Italian keto guide
Navigable
Keto friendliness
Italian cuisine is easily adaptable for keto dieters willing to make conscious substitutions and avoid traditional carb staples.
Top ingredients
Excellent traditional keto ingredients include olive oil, cured meats (prosciutto, salami), various cheeses (Parmesan, Pecorino, mozzarella), fresh fish, seafood, beef, chicken, eggs, and non-starchy vegetables like spinach, broccoli rabe, zucchini, and eggplant.
Danger zones
The biggest carb traps are pasta, pizza, risotto, bread products, sugary tomato sauces, flour-thickened sauces, and all traditional desserts.
Best for
This cuisine works best for adaptable keto dieters who can focus on meat, fish, cheese, and vegetable-based dishes, avoiding starches and sugars.
What to drink
Drinks you will see at Italian restaurants, cafés and stalls, rated the same way as the food.
Order these
- Ask firstCaffè con Panna · 3g net carbs as usually servedAsk for 'panna non zuccherata' (unsweetened cream) if they have it.
- Ask firstBarley Coffee caffè d'orzo · 4g net carbs as usually servedOrder it black, small ('in tazza piccola').
- Ask firstMarocchino · 5g net carbs as usually servedAsk for cocoa powder only, no chocolate sauce or Nutella.
- Ask firstCaffè Shakerato · 10g net carbs as usually servedAsk for it 'senza zucchero' (without sugar).
Skip these
- SkipNon-Alcoholic Bitter Aperitivo analcolico / aperitivo analcolico · 15g net carbs as usually servedSkip this, order soda water with lemon and a dash of bitters instead.
- SkipAffogato affogato al caffè · 20g net carbs as usually servedSkip this, order caffè con panna, unsweetened instead.
- SkipChinotto · 20g net carbs as usually servedSkip this, order acqua frizzante with lemon instead.
- SkipItalian Orange or Lemon Soda aranciata / limonata · 20g net carbs as usually servedSkip this, order acqua frizzante with lemon instead.
- SkipFresh-Squeezed Orange Juice spremuta d'arancia · 22g net carbs as usually servedSkip this, order acqua frizzante with lemon instead.
- SkipCoffee Granita with Cream granita di caffè con panna · 35g net carbs as usually servedSkip this, order caffè shakerato senza zucchero instead.
- SkipItalian Hot Chocolate cioccolata calda · 35g net carbs as usually servedSkip this, order espresso with unsweetened cream instead.
459 dishes · page 1 of 8
Questions people ask
What can I eat at an Italian restaurant on keto?
Good orders that are keto as served include Bistecca alla Fiorentina (1g net carbs), Quaglie al Forno con Pancetta (1g net carbs), Acciughe Marinate (2g net carbs), Agnello Scottadito (2g net carbs), Branzino al Sale (2g net carbs) and Bresaola con Rucola e Grana Padano (2g net carbs). Of the 459 Italian dishes in this guide, 169 are keto as served.
Is Italian food keto-friendly?
Keto Atlas rates Italian food "Navigable" for keto. Italian cuisine is easily adaptable for keto dieters willing to make conscious substitutions and avoid traditional carb staples.
What Italian dishes should I avoid on keto?
The biggest carb traps are pasta, pizza, risotto, bread products, sugary tomato sauces, flour-thickened sauces, and all traditional desserts. Dishes to skip include Parmigiana di Zucchini (28g), Pollo alla Cacciatora (26g), Fegato alla Veneziana (21g) and Melanzane alla Parmigiana (20g).
How do I order Italian food keto-style?
Many dishes become keto with one small request. For Anatra al Forno con Erbe Aromatiche: say "For the Anatra al Forno con Erbe Aromatiche, please ensure no orange or fruit-based sauces are served. Just roasted simply with herbs." For Costoletta di Maiale al Burro e Salvia: say "Costoletta di Maiale: Please, unbreaded and without flour. No carb-heavy sides; I'd like sautéed spinach or grilled broccoli instead."
What can I drink at an Italian restaurant on keto?
Fine with a small request (usually no sugar or syrup): Caffè con Panna, Barley Coffee, Marocchino and Caffè Shakerato. Skip sugary drinks such as Non-Alcoholic Bitter Aperitivo, Affogato and Chinotto.