You might find it challenging to choose fast food when you are following a restrictive diet plan, like the keto diet—a diet low in carbs, moderate in protein, and rich in fat.

While most of the fast foods are carb-rich, you can still find some tasty keto-friendly foods.

11 Keto-Friendly Foods

Here are 11 detectable keto-friendly foods you can eat.

1. Low-Carb Salads

Some salads from fast-food restaurants can be carb-rich.

For instance, a full-sized Apple Pecan Chicken Salad at Wendy’s contains a whopping 40-gram sugar and 52-gram carbs.

Carbs from fresh or dried fruit, marinades, dressings and other popular salad toppings can quickly add up. Thus, skipping certain ingredients, especially those that are sugary, is essential to keep your salad low in carbs.

When you’re on a keto diet, avoiding sweet fruit, dressings, and other carb-rich ingredients is key.

Below are several salad options that are appropriate when you’re following a keto diet.

• Chicken Taco Salad with fresh jalapenos, guacamole, and cheddar cheese from Moe’s which contains 325 calories, 9 grams of carbs, 28 grams of protein, and 23 grams of fat
• Roast Turkey Farmhouse Salad with buttermilk ranch dressing from Arby’s which contains 440 calories, 10 grams of carbs, 22 grams of protein, and 35 grams of fat
• Chicken Bacon Ranch Salad with guacamole from McDonald’s which contains 380 calories, 10 grams of carbs, 42 grams of protein, and 19 grams of fat
• Salad Bowl with steak, sour cream, romaine, cheese, and salsa from Chipotle which contains 405 calories, 7 grams of carbs, 30 grams of protein, and 23 grams of fat

Sticking with fat-rich, low-carb dressings like oil and vinegar and ranch is key to minimize carb intake. Be sure to avoid tortilla shells, candied nuts, croutons, and breaded chicken.

2. Bunless Burgers

Typical burger meals from fast-food restaurants are carb-rich because of their buns.

If you’re following a keto diet, you can simply skip the bun and any carb-rich toppings, like ketchup, honey mustard sauce, breaded onions, and teriyaki sauce. Instead of these carb-rich toppings, you can have ranch dressing, avocado, salsa, mayo, fried egg, mustard, tomato, or onions to add extra fat to your meal and initially cut back on carbs.

Below are some examples of keto-friendly burger meals that you can eat.

• Bacon Cheeseburger (no bun) from Five Guys which contains 370 calories, 0 grams of carbs, 24 grams of protein, and 30 grams of fat
• ⅓ lb Thickburger with bacon and cheese (no bun) from Hardees which contains 430 calories, 0 grams of carbs, 21 grams of protein, and 36 grams of fat
• Double Bacon Cheeseburger (no bun) from Sonic which contains 638 calories, 3 grams of carbs, 40 grams of protein, and 49 grams of fat
• Double Cheeseburger (no bun) from McDonald’s which contains 270 calories, 4 grams of carbs, 20 grams of protein, and 20 grams of fat
• Double Stack Cheeseburger (no bun) from Wendy’s which contains 260 calories, 1 gram of carbs, 20 grams of protein, and 20 grams of fat

You can increase your fiber intake by adding a simple side salad topped with a fat-rich dressing to your meal. Most fast-food restaurants will be happy to serve you a keto-friendly burger with no bun.

3. Egg-Based Breakfasts

If you think it’s difficult to choose a keto breakfast option at a fast-food restaurant, then you’re wrong. Most fast-food restaurants serve egg-based breakfasts, which are absolutely perfect for those following a keto diet.

Egg-based breakfasts are not only fat- and protein-rich, but also low-carb. An egg contains < 1 gram of carbs.

It’s still easy to order keto-friendly egg-based breakfasts even though many egg dishes are served with hash browns or bread.

Here are some breakfast options that are great choices if you are following a keto diet:

• Power Breakfast Bowl with two eggs, steak, tomato, and avocado from Panera Bread which contains 230 calories, 5 grams of carbs, 20 grams of protein, and 15 grams of fat
• Big Breakfast without hash browns or biscuits from McDonald’s which contains 340 calories, 2 grams of carbs, 19 grams of protein, and 29 grams of fat
• Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Biscuit that has no biscuit from McDonald’s which contains 190 calories, 4 grams of carbs, 14 grams of protein, and 13 grams of fat
• Ultimate Breakfast Platter without hash browns, pancakes, or biscuit from Burger King which contains 340 calories, 1 gram of carbs, 16 grams of protein, and 29 grams of fat

You can also order plain eggs with a side of sausage and cheese as an alternative. It is also always a safe bet for keto dieters. Another quick alternative is an omelet with cheese and greens.

4. Bunless Chicken Sandwich

Keep your order for your lunch and dinner simple. You can order a grilled chicken sandwich without the bun and add fat-rich toppings. It’s a nutritious and satisfying way to achieve and remain in the ketosis state.

Many fast-food keto-friendly restaurants have this menu, you only need to ask.

Here are some low-carb, high-fat chicken meals you can grab when on the go.

• Grilled Chicken Nuggets dipped ranch avocado dressing from Chick-fil-A which contains 420 calories, 3 grams of carbs, 25 grams of protein, and 18 grams of fat
• Grilled Chicken Sandwich (no bun) with extra mayo from Wendy’s which contains 286 calories, 5 grams of carbs, 29 grams of protein, and 16 grams of fat
• Pico Guacamole Sandwich without the bun from McDonald’s which contains 330 calories, 9 grams of carbs, 34 grams of protein, and 18 grams of fat
• Grilled Chicken Sandwich (no bun) with extra mayo from Burger King which contains 350 calories, 2 grams of carbs, 25 grams of fat, and 30 grams of protein

Make sure to avoid items marinated in sweet sauces, like maple syrup and honey, when ordering grilled chicken.

5. Low-Carb Burrito Bowls

Although a single burrito wrap can hold over 300 calories and 50 grams of carbs, you can still order burrito bowls without burrito shells and wraps.

Yes, it is possible to order a delicious burrito bowl without the added carbs.

Start with a base that is low in carb, like a leafy green, and then you can add your preference of fat and protein choices.

Be sure to avoid carb-rich toppings including sweet dressing or corn. You can replace these carb-rich toppings with low-carb, fat-rich options like sautéed veggies, sour cream, guacamole, sliced avocado, cheese, salsa, onions, and fresh herbs.

Here are some burrito bowl options you can eat when following a keto diet.

• Steak Burrito Bowl with lettuce, sour cream, cheese, and salsa (no beans or rice) from Chipotle which contains 400 calories, 6 grams of carbs, 29 grams of protein, and 23 grams of fat
• Chicken Burrito Bowl with romaine lettuce, guacamole, and cheese (no beans or rice) from Chipotle which contains 525 calories, 10 grams of carbs, 40 grams of protein, and 37 grams of fat
• Power Steak Bowl with extra guacamole (no beans or rice) from Taco Bell Cantina which contains 310 calories, 8 grams of carbs, 20 grams of protein, and 23 grams of fat
• Burrito Bowl with pork carnitas, guacamole, sour cream, cheese, and grilled peppers (no beans or rice) from Moe’s Southwestern Grill which contains 394 calories, 12 grams of carbs, 30 grams of protein, and 30 grams of fat.

6. Lettuce-Wrapped Burgers

Since many people are following a low-carb way of eating, some fast-food restaurants consider offering keto-friendly menu items including lettuce-wrapped burgers. Keto-friendly menu items are an excellent option for keto dieters to successfully cut carbs.

Here are some lettuce-wrapped burgers available on fast-food menus.

• ⅓ lb Low-Carb Thickburger from Hardees which contains 470 calories, 9 grams of carbs, 22 grams of protein, and , 36 grams of fat
• Lettuce-Wrapped Thickburger from Carl’s Jr. which contains 420 calories, 8 grams of carbs, 25 grams of protein, and 33 grams of fat
• “Protein Style” Cheeseburger with onion from In-n-Out Burger which contains 330 calories, 11 grams of carbs, 18 grams of protein, and 25 grams of fat
• Bacon Cheeseburger in a lettuce wrap with mayo from Five Guys which contains 394 calories, < 1 gram of carbs, 20 grams of protein, and 34 grams of fat

If you can’t find a lettuce-wrapped burger in the menu option, you can simply ask for it. Many fast-food establishments will be happy to accommodate this request.

7. Keto-Friendly Beverages

Many beverages served in some restaurants tend to be sugary, from milkshakes to sweet tea. Good thing there are available fast-food beverages that are perfect for ketogenic dieters.

Aside from water, which is the most obvious choice, here are a few other low-carb drink options for you.

• Soda water
• Hot tea with lemon juice
• Unsweetened iced tea
• Coffee with cream
• Black iced coffee

In addition, you can sweeten your beverage without adding carbs because there are no-calorie sweeteners available.

8. Keto Low-Carb Sushi Rolls Without Rice

Keto low-carb sushi rolls without rice are great nutrient-rich snacks that come together in as little as 15 minutes. You just need to prepare some uniformly chopped veggies (such as bell pepper, avocado, and cucumber) and fish or meat to use for filling and a pack of nori seaweed sheets.

You can also serve it with a spicy peanut sauce or add cream cheese to boost the fat content of your sushi rolls. Just ensure it does not have an added sweetener.

9. Keto Smoothies

Thought smoothies are forever off limits for keto dieters? You’re wrong. You can make keto-friendly smoothies using nut butter, avocado, and coconut as a base to provide a creamy texture while increasing fat content.

Small amounts of low-carb fruits, including lemon, lime, or berries, may be added in your smoothie but make sure to include nutrient-dense veggies like cucumber, spinach, jicama, or kale. Other flavorful additions include cinnamon, cacao, vanilla extract, and flavored protein powders.

You can also add a keto-approved sweetener like monk fruit to make it a little sweeter.

10. “Unwiches”

Unwiches are a great option for keto dieters. They are simply sandwich fillings without bread.

Jimmy John’s fast-food restaurant currently offers many tasty unwich options for you. Below are a few of their keto-friendly unwich combinations.

• The J.J. Gargantuan (roast beef, pork, turkey, salami, provolone, and ham) which contains 710 calories, 10 grams of carbs, 63 grams of protein, and 47 grams of fat
• The J.J. BLT (bacon, tomato, lettuce, and mayo) which contains 290 calories, 3 grams of carbs, 9 grams of protein, and 26 grams of fat
• The Big Italian (provolone, pork, salami, ham, lettuce, onion, tomato, mayo, vinegar, and oil) which contains 560 calories, 9 grams of carbs, 33 grams of protein, and 44 grams of fat
• Slim 3 (tuna salad) which contains 270 calories, 5 grams of carbs, 11 grams of protein, and 22 grams of fat

Some unwiches, like the J.J. Gargantuan, contain very high calories. If you want a lighter keto meal, sticking to unwich options that are all under 300 calories, like Slim 3, is a great idea.

11. Handy On-the-Go Keto Diet Snacks

Keeping keto diet snacks on hand is a great idea. It tides you over between meals.

Thanks to many convenience stores and gas stations for offering a good selection of low-carb, fat-rich on-the-go snacks, including hard-boiled eggs, peanuts, peanut butter packets, almonds, string cheese, sunflower seeds, meat sticks, beef jerky, tuna packets, and pork rinds.

Although buying keto-friendly snacks over the counter is convenient, nothing is better than preparing homemade keto-friendly snacks. It gives you more control over the food you consume.

Having a cooler in your car makes it easier for you to bring along nutritious keto-friendly snacks, such as low-carb veggies, cheese, and hard-boiled eggs.

Conclusion

Choosing low-carb, fat-rich meals and snacks along the road doesn’t have to be challenging. Considering that an increasing number of people are following low-carb, fat-rich diets, many fast-food establishments offer options suitable for your diet that can be customized to your liking.

As more and more people are adopting a keto diet, more healthy and tasty low-carb meals and snacks are sure to be featured on fast-food menus in the future.