Two-Week Planner: 14 Quick Low-Carb Meals
Looking for quick low-carb meals? Join the club. Whether you're cutting carbs for weight loss or simply because you want a healthier lifestyle, there's no reason you have to banish yourself to the same boring chicken salad day after day, night after night.
On the contrary, following a low-carb diet can open up a world of creative alternatives to standard high-carb pastas, breads, grains, cereals, and sugars. (Plus, when you go low-carb, you'll maximize your protein intake, which helps keep you feeling fuller longer.)
To that end, we're hooking you up with 14 easy low-carb recipes to give you two weeks' worth of delish meals that promise to keep your carb intake low and your flavor quotient high. Bonus: Many of these dishes are also keto-friendly, gluten-free, and paleo. Get ready to eat well morning, noon, and night.
1. Egg Muffins With Ham, Kale, and Cauliflower Rice
Prep & Cook Time: 15 minutes
Wakey wakey, eggs and bakey! When you're looking for an easy low-carb recipe to get your day started, these paleo-friendly egg muffins won't disappoint. Made with just four ingredients—cauliflower, eggs, one cup of kale or spinach, and ham—this protein-packed meal is perfect when you're pressed for time. We won't blame you if you want to whip these up for lunch or dinner instead. After all, there's no official handbook that says you can only eat eggs for breakfast.
2. Garlic Butter Salmon With Lemon Asparagus Skillet
Prep & Cook Time: 25 minutes
Loaded with healthy omega fatty acids and lots of flavor, salmon is a can't-miss when it comes to high-protein, low-carb eating. For this easy, keto-friendly, one-pan recipe, you won't need much more than a couple salmon filets, asparagus, olive oil (more healthy fats), minced garlic, lemon, and a dash of parsley (or cilantro) for a flavor-packed weeknight dinner or midday meal.
3. Keto Chicken Quesadilla
Prep & Cook Time: 15 minutes
When you feel like a quick low-carb meal with a Mexican twist, it doesn't get much better than this tantalizing keto chicken quesadilla made with—wait for it—crispy cheese instead of tortillas! (Yes, that exclamation point is more than warranted.)
Mozzarella and cheddar cheese are mixed to create the gluten-free "tortilla," while cooked chicken, bell peppers, diced tomatoes, and green onions comprise the filling. In just a few steps, you'll have a knock-out lunch, dinner, or breakfast. Try curling it up into a taco—if it breaks, you can eat the little bits of crispy shell without an ounce of guilt.
4. Asparagus Chicken Alfredo
Prep & Cooking Time: 30 minutes
Think you can't indulge in the Italian comfort food that is chicken Alfredo? Guess again. This decadent low-carb meal will have you dreaming about seconds before you finish your first bite, and you won't even miss the pasta.
All you need is some boneless chicken breast, Alfredo sauce (get store-bought to save time), and asparagus. (You can also swap out the asparagus for any other veggie you like—broccoli, zucchini, spinach, and cauliflower are all good options.) Top with grated Parmesan and a sprinkle of Italian parsley and you're in for a low-carb dinner that can be reheated the next day.
5. Creamy Garlic Shrimp With Parmesan
Prep & Cook Time: 20 minutes
Requiring just half an hour, one pan, and eight simple ingredients, this dinner recipe for creamy garlic shrimp is a keeper. Once you create the fragrant buttery sauce (hello, garlic!) and sauté the shrimp, you're done. Serve over zoodles (aka zucchini noodles), cauliflower rice, steamed veggies, or a simple side salad for a low-carb dish that will impress (and satisfy) even the crankiest carb counter.
6. Spiralized Vegetable Noodles With Smoked Tofu and Spicy Peanut Sauce
Prep & Cook Time: 15 minutes
An excellent option for #MeatlessMonday (or any night of the week), this easy low-carb vegan noodle dish will give you all the plant-based protein and flavor you need. Made with spiralized zucchini noodles, pan-fried smoked tofu, and a spicy peanut sauce, this dish takes just 15 minutes from start to finish. While zoodles are a given, you can also spiralize heartier veggies that aren't as soft like daikon, beets, and cucumbers.
7. Broiled Chicken Thighs With Artichoke and Garlic
Prep & Cook Time: 30 minutes
Four ingredients and a willingness to fire up the broiler is all you need for this easy sheet-pan chicken that's not only low-carb, but also paleo, keto, gluten-free, and dairy-free. A classic weeknight dinner recipe, try adding sliced zucchini, mushrooms, or any other veggies you like for extra nutrients, taste, and texture.
8. Zucchini Pizza Bites
Prep & Cook Time: 20 minutes
There's no reason pizza should be off the table when you're going low-carb, and these adorable bite-sized zucchini pizzas make sure of that. Simply line a sheet pan with sliced zucchini and top with tomato sauce, oregano, mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, and maybe some pepperoni or sausage, and you'll have a keto-friendly, gluten-free meal in minutes. Pro tip: Broil for an extra five minutes to achieve golden, ooey-gooey, bubbly cheese perfection.
9. Greek Beef Meatballs
Prep & Cook Time: 30 minutes
This recipe for high-protein, low-carb Greek meatballs is perfect when you have a hankering for Mediterranean-inspired eats. Ready in just 30 minutes, these savory spheres are made with fresh herbs, lean ground beef, garlic, old-fashioned oats, and finely grated zucchini and red onion. Perfect for no-fuss weeknight dinners or weekday snacks, you can enjoy these meatballs on their own or with a little cucumber and tomato salad and tzatziki sauce.
10. Apple Butter and Sage Pork Chops
Prep & Cook Time: 30 minutes
Feel like giving chicken the bird? Give the "other white meat" a chance with these sizzling pan-seared pork chops. Grab a skillet, mix the chops with some apple butter, sage, and a splash of balsamic, and in less than 30 minutes you've got a protein-packed meal that's fit for any weeknight at home. Serve with a side salad or steamed veggies such as green beans, spinach, or broccoli for more nutrient-rich, low-carb goodness.
11. Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Prep & Cook Time: 15 minutes
Lettuce wraps might seem a little “meh” when it comes to low-carb tortilla or bread alternatives, but it's what you put in them that can send your taste buds soaring. Case in point: These gluten-free chicken lettuce wraps made with shredded rotisserie chicken, grated cheddar cheese, hot sauce, cherry tomatoes, red onions, avocado, and just a drizzle of ranch.
Seriously, you won't even think about fried wings when crunching on these spicy bad boys. Bonus option: Try Mexican seasoning and you've got instant low-carb tacos.
12. Easy Cheesy Broccoli Loaded Cauliflower Casserole
Prep & Cook Time: 30 minutes
With just eight ingredients, you can have a decadent cheesy cauliflower casserole that'll taste like it took hours to cook. You'll start by frying a couple strips of bacon, then mixing them in a bowl with cauliflower florets, Parmesan Cheese, plain Greek yogurt, and a few seasonings before baking it all on a cookie sheet. Before you know it, you'll be digging in to this aromatic flavor bomb that's also keto-friendly and grain-, sugar-, and gluten-free.
13. Mind-Blowing Curried Tofu Scramble Dish
Prep & Cook Time: 30 minutes
Breakfast for dinner? Fork, yeah. This high-protein curried vegan tofu scramble is about as easy as it gets for a vegan, gluten-free, and low-carb meal. Much like an egg omelet, you can sauté whatever veggies you like with the tofu—mushrooms, red peppers, green onions—and a range of seasonings. (In this case, curry powder, garlic powder, turmeric, and a few others.) Enjoy with a side of roasted radishes instead of potatoes for a multi-textured, low-carb dish any day (or night) of the week.
14. Spinach Stuffed Chicken Breasts
Prep & Cook Time: 25 minutes
Chicken? Again? We know you might want to get the cluck out of making another poultry dish, but this keto-friendly chicken recipe is so savory you'll want to add it to your low-carb dinner repertoire stat. The secret weapon is the feta cheese and cream cheese combo that gives these stuffed chicken breasts an irresistibly creamy and tangy quality, while the spinach ensures you get your greens for the day.
Quick Low-Carb Meals Ready in 20 Minutes—No Matter What
Going low-carb can be a healthy part of weight loss and weight maintenance, but just because something is low in carbs doesn't mean it's high in nutritive quality. It also doesn't make it more convenient when shopping for all the ingredients you need to make a healthy dish. That's where Tovala Meals come in.
When you want something quick that not only tastes good but is truly good for you, Tovala Meals have you covered. Each meal is crafted, prepped, and precisely portioned by a real chef, using only real ingredients—you'll never come across anything artificial.
What's more, you'll have hundreds of choices with an ever-changing weekly menu that includes plenty of low-carb options as well as low-calorie, high-protein, gluten-free, and vegetarian selections that will be delivered directly to your door.
Better still, each meal takes less than one minute of prep time (yes, it's true) and you won't have to worry about making a mess in the kitchen thanks to the 100% recyclable containers. So why not give Tovala Meals a try? You can even use the Tovala Oven to cook your own recipes. You have nothing to lose (except unwanted carbs!) and so much time, convenience, and flavor to gain.
