High protein Low carb Mexican Recipes: (12 Delicious Dishes)

Table of Nutritional Information for high protein low carb Mexican recipes:

Recipe Name	Calories	Protein (g)	Fat (g)	Carbs (g)	Fiber (g)
Fajita Frittata	300	25	18	8	3
Mexican Stuffed Peppers	310	18	21	8	4
Salsa Chicken	176	19	8	5	1
Beef Barbacoa	213	22	13	1	0
Mexican Skillet	416	45.8	21.7	5.9	2

• Q: What do you say to a keto Mexican bodybuilder who has run out of protein?
• A: No whey, Josè!

We LOLed upon hearing this joke; you probably are laughing right now, too. 

But think about it: Would it still be funny if you found yourself in Josè’s shoes?

Imagine what would happen to you when you can’t get the protein you need while on keto. (*)

For one, you’ll get hungry faster.

Also, you may experience difficulties curbing your cravings.

Not only that, but you may also lose weight slower than usual.

But here’s the worst part: you will lose the muscle mass you worked hard for.

What a bummer, right?

You bet it is!

So let’s not be like Josè. Don’t be like Josè.

The best way to do this is to ensure you get enough keto protein. Fortunately, plenty of high-protein, low-carb Mexican recipes can help you with that.

Good news: You can find all these recipes in this article. So, if you don’t like to be Josè, keep on reading!

12 Delicious High Protein Low carb Mexican Recipes for Maximum Gains

Here are some of the best keto Mexican recipes that can give you (and Josè) maximum muscle gains without the unwanted carbs and calories:

Table 2: Recommended Serving Sizes for Muscle Gains

Recipe Name	Recommended Serving Size (g)
Fajita Frittata	150
Mexican Stuffed Peppers	200
Salsa Chicken	250
Beef Barbacoa	180
Mexican Skillet	300

1. Fajita Frittata- Mexican for Breakfast

Did you know starting your day with a protein-packed breakfast has many benefits? (*)

That’s why this fajita frittata has become our favorite go-to breakfast dish. Of course, our main reason is its high protein content, especially since it contains chorizo and butter in addition to eggs. 

But more than that, it’s also a creative way to use your leftover steak, chicken, or any high-protein Mexican takeout in your fridge.

Oh, and let’s remember how quick and easy it is to whip up this meal. Just dump everything in a skillet, bake or broil it, and you already have the perfect breakfast dish.

With all these benefits, this simple meal is nutritionally balanced, efficient, and economical.

Per serving: The nutritional content may vary depending on the type of protein you use.

Editor’s Tip: Next time you order at a Mexican restaurant, ask your waiter to swap the high-carb ingredients for more veggies. This way, you’ll have more leftovers for this frittata.

Learn more: https://www.idratherbeachef.com/fajita-frittata-recipe/

2. Mexican-style Stuffed Peppers- A Flavorful Filling Meal

If you can’t eat a high-protein meal for breakfast, at least have one for lunch so you’re sure you’re getting enough protein throughout the day. With that said, we’re excited to share our favorite Mexican lunch recipe—stuffed peppers.

We love these because they contain protein-rich ingredients like ground beef and cheese.

But wait, there’s more. It’s also stuffed with cauliflower rice, making you feel full until dinnertime.

The meal’s best highlight is that it’s easy to pack and eat, so you can enjoy it at work or eat on the go.

Per serving: 310 calories, 21g fats, 18g protein, and 8g net carbs.

Pro Tip: Go for a sugar-free tomato sauce to reduce the meal’s carbohydrate content. (*)

Editor’s Tip: Use poblano peppers to add a spicy spin to the meal. This spicy twist can boost your metabolism, suppress your appetite, and promote faster weight loss. (*)

Learn more: https://mykitchenserenity.com/low-carb-stuffed-bell-peppers/

3. Salsa Chicken- Quickest and Easiest Mexican Recipe

We’ve always thought that making Mexican dishes has to be tedious and time-consuming, but this recipe changed our minds. 

That’s because you can whip up this recipe in just 4 hours and 5 minutes. The cook time seems long, but it’s actually a dump-style recipe. 

This means that you’ll only spend 5 minutes prepping the ingredients. After that, you just allow the slow cooker to do its magic for the remaining 4 hours. 

As if that’s not enough, it’s only a 3-ingredient recipe. To create this tangy and spicy goodness, you only need chicken breast, salsa, and taco seasoning. 

Per serving: 176 calories, 8g fats, 19g protein, and 5g net carbs.

Pro Tip: Use keto taco seasoning and salsa recipes to keep the carbohydrate content to a minimum. (*)(*)

Editor’s Tip: Make this in bulk and freeze the leftovers because you can use this as your protein source in a wide range of Mexican dishes. We love using it in making burrito bowls, enchiladas, or tacos.

Learn more: https://easylowcarb.com/crock-pot-salsa-chicken/

4. Beef Barbacoa– A Chipotle Copycat

One of our favorite dishes at Chipotle is their Beef Barbacoa. It’s tender, fall-apart, and loaded with familiar Mexican flavors.

That’s why we were excited when we came across this dish with the same taste and texture, and it uses a slow cooker, which is a big plus for us for two main reasons.

One, it’s easy to make because you only need to prepare the ingredients for 10 minutes then the slow cooker will do all the cooking for you.

Second, the slow cooking allows the flavors to meld properly while maintaining the meat’s juiciness and tender texture. As a result, it gives you maximum flavor with minimal effort. 

Per serving: 213 calories, 13.2g fats, 22.1g protein, and 1.2g net carbs.

Pro Tip: Use a high-power blender to easily and properly mix the marinade’s ingredients. (*)

Editor’s Tip: Sear the beef chunks in the skillet first to give it a smoky flavor.

Learn more: https://www.wholesomeyum.com/recipes/copycat-chipotle-barbacoa-slow-cooker-low-carb-paleo/

5. Mexican Skillet- A One-Pan Dinner

With this Mexican skillet recipe, you can gain muscle while enjoying delicious Mexican flavors and having fun in the kitchen. That’s because the dish is a one-pan dinner, so preparation and cleanup are a breeze.

But more than the ease of cooking, the thing we love the most about this meal is its wide variety of ingredients.

It contains ground beef and shredded cheese, which amps the meal’s protein content.

On the other hand, the vegetables and spices deliver different satisfying textures and flavors.

As if these aren’t enough, the skillet also has cauliflower rice that fills you up without boosting your carb consumption.

Per serving: 416 calories, 21.7g fats, 45.8g protein, and 5.9g net carbs.

Learn more: https://www.fittoservegroup.com/keto-mexican-skillet/

6. Green Chile Bake- Mexican Low-carb White Sauce Lasagna

We love eggplant lasagna recipes, but this green chile bake recipe blew our minds. It uses big green chili slices instead of lasagna sheets, so it’s spicier and much more flavorful.

You’ll find a mix of spicy ground beef, sour cream, and a lot of cheese between the chili layers. With these, you can enjoy cheesy and beefy goodness in every bite. 

Per serving: 461 calories, 34g fats, 33g protein, and 5.5g net carbs.

Pro Tip: Use canned green chiles if you can’t find fresh ones. (*)

Editor’s Tip: Add egg to boost protein content and transform it into a breakfast casserole. 

Learn more: https://kalynskitchen.com/beefy-cheesy-low-carb-green-chile-bake/

7. Chicken Taco Lettuce Wraps- Healthy Low-carb Taco Version

We may not have the real taco deal on keto, but we can enjoy the second-best option—lettuce wraps. This chicken taco lettuce wrap dish is our favorite recipe when we want something heavy on protein but light on calories.

Since the recipe uses chicken breast, we’re sure we get the protein we need from a single serving. (*)

But wait, there’s more. The breasts are marinated in homemade seasoning and then grilledto give the filling a juicy texture and spicy, smoky flavor.  

Pro Tip: Switch to iceberg lettuce to enjoy maximum crunch.

Per serving: 161 calories, 9.1g fats, 14.5g protein, and 4.9g net carbs.

Learn more: https://gimmedelicious.com/chicken-taco-lettuce-wraps-low-carb-paleo-keto/

8. Keto Taco Cups – The Cheesiest Taco Recipe Ever

Because of its small and compact design, we usually have these taco cups on our movie nights or game nights. They are also convenient to eat and carry wherever we go, making them the perfect road trip companion.

But most importantly, it uses baked cheese as taco cups, making it the cheesiest, crispiest, and yummiest keto taco variation you can try.

Besides improving the taste and delivering crunch, the cheese cups also deliver the extra dose of protein that you need. 

Per serving: 199 calories, 16g fats, 11g protein, and 1g net carbs.

Pro Tip: Use a non-stick silicone muffin pan to prevent the cheese from sticking to the pan. (*)

Learn more: https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a19637783/keto-taco-cups-recipe/

9. Mexican Baked Eggs- Low in Carbs, High in Protein and Flavor

Eggs are our best protein source because of their high protein content and wide availability.

However, we’ll be honest: eating egg dishes repeatedly gets boring over time. Count this recipe out because it presents the eggs most deliciously and creatively possible.

These Mexican Baked Eggs are rich in flavor and textures you can’t get from the usual egg casserole.

It contains fire-roasted tomatoes that add a tangy and smoky twist. The meal is also packed with chilies and spices, infusing much-needed heat and boosting metabolism. (*)

Pro Tip: Skip the beans and tortillas to keep the dish keto-friendly.

Editor’s Tip: Go for low-carb tortillas if you’re looking for something neutral to eat with. (*)

Per serving: 204 calories (no information provided about the fat, protein, and carb content)

Learn more: https://domesticsuperhero.com/mexican-baked-eggs-one-skillet/

10.  Carne Asada- Tender, Juicy, and Bursting with Flavor

If there’s one thing Mexicans know how to cook, it’s their meats and this Carne Asada recipe proves just that. Carne Asada literally means grilled meat in English, and this recipe is the best-grilled meat we’ve ever had.

The recipe uses flank steak, which is low in fats and high in protein. (*) Because it’s quite a tough steak cut, it has to be marinated in lime, orange juice, vinegar, and spices.

The condiments tenderize and hydrate the meat. At the same time, they deliver fruity, zesty, and tangy flavors that balance its fattiness and complement its smoky taste.

Per serving: 468 calories, 26g fats, 49g protein, and 6g net carbs.

Pro Tip: Remove the meat from the refrigerator 30 minutes before grilling. Doing this allows the meat to come to room temperature and promote an even cook.

Editor’s Tip: Prevent the meat from getting chewy by cooking it to an internal temperature of 125 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Learn more: https://www.lowcarbnomad.com/carne-asada/

11.  Fish in Veracruz Sauce- A One-Pan Fish Dish

We rarely mention fish when discussing Mexican cuisine, but their seafood recipes deserve to be in the spotlight. Because of this, we’re sharing the Mexican fish dish that got us hooked—Fish Veracruz.

So, what is Veracruz? Well, it’s a Mexican tomato-based sauce that contains capers and tomatoes seasoned with bay leaves and oregano.

As you may have guessed, the sauce is not spicy, making it perfect for people who can’t take the heat from Mexican spices.

This unique Veracruz recipe uses fire-roasted tomatoes, giving the sauce a smoky flavor without the extra prep time.

Per serving: 405 calories, 31g fats, 21g protein, and 9g net carbs.

Pro Tip: Roast fresh tomatoes instead of canned tomatoes to further lower the meal’s carb count. 

Learn more: https://nomnompaleo.com/fish-veracruz-sauce

12.  Grilled Cilantro Lime Shrimp Skewers- Protein in a Skewer

Did you know that shrimps are good protein sources? (*)

We didn’t! We just discovered this little fact when looking for a lighter, less fatty protein source than beef. This simple revelation is the perfect excuse to eat more of these shrimp skewers.

Even though shrimp are low in calories and carbs, this recipe is high in flavor.

The shrimp are marinated in lime juice and olive oil, giving it a tropical taste. It’s also seasoned with cumin, paprika, and cayenne pepper, which gives it that signature Mexican spicy kick. 

Per serving: 124 calories, 2g fats, 23g protein, and 2g net carbs.

Editor’s Tip: You can also use the marinade for chicken, but you’d have to marinate it for 2 hours. 

Learn more: https://ketocookingchristian.com/grilled-lime-cilantro-shrimp-skewers-keto-and-low-carb/

Up Next: Keto mexican recipes

FAQs

1. Are high protein low carb Mexican recipes suitable for vegetarians? Yes, you can adapt many Mexican recipes to suit a vegetarian diet by using plant-based protein sources.
2. What are the best spices to use in high-protein low-carb Mexican cooking? Common spices include cumin, chili powder, paprika, and oregano. Adjust to your taste preference.
3. Can I indulge in high-protein Mexican dishes if I’m watching my calorie intake? Absolutely. High-protein dishes can help you feel fuller for longer, making portion control easier.
4. How can I make my high-protein low-carb Mexican dishes more keto-friendly? Substitute ingredients like almond flour for traditional flour and use sugar substitutes when needed.
5. Where can I find high-protein low-carb Mexican options when dining out? Look for grilled protein options and ask for substitutions like cauliflower rice instead of regular rice at Mexican restaurants.

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