All the Low Carb Ketogenic Pantry Essentials to start your low carb diet or keto diet. The staples you need to begin, sustain and flourish on your health journey!
Photo Credit Dana Miller, www.houzz.com
How to Stock a Keto Pantry
Stocking a pantry with low carb and keto pantry essentials may take a little bit of time to acquire all the items you need, but with a few great items you will be well on your way.
Keep in mind you can add a little more over time or add one new thing each week you shop. Stocking a keto pantry doesn't have to be as hard as you think and in fact you may already have a bunch of the items you need.
Most important to remember is you need three things to be successful on a keto diet. You need good quality protein, good quality fats and keto snacks for when you are on the go and really don't have time for a meal at home.
Obviously if you're ready to take control of your health and new keto lifestyle, making keto recipes at home is key.
While having these ready to go packaged keto snacks are great, if you have time it's better to make your own great keto snack at home where you can control what's in your food.
I've broken down my keto food list into 4 categories. Portable Protein, Healthy Fats, Keto-Friendly Snacks On-The-Go and Baking Keto Essentials for the ultimate guide for your Ketogenic Pantry.
This keto shopping list won't include fresh produce, or refrigerated items which are easier to find while grocery shopping.
When looking for fresh keto foods, stick to whole foods like meats, fish, eggs, leafy greens, low carb veggies and fruits like berries and dairy products like cream cheese, heavy cream, sour cream, cheddar cheese.
Dairy-free alternatives like unsweetened almond milk, coconut milk are a great way to swap dairy in many recipes.
Also, now it's quite easy to find dairy free alternatives for cream cheese, sour cream, yogurt and even dairy free mozzarella or cheddar cheeses. If you don't have an allergy to dairy but only to lactose that is found in most dairy, I have found lactose free sour cream, cream cheese and cottage cheese at Market Basket.
This post today is a guide for a well stocked keto pantry with items that are shelf-stable for a low carb diet and those following a ketogenic lifestyle.
I've linked my list of keto pantry staples buying on Amazon, but other online stores like Thrive market and iherb.com offer competitive prices and some even free shipping. Many items may be found at your local grocery store but specialty ingredients are often harder to find at your local store.
On-the-Go Portable Keto Protein Sources
When you're busy and on the go, having portable protein sources is key to keeping you full of energy and satiated.
Quality is important so be sure to look at the ingredient list of any packaged product, even those that may have the name "keto" on the front. Some include ingredients like potato starch, rice flour, agave, and other ingredients that would not be considered sugar free, low carb or keto friendly.
My rule of thumb is that if sugar or any of the names of sugar are listed in the first 5 ingredients on the label, I tell my clients and those in my courses to avoid it. This method has served me well for many years and is helping many of my members to see great results in their weight loss journey.
- Beef meat sticks
- Canned tuna
- Canned salmon
- Canned sardines
- Canned smoked oysters
- Cheese Crisps
- Hard boiled eggs
- Jerkey
- Salami
- Pepperoni
- Pork rinds
- Epic meat bars
Healthy Keto Fat & Oils
Staying away from oils like vegetable oil, sunflower oil, soybean oil, safflower oil, canola oil, corn oil, peanut oil, flax oil, grapeseed oil and margarine is important because they are very refined, processed and highly inflammatory to the body.
Using these healthier oils listed below;
Keto Snacks
Low Carb Nuts and seeds are a great quick snack to grab on the go, but there are calorie dense so you need to be cautious of portion control.
An easy way to keep your snack to just a serving is to portion them out and have ready in your pantry to grab-n-go.
- Almonds
- Brazil nuts
- Chia seeds
- Flax seeds
- Hazelnuts
- Hemp seeds
- Peanuts
- Pecans
- Macadamia nuts
- Walnuts
- Pili nuts
- Nutzo
- Pumpkin seeds
- Sunflower seeds
- Cheese crisps
- Olives single servings
Sugar Free Low Carb Nut Butters and Seed butters
Nut butters and nut free butters are wonderful as a healthy snack and for keto desserts!
One of the most common questions I get often is if coconut butter is the same and dairy butter that you can cook with. It's not at all like dairy butter but more like peanut butter in texture. Here's a great post about the differences between coconut butter, coconut oil and coconut milk to explain when and how to use each of them.
Unsweetened Macadamia nut butter
Unsweetened sunflower seed butter
Tahini, which is sesame seed butter
Keto Baking Essentials
Low Carb Flours are one of the most needed products in your low-carb pantry and a keto baking essential in my opinion.
Almond flour is one of the most popular because of how versatile it is in baking. Many times you can simply swap the same amount of white refined flour with almond flour and the recipe will still turn out well.
Unfortunately many people including my own child has tree nut and peanut allergies so I limit recipes using almond flour since he can't have it. I often choose nut free low carb flours like coconut flour, sunflower seed flour or sesame flour.
I've found that the best nut free flour to equally swap with almond flour in recipes is sunflower seed flour. You can make your own almond flour from almond meal and your own sunflower seed flour from raw, unsalted sunflower seeds, but you run the risk in a food processor that it could process too much and you end up with butter.
- Almond flour
- Coconut shredded, unsweetened
- Coconut flour
- Cacao butter
- Chia seeds
- Collagen powder, is great to add to coffee or tea for extra protein
- Ground Flaxseed
- Sesame flour
- Pork rind breadcrumbs
- Unsweetened Cocoa powder
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Bone broth
- Cream of tartar
- Unflavored beef Gelatin powder
- Xanthan gum
- Apple extract
- Almond extract
- Caramel extract
- Lemon extract
- Maple extract
- Vanilla extract
Keto Sweeteners
We are all different as far as our sweet tooth and taste buds and what one person thinks is a fabulous low carb sweetener with no aftertaste but have a terrible aftertaste to someone else.
It's really about trial and error for your personal preferences when it comes to making sweet treats without added sugar.
Also, some people think that because honey, coconut sugar and maple syrup are natural, they are better to use than low carb sweeteners with funny names. This is a big misconception because those are all still sugar and will raise blood sugar and cause cravings for more.
I don't use any artificial sweeteners in my recipes because studies show how they spike blood sugar. When your blood glucose is spiked it leads to cravings. Here's my sweetener guide and conversion chart to give you the most information on all the best low carb sweeteners.
Protein Powders
Strawberry Whey Protein Powder
Vanilla egg white protein powder
Recipes that include protein powders; Strawberry Angel Food Cake, Dairy Free Cloud Bread, New & Improved Cloud Bread Loaf, Hoagie Rolls, Cloud Bread Bagels
Keto Pantry Condiments
While I love making my own condiments, I don't always have the time so having some trust worthy condiments from companies that use pure ingredients and great healthy oils, is a great option to have on hand in the pantry.
- Avocado Oil Mayonnaise
- BBQ Sauce
- Italian Salad dressings
- Ranch dressing
- No Sugar Added Ketchup
- Mustard
- Lakanto maple syrup
- No Sugar added Tomato sauce
- Coconut aminos
- Apple cider vinegar
- Red wine vinegar
- Balsamic Vinegar
- Lemon juice
- Lime juice
Seasonings & Spices
I pretty much use salt, pepper and garlic in every savory recipe with the exception to some recipes. But here are the most important ones to spice up your meals and take them from bland to fantastic!
Italian Seasoning
Dried Basil
Garlic Powder
Dried Parsley
Dried oregano
Cayenne powder
Chili powder
Cumin
Onion Powder
Ground ginger
Ground cinnamon
Sea Salt
Black Pepper
If you're a little overwhelmed, don't be. You can build a well-stocked keto pantry over over time, a little by little as you start making recipes in your keto kitchen.
Finding seasonings and spices at Aldi's, Walmart, Price Right can help cut costs as well as buying in bulk at Whole Foods or larger quantities like at Costco or Sam's Club.
You can find all my favorite kitchen gadgets, appliances and products I use in my Amazon Shop!
HUGE BAKING GIVEAWAY!!!
If you have my new book, The 30-Day Sugar Elimination Diet, one of the most popular recipes is my Dairy Free Cloud bread and you need liquid Allulose as well as egg white protein powder which many people have difficulty finding.
So to help you out this new year I am offering two people, (one in the USA and one not located in the USA) a keto baking products giveaway!
I want to support your weight loss low-carb diet or keto journey! This keto baking giveaway includes some amazing products to help you have a well-stocked pantry!
Many of my readers want to make my popular Dairy Free Cloud Bread as well as other popular recipes that include some hard to find products so this will help you be ready to make all the low carb keto recipes.
There will be two winners!
One USA reader will win the following. The Winner is Sandy from MA!!!
Monk fruit liquid, chocolate flavor
If you are outside the USA, you will win a $75 Amazon gift card so you can purchase your products of choice! The WINNER IS FIONA from South Africa!
How to Enter the Baking Giveaway
Here's the contest guidelines:
- You must be an active email subscriber to my free newsletter, active means you open emails. Not a subscriber? Sign up here for my free email newsletter!
- Follow me on Facebook and Instagram.
- Bonus entry if you have my new book, The 30-Day Sugar Elimination Diet.
- Extra entry if you've given an Amazon review of the new book.
Comment below if you have done any of the above and you'll be entered for the baking giveaway!
All entries need to be completed by January 31st at midnight.
Winners will randomly be selected using a random comment picker and be notified via email. Winners will be selected on February 1st and have 48 hours to email me back or a new winner will be selected.
I truly thank you for following my blog, making my recipes and sharing my website with your friends and family. If you've purchased my new book or my previous cookbook, Naturally Keto, thank you so much for your support!
Michelle L
I am an active subscriber. I also follow you on FB and IG.
Jimmy Straley
Love your posts and I’m an email subscriber!
marijksels
Wow Brenda, what a great list, so usefull, thanks a lot!
How great you want to share some of your favourite pantry essentials with us. (Or for me living outside the US a giftcard tot get them).
Ofcouse I'm email subscriber and follow you for a long time on fb and instagram 😉
I don't have your newest book yet 🙁 I'm ill for a long time and budget is tight 😉 But may I be the outside US winner, I will definitely order it right away!
Greetings m
Denise Norton
Thank you for your latest book! I am an active email subscriber, read the emails, follow you on Facebook, have purchased the new book, and participating in the challenge!
Sandy Mader
I am beginning week 2 of the 30 day challenge and LOVE your book!! So easy to use! You have given us a wonderful variety of recipies, ideas, and support!! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!!
Judy Sheets
I have done all 4 steps mentioned above. I am a week late in starting the 30 day challenge. But so far it's been good.
Marty Booth
Brenda,
Thank you for your cookbooks - I have 2 so far. I use them constantly for dinner ideas and for your great desserts and cookies. I made the Lemon Slice and Bake cookies last night. They are delicious and my other half likes them too.
Thank you for your help and all those great recipes!
Jennifer Baker
I have your new book and I am doing the 30 day challenge now. I love the group on FB really helps for accountability and support!
Jeanine Sumption
Thank you for ALL you do for us, Brenda! The struggle IS real and I'm grateful to have found you! I have your book, am in your FB group, signed up for your emails and will connect on Pinterest (didn’t realize you were there!)! My pantry is growing and I WILL conquer this weight “beast” with your help! HAPPY NEW YEAR! Thanks again!
Jutta Branin
Hi Brenda,
I've been an active subscriber to your emails for over a year now. I also bought your book and enjoyed a wonderful transformation in week one already, 8.5 pounds down, woohoooo. I follow you on Facebook and in the private group for the 30 day challenge. You have made a huge difference in my life already, and I look forward to every post from you daily! Thank you for all you do for us!
Daphne Williscroft
Hi
I’ve been an email subscriber for several years and love both Naturally Keto and the 30 day sugar free elimination book. Well written and laid out for easy following. So much so that I’ve had them both spiral bound for ease of use! I also follow you on Facebook but don’t have an Instagram account. I live in Canada. Thank you for helping me to learn a new way of cooking and eating.
Daphne
Roxann Benbow
Hi Brenda, So I have all your books and use them daily. I have to many favorites to mention. I have been reading and using the new books for a few weeks now , its amazing. I follow you on facebook, pintrest, watch many of your video's and get daily emails. Am signed up for the newsletter. Thank you for all you do for everyone.
Georgi Wellington
Love your emails, much better than instagram (I hate that app) 😀. This list will assist me in cleaning out my pantry again and updating it. Bought the book and i am in the FB group. Thank you!
Kathy Staloch
I have your book and love it. It is so well written. I started the diet on Monday and as of yesterday I have lost almost 7 lbs. This is a great diet. Thank you so much for all you do!
Sherry Brough
I too receive your emails, follow you on Facebook (not an instagram user) Have all three of your books and the Kindle version of 30 Day! They are easy recipes to follow once you have everything! I would like a printable list for the pantry, with a list of those brands you believe are the best. I know it's a lot of work, and I appreciate all you do and your hard work!
Kristin Grace
I get your emails, I follow on FB and IG, I am in the group 30 Day Challenge and I did leave a review of the book on Amazon. I have lost 5lbs since 1-2-23 and am loving the the new style!
Carolle Gregersen
I open emails and follow you adn bought the book adn of course left a review becuase it has changed our lives for the better
Susan Levesque
Thanks for the great giveaway!
I am an email subscriber and I follow you on Facebook.
I have your 30 days sugar elimination book and I am loving the recipes! I do the waffles and they are so much better than any other one I've tried! I'm glad I am following your plan!
Melinda
Have the book and follow you on Facebook and Instagram. Can’t wait to start the 30 day challenge.
Evelyn Lam
I receive your emails already. I purchased your book on Kindle. I follow you on facebook. I do not have Instagram. I left a book review on Amazon. Hope to get the special you emailed about.
Jennifer L
I appreciate this list. It is so helpful.
Im a long time active email subscriber!
Michelle D.
I bought the book because I am on your e-mail list. I follow you on Facebook and Instagram. I have left a positive review on Amazon. I am really enjoying the recipes. Thank you.
Rita Young
Love the book!!! such good info!!! I am an email subscriber, and follow on FB. Will leave a review on Amazon. THANK YOU!!!
Laura M Paintner
I open the emails daily, follow you on Facebook and Instagram and I have and love the 30 Day Sugar Elimination Diet book. I wrote a review right after I opened the book.
Sarah Matthews
I'man email subscriber and have followed you on facebook and IG for a long time! Love your recipes, and I'm determined to get back to a sugar free lifestyle. I bought the kindle version of the 30 day Sugar Elimination Diet and yesterday was day 1. I loved the chicken and mushroom skillet for dinner. Thanks for sharing your recipes and knowledge!
Allison Skelton
All done!!
Dan
Hello I am an email subscriber as well as on Instagram! Thank you for the ideas and love the cookbook!
Sandy Tysseland
I am so excited to be on this journey. I have done all 4 and also shared with friends and family. Several have joined me in this journey. I love the new book and can’t wait to see where I am at the end of 39 days! Thank you 😊 for sharing all your knowledge and keeping us motivated.