On the ketogenic diet, which is high in fat and very low in carbohydrates, you need to limit your daily carb intake to 20–50 grams. This helps you achieve ketosis, a metabolic state where your body primarily burns fat instead of carbs.
Planning all your meals on this diet can be time-consuming, which is why many people opt for convenient frozen meals. However, many pre-packaged options contain high levels of carbohydrates.
Finding a keto-friendly frozen meal can be challenging, but it is possible if you know what to look for.
A quick overview of the best keto frozen meals:
Best overall
Five One Eight Kitchen Steak Chili with Refried ‘Beans’
Best paleo-friendly option
Primal Kitchen Chicken Pesto Bowl
Best Tex-Mex keto meal
Realgood Foods Co. Real Beef Enchiladas
Best chicken option
Realgood Foods Co. Creamy Spinach Artichoke Chicken
Best keto pizza
Quest Thin Crust Uncured Pepperoni Pizza
Best breakfast choice
Jimmy Dean Steak & Cheddar Simple Scrambles
Best keto bowl
Healthy Choice Power Bowl Chicken Marinara with Cauliflower Rice
Best pasta alternative
Healthy Choice Simply Steamers Grilled Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo
Best high-protein meal
Life Cuisine Keto Friendly Cheese Lovers Pizza
Best pork option
Atkins Pork Verde
Best vegetarian choice
Stouffer’s Classics Spinach Soufflé
Considerations for frozen meals
Frozen meals offer convenience and can be a lifesaver on busy days. However, it’s wise to limit your intake of such meals, as they often contain high levels of salt and may be linked to weight gain and chronic conditions like heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Their high salt content can also be a concern for individuals with high blood pressure.
Overall, it’s best to consume frozen meals only occasionally when you’re in need of a quick, easy option.
How we chose the best keto frozen meals
The keto-friendly frozen meals on this list were selected based on:
Net carbs
Each product contains 9 grams or fewer of net carbs (total carbs minus fibre).
Ingredient quality
The top products use the highest quality ingredients, are minimally processed, and may include organic produce or high-quality meats like grass-fed beef, organic chicken, or wild-caught seafood.
Availability
Some meals can be ordered online, while others are available in local grocery stores.
Our picks for the best keto frozen meals
Best overall: Five One Eight Kitchen Steak Chili with Refried ‘Beans’
- Net carbs: 9 grams per 10-oz. (275-gram) serving
- Price: ££
This keto-friendly meal features a hearty chilli made with grass-fed beef, bacon, onions, peppers, and ‘beans’ made from eggplant. Served with scallions and cauliflower rice.
Five One Eight Kitchen specialises in keto and low-carb frozen meals, offering a variety of options including strict keto meals and moderately low-carb choices. All meals from this brand are minimally processed and made with high-quality proteins such as grass-fed beef. A great choice for those looking to avoid more processed options.
Pros
- High-quality ingredients
- Minimally processed
- Other keto-friendly options available
Cons
- Quite expensive
- Only available online
Best paleo-friendly frozen keto meal: Primal Kitchen Chicken Pesto Bowl
- Net carbs: 5 grams per 10-oz. (284-gram) serving
- Price: ££
This paleo meal includes cage-free chicken and vegetables in a light pesto sauce, which is also compatible with the Whole30 diet.
The paleo diet excludes grains, legumes, and dairy in favour of unprocessed meats, fruits, and vegetables. Whole30 is a strict 30-day programme for identifying food sensitivities.
While these diets are generally low in carbs, they tend to be higher in carbs than keto.
Primal Kitchen offers other low-carb meals, but the Chicken Pesto Bowl is the only one with fewer than 10 grams of net carbs per serving.
Pros
- Paleo-friendly
- Minimally processed
Cons
- Quite expensive
Best Tex-Mex keto frozen meal: Realgood Foods Co. Real Beef Enchiladas
- Net carbs: 2 grams per 2 enchiladas (133 grams)
- Price: ££
Realgood offers a variety of keto-friendly frozen meals, including enchiladas made with high-quality ingredients and free from highly processed additives.
The brand also offers other keto-friendly Tex-Mex options such as chicken enchiladas and crispy tacos. This product features beef, but there are also cheese and chicken enchiladas available.
Pros
- Very low in carbs
- Widely available
- No highly processed additives
Cons
- Expensive
Best keto frozen meal with chicken: Realgood Foods Co. Creamy Spinach Artichoke Chicken
- Net carbs: 1 gram per piece (142 grams), 4 grams total
- Price: ££
Realgood also offers stuffed chicken breast dishes at a lower price. However, some reviews mention that the texture can be mushy, especially when microwaved.
This particular option features a Parmesan crust and creamy spinach and artichoke stuffing. The brand provides other flavours and smaller stuffed chicken options.
Pros
- Very low in carbs
- Widely available
- No highly processed additives
Cons
- Reports of a mushy texture
Best keto frozen pizza: Quest Thin Crust Uncured Pepperoni Pizza
- Net carbs: 7 grams per half pizza (162 grams)
- Price: ££
If you want a simple, keto-friendly frozen pizza, this Quest option is a great choice.
It is high in fibre, so you can enjoy half the pizza without consuming too many net carbs.
Quest also offers supreme and cheese pizza options.
Pros
- Well-regarded for taste and texture
- No highly processed additives
Cons
- May be too high in carbs if you eat the entire pizza
Best frozen keto meal for breakfast: Jimmy Dean Steak & Cheddar Simple Scrambles
- Net carbs: 3 grams per 5-oz. (151-gram) serving
- Price: ££
While it contains some processed ingredients, this Jimmy Dean meal provides a protein-rich breakfast of steak, eggs, and cheese.
Other Jimmy Dean Simple Scrambles and Egg’wiches are also keto-friendly and can be found in most grocery stores.
Pros
- High in protein
Cons
- Highly processed
- High in sodium
Best frozen keto bowl: Healthy Choice Power Bowl Chicken Marinara with Cauliflower Rice
- Net carbs: 5 grams per 9-oz. (262-gram) serving
- Price: £
This meal includes chicken, vegetables, and cauliflower rice in marinara sauce with Parmesan cheese. Keep in mind it does contain some processed ingredients.
Healthy Choice also offers other keto-friendly options in its Power Bowl range, like Basil Pesto Chicken and Cajun Style Chicken and Sausage, both of which use cauliflower rice to keep carbs low.
Pros
- Affordable
- Free from artificial ingredients
Cons
- High in sodium
Best pasta alternative: Healthy Choice Simply Steamers Grilled Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo
- Net carbs: 4 grams per container (259 grams)
- Price: £
This Healthy Choice dish includes grilled chicken and broccoli in an Alfredo cream sauce. As it lacks pasta, it’s an excellent low-carb alternative to frozen fettuccine Alfredo.
Some keto-friendly options in the Simply Steamers line use fewer processed ingredients than other Healthy Choice products.
Pros
- Uses fewer processed ingredients compared to other Healthy Choice options
- Affordable
Cons
- High in sodium
Best high-protein frozen keto meal: Life Cuisine Keto Friendly Cheese Lovers Pizza
- Net carbs: 7 grams per 6-oz. (170-gram) serving
- Price: ££
This Life Cuisine pizza is a personal-size thin crust topped with four types of cheese.
Although it contains some additives and is highly processed, it provides 30 grams of protein, making it quite filling. It’s available in many grocery stores.
Pros
- Available in many stores
- High in protein
Cons
- Highly processed
Best keto frozen meal with pork: Atkins Pork Verde
- Net carbs: 8 grams per 9-oz. (255-gram) serving
- Price: £
Atkins offers several keto-friendly frozen meals widely available in stores. While they may not have the highest quality ingredients, they are free of artificial additives.
This product features pulled pork, bell peppers, and onions in green salsa with Monterey Jack cheese.
Pros
- Affordable
- No artificial additives
Cons
- Highly processed
Best vegetarian frozen keto meal: Stouffer’s Classics Spinach Soufflé
- Net carbs: 8 grams per 1/2-cup (115-gram) serving
- Price: £
This dish consists of spinach creamed with milk and cheese, providing a good vegetarian option, although it contains some processed ingredients.
For an extra protein boost, stir in a beaten egg and microwave for an additional 30 seconds.
Stouffer’s products are available in most grocery stores.
Pros
- Suitable for vegetarians
- Affordable
Cons
- Low in protein
- Contains processed ingredients
How to choose the best keto frozen meal
When selecting a keto-friendly frozen meal, the most important factor is the carb content. Most people on the diet aim to consume 20–50 grams of net carbs daily.
Always check the nutrition labels carefully, as many frozen meals contain high levels of carbs.
For convenience, stick to established keto-friendly brands like Atkins, Realgood, and Quest. These are widely available and low in net carbs.
Online, you might consider Carb-Wise options from Performance Kitchen or keto choices from Five One Eight Kitchen.
Finally, consider food quality and any other dietary needs, such as vegetarian or paleo options.
Frequently asked questions about keto frozen meals
Can I eat Quest pizza on keto?
Yes, Quest pizza can be part of a keto diet, but a whole Quest frozen pizza contains 12 grams of net carbs, so you may need to monitor your portion size to stay within your daily carb limit.
Are Lean Cuisine meals keto-friendly?
Most Lean Cuisine meals aren’t keto-friendly. However, Life Cuisine, a related brand, offers several low-carb options and a keto-friendly pizza.
Can you lose weight with frozen food?
Yes, as long as you’re managing your calorie intake.
However, frozen meals can make this challenging as they are often highly processed, and such foods have been linked to weight gain and chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
For weight loss, it’s essential to count calories and stick to less processed options such as those from Five One Eight.
The bottom line
To find a keto-friendly frozen meal, you need to check labels carefully to ensure the product is low in net carbs. For ease, refer to the list above.
Keto-friendly brands include Five One Eight Kitchen, Realgood Foods Co., Quest, and Atkins.
These convenient options can help you maintain a keto diet without sacrificing your busy lifestyle.