Flaxseed Meal Pancakes (Low Carb)

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Low Carb Flaxseed Pancakes are the perfect alternative to traditional pancakes. Serve them as a traditional breakfast with all the toppings or even use them as a low carb wrap.

235 CAL 10g CARBS 14g FAT 12g PROTEIN
23 Comments

These simple low carb and paleo flaxseed pancakes are the perfect grain-free alternative to traditional pancakes. Healthy and nutritious, they make a versatile pancake you can enjoy any day of the week!

For anyone following a grain-free, low carb, or Paleo diet, one thing you may find yourself missing is pancakes for breakfast. That ends today because these flaxseed meal pancakes are packed with good for you fiber, essential fatty acids, and minerals.

Did I mention how amazing they taste?

Flaxseeds are a powerhouse when it comes to nutrition and they are known to reduce the risks for:

  • Cancer
  • Heart disease
  • Strokes
  • Diabetes

But, since they’re very hard, they can be a bit tricky to eat on their own. That’s why using flaxseed meal (aka, flaxseed flour) is a great way to incorporate them into your diet.

If you want to learn more about flaxseeds and their nutritional value, take a look at this resource post I put together!

Flaxseed pancakes on two plates with yogurt and berries.

Mouthwatering Dairy-Free Pancakes With Flaxseeds

Now it’s time to get to the pancakes! The flavor reminds me of hearty grain or buckwheat pancakes. The texture isn't as light and fluffy as traditional pancakes, but I love their hearty nature.

If you want something a little more reminiscent of traditional pancakes, try my almond flour pancakes with flax!

For this recipe, I recommend starting with this basic batter and then adding to it to create your favorite combinations. I’ll give some delicious ideas for flaxseed meal pancakes down below.

Key Ingredients For Flaxseed Pancakes

Here are the major ingredients for this recipe and how they work together to create a delicious dish.

  • Flaxseed Meal: This is the gluten-free, hearty base of this recipe. I prefer using golden flaxseed meal for the lighter color and texture, but either will work.
  • Eggs: Using eggs in this recipe helps bind all the ingredients together as well as add protein.
  • Almond Milk: To keep this recipe dairy-free, I used dairy-free milk. But, if you prefer to use a different kind of milk, you can substitute any other milk 1:1 for the almond milk.
  • Lemon Juice: I know lemon juice is a bit odd but it provides the acid that the baking soda needs to help the pancakes rise.
  • Baking Soda: This is what helps the pancakes rise! While they won’t be super fluffy, they aren’t completely flat either, thanks to baking soda.

Note: For a full list of ingredients and detailed instructions on how to make this healthy pancake recipe, take a look at the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post!

Substitutions For Pancake Ingredients

Sometimes you just don’t have all the ingredients for a recipe. When that happens, it’s good to know a few ideas for adequate substitutions. Here are some ways that you can substitute the ingredients in this recipe:

  • Milk: Any plant-based milk will work, although it may affect the flavor slightly (rice milk, cashew milk, oat milk, soy milk).
  • Lemon Juice: If you don't have lemons, try using vinegar or apple cider vinegar for that acid flavor profile needed in this pancake recipe.

Recipe Tips And Ideas For Low Carb Pancakes

When you just want to change things up and make it fresh again, try any of these ideas to add some variety to this flaxseed meal pancake recipe...

Mix-Ins:

  • Add bananas and chocolate chips.
  • Mix blueberries and lemon zest in the batter.
  • Add strawberries and ricotta cheese.
  • Try adding diced apples and cinnamon.
  • Raspberries and lemon extract are delicious.

Sweet Toppings:

  • Maple syrup (don’t all pancakes need maple syrup?)
  • Chopped nuts
  • Peanut or almond butter
  • Jam
  • Baked cinnamon apples
  • Banana slices or fresh berries

Tip: Stir in a little sweetener into the batter if you don’t plan to add a sweet topping. Try honey, agave, maple syrup, stevia, or monk fruit.

Savory Toppings:

If you want a savory pancake breakfast, try topping your pancakes off with these ideas.

  • Egg scramble
  • Mashed avocado
  • Smoked salmon with cream cheese
  • Deli meat with vegetables

Low carb flax pancakes on a plate with yogurt, berries, and syrup with lemon on the side.

Frequently Asked Questions About Flaxseed Meal Pancakes

Here are several questions I see frequently about flaxseed meal pancakes and their answers.

What are flaxseeds?

Flaxseeds are the seeds from flax. You may occasionally sometimes hear them called linseeds. In seed form, they’re hard for your body to digest. In order to get their benefits, eat them ground up as flaxseed meal and add them to recipes like:

  • Yogurt Parfait
  • Breakfast Cereal
  • Oatmeal
  • Muffins

You can even add them to your breakfast smoothies for an added boost of nutrition!

What type of flaxseeds should you use in flaxseed pancakes?

You can buy either brown or golden flaxseeds, and either variety can be used in these flax pancakes. However, I prefer the flavor and color of the golden flaxseed meal, so I used that in this recipe.

How long will these flaxseed meal pancakes stay good?

These pancakes taste best freshly cooked. However, if you can’t finish the entire batch in one sitting, you can store the leftovers in the fridge for up to 5 days.

To reheat, pop them into the toaster or heat them in a frying pan.

Can you freeze these flaxseed pancakes?

Yes! I recommend putting them in a freezer bag with cut squares of parchment paper in between them to prevent them from sticking together.

To reheat them, pop them into the toaster frozen. Alternatively, you could let them thaw on the counter for about 30 minutes and then reheat them in a frying pan on the stove.

These versatile pancakes are filling and scrumptious, and they’re quick and easy enough to make that you can enjoy them any day of the week. No more waiting until the weekend for pancakes!

Flax pancakes with yogurt and blueberries on a plate with a fork and knife.

More Delicious Pancake Recipes

The Recipe
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Flaxseed Meal Pancakes (Low Carb)

235 CAL 10g CARBS 14g FAT 12g PROTEIN
PREP TIME: 5 Min
COOK TIME: 10 Min
TOTAL TIME: 15 Min
23 Comments
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Ingredients

US METRICS
  • 1 cup flaxseed meal (I prefer golden but either will work)
  • 4 eggs, beaten
  • 1/3 cup unsweetened almond milk (or other milk)
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon
  • 1/8 tsp. salt

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Instructions

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1

Mix together all the ingredients in a bowl. Consider adding Stevia, honey, maple syrup, or sugar if you want a sweeter batter. The mixture will be sticky because of the flax. If it is too thick, add more almond milk or water.

Flax seed pancake batter in a bowl with a ladle.
2

Heat a skillet over medium heat. Once hot, spray with cooking spray (or a bit of cooking oil). Pour about 1/4 cup batter for each pancake and gently spread it out with a spoon. Let cook for 2-3 minutes per side or until edges begin to firm and bubbles begin to burst. Flip and cook on the opposite side for 2-3 minutes.

Flax pancake batter being added to a hot skillet.
3

Let cook for 2-3 minutes per side or until edges begin to firm and bubbles begin to burst. Flip and cook on the opposite side for 2-3 minutes. Top with your favorite sliced fruit, melted nut butter, syrup, or yogurt.

Flax pancake being flipped in a skillet.

Equipment

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Nutritional Facts
Serving Size: 3 pancakes
Amount Per Serving
Calories 235
Calories from Fat 45
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 14g
8%
Saturated Fat 2g
9%
Monounsaturated Fat 0g
0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0g
0%
Cholesterol 186mg
62%
Sodium 476mg
21%
Total Carbohydrate 10g
1%
Dietary Fiber 8g
2%
Sugars 2g
Protein 12g

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

The Nutritional Values provided are estimates only and may vary based on the preparation method.

Notes

In the picture, I added a quick blueberry compote to the pancakes. Just toss blueberries into a sauce pan over medium heat with about 1 tbsp. of water per cup of blueberries. Cook until blueberries began to break down. If desired, add a touch of honey or sugar for sweetness. You can also add lemon zest, cinnamon, or nutmeg.
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About the author Meet Kristen McCaffrey
Hi, I’m the cookbook author, recipe developer, and food enthusiast behind Slender Kitchen. I am obsessed with making healthy food that is easy to prepare and absolutely delicious. Meal planning is my secret weapon and I hope I can make meal time easier for you with our tried and tested recipes and foolproof meal plans. Learn More
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23 Comments
On Flaxseed Meal Pancakes (Low Carb)
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Rebeca
October 21, 2023 - 08:38
Add a Rating:
5
Greats! Easy to make, easy to know when to flip, and versatile. I only got 6 large pancakes using a 1/4 cup measure. Used canned coconut milk for my milk. Definitely a keeper!
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Nelly
October 20, 2023 - 17:09
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5
Thank you so much, it so good to ne able to eat low carb and delicious, I loved them!!!
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Marie Garcia
May 16, 2023 - 17:23
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5
Wow, what a great recipe. I was looking for a healthy food recipe to introduce to a group of people whom are looking to add flax seed to their diet. I made this and offered various types of fruit topping, strawberries, fresh blue berries and a blue berry compote along with a dollop of freshly whipped cream. Everyone agreed that they were tasty and commented they were going to make this a breakfast staple!
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Bonnie G
December 4, 2022 - 10:23
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5
These are really excellent! Thanks. Easy to make, yummy, and so nutritious. We eat low carb and I am trying to do gluten free. Used no calorie sweetener and syrup. Will definitely make these again.
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Edd
April 22, 2022 - 06:40
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5
These are now a regular for breakfast. The fiber is welcome. I put a couple sunny side up eggs on them. I use a bit of pumpkin pie spice instead of cinnamon because that's what I have. Fry them in either clarified butter or bacon fat. (I do low carb and avoid vegetable and seed oils).
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Lea
February 20, 2022 - 08:44
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5
This recipe is amazing!! Light & fluffy, I used regular colored ground flax seeds.
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Rhonda
January 28, 2022 - 08:30
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5
These are so good! So easy, delicious and surprisingly fluffy. I added fresh blueberries and used apple cider vinegar instead of lemon juice, cooked them with a little coconut oil and they turned out great. I made mine a little fatter so it made 8. I popped one or two in the toaster each morning this week and they held up really well. Had them with a dollop of Greek yogurt and a drizzle of buckwheat honey - so yummy!
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M-L
January 6, 2022 - 06:25
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5
this recipe worked wonderfully... I look forward to trying out some of you other suggestions
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Ingie
March 21, 2021 - 20:52
Can I use flax seed egg replacement instead of actual eggs with this recipe?
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March 22, 2021 - 13:33
I haven't tried that personally but it should work!
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Fluffy Squirrel
January 9, 2020 - 10:15
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5
I honestly didn’t think I would be able to enjoy pancakes again. I am hypothyroid, and have to watch certain things. These were delightful, and way better than any box mix that I have ever tried, and I have tried many. I plan to have these again tomorrow for breakfast. I am so happy to have found this recipe.
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Jackie
January 7, 2020 - 15:49
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5
So good! I was skeptical that they’d even set enough to flip. Timed them 3 minutes per side and they were perfect! Will definitely be making thee again
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Suzanne
August 19, 2019 - 08:01
Love these!! I use them as wraps for my roasted chicken and avocado!!! Keep up the heavy recipes!
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Dyan
May 21, 2019 - 10:50
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4
Do NOT over cook! Got a little too done and could not eat. Tried again and cooked lightly and was much better! Very nice to have pancakes again.
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Jeanne
January 31, 2019 - 11:03
I made these pancakes and I put the blueberries in the batter..OMG..they were amazing and delish and I only ate 2 med. sized pancakes and then I was stuffed!
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Sue
December 1, 2018 - 17:50
can i use more flaxseed instead of eggs
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September 20, 2018 - 11:34
It makes about 12 pancakes if you use 1/4 cup per pancake, which is a smaller pancake and for 3 pancakes it is 235 calories, or about 78 calories per pancake.
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Shaz
September 19, 2018 - 17:51
Is it 235 per pancake or for the three pancakes and how many does it make
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Kerri Neuman
June 7, 2018 - 08:27
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5
I made these looking to get extra fiber in my breakfast...which these gave me! They’re not overly sweet and go great with crunchy peanut butter and syrup. They were incredibly easy to make and because they don’t use flour, I didn’t have my normal mess that that creates.
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lori fisher
June 5, 2017 - 20:20
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5
absolutely delicious.....scrumptous....had them for dessert tonight!!! will make them again.
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Karen Cressy
June 21, 2019 - 14:40
Can I use this batter to make waffles
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Sandie
March 24, 2022 - 05:58
Would like to know as well for waffle maker?
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March 28, 2022 - 16:49
This should work in the waffle maker as well but I would add about 1 tablespoon or melted butter or coconut oil to the batter as well.
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