11 Low-Carb Side Dishes That Are Flavorful, Easy & Keto Friendly

At Virta, we specialize in helping members navigate a low-carb lifestyle. So take it from us. Next time you’re making dinner, forget the sad side salad. Low-carb side dishes can be just as bold, buttery, and crave-worthy as the main event. From cheesy bakes to crispy veggie glow-ups, these low-carb creations prove you don’t need potatoes or pasta to steal the spotlight. Here are 11 keto side dishes ready to round out your plate and make every bite a win for your taste buds and your macros.

What Makes a Side Dish Keto Friendly?

A side dish is considered keto-friendly when it’s low in carbohydrates and high in healthy fats or proteins, so it supports staying in ketosis. Instead of starchy staples like potatoes, rice, or bread, keto sides lean on nutrient-dense veggies such as cauliflower, zucchini, spinach, or Brussels sprouts. Add in flavorful fats like butter, olive oil, cheese, or cream, and you’ve got a dish that’s both satisfying and keto-approved.

H2: 11 Best Keto Side Dishes

Low Carb Tomato Salad with Pine Nuts

Ready to turn your side salad game from "meh" to “marvelous”? Grab a handful of sun-kissed cherry tomatoes, some golden-brown pine nuts, and basil so fresh it might still be gossiping with the vine, and voilà, you’ve got a salad cooler than a cucumber in shades. Low-carb, zesty, and making keto look effortlessly chic: this tastes like summer’s mixtape in a bowl.

Get Virta’s Low Carb Tomato Salad with Pine Nuts recipe here.

Keto Green Bean Casserole

Think of this casserole as green beans’ glow-up: tossed in bubbly cheddar and mayo instead of stodgy roux, it becomes the star of the carb-conscious dinner table. It bakes up golden, cheesy, and ready to charm even the staunchest carb lovers. Trust us, it's like Thanksgiving in a low-carb straitjacket, and it’s downright delicious.

Get Virta’s Keto Green Bean Casserole recipe here.

Low Carb Cornbread Recipe

Think of this cornbread as a rebel with a flour-free cause: cozy, buttery, and slightly sweet, but only 5.5 g carbs per slice, so it’s basically diet magic. Say goodbye to the carb-comas of traditional cornbread and hello to the kind of comfort that won’t wreck your macros. Bonus: it’s so easy to bake, even your toast could whip it up.

Get Virta’s Low Carb Cornbread Recipe here.

Low Carb Green Beans with Bacon & Onions

Accessorized with smoky bacon and sassy sautéed onions that high-five your taste buds, this green bean delight is basically a low-carb side dish that is fancy enough for company, but low-key enough to make any time. All of that charm packed into just five ingredients and about 25 minutes. Chef’s kiss!

Get Virta’s Low Carb Green Beans with Bacon & Onions recipe here.

Sour Cream & Cheddar Mashed Cauliflower

Creamy, cheesy, and rocking a sour-cream swirl that gives even mashed potatoes jealous eyes, this mashed cauliflower recipe just went full diva on you. With just a few ingredients, this dreamy side hits the mashed-potato vibe without the carb-hangover. If comfort food had a low-carb prom queen, this would be her crown.

Get Virta’s Sour Cream & Cheddar Mashed Cauliflower recipe here.

Low Carb Cauliflower Colcannon

Call off the potato search! This cauliflower colcannon arrives in buttery, creamy style with a cabbage twist that says, “I’m here to comfort, not ruin your macros.” It’s like mashed potatoes got a sophisticated cousin who’s lighter, greener, and better for you. Whip it up in 30 minutes and marvel at how indulgence and low-carb magic coexist.

Get Virta’s Low Carb Cauliflower Colcannon recipe here.

Low Carb Mock “Potato” Salad Recipe

This mock potato salad is like a sneaky chameleon: cauliflower dressed in mayo, pickles, bacon, and eggs pretending to be spuds, but with way fewer carbs. It’s the potato salad you’d bring to a keto party, and no one needs to know it’s cauliflower-based. Chill, mix, and prepare to be applauded for your culinary fib. 

Get Virta’s Low Carb Mock “Potato” Salad Recipe here.

Low Carb Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Brussels sprouts get a glow-up in this recipe. Tossed in olive oil, salted, peppered, and roasted until crisp, you’ll swear they're a veggie version of crispy roast potatoes. Quick, simple, and roasted to golden perfection, they’re basically the life of the low-carb dinner party. Bonus: they fool even the most hardened sprout skeptics.

Get Virta’s Low Carb Roasted Brussels Sprouts Recipe here.

Low Carb Spicy Baked Zucchini Sticks

Craving French fries but watching your carbs? Enter spicy baked zucchini sticks: zucchini wedges coated in smoky spices, baked till crispy, and ready to crunch without the carb guilt. They’re the veggie snack that thinks it’s junk food, and your macros will never suspect a thing.

Get Virta’s Low Carb Spicy Baked Zucchini Sticks Recipe here.

Low Carb Creamy Spinach

This creamy spinach is like a green velvet hug: heavy cream, butter, and Parmesan turn humble spinach into a rich, dreamy side. It’s nostalgia without the carb-shame—think classic creamed spinach, minus the carb coma. Simmer, swirl, and serve spoonfuls of silky satisfaction.

Get Virta’s Low Carb Creamy Spinach Recipe here.

Low Carb Garlic Parmesan Broccoli Bake

Broccoli goes gourmet in this garlic-Parmesan bake, soaking up rich half-and-half, cheese, and a hint of heat—without the carb drama. Think of it as a veggie gratin that’s rich enough to make broccoli feel like the VIP of the side-dish world. Bake it, slice it, and watch broccoli sparkle in cheesy glory.

Get Virta’s Low Carb Garlic parmesan Broccoli Bake Recipe here.

The Takeaway

If you want help with your diet, to lose weight, or just to live a healthier lifestyle, Virta Health may be able to help. By making healthy lifestyle changes in a medical setting with supportive resources like 1:1 virtual coaching, you can regain control of your health and feel like yourself again, while potentially reducing conditions such as prediabetes and type 2 diabetes. See if you’re eligible for Virta Health here.