25 Low-Carb, High-Protein Snacks (All Keto-Diet-Approved)

When you find yourself feeling peckish, reach for one of these keto-approved, low-carb snacks that can satisfy any craving in a healthier way.

If you are simply keeping an eye on your carbohydrate intake, you may not be restricting to this level, but the advice to stick to whole foods and not go crazy on the snacks still applies. A low-carb diet offers many similar benefits to a ketogenic diet, the major difference being that the latter puts you in a state of nutritional ketosis.

Here's a list of whole and healthy low-carb, high-protein options to get you started:

Boiled eggs are an excellent snack, packed with protein and nutrients. Plus, they're convenient! Add boiled eggs to your weekly meal prep to make grabbing a snack super simple.

For a low-carb but nutrient-rich snack, slice up an avocado, sprinkle with salt and pepper, or scoop it right out of the skin.

If you're unsure about the carb content of your nut du jour, here's a quick reference. Quantities below equate to around 1-ounce (or 28-gram) servings.

RELATED READ: Is Eating Nuts Keeping You Out Of Ketosis? Here's What To Know

Sardines have a relatively mild fish flavor, but they're packed with health benefits (not to mention sustainably sourced protein).

You can purchase some fantastic low-carb crackers nowadays, but if you want to be in control of the ingredients, try out this flavor-packed recipe.

Making guacamole is a great way to enjoy your avocados, and vegetables like carrots or peppers make for a lower-carb scooping option than classic tortilla chips.

The contents of this one will, of course, vary depending on what you add, but you should aim for under 10 grams of carbs if you're keto. Leave the dried fruits off and load up on the meats and cheeses, which have essentially no carbohydrates.

This combo is a quick and easy way to satisfy a sweet tooth and stay full until your next meal.

Here's a quick chia pudding recipe: Mix 2 tablespoons chia seeds, 2 tablespoons full-fat coconut milk (or any milk of choice! Just make sure it's unsweetened), 2 to 3 tablespoons water (or just more milk), a dash of vanilla extract, and a non-glycemic sweetener of your choice, like monk fruit or allulose.

If you have some ripe avocados on hand, avocado pudding is quick to whip up. Take a whole avocado, add around ⅓ cup full-fat coconut milk, 2 tablespoon cocoa powder, a dash of vanilla extract, and sea salt.

Toasted coconut chips are a delicious snack that you can take with you on the go. Just make sure that if you're buying these packaged, there's no added sugar.

Simply blend around 1 cup ice, ¼ cup full-fat coconut milk (or again, your unsweetened milk of choice), 1 scoop of whey protein, a pinch of sea salt, and non-glycemic sweetener of choice (optional). Blending takes patience because the ratio of ice to liquid is higher than a typical ice cream, but if you keep at it and get it blending, it will turn into a delicious, creamy ice cream.

You can make endless variations of the classic quick keto fat bomb, like this mint chocolate chip recipe.

Whisk together 6 eggs, ¼ cup milk of choice, salt, pepper, chopped veg (e.g., spinach, broccoli, onions). Optional add-ins: chopped bacon, sausage, shredded cheese. Bake in a lined or greased muffin pan at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 to 18 minutes until edges are browned. Cool, store in fridge, and enjoy!

To make the bread, all you need is 3 eggs, 1 cup nut butter, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, and 1 teaspoon baking soda. This is the base, but you can get creative and add things like protein powder, sweeteners, or cocoa powder, among various other ingredients. Mix the apple cider vinegar and baking soda in a bowl and let it fizz up before adding the remaining ingredients and mix well. Add the mix to a lined or greased bread pan and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 to 30 minutes.

Muffins are on the keto menu and make for a great snack when prepared in advance. Check out these 12 sweet and savory keto muffin recipes that will satisfy all your cravings and tide you over between meals.

This is another super-easy recipe that can be made ahead of time. All you need is either 8 boiled eggs, 2½ cups shredded chicken, or 2 tins of tuna to mix with ½ cup of avocado oil mayonnaise (or homemade mayonnaise), 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard, fresh dill, fresh parsley, chives or green onions, salt, and pepper. Optional add-ins: chopped celery, chopped dill pickles, chopped jalapeño pepper, hot sauce. Eat it straight out of the bowl or scoop into lettuce boats.

Again, you'll want to avoid highly processed snacks in favor of ones with whole-food ingredients to keep carbs down. Registered dietitian L.J. Amaral, M.S., R.D., CSO, recommends on-the-go snacks like chia seed puddings, seaweed snacks, and protein bars, for example.

Kale chips are a fun and yummy way to snack without overdoing it on the carbs. Many kale chips are low-carb, but always read the ingredients and nutrition label to make sure there are no added sugars. 

This is a tricky one, because not all bars labeled "keto" are blood-sugar-friendly. That said, there are a lot of great keto products out there. Some sweeteners to avoid (due to their blood sugar responses) are isomalto-oligosaccharide (IMOs), maltitol, and other names for sugar like dextrose and maltodextrin. Some keto-friendly sweeteners are allulose, stevia, monk fruit, erythritol, and xylitol.

Who knew cheese could make delicious chips? Cheese crisps are essentially baked, crispy cheese bites that can be found in most shops these days. They typically don't contain any strange hidden ingredients and make for an easy low-carb or keto snack on the go.

Meat bars are a solid real-food snack. Many companies now sell dried meat snacks made with simple ingredient lists. Not only are these low-carb, but they also provide a good amount of protein.

There are some great keto "treats" out there, like cookies that are higher in fat and lower in carbs. Stick to those made with only a few ingredients, flours like almond flour and coconut flour, and sweeteners like erythritol, monk fruit, and allulose.

If you are concerned about this, add your protein to milk with a higher fat content, or blend it into a smoothie with some fiber and fat (like the one below).

Who said you need fruit to make a delicious smoothie? Steamed then frozen cauliflower is a great sub for frozen fruit to give your smoothies a thick texture. But you can always add a handful of frozen berries, too, to keep it low-carb. Here's a keto-approved matcha-mint smoothie recipe to try.

Depending on what time of day it is, you can satisfy your snack craving with a hot cup of joe or matcha tea blended with some MCT powder or oil (1 to 2 tablespoons). MCTs are rapidly converted to ketones. If it's too late for coffee, add 1 to 2 tablespoons cocoa powder, stevia to taste, and sea salt to boiling water and blend this with MCTs.

When choosing a snack, it's helpful to stick with foods that will keep you fuller for longer. That way, you won't be tempted to overindulge on unhealthy treats. Any of the low-carb, high-protein options on this list are keto-approved and endlessly customizable to hold you over until your next meal.