Following a low-carb diet doesn’t have to mean eating bland food. 

Herbs and spices are an excellent way to add flavor to your food, minus the unnecessary carbs and calories.

Low-carb spices can also help with weight loss.

When it comes to seasoning mixes, it’s better to make your own seasonings using herbs and spices than to use store-bought seasonings.

In this post, I’m sharing the best low-carb herbs and spices you can use on the keto diet or any other diet for that matter.

23 Low Carb Herbs And Spices

Dried Herbs

Dried herbs are a must for every dish, without a doubt. They can elevate the taste of any dish, and there are so many to choose from.

Here are some of the best dried herbs you can use in dishes:

• Parsley
• Oregano
• Basil
• Thyme
• Chives
• Dill
• Bayleaf
• Rosemary
• Sage

Spices & Seasonings

There are so many keto-friendly seasonings out there. Spices & seasonings make every dish taste better, and they can take something bland, and turn it into the most delicious meal ever. While salt and pepper are a must for every dish, there are tons of other spices you can and should use as well.

If you’re making low-carb meals or you’re on the ketogenic diet, these should definitely be your keto kitchen staples. Spices and seasonings will be a huge part of your meal plan ingredient list.

Here are some amazing keto-friendly seasonings and spices you need to get:

• Salt (of course)
• Pepper (black pepper, green pepper, white pepper, etc.)
• Cayenne pepper
• Smoked paprika 
• Turmeric (turmeric has many health benefits)
• Curry powder
• Cumin
• Garlic powder
• Ginger powder
• Onion powder
• Cinnamon

Here’s a low-carb dish you can include in your meal plan, that uses curry powder as well as some other seasonings:

Curry Chicken And Cauliflower Rice

349 calories

Ingredients:

• 6 oz Chicken thigh, boneless, skinless, raw – 190 calories
• 1 cup Cauliflower rice, raw (already riced) – 38 calories
• ¼ Onion, yellow – 13.75 calories
• 3 oz Coconut milk, reduced fat (oz) – 105 calories
• ¼ Tbsp Curry paste – 2.5 calories
• 1 Curry powder, dash – 0 calories
• 1 tsp Red pepper flakes, dash – 0 calories
• 1 Salt, dash – 0 calories
• 1 tsp Garlic, minced (tsp) – 0 calories
• 1 Tbsp Cilantro – 0 calories

Instructions:

1. This recipe works best when making 2-3 servings at once – so double or triple the ingredients above. Then, divide the whole dish into two or three evenly-sized portions.
2. Cube raw chicken and dice onion.
3. Spray pan with an oil spray.
4. Stir-fry garlic and onion for ~6 minutes on lowest heat.
5. Add in chicken, curry powder, curry paste, and spices. Stir for another 4-5 minutes.
6. Add in coconut milk, let simmer on lowest heat for as long as you like.
7. Spray a second pan with an oil spray.
8. Stir-fry cauliflower rice ~5 minutes, or until you see some browning
9. When ready to eat, top cauliflower rice with curry chicken. Season with cilantro if you have it.
10. Notes: You can absolutely also use a pre-made curry sauce if you prefer. Track your ingredients ahead of time to make sure your calories are in check. No chicken? Use tofu or beans.

Spice Mixes

Spice mixes are great flavor boosts!

You can always make your own (so you don’t have to worry about added sugars), but if you buy pre-made ones, just check the label to make sure there are no additional ingredients that aren’t low-carb.

Some of my favorite spice mixes are:

• Adobo seasoning (it usually includes salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, and chili powder, but ingredients can be a bit different sometimes) – it’s great for marinating and seasoning protein like chicken and pork
• Taco seasoning (usually includes salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, oregano, cumin, paprika, chili powder) – for this one be extra careful if you’re buying pre-made mix, as they often have added sugars, so you might want to make this one yourself
• Chinese 5 Spice (typically includes fennel, Szechuan peppers, anise, and cinnamon cloves) – it’s great for Asian dishes
• Garam masala (usually includes black pepper, cumin, cinnamon, coriander, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg) – it pairs well with chicken 
• Everything Bagel Seasoning (this popular blend includes white sesame seeds, black sesame seeds, salt, garlic flakes, poppy seeds, onion flakes) – great for avocado toast, or a salad

Here’s a great recipe that includes the Everything Bagel Seasoning:

Everything Bagel Chicken Salad

436 calories

Ingredients:

• 6 oz Chicken breast, boneless, skinless, raw – 190 calories
• 2 tsp Everything bagel seasoning – 0 calories
• 1 Egg, large – 72 calories
• 1 Bell pepper, green – 27 calories
• 2 cups Leafy greens, spinach, raw – 14 calories
• 1 Tbsp Olive oil (Tbsp) – 119 calories
• 1 Tbsp Balsamic vinegar – 14 calories

Instructions:

1. Slice chicken into strips.
2. Crack egg into a bowl and whisk egg. Add everything bagel seasoning (can use as much as you like) into a separate bowl. Dip chicken strips in egg, then roll in seasoning.
3. Spray a pan with an oil spray. Cook chicken strips for ~8 minutes on medium heat, until cooked through.
4. Slice pepper into small pieces.
5. Mix all ingredients together (oil & vinegar is the dressing).
6. No chicken? Use fish or tofu.

Curious about other low carb foods? Here are some fun low carb snack ideas you can try!

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