Low Carb Keto Cheese Sauce Recipe | Wholesome Yum (2024)

FAQs

What cheese has the lowest carbohydrates? ›

Got cheese has the lowest carb content out of all varieties. It contains zero carbs while supplying you with 8 grams of fat and 6 grams of protein per 1-ounce serving.

Some cheeses suit the keto diet better than others. This mainly comes down to their carb and fat content and level of processing. The best keto cheeses include cheddar, Gouda, goat cheese, and blue cheese, while the worst are cottage cheese and low fat and processed varieties.

To make a keto roux, you will use xanthan gum. Because xanthan gum can absorb a large amount of moisture, the formula to make a roux with xanthan gum is a bit different. You won't use equal parts fat and xanthan gum. The biggest trick to using xanthan gum versus a starch or flour is to use just a little bit!

(Just remember: Cheese isn't “unlimited” in a keto diet, as it still contains calories and carbs; it's also high in saturated fat, which is a less heart-healthy option than unsaturated fats, per the American Heart Association.)

Peanut butter can definitely be part of a keto diet, but it's best to stick to plain options that are free of extra flavors and sweeteners. Almond butter is a good choice, too, and it's slightly lower in carbs. Additionally, you should be mindful of your portion size if you're trying to lose weight.

Hummus can definitely be part of your keto diet, but just one or two servings can quickly expend a significant portion of your daily carb allotment. If you do eat hummus, you'll want to limit yourself to a small amount — perhaps just 2–4 tablespoons (30–60 grams), which provide 4–8 grams of net carbs.

For example, cheddar cheese has less than 1g carbs, 9g fat, and 7g protein while gouda cheese has less than 1g carbs, 8g fat, and 7g protein per serving. That means it's okay to have up to three servings of gouda or cheddar and still say within your daily keto carb limit of 20-50 grams[*].

Plain Greek yogurt and cottage cheese are nutritious, high protein foods. While they contain some carbs, you can eat them in moderation on keto. Both yogurt and cottage cheese have been shown to help decrease appetite and promote feelings of fullness (33, 34 ).

Luckily, pickles are keto friendly, especially those that are of the dill pickle variety, as sugar is low. “Simply put, sweet pickles are made with sugar which will automatically push the carb count up,” says Hultin. “Dill or salt pickles don't have the added sugar and carbs, naturally,” she says.

You can thicken a keto sauce using low-carb thickeners such as xanthan gum, guar gum, or konjac flour. These ingredients are keto-friendly and help achieve the desired consistency without adding extra carbs. Start with a small amount and gradually add more until you reach the desired thickness.

How do you thicken a keto sauce? ›

Xanthan gum

Used for baking or thickening soups or sauces, xanthan gum has zero net carbs. Use in small amounts and be sure to sprinkle the thickener into soups or sauces a little at a time so that it doesn't clump. Also, too much xanthan gum can yield a gummy or slimy texture, so it's best to use minimal amounts.

Egg Yolks

Egg yolks are a wonderful low-carb alternative to flour when it comes to creating creamy sauces without the extra carbs. I have successfully used egg yolks to thicken sauces, gravies, and even soups, including recipes featured in my Keto Slow Cooker & One-Pot Meals Book!

Grass-grazed raw butter may be one of the healthiest dairy products on a ketogenic diet menu. Grass-grazed raw butter is basically pure raw fat; it has zero carbs, zero sugars and zero grams of protein. As you can see, most of butters' fat is saturated.

Regular, full fat sour cream is made from cream and contains far more fat than carbs. Therefore, it's considered keto-friendly. However, low fat or nonfat sour cream is not. Full fat sour cream can provide some variety in a keto diet when used as a dip base or incorporated into recipes to boost the fat content.

Food and drinks allowed on a no-carb diet include meat, fish, eggs, cheese, butter, oils, water, and plain coffee or tea. If you're less stringent, you can also eat nuts, seeds, non-starchy vegetables, and high fat fruits like avocado and coconut since these foods are low in net carbs.

Low-fat types like cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, or mozzarella are high-protein choices that help keep your blood sugar in check. Enjoy a quarter-cup of cottage cheese with a half-cup of fruit, a piece of low-fat string cheese, or ricotta spread on whole-grain crackers.

Goat Cheese

It's also commonly referred to as Chèvre, which means “goat” in French. Goat cheese has 0 grams of carbohydrates and 9 grams of fat! Because of the protein structure differences when compared to cow's milk, goat cheese is often more easily digested and is naturally lower in lactose.