Last Updated on May 26, 2025 by Toya
Want to know what the best keto bean substitute choices are? Keep reading to see the best beans or bean alternatives you can use if you’re following a keto lifestyle.
Everyone knows that most beans are a definite no-no on keto. This is so simply because most beans have a lot of carbs. In fact, most beans have more than 25 grams of carbs per 100 grams.
There is no way to make that work if someone is eating low carb or keto recipes unless that person eats less than one tablespoon of beans! No doubt this may sound mighty unsatisfying.
This is why if you’re looking for ways to make a keto friendly chili recipe with beans or ways to replace the protein found in beans with other ingredients, you’ll be glad you came here.
I’ll share 7 keto bean substitute options you’ll be glad to know about.
Black Soya Beans
Low in carbs and high in fiber, these black soybeans are perfect for soups, chili, and keto tacos.
Black soybeans are one of the best keto-friendly bean alternatives with only 2–4g net carbs per ¼ cup.
You can use black soya beans to make all kinds of keto recipes including keto chili with beans, keto bean casseroles, added to salads, and soups and even to make actual keto fried beans! With these beans, you no longer have to resort to no bean recipes like no bean chili and no bean hummus!
Traditional black beans have over 20g net carbs per serving, while these black soybeans have just 4g — a huge difference if you’re watching carbs.
If you’re looking to grab some of these keto friendly beans, this one on Amazon is a great choice.
Jarred Lupini Beans
Looking for a keto-friendly bean substitute? These Lupini Beans are low in net carbs, high in fiber and protein, and perfect for snacking or tossing into salads. A must-have for any low-carb pantry!
Another great store-bought keto bean substitute are Lupini Beans. Unlike other beans, which are high in carbs, lupini beans are unique in that they’re high in fiber and protein but very low in net carbs. A ¼ cup serving typically has around 1–3g net carbs!
These beans are firm, slightly nutty, and work well in salads, antipasto platters, or simply as a quick protein-packed snack. The best thing about them is that they’re already jarred and ready to eat, which makes them a convenient pantry staple when you want that bean-like texture without the carb overload.
These beans are one of the best low-carb substitutes for regular beans. I recommend using Cento Lupini Beans if you want to give them a try— they come pre-cooked, taste great, and only have about 1–3g net carbs per serving.
Green Beans
While these are technically a legume, green beans are a great bean substitute for keto without going over their carb limit quickly.
This is so because there are only 7 grams of carbs in every 100 grams (or 1/2 cup) of green beans and they can be used to make so many delicious keto recipes including this delicious green bean casserole.
If you’re just starting keto, or maybe you’ve already started but you don’t know all the best keto food substitutions for all your favorite foods, then this Keto Substitutions Guide is for you! It includes over 300 amazing keto food swaps that actually work and taste good!
Yardlong Beans
Yardlong beans are another legume that can be used in place of beans on keto. They work because there are only 8 grams of carbs in a whole cup of these Yardlong beans.
While yardlong beans may not work for chilis or refried beans, they are a great keto bean substitute to use as a side dish to go alongside your main dishes.
Edamame
Another bean that you can sprinkle into your keto eating plan every so often is edamame. Why do you ask? Because there are 10 grams of total carbs and only 5 net carbs in every ½ cup of edamame!
Technically, they’re not considered beans but are considered a legume. Nonetheless, you can certainly use edamame as a keto bean substitute when the craving for some beans hits.
Edamame works well in dishes like salads, hummus, as a side dish, in soups and so much more.
Coarsely Processed Cauliflower Florets
If you’re still wary of adding edamame and black soya beans to your chili, a simple low carb bean substitute, especially in keto chili recipes are cauliflower florets.
Simply process them coarsely in a food processor or blender and add them to your low carb chili in place of beans.
These will work because cauliflower is super low in carbs and it helps to make the dish heartier without beans.
Zucchini
As weird as this keto bean substitute may sound, it is actually effective as a replacement for beans. You can use zucchini to make bean free hummus for example since you’re not able to have most beans on keto.
Plus, they’re a super cheap vegetable too. To make a zucchini hummus recipe, you will need a cup of diced zucchini, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 2 large minced garlic, ¼ cup of raw tahini, and salt and pepper to taste. That is a simple way to make no bean hummus that tastes amazing.
Chunky Low Carb Veggies
If you don’t want to use any beans, lots of chopped pieces of chunky low carb veggies like peppers, tomatoes, and onions can be used in place of beans, especially for chili recipes. That way, your chili will be hearty and delicious and those beans won’t be missed! I mean, no bean chili can be super delicious too!
Keto substitute for black beans
The best keto substitute for black beans is black soya beans. Black soya beans are are a type of black beans that have fewer carbs than black beans and also have a nutty, slightly sweet, and buttery flavor. and are very much like black beans. Black soya beans can be used to make recipes like chili, casseroles, stews, soups, and salads in place of black beans on keto.