A Chicken Pesto Sandwich is a delicious combination of juicy chicken, herby pesto, and melted cheese, all layered between bread. Most traditional versions are not Keto-friendly due to high-carb bread and hidden sugars. However, with the right ingredients and techniques, you can make a Keto chicken pesto sandwich that tastes even better than the original. Let’s learn the best recipes and tips.
A traditional chicken pesto sandwich is high in carbohydrates because of using bread made with grains. To make this sandwich Keto-friendly, you need to use low-net-carb substitutes.
By tweaking the traditional chicken pesto sandwich recipe and using Keto bread, you can manage the macronutrients and make a low-carb, high-fat, and moderate-protein sandwich.
To remain Keto-friendly, the recipes we are going to learn here follow these rules:
Let’s compare the ingredients in Keto vs. traditional pesto chicken sandwich:
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The main ingredients in this sandwich are chicken, bread, and pesto. Chicken is naturally Keto-friendly, but how about pesto and bread?
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Classic basil pesto is naturally Keto-friendly because it contains:
As long as you avoid added sugars and cashews, pesto fits into a Keto Diet. You can use the following recipes to make Keto-friendly pesto.
In 5 minutes, you can make about 12 tablespoons of classic Keto basil pesto, with no sugar, fillers, or seed oils, using the following ingredients and instructions.
Ingredients:
Instructions:
Nutrition per 1 tablespoon:
Calories: ~90 kcal | Fat: 9 g | Protein: 1 g | Total Carbs: 1.2 g | Fiber: 0.6 g | Net Carbs: ~0.6 g
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To make the pesto sauce ultra-creamy, add 2 tbsp avocado oil mayo or 2 tbsp heavy cream (not dairy-free).
To make nut-free Keto pesto, use the above recipe but replace nuts with extra Parmesan or sunflower seeds (slightly higher carbs but still Keto).
The lowest-carb nut options include macadamia nuts (~0.3g), pine nuts (~0.6g), and Walnuts (~0.6g). But avoid cashews because they have about 1.6g.
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Bread can make or break your Keto sandwich. If it is made properly, it provides the same texture as regular bread while keeping net carbs low.
Bread can be Keto if made with Keto-friendly ingredients. You can use these 5 Best Carnivore Bread Recipes to Make No-Carb, Fluffy Bread.
Some of the most popular kinds of Keto bread include:
You can also use these Carnivore Diet Recipes to learn how to make different kinds of easy and nutritious Keto and Carnivore bread with the lowest levels of carbohydrates.
If you want to know how these kinds of bread differ, check out the table below:
Generally, quality Keto bread or Carnivore chaffles are both yummy and easy to make. Now that we have the bread, let’s use the best chicken pesto recipes to make delicious and nutritious Keto sandwiches.
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This is the closest Keto version to a traditional chicken pesto sandwich recipe, which is perfect for beginners or first-timers. You need 20 minutes to make 2 servings of this yummy sandwich.
Calories: 540 kcal | Fat: 38 g | Protein: 42 g | Total Carbs: 9 g | Fiber: 4 g | Net Carbs: 5 g
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This panini-style pesto sandwich uses chaffles to give a crispy texture with ultra-low carbohydrates. You need about 22 minutes to make a serving of this delicious sandwich.
Calories: 620 kcal | Fat: 46 g | Protein: 45 g | Total Carbs: 6 g | Fiber: 3 g | Net Carbs: 3 g
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This ultra-light chicken pesto sandwich is great for hot days or the Ketovore or Carnivore Diet. You can make 2 wraps in about 15 minutes.
Calories: 310 kcal | Fat: 22 g | Protein: 28 g | Total Carbs: 4 g | Fiber: 2 g | Net Carbs: 2 g
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Making a perfect Keto pesto sandwich requires more than swapping bread. The tips below can help you reach the best results.
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A yummy Chicken Pesto Sandwich can be Keto-friendly if you tweak the recipe and use low-carb ingredients. With the right bread alternatives, clean pesto, and smart assembly, you can enjoy a high-quality Keto pesto chicken sandwich that is low-carb, satisfying, and super versatile.
Let’s answer the most frequently asked questions about the Keto chicken pesto sandwich.
Yes, if made with keto bread and sugar-free pesto. Traditional versions are not keto due to the bread.
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Most keto versions contain 2–5g net carbs per serving, depending on bread choice.
Yes, but check labels, and avoid added sugar, cashews, soybean, and vegetable oils.
Mozzarella, provolone, burrata, and Parmesan are all Keto-friendly.
Yes, you can easily prep chicken and pesto ahead, then assemble fresh for the best texture.
Yes, when made without sugar and high-carb n
Yes, just in normal portions, about 1-2 tbsp per meal.
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