try baking them with cream and cheddar cheeses, plus bacon ... a new taste sensation.

50. Shrimp.  Mix with mayo and celery for a simple but delicious shrimp salad.

51. Crab. High in folate.

52. Snapper. A good source of niacin.

53. Lobster. Enjoy it with butter—a great benefit of keto!

54. Roast pork. Serve it with seasoned sautéed veggies for a weekend meal.

55. Pork tenderloin. Makes delicious leftovers for lunch when you pair it with high-fat cheese.

56. Pork chops. Sauté in olive oil and season to taste.

57. Beef ribs. Skip the high-sugar barbecue sauce—you may find the taste of the meat itself is much more satisfying.

58. Lamb. Roast it with garlic, olive oil and rosemary.

59. Flounder. A great source of vitamin D.

60. Scallops. Sautéed in butter—simple and delicious.

61. Ham. Fry up ham slices for a quick and easy dinner, served with seasoned summer squash—a great combo.

62. Ground pork. You can use it to make burgers in a fresh way.

63. Sardines. You can take them on the go and snack from the can—convenient if you like the taste.

Keto diet oils

In addition to butter, you can cook with any of these on keto:

64. Extra virgin olive oil

65. Coconut oil

66. Avocado oil

67. Palm oil

68. Cocoa butter

69. Lard

70. Poultry fat

Related: Real People Share the One Thing That Finally Helped Them Lose Weight

Keto diet veggies

Any of the vegetables below can be used in any combination to make a keto salad with high-fat dressing. Keep in mind that avocado is especially useful on keto because it's rich in good fat, so enjoy it often.

71. Avocado

72. Tomatoes

73. Onions

74. Peppers

75. Cauliflower

76. Mushrooms

77. Kale

78. Swiss chard

79. Collards

80. Spinach

81. Bok choy

82. Lettuce

83. Arugula

84. Broccoli

85. Brussels sprouts

86. Asparagus

87. Bell peppers

88. Cucumber

89. Celery

90. Summer squash

91. Zucchini

92. Black olives

93. Green olives

94. Red olives

Related: Keto Diet Tips for Beginners

Keto diet fruits

Because you want to limit sugar on the keto diet, most fruits are off-limits. However, the fruits below, especially berries, are OK to consume in moderation. Mix a fruit salad of three of the fruits below to eat as a yummy breakfast, snack or keto dessert. Top with heavy whipped cream if you want as well.

95. Raspberries

96. Blueberries

97. Blackberries

98. Strawberries

99. Cherries

100. Cranberries

101. Mulberries

Keto diet nuts and seeds

The perfect snack to carry with you at all times? A bag of nuts and seeds mixed from the list below. Choose any of the listed ones you love, and mix with a few berries, such as cranberries, for a keto-friendly trail mix.

102. Almonds

103. Walnuts

104. Hazelnuts

105. Pecans

106. Chia seeds

107. Sesame seeds

108. Pumpkin seeds

109. Hemp seeds

110. Flax seeds

111. Macadamia nuts

112. Pecans

113. Brazil nuts

114. Cashews

115. Pistachios

Related: 16 Ways to Lose Weight Quickly and Safely

Keto diet herbs and spices

Feel free to add any of the following to recipes on keto, or use them to season meals.

116. Basil

117. Oregano

118. Parsley

119. Rosemary

120. Thyme

121. Cilantro

122. Cayenne pepper

123. Chili powder

124. Cumin

125. Cinnamon

126. Nutmeg

127. Lemon juice

128. Lime juice

129. Salt

130. Pepper

More keto diet foods

131. Dark chocolate. A piece after dinner can feel like a decadent treat—but it's allowed.

132. Cocoa. Drink the unsweetened kind.

133. Coffee. Don't add sugar and you're good to go.

134. Tea. You also want to skip sugar here as well.

135. Yellow mustard. Use as a sauce to complement fish dishes; it's a surprisingly tasty combination.

136. Red wine vinegar. Feel free to add it to recipes as you cook.

137. Ketchup. Read the label to make sure you're choosing the reduced-sugar variety.

138. Mayonnaise-based salad dressing. Mix with raw veggies and season to taste for a side dish.

139. Horseradish. If you love the taste, go for it!

140. Hot sauce. You can enjoy it as hot as you can stand!

141. Worcestershire sauce. Can add flair to almost any meat dish.

142. Sauerkraut. Make sure the one you pick has no added sugars.

143. High-fat Thousand Island salad dressing

144. High-fat ranch salad dressing

145. High-fat French salad dressing

146. High-fat Russian salad dressing

147. High-fat Bleu Cheese salad dressing

148. High-fat creamy Italian salad dressing

149. Stevia sweetener. A natural choice.

150. Erythritol sweetener. Another way to indulge your sweet tooth naturally.

151. Monk fruit sweetener. Another healthy natural sweetener.

152. Xylitol sweetener. Yet another great non-sugar option.

153. Shirataki noodles. They're water-based and can powerfully curb hunger—give them a try!

Next up: The One Thing Registered Dietitians Never, Ever Order at McDonald's