There are so many ways to enjoy a low-carb lifestyle.
If you love Taco Tuesday as much as we do, you'll be excited to see just how many keto-friendly taco recipes there are.
In this blog, we're sharing some of the best recipes for keto taco shells and fillings that are sure to satisfy everyone at the table.
10 Keto-Friendly Taco Shell Recipes
The keto diet sharply limits your intake of carbohydrates.
Therefore, to make keto tacos, you need an alternative to flour or corn tortillas.
Here are 10 of our favorite options:
Cheese-Based Taco Shells
1. Parmesan Shells
Many types of cheese form the perfect crispy taco shells when cooked correctly.
Baked or fried Parmesan cheese is a great keto snack, and it makes an excellent taco shell.
How To Make It:
Place a ring mold into a skillet on medium-low heat, and fill the ring mold with a light layer of Parmesan cheese.
When the cheese stops bubbling, remove it from the pan and drape it over a wooden spoon handle suspended on two overturned cups.
When the cheese is completely cool, remove it from the spoon handle and add your favorite taco fillings.
2. Cheddar Shells
Cheddar is one of the most popular cheeses for keto dieters.
One ounce contains over 9 grams of protein and only 0.9 grams of carbs.
This recipe uses cheddar cheese for the shells, which adds a sharp bite to the tacos while also boosting the protein content.
How To Make It:
Place small piles of cheese on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Bake at 350 degrees for around five minutes or until the cheese has started to brown at the edges.
Drape the cheese over a wooden spoon suspended between two cups, and remove the cheese after it has cooled completely.
Vegetable-Based Taco Shells
3. Lettuce Wraps
Getting your greens in while following the keto diet can be difficult, but lettuce wraps will save the day!
Romaine and iceberg lettuce both make fantastic taco shells, and both contain only about 3 grams of carbs per serving.
However, romaine has slightly more fiber than iceberg.
How To Make It:
Wash your lettuce and gently separate the leaves before patting them dry.
Fill the lettuce cups with your taco toppings.
If you have leftovers, store the lettuce leaves separately from the taco fillings to keep them fresh for longer.
4. Cabbage Leaves
Just like lettuce, cabbage can make a fresh, crispy taco shell that adds some fiber to your keto meal.
How To Make It:
Wash the cabbage and carefully peel the leaves off the head one by one.
Pat the cabbage leaves dry and fill with your favorite taco ingredients.
Protein-Based Shells
5. Egg Crepe Shells
Eggs are one of the best vegetarian sources of protein, and with this recipe, you can turn them into soft taco shells in under five minutes.
How To Make It:
Whisk two eggs, one tablespoon of milk, and salt together in a bowl.
Pour about 3/4 cup of the mixture into a greased skillet. The mixture should be thin, like a crepe.
Remove from the pan when the egg mixture is firm.
6. Chicken Tortillas
Chicken is packed with protein and contains no carbohydrates, making it the ideal ingredient for keto tacos.
This recipe uses canned chicken, eggs, and cheddar cheese for flavorful taco shells, but if you want to keep it even simpler, you can bake plain ground chicken into tortillas.
How To Make It:
Bake drained canned chicken on a baking sheet for 10 minutes at 350 degrees.
Mix the baked chicken, cheddar, and taco seasoning, then transfer the mixture back to the baking sheet in tortilla-sized circles.
Return to the oven and bake at 500 degrees for 8 minutes.
Low-Carb "Flour" Shells
7. Coconut Flour Tortillas
Coconut flour is lower in carbs than all-purpose flour, and most recipes only call for a small amount because it absorbs so much liquid.
This coconut flour tortilla recipe also calls for psyllium husk, which will make the tortillas fluffy and flexible.
How To Make It:
Mix together coconut flour, psyllium husk powder, baking powder, and seasonings.
Add egg whites and olive oil, and knead the dough by hand.
Cut the dough into pieces and roll out your tortillas.
Fry the tortillas in olive oil over medium heat until golden.
8. Almond Flour Tortillas
Containing only 3 grams of carbs per serving, almond flour is the most popular keto-friendly substitute for all-purpose flour.
These almond flour tortillas are almost indistinguishable from regular corn tortillas, but they contain a fraction of the carbohydrates.
How To Make It:
Mix together almond flour, coconut flour, psyllium husk powder, baking powder, and salt.
Add water and olive oil, then knead the dough until smooth.
Roll the dough out into tortillas and fry over medium heat for about five minutes, flipping halfway through.
Specialty Shells
9. Chaffle Shells
If you have a waffle maker, you have to try making a cheese waffle, or a "chaffle."
Made with just eggs and cheese, a chaffle is a delicious, satiating substitute for taco shells.
How To Make It:
Combine egg whites, cheese, coconut flour, baking powder, and seasonings.
Cook the mixture in a waffle maker for four minutes.
Set the chaffles between the cups on an overturned muffin tin so that they form a taco shell shape.
10. Seaweed Wraps
Seaweed taco shells might be the most unconventional option on this list, but they're perfect for seafood or sushi-style tacos.
You can fry nori sheets in tempura batter to make heartier "tortillas," as this recipe suggests, but plain nori sheets make great taco shells as well.
How To Make It:
Cut circular, taco-sized pieces out of the square nori sheets.
Lightly mist the sheets with water to make them more pliable.
Top with salmon, cauliflower rice, pickled ginger, or other favorite ingredients to create a sushi-style taco.
Healthy and Hearty Taco Fillings
Making your keto-friendly taco shells is only the first step of the process. Once you have your base, you have to decide on your toppings.
Here are some of our favorite keto taco fillings:
Proteins
It's hard to go wrong with chicken, especially when you're on the keto diet.
Cashew chicken stir-fry makes a great filling for cheese or lettuce taco shells.
If you want to stick to a classic taco recipe, fill your shells with lean ground beef, which has a whopping 24 grams of protein per serving.
Keto-Friendly Veggies
Low-carb veggies provide much-needed fiber, vitamins, and micronutrients.
Try out our Brussels sprout taco recipe and simply swap the corn tortillas with your favorite keto-friendly shell.
Roasted cauliflower is another delicious taco filling that pairs well with almost any sauce.
Salsa is also a great way to add some fiber and greenery to your tacos. If you're a fan of spices, try topping your keto tacos with our charred green onion salsa made with serrano and chipotle peppers.
Herbs and aromatics are essential for a flavorful taco, too. Add some chopped green onions or cilantro to your taco filling to take the meal to the next level.
Healthy Fats
Whether you're on the keto diet or not, avocado is one of the best taco toppings.
It's a fantastic source of healthy fats, and its mild flavor balances out the kick of a spicy salsa or sauce.
Cheese is another classic keto staple that goes great on any taco. While it may not be as heart-healthy as avocado, a sprinkle of cheese makes the meal more satiating and satisfying.
The Freshest Produce Available
Healthy keto recipes let you enjoy your tacos and feel good about eating them, too.
Here at Hitchcock Farms, growing and shipping the very best has always been the foundation of our family operations.
Whether you're cooking keto for two or engineering restaurant menus, we're proud to supply the freshest produce available to kitchens across the country.
FAQ
Are street tacos keto?
Unfortunately, most street tacos are made with flour or corn tortillas, so they typically don't align with the keto diet.
How long can I store leftover keto tacos?
Tortillas made with coconut or almond flour can be frozen for several months before going bad.
Cheese-based and veggie-based taco shells typically stay good in the fridge for three or four days.
How can I make keto tacos more filling?
Boosting the fat content of your tacos is one of the best ways to make them more filling.
Add sliced avocado, cheese, or full-fat sour cream for a more satiating recipe.
