Be it weeknight dinners for ease or filling snacks, these recipes are sure to meet all your health and flavor requirements. Low-carb meal ideas provide lean proteins, nutritious vegetables, and beneficial fats.
This tasty chicken recipe features lemon-balsamic chicken cutlets with roasted vegetables for an irresistibly delicious sheet-pan meal! Pair this delicious meal with green beans for a balanced and nutritious dinner experience.
Cauliflower Fried Rice
Cauliflower rice is an excellent way to help anyone seeking to lose weight enjoy delicious and filling food without all of the extra calories and carbs that usually accompany regular fried rice dishes. Plus, cauliflower rice provides essential sources of dietary fiber, choline, antioxidants that may lower risk factors related to certain diseases, and protein for muscle recovery after workouts!
To create cauliflower rice, first thoroughly wash a head of fresh cauliflower and remove its outer green leaves. You can then use either a food processor or box grater to grate or chop your cauliflower until its texture resembles that of cooked rice—you could also try using a sharp chef’s knife or molcajete if time is short, or look for packages of pre-riced cauliflower at your grocery store if availability is a factor.
Add cauliflower rice, frozen mixed vegetables, finely chopped green onions, and minced garlic to a large wok or nonstick skillet and cook over high heat until vegetables are tender, 3–4 minutes. Sprinkle gluten-free tamari or soy sauce before transferring the ingredients to serving bowls; top off each with some sriracha sauce for additional flavor and garnish with sesame seeds for texture and color. This delicious meal makes an ideal lunch or dinner and keeps well in an airtight container stored in the fridge!
Shrimp Cobb Salad
Salads are an easy and delicious way to add nutrients and fiber to your diet while being relatively calorie-friendly compared to other food sources. This shrimp Cobb salad features fresh vegetables, grilled shrimp, and hard-boiled eggs for a nutritious meal that boasts high amounts of protein, omega-3 fats (which aid muscle growth and strength), potassium, and vitamin C content.
This recipe puts a unique spin on traditional Cobb salad by layering delicious herby mixed greens, juicy cherry tomatoes, cool cucumber chunks, and creamy avocado in a vibrant herby blend with protein-rich shrimp and dusky bacon for extra protein and creaminess—then finishing everything off with an irresistibly fragrant Dijon mustard vinaigrette!
Center-cut bacon helps lower the overall fat content of this recipe, giving you more of your savory salad ingredients while cutting calories. This dish can even be prepared ahead of time by preparing and cooking bacon before work and then placing it in the fridge until dinner time arrives.
Use a salad chopper to quickly chop lettuce and other vegetables before adding them to the bowl for faster prep; this tool makes weeknight meal planning effortless!
Lemon-Garlic Chicken
Lemon-garlic chicken brings sunshine to any plate, with its citrus flavors and strong garlic accents combined with soft chicken for an unforgettable dinner that looks and tastes luxurious, despite its simplicity of preparation. Plus, this recipe packs in significant amounts of protein for muscle repair and growth!
To create Lemon-Garlic Chicken, pat the thighs dry with paper towels and season each side with salt. Combine all of the marinade ingredients in a large sealable bag; reserve two tablespoons for later use on vegetables; add chicken thighs; seal and turn; let sit at room temperature while you prepare the veggies.
Create chicken and veggie skewers using the marinade you set aside, and roast in an oven set at 425°F until all sides of each are cooked through and golden-brown in color. Brush these as they cook with more of their respective marinade!
Add chopped lemon garlic chicken to salads or pasta dishes, such as the viral TikTok feta pasta made with feta, tomatoes, garlic, and basil, or include it in your favorite soup, like lemon orzo soup, for an additional delicious element. Chopped lemon garlic chicken also works perfectly as part of this Greek chicken salad that features cucumbers, feta, red onion, olives, and tomatoes!
Add any leftover marinade to a saucepan and bring to a simmer, adding a splash of heavy cream as desired, stirring until slightly thickened before taking it off the heat and serving warm over chicken or vegetables.
Summer Vegetable Casserole
Summer vegetables provide essential nutrition and can add both flavor and texture to meals. Sweet corn is a classic summer veggie, providing fiber, B vitamins, and natural sugars for energy. Zucchini and summer squash can easily fit into recipes while providing potassium and vitamins C and A, as well as low-calorie options that support immune health. Meanwhile leafy greens such as kale boast protein, calcium, and iron, as well as quercetin/kaempferol antioxidants for immune support.
Stacking tortillas, sauce, and cheesy spinach makes this weeknight veggie-packed recipe quick and simple to make. Feta cheese adds salty-tangy notes while providing protein for this vegetarian dish—for optimal melting properties, look for brined feta rather than dry varieties.
An effortless and quick marinara recipe made even quicker by the addition of roasted portobello mushrooms. Their meaty flavors provide the perfect finish to this vegetarian meal!
Chef’s mandolines make quick work of slicing vegetables for this dish. Look for models offering multiple cutting thickness sizes and options such as straight cuts, wavy or julienne slices, and French fry cuts. Choose conventional lower-moisture mozzarella rather than fresh or ricotta for optimal baking results and an irresistibly satisfying cheesy flavor finish.
