Easy Low-Carb Meals: 11 Recipes to Keep You on Track 

Remember the days when you had certain non-negotiables⁠—things you would never, ever give up⁠—like Netflix, social media, and piles of pasta loaded with Alfredo sauce? You'd sooner give up your fantasy football team before missing the latest episode of Stranger Things or relinquishing your favorite slice of pizza. But then Netflix raised its prices, your non-stop news feed lost its luster, and you realized that you can't keep eating the way you did when you were a carefree kid. 

But none of this means that the party's over. It just means that things have changed — for the better. (Well, except the Netflix part.)

Part of this change includes taking control of your health and being more mindful of what you eat. Whether you're going low-carb, keto, or paleo, studies show that there are a number of low-carb diet benefits, including weight loss, improved athletic performance, lower blood sugar levels (especially important for diabetics), and reduced seizures for epileptics.  

To help you get rolling on your healthy eating goals, try these easy, low-carb meals that don't require tons of time or skill. But first, consider some of the lifestyle tips below so you can sustain your healthy habits long after you've lost a few pounds.

Easy Tips for Making Healthier Low-Carb Choices

Going low-carb isn’t always a walk in the park.(Although sometimes it might feel like you’re aimlessly wandering, trying to figure out what you should or shouldn’t eat). Follow these simple steps for a sustainable low-carb lifestyle. 

• Stay away from added sugars: Sugar comes in many forms ⁠— cane sugar, fructose (fruit sugar), corn syrup, molasses — to name a few. So read labels and be alert. If you want to sweeten food or drinks, try zero-carb monk fruit or low-carb stevia. 
• Cut back on sweet beverages: This doesn't only mean soda. Even natural fruit juices and flavored waters can be loaded with sugars that spike your carb intake. 
• Replace pastas with low-carb options: Try nutrient-rich, non-starchy veggies such as spaghetti squash, zoodles (aka zucchini noodles), cauliflower rice, and broccoli rice. 
• Ditch the bread and go bunless: Choose substitutes like lettuce wraps, nut and seed crackers, or cloud bread when eating burgers, sandwiches, or tacos.
• Go green: Load up on dark, leafy green veggies like kale, Swiss chard, and spinach, as well as other greens like zucchini, arugula, asparagus, watercress, cabbage, cucumber, string beans, and green bell peppers.  
• Set time aside for meal prep: When you're pressed for time, it's much easier to reach for convenient (translation: processed, high-carb) foods that you know aren't the best for you. Prepping your meals ahead of time can help ensure you always have healthy options at the ready. 

11 Easy Low-Carb Meals

Cutting carbs doesn't mean cutting out flavor. Here are some low-carb recipes to keep you sane and satisfied. For more low-carb inspo, check out this two-week planner that’s full of delicious carb-cutting meals. 

1. Low-Carb Chicken Zucchini Enchilada

When you're in the mood for Mexican comfort food, it's hard to beat this low-carb take on a classic. Rethinking the traditional carb-heavy dish, these chicken zucchini enchiladas are made with gluten-free “zucchini tortillas” that keep carbs and calories low. Loaded with savory enchilada sauce, chicken, and cheese, don't be surprised if you find yourself regularly craving this flavorful south-of-the-border twist on the same ol' chicken recipe. 

2. Easy Low-Carb Keto Breakfast Casserole With Sausage 

Whether you're eating it first thing in the morning or before bedtime, this low-carb egg casserole hits the spot. It may look like a lot of hard work, but you won't break a sweat as long as you can sizzle some sausage on a pan and crack a few eggs. Once you stock up on Italian sausage, eggs, low-sodium vegetable broth, parmesan cheese, pesto sauce, and a few other staples, you can meal prep this bad boy on a Sunday so you'll have enough to last you an entire week. 

3. Low-Carb Crab Cakes

Going low-carb might make you feel crabby at first, so you may as well go with it. These delicious and oh-so-easy low-carb crab cakes are just what you need when you're short on time (and patience) and just want something that's moist, savory, and crispy all at once. Instead of the usual breadcrumbs found in most crab cakes, this recipe opts out of that carb nightmare altogether and uses a variety of spices that somehow transport you to the shores of Chesapeake Bay in just one bite. 

4. Grilled Chicken Wings With Greens and Salsa 

This easy, low-carb meal for baked chicken wings takes very little prep (read: rub whatever seasonings you like on a batch of wings) and just 40 minutes in the oven. Once the wings get to the brown and crispy consistency of your dreams, simply take them out and serve with a side salad, sautéed greens, or whatever non-starchy veggies you like. FYI: You can also try this with chicken thighs, just keep in mind the cook time might be slightly longer.  

5. Burrito Zucchini Boats

Burritos make everything better. And these eye-catching zucchini boats are no exception. Simply cut zucchinis in half lengthwise, scoop out the insides (you'll save them for the filling) and fill it with ground beef sautéed with seasoning, black beans, onion, and cherry tomatoes. 

Add the mixture to the gluten-free boats, top with shredded cheddar and Monterey jack, and bake for about 15 minutes. Garnish with cilantro or fresh avocado and before you know it, your taste buds will be sailing to a tantalizing, low-carb wonderland.  

6. Scallops and Asparagus

It doesn't get much easier than this five-ingredient, one-pan recipe. Because it's so simple, the key is to choose the freshest scallops and asparagus you can get (although you can choose any non-starchy veggies that are in season). 

Place them on a baking sheet, sprinkle with Old Bay seasoning, a pinch of salt, and a drizzle of olive oil, and in about 10 minutes, your low-carb dinner is served. Cook this in your Tovala Oven, and it'll practically cook itself. Just make sure to download the free Tovala app for iOS or Android for the full recipe.

7. Grilled Beef-Mushroom Burgers

No need to fire up the grill or wait for summer with these grilled beef and mushroom burgers. Throwing mushrooms into the mix with ground beef is a great way to cut calories and sodium while maintaining flavor and texture. (Even the scientists think so.) 

Going bun-less also keeps it gluten-free and low-carb. The recipe includes a quick DIY Greek-style cucumber-yogurt sauce, but feel free to top with low-sugar ketchup, BBQ sauce, or mustard. You can also use mixed greens or chopped butter lettuce leaves for a full-on burger salad. 

8. Easy Broccoli Cheese Soup

Think making soup is a long, drawn-out process that's far too complicated for your limited culinary skills? Think again. This creamy, easy, low-carb broccoli cheese soup requires just five ingredients—broccoli, garlic, heavy cream, chicken broth, and shredded cheddar cheese—and less than half an hour of your time. 

Simply sauté garlic in a large pot, simmer with the cream, broth, and broccoli, and then gradually stir in the cheese until melted. Soon enough, you'll have your new favorite weeknight dinner in a cup. You can also mix things up with other veggies, shredded chicken breast, bacon, or any other low-carb ingredients you’d like. 

9. Low-Carb Eggplant Pizza

Just when you thought your pizza eating days were over, this low-carb eggplant pizza recipe comes along and makes everything alright. Sure, sliced eggplant might not give you the same carb-inducing euphoria of crust, but these easy-to-make discs are loaded with cheesy goodness and all the flavor you'd otherwise be missing out on. 

All you need are some basic ingredients, a skillet, a sheet pan, and about 25 minutes. Even better, this recipe is gluten-free, vegetarian, and, if you swap out the dairy cheese for vegan cheese, totally vegan-friendly too.  

10. Mom's Low-Carb Meatballs

Mama Mia! These tasty Italian-style meatballs are keto-friendly and gluten-free, all rolled into one. (Literally.) You can fry them up or bake them in the oven, but however you choose to make these high-protein meatballs, they promise to be as flavorful as the ones mom used to make. Serve with a side dish of your favorite greens or a crispy arugula salad drizzled with a little olive oil, lemon juice, and sea salt.

11. Grilled Ginger Cauliflower Steaks With Tahini Sauce

Going low-carb doesn't mean you have to only load up on meat. Try this one-pan, plant-based recipe for cauliflower steaks and you'll enjoy the chewy texture and smokiness of a real steak. All you need is a head of cauliflower, a handful of seasonings (garlic, onion, and ginger, oh my), and one hot pan to get this meal going. 

The key is to cook each side of the "steak" on high heat to get a nice sear. Drizzle with homemade spicy tahini sauce, and you'll have a mouth-watering meal perfect for #MeatlessMonday or any other night of the week.   

Just Keep Low-Carb Livin'

You might not have paid much attention to how and what you ate while growing up, but being mindful about your eating habits is more important than ever. With so many conveniently packaged foods and drive-thru options, it can be a challenge to make the right decision for your health. Even so-called healthier restaurants serve food loaded with hidden sugars, additives, and not-so healthy ingredients. That's why Tovala Meals are a lifesaver. 

Fast, easy, and good for you, Tovala Meals are made using all-natural ingredients. There are no hidden fillers, and there's certainly never anything artificial. Plus, because they're crafted by a real chef, you can rest assured that they taste great too. 

You can choose from hundreds of weekly menu options, including many low-carb, low-calorie, high-protein, gluten-free, and vegetarian dishes. And since these meals are delivered directly to your door and take less than one minute to prep, you won't have to worry about sacrificing convenience for healthy eating ever again. 

So go ahead and give Tovala Meals a try.

After all, you've given up carbs for good health, but convenience is one non-negotiable that won't ever change.