Is Brie Cheese Keto-Friendly? (Yes, but only if you . . . )

Written by Jeff Campbell in Keto Diet

When it comes to the keto diet, cheese is a popular item. You may have heard that the harder cheeses are better because they generally have fewer carbs. But is Brie cheese is keto-friendly?

Here’s what I know after some tasty research:

Yes. Brie cheese is keto-friendly. Although generally harder cheeses have fewer carbs, Brie cheese is an exception. Brie is a soft cheese, derived from cow’s milk and has only 0.1 grams of net carbs, making it keto-compliant.

However, is Brie the only exception or are there other cheeses which we can consume while on keto as well?

Besides, you’d also like to know, what other dishes can be eaten with brie cheese on ketosis. Also, are you aware of how many carbs must an individual intake while on keto?

We are going to discuss all of them in this article.

Just keep reading!

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How many net carbs are in brie cheese?

Brie cheese is an excellent alternative to many snacks on a keto diet. Per one-ounce serving, it has only 0.1 grams of net carbs. But, at times, it can be a tricky cheese to include in most diets because it is high in fat. 

And, due to its creamy texture, it isn’t typically eaten alone. So, you will need to be careful when pairing it so that you stay within the recommended carb limits of the keto diet.

There are a few variations on the keto diet, each with its own recommended ratio of fat to carbs to protein.

  • Standard ketogenic diet (SKD): low carb (5%), moderate protein (20%), and high fat (75%)
  • Cyclical ketogenic diet (CKD): involves periods of higher-carb refeeds (i.e., five keto days, two high carb days)
  • Targeted ketogenic diet (TKD): allows you to add carbs around workouts
  • High-protein ketogenic diet: similar to standard, but allows more protein. 60% fat, 35% protein, and 5% carbs.

Being based on percentages, the number of carbs allowed will vary on day to day basis, depending on what you balance it with. To ensure safety, try to stick to about 20-30 grams of net carbs per day if you are following a keto.

What do you eat with brie cheese on keto?

Brie might be low in net carbs, but pairing it with something that is even low in carbs can be a bit complicated.

Because of brie’s creamy texture, it is a famous cheese that can be used as a dip or a spread. However, because of the low-carb aspect of the keto diet, you have to be cautious while pairing it. For instance, you can’t use your typical bread to eat with brie.

Therefore, one must avoid consuming it with things like apple slices or crackers.

So, how would you enjoy brie cheese on keto?

First, you can make brie cheese crisps. This is a great alternative to crackers like Cheez-its or even used in place of crouton on a salad.

  • Just cut the brie into small pieces
  • Lay them out on a piece of parchment paper
  • Microwave for 1 to 2 minutes

Be sure to allow them to cool before removing them from the parchment paper.

While pairing it with fruits, you do need to be careful with your choice of fruits as many of them are high in sugar and carbs.

It’d be best to pair your brie with raspberries and walnuts for a delicious, keto-friendly snack. You can also try it with strawberries, cantaloupe, or peaches as long as you moderate your serving sizes.

The same goes for mozzarella.

Though it is a softer cheese, it is also suitable for the keto diet. However, you shouldn’t pair it with balsamic vinegar in a Caprese dish, as it balsamic doesn’t always work with keto.

Read more about this in detail in my recent article. I not only break down how balsamic fares in terms of net carbs, but I also cover balsamic glaze and the 1 alternative that is truly keto-friendly that tastes very similar.

Just click on the link to read it on my site.

Can you eat too much cheese on keto?

Cheese is an excellent staple for the keto diet. It is high in fat, rich in protein, and mostly low in carbs.

However, overeating can affect your macro ratios, hinder your weight loss, and even cause other issues if you have a sensitivity to dairy products.

When eating cheese on the keto diet, you need to be wary of:

  • Too much protein – while protein is essential for muscle building and fat loss, overeating protein can cause gluconeogenesis. This is when the body turns excess protein into glucose. This can result in slower results since your body will try to burn the glucose for fuel before it burns fat.
  • Too many calories – if you want to lose weight, you need to be in a calorie deficit. This means you need to consume fewer calories than the amount you burn in a day. Cheese may be the right choice for your keto macros, but it can also be very high in calories. This can negatively affect your weight loss.
  • Inflammation – some people are more sensitive to dairy (namely lactose) than others. For people who are lactose intolerant, eating too much cheese can have a negative effect, including bloating. Moderation is important! Try to stick to no more than 1-2 ounces per day.
  • Hidden carbs when pairing – cheese is rarely eaten alone and is almost always paired with something. Make sure to read labels thoroughly so you don’t accidentally pair your cheese with something high in carbs.

Which cheese is best for the keto diet?

As I mentioned earlier, it’s usually safe to say that the harder the cheese, the fewer net carbs it has. But it’s not necessarily the case all the time, though.

Below is the list of some of the most popular cheese choices for the keto diet. This is by no means an exclusive list; there are plenty of other suitable cheeses that I’ve not included.

  • Goat or feta cheese
  • Blue cheese
  • Cream cheese
  • Parmesan/Romano cheese
  • White cheddar
  • Brie
  • Gruyere
  • Paneer (a staple in Indian cuisine)
  • Halloumi (grilling cheese)
  • Asiago
  • Muenster
  • Gouda
  • Mozzarella
  • Colby Jack
  • Swiss

For your convenience, I have drafted a table to outline these cheeses and their macros per 1-ounce serving.

Type of Cheese Calories Fat Protein Net Carbs
Feta* 75 6 g 4 g 1.2 g
Blue 100 8.1 g 6.1 g 0.7 g
Cream* 102 10 g 1.8 g 1.6 g
Parmesan 111 7.3 g 10 g 0.9 g
Brie 95 7.8 g 5.9 g 0.1 g
Gruyere 446 35 g 32 g 0.4 g
White cheddar 115 9.4 g 6.5 g 0.9 g
Halloumi 85 6.3 g 6.3 g 0.6 g
Paneer 83 7.1 g 4 g 0.8 g
Asiago 111 7.3 g 10 g 0.9 g
Muenster 104 8.5 g 6.6 g 0.3 g
Gouda 101 7.8 g 7.1 g 0.6 g
Mozzarella 85 6.3 g 6.3 g 0.6 g
Colby Jack 109 8.8 g 6.8 g 0.5 g
Swiss* 108 7.9 g 7.6 g 1.5 g

(* = contains over 1 g of net carbs per 1-ounce serving. It is advised to eat t in moderation.)

Of course, not all cheese is created with an equal quantity of contents. There are a few types that are best avoided when you are trying out the keto diet. Some cheeses are higher in carbs; others must be avoided due to quality. It’s not just about the macros.

When creating a new, healthy lifestyle, you also need to pay attention to the quality of the food you are putting into your body.

Brie Cheese Taco Dip | The Perfect Keto Party Food

Hopefully, this answers all of your queries about brie cheese being keto-friendly

Brie cheese is the most delicious keto-friendly cheese and is a perfect snack substitute.

Further, I discovered that it works as a fantastic dip or spread for salad and can also be paired with raspberries and walnuts because it has low fat and protein content.

However, anyone on a keto diet must make sure that consuming too much protein or calories might lead the body to burn glucose before burning the fat. Besides, I also learned that overeating cheese could cause inflammation to people who are sensitive to dairy products. 

So, now that I know about other cheeses that are suitable for keto and, as long as you practice moderation, brie cheese is perfectly fine on the keto diet. Just be careful with what you pair it with, and you are good to go.

Join the KETO 30 Guided Challenge and save up to 50% on awesome keto products!

For those of you who are looking to keto to improve your health, or just help get a sense of control over your diet, we invite you to join the next KETO 30 Guided Challenge starting soon!

CLICK HERE to learn more about the challenge and how to save up to 50% off on the awesome products over at Keto Logic!

Jeff Campbell

Jeff was a leader for Whole Foods Market for over 2 decades and is now a recovering foodie. When he's not spending time in the kitchen, he can usually be found with 3 daughters, practicing martial arts, making music, or blogging on his other sites. Click to learn more about me

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