This Keto Cajun Parmesan Salmon Recipe is perfectly seasoned pan seared filets smothered in an unbelievably delicious honey lemon garlic sauce.
This Keto friendly meal takes only a few minutes of prep time and comes together in less than 30 minutes, start to finish. It’s the perfect low carb dinner for those hectic weeknights or even a gourmet weekend! Bonus points that it’s an one pan meal, so clean up is a snap.
I recommend getting a good piece of fresh wild caught salmon if you can. Frozen filets are fine too but they do tend to release that funny white liquid when they are cooked. It won’t affect the taste of your dinner, it just doesn’t look as pretty. I also recommend getting filets that are at least an inch in thickness, so that they cook more evenly and stay juicy and tender.
I served my salmon over sauteed zucchini noodles to keep it low carb but you can always serve it over the pasta or rice.
INGREDIENTS
1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
4 (4-oz.) fillets salmon (preferably wild)
2 tsp. Tony’s Chachere’s Cajun seasoning, divided
Freshly ground black pepper
2 tbsp. butter
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/3 c. low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
Juice of 1 lemon
1 tbsp. honey
1 tbsp. freshly chopped parsley, plus more for garnish
2 tbsp. freshly grated Parmesan
Lemon slices, for serving
INSTRUCTIONS
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat oil. Season salmon with 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning and pepper, then add to the skillet skin-side up.
Cook salmon until deeply golden, about 6 minutes, then flip and cook 2 minutes more.
Transfer to a plate.
Add butter and garlic to the skillet.
When butter has melted, stir in broth, lemon juice, honey, remaining teaspoon Cajun seasoning, parsley, and Parmesan. Bring mixture to a simmer.
Reduce heat to medium and add salmon back to skillet.
Simmer until sauce has reduced and salmon is cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes more.
This Keto Cajun Chicken Alfredo was inspired by Leah Chase, also known as the Queen of Creole.
This Keto Cajun Chicken Alfredo is creamy and delicious plus it comes together in just minutes.
This one pot meal is loaded with chicken and sausage, heavy cream and lots of Parmesan cheese, not to mention lots of Cajun seasoning.
Served over your choice of noodles and you have the perfect week day dinner in less than 30 minutes! I used spaghetti squash noodles to make this dish an easy, low carb, gluten free and keto friendly!
This recipe was inspired by Leah Chase, the Queen of Creole.
She was the executive chef and co-owner of the Dooky Chase’s Restaurant in New Orleans, one of the most historic restaurants in America. Not only was she a chef, co-owner and cookbook author, she also was a public servant.
When African Americans were denied a seat in New Orleans restaurants in the ‘50s and ‘60s, she cooked for them and fed meals to civil rights workers on the frontlines. Chase died in June 2019, but Dooky’s continues to be a stomping ground for regulars, and tourists.
Did you know Princess Tiana, the waitress who wanted to own a restaurant in Disney’s “The Princess and the Frog,” was based on Mrs. Chase. It was the first African-American princess in a Disney movie.
Cajun food lovers- here’s what you’ll need for this easy one pot meal!
Cajun Seasoning- my best friend, Christine, a.k.a the Cajun Queen introduced me to Tony’s Chachere’s Cajun seasoning when we lived together. I always have some in my pantry! It is my go-to Cajun seasoning!
Unsalted Butter- I always use unsalted butter, it’s much easier to control the salt level in my dishes. Since our seasoning blend already has salt in it and the Parmesan cheese is naturally salty. This dish doesn’t need any more salt.
Chicken breast or thighs- I personally love thighs but you can use breast too.
Andouille Sausage- It’s a pretty spicy sausage. It is made from smoked pork and it makes perfect sense with cajun spices!
Fresh Garlic- Garlic is a must in any Alfredo sauce.
Chicken broth- This thins out the sauce and adds a lot of flavor.
Heavy whipping cream- This is what makes this keto cajun chicken alfredo sauce rich and creamy!
Parmesan cheese- Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese because pre-shredded cheese usually has added ingredients which help prevent the shredded cheese from naturally sticking together.
Hot Sauce- I love giving an extra kick to my dishes and that is exactly why I add a dash of hot sauce right at the end.
Fresh parsley– A little parsley adds some color to this quite orange-ish yellow dish, plus it adds some freshness and lightness!
1.25 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast or thighs
2 Andouille sausage links, sliced
5 cloves fresh garlic, minced
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup heavy whipping cream
Dash of hot sauce
handful of fresh minced parsley, divided (save some for garnish)
1 cup parmesan cheese, shredded (save some for garnish)
Noodles or noodle replacement of choice to serve (I used spaghetti squash)
Instructions
To start, season your chicken breasts liberally with your Cajun seasoning blend.
Heat a cast iron skillet over medium heat, and melt 2 tablespoon of butter.
Sear your chicken and sausage over medium high heat, until it’s cooked thru and reaches an internal temperature of 165F. Once cooked thru, remove from the skillet and set aside. Don’t drain or remove any of the drippings.
Reduce the heat to medium, and add 2 more tablespoon of butter of it to your cast iron. Add in your minced garlic, and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Being careful not to let your garlic burn.
Whisk in chicken broth, heavy whipping cream and a dash of hot sauce.
Stir in your parsley, and parmesan cheese. Sprinkle in more Cajun seasoning to taste. Cook until your cheese has melted.
Cut your chicken into pieces, and add chicken and sausage to the skillet.
Serve over noodles of choice. I used Spaghetti squash to get it low carb.
Garnish with more parsley and parmesan cheese. Serve and enjoy!
Juicy, flavorful meatballs cooked until golden and then covered with tomato sauce and cheese.
If you are looking for a new dinner this Keto Meatball Casserole should be it.
I love this keto friendly meatball casserole because it’s really simple to make and delicious. It’s also great for meal prep!
I took my grandparent’s meatball recipe, made a couple of changes to make these keto/low carb meatballs. They make epic leftovers… so great for meal prepping!
The Meat
My personal favorite meat combo when it comes to meatballs is a fifty-fifty of ground beef and Italian sausage.
The Breadcrumbs
As you know, meatballs traditionally call for breadcrumbs for the binder. It’s purpose is to add moisture and keep the proteins in the meat from shrinking and becoming tough. I used crushed pork rinds! They work surprisingly well in lieu of breadcrumbs and they really play up the flavors.
To Pan-fry or to bake?
This is a great debate between Italian cooks – whether meatballs should be baked or pan fried.
I grew up watching my grandmother, Meme pan-fry her meatballs. So in this house, we pan fry! Pan frying meatballs produces superior caramelization and a flavorful outer crust. You really do get the best flavor.
Having said that, you can definitely bake up these too.
Combine all the ingredients for the meatballs and mix thoroughly.
Make about 24 meatballs
Heat an oven safe skillet over medium heat. (I used my cast iron skillet)
Drizzle one tablespoon in the skillet.
Place meatballs into the skillet and cook for two-three minutes, then flip and cook for another 2 minutes.
Place the skillet into the preheated oven and bake for ten minutes.
Carefully remove the skillet from the oven, pour the crushed tomatoes and wine over the meatballs. Return the skillet to the oven and bake for another ten minutes.
Once the sauce is bubbling, sprinkle the cheese over the top and bake for an additional 8 minutes until the cheese is melted.
Optional: I broiled for 3-4 minutes at the end to toast the cheese. Watch it carefully if you put it under the broiler. The cheese can burn easily.
Thick, creamy, and a low-carb alternative to Baked Potato Soup!
Loaded baked potato soup is prime comfort food, but it’s also loaded with calories. My lightened-up version swaps the potatoes for cauliflower while keeping all of the comforting appeal. Roasting the cauliflower takes this soup to the next level. Topped with all your favorite fixings, there’s nothing potato soup can do that this soup can’t.
Divide cauliflower between two large baking sheets. Drizzle each baking sheet with a tablespoon of olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Toss to combine and scatter 4 thyme sprigs on top.
Bake until cauliflower is golden and tender, about 20 minutes.
In a large pot (or dutch oven) over medium heat, cook bacon until crispy, about 8 minutes. Drain cooked bacon slices on a paper towel-lined plate, reserving fat in the pot, then chop bacon into small pieces.
Add onion and celery to bacon fat and cook until tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, another minute, then pour in wine. Cook until wine has mostly reduced down, about 2 minutes.
Add roasted cauliflower to the pot and pour over chicken broth. Add bay leaf, all seasonings and remaining thyme sprigs. Bring mixture to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer until the cauliflower is falling apart, about 20 minutes.
Remove bay leaf and thyme sprigs from soup. Let the mixture cool slightly then carefully pour it into a blender. Cover that center opening with a towel, holding your hand over the towel, and process the soup mixture on low at first (gradually increasing the speed) until completely smooth, 1 to 2 minutes.
Pour the smooth soup back into the Dutch oven on the stovetop.
Whisk in the heavy cream and sour cream.
Set it over medium heat to let it warm through, about 5 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings, adding more salt and pepper, if needed
Serve warm with cheddar, chopped bacon, and chives.
Did you know in China, soup is something that is always on the table, particularly at dinner. According to Chinese tradition, dinner should always include at least three dishes and one soup. Chinese soups are very easy to make and usually made with simple ingredients. And this recipe is no exception!
I absolutely LOVE the flavor and crunch bok choy brings to this fragrant garlicky ginger soup! If you can’t find Bok Choy, you can use any green, such as cabbage, spinach or other Asian greens.
This recipe also calls for one of my new favorite spices…Star Anise. I was first introduced to Star Anise by one of Gordon Ramsay’s recipes.The star-shaped pods look beautiful and have an exotic flavor you’ll fall in love with. It has earthy, subtly sweet spice that is perfect in savory dishes. Star Anise is also an ingredient in Chinese five spice, where it’s combined with fennel, cinnamon, Szechuan peppercorns and cloves. So if you can not find Star Anise, you can use Chinese five spice.
Honestly this is one of my go to soups, it’s perfect in cold or even warm weather, who doesn’t love a nutritious, comforting, and flu-fighting soup! Get your grocery list together and let’s get cooking!
INGREDIENTS
1 tbsp olive oil
3 shallots, chopped
1 bunch green onions, chopped, green and white divided
4 cloves garlic, chopped
2 tbsp ginger, fresh, minced)
5 ½ cups chicken broth (or water)
2 whole star anise or ¼ teaspoon Chinese five spice season
2 tbsp soy sauce
10 oz crimini mushrooms, sliced
6 oz rice noodles
1.5 heads bok choy, roughly chopped
sesame seeds (for topping)
red pepper flakes (for topping)
INSTRUCTIONS
Heat 1-2 tablespoons olive oil in a medium-sized stockpot over medium heat. Saute the shallots over medium heat for 4-5 minutes, or until the shallots turn translucent and start to soften. Stir often. Add the white part of the green onions, garlic, and ginger to the shallots and mix. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 1-2 minutes or until garlic and ginger is fragrant. Carefully pour the chicken broth into the pot and bring to a simmer. Add the star anise and soy sauce. Cover and continue to simmer for 10 minutes. Remove the lid from the pot and carefully remove and discard each star anise from the soup. Add the mushrooms, uncooked noodles, and bok choy to the pot and simmer for 5-8 minutes, or until noodles and bok choy are tender. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with sesame seeds, the green parts of green onions and red pepper flakes.
These Zucchini Taco boats are made with fresh zucchini stuffed with seasoned ground beef, bell peppers, and topped with cheese and salsa. But the filling could literally be anything, from chicken and corn, to meatballs with tomato sauce!
They are low carb and keto diet friendly.
Start with 3 or 4 small zucchini.
I used a small cookie scoop to scoop out the middle of the zucchini, but you can also use a small spoon. I got a little close to the edge on one of them, but don’t worry about it. The meat filling will cover it up. I love using the insides of the zucchini I scooped out to add filler, so place the insides to the side.
Pour 1/2 cup of your favorite salsa in a baking dish- I used Pace. Lay the boats on top of the salsa and sprinkle each with salt.
Now it’s time to make the filling. Heat a pan over medium-heat and cook the meat. You can use any ground meat, I used ground beef. Once the meat is cooked, transfer to a bowl and set aside. Wipe out the same pan and add a drizzle of EVOO.
Sauté the insides of the zucchini. Make sure to cook it down to reduce the liquid. Then add bell peppers,- any color, I used red and yellow. Sprinkle it with chili powder, cumin, and salt. Stir together and cook for about two minutes. Add the red onion and garlic. It should start to smell like it’s almost Taco time!
Continue to cook until vegetables are softened and water has absorbed. Lastly, add the meat back to the pan, and stir together. Once it is combined, it’s time to fill up the boats. Go ahead and fill those babies up- don’t be shy! Let the meat spill over if you need to.
I love cheese and, what’s a taco if it doesn’t have any cheese on it? Cover the filled boats with shredded cheese. I used Cheddar but Monterrey Jack or a Mexican blend would work great, too.
Place the baking dish in the 400°F preheated oven and cook for 20-25 minutes.
This recipe is great if you’re looking for a low-carb option for tacos, or need to get more veggies into your diet. Try them out for Taco Tuesday and enjoy!
INGREDIENTS
4 Zucchini
1lb Ground Beef
1/2 cup Mixed Red & Yellow Bell Peppers, finely diced
1/2 cup Red Onion, diced
2 Cloves Garlic, minced
1 tablespoon Chili Powder
2 teaspoons Cumin
1/2 teaspoon Salt
8 ounces Cheddar Cheese, shredded
1/2 cup Salsa
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat oven to 400°F
Prepare your zucchini, cut each zucchini in half lengthwise. Use a measuring spoon (teaspoon) to hollow out the zucchini forming a boat… save the insides and set aside.
Pour salsa into a baking dish.
Place the zucchini boats in the same baking dish and sprinkle a small amount of salt over them.
In a skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef. Once cooked, transfer to a bowl. Wipe out the same pan and add a drizzle of EVOO.
Add the inside of the zucchini, water will release. Let it cook down to reduce the liquid, then add bell peppers, chili powder, cumin, and salt. Stir together and cook for about two minutes. Then add the red onion and garlic.
Continue to cook until vegetables are softened and water has absorbed. Add the meat back to the pan, stir together.
Once combined, fill each zucchini boat with the beef and vegetable mixture.
Top the zucchini boats with cheddar cheese.
Bake for 25 minutes or until zucchini has softened and cheese is melted.
Whisk Away Kitchen 