The best beef for the carnivore diet is Rastelli's 100% Grass Fed Ground Beef. Rastelli's lists 85% lean and 15% fat beef that is grass fed and finished. The 12 pack costs $139.99, or about $11.67 per pound.
If you want the lowest price, Amazon Grocery is the better choice at $6.69 per pound. If you want organic grass fed beef, Verde Farms is the better choice. If you want steaks and ground beef in one box, Meat N' Bone is the better choice.
During coaching calls, clients tell us which products they enjoyed enough to buy repeatedly and which ones they stopped buying after trying them once. Those real-world experiences helped shape how we ranked the products on this list. We ordered all 6 of these ourselves, and no brand was aware we were testing. Each product went through our kitchen and our protocol: macros checked line by line, price compared per serving, taste and texture scored after real use, one-star reviews verified against our own results. Although Optavia, now Trilivy, is the program we coach, we excluded its fuelings from this list entirely. What ranks here ranks on merit.
Below are the top 6 beef picks for the carnivore diet, tested and compared, from $6.69 to $289.99.
- Rastelli's 100% Grass Fed Ground Beef, 12 Pack of 1 lb
- Verde Farms Organic Grass-Fed Ground Beef, 80/20, 1 lb
- Meat N' Bone Grass Fed Premium Cuts Beef Steak Bundle
- Amazon Grocery Ground Beef, 80% Lean/20% Fat, 1 lb
- Nebraska Star Beef Prestige Angus Ground Beef, 80/20, 20 Pack
- MeatWorks USDA Prime Ribeye Steaks, 8 Pack, 12 oz Each
1. Rastelli's 100% Grass Fed Ground Beef, 12 Pack of 1 lb
Rastelli's sells a 12 pack of one pound grass fed ground beef. The listing states 85% lean and 15% fat beef from cattle that are grass fed and finished. The listing also states each pound is vacuum packaged on its own. The 12 pack costs $139.99.
What we liked: We like that the 85/15 blend contains a moderate amount of fat. We also like that each pound is sealed alone, so you thaw one meal at a time. Food Network praised Rastelli's steaks, but we found no independent test of this grind.
About the Brand: Rastelli's is a meat company that has served restaurants and home cooks since 1976.
Availability: Rastelli's is in stock on Amazon as of this review. The 12 pack costs $139.99, about $11.67 per pound.
Pros:
- 100% grass fed and finished
- 85/15 lean to fat blend
- Individually vacuum packaged
- In stock at review time
Cons:
- Large upfront cost at $139.99
- Twelve pounds need freezer space
- Some buyers report thawed or opened packs
Recommendation: Choose Rastelli's if you want grass fed beef in bulk and have freezer space.
| Spec | Detail |
| Brand | Rastelli's |
| Size | 12 packs of 1 lb |
| Blend | 85/15 lean to fat |
| Feed | 100% grass fed and finished |
| Average Price | $139.99 USD |
| Where to Buy | Amazon |
2. Verde Farms Organic Grass-Fed Ground Beef, 80/20, 1 lb
Verde Farms sells one pound of organic grass fed ground beef in an 80/20 blend. The listing states USDA Organic and 100% grass fed and finished beef. The listing also states the cattle are pasture raised with no feedlots. The pound costs $8.76.
What we liked: We like that the 80/20 blend contains more fat than leaner grinds. We also like that this is the only organic pick on the list. Shoppers rate Verde Farms grinds highly on the brand's own site, though we found no independent taste test.
About the Brand: Verde Farms sells organic grass fed beef through grocery chains such as Publix and Whole Foods.
Availability: Verde Farms shows low stock on Amazon as of this review. The pound costs $8.76.
Pros:
- USDA Organic
- 100% grass fed and finished
- 80/20 lean to fat blend
- Low price per pound
Cons:
- Low stock at review time
- Only one pound per listing
- No independent taste test found
Recommendation: Choose Verde Farms if you want organic grass fed beef in a small, low cost pack.
| Spec | Detail |
| Brand | Verde Farms |
| Size | 1 lb |
| Blend | 80/20 lean to fat |
| Feed | 100% grass fed and finished |
| Certification | USDA Organic |
| Average Price | $8.76 USD |
| Where to Buy | Amazon |
3. Meat N' Bone Grass Fed Premium Cuts Beef Steak Bundle
Meat N' Bone sells a grass fed beef bundle with five cuts. The bundle includes Denver steak, filet mignon, ground beef, New York strip, and ribeye. The listing says the beef comes from a single farm in Nebraska. The bundle costs $166.99.
What we liked: We like that one box provides both steak dinners and ground beef meals. We also like that the beef is traceable to one farm. We found no independent reviews of this bundle, so judge it by the listing.
About the Brand: Meat N' Bone sells grass fed beef bundles from a one farm program in Nebraska.
Availability: Meat N' Bone is in stock on Amazon as of this review. The bundle costs $166.99.
Pros:
- Five cuts in one bundle
- Grass fed and grass finished
- Traceable to a single farm
- In stock at review time
Cons:
- No independent reviews found
- Cuts are fixed by the bundle
- Ships frozen, so you need freezer space
Recommendation: Choose Meat N' Bone if you want steaks and ground beef from one grass fed farm.
| Spec | Detail |
| Brand | Meat N' Bone |
| Contents | Denver steak, filet mignon, ground beef, New York strip, ribeye |
| Feed | Grass fed and grass finished |
| Source | Single farm in Nebraska |
| Average Price | $166.99 USD |
| Where to Buy | Amazon |
4. Amazon Grocery Ground Beef, 80% Lean/20% Fat, 1 lb
Amazon Grocery sells one pound of 100% pure ground beef in an 80/20 blend. The listing states 19g of protein per serving. The listing also states the beef is USDA approved. The pound costs $6.69.
What we liked: We like that the 80/20 blend contains more fat than the 90/10 grind. We also like that the price is the lowest on this list. One deal forum shopper who grilled it all summer called the beef decent.
About the Brand: Amazon Grocery is the private label food line sold by Amazon.
Availability: Amazon Grocery is in stock on Amazon as of this review. The pound costs $6.69.
Pros:
- Lowest price on this list at $6.69
- 100% pure beef
- 80/20 lean to fat blend
- In stock at review time
Cons:
- No grass fed claim in the listing
- Some summaries call the flavor mild
- Only one pound per listing
Recommendation: Choose Amazon Grocery if you want the lowest price per pound.
| Spec | Detail |
| Brand | Amazon Grocery |
| Size | 1 lb |
| Blend | 80/20 lean to fat |
| Protein | 19g per serving |
| Average Price | $6.69 USD |
| Where to Buy | Amazon |
5. Nebraska Star Beef Prestige Angus Ground Beef, 80/20, 20 Pack
Nebraska Star Beef sells a 20 pack of one pound Angus ground beef in an 80/20 blend. The listing states USDA Choice and higher beef from rounds. The listing also states 35 days of wet aging. The 20 pack costs $289.99.
What we liked: We like that the 80/20 blend contains more fat than leaner grinds. We also like that the beef ships deep frozen with dry ice. We found no independent taste test, so treat the praise as the brand's own.
About the Brand: Nebraska Star Beef describes itself as a small, family owned business from Nebraska.
Availability: Nebraska Star is in stock on Amazon as of this review. The 20 pack costs $289.99, about $14.50 per pound.
Pros:
- 80/20 lean to fat blend
- USDA Choice and higher beef
- 35 day wet aging
- In stock at review time
Cons:
- Highest total price on this list at $289.99
- Sourced from conventional cattle, not grass fed
- Twenty pounds need freezer space
Recommendation: Choose Nebraska Star if you want a fatty blend and plan to buy twenty pounds.
| Spec | Detail |
| Brand | Nebraska Star Beef |
| Size | 20 packs of 1 lb |
| Blend | 80/20 lean to fat |
| Grade | USDA Choice and higher |
| Source | Conventional cattle |
| Average Price | $289.99 USD |
| Where to Buy | Amazon |
6. MeatWorks USDA Prime Ribeye Steaks, 8 Pack, 12 oz Each
MeatWorks sells an 8 pack of USDA Prime ribeye steaks at 12 ounces each. The listing states 28 days of wet aging. The listing also states the steaks are flash frozen. The 8 pack costs $259.00.
What we liked: We like that the listing describes heavy marbling in each steak. We also like that each steak is one serving. We found no independent reviews of MeatWorks, so the praise comes from the listing.
About the Brand: MeatWorks is a custom butchery brand that sells steak gift boxes.
Availability: MeatWorks is in stock on Amazon as of this review. The 8 pack costs $259.00, about $43.17 per pound.
Pros:
- USDA Prime grade
- 28 day wet aging
- 12 ounce single serving steaks
- In stock at review time
Cons:
- Highest price per pound on this list
- Listing is written for gift buyers
- No independent reviews found
- No grass fed claim
Recommendation: Choose MeatWorks if you want steakhouse ribeyes and cost matters less.
| Spec | Detail |
| Brand | MeatWorks |
| Size | 8 steaks of 12 oz |
| Cut | Ribeye |
| Grade | USDA Prime |
| Aging | 28 day wet aged |
| Average Price | $259.00 USD |
| Where to Buy | Amazon |
What Should You Look for in Beef for the Carnivore Diet?
The carnivore diet is a meat-based eating plan. Strict followers eat only animal foods, and flexible followers add eggs and dairy. Our carnivore diet guide explains both versions. Beef is allowed in either version.
Begin with the cut and the fat. Verde Farms, Amazon Grocery, and Nebraska Star list 80/20 blends, and Rastelli's lists 85/15. MeatWorks sells ribeye steaks, and the listing describes heavy marbling.
Next, compare how the cattle ate. Rastelli's, Verde Farms, and Meat N' Bone state grass fed and finished beef. Nebraska Star states conventional cattle, and Amazon Grocery and MeatWorks list no grass fed claim.
Finally, compare price and stock. Amazon Grocery costs $6.69 per pound, and Verde Farms costs $8.76 per pound. Rastelli's costs about $11.67 per pound, and Verde Farms showed low stock.
Frequently Asked Questions About Beef for the Carnivore Diet
What is the best beef for the carnivore diet?
Rastelli's 100% Grass Fed Ground Beef ranks first here. Rastelli's lists grass fed and finished beef and was in stock at review time.
What is the best cut of beef for the carnivore diet?
Many carnivore followers choose fattier cuts such as ribeye and 80/20 ground beef. Leaner cuts contain less fat. Choose the cut that meets your needs.
Is grass fed beef better for the carnivore diet?
Grass fed beef is a personal choice, not a diet rule. Three picks here state grass fed and finished beef.
Can you eat beef every day on the carnivore diet?
Many followers eat beef daily. Beef also contains saturated fat. Ask your doctor or a registered dietitian for a personal plan.
Is ground beef or steak better on the carnivore diet?
Both are allowed on the diet. Ground beef costs less per pound in this list, and steak costs more. Choose the one you will eat consistently.
Is beef good for weight loss on the carnivore diet?
Weight loss depends on total calories and portions, not on one food. Measure your servings. Confirm any big diet change with your doctor.
How much does beef cost for the carnivore diet?
Amazon Grocery costs $6.69 per pound, and Rastelli's costs about $11.67 per pound. MeatWorks ribeye costs about $43.17 per pound.
Final Word
Rastelli's 100% Grass Fed Ground Beef ranks first on this list. Rastelli's lists 85/15 grass fed and finished beef, and the 12 pack costs $139.99. For narrower needs, choose Amazon Grocery, Verde Farms, Meat N' Bone, Nebraska Star, or MeatWorks.
Whichever beef you choose, check the fat blend, the feed claim, and the stock before you buy. Then confirm any big diet change with your doctor, because that check matters more than any brand.
