Despite all the benefits of carnivore diet, its restrictive nature can make meal prepping a challenge. While many prefer this simpler approach that narrows down their meal options, others feel limited and uncertain about what they can actually eat.
This is true not just of the carnivore diet food list itself, but also carnivore diet seasonings and other cooking additives, like butter. So, can you eat butter on the carnivore diet? Technically, it’s an animal-based food - making it fair game for this nutritional regimen.
That being said, not all butter is created equal, and what kind of butter for carnivore diet you eat matters more than you may realize. Don’t worry, we’re going to help you choose the best butter for carnivore diet here in this guide.
Learn all about the nuances between grass and grain fed, salted and unsalted, ghee, raw butter, and more below. You’ll also get tips on cooking with butter and incorporating it into your meals in moderation so you can reap the carnivore diet results you’re chasing!
The Basics of the Carnivore Diet
First things first - what is the carnivore diet? How does the carnivore diet work? As the name suggests, this nutritional regimen is built on a simple premise: eliminate all plant-based foods and focus entirely on animal-based nutrition.
So, what can you eat on carnivore diet? Options include meat, fish, eggs, and in some cases, certain dairy products. Proponents claim that consuming only foods that come from animals is a more natural, nutrient-dense way of eating.
Cutting out plant-based foods eliminates virtually all carbohydrates, meaning you’ll be eating a high-protein, high-fat diet. This saves you from many of the common antinutrients and irritants found in plant-based and processed foods, like gluten, soy, sugar, and more.
But, it also puts the body in a state of ketosis, where fat becomes the primary fuel source instead of glucose. This is why using the carnivore diet for weight loss is so popular.
That’s not the only benefit of carnivore, though. You may experience improved energy levels, more stable blood sugar, and enhanced mental clarity. The diet also reduces inflammation and optimizes digestion.
Meal prep is often simpler with fewer ingredients, making your life easier as well. Many people enjoy the elimination of food cravings that comes with eating satiating, nutrient-dense meals. Still, you need to have a good selection of carnivore diet snacks to fill in the gaps.
We have more resources on the pros and cons of carnivore diet and how to start the carnivore diet if you’re interested, but let’s shift our focus to the conversation at hand - can you eat butter on carnivore diet?
Can You Eat Butter on Carnivore Diet?
While it’s not the same as carnivore meat, butter has an important role in your carnivore meal plan. As a pure animal-based product it aligns with the carnivore diet rules and actually has a range of benefits on its own.
The Benefits of Butter
Butter is packed with essential fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E, and K2. It helps boost energy levels and supports overall health.
Grass-fed butter specifically contains higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids and CLA (conjugated linoleic acid), which may have anti-inflammatory and heart-health benefits as well.
Because the carnivore diet excludes carbohydrates, fats become the body’s primary source of energy, helping maintain satiety and reducing the need for constant snacking. Butter fits the bill perfectly with 11 grams per serving.
Butter’s fat also helps your body absorb fat-soluble vitamins better, which are vital for everything from bone health to immune function. But you’re not going to be eating it straight (unless you want to, of course - that’s not unheard of). So, how do you actually use it in the kitchen?
Common Use Cases in the Kitchen
Butter is going to be your best friend for cooking on the carnivore diet. It adds richness and flavor to meals, whether you’re frying eggs, searing steaks, or drizzling over roasted meats.
It has a low to moderate smoke point that makes it ideal for low to medium-heat cooking. However, clarified butter (ghee) is often preferred for high-heat cooking since it has a higher smoke point. More on that later when we get into the best butter for carnivore diet.
Butter isn’t just used to streamline your cooking, though. It’s frequently added to meals as an ingredient for flavor. For example, melting butter over a juicy steak, whisking it into scrambled eggs, or mixing it into sauces adds both richness and valuable fats to your dish.
Some carnivore dieters even enjoy eating a small amount of butter on its own or mixing it into coffee for an energy boost and resting your own bulletproof coffee.
No matter how you use it, though, it’s important that you know what kind of butter for carnivore diet is best. Why does this matter?
Does it Matter What Kind of Butter for Carnivore Diet You Eat?
Just like with eating cheese on carnivore diet, it’s important that you’re aware of the nuances across all the different types of butter you have at your disposal. While they may appear similar all be found in the same aisle at your grocery store, the impact they have on your health differ.
Grass-Fed vs Grain-Fed Butter
The biggest battle in the butter realm is between grass-fed and grain-fed. This debate is no different than comparing grass-fed vs grain-fed meat, really.
We’ve known for some time now that how animals are raised has a direct impact on their nutritional value, and this is why we only source regenerative meat for our carnivore chips. More on that later - back to butter.
Grass-fed butter is made from the milk of cows that have been primarily fed grass. It’s widely considered the better butter for its higher nutrient content.
It has more omega-3 fatty acids, which are anti-inflammatory and beneficial for heart and brain health. Moreover, grass-fed butter has higher levels of CLA, which is linked to potential like fat loss and improved metabolic health.
In contrast, grain-fed butter comes from cows that have been fed a diet primarily made up of grains like corn and soy. While still a decent source of fat, it falls short of the nutritional benefits of its grass-fed counterpart and may contain fewer fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, and K2.
Salted or Unsalted Butter for Carnivore Diet
You’ll also need to choose between salted or unsalted butter for carnivore diet, and this mainly comes down to personal preference - although there are a few nutritional nuances to consider.
As you might have guessed, salted butter contains added salt to enhance flavor and help with electrolyte balance, especially if you're not consuming other sources of sodium.
Given that many people on the carnivore diet need to replenish their electrolytes (particularly sodium), salted butter can be a better choice. But if you’re not having any issue meeting your electrolyte goals, you might find it more of a hindrance than a help.
On the other hand, unsalted butter is pure butterfat without any additives. It gives you more control over the amount of salt in your diet and can be useful if you're trying to regulate sodium intake for specific health reasons, such as managing blood pressure.
Unsalted butter also works better in recipes where you want the flavors of the food to shine without being overpowered by salt. Again, it goes back to being more precise in controlling the flavor profile of your meals.
Butter Additives to Avoid
This is a good time to touch on butter additives and why they must be avoided like the plague. Unfortunately, so many companies put vegetable oils, preservatives, and artificial flavorings in their butter to cut corners or mask unpleasant taste.
These introduce inflammatory ingredients that go against the principles of the carnivore diet and will hold you back from your goals. So, take the time to check labels on your butter before you buy, and watch out for “natural flavorings” or “oil blends,” which dilute the butter’s purity.
As with anything on your 30-day carnivore diet meal plan, look for as few ingredients as possible. Ideally, your butter would read “Pasteurized Cream” and nothing more.
What is the Best Butter for Carnivore Diet?
All that being said, what is the best butter for carnivore diet? You can probably infer that grass-fed is the gold standard, but there are a few other options at your fingertips as well that you might be interested in.
Grass-Fed Butter as the Gold Standard
While you’ll pay a bit more for it, grass-fed butter is well worth the price. It’s rich in healthy fats like omega-3s and fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E, and K2. It also has higher CLA content.
Brands like Kerrygold are well-known for providing high-quality grass-fed butter that carnivore dieters often rely on for nutrient-rich fat intake. But really, any butter that’s grass-fed and doesn’t contain any other ingredients is a good pick.
The rich flavor and creamy texture of grass-fed butter also make it a favorite for cooking, frying, and adding to meals. It brings out the best in the natural flavors of meat and eggs, making it a versatile staple in the carnivore kitchen.
Ghee for Lactose-Intolerant Carnivores
Maybe you’re lactose-intolerant or sensitive to dairy but still want to be able to cook with butter. Ghee, also known as clarified butter, is a great alternative.
It’s made by heating butter and removing the milk solids, which contain lactose and casein, making it nearly free of these common allergens. The end result is all the beneficial fats and fat-soluble vitamins of butter with a higher smoke point.
It’s easier on the digestive system since it’s free of lactose, making it perfect for those who may have trouble tolerating regular butter. Yet, it offers all the same energy-boosting fats as traditional butter for the best of both worlds!
Is Raw Butter Safe?
You’ve probably heard of raw butter at some point, either by those who swear by it or those who warn you of its dangers. Raw butter retains more of its natural enzymes, vitamins, and beneficial bacteria since it hasn’t been heat-treated. But this also creates potential risks.
For example, those with compromised immune systems, pregnant women, or young children may be exposing themselves to harmful bacteria like E. coli or Salmonella since it’s unpasteurized.
This is why if you’re going to try this variety, you need to make sure it’s sourced from a reputable farm that practices stringent safety measures.
Homemade Butter
Now, there is one more option if you’re still looking for the best butter for carnivore diet - make your own at home! This is far more simple than you might think, and it gives you complete control so you can rest assured you’re getting the purest form of butter possible.
All you need is heavy cream (preferably grass-fed for added nutrients) and a mixer or food processor. Then, pour the heavy cream into the mixer and beat it on high.
You’ll get whipped cream at first but continue pushing through. After about 8-10 minutes, the cream will separate into butterfat and buttermilk.
Drain the buttermilk and rinse the butter with cold water to remove any leftover liquid. Knead it a bit to squeeze out excess moisture, and voilà - you have homemade butter! You can add a pinch of salt for flavor, or keep it unsalted depending on your preference.
Tips on Enjoying Butter on Carnivore Diet in Moderation
Now that you know what kind of butter for carnivore diet is best, we want to offer a few carnivore diet tips for cooking with butter and enjoying its benefits without overdoing it.
Balancing Butter With Other Animal Fats
There’s no denying the role of butter on the carnivore diet, but it’s just one of many healthy fat sources you should include. Get other animal fats like tallow, lard, and duck fat to get a broader nutrient profile.
These other fats have their own smoke points and flavors, which will help you keep things fresh and fun on a diet that could otherwise become a bit mundane and repetitive.
Portion Control and Satiety
Remember that butter is highly satiating due to its fat content, so a little goes a long way. Just a single serving contains 100 calories and 14 grams of fat. So if you’re tracking your carnivore diet macros and calories, be cognizant of how much you’re using in your meals.
Cooking With Butter
Butter is perfect for low to medium-heat cooking and adding rich flavor to meats, eggs, and seafood. But, its relatively low smoke point means it’s best suited for gentle frying or sautéing.
For higher-heat cooking, you can use ghee with its higher smoke point which makes it better suited for searing steaks or frying foods without burning.
You can find inspiration in our blog through our carnivore lunch ideas, carnivore diet sides, carnivore breakfast, and carnivore diet desserts. Speaking of carnivore diet treats, make sure to stock up on our meat chips here at Carnivore Snax before you go today.
These are the best low carb snacks whether you’re on paleo vs carnivore. They’re sourced from the most elite, ethical regenerative farms and feature just two ingredients, meat and salt. This means they align perfectly with even the strictest nutritional regimens.
The taste is to die for, as they start out light and crunchy before melting in your mouth and giving way to tantalizing flavors that will have you wanting more. Explore all our varieties below:
Set yourself up for success on the carnivore diet and keep cravings at bay with Carnivore Snax!
Closing Thoughts on the Best Butter for Carnivore Diet
We hope this overview of what kind of butter for carnivore diet is best has left you with a clear understanding of the best butter for carnivore diet. Stick with grass-fed varieties and choose between salted or unsalted butter for carnivore diet based on your personal preferences.
Be sure to mix in other varieties like ghee, tallow, lard, and more to keep things from getting stale while rounding out your nutritional intake.
Our blog has more resources on topics like why carnivore diet is bad, carnivore diet supplements, carnivore diet with fruit, carnivore diet side effects, carnivore diet and cholesterol, carnivore diet constipation, modified carnivore diet, is a carnivore diet healthy, fasting on carnivore diet, and carnivore diet for MS.
Otherwise, the only thing left to do if you haven’t already is head over to Carnivore Snax and learn more about our meat chips. Take your carnivore diet to the next level with our range of premium snacks today!
