If your health has not improved or worsened following a low-fat eating pattern, a low-carbohydrate approach is worth a try.
Studies consistently show that low-carb diets have metabolic health benefits for many people, especially those with poorly managed type 2 diabetes (1).
A low-carb diet can be broadly classified as restricting total carbohydrate intake to about 50-100 grams per day. The average diet contains more than 250 grams per day.
The following 33 low-carb lunch and dinner recipe ideas can help you stay within that range.
With each recipe is a photo and detailed nutrition facts including carbohydrate content per serving. Click the recipe photo or name for the full instructions and more photos.
Grilled chicken doesn’t have to be boring, top it with sauteed spinach with garlic, mozzarella cheese and roasted peppers and you have a quick and easy chicken dish your family will love! This is perfect for any busy weeknight; serve with a simple salad for a low carb meal.
I generally prefer a salad loaded with veggies but when I need something a little sweeter, this salad is perfect. It’s a fast and filling meal with little to no effort.
This is a very popular way Spanish people fix their chicken. It is rather simple and extremely flavorful. Parsley, garlic and white wine are widely used in Spanish cooking. These flavors work really good together, and this is a big meal!
This is a more traditional Greek salad, one without lettuce, that typically consists of tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, peppers, olives, feta, olive oil, oregano and sometime a splash of red wine vinegar. This salad is super easy to make where you basically just need to slice the veggies and you are good to go!
You pretty much just need to hollow out the eggplant, roast it, cook the sausage along with the eggplant that was scooped out before adding the marinara sauce, stuffing the eggplant, topping it with cheese and baking it until the cheese melts.
If your looking for creative ways to serve up low carb vegetables, then this right here is your pot of gold. Broccoli Cheese Soup has always been one of my favorites. It’s warm, rich, and cheesy – what’s not to love?
These kale-stuffed portobello mushrooms are literally just stuffed with kale and cheese. I have seen many variations but these are quicker and simpler to make. They are gluten free and if you want to keep them vegan you can use vegan cheese.
Originally birthed out of Tim Ferris’ The4-Hour Chef, the Eggocado is a cult foodie’s dream. Mouthgasmic, explosively delicious, and ridiculously basic — it’s a quick way to throw a fresh twist on the monotonous, colorless egg creations you’ve likely been whipping up for years.
Caramelized onions, sauteed bell peppers and zucchini combined create a winning egg dish. Frittatas are very versatile, they can be eaten for breakfast, lunch or dinner if paired with a salad. Cut into small squares, they can be served as an appetizer as well.
Southwestern Turkey Quinoa Stuffed Peppers filled with loads of protein and bold flavors that will leave you feeling satisfied and hungry for more all at the same time!
Lean meatballs seasoned with a hint of allspice and served in a creamy beef gravy. These meatballs seems decadent but they are actually lighter than you think. Serve them with your favourite salad.
A quick and easy chili made with ground turkey, sweet potatoes and spices – the perfect weeknight meal. It has just the right amount of spice to compliment the sweet potatoes without being too spicy for those of you who prefer a milder chili (you can of course bump up the heat if you wish).
Here’s a delicious, hearty, bean-less chili recipe made in the slow cooker with ground chicken, ground beef and sweet potatoes – the perfect combination.
These are a low carb, calorie and fat variation of Mu Shu chicken or pork using lean ground turkey breast and lettuce leaves instead of white tortilla-like wrappers. Leftovers taste great reheated for lunch the next day.
Chilled shrimp ceviche served in an avocado half over a bed of arugula – a light, refreshing salad that tastes so good, and bonus points for being low-carb, gluten-free and Paleo friendly.
Quick and easy shrimp scampi, sautéed in a light and delicate, garlic butter sauce. It’s so good! Plus, have you jumped on the bandwagon with zoodles? They are noodles made from zucchini instead of using pasta. They work wonderfully with this recipe.
Creamy avocado and buttery salmon were just meant for each other and with these flavours you really can’t go wrong with this super easy and tasty dinner!
