With a rich red hue and sweet flavor, beets are pleasing to the eye — but are beets keto? Let’s go over whether beets count as keto vegetables, including carbs in beets and when you can have beets on keto. If you’re looking for more keto food references, try this keto food list (or take a look at these easy-to-use keto cheat sheets).
Are Beets Keto Friendly?
No, beets are not keto — at least, not in large amounts. A typical serving of beets would be too high in carbs for anyone following a strict keto diet, but they may fit macros in very small quantities. Beets aren’t exactly keto friendly, but are beets low carb? Yes! Those following a low carb diet can fit beets into their macros more easily.
How Many Carbs In Beets?
If beets aren’t keto but fit in a low carb lifestyle, how many carbs do beets have? The answer depends on how you eat your beets. As a baseline, consider raw beets. One cup of raw beets contains 13 grams total carbs and, since they have a few grams of fiber, net carbs in beets clock out at 9.2 grams [*]. Anyone eating beets on keto will take up nearly half their net carbs for the day with just one serving.
Carbs in pickled beets
Can you eat beets on keto if they’re pickled? Some pickled foods are very keto friendly (like cucumber pickles), but with beets, the carbs are simply too high. One cup of pickled beets contains 27.5 grams total carbs and 26 grams of net carbs [*].
Carbs in beet juice
Do beets have carbs when juiced? Yes. An 8-ounce serving of beet juice can contain 23 grams total carbs and 21 grams of net carbs.
Carbs in beet root powder
Are beets high in carbs when powdered? Yes and no. You’d realistically use beet powder in small amounts, so it’s keto friendly. This red beet powder contains 4 grams total carbs and 2 grams net carbs per teaspoon and works perfectly as a natural red food coloring. Of course, don’t go overboard, since the carbs can add up if you use entire cups of beet root powder.
How many carbs in beet greens?
Are beets keto approved if you just eat their greens? Absolutely! One cup of raw beet greens contains 1.6 grams total carbs and just 0.2 grams of net carbs [*]. Eat raw, or enjoy them cooked like other robust leafy greens.
Keto Beets Substitutes
Nothing quite captures the look and taste of beets, but you do have options if you want to get color, crunch, or bulk in your recipes.
Red beet powder – The best way to get beets on keto — without the high carbs! Red cabbage – Use it to replace the color and crunch of raw beets. (Yes, cabbage can be keto!) Tomatoes – Hearty beefsteak tomatoes can replace raw beets. (Tomatoes are keto-friendly!) Celery root – A root veggie with much lower carbs. Use it in place of cooked beets. Rutabaga – Another solid replacement for cooked beets… but keep in mind the carbs in these are only a little lower than beets. Use fewer beets – A few shreds of raw or cooked beet will not max out your macros! Just pay close attention to portions.
Keto Beet Recipes
If you do decide to eat beets on keto, you can incorporate small amounts in these recipes! (Keep in mind, most of these recipes do not call for beets in the ingredients list — but they would make a delicious addition.)
Keto Red Velvet Cake
It has REAL beets, and they’re the secret behind the rich red color in this cake.
Get The Keto Red Velvet Cake Recipe
Kale & Brussels Sprouts Salad
A small portion of raw, cooked, or pickled beets would pair perfectly with the smoky bacon, sweet cranberries, and blue cheese in this salad.
Get The Kale & Brussels Sprout Salad Recipe
Cold Roast Vegetable Salad
Beets love tangy, soft cheeses like feta — which is why a few slices would make a flavorful addition to this cold salad.
Get The Cold Roast Vegetable Salad Recipe
Blueberry Spring Mix Salad
Trade keto-friendly blueberries for a small amount of cooked or raw beets — you’ll get big beet flavor without skyrocketing your carbs.
Get The Spring Mix Salad Recipe
Keto Hummus
Roast a small portion of beets and blend them into this creamy, cauliflower-based dip!
Get The Keto Hummus Recipe
Conclusion: Can You Have Beets On Keto?
Although carbs in beets are high, you can have beets on keto if you pay close attention to your servings and eat them in very small amounts. (Or, just enjoy them as beet greens and beet root powder, which make it easier to stick to your macros.) When you do have beets, enjoy them!
