keto air frying – The Keto Guru

Keto Taco Zucchini Boats

Well this was good…like really good. Imagine having all the same flavors of Taco Tuesday without the extra carbs. This is exactly what you get here. Now, I’ve done several iterations of this recipe; philly boats, chicken bacon ranch, but this has to be my favorite. Did I mention how super simple this is as well? Well, get after it, what ya waiting for?

Ingredients:

1lb. ground beef
1/2 (4 oz.) block of cream cheese
3 nice sized zucchini (get them as straight as you can)
Mexican blend grated cheese
Taco seasoning
Taco fixin’s of your choice

Instructions:

We need to start out by washing our zucchini and then cutting the tip off of both ends, but just the tip! Once this is done, cut them down the center as straight as you can.

Now, take a spoon and dig out the center. Don’t dig too deep, but dig deep enough to get enough of the filling inside. Also, stop about 1/4 inch from either end so the filling doesn’t fall out. Repeat until all 6 are done this way.

Throw these into the air fryer at 400 degrees and cook for 10-12 minutes. We just want to soften them up a bit prior to filling them and cooking again. I also elect to sprinkle with salt for a bit of added flavor.

While your zucchini is cookin’, add your ground beef to a skillet and get to browning it up. Cook until it’s good and brown. At this point I elect to remove the grease because it will make a mess in our boat. And, now that it’s cooked and drained, this is when I add the seasoning. Season to your liking.

Once your meat is cooked, take your 1/2 block of cream cheese, cubed, and throw in with your ground beef. Keep your fire on low and gently work it around until the ground beef and cream cheese is combined well. Kill the fire.

At this point, everything should be ready to stuff. Take your zucchini out of the air fryer. Using a spoon, start adding your filling into your boats. Fill each one and pack them down real good. This helps prevent them from falling out. Repeat until they are all stuffed. Just for reference, 1lb. of ground beef perfectly stuffed 6 boats.

Take some grated mexican blend cheese (or cheese of your choice) and sprinkle on top of each boat. Put back into air fryer and cook for about 10 minutes, or until your cheese is nice and crispy on top.

Plate your boats and start topping with your favorite taco fixin’s. I use sour cream, guacamole and crema. Hope you enjoy!

Keto Spicy McChicken Sandwich

I’ve made a lot of dupe’s but this one here was pretty dadgum awesome. I was actually going to make chicken nuggets tonight but I changed my mind while on my long run today. It tasted very close to a McDonalds McChicken. The only thing was it didn’t come out as spicy as I hoped (add more cajun hot sauce!).

Ingredients:

2 lbs ground chicken
2 eggs
Cajun Hot Sauce
Salt/Pepper
Seasonings of choice (preferably something with some spice)
3 Eggs for egg wash
6 oz. pork rinds
1.5 cups almond flour

Instructions:

Let’s knock out the batter first. In a food processor, add your pork rinds, almond flour and some seasonings. Place on blend until you have a nice powdery pork rind mixture.

In a separate bowl, crack your eggs for your egg wash. Add as much of the cajun hot sauce as you desire. If you don’t want spicy, don’t add any. Mix well.

Onto your chicken patties. In a bowl, add your ground chicken, 2 eggs, salt, pepper and seasonings. Mix well until all combined.

After mixed, use your hand to form 1/4lb chicken patties. Pack them as tight as you can. The mixture will be a bit sticky but they will hold together. Take each patty and drown in your egg wash. Remove from egg and immediately place in your pork rind mixture. Place in a lined (helps with cleaning) air fryer. Repeat this step until you are finished. 2lbs of ground chicken should yield 8 patties.

Air fry your patties for about 15 minutes, flipping halfway. You can cook a little longer if you want to get extra crunch but you risk drying out the chicken.

While your chicken is cooking, get your bread toasted and ready. I make PSMF bread but you can also use your favorite low carb bread. If you want to make PSMF bread, look up Maria Emmerich and search for her recipe.

Butter both sides of the bread and warm it in a pan. Toast until you get it to where you like it.

Mayo both sides of your bread, add your chicken patty, a slice of cheese, sliced tomato, shredded lettuce and cap it with your 2nd slice of bread. Head to the table and enjoy!

Keto Eggplant Parmesean

Sometimes when I have no clue what I’m going to do it turns out the best. I had fresh eggplant in my garden and needed to cook it. So, I got into the Keto lab and started working. There’s nothing in this recipe that I would change. It turned out fantastic! This recipe will be a little different. I didn’t really measure my ingredients but it all worked out. I think it will work out for you as well!

Ingredients:

3 fresh eggplants
Rao’s marinara sauce or any other Keto friendly marinara
Grated parmesan cheese
Mozzarella cheese
4 boneless skinless breasts cut into tenders or pre-cut tenders
eggs for battering
Seasonings
- Salt
- Pepper
- Italian

Instructions:

The 1st step will be to sweat out the eggplant. This is preventative to remove any bitter taste that may come from the plant. Mine weren’t bitter but I did this step anyway. Wash your eggplant and slice into 1/4″ slices. Salt 1 side and let sit for 30 minutes.

Move onto your chicken. Use this recipe to prepare your chicken: https://justaketoguru.com/2020/08/12/keto-parmesan-chicken-fettuccine/

After sweating out your eggplant for 30 minutes, we will batter them now. Take your eggplant and dip into your egg wash, let drip off, then place in a bowl with the grated parm and coat both sides. Repeat this until all of your eggplant is battered. Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake at 375 degrees for 20 minutes.

After 20 minutes, remove from the oven. Place a dollop of marinara on each of the eggplant. After adding marinara to all your eggplant, add a pinch of mozzarella to them and put back into the oven for 10 minutes. Remove when the 10 minutes is up.

Plate your eggplant, add your parmesean chicken and enjoy. It’s really easy to make and really yummy!

ENHANCE_BLUR

Keto Philly Steak Zucchini Boats

A couple of weeks ago I posted a recipe very similar to this one, Chicken Bacon Ranch Zucchini Boats. I knew that the boats could be stuffed with so many other things. Tonight, philly steak was the chosen one and it did not disappoint. This one took a bit longer than a normal meal because there were several parts from trimming the steak to finish. You can cut some time off by buying pre-cut philly meat but that takes the fun from it.

Ingredients: Yields 8 zucchini boats

2-3 large ribeye steaks
1 block softened full fat cream cheese
1/2 white onion
1 cup mushrooms
2 jumbo jalapeno
8 slices provolone cheese
4 large zucchini (find them as straight as possible)
1 tbsp salted grass fed butter
1 tbsp avocado oil
Salt/pepper/garlic powder to taste

Instructions:

Start by slicing your fresh ribeye steak very thin. The thinner the better. Make sure you cut against the grain so your meat isn’t chewy. Set to the side.

On a cutting board, slice the ends of your zucchini and split down the middle. Do your best to cut as straight as possible. Using a spoon, remove the insides leaving about 1/4″ of the meat.

Spray your zucchini boats with avocado oil and place them in the air fryer or oven for 10 minutes. We just need to soften them up a bit prior to stuffing.

On a cutting board, slice up 1/2 of an onion and your peppers. Open your pre-sliced mushrooms and wash, set to the side.

In a frying pan, add 1 tbsp butter and 1 tbsp of avocado oil. On med-high, throw in your onions only at this point. Start sweating them down. Let them cook for about 15 minutes, casually stirring.

After 15 minutes of sweating them down, toss in the peppers and mushrooms and continue on med heat for another 10 minutes or so while you are cooking your beef.

In an alternate pan, add your beef, 2 tbsp of avocado oil, salt, pepper and garlic powder and cook for just a few minutes on med-high, just to a slight pink color. We will be adding the veggies and airfrying so the meat will continue to cook.

Once your steak is cooked, drain the juice off and add it to the veggies. Combine.

Add your cubed softened cream cheese and turn your heat back on to med-high. Stir this really well until all of the cream cheese is melted and combined with the meat/veggies. This shouldn’t take more than 4 or 5 minutes.

Now that we have everything cooked, it’s time to start stuffing the boats. Using tongs or a spoon, divide your mixture into your 8 boats. You may have to use your hand a bit to get them formed into the boat and not overflowing the sides. Once stuffed, place your boats into the air fryer/oven and cook on 400 degrees for about 10 minutes.

After 10 minutes, pull them out and put a slice of provolone cheese on each of the boats. I cut my slice in half to make it go end to end. Place back into the air fryer/oven for about 2 minutes, or until the cheese is nicely melted.

And that’s it! Now remove these bad boys and enjoy!

Keto Zucchini Boats – Chicken Bacon Ranch

Wow, this turned out to be a crowd pleaser. Super simple, super fresh and super clean keto. There are so many options you can do with a zucchini boat. Tonight, I decided to try a chicken/bacon/ranch version. Hope you enjoy!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 boneless skinless chicken breast
3/4 cup shredded natural cheese, your choice
1/2 cup crumbled bacon
Ranch seasoning
3 large, fairly straight zucchini

Instructions:

Get your chicken cooking so you can work on your stuffing and boats while it cooks. I prefer to cook mine in the air fryer. I air fry my breasts at 400 degrees for 13 minutes, flipping at the halfway point. Spray with avocado oil and use a seasoning of your choice.

While your chicken is cooking, cut the 2 ends of your zucchini off and slice down the middle. Do the best you can to cut as straight as you can. That’s why it’s important to select nice and straight zucchini.

Using a spoon, scoop out the insides. Be careful not to go too deep and don’t go all the way to the end. You want to create a nice pocket down the center.

Once you have scooped out the insides, spray with a bit of oil and season with salt and pepper. Place in the oven, or another airfryer if you have 2 like me, and cook for 10 minutes at 400 degrees. We just want to softened them up a bit.

Now, your chicken should be done. Let your chicken rest for no less than 5 minutes. Once rested, slice your breast longway, then chop into small pieces. I only needed 1 and 1/2 breast to fill 6 boats.

Add your sliced chicken to a mixing bowl, add your bacon and cheese and top with ranch seasoning. I didn’t measure, I just poured what I thought would be good. Mix well. Hit it again with some more ranch seasoning.

Now, time to get to filling up your boats. Get your spoon and put some of the CBR into the boat. Pack it in real good and make sure it’s not over-flowing. Continue until all of your boats are filled.

Place your boats into the air fryer or oven and cook at 400 degrees for about 10-15 minutes. You’ll know when they are ready when you see the cheese nice and brown and the bacon looking crispy. Remove, plate and enjoy!

Keto Jalapeno Popper Stuffed Pork Chops

This was plum ridiculous. It’s bursting with flavor and super easy to make. If you like jalapeno poppers and pork chops, you get the best of both worlds here. You are going to want to save this one and make it STAT!

Ingredients:

1 block softened full fat cream cheese
1/2 cup bacon crumbles
4 or 5 fresh jalapenos
Seasonings of choice
6 center cut pork loin chops

Instructions:

Begin by preparing the stuffing. In a large mixing bowl, add the cream cheese, bacon and jalapenos. Mix well until combined.

Now it’s time to prepare your pork chops. Begin by slicing a pocket on each one of the chops. Be careful not to cut all the way to the bottom and not too far on the sides. This way, all the stuffing will stay inside.

Using a spoon, pack each one of the pork chops with filling. Start with 1 spoonful in each and then keep adding until you are out of stuffing. You may have to use your thumb to pack it on in there! Use a toothpick across the top to close as best as you can.

Hit wach pork chop with some avocado spray and season to your liking. Don’t be afraid to season here!

Place your chops into the air fryer or oven, standing up. This will ensure all of your stuffing will stay inside during the cooking process. Air fry/bake at 400 degrees for about 17 minutes or you hit a minimum temp of 145 degrees. Remove and rest a few minutes.

Plate and enjoy!

Keto sausage, Squash/zucchini Air Fried Goodness

When naming this dish is harder than cooking it…. you know you got a good one! We are blessed with a beautiful garden that blesses our table. This squash and zucchini literally was picked this morning. You get to throw all of these ingredients into 1 air fryer and out pops magic. This was so fresh and wonderful, you’re going to want to enjoy. Did I mention how super clean keto this meal is?

Ingredients: (serves 4)

4 squash/zucchini, whatever combination you like
1/2 sweet onion
4 strips of bacon
1 link of sausage of choice (we chose brisket sausage)
Seasoning of choice
Salt/pepper to taste

Instructions:

We will start by prepping our squash or zucchini. For this meal, I feel it’s best to cut into large chunks. You choose how to slice based on your preference.

Next, slice your onion, your bacon and your link sausage

Pull out your air fryer basket. Layer the bottom with your squash and zucchini. Lightly spray with either olive oil or avocado oil. Then, season the vegetables with your choice of seasoning. Don’t be shy, put it on there! Give it a good shake, and hit it again. Finish off with some salt and pepper to taste.

Next, throw in the slices bacon, then the link sausage and top it off with your sliced onion.

Once you got it all in, set your air fryer to 400 degrees and air fry for about 20 minutes. You should stop the fryer every 7 minutes or so and shake it up. You’ll know it’s ready when your sausage has crisped and your veggies are just a bit al dente.

No need to wait for it to cool. Plate and enjoy. Top with cheese, sour cream, salsa…. or just leave it plain! Possibilities are endless. Enjoy your super clean keto meal!

Keto Cream Cheese Stuffed Air Fried Chicken Breasts

This turned out crazy good. I just decided I wanted cream cheese stuffed breast so I made it happen. Mixed in some bacon crumbles and cheddar cheese, Boom! This is a perfectly balanced macro, high fat from the cream cheese and your protein from the chicken. Not to mention, it’s super quick and easy to cook in the air fryer!

Ingredients (yields 3 breast)

3 large chicken breasts, not split
1 block (8oz.) cream cheese, full fat
6tbs. bacon crumbles
1 cup natural shredded cheddar cheese
Seasonings of choice

Instructions

Remove your chicken from your package. Cut a small slit on the large side of the breast. Do not cut all the way across, you just want to make a small pocket. You can insert the knife into the opening and work the pocket left to right.

In a mixing bowl, add your cream cheese, bacon, cheese and seasonings. Mix well until all ingredients are combined. Your cream cheese needs to be soft, but not too soft. It needs to stay somewhat firm so it doesn’t run out when cooking.

Open your pocket on your breast and start stuffing away. Now, I did fit all 8oz. mixture into 3 breasts. I’m sure I could have used less, but why not? Pack them in until your pocket is good and packed.

Seal the breast as closed as you can. Insert a few toothpicks if you want, it will help hold them together. Season your chicken with your favorite seasoning. Don’t forget, get that seasoning on there, don’t be scared.

Place in your air fryer, seam side up. You will not flip these so the cream cheese doesn’t run out. Air fry at 400 degrees for about 14 minutes, or your internal temp hits 165. Remove, plate and enjoy!!

Keto Air Fried Chicken Fritter

Tonight, we found something super simple and that packed a flavor punch. These Keto air fried chicken fritters really tasted so good and were very easy to make. I’m talking less than 15 minutes of prep and about the same to cook. If you’re looking for something tasty and something easy, this one right here is for you. You can also change the seasonings to your liking. With this recipe, it comes out on the Italian side. Hope you enjoy.

Ingredients:

1.5 lbs of boneless skinless breast (I assume thigh would work too)
2 eggs
1/3 cup of almond flour
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (use cheddar if you prefer)
Seasonings:
- 2 tbs parsley
- 2 tbs basil
- 2 tbs chives
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- salt/pepper to taste

Instructions:

You will need to cut up your chicken into finely chopped pieces. If you don’t, your fritter will have a hard time staying together. Make sure you are using 1.5lbs. I used my scale to weigh it out and it was about 3 breasts. Chop up into small pieces.

Now for the fun part. Take a large bowl, dump all of your ingredients in, including the seasoning. Mix this really well until you everything is mixed consistently.

Time to make your fritter. Grab about a baseball size amount in your hand. Patty it up into a nice fritter shape. This mixture should make 8 so do your best to size them up. You can use a large ice cream scoop too if that helps. I just used my hands. Line your air fryer basket with parchment paper (trust me, this will help). Place your fritters in the basket. Continue making patties until you use up all the mixture.

Place basket into air fryer and air fry for about 16 minutes at 400 degrees. You will need to flip at halfway. Tongs can be used, your fritter should hold together well enough. Flip them and let them get nice and brown on top. Remove from air fryer, plate and enjoy. Dip your fritter in ranch or Rao’s marinara, you won’t be dissapointed.

Keto Air Fried Fish (tacos)

Fried fish has never been easier. Choose the type of fish you want and follow this recipe and you will have great golden, crunchy fried fish. I was very impressed how this turned out. Used catfish because that’s what Kroger’s butcher had on hand. Threw them on some folio cheese wraps for fish tacos! Hope you enjoy.

Ingredients:

1 bag Kroger pork rinds, spicy or mild or both
4 eggs
6 tbs almond flour
4 tbs coconut flour
3 oz shredded parmesan cheese
seasoning of choice
4-6 fish fillets (catfish)

Instructions:

I like to prepare the fish first. I took the fillets and quartered them to make them more taco friendly. You can do smaller nuggets or leave the fillet whole, any combination will work.

Prepare you batter station. In your mixer, add your pork rinds and blend down. Remove the lid, add your parmesan cheese, seasoning, and 6 tbs of almond flour and blend another 10 seconds or so. Pour contents into a batter friendly dish.

In a separate bowl, add your eggs and whip. I chose to add more seasoning here because I believe in flavor!! On a plate, dump out your coconut flour. Set up the station from left to right, fish —> coconut flour —-> egg —-> pork rinds.

Let’s get to battering. Add fish to the coconut flour and coat both sides really well. Dip in the egg and coat both sides in egg really good. Remove from the egg and let excess drip off. Immediately add to the pork rind mix. Pat down really good and flip. Ensure you have a nice even coating on your fish. Continue until you have completed all your fish.

When done battering, place fish in your pre-heated air fryer and air fry at 400 degrees for 14 minutes. If you have a rack system, you shouldn’t have to flip. If you don’t have racks, I suggest flipping at halfway to get both sides crispy. Just be careful flipping as your breading will want to pull off. Remove from the air fryer and rest for a few minutes. Plate, and enjoy!