Is Peanut Butter Keto?

Short Answer - Yes, but it isn’t the best option.

Long Answer - Peanuts by themselves are legumes. Technically a bean and they grow in the ground. While legumes themselves aren’t generally a keto food, peanuts have a lower amount of carbs than others. ¼ cup of peanuts is 5 net carbs, keto friendly, but it is a little on the high side. However, you can go ahead and eat them if you really love peanuts.

Anytime you make a nut butter (or legume butter for the peanut) you end up making them more palatable as well as denser. What I mean is that you are removing the air, grinding them up, making them nice and smooth. Much easier to eat and they take up less space. Peanut butter, real peanut butter (more on this in a moment) is 4 net carbs per 2 tablespoons. So your carbs can go quickly but you can eat them on keto.

A little bit friendlier keto option is almond butter with 3 net carbs per serving or maybe the start of the show macadamia butter with only 1 net carb per serving. The F-Bomb company makes some high quality nut butters and you can find them here. 

One major word of warning here. We aren’t talking about Jif or Skippy peanut butter. Those are packed with sugar and have 6 grams of net carbs per 2 tablespoons. We are talking about real peanut butter. Real peanut butter, brands like Adam’s peanut butter is nothing but peanuts and salt. For those of you Jif eaters it can take a little getting used to, but it is delicious and acceptable in small quantities on keto.