Top Low-Carb Bread Alternatives

If you're following a low-carb diet, traditional bread is typically off-limits. A single slice of wheat bread can pack around 13 grams of carbs — quite a bit when your daily carb allowance is only 25 grams — and refined breads like bagels or white bread can have even more.

But let’s face it — bread is irresistible. You shouldn’t have to give up favorites like pizza, grilled cheese, or avocado toast just because you're counting carbs or on a keto plan.

The good news is, you can still enjoy bread-like meals without the carbs. By using ingredients like almond flour, cheese, and others, you can replicate the taste and texture of bread while sticking to your low-carb goals.

To make it easier, we consulted with Sofia Norton, RD, to discover a few clever ways to get your bread fix without sabotaging your diet.

Eggs

Low in carbs and rich in protein, eggs are a great base for making alternatives like cloud bread. Often called 'oopsie bread,' cloud bread is a grain-free, low-carb substitute for traditional wheat bread. It has a soft, fluffy texture, resembling pita bread, with a mild taste that pairs wonderfully with spreads, dips, and main dishes, says Norton.

While recipes vary, most include eggs and cream cheese as the key ingredients. These are whipped together and gently folded to trap air bubbles, which helps create the light, airy texture. The mixture is then shaped into circles on a baking sheet and baked for 15-30 minutes, she explains.

A typical serving of cloud bread contains zero carbs, 36 calories, and 2 grams of both fat and protein. It’s a versatile substitute for English muffins, burger buns, sandwich bread, and more.

Almond Flour

Almond flour serves as a great low-carb, keto-friendly alternative for baking. "Bread made from almond flour, coconut flour, or a blend of the two instead of traditional wheat flour is often referred to as keto bread because of its low carb content," explains Norton.

These breads are typically leavened with eggs and baking powder, replacing yeast. Many recipes also call for xanthan gum to reduce crumbliness. You can also use almond flour to prepare low-carb pancakes for breakfast or even bake a batch of cookies.

Keto bread can be used for sandwiches, made into breadcrumbs, or even transformed into French toast. While nutritional content varies between recipes, most keto breads contain fewer than 5g of net carbs per slice.

Cheese

Cheese is an unexpectedly good replacement for bread, pizza dough, and even crackers. "Fathead dough, made from mozzarella cheese, almond flour, eggs, and baking soda, is a popular substitute for pizza, bagels, and bread. The baked goods turn out crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, with a subtle almond flavor," she adds.

"One downside of fathead dough is its calorie count. Each serving can contain 100-200 calories, excluding any toppings, sauces, or extra ingredients you may add," explains Norton. However, if you're cutting carbs rather than calories, fathead dough is still a viable option, with around 2g of net carbs per serving.

Breadcrumb Alternatives

If you enjoy breaded chicken or croutons in your salad, it's crucial to find low-carb substitutes for breadcrumbs. Luckily, there are plenty of excellent alternatives to consider:

• Ground pork rinds
• Almond flour or almond meal
• Crushed nuts
• Keto bread crumbs
• Psyllium husk

Which option you choose depends on the recipe, but all are generally great substitutes. "For deep-frying, use keto breadcrumbs or psyllium husk. These high-fiber options absorb moisture and crisp up nicely," Norton suggests. For casseroles, opt for crushed nuts or almond meal to add crunch. Crumbled pork rinds are ideal for making patties, meatloaf, or crispy coatings.

Vegetables

Believe it or not, some recipes use veggies as a substitute for bread. "Many keto followers opt to swap bread with low-carb vegetables. This not only helps keep carbs in check, but it also boosts your intake of fiber, vitamins, and minerals," says Norton.

Vegetables that can replace bread include:

• Lettuce
• Nori sheets
• Eggplant
• Zucchini

For instance, lettuce wraps are a popular alternative to burger buns, flour tortillas, or sandwich bread. Nori sheets can wrap up sandwich fillings, and grilled vegetables like eggplant or zucchini slices can be stacked as a substitute for buns or bread.