Low carb diets may provide several health benefits, such as weight reduction and improved blood sugar control, but preparing low carb meals might be difficult at first, especially if you have a hectic schedule.

On the other hand, many great low carb dishes need little preparation and only a few ingredients.

Here are 12 simple, healthful low carb meals and some meal prep ideas.

Low carb meal-prep tips

Here are some tips to help you stick to your low carb diet plan.

Easy low carb substitutes

Check out this table for low carb alternatives to some of your favorite foods:

Time saving meal-prep tips

Eating low carb can be challenging and may restrict your eating out or ordering alternatives. Here are some tips for making low carb meal prep simple:

• Make a menu for the week. When things get busy or crazy, planning your meals ahead of time makes it easier to shop for supplies and keep to your diet.
• Prepare some dishes ahead of time. Similarly, prepare as much as possible ahead of time. For example, you may cut vegetables, brown ground meat, and prepare sauces or marinades beforehand. You may also prepare all of your meals for work the weekend before.
• Make sure you have enough of low-carb items on hand. In this manner, you can quickly prepare a low-carb supper. For example, if you have frozen shrimp, shirataki noodles, and Alfredo sauce on hand, you can whip up a low carb shrimp Alfredo at any moment.

Be sure to limit packaged condiments

Some foods have hidden carbohydrates that might derail your low carb diet.

Many condiments, for instance, are high in sugar, even if they don’t taste lovely. It would help if you avoided or restricted the following:

• ketchup
• honey mustard
• teriyaki sauce
• hoisin sauce
• sweet and sour sauce
• fruit salsas such as mango or peach salsa
• barbecue sauce
• balsamic vinegar and balsamic vinaigrette

Easy, low carb breakfast recipes

1. Egg and veggie scramble

This recipe is perfect for breakfast daily. It’s high in protein and veggies, which will keep you satisfied for an extended period.

Ingredients

• 1/2 tablespoon (30 mL) coconut oil
• roughly One cup (70–150 grams) of fresh or frozen vegetables of your choice (sliced mushrooms are my favorite)
• Two eggs, beaten
• pepper and salt

Instructions

1. Heat the coconut oil in a skillet over medium heat.
2. Cook until the veggies are almost done or crunchy on the bottom. If you use frozen vegetables, cook them for a few minutes longer.
3. Mix in the eggs, salt, and pepper. Stir constantly to prevent the eggs from scrambling and burning.
4. Remove the pan from the heat when the eggs are set and serve.

2. Bacon and eggs

Although bacon is highly processed and may not be suitable for everyday breakfast, it is a delicious treat now and then.

Ingredients

• Two slices bacon
• Two eggs
• pepper and salt

Instructions

1. Fry the bacon in a pan over medium heat until it achieves the crispness degree you choose.
2. Remove the bacon to a platter and crack both eggs into the pan, seasoning with salt and pepper. In the bacon grease, cook the eggs.
3. Don’t break the yolks if you want runny yolks. Instead, turn the eggs after the bottom whites have set, and then remove them once the entire white has set. It’s simplest to crack the yolks if you want them thoroughly cooked.

3. Overnight chia pudding

Overnight oats are quick and tasty, but they are high in carbohydrates. Chia pudding, which is low in carbs, is one option. Chia seeds are tiny, fiber-rich seeds that absorb moisture and expand overnight to develop a jelly-like texture.

Ingredients

• Two tablespoons (24 g) chia seeds
• 3/4 cup (180 mL) choice unsweetened milk
• liquid stevia drops (or any sweetener of choice)
• berries for topping (strawberries and raspberries are low in carbs)

Instructions

1. Combine chia seeds, milk, and liquid stevia drops in a Mason jar with a cover. Refrigerate the jar overnight with the lid on.
2. Top with berries and serve the following day.

Easy low carb lunch recipes

4. Bunless butter burger

It doesn’t get much simpler than a bunless burger that can be dressed any you like.

Ingredients

• 1/2 tablespoon (7 g) butter
• One preformed hamburger patty
• pepper, salt, and Worcestershire sauce

Instructions

1. Heat the butter in a pan over medium-high heat.
2. Season the hamburger patty with salt, pepper, and Worcestershire sauce.
3. Flip the patties after a few minutes and season the other side. Cook until the juices run clear, about 30 minutes.
4. To make it a complete meal, top the burger with your favorite low carb toppings and serve with a side salad.

5. Avocado Waldorf chicken salad

In this spin on a Waldorf chicken salad, avocado replaces mayo as a fiber-rich alternative. To further minimize carbs — for example, to make it keto-friendly — leave out the apple and grapes.

Ingredients

• One cup (140 grams) of shredded cooked chicken (you can use a rotisserie chicken for convenience)
• One green apple, cored and diced
• Five seedless grapes, quartered
• Two celery stalks, finely chopped
• One ounce (28 g) crushed walnuts
• One large avocado, pitted, peeled, and smashed
• One teaspoon (5 mL) lemon juice
• pepper and salt

Instructions

1. Combine the chicken, apple, grapes, celery, and walnuts in a medium mixing dish.
2. Mix in the avocado and lemon juice until the avocado has coated all of the other ingredients.
3. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

6. Low carb snack board

Make a snack board with your favorite low carb foods and dips for a simple dinner or appealing party appetizer.

Ingredients

• Meats and proteins: hard-boiled eggs, jerky, salami, pepperoni, deli meats
• Cheeses: pepper jack, Parmesan, cheddar, Gouda
• Nuts and seeds: walnuts, pecans, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, almonds, macadamia nuts
• Fruits: blackberries, strawberries, raspberries
• Vegetables: olives, celery, baby carrots, raw cauliflower, cherry tomatoes, mini peppers, raw broccoli
• Dips: cream cheese dips (unsweetened), hummus (in small amounts only), sour cream dips

Remember that hard cheeses and individually wrapped soft cheese slices are the simplest to work with.

Instructions

1. Please choose any of the abovementioned components and arrange them on your board appealingly.
2. Garnish with fresh or dried herb bundles, if desired.

Easy, low carb dinner recipes

7. Weeknight chicken wings

These wings require very little preparation and are sure to please.

Ingredients

• One pound (450 g) raw, unbreaded chicken wings
• seasoning blend or rub of your choice

Instructions

1. Rub chicken wings with your preferred spice combination.
2. Bake for 40 minutes at 360-395°F (180-200°C) or until each branch is thoroughly cooked.
3. Broil the wings until browned and crispy, turning as needed. Keep a watchful eye on them so they don’t burn.
4. Serve with ranch dressing and carrot and celery sticks.

8. Shortcut fajitas

Shredded rotisserie chicken is used in this fast carb meal.

Ingredients

• One tablespoon (15 mL) coconut oil
• One red onion, sliced
• Two bell peppers, sliced
• One 1/2 cup (210 g) shredded cooked chicken (from a rotisserie chicken, if available)
• fajita seasoning, salt, and pepper
• tomato
• sour cream
• water, as needed
• lettuce
• low carb tortillas

If you don’t have fajita seasoning, make your own by combining chili, garlic, and onion powders.

Instructions

1. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat the oil.
2. Cook until some onion and bell peppers are browned but the vegetables are still crisp.
3. Add the chicken and seasonings and 1-2 tablespoons (15-30 mL) water if necessary to help the seasoning adhere to the meat and veggies.
4. Remove the chicken from the fire when it is fully cooked.
5. With lettuce, tomato, sour cream, and low carb tortillas, serve.

9. Low carb chicken nuggets

You can prepare healthy, low carb chicken nuggets to rival those from your favorite restaurant using a simple breading recipe and an air fryer.

Ingredients

• One egg, beaten
• 1/2 cup (48 g) almond flour
• 1/2 cup (45 g) grated Parmesan cheese
• pepper and salt
• One boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into nugget-size pieces
• olive oil cooking spray

Instructions

1. In a medium mixing dish, place the beaten egg.
2. Combine the almond flour, Parmesan, salt, and pepper in a separate medium mixing bowl.
3. Toss the chicken in the beaten egg, then coat it with the almond flour-Parmesan mixture.
4. Spray the nuggets with cooking spray and place them in an air fryer basket sprayed with cooking spray.
5. Cook for 5 minutes at 375°F (190°C), then toss or turn and cook for another 5 minutes at the same temperature.
6. Serve with a low-carb dipping sauce and a salad on the side.

10. ‘Meatza’

If you crave pizza while on a low carb diet, you’ll like this crustless “meatza.”

This dish is simple to adapt, and you can use whatever low carb items you desire, such as vegetables, mushrooms, and cheese.

Ingredients

• 1/2 pound (225 g) ground Italian sausage
• 1/4 cup (60 g) pizza sauce
• 1/3 cup (40 g) shredded pizza cheese
• your preferred pizza toppings

Use a leaner sausage, such as chicken sausage, for a less oily, messy meal. You may also season any ground beef to make your sausage.

Instructions

Shape ground sausage into a thin square or circle on a nonstick rimmed baking sheet and bake at 375°F (190°C) until thoroughly done.

Drain excess grease from the sheet, then cover the sausage with sauce, cheese, and garnishes.

Return the baking sheet to the oven for 10-15 minutes or until the cheese has melted and browned.

11. Cauliflower rice taco bowls

Tacos are still viable on a low carb diet; instead of taco shells, use taco bowls laden with low carb toppings.

Ingredients

• cauliflower rice
• cooked, taco-seasoned ground beef
• red onion
• cilantro
• guacamole
• shredded cheese
• sour cream
• salsa
• lettuce
• taco sauce
• lime wedges
• radish slices

Instructions

1. Set out all of the ingredients in a family-style style.
2. Allow each member of your family to prepare their bowl.

12. Easy zucchini spaghetti

You can prepare low carb zucchini spaghetti with a readymade, no-sugar-added pasta sauce.

Ingredients

• One pound (450 g) lean ground beef
• salt
• Four medium zucchini, spiralized
• One (24-ounce / 700-mL) jar no-sugar-added spaghetti sauce
• grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

1. Cook the meat in a pan over medium heat until it is well browned.
2. While the meat cooks, salt the zucchini noodles to absorb any extra liquid.
3. Remove any excess fat from the meat.
4. Reduce the heat to low and add the sauce to the pan with the steak.
5. Add the zucchini noodles to the pan after patting them dry. Allow them to heat all the way through.
6. Before serving, sprinkle each dish with Parmesan.

The bottom line

Low carbohydrate diets have been demonstrated to have various health benefits, including weight loss and lower blood sugar levels. However, sticking to a low carb diet without some forethought might be difficult.

This is where these simple recipes come in. They require few ingredients and take only a few minutes to prepare, making them ideal for busy individuals.

Just one thing

Try this today: Looking for more tips to help you stick to your low carb diet? Check out our Ebook “300 15-Minute Low-Carb Recipes” – Your Ultimate Guide to Quick and Healthy Meals!

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