Whoever said that a low carb diet has to be boring?
Take a look at the taste-bud tantalising low carb recipes below to discover simple food swaps that will also help you eat a more vibrant and varied diet.
Low carb recipes make for great lighter meal options, which help cut down on carbohydrates and calories.
Not only will following these recipes have you feeling great on the inside, they’ll also help you lose weight effortlessly.
Carbs, or carbohydrates, make up a variety of different foods including bread, pasta or even fruit. Some carbs offer a slow release of energy, while others, often those full of sugar or starch, provide quick hits of energy, which can make them pretty addictive.
We’re not saying ditch the carbs completely, we’re just saying that if you want to watch what you eat, carbs are a great place to start. Some carb-containing foods are good for the body, such as some fruit and vegetables, but others like bread or rice can leave us feeling rather bloated.
By replacing these carbs with a more high protein diet, you’ll feel like you’ve been given a new lease of energy that will see you through from breakfast to bedtime – time to wave goodbye to that mid-day slump!
Weight loss diets such as The Ketogenic Diet require those following the eating plans to reduce the number of carbs they eat each day in order to see results. These low carb recipes provide some great meal ideas if you’re following a low carb diet.
Scroll down to see our favourite low carb recipes! Discover new dinner ideas like baked mushrooms with goats’ cheese, served with a light salad to make a delicious low carb meal, or why not go for a Thai chicken curry that’s packed with chunky vegetables or perhaps try a butternut squash and spinach tortilla, which is filling but made without potatoes.
Low carb recipes to help you lose weight
1. Mashed peas and spinach with grilled tuna
Mashed peas and spinach with grilled tuna is an eye catching low-carb dinner that’s packed with healthy fats.
Get the recipe: Mashed peas and spinach with grilled tuna
2. Fish and Broccoli Traybake
A fish and broccoli tray bake is a simple midweek meal that will feed the whole family. You can serve with potatoes to make this a heartier dish, but if you’re looking for a low carb dinner option then it’s perfect just as it is.
Get the recipe: Fish and broccoli tray bake
3. Cauliflower steaks with anchovy and lemon butter
Cauliflower steaks are an eye catching and impressive low carb main meal.
Get the recipe: Cauliflower steaks with anchovy and lemon butter
4. Persian-style vegetable casserole
Make a Persian-style vegetable casserole packed with vegetables and with just a little giant couscous to make it more filling.
Get the recipe: Persian-style vegetable casserole
5. Thai chicken curry with aubergine and green beans
This delicious Thai chicken curry with aubergine and green beans is ready in just 25 minutes and packed fiull of vitamins.
Get the recipe: Thai chicken curry
6. Carrot ribbon spaghetti
This recipe gives a simple spaghetti recipe a healthy little twist by using carrot ribbons. You could go that one step further and swap the spaghetti for courgette ribbons too.
Get the recipe: Carrot ribbon spaghetti
7. Chicken miso soup
Delicious chicken miso soup is made with tender chicken breast, mushrooms and miso paste for a healthy and filling meal.
Get the recipe: Chicken miso soup
8. Gordon Ramsay’s chilli beef lettuce wraps
These chilli beef lettuce wraps are a fancy treat, perfect for serving up when you’ve got friends popping over for dinner. This recipe cleverly swaps the usual wraps for a piece of lettuce. The protein-packed filling will keep you nice and full all evening.
Get the recipe: Gordon Ramsay’s chilli beef lettuce wraps
9. Butternut squash and spinach tortilla
Give tortilla a healthy makeover by swapping potatoes for butternut squash and adding spinach for extra nutrients. It’s so easy to make, ready in just 30 minutes and with just 199 calories per serving.
Get the recipe: Butternut squash and spinach tortilla
10. Pesto chicken with aubergine, tomatoes and olives
Not only is the chicken in this recipe bursting with flavour, it’s packed full of protein too which is guaranteed to keep you fuller for longer. The aubergine and roast tomato combo helps bulk this dish up so you won’t miss your usual carbs.
Get the recipe: Pesto chicken with aubergine, tomatoes and olives
11. Winter vegetable and bacon soup
This hearty vegetable soup is filling enough to have for dinner thanks to the protein-packed bacon and shredded cabbage. You can choose whichever veggies you like to add to this flavoursome soup, just make sure you avoid those potatoes!
Get the recipe: Winter vegetable and bacon soup
12. Lamb with squash, walnuts and sage
The tender chunks of lamb in this bake will keep your mind off those carb cravings. This dish swaps potato for butternut squash instead which has only 12g of carbohydrates per 100g portion in comparison to potatoes which have 17g of carbohydrates per 100g portion – every little helps!
Get the recipe: Lamb with squash, walnuts and sage
13. Mediterranean aubergines
This delicious Mediterranean-style dish swaps the tortilla wraps (like
in a classic enchilada recipe) for thin slices of aubergine instead. The
dense texture of the aubergine makes up for the fact that there’s
hardly any carbs in this dish. Top with cheese and remember – the
stronger the cheese, the less you’ll need!
Get the recipe: Mediterranean aubergines
14. Tortilla pizza
This recipe swaps that carb-packed pizza base for a flour tortilla instead. Tortillas are much lower in carbohydrates than pizza dough and lighter too, so you won’t get that uncomfortable bloating feeling. Top with your favourite veggies and meat for added protein.
Get the recipe: Tortilla pizza
15. Mexican tortilla lasagne
Layers of rich tomato sauce, tender minced beef and a sprinkling of cheese, what’s not to love? This family-sized meal swaps lasagne sheets for tortilla wraps instead. Tortilla wraps have 25g (yes, 25g!) less carbonhydrates per 100g portion than pasta, so step away from those lasagne sheets!
Get the recipe: Mexican tortilla lasagne
16. Carrot and coriander soup
This simple carrot and coriander soup recipe is quick and easy to make, with only 102 calories per serving.
Get the recipe: Carrot and coriander soup
17. Slimming World’s spicy vegetable chilli
Spicy homemade chilli sauce, tender chunks of Quorn mince and homemade guacamole, there’s so much going on in this dish, you’re bound to forget all about that portion of rice or chunk of bread you often serve with your bowl of chilli.
Get the recipe: Slimming World’s spicy vegetable chilli
18. Sea bass with squash
Swap the mashed potato for butternut squash instead. It’s still considered a carb, but contains 5g less carbohydrates per 100g portion than potato. The tender fillet of sea bass and sweet burst of flavour that you get from the peas will keep you satisfied.
Get the recipe: Sea bass with squash
19. Spicy chorizo and prawn pasta
433 cals/10g fat per portion
Ready in just 30 mins, this flavour-packed spicy chorizo and prawn pasta is sure to become a family favourite. Made with smokey chorizo pieces, tender king prawns and a rich tomato sauce, this delicious pasta dish is best served fresh.
Get the recipe: Spicy chorizo and prawn pasta
20. Spain: Paella
Seafood? Check! Rice? Check! Chorizo, paprika and saffron? Check! If you’ve got all of these ingredients in your kitchen, you’re well on the way to a delicious bowl of Spanish paella. Close your eyes and you can almost imagine the sounds of the sea and the sand beneath your feet.
21. Sweet potato wedges
Sweet potato wedges are a lovely way to switch up your go-to dinner sides. Because they’re lower in carbs than regular potatoes, and have a higher Vitamin A and fibre count, they will top up your essential vitamin supplies while keeping you feeling full and your body nourished.
Get the recipe: Sweet potato wedges
22. Beetroot chicken salad with fennel, orange and lentils
This beetroot chicken salad is bright, colourful and packed with flavour. It’s a healthy and balanced dish that’s perfect for those on a low carb diet, and is still filling enough to leave you feeling satisfied.
Get the recipe: Beetroot chicken salad with fennel, orange and lentils
23. Mary Berry’s king prawn and broccoli stir-fry with black bean sauce
Mary Berry’s quick cooking king prawn and broccoli stir-fry with black bean sauce takes just 8 minutes to cook and can be on the table in under 20 minutes. It’s a great alternative to ordering from the takeaway and can be served on its own for a low-carb option or with rice or noodles.
Get the recipe: Mary Berry’s king prawn and broccoli stir-fry with black bean sauce
24. Slimming World’s chilli and cauliflower rice
This Slimming World chilli and cauliflower rice is easy to make, and healthy and satisfying to eat making it the perfect mid-week supper that will please the whole family!
Get the recipe: Slimming World’s chilli and cauliflower rice
25. Joe Wicks’ halloumi fries
Joe Wicks’ halloumi fries make a delicious snack or turn them into dinner by serving with a tasty salad. This recipe is low in carbs and high in flavour!
Get the recipe: Joe Wicks’ halloumi fries
26. Cloud bread
Heard of cloud bread? This low-carb bread is made with eggs, cream cheese, a pinch of salt and cream of tartar, with no flour or grains – making it light and fluffy, just like a cloud! It’s well worth the effort if you’re trying to cut carbs but miss bread!
Get the recipe: Cloud bread
