10 Best Keto Appetizers

Figuring out how to plan a wedding reception menu can be a daunting task. There are so many details to consider. And with how large of a percentage food takes up on the average wedding budget, it’s no wonder. 

Planning the wedding menu involves making sure you have enough food to satisfy whatever headcount you’re expecting to attend, and also being able to offer dishes for different diet preferences so your guests can feel included. Among the many dietary preferences and restrictions are vegetarian/vegan, gluten free, and nut free, etc. However, we must also not forget about catering to the keto diet.

It can be a challenge to find keto-friendly dishes you can serve at weddings. When choosing a wedding appetizer for the keto diet, there are a few things you’ll want to consider.

So today, I’m sharing a roundup of the best keo appetizers you can have at your wedding reception.

Best Keto Appetizers

In this post, I’m going to talk about what a keto diet is so it's easier for you to choose the right appetizers for your wedding reception menu. 

What Is A Keto Diet

A keto diet is a high fat, adequate protein, and low carb diet. It’s a dietary strategy where about 60% of the energy you consume comes from fat. When you do a keto diet, it causes the metabolic system to use body fat as fuel for energy. 

Keto diets follow certain restrictions such as:

• Limit carb consumption to around 20 to 50 grams per day 

• Avoid all high-carb foods such as breads, grains, crackers, high-sugar fruits, starchy vegetables, etc. 

• Eat an adequate amount of protein 

• Fill up on fats (think healthy oils and foods like avocado, meat, fish, eggs, and nuts).

10 Keto-Friendly Appetizers

String Cheeses with Prosciutto

Now this is probably one of the most popular keto appetizer recipes on the list. This recipe makes 1 serving size, so feel free to batch create to accommodate how many ever guests will be at attendance.

Ingredients

2 oz Prosciutto - 120 calories

2 Cheese, string cheese, mozzarella, full fat/ regular - 140 calories

Instructions

1. Wrap prosciutto around cheese.

2. No dairy? Use extra prosciutto or nuts/ seeds. No meat? Have nuts or seeds with the cheese.

Easy Antipasto Skewers

This one is probably my favorite keto diet appetizer recipe on the list. For the meat and cheese lovers, offer up a bite of salami, cheese, and olives for the perfect combination to hold guests over until it’s reception time. This keto friendly appetizer comes out to be 35g Fat, 24g Protein, and 8g Carbs.

Ingredients

2 oz Cheese, sliced, mozzarella, full fat/ regular - 140 calories

2 oz Salami - 208 calories

2 oz Black Olives, whole - 100 calories

Instructions

1. Cut block of mozzarella into small squares.

2. Pierce 1 square mozzarella + 1 circle slice of salami (folded) + 1 black olive with a toothpick (& continue).

3. Dairy free? Use a dairy free cheese – see Supplemental Materials. Vegetarian? Use a meat-free sausage chopped up into small slices.

Salami Pickle Bites

This keto friendly appetizer comes out to be 24g Fat, 18g Protein, and 3g Carbs.

These work great no matter what time of day. Just assemble them on a platter and you’ve got yourself an easy keto friendly appetizer to serve up to your guests. 

Ingredients

12 oz Pickles, chip-cut - 0 calories

3 oz Salami - 312 calories

Instructions

1. Wrap salami around pickles and spear with toothpick to hold together.

2. Eat any extra salami or pickles on the side.

BT Wraps

Looking for easy keto friendly appetizer ideas? It doesn’t get any easier than this! These bacon and turkey wraps make great grab and go finger foods that give guests the option to have something light and filling on their plate. By adding the toothpicks, these can be served on a platter for guests to enjoy. And the best part? Only 13g Fat, 40g Protein, and 0g Carbs. Bonus: This option is also gluten free!

Ingredients

4 oz Deli slices, turkey - 120 calories

4 Uncured bacon, slice - 176 calories

Instructions

1. Fry bacon on stove top by cooking on low heat & turning every few minutes. Alternatively, you can cook bacon in the microwave or in the oven (~20 minutes at 400 degrees) if you prefer.

2. Wrap turkey slices around bacon & spear with toothpick to hold together.

Jalapeño Poppers

Not everyone will like it hot, but for those who say bring on the heat, serve them this! These jalapeno poppers are another fun and easy keto friendly finger food that will be so much fun for your guests. 

27g Fat, 20g Protein, and 5g Carbs

Ingredients

2 Tbsp Cream cheese, whipped (Tbsp) - 66 calories

¼ cup Cheese, shredded, cheddar - 114 calories

¼ cup Cheese, shredded, mozzarella - 84 calories

2 Uncured bacon, slice - 88 calories

2 Jalapeno peppers (whole) - 10 calories

Instructions

1. This recipe works best when making 2-3 servings

2. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

3. In a small bowl, stir/mash together the cream cheese and shredded cheeses (microwave the cream cheese for a few seconds first).

4. Fill the jalapeno halves with mixture and wrap each with ½ strip bacon. Place onto baking sheet.

5. Bake for 15-20 minutes

Thai-Inspired Lettuce Wraps

25g Fat, 31g Protein, and 10g Carbs

Ingredients

2 Lettuce leaves for lettuce wraps - 4 calories

4 oz Ground turkey, 93% lean, raw - 172 calories

2 Tbsp Peanut sauce - 80 calories

2 tsp Sesame seeds (tsp) - 26 calories

⅛ cup Peanuts (cups) - 96 calories

¼ tsp Salt - 0 calories

Instructions

1. Spray a pan with an oil spray. Stir-fry turkey for 6-8 minutes, stirring frequently, until cooked through / no longer pink

2. Add in peanut sauce, peanuts, and sesame seeds for 1-2 minutes

3. Add to lettuce wraps – assemble as close to the time when you’re going to eat as possible

4. No turkey? Use tofu

5. Note: I like Whole Food’s Peanut Sauce best, but any store will have their own version! If you want to make your own (100% not necessary!) here’s a 5-ingredient one from Minimalist Baker: minimalistbaker.com/5-ingredient-peanut-sauce/

Sliders on Lettuce Wraps

23g Fat, 26g Protein, and 6g Carbs

Ingredients

4 oz Ground turkey, 93% lean, raw - 172 calories

½ Avocado, small - 117 calories

½ oz Cheese, sliced cheese, full fat/ regular - 55 calories

2 Lettuce leaves for lettuce wraps - 4 calories

¼ tsp Salt - 0 calories

¼ tsp Pepper, ground - 0 calories

Instructions

1. Mix turkey with salt & pepper.

2. Divide into two mini patties.

3. Spray a pan with an oil spray.

4. Cook the burger patties for ~4 minutes on each side. Cover the pan with a lid while they cook.

5. Place burgers, avocado, and cheese evenly in lettuce wraps.

6. Pescaterian? Use canned tuna or canned salmon. No cheese? Use extra avocado.

7. Note 1: 1 oz cheese = typically 1 slice. So 1/2 oz cheese = 1/2 a slice. Cut this 1/2 a slice into 2 pieces for the 2 burgers.

8. Note 2: even though there are 4 burgers in the picture, this recipe makes 2 burgers.

Tomato Tuna Melts

You’ve got to try this low carb appetizer for your wedding!

30g Fat, 42g Protein, and 5g Carbs

Ingredients

1 Tomato, medium - 22 calories

1 Tuna, canned (1 can) - 120 calories

2 oz Cheese, sliced, cheddar, full fat/ regular - 220 calories

1 Tbsp Mayonnaise (Tbsp) - 97 calories

¼ tsp Everyday seasoning - 0 calories

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

2. Slice tomato into ~4 slices.

3. Mix tuna and mayo and add to tomatoes.

4. Bake for 5 minutes.

5. Turn oven to broiler.

6. Take tomatoes out of the oven, top with 1/2 slices of cheese.

7. Broil for 1-2 minutes.

8. Notes: Alternatively, do the same steps but in the toaster oven! No dairy? Use a dairy free cheese or have some avocado on the side.

Pork Rinds and Guac

Ingredients

½ oz Pork rinds - 80 calories

1 Guacamole, single-serving packet - 100 calories

Instructions

1. Dip pork rinds into guac if you like

Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Ingredients

6 oz Chicken breast, boneless, skinless, raw - 190 calories

½ Avocado, small - 117 calories

2 Lettuce leaves for lettuce wraps - 4 calories

1 tsp Sesame seeds (tsp) - 13 calories

2 tsp Buffalo sauce - 10 calories

¼ tsp Salt - 0 calories

Instructions

1. Spray a pan with an oil spray. Slice chicken into thin strips. 

2. Cook chicken for ~8 minutes on low heat, until cooked through.

3. Remove chicken from heat. Mix with buffalo sauce.

4. Slice avocado.

5. Add all ingredients to lettuce wraps.

6. No chicken? Use fish, tofu, or beans. Don’t like buffalo sauce? Use a low calorie vinaigrette.

Wondering how to get fiber on keto? We’ve got you covered!

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