Low-Carb Lunch and Dinner Ideas

If you like to keep an eye on the carb content of your food, it can seem easier to stick to the same few recipes on repeat. The good news is that we like to make sure we have recipes that cater for a whole host of dietary requirements, from dairy-free and gluten-free, all the way through to dishes with a low carbohydrate content. 

With plenty of low-carb lunch and dinner recipes at your fingertips, there’s no reason not to have a meal plan full of variety. We’ve cherry-picked some of our favourite dishes to feature in this roundup, and they all include fewer than 10g of carbohydrates per serving (just remember this doesn’t include any side dishes or serving suggestions). 

Low-Carb Lunch Recipes

By the time midday rolls around, you’re usually peckish for something quick, easy and delicious. When the carb content of your food is also a consideration, grabbing something on the go can turn a simple meal into a tricky errand. 

Skip the supermarket sandwiches and try these Low Carb Chicken and Ham Wraps one day this week. You won’t miss bread one little bit when you crunch your way through the crispy lettuce casing. 

Don’t worry that the lack of bread will leave you feeling hungry – these protein-packed wraps are bursting with fillings that’ll keep you satisfied right through to dinnertime. We’ve used chicken and ham, along with juicy, crisp salad vegetables to keep the flavours really fresh and vibrant. 

What more could you want for 287 calories and 9.9g of carbs per serving?

If you prefer something warm for lunch, these Turkish Style Eggs bring so much flavour to the plate, while only bringing 141 calories and 4.5g of carbohydrates. Inspired by a Turkish dish called Cilbir, we’ve nestled perfectly poached eggs on a bed of garlicky yoghurt, swirled with spicy harissa. 

Even without some toast to mop up the runny yolk, this flavourful dish will fill you up thanks to all that protein. If you’re extra hungry, you could even pop another poached egg on your plate (just don’t forget to add up the extra calories). 

You can’t go wrong with a slice of quiche for lunch, and this Crustless Quiche Lorraine is way tastier (and lower in carbohydrates) than shop-bought versions. Because we skip the pastry, our recipe is high in protein and low in carbs, working out at just 6.2g per portion. 

Loaded with bacon, cheese and onion, the filling is creamy, rich and savoury. Nice and easy to make, the recipe makes 4 servings, so you can keep a couple of slices to eat hot or cold later in the week. 

With only 4.9g of carbs per serving, this Courgette Ribbon, Lemon and Feta Salad can be enjoyed on its own, or served as a side dish for an equally low-carb accompaniment. You might only need a handful of ingredients to make this one, but you’ll be surprised how much flavour they create. 

If you haven’t tried raw courgette before, don’t be scared to give it a go! The crunchy ribbons made by peeling strips from the vegetable give this salad a really satisfying bite. 

This easy Baked Garlic Salmon recipe is perfect for lunch. We’re talking baked, garlicky salmon, served on a bed of crisp tenderstem broccoli. It works out at 407 calories per serving, with only 3.8g of carbs.  

Full of protein and healthy fats, and ready in just over half an hour, it makes for a convenient midday meal that’ll keep you feeling full until dinner. Steamed in a foil parcel with lemon, garlic and parsley, the fish stays delicate and juicy, infused with citrus-y flavours. 

Enjoy your lunch break by taking your taste buds on a little holiday to the tavernas of Greece. This Baked Feta and Tomatoes is bursting with intense tomato flavour, mixed with salty, creamy feta cheese – and it’s only 241 calories, with 8.5g of carbs.

Something a bit different for lunch, it’s super low effort to make. Pop everything into an ovenproof dish and let your oven work its magic. Roasting the tomatoes really helps to bring out the sweet, juicy flavours. 

Low-Carb Dinner Recipes

Navigating dinnertime when you don’t want to load your plate with pasta, rice or potatoes can seem challenging, but it doesn’t have to be. Focusing on protein and vegetables can create a balanced meal that’s every bit as hearty and flavourful, all while staying below 10g of carbohydrates per serving. 

This Salt and Pepper Pork is the perfect example. Delivering takeaway flavour for far fewer calories (and only 6g of carbs), it’s delicious served with a side of cauliflower rice or some extra veggies. We like our salt and pepper seasoning on the spicy side, but you can add more or less chilli to this recipe until it’s just right for you. 

Don’t skip the first step of toasting your salt flakes – this is so important for getting that true salt and pepper flavour. Let the pork marinate for an hour or so before getting into a hot pan and sealing all the edges. Throw in the peppers until everything’s cooked right through and then it’s time to get stuck in. 

While we’re talking about Fakeaways, we have to give a shout out to this Oven Baked Pasanda Curry. Not only is it one of the easiest recipes out there, it’s also a low-carb champion at just 4g of carbs per serving. 

Plated up with some cauliflower rice or these Garlic Green Beans (4.3g carbs, for a total of 8.3g altogether), you’ll be obsessed from the first mouthful of creamy, mild, almond-infused curried chicken. 

Not all low-carb dinner recipes are all about meat. For a vegetarian option that the whole family will love, rustle up a plate of these Minty Halloumi and Vegetable Kebabs. At 5.8g of carbs per serving, there’s room to add a side salad or some extra veggies to round it up into a full meal. 

The skewers of red pepper, red onion, courgette and halloumi are finished with a drizzle of fresh minty sauce that brings the whole dish to life. Whether you cook them under the grill or on the barbecue, the halloumi will get gorgeously golden and crisp on the outside. 

Give your trusty chicken dinner a makeover by trying out this Cheesy Topped Chicken recipe. Despite being topped with crunchy, golden breadcrumbs, it weighs in with just 7.1g of carbs per portion. Cheese and chives were made to go together, so we’ve mixed the herbs into the creamy, cheesy filling. You’ll want to butterfly the chicken and then add a good scoop into the middle. 

Once it’s topped with breadcrumbs and popped into the oven, you’ll know you’re only 20 minutes away from a seriously tasty dinner. Serve with steamed veggies or a salad to keep the carb content nice and low. 

Thanks to the zingy Cajun-inspired seasoning, this Cajun Baked Cod with Asparagus and Cherry Tomatoes recipe is guaranteed to get your taste buds tingling. With just 6.4g of carbohydrates in each serving, it’s a quick, easy dish, where all the ingredients can be wrapped up in a tin foil parcel and cooked together. 

We love that this recipe is easy to scale up or down, depending on how many people you’re cooking for. Including preparation and cooking time, this dish will take you 25 minutes. How handy is that for a low-carb midweek meal?

What are your go-to low-carb recipes?

We’d love to know your top tips for eating low carb. Pop on over to our Facebook group to tell us what recipes you enjoy cooking and eating. Joining the group is so easy – and well worth your while! It’s a community of just under 1 million people who love to share recipe ideas, slimming tips and motivational stories. You can find out all about using the Pinch of Nom Facebook group here. 

Pssst…don’t forget there’s SWAG up for grabs if you share your photos and tips with us in the Gallery. Even if you’re not ready to join in just yet, it’s a good place to start looking for recipe inspiration – scroll through to see what everyone else has been cooking lately!