A low-carb diet has many benefits. It can help you manage your weight, promote good cholesterol, manage blood sugar insulin levels, and may even lower blood pressure. With all of these benefits, we can see why you’ve chosen to follow a low-carb diet!
Lunch is an important meal that can either leave you energized and refueled for the rest of the day or it can leave you feeling lethargic. The secret is to enjoy meals that you actually want to eat, full of energizing ingredients that will keep you full! Here are 10 low-carb but filling lunch ideas you should try!
Stuffed Portobello Pizzas
You can never go wrong with pizza, except when you’re trying to watch your carb intake. Luckily, there are plenty of ways you can still enjoy the flavor of pizza but with fewer carbs. Use a portobello mushroom in place of pizza dough for example!
This lunch is so easy. Simply brush a bit of oil on a few portobello mushrooms and top with pizza sauce, diced peppers, cheese, and your favorite meat or meat-alternative. Broil the pizzas for 5-10 minutes and then enjoy!
Baked Meatballs With Spaghetti Squash
Spaghetti squash is a great low-carb alternative to traditional spaghetti pasta. It has a similar texture which may help trick your mind into thinking you’re actually eating pasta.
This recipe combines spaghetti squash with savory baked meatballs to make a delicious lunch you’ll actually want to eat. Better yet, this is a great option you can meal prep ahead of the week. All you need is a handful of ingredients and 45-minutes to prepare 5 servings!
Turkey Cobb Salad
Salads make great low-carb meals but they can get boring fast! The secret is to add in loads of filling and delicious ingredients you actually want to eat. This turkey cobb salad recipe is a great example of that.
This salad features cubed deli turkey, and other protein-rich ingredients like cheese, eggs, and bacon to provide you with enough energy to keep you from getting hungry after you eat. This is another lunch idea that can be prepped ahead of your busy week!
Pesto and Turkey Roll-Ups
Are wraps your go-to lunch? Skip the carbs and give this pesto and turkey roll-ups recipe a try instead! Each roll contains about 2.5-grams of carbs. Eat a few of these rolls for a filling and nutritious lunch.
This lunch is packed with flavor thanks to ingredients like basil pesto and smoked turkey breast. You may also enjoy that this recipe comes together in just 15 minutes and prepares 18 rolls.
BLT Egg Salad Jars
Enjoy all the fixings you love about a BLT sandwich in a salad. Ditching the bread will help this meal remain low-carb without missing out on all the other delicious ingredients worth eating.
This recipe also puts a fun spin on a traditional BLT and adds egg salad to the mix. This will surely keep you full and satisfied for the day. Simply prepare the ingredients and layer them in a mason jar until you’re ready to eat!
PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: IOWA GIRL EATS
Shrimp Foil Packets
Shrimp foil packets are easy to prepare and clean up! Prepare a few packets on the weekend and divide them up to enjoy for lunch throughout the week.
This recipe isn’t only low-carb but it’s keto, paleo, and whole30 friendly too! All you need is shrimp, assorted fresh veggies, olive oil, and a few seasonings to whip this lunch together. This recipe also comes with instructions to cook the packets on the grill or in the oven — your choice!
PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: NOSHTASTIC
Low Carb Greek Turkey
Do you enjoy Greek food? If that’s the case, then give this low-carb Greek turkey lunch recipe a try! This filling lunch features lemon cauliflower rice, seasoned ground beef, Greek salad, and Greek yogurt tzatziki. Not only is this a low-carb meal, but it’s gluten-free too.
This is another make-ahead recipe which means you’ll have four servings to enjoy throughout the week once you make it. Better yet, it comes together in 40-minutes or less!
Hemp-Crusted Baked Chicken Tenders
The next time you’re tempted to order your favorite fried (and carb-heavy) chicken tenders from the drive-thru, make these hemp-crusted baked chicken tenders instead! This recipe puts a low-carb spin on a fan-favorite.
The crispy coating is a mixture of hemp seeds, ground almonds, and loads of savory seasonings. Prepare the tenders on the weekend or the night before and then enjoy them at lunch! You can eat them as is with your favorite low-carb dipping sauces, pair them with a side of cauliflower rice and steamed veggies, or toss them in your favorite salad!
PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: GIMME SOME OVEN
Shrimp Scampi Zoodles
You don’t have to miss out on your favorite dishes like shrimp scampi when following a low-carb diet! You merely have to make a few substitutions like swapping traditional pasta with zoodles (zucchini noodles).
This recipe puts a low-carb spin on the classic version and features all the same buttery-garlic flavors you have come to know and love. The best part? This dish comes together in a single skillet in just 20-minutes — perfect for lunch!
PHOTOS AND RECIPE HERE: PURE WOW
Taco Cauliflower Rice Bowls
Ditch the tortillas because you won’t need them for this recipe! These taco cauliflower rice bowls are full of all the same flavors you love about tacos just without all the extra carbs.
The base of these bowls is cauliflower rice. Not only is it low in carbs and calories, but it’s high in fiber which helps keep you full! You’ll also enjoy ground meat, fresh cherry tomatoes, shredded cheese, additional taco toppings, and loads of seasonings that make this dish come together.
