Healthy Taco Bowls - Best Low Carb, Keto & Meal Prep Options (2024)

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These Keto Taco Bowls are an easy and healthy 30 minute meal with all the Mexican flavors of a classic taco. Made with low carb, paleo and Whole30 ingredients.

Healthy Taco Bowls - Best Low Carb, Keto & Meal Prep Options (1)

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Original April 2018 post updated May 2019

Fajitas and tacos are an absolute favorite around our house and we’ve been switching things up with these keto taco bowls in preparation for Cinco de Mayo.

They are super simple to customize with your favorite toppings and Tex-Mex spices. And the best part? You can make your own Mexican fiesta right at home in under 30 minutes so they are perfect for Taco Tuesdays or any busy weeknight.

WHAT IS A TACO BOWL?Healthy Taco Bowls - Best Low Carb, Keto & Meal Prep Options (2)

A taco bowl has everything you love about Mexican tacos without the high carb tortillas and are served in a bowl.

INGREDIENTS IN A TACO BOWL:

For low carb, keto, paleo and Whole30 Taco Bowls, you’re going to use:

  • ground beef or ground turkey
  • tomatoes
  • apple cider vinegar
  • shredded cabbage
  • avocado
  • lime
  • bell peppers
  • zucchini
  • cauliflower rice

For a classic taco bowl at a restaurant, you would normally find:

Healthy Taco Bowls - Best Low Carb, Keto & Meal Prep Options (3)

  • ground beef, shredded chicken, ground turkey
  • tomatoes
  • corn
  • black beans
  • lettuce or cabbage
  • cilantro lime rice
  • avocado
  • tortilla strips
  • cheese

Delicious and healthy toppings for clean eating taco bowls:

  • guacamole
  • salsa
  • pico de gallo
  • lime

Healthy Taco Bowls - Best Low Carb, Keto & Meal Prep Options (4)

HOW TO MAKE TACO BOWLS:

  1. Start off by browning your meat with some taco seasoning. The great thing about this recipe is that you can use the homemade recipe below or swap in your favorite brand of taco seasoning. And if you’re not a fan of ground turkey, you can use chicken to make this a healthy chicken taco bowl recipe.
  2. Next, to lighten things up, we served these over cauliflower rice for a lower carb option but feel free to use cilantro, brown rice or quinoa instead.
  3. Wash and prep your veggies and layer them into bowls. We used corn, grape tomatoes, shredded cabbage (red and green) and black beans. See below for low carb options.

CAN I SWITCH UP THE MEAT AND VEGETABLES?

Absolutely. If you’re not a fan of ground beef, you can use turkey, chicken or leave out the meat for a vegan taco bowl. Add shredded lettuce and swap out the tomatoes with salsa or a dollop of guacamole.

HOW DO TO MAKE VEGETARIAN TACO BOWLS:

For a vegetarian taco bowl, simply leave out the turkey. If you’re not low carb, you can use black beans, lentils, chickpeas and serve with quinoa to make an extra filling and protein packed plant-based taco bowl.

ARE TURKEY TACO BOWLS LOW CARB AND KETO-FRIENDLY?

  • For a low carb taco bowls, simply leave out the corn and black beans and add olives, zucchini, orange and yellow bell peppers instead.

Healthy Taco Bowls - Best Low Carb, Keto & Meal Prep Options (5)

CAN YOU PREP PALEO TACO BOWLS AHEAD OF TIME?

Healthy Taco Bowls - Best Low Carb, Keto & Meal Prep Options (6)

  • Yes. You can prep keto taco bowls ahead on your Sunday Meal Prep by dividing them into these 2 compartment lunch containers.
  • To avoid the tomatoes from getting soggy, you can pack them separately in a zip-top bag or use whole cherry tomatoes.
  • Pack with guacamole, salsa or a whole avocado to avoid your avocado from browning or getting mushy.

Healthy Taco Bowls - Best Low Carb, Keto & Meal Prep Options (7)

More recipes you might like:

Shrimp Fajitas

Steak Burrito Bowls

Taco Stuffed Avocado Cups

Keto Taco Bowls

Prep Time

10 mins

Cook Time

15 mins

Total Time

25 mins

These Keto Taco Bowls are an easy and healthy 30 minute meal with all the Mexican flavors of a classic taco. Made with low carb, paleo and Whole30 ingredients.

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Mexican

Keyword: bowl recipes, healthy lunch ideas, keto dinner, low carb dinner, paleo, taco bowls, whole30

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 360 kcal

Author: Kelly

Ingredients

For the Homemade Taco Seasoning:

  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon paprika

For the Meat:

For the Taco Bowls:

  • Cauliflower rice (or use your favorite cooked rice or quinoa
  • 1/2 cup shredded cabbage , green & red
  • 1/2 cup grape tomatoes
  • sliced olives, diced yellow peppers, sliced zucchini , optional for low carb / paleo / Whole30
  • Avocado slices
  • Lime wedges

For Non-Paleo / Whole30 / Low Carb Bowls:

  • 1 cup corn kernels , fresh cooked or frozen and drained (leave out for low-carb/keto)
  • 1/2 cup canned black beans rinsed and drained (leave out for low-carb/keto)

Other optional Taco Toppings:

  • shredded lettuce, shredded cheese, pico de gallo, salsa, guacamole, tortilla chips etc.

For Meal Prep:

    Lunch containers

      Instructions

      1. In a small bowl or small resealable spice jar, combine all the spices for the taco seasoning. You can save any leftovers for the next time.

      2. In a large nonstick skillet, over medium-high heat, cook the ground meat, breaking down into small pieces while it cooks. After about 3 minutes, add 1 tablespoon of the taco seasoning and continue cooking until the meat is no longer pink and cooked through. Stir in the tomato paste and vinegar and cook for another 2 minutes or until everything is heated through. Taste and add more seasoning as needed.

      Assemble Bowls:

      1. Divide cauliflower rice among bowls or lunch containers. Top with a serving of cooked meat, shredded cabbage, tomatoes, avocado,and one lime wedge.

      2. Add any additional vegetables and optional taco toppings as desired.

      Nutrition Facts

      Keto Taco Bowls

      Amount Per Serving (1 bowl (1/4 recipe))

      Calories 360 Calories from Fat 207

      % Daily Value*

      Fat 23g35%

      Saturated Fat 8g40%

      Cholesterol 80mg27%

      Sodium 899mg37%

      Potassium 597mg17%

      Carbohydrates 15g5%

      Fiber 3g12%

      Sugar 3g3%

      Protein 22g44%

      Vitamin A 655IU13%

      Vitamin C 8.7mg11%

      Calcium 42mg4%

      Iron 3.7mg21%

      * Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy using the WPRM recipe calculator. It is best to make your own calculations to ensure accuracy. We expressly disclaim any and all liability of any kind with respect to any act or omission wholly or in part in reliance on anything contained in this website. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

      Healthy Taco Bowls - Best Low Carb, Keto & Meal Prep Options (9)Did you try this recipe?

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      Healthy Taco Bowls - Best Low Carb, Keto & Meal Prep Options (10)

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      Healthy Taco Bowls - Best Low Carb, Keto & Meal Prep Options (2024)

      FAQs

      Can I eat Tacos on a low carb diet? ›

      You can still enjoy burritos and tacos as long as you buy low carb tortillas. Use cauliflower rice and black soybeans. In place of high carb foods such as rice and black beans, you can use cauliflower rice and black soybeans to save on carbs.

      Are Tacos high carb? ›

      However, as a general guideline, a Crunchy Taco from Taco Bell contains 13 grams of carbohydrates, while a Soft Taco contains 17 grams of carbohydrates. Keep in mind that adding additional toppings, such as beans or cheese, may increase the carb count of the taco.

      Can you eat tacos when trying to lose weight? ›

      Final Thoughts. It's easy to make a healthy meal with tacos! Tacos are an overall balanced dish, pairing carbs with protein and vegetables. To make the healthiest tacos, choose corn tortillas, a high-protein filling, and top with plenty of vegetables.

      Can you eat zero carb tortillas on keto? ›

      With zero net carbs, zero sugar and high fiber in every serving, these are a deliciously simple addition to any dish. This keto-certified tortilla offers that authentic Guerrero® taste in two flavors, Original Flour and Chipotle.

      Which taco is the healthiest? ›

      Tacos de Canasta

      If you are looking for healthy tacos, this could be the one. It is prepared by steaming, filled with healthy and simple ingredients like potatoes and beans. Sometimes, they can be incredibly greasy. Hence, their other name is sweaty tacos.

      Can you eat hot dogs on keto? ›

      Hot Dogs Are Keto-Friendly

      Hot dogs are made with ingredients that are naturally low in carbs. An average hot dog is about 1.73 grams of total carbs. As for the bun, you can't have a conventional bun in order to follow the keto diet. The average hot dog bun will cost you 24.3 grams of total carbs.

      Are tacos healthier than bread? ›

      A one-ounce slice of bread typically contains 75 to 100 calories. Corn tortillas, the traditional choice for tacos and enchiladas, generally have 60 to 65 calories in each small six-inch piece. Flour tortillas are slightly higher in calories because they contain added fat to make them softer and easier to roll.

      Can I eat corn tortillas on a low carb diet? ›

      No flour or corn tortillas and chips – Although corn tortillas are gluten-free, they are definitely not carbohydrate-free. Flour and corn tortillas are both high in empty carbs, so it's best to avoid them (and tortilla chips) altogether or substitute them for healthier options.

      Are taco shells full of carbs? ›

      Old El Paso Taco Shells (1 shell) contains 8.2g total carbs, 7.7g net carbs, 3.5g fat, 0.7g protein, and 66 calories.

      What can I replace taco shells with? ›

      HEALTHY TACO SHELLS OPTIONS
      • PITA POCKETS. This healthy substitute for tortillas opens up all kinds of taco possibilities. ...
      • GLUTEN-FREE TACO SHELLS. Make your own shells with a blend of almond and coconut flours. ...
      • BABY ICEBERG LETTUCE. ...
      • SHREDDED CHEDDAR CHEESE. ...
      • PARMESAN. ...
      • SHREDDED CARROT. ...
      • FRESH SPINACH. ...
      • CAULIFLOWER.
      7 days ago

      Can you have corn tortillas on slow carb diet? ›

      White-colored foods are not included on the Slow Carb diet food list. Avoiding white-colored food will also help you avoid diabetes-causing chemicals created by bleaching flour. For example, don't eat pasta, tortillas, potatoes, bread, cereal, and breading on fried food.

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