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List of high-calorie keto foods:
Supplemental content:
Finding keto foods that are high in nutritious calories can be difficult because many ketogenic choices out there provide extreme amounts of fat while others are very low in protein.
But don't worry because we assembled a thorough list of high-calorie keto foods that will help you keep a balanced and healthy ketogenic diet.
List of high-calorie keto foods:
Supplemental content:
List of high-calorie keto foods:
Supplemental content:
High-calorie keto foods are foods that have over 400 calories per 100 g and help you achieve the macronutrient requirements of ketogenic diets.
The macronutrient requirements of keto diets state that you should have 15-35% of your total daily calories coming from proteins, 3.5-15% coming from carbs, and 55-80% coming from fats.
Shortly said, you want to aim for foods that are rich in calories, average in proteins, low in carbs, and high in fats.
Tip: when you're looking for keto foods with a lot of calories, avoid high-calorie low-fat foods because these are usually rich in carbohydrates.
Something isn't clear?
Then, before getting to the actual list of foods, let's look at what keto foods and high-calorie foods essentially are.
Keto foods are foods that can help anybody on a ketogenic diet meet their protein, carbohydrate, and fat goals.
The macronutrient goals set by keto diets vary but they generally focus on a low-carb high-fat approach with a medium intake of proteins.
Taking into account numerous authoritative sources, someone on a keto diet should aim to get his daily calories while respecting the following ratio of macronutrients:
Proteins: 15-35%
Carbs: 3.5-15%
Fat: 55-80%
Source 1: Definition of ketogenic diet - National Cancer Institute.[1]
National Cancer Institute
See the NCI's definition of ketogenic diets.
Source 2: Ketogenic diet - National Library of Medicine.[2]
National Library of Medicine
See the macronutrient ratio of the ketogenic diet as published on NLM.
Nutrients journal
See the study that shows the macronutrient ratio required by ketogenic diets.
High-calorie foods are foods that have a minimum of 400 calories per 100 g (3.5 oz) serving.
To discover all the keto foods that are rich in calories, we studied each of the high-calorie low-carb foods and other calorie-dense edibles, generally looking for the ones that are respecting the keto rules: high in fat, low in carbs, and medium in proteins.
So, let's see the results.
Find the list of high-calorie keto foods below.
High-calorie dairy products are keto foods abundant in calories because they are low in carbs, usually extremely high in fats, and, in the case of cheese, rich in proteins.
Dairy products with extreme quantities of fat are useful when you fall behind with your fat intake while cheese is one of the most complete keto foods you can eat.
Find the high-calorie dairy products that are suitable for keto diets below.
Calories/100 g: 350-420
Carbs/100 g: 1-12 g (1-12% of calories)
Fat/100 g: 28-34 g (60-80% of calories)
Protein/100 g: 6-30 g (8-28% of calories)
Types of cheese such as Swiss cheese, cheddar cheese, cream cheese, and parmesan cheese, are some of the best high-calorie foods for keto diets because they are high in fat, but not extremely high, low in carbs, and they also have a decent amount of proteins.
In terms of calories, cheese is a high-calorie dairy product because many types of cheese, like cheddar and parmesan, contain more than 400 calories per 100 g.
Concerning carbohydrates, high-calorie cheese is low in carbs because most varieties have less than 12% of their calories coming from carbs, which complies with ketogenic diets' low carb ratio requirement of 3.5% to 15%.
Regarding their fat content, high-calorie types of cheese are rich in fats because they all have between 60% and 80% of their calories coming from fats.
Furthermore, high-calorie varieties of cheese have reasonable amounts of protein because 6% to 28% of their total calories come from the proteins in their composition.
In terms of health effects, as stated in a study about the role of cheese in nutrition and health, cheese is abundant in essential nutrients and has a beneficial effect on blood pressure.[4]
Dairy Science and Technology
See the study that explores the nutrition and health effects of cheese.
One downside of eating cheese is that it has saturated fat, which may increase your chance of heart disease.
Source: FoodData Central - Swiss cheese.[5]
FoodData Central
Source: FoodData Central - Cheddar cheese.[6]
FoodData Central
Source: FoodData Central - Cream cheese.[7]
FoodData Central
Source: FoodData Central - Parmesan cheese.[8]
FoodData Central
Since high-calorie types of cheese have the right macronutrient ratio for keto diets, they can be eaten either alone as a snack or in combination with other keto foods without neglecting your ketogenic regime.
Find a few keto ways to consume cheese below:
Summary: the Swiss, cheddar, cream, and parmesan cheese varieties, since they are rich in fats, low in carbs, and also have a significant amount of proteins, vitamins, and minerals, make for excellent high-calorie keto foods.
Photo credits: Rainer Zenz (license: Creative Commons)
Calories/100 g: 900
Carbs/100 g: 0 g (0% of calories)
Fat/100 g: 100 g (100% of calories)
Protein/100 g: 0 g (0% of calories)
Source: FoodData Central - Ghee.[9]
Ghee, or clarified butter, is made by gently evaporating the water from butter.
Similar to butter, ghee is high in calories, low in carbs, and rich in fats, three characteristics that make it a keto-friendly food that's full of calories.
Yet, since ghee has excessive fats, lacks proteins, and has no carbohydrates, ghee alone doesn't make a complete keto dish.
Remember that ghee, like butter, is high in saturated fats, which are dietary fats that, eaten in excess, might harm your cardiovascular health.
To make a complete keto dish with ghee, you want to combine it with foods that have some proteins and low amounts of carbs.
Find a few keto ideas to eat ghee below:
Summary: although it lacks proteins and contains excessive fats, including saturated ones, ghee is a high-calorie food that can boost your fat intake, so you can meet the high-fat requirement of keto diets more leisurely.
Calories/100 g: 717
Carbs/100 g: 0 g (0% of calories)
Fat/100 g: 81 g (99% of calories)
Protein/100 g: 1 g (1% of calories)
Source: FoodData Central - Butter.[10]
Although it can be problematic for your heart if consumed in excess, butter is still a high-calorie keto food because it's a fatty dairy product with plenty of calories and zero carbs.
In terms of calories, butter is a high-calorie food since it contains 717 calories per 100 g.
Regarding carbohydrates, butter is low in them since none of its calories come from carbs.
In terms of fats, butter is high in them because 99% of its calories come from fats. Since it is extremely high in fats, butter isn't a proper ketogenic meal if eaten by itself.
As a health warning, you want to eat butter in moderation because it harbors many saturated fats.
If you consume butter, as stated in a JAMA study, you may have a higher risk of developing cardiovascular problems.[11]
JAMA Network
See the study that shows butter consumption may increase the risk of heart disease.
To prepare a veritable keto serving with butter, you want to combine it with foods that provide you with protein and low amounts of carbs.
Find a few keto ways to consume butter below:
Summary: butter, although it has excessive amounts of fats, saturated ones as well, and lacks proteins, is a versatile high-calorie keto food that can help you meet the high fat intake required by keto diets easier.
Calories/100 g: 340
Carbs/100 g: 3 g (3% of calories)
Fat/100 g: 36 g (93% of calories)
Protein/100 g: 3 g (4% of calories)
Source: FoodData Central - Heavy whipping cream.[12]
FoodData Central
Heavy cream is a keto food that is rich in calories because it is low in carbs, extremely high in fats, and has a few proteins as well.
Although it falls 60 calories shy of the FDA's high-calorie threshold, heavy cream, at 340 calories per 100 g, can nonetheless increase caloric intake considerably.
Heavy cream is low in carbohydrates since carbs account for only 3% of its total calories.
Yet, heavy cream alone is not a complete keto dish because it is too high in fats and has too few proteins.
Also, because it includes many saturated fats, heavy cream may be harmful to your cardiovascular health.
As evidence, heavy cream, according to a PNAS research article, is one of the fatty foods with the most saturated fat, containing even more than animal products such as lard.[13]
PNAS
See the study that claims heavy cream is one of the foods with the most saturated fat.
To get a more complete keto dish, since heavy cream is extremely high in fats, you want to combine it with a keto food that has some proteins.
Find a few keto ways to eat heavy cream below:
Summary: heavy cream is a keto food that has many calories, is low in carbs, but is extremely rich in fats, which is why it should be consumed in small servings.
With so many types of high-calorie snacks around, you can struggle to find the ones that fit a keto diet. But, we found a few fatty snacks that you can chew on whenever you want to boost your calories in a ketogenic way.
Find below the high-calorie snacks that can work well in keto diets.
Calories/100 g: 486-657
Carbs/100 g: 15-56 g (10-35% of calories)
Fat/100 g: 31-56 g (57-77% of calories)
Protein/100 g: 17-30 g (14-21% of calories)
Most seeds are keto-friendly high-calorie snacks since they are high in fats, low in carbs, rich in fibers, and have a significant amount of proteins.
Regarding calories, all seeds are high-calorie because they all have between 486 and 657 calories per 100 g.
Generally, seeds are low in carbs because all of them have less than 35% of their total calories coming from carbs.
Yet, many seeds don't have a low enough number of carbs to qualify as a keto food. Specifically, because of their higher carb levels, you want to limit the intake of the following seeds:
A couple of keto-friendly seeds are sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds.
Moreover, just like it’s the case with nuts, many of the carbs in seeds, according to a City University of NY review, are insoluble dietary fibers, which are non-digestible and don’t increase your calorie intake.[14]
Nutrients journal
Made at: City University of New York
See the study saying that seeds have insoluble fibers.
Therefore, seeds are lower in carbs than the total carb numbers show.
In terms of their fat levels, all seeds are high-fat foods because 57% to 77% of their calories come from fats.
Concerning their protein levels, seeds have a substantial number of them. Therefore, seeds will help you keep up with your keto diet's protein requirements.
To find the seeds with the most calories and their nutrition facts, visit the seeds section found inside the ranking of the snacks with the highest number of calories.
Summary: seeds like sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds are high-calorie keto foods because they are rich in fat and low in carbs, but types of seeds with more carbohydrates, like the poppy and chia ones, could make you fail to maintain a ketogenic diet.
Calories/100 g: 509-719
Carbs/100 g: 4-54 g (2-42% of calories)
Fat/100 g: 31-80 g (51-93% of calories)
Protein/100 g: 7-26 g (4-16% of calories)
Most nuts and nut butters are high-calorie snacks that can fit almost any keto diet since they are heavy in fat, generally low in carbs, loaded with proteins, and rich in dietary fibers.
Regarding their calories, all nuts and nut butters are high-calorie because they all have between 509 and 719 calories per 100 g.
In terms of carbs, nuts and nut butters are low in carbs because all of them have less than 45% of their total calories coming from the carbohydrates in their composition.
Yet, some nuts and nut butters have too many carbs for a keto diet.
Specifically, if you are on a ketogenic diet, you want to avoid pistachios, cashews, and acorns because these nuts, and the nut butters made from them, have more than 15% of their calories coming from carbs.
Additionally, you may want to stay away from coconut butter since it's higher in carbs than other nut butters.
As a piece of good news for keto dieters, according to a City University of NY review of dietary fiber, many of the carbs in nuts are insoluble dietary fibers, which are non-digestible, don’t release energy into your body, and have 0 calories.[14]
Nutrients journal
Made at: City University of New York
See the study stating that nuts contain insoluble fibers.
As a result, nuts are lower in digestible carbs than the total carb numbers tell.
Regarding their fat level, nuts and nut butters are high-fat foods because 51% to 93% of their calories come from fats.
Concerning their protein content, nuts and nut butters have a decent amount of them since 4% to 16% of their calories come from proteins.
To discover the nuts and nut butters with the highest number of calories, their nutrition facts and health benefits, how to eat them, and more, visit the ranking of high-calorie nuts and nut butters.
Some examples of keto nuts and nut butters are walnuts, pecans, peanut butter, and almond butter.
Summary: most nuts and nut butters, because of their high-fat but low-carb content, can increase your caloric intake and help you stay on track with your high-calorie keto diet.
Whether you like your meat cooked or cured, you have plenty of high-calorie keto alternatives to choose from.
Although they contain low to zero carbs, high-calorie meats are rich in calories because they have plenty of fats and proteins.
Regardless, you should restrict some of the types of high-calorie meats to keep your saturated fat intake low and, especially in the case of cured meats, to prevent raising your sodium intake to harmful levels.
Find below the keto meats with the highest number of calories.
Calories/100 g: 501
Carbs/100 g: 2 g (2% of calories)
Fat/100 g: 37 g (66% of calories)
Protein/100 g: 41 g (32% of calories)
Source: FoodData Central - Cooked bacon.[15]
FoodData Central
Despite it is rich in sodium, bacon is a popular high-calorie keto meat, widely eaten for breakfast, because it is high in fats, it's low in carbs, and it has the right number of proteins for someone on a ketogenic diet.
Bacon is high in calories because it has 501 calories per 100 g.
Regarding carbohydrates, bacon is a low-carb food since only 2% of its calories come from carbs.
Concerning fats, bacon is a high-fat food because 66% of its calories come from fat.
Protein-wise, since 32% of the calories in its composition come from proteins, bacon will help you hit your keto diet's protein goal.
Yet, don't forget to eat small servings of bacon because it is high in sodium.
Sodium nitrites, according to a study about bacon’s nitrite concentration, can potentially cause cancer.[16]
Generally, if you have a diet with many salt-preserved foods, according to the Cancer Council Australia, you can increase your chances of stomach cancer.[17]
Cancer Council Australia
Learn more about the effects of the presence of salt in foods.
Since bacon respects the macronutrient ratio required by keto diets, it won't make you neglect your regime, whether you eat it alone or in combination with other ketogenic foods.
Find a few keto ways to consume bacon below:
Summary: popular at breakfasts, bacon is a high-calorie keto food with plenty of proteins that is versatile but should be consumed without excess because it is rich in sodium.
Calories/100 g: 359-471
Carbs/100 g: 0 g (0% of calories)
Fat/100 g: 30-42 g (69-80% of calories)
Protein/100 g: 21-29 g (20-31% of calories)
Although they should be consumed moderately for optimal health, red meats such as beef, pork, and lamb meat are some of the best high-calorie foods for someone on a keto diet.
Red meats are high-calorie foods because some forms of beef, pork, and lamb have 400 calories or more per 100 g, which is the FDA's threshold for a food to be classified as high-calorie.
To get the most calories from your meat dish, you want to choose ribs, whether you prefer beef, pork, or lamb, because this cut is usually the richest in nutrients.
Regarding the carbs in its composition, red meat is one of the high-calorie foods with zero carbs.
In terms of fats, red meats contain a high level of them because 69% to 80% of their total calories come from fats. If we compare red meat's level of fat with keto diets' fat ratio requirements ranging from 55% to 80% of fat, we see that all types of red meat hit the ketogenic range.
As for the proteins in its composition, red meat has a substantial amount of them since 20% to 31% of its calories come from proteins, depending on the type of red meat consumed.
Yet, although it’s rich in proteins, vitamins, and minerals, red meat shouldn't be overconsumed because it can have unwanted effects on your health.
Excessive consumption of red meat – especially processed meat – as stated in a study about red meat’s negative effects on health, can increase your chances of developing diabetes, coronary heart disease, heart failure, stroke, cancer, and preterm mortality.[18]
Journal of Internal Medicine
See the study about the potential health dangers of eating red meat.
Source: FoodData Central - Broiled beef short ribs.[19]
FoodData Central
Source: FoodData Central - Pork spare ribs.[20]
FoodData Central
Source: FoodData Central - Roasted lamb ribs.[21]
FoodData Central
Red meat alone is perfect for people on a keto diet because it has the correct proportions of proteins, carbs, and fat for a ketogenic regime. Yet, to get a tastier meal, you can go on and combine it with something that won't make you neglect your diet.
Find a few keto ways to consume red meat below:
Summary: although they are rich in fats, proteins, and other essential nutrients, red meats, specifically beef, pork, and lamb meat, are high-calorie keto foods that should be eaten in moderation given their possible negative health effects.
Calories/100 g: 504
Carbs/100 g: 1 g (1% of calories)
Fat/100 g: 46 g (83% of calories)
Protein/100 g: 19 g (16% of calories)
Source: FoodData Central - Pepperoni.[22]
Pepperoni, a type of seasoned salami, is a high-calorie keto food that is rich in fats and low in carbs but with elevated amounts of sodium. Also, pepperoni has a considerable number of proteins.
Pepperoni is high in calories because it has 504 calories per 100 g.
In terms of its carbohydrates, pepperoni is low in them since only 1% of its calories come from carbs.
Concerning its fat level, pepperoni is a high-fat food because 83% of its calories come from fats.
As for its protein content, pepperoni has a decent amount of them since 16% of its calories come from proteins.
You, however, want to eat pepperoni moderately because it is rich in sodium and saturated fat.
Because pepperoni's macronutrient ratio fits the demands of keto diets, this type of salami can be eaten alone or combined with other keto foods without neglecting your diet.
Find a few keto ways to consume pepperoni below:
Summary: pepperoni is a high-calorie keto food with a substantial number of proteins that should be consumed moderately because it is rich in sodium and saturated fats.
Calories/100 g: 317
Carbs/100 g: 2 g (3% of calories)
Fat/100 g: 26 g (74% of calories)
Protein/100 g: 18 g (23% of calories)
Source: FoodData Central - Italian pork sausage.[23]
FoodData Central
Sausages, although they contain a lot of sodium, are keto foods with plenty of calories, fats, and proteins.
As sausages are only 83 calories short (317 calories) from meeting the FDA’s official high-calorie criteria of 400 calories, they can still be considered rich in calories.
The sausages that usually have the most calories are made from pork or beef.
In terms of their carbohydrates, sausages are low-carb foods since only 3% of their calories come from carbs.
Regardings their fat level, sausages are high in fat since 74% of their calories come from fats.
Concerning their protein content, sausages have a significant amount of them since 23% of their calories come from proteins.
But, you want to eat sausages in small servings because they are usually high in sodium and saturated fat.
Because sausages' macronutrient ratio fit the requirements of keto diets, you can eat them alone or with other keto foods without neglecting your diet.
Find a few keto ways to consume sausages below:
Summary: sausages, besides being keto foods with plenty of calories and proteins, should be consumed carefully because they are high in sodium and saturated fat.
Calories/100 g: 231-262
Carbs/100 g: 0 g (0% of calories)
Fat/100 g: 13-18 g (52-64% of calories)
Protein/100 g: 21-26 g (36-48% of calories)
Fatty types of fish, like mackerel, herring, and salmon, while providing just a medium number of calories, are keto foods with plenty of proteins and healthy fats.
Wondering why we added fatty fish to this list if they have a medium number of calories?
Well, although they don't have a high number of calories, fatty fish can help you meet the protein requirement of your keto diet, as well as boost your fat intake with healthy types of fat.
Among the fatty fish with the most calories are mackerel, herring, and salmon. All of these fatty fish are low in carbs since they have zero grams of carbohydrates in their composition.
Regarding health impact, since they are high in healthy fats, fish, according to a study on the effects of fish consumption, reduce the risk of heart disease and sudden death, and lower mild hypertension.[24]
Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology
See the study about the health benefits and risks of fish.
Source: FoodData Central - Cooked Atlantic mackerel.[25]
FoodData Central
Source: FoodData Central - Cooked Pacific herring.[26]
FoodData Central
Source: FoodData Central - Cooked chinook salmon.[27]
FoodData Central
To avoid neglecting your diet, since fish are abundant in proteins but their fat levels are on the lower side of the ketogenic spectrum, they should be eaten alongside keto foods that are higher in fat or lower in proteins.
Find a few keto ideas to consume fatty fish below:
Summary: fatty fish, such as mackerel, herring, and salmon, are a good option for persons on a keto diet who struggle to meet their protein goals or for those that need more healthy fats.
Calories/100 g: 468
Carbs/100 g: 2 g (3% of calories)
Fat/100 g: 35 g (68% of calories)
Protein/100 g: 34 g (29% of calories)
Source: FoodData Central - Cooked pork cracklings.[28]
FoodData Central
Pork cracklings, made by cooking pork skin rinds, are high-calorie keto foods with plenty of proteins that are rich in fats, of which many are saturated, and low in carbs.
In terms of their calories, pork cracklings are high-calorie because they have 468 calories per 100 g.
Regarding their carbohydrates, pork cracklings are low-carb foods since only 3% of their calories come from carbs.
Concerning their fats, pork cracklings are high-fat foods because 68% of their calories come from fats.
As for their protein content, pork cracklings have a good amount of protein since 29% of their calories come from proteins.
You, however, want to eat pork cracklings in moderate servings because, like bacon, they are high in sodium and have a considerable amount of saturated fats.
Since pork cracklings have a proper macronutrient ratio for a keto diet, you can eat them alone as a snack or combine them with other keto foods.
Find a few keto ways to consume pork cracklings below:
Summary: although they are rich in sodium and contain saturated fats, pork cracklings are high-calorie keto foods that fit well in a ketogenic diet if they are consumed moderately.
Even though most fruits are high in carbs, there are a few fatty fruits that are low enough in carbs to be good foods for anyone on a keto diet.
Find below the keto fruits with the most calories.
Calories/100 g: 660
Carbs/100 g: 24 g (15% of calories)
Fat/100 g: 82 g (65% of calories)
Protein/100 g: 7 g (3% of calories)
Source: FoodData Central - Dried coconut.[29]
FoodData Central
Dried coconut, the desiccated version of the fresh coconut, is a keto fruit because it's rich in fats, high in calories, and low in carbs.
The dried version of coconut is a high-calorie food because it has 660 calories per 100 g. Moreover, desiccated coconut is the dried fruit with the most calories in the top of high-calorie fruits.
In terms of its carbs, dried coconut is a low-carb food because only 15% of its calories come from carbohydrates.
Regarding its fat content, dried coconut is a high-fat fruit because 65% of its calories come from fats.
When it comes to its protein levels, dried coconut lacks in them since only 3% of its calories come from proteins.
Another downside is that if you eat too much coconut, you may increase your chances of heart disease.
The fat in the coconut oil (found in the dried form of coconuts as well), as stated in a Nature study, decreases “bad” LDL cholesterol and increases "good" HDL cholesterol.[30]
European Journal of Clinical Nutrition
See the study about the effects of the fat contained in coconut oil.
On the other side, coconut oil, found in dried coconuts, according to a Cureus scientific review, doesn’t lower "bad" LDL cholesterol.[31]
Cureus
See the study about the effects of coconut oil on cholesterol and heart diseases.
Since dried coconut lacks proteins, it should be combined with high-calorie keto foods that have more proteins to obtain a more complete ketogenic dish.
A keto way to eat dried coconut is to mix it with some nuts or seeds.
Summary: dried coconut is a high-calorie keto fruit that's best consumed moderately since it has many saturated fats that may raise the chances of cardiovascular disease.
Calories/100 g: 354
Carbs/100 g: 15 g (17% of calories)
Fat/100 g: 34 g (82% of calories)
Protein/100 g: 3 g (4% of calories)
Source: FoodData Central - Coconut meat.[32]
FoodData Central
Coconut, besides presenting some health risks, is a high-calorie keto food because it's high in fats, low in carbs and one of the fruits with the most calories.
In terms of calories, although it stands 46 calories away from meeting FDA’s high-calorie requirement, coconut, having 354 calories per 100 g, can be a helpful addition to many high-calorie keto diets.
Regarding its carbohydrates, coconut is low in them because only 17% of its calories come from carbs.
Concernings its fat levels, coconut is a high-fat fruit because 82% of its calories come from fats.
As for its proteins, coconut doesn't have too many of them since only 4% of its calories come from proteins.
Besides, too much coconut can be dangerous to your health.
Coconut oil is rich in saturated fats that increase "bad" LDL cholesterol levels, a fact which, per the Circulation journal, raises the risk of cardiovascular disease.[33]
Circulation
See the study about the effects of coconut oil on cardiovascular diseases.
Nevertheless, science hasn’t yet completely labeled coconut oil, and therefore coconut meat, as harming.
The daily consumption of 50 ml of coconut oil leads, as proven by a BMJ scientific trial, to increased "good" HDL-cholesterol levels.[34]
BMJ Open
See the trial study showing that coconut oil leads to increased good HDL cholesterol.
Given coconut has just a little more carbs than the limit set by keto diets, and also has more fats than your usual keto food, you should eat coconut with ketogenic foods that have more proteins and fewer fats, like nuts and seeds.
Also, you can use coconut to make the keto-friendly Coconut Energy Shake from the list of high-calorie shakes.
Alternatively, know that coconut milk is a keto drink that counts among the high-calorie drinks.
Summary: coconut is a keto food that has plenty of calories but should be eaten moderately because it’s a little higher in carbs and is rich in saturated fats, which may increase the risk of heart disease.
Calories/100 g: 160
Carbs/100 g: 9 g (19% of calories)
Fat/100 g: 15 g (77% of calories)
Protein/100 g: 2 g (4% of calories)
Source: FoodData Central - Avocado.[35]
Avocado, on top of being one of the few fruits that are suitable for keto diets, has plenty of calories because of its heart-healthy fat content.
Even though it has 160 calories, avocado earned a place on this list of high-calorie keto foods because it’s one of the few fruits that are low in carbs. Furthermore, avocado is among the fruits with the highest calories.
Avocado is low in carbohydrates because only 19% of its calories come from carbs. Yet, avocado is not low enough in carbohydrates since it tresspasses keto diet's limit of 15% carb ratio.
But, you can still keep your carbs under 15% of your total calories if you combine avocado with a ketogenic food that is very low in carbs.
In terms of its fat levels, avocado is a high-fat fruit because 77% of its calories come from fats.
Regarding its proteins, avocado hasn't got many since only 4% of its calories come from proteins.
As for its health effects, avocado, according to a Food Technology review, is effective at reducing cholesterol and preventing heart diseases because it has omega fatty acids, phytosterols (reduce cholesterol), tocopherols (antioxidants), and squalene (natural skin moisturizer).[36]
Ciencia Rural
Made at: Santa Maria Federal University
See the study about avocado's characteristics, health benefits, and uses.
In addition, avocado counts among the easiest-to-digest foods.
Because avocado has a little more carbs than other keto foods and doesn't have too many proteins, it should be eaten along ketogenic foods that have more proteins and lower carb levels.
Find a few keto ways to consume avocado below:
Summary: avocado is a keto food that has a solid amount of calories for a fruit and that is loaded with many health benefits, especially heart-related.
Calories/100 g: 902
Carbs/100 g: 0 g (0% of calories)
Fat/100 g: 100 g (100% of calories)
Protein/100 g: 0 g (0% of calories)
Source: FoodData Central - Lard.[37]
Lard, a product resulting from rendering pig fat, is a keto food that is high in calories because it is entirely made of fat, and has no carbs.
Regarding calories, lard is high-calorie because it has 902 calories per 100 g.
In terms of carbohydrates, lard is a zero-carb food.
Still, lard can't be a proper keto meal if it's eaten by itself because it lacks proteins completely and its fat content is skyrocketing.
As a health warning, you should eat lard in small portions since, like bacon and pork cracklings, this food is rich in saturated fats (39 g of saturated fats per 100 g).
If you feast on too much lard or pork fat, as stated in a study on the health impact of pork meat and lard, you can multiply your chances of developing cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes. The same study recommends balancing foods containing saturated fats, like lard, with foods containing unsaturated fats, like avocado, rather than totally eliminating fat from your diet.[38]
Veterinar Scientific Repository
See the study about the impact of lard on health.
To fully align with the requirements of ketogenic diets, you should combine lard with keto foods that have protein and carbs because lard is already abundant in fats.
Find a few keto ideas to consume lard below:
Summary: useful for boosting fat intake, lard is a high-calorie keto food that lacks proteins and is extremely rich in fats, so it should be consumed moderately.
Calories/100 g: 884-892
Carbs/100 g: 0 g (0% of calories)
Fat/100 g: 99-100 g (100% of calories)
Protein/100 g: 0 g (0% of calories)
Oils, such as soybean oil, canola oil, and olive oil, are high-calorie fluids that can help you keep up with a keto diet because they are made entirely of fat.
Specifically, oils are high-calorie because they all have between 884 and 892 calories per 100 g.
Nevertheless, you should consume oils in moderation because they are pure sources of fat with no proteins or carbs and extremely high calorie levels. If you consume a lot of oil, you may find that you don't have enough place in your diet for other, more nutrient-dense meals.
To share one of the benefits of consuming oils, olive oil, according to a review of olive oil’s health effects, can reduce the risk of heart disease, prostate cancer, and colon cancer.[39]
The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry
See the study about the health effects of olive oil.
Source: FoodData Central - Soybean oil.[40]
FoodData Central
Source: FoodData Central - Canola oil.[41]
FoodData Central
Source: FoodData Central - Palm oil.[42]
Source: FoodData Central - Coconut oil.[43]
FoodData Central
Source: FoodData Central - Olive oil.[44]
Source: FoodData Central - Sunflower oil.[45]
FoodData Central
While oils will help you meet the high fat level required by keto diets, they should be coupled with keto foods that have some proteins.
Find a few keto ways to consume oils below:
Summary: oils are high-calorie fluids that can successfully complement other keto foods in your diet, but they should be consumed with restrictions.
Calories/100 g: 680
Carbs/100 g: 1 g (0% of calories)
Fat/100 g: 75 g (99% of calories)
Protein/100 g: 1 g (1% of calories)
Source: FoodData Central - Mayonnaise.[46]
FoodData Central
Mayonnaise, or mayo, is a keto-friendly dressing made from eggs, oil, and vinegar that is high in calories, rich in fats, and low in carbs.
Regarding its calories, regular mayo is a high-calorie food because it offers 680 calories per 100 g.
In terms of its carbs, mayonnaise is low in carbs since it has only 1 g of carbohydrates per 100 g.
Concerning fat levels, mayo is extremely high in fats since 99% of its calories come from fats.
Because mayonnaise has so many fats and lacks protein, it doesn't make for a complete keto dish.
Furthermore, because mayo is prepared using egg yolks and oil, it might be heavy in saturated fat, which can be harmful to your cardiovascular health.
Since mayo is full of fat, to get a more complete keto dish, you should combine mayo with ketogenic foods that have proteins.
Find a few keto ways to consume mayonnaise below:
Summary: mayo is a high-calorie keto dressing that pairs well with a variety of foods, but it should be consumed in small servings because it is heavy in saturated fats.
Calories/100 g: 155-196
Carbs/100 g: 1 g (2-3% of calories)
Fat/100 g: 11-15 g (62-68% of calories)
Protein/100 g: 13-14 g (30-35% of calories)
Eggs are keto foods with lots of calories because they are rich in fats, are low in carbs, and have plenty of proteins as well.
Although they have a medium number of calories, ranging between 155 and 196 calories (depending on how they are cooked), eggs deserve a place on this list of high-calorie keto foods because they are a popular and versatile breakfast food that can help you meet your protein and fat goals.
Eggs are low in carbs because only 2% of their calories come from carbs.
Regarding fat, eggs are high in fats because 62% to 68% of their calories come from fats.
As for their protein content, eggs have plenty of proteins since 30% to 35% of their calories come from proteins.
Furthermore, eggs, as stated in a study about eggs’ health benefits, increase your protein intake, helping you build muscle, reduce hypertension, fight cancer, and more.[47]
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
See the study about the health effects of eggs.
Moreover, according to a George Mason University review, eggs contain choline and lutein, both of which may improve your brain’s cognitive abilities.[48]
Journal of the American College of Nutrition
See the study about the health effects of eggs, choline, and lutein.
Besides, eggs are one of the most effective weight gain foods for females. 73% of the women who gain weight successfully say they eat eggs to do so.
Source: FoodData Central - Fried eggs.[49]
FoodData Central
Source: FoodData Central - Boiled eggs.[50]
FoodData Central
Since eggs respect the macronutrient proportion required by keto diets, they alone make for a complete keto dish. You can, however, combine them with other keto-friendly foods for a higher caloric intake and improved taste.
Find a few keto ways to consume eggs below:
Summary: although they have a medium number of calories, eggs (fried, scrambled, or boiled) are a nutritious keto option, often consumed for breakfast, that boosts your protein and fat intake.
Here is a list of the high-calorie keto foods that have zero carbs:
Here is a list of the high-calorie keto foods that are high in protein:
Here is a list of the high-calorie keto foods that are low in protein:
High-calorie keto foods can have numerous health benefits. Here are some of them:
Nevertheless, because most of the keto foods that are rich in calories are also low-volume high-calorie foods, which means they tend to be less filling, you need to adjust the food quantities you eat according to your goals.
For example, if you aim to gain weight, you likely have a certain caloric goal that you need to hit. Passing the goal with a few hundred calories, which is easier to do with non-filling foods (like many of the high-calorie keto ones on this list), will usually make you gain excess fat.
A great habit that will help you adjust the amount of food you eat so you stick to your daily caloric target is counting your calories.
On top of having the benefits listed before, high-calorie keto foods can be useful for persons on special diets, such as people suffering from diabetes and vegans.
Because high-calorie keto foods have fewer carbs and hence fewer sugars, they may be beneficial to diabetics.
Before making additions to your diet, check the glycemic index of each high-calorie keto food to discover how much each of them spikes your blood sugar because the amount of carbs is not a direct indicator of how much a food will raise your blood sugar.
Furthermore, we recommend that you consult with your dietitian before including any new foods in your diet.
Here is a list of the high-calorie keto foods that are vegan:
Here is a list of the cheapest high-calorie keto foods:
For other affordable calorie-dense alternatives, explore the list of the cheapest high-calorie foods.
The keto diet doesn't require you to have a certain number of meals per day. Instead, it just needs you to eat more fat, fewer carbs, and a medium number of proteins daily. So, the frequency of meals for someone on a keto diet depends on their weight-related goals, height, daily schedule, and other dietary tactics, like intermittent fasting.
Counting calories matters a lot in a keto diet. Since the ketogenic diet has a certain number of proteins, carbs, and fats you need to hit every day, you need to track your calories. Otherwise, it's hard to know if you end up with the correct macronutrient ratio at the end of the day.
To gain weight, no matter if you are on a keto diet or on any other type of diet, you need to be on a daily caloric surplus, meaning you need to eat more calories than you consume every day.
Whether you are on a keto diet or not, you can increase the number of calories you get from food by eating more or adding a few extra high-calorie foods into your diet. If you're on a ketogenic diet, you should focus on high-calorie keto foods.
You can increase your weight even if you don't eat carbs because, to gain weight, you only need to be on a caloric surplus (eat more calories than you consume). If you want to avoid carbs, you should focus on high-calorie keto foods because these are generally high in fat and low in carbs while some of them also have a significant amount of proteins.
There isn't a set daily number of calories you should in eat while on a keto diet. That number differs from person to person and is adjusted according to your weight-related goals.
The foods that are high in calories and will help you gain weight are the foods that have over 400 calories per 100 g. A few examples are oils, nuts, and shakes.
Find more weight gain ideas in our list of high-calorie foods.
Keto diets are high in calories only if you make them. Nobody stops you from eating only 1500 calories per day, even if you eat keto-friendly foods that are high in fats and low in carbs. If you, however, have increased caloric needs, you want to focus on high-calorie keto foods.
Since some studies linked saturated fat with increased cholesterol levels and many keto foods are high in fat, we recommend you to consult with your doctor or dietitian before going on a keto diet. That said, you can always pick keto foods that are low in saturated fats and avoid increasing your cholesterol too much.
There are many keto foods that are high in calories out there, but it's important to mix them in the kitchen in such a way that you limit your saturated fat intake while meeting your ketogenic macronutrient goals.
Whether you want to gain weight, lose fat, combat a health problem, or diversify your day-to-day ketogenic menu, since you understand what are high-calorie keto foods and have a full list of them, you can easily increase your caloric intake in a healthy and delectable way.
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