THE CARNIVORE DIET BENEFITS
The first question every new carnivore asks: what can you eat on the carnivore diet? Let us be the first to tell you, more than you'd think! This carnivore diet food list breaks it all down so you can walk into the grocery store knowing exactly what goes in the cart.
The best part? Our carnivore food list won't leave you bored and reaching for something that breaks the rules of this strict, exclusionary diet. You’ll actually enjoy the carnivore journey. From meat chips to carnivore desserts, here's what to eat on a carnivore diet.
Key Takeaways
- The carnivore diet is exactly what it sounds like. You eat animal products. Meat, eggs, dairy. The carnivore diet list has way more options than you’d think, though.
- The trick is rotating your proteins so you don't eat the same thing every night and burn out. You should also switch up how you prepare them.
- Most new carnivores have a hard time finding snacks they like. Our carnivore chips are a game-changer. They’re called a meat pastry for a reason.
What Can You Eat on the Carnivore Diet? A Complete Carnivore Diet Food List
So what can you eat on the carnivore diet? We’re going to break down our carnivore diet food list by category, starting with the most obvious stuff:
Red Meat
You're going to eat a lot of beef, but that doesn't mean ribeye every single night. You’ll just end up bored with the diet, and you’ll start developing gaps in nutrition. That’s not to mention how expensive beef is these days! Mix it up:
- Steaks: Plenty of options here - ribeye, sirloin, strip, filet, etc. The no-brainers of any carnivore diet food list.
- Ground Beef: One of the most versatile items on your carnivore food list - burgers, meatballs, or just browned in a pan with salt. Go with grass-fed when you can. Buy it in bulk and freeze what you don't use that week.
- Roasts: Slow-cooked brisket, pot roast, chuck roast. Great for meal prep because one cook gives you food for days. Throw a chuck roast in a slow cooker before work and dinner's waiting when you walk in the door.
Poultry
Chicken is the go-to when you're figuring out what to eat on a carnivore diet that won’t leave you feeling super heavy. It's lighter and gives you a break from beef without going off-plan. Poultry is a staple on any serious carnivore diet list:
- Thighs: Dark meat, juicier, more flavor. Most carnivores prefer thighs over breast.
- Breast: Leaner if that matters to you. A bit dry on its own but works when you cook it right.
- Wings: Salt and bake them until the skin gets crispy. A nice treat when you want something a little more satisfying than basic breasts or thighs.
Turkey and duck are on the carnivore food list too. Don't sleep on them. Turkey legs are ridiculously underpriced for what you get, and duck fat is worth saving for cooking anything else.
Pork
Yeah, you get to eat all the bacon your heart desires. That's the beauty of the carnivore diet food list. Portions aren’t a massive factor on the carnivore diet rules. But bacon is just the start:
- Chops: Leaner than you'd expect. Good on the grill or in a cast iron with butter.
- Bacon: Obviously. Just check the label. Sugar can sometimes sneak into the cure.
- Loin: Tender and juicy, but not too fatty. A pork loin roast is a perfect pick for dinner, and the leftovers are amazing the next day.
Organ Meats
Nobody gets excited about organ meats. We get that. But they should be on the list if you're serious about what to eat on a carnivore diet from a nutrition standpoint.
There’s no denying that taste and texture can be really hard to stomach. But there are ways around it. Our advice is to cook these meats in with other meats like ground beef, and you may not even notice them:
- Liver: We consider this a non-negotiable on the carnivore food list. So how do you get past the strong flavor? Don’t just pan-fry in a slab and try to choke it down. Mix it into ground beef patties. You won't even know it's there!
- Heart: Tastes more like steak than you'd think. Slice it thin and sear it hot. All you need is salt, and it’s genuinely tasty.
- Kidney: An acquired taste for sure. Some people never get there, and that’s fine. But it belongs on the carnivore diet list if you're willing to try.
Fish and Other Seafood
You probably associate the carnivore diet with steaks and chicken, and for good reason. Frankly, though, the best protein-to-fat ratios on the carnivore diet food list come from the water. So, what can you eat on the carnivore diet from the ocean?
- Fish: Salmon is loaded with omega-3s. Tilapia is super lean. Tuna is very convenient (and cheap!). Fish is the perfect change of pace when you want a different flavor and something a little lighter.
- Shellfish: Shrimp, crab, and lobster are definitely not cheap, but they’re a great choice when you want to spoil yourself with something but don’t want another night of steak.
- Mollusks: Oysters, clams, and mussels get skipped, but we can’t understand why. They’re some of the most nutrient-dense items on the carnivore diet list.
Hit the fish counter instead of the frozen aisle if you live near a coast. That’s where the good stuff is at, and you’ll notice the difference both in terms of taste and nutrition!
Wild Game
What can you eat on the carnivore diet beyond the usual farm-raised stuff? Wild game. You don’t have to hunt it yourself to add it to your carnivore food list, either. Your local butcher has it. These cuts tend to be leaner than what you'd get at the store and have a totally different flavor:
- Venison: Lean and a little sweet - the perfect change of pace from beef if you can get your hands on it.
- Bison: Tastes similar to beef but leaner and a little more gamey. You can find it at most Whole Foods now. Worth trying if you never have, especially when you want a burger!
- Wild Fowl: Quail, pheasant, and wild turkey should be on your carnivore diet list so things don’t get stale. A great alternative to chicken every so often.
Eggs
We get asked all the time, can you eat eggs on the carnivore diet? Some people say meat only. We think anything from the animal kingdom counts, and eggs are one of the best foods you can eat. Period.
They belong on every carnivore diet food list. There are so many ways to whip up eggs, too!
- Boiled: Hard or soft. Quick snack, easy to batch-prep on Sunday.
- Scrambled or Fried: You can’t beat the crispy edges and runny yolk, especially when you cook them in butter or tallow.
- Omelets: Fill them with cheese and leftover meat for a full meal in five minutes.
Dairy
What about cheese on the carnivore diet? It depends. Not all dairy is equal. Some is overly processed. But plenty of varieties have their place on the carnivore diet food list - assuming your body handles dairy fine, of course.
- Hard Cheeses: Parmesan, cheddar, and gouda are packed with protein and low in carbs. These varieties are your safest bet.
- Soft Cheeses: Brie and feta are creamier. Just watch out for fillers on the label.
- Butter: Grass-fed is best. Your go-to cooking fat on this diet.
- Ghee: This is just clarified butter with a higher smoke point (which matters when you’re cooking certain meats). Works even if dairy usually bothers you.
- Heavy Cream: Fair game if nothing's been added to it. Just steer clear of anything with stabilizers or sugar.
What About Snacks?
Now, what can you eat on the carnivore diet to satisfy cravings fast? Most carnivore diet snacks are either boring or loaded with ingredients that don't belong. But there are options that hit the sweet spot, like Carnivore Snax.
Two ingredients. Meat and salt. They start with a light, airy crisp and then melt in your mouth. We source from the best regenerative farms in the country and every bag is exactly what it says. Here's the lineup for your carnivore food list:
They fit into any carnivore diet meal plan and they'll change how you think about snacking on this diet.
Are Deli Meats Fair Game?
Technically, yes. Turkey, roast beef, and ham are meat, right? Well, sort of. Most deli meat is heavily processed. Nitrates, preservatives, fillers, sugar hiding under names you wouldn't catch.
Find a brand with a short ingredient list if you're going to put deli meat on your carnivore diet list. The stuff behind the counter that they slice in front of you is almost always better than the pre-packaged stuff in the actual aisles at the grocery store. It works in a pinch but it shouldn't be a staple on the carnivore diet food list. For emergencies only.
What You're Allowed to Drink on the Carnivore Diet
Water is pretty much it. Coffee is debated since it's technically plant-based. Most carnivores drink it anyway and don't stress about it. Just stick with black coffee - no sugar or oat milk. If you can’t handle black coffee, then this is your sign to drop it altogether.
Bone broth is basically the only other thing you should drink on the carnivore diet. It’s a great option if you're wondering what to eat on a carnivore diet between meals. Make a batch in a slow cooker with marrow bones or buy a decent store brand. Sip it hot between meals to stay full - it pulls double-duty as both a drink and a snack.
Use This Easy Carnivore Diet Shopping List
Knowing what to eat on a carnivore diet is one thing. Now, how do you actually piece together your carnivore diet shipping list for your first week on this adventure? Here's a stripped-down carnivore diet list for the store:
- Proteins: Ribeye or strip steak, ground beef, chicken thighs, pork chops, bacon, salmon, and eggs
- Fats: Grass-fed butter, ghee, tallow, heavy cream
- Dairy: Parmesan, cheddar, brie or feta if you tolerate it
- Snacks: Carnivore Snax, hard-boiled eggs, pork rinds
- Drinks: Water, bone broth, coffee if you include it
That's a week's worth of food. As you can see, the carnivore food list doesn't need to be complicated. Buy what you like, cook it with salt and butter, and rotate your proteins so you don't burn out on any one thing.
Cost is a common objective to carnivore. But you’ll probably find that your grocery bill doesn't actually go up as much as you expected once you stop buying all the packaged stuff you used to grab. You're buying fewer items, and each one counts.
Tips on Planning Your Meals
We have a more comprehensive carnivore meal planning guide if you want help actually figuring out what you’re going to eat for the next 30 days. But here are some tips on getting started:
- Batch cook: Start the week off right with at least a couple of your meals already cooked. Roast a chuck, grill a bunch of chicken thighs, and boil a dozen eggs. You eat from that stash all week to save time and eliminate guesswork about your diet.
- Keep snacks ready: You’re more likely to go off-script if cravings come up and you don’t have something on hand to satisfy them. Stock up on Carnivore Snax, and keep boiled eggs in the fridge.
- Rotate your proteins: There’s a reason we keep saying this. We don’t want you to look at the carnivore food list like a prison sentence. Beef two days, chicken one day, pork one day, fish one day. Repeat. Swap up how you actually cook them, too.
- Don't overthink it: The whole point of carnivore is simplicity. Salt, butter, and meat. The formula is simple by design.
- Use your freezer: Buy twice what you need when steaks go on sale. Ground beef freezes perfectly. So does bacon. A stocked freezer is the difference between eating on-plan and ordering takeout because you've got nothing in the fridge.
Figuring out what to eat on a carnivore diet gets easier once you get into a good routine. It’s honestly only a question for the first week or two. Then, you get in a rhythm you can just keep repeating.
Closing Thoughts on the Carnivore Food List
The carnivore diet food list gives you more options than you probably thought it would. Red meat, poultry, pork, seafood, eggs, dairy, organ meats, wild game is more than enough to keep things fresh every single day.
Key takeaway? Tapping into the carnivore diet benefits doesn't mean depriving yourself. Now you know what to eat on a carnivore diet. Just stock up on Carnivore Snax before you go, and you’ll be prepared for when cravings hit. No carnivore diet food list is complete without them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can you eat on the carnivore diet?
Meat, fish, eggs, and some dairy. Beef, chicken, pork, seafood, organ meats, wild game, butter, ghee, hard cheeses. Anything that comes from an animal. The full carnivore diet food list is long enough that you won’t get bored.
Do I have to eat organ meats on the carnivore diet?
No, but we definitely recommend making a solid effort to include them. They’re a superfood with vitamins and minerals you won’t get elsewhere since you aren’t eating fruits or veggies. That said, plenty of people skip them and do fine. You might just need some supplements to fill in the nutritional gaps.
Am I allowed to eat cheese on the carnivore diet?
Depends on your version of the diet. Strict carnivore says no dairy at all. Modified carnivore includes it. Hard cheeses like parmesan and cheddar are lower in lactose and fit on most versions of the carnivore diet list. Avoid anything with fillers or added sugar.
What snacks are on the carnivore diet list?
Carnivore Snax meat chips, hard boiled eggs, pork rinds, bacon, and beef jerky (if the label is clean). Snacking is the hardest part of this diet for most people. Having something ready to grab keeps you from reaching for something you shouldn’t. It saves you from yourself.
How do I build a carnivore diet food list that won't get boring?
Mix in chicken, pork, fish, wild game. Try different cuts and cook things differently. A ribeye and a brisket are both beef but they feel like completely different meals. The carnivore diet list has more variety than people give it credit for.
Sources
- What is the carnivore diet? - Harvard Health
- Behavioral Characteristics and Self-Reported Health Status among 2029 Adults Consuming a "Carnivore Diet" - NIH
- USDA FoodData Central - Beef Nutrition
- Advice about Eating Fish - FDA
