Looking for low carb recipes that will prevent you eating too many carbohydrates before bed, which may help you shift the pounds? You’re in the right place – these low carb dinner ideas provide filling protein and lots of veg.
Carbohydrates (also called carbs) are macronutrients in our food. There are three types – fibre, starch and sugar. Carbs are an essential part of a healthy balanced diet, providing us with energy, nutrients and – in the case of fibre – help prevent certain diseases. The problem with the modern Western diet is that we tend to eat too many carbs – especially sugar (which is why this sugar-free eating plan may appeal to some). This can cause weight gain, fatigue and potential health issues such a type 2 diabetes.
While slow-release or low Glycaemic Index (GI) carbs – such as the ones found in wholegrains and leafy greens, for example – offer a slow and steady release of energy, fast-release or high GI carbs, which tend to be full of sugar or refined starches, provide quick hits of energy. But not only does this make them pretty addictive, it can also cause a spike in blood sugar levels and lead to a post-energy slump.
Currently, the recommended daily amount of carbohydrates is 260g for adults. But as there’s some evidence to suggest that low carb recipes can aid weight loss and help to get illnesses such as type 2 diabetes under control you may wish to follow a low carb eating plan. Diabetes UK recommends 130g a day or under. To clarify, low carb isn’t no carb – your body needs a certain amount of carbs for essential nutrients. ‘Carbohydrates are important for supporting mental wellbeing, energy and gut health. Therefore, rather than eliminating carbohydrate sources entirely you can try reducing the quantity you’re consuming,’ advises nutritionist Jenna Hope (find her at Jenna Hope Nutrition).
On the other hand, some diets such as the ketogenic diet argue that you should eat no more than 50g carbs a day. This is in order to reach a state of ketosis – a metabolic process whereby your body lacks an energy source (usually from carbs) so it starts to burn stored fat. Importantly, ketosis isn’t for everyone, so always check with your GP before undertaking a new diet. ‘A low carbohydrate diet can pose the risk of low fibre intake,’ warns Jenna. ‘Therefore you’re better off to focus on fibre-rich complex carbohydrates such as beans, pulses, fruits, vegetables and wholegrains alongside reducing ultra-processed products and high sugar consumption,’ she says.
While it’s important to be sensible on a low carb eating plan, some people find that by following a low carb high fat diet (the most famous being the keto and the Atkins diet) they lose weight and feel like they’ve been given a new lease of energy. Moreover, it can reduce food cravings, eliminate the mid-day slump and seems to be especially helpful in combating type 2 diabetes. These low carb recipes provide some carbs and are healthy dinners that should fill you up until morning.
Low carb recipes
1. Mashed peas and spinach with grilled tuna
Carbs: 13g | Calories: 300 | Saturated fat: 2g per portion
One of our mouthwatering low carb recipes, this has the added benefit of being packed with heart-healthy omega-3 fats and nutritious spinach.
Get the recipe: Mashed peas and spinach with grilled tuna
2. Fish and broccoli traybake
Carbs: 9g | Calories: 705 | Saturated fat: 12g per portion
Tray bakes are ideal if you’re looking for simple midweek for your family. The tomatoes and broccoli count towards your 5-a-day while the protein-rich fish will keep you full and stop you reaching for the biscuit tin.
Get the recipe: Fish and broccoli tray bake
3. Cauliflower steaks with anchovy and lemon butter
Carbs: 8g | Calories: 206 | Saturated fat: 8g per portion
Cauliflower steaks are certainly eye-catching and are just one of our impressive low carb dinner ideas that will appeal to pescatarians.
Get the recipe: Cauliflower steaks with anchovy and lemon butter
4. Chicken miso soup
Carbs: very low | Calories: 132 | Saturated fat: 1g per portion
This flavourful Asian-style chicken soup is made with tender chicken breast, mushrooms, leafy greens and miso paste for a very healthy low carb, low fat dinner that’s light on the stomach.
Get the recipe: Chicken miso soup
5. Butternut squash and spinach tortilla
Carbs: 19g | Calories: 196 | Saturated fat: 2g per portion
Enrich your tortilla with antioxidant-rich butternut squash and spinach for extra nutrients. It’s easy to make and ready in just 30 minutes
Get the recipe: Butternut squash and spinach tortilla
6. Gordon Ramsay’s roast beef fillet
Carbs: 9.2g | Calories: 443 | Saturated fat: 7g per portion
Yes, you can have a low carb Sunday roast and enjoy it – simply fill up on veggies and avoid root veg and potatoes.
Get the recipe: Gordon Ramsay roast beef fillet
7. Joe Wicks’ sage butter chicken with lemony spring greens
Carbs: 16.1g | Calories: 778 | Saturated fat: 28.4g per portion
From the King of internet fitness comes this delightful low carb chicken dish with heaps of nutritious greens.
Get the recipe: Joe Wicks’ sage butter chicken with lemony spring greens
8. Low cal Thai green vegetable curry
Carbs: 13.5g | Calories: 197 | Saturated fat: 7.2g per portion
Spicy, creamy and packed with five types of veg, this curry has the added bonus of being one of our low carb recipes.
Get the recipe: Low calorie Thai green vegetable curry
9. Sausage, mushroom and bean stew
Carbs: 10g | Calories: 354 | Saturated fat: 7.4g per portion
Enriched with mushrooms – a solid source of some B vitamins – and flageolet beans, which are a great source of fibre – this moreish bean stew contains essential complex carbohydrates yet still comes in at just 10g carbs per portion.
Get the recipe: Sausage, mushroom and bean stew
10. Beetroot chicken salad with fennel, orange and lentils
Carbs: 20g | Calories: 326 | Saturated fat: 1g per portion
This beetroot chicken salad is another of our bright, colourful low carb recipes packed with flavour. While it contains more carbs than other low carb dishes, it’s still low. And it’s healthy, balanced and filling enough to satisfy your hunger.
Get the recipe: Beetroot chicken salad with fennel, orange and lentils
11. Low-calorie chicken tikka masala
Carbs: 18.9g | Calories: 217 | Saturated fat: 2.2g per portion
A British favourite, this low calorie tikka masala also happens to be low carb, providing under 19g carbs and only 2.2g saturated fat, too! A great alternative to the calorific takeaway version.
Get the recipe: Low-calorie chicken tikka masala
12. Mushroom soup
Carbs: 5.9g | Calories: 472 | Saturated fat: 29.1g per portion
Hearty and warming, this mushroom soup is a meal made for autumn and winter. Creamy and indulgent thanks to the double cream, nevertheless it’s low in carbs.
Get the recipe: mushroom soup
13. Greek lamb with warm beans
Carbs: 10.5g | Calories: 343 | Saturated fat: 8.5g per portion
With its tasty, tender lamb and protein-pack beans, this low carb lamb dish is a Mediterranean-inspired winner dinner.
Get the recipe: Greek lamb with warm beans
14. Italian-style chicken with olives
Carbs: 9.3g | Calories: 301 | Saturated fat: 2.8g per portion
Another dish infused with the flavours of the Mediterranean, this herby chicken dish with tangy olives has very few carbs – so long as you resist a side order of bread!
Get the recipe: Italian-style chicken with olives
15. Slimming World’s slow cooked beef Bourguignon
Carbs: 13.9g | Calories: 372 | Saturated fat: 3.2g per portion
Slimming World’s recreation of the classic French dish beef Bourguignon uses low calorie cooking spray, lean meat and a plethora of fresh herbs to recreate a healthy version of this popular meal.
Get the recipe: Slimming World’s slow cooked beef Bourguignon
16. Roast squash, burrata and green bean salad
Carbs: 11g | Calories: 220 | Saturated fat: 4g per portion
Cheese lovers rejoice. This lovely salad is a nutritious medley of young cheese, two types of veg and hazelnuts. Serve warm or cold.
Get the recipe: Roast squash, burrata and green bean salad
17. Pinch of Nom Cuban beef
Carbs: 20.7g | Calories: 257 | Saturated fat: 1.6g per portion
‘This dish combines the gentle heat of Cuban spices with tender beef, which you can cook in the oven, or in a pressure or slow cooker, so that the meat really melts in your mouth,’ says creators Kate and Kay, aka Pinch of Nom.
Get the recipe: Pinch of Nom Cuban beef
18. Spinach crepes with beetroot puree and goats cheese
Carbs: 22g | Calories: 322 | Saturated fat: 7g per portion
The seeds in this recipe provide healthy protein, while the spinach and beetroot boosts its nutritional power. An excellent low carb veggie option.
Get the recipe: Spinach crepes with beetroot puree and goats cheese
19. Salt and pepper spare ribs
Carbs: 3.8g | Calories: 1349 | Saturated fat: 35.4g per portion
Low cal this ain’t. But if you’re hankering after Chinese-style ribs and you need low carb recipes, this is the dish for you. It’s spicy, it’s sticky and it’s succulent – just as spare ribs should be.
Get the recipe: Salt and pepper spare ribs
20. Baked roasted aubergine
Carbs: 9.6g | Calories: 90 | Saturated fat: 0.5g per portion
This tasty vegan recipe elevates the humble aubergine, thanks to the array of mouthwatering spices. It’s so low cal, low fat and low carb that you can justify two portions!
Get the recipe: Baked roasted aubergine
21. Low-calorie tuna pasta
Carbs: 20.3g | Calories: 249 | Saturated fat: 1.6g per portion
A low carb pasta dish? Yes, it’s possible. This one combines wholewheat pasta (a slow-release carb), with protein-rich tuna, fresh green beans and a little low fat cream cheese for a quick and easy dinner.
Get the recipe: Low-calorie tuna pasta
22. Beetroot carpaccio with horseradish yogurt
Carbs: 14g | Calories: 150 | Saturated fat: 1g per portion
Fresh and colourful, but finished with a fiery kick thanks to the horseradish, this low carb veggie dish is just what you need on a warm evening if you’re in need of a light supper. Beetroot is an excellent source of fibre, too, which your gut will love.
Get the recipe: Beetroot carpaccio with horseradish yogurt
23. Masala omelette
Carbs: 1.5g | Calories: 118 | Saturated fat: 2g per portion
Omelettes are generally an excellent low carb option, thanks to the high protein content in eggs. They’re a great excuse to get your fill of veg too, as they can be filled with all manner of colourful options – this spiced omelette, for example, contains tomatoes, spinach and spring onions but you could add red peppers, courgettes and green leaves.
Get the recipe: Masala omelette
24. Lisa Riley’s black bean brownies
Carbs: 23g | Calories: 187 | Saturated fat: 2g per portion
Believe it or not, there are some relatively low carb desserts out there. This one, by celeb Lisa Riley, uses protein-rich black beans. These add texture and keep the carb content down. While one portion is pushing the boundaries of a low carb pud, you can just about get away with it.
Get the recipe: Lisa Riley’s black bean brownies
25. Gluten-free strawberry mousse
Carbs: 11.5g | Calories: 100 | Saturated fat: 2.5g per portion
This is another post-dinner pud that works on a low carb eating plan. Packed with strawberries and Greek yogurt, it’s a light, fruity dessert that won’t veer you off your low carb course.
Get the recipe: Gluten-free strawberry mousse
26. Gordon Ramsay’s cream of cauliflower soup
Carbs: 19.9g | Calories: 269 | Saturated fat: 7.8g per portion
Creamy and satisfying, this soup contains a whole cauliflower, which goes towards your 5-a-day, and comes in at just under 20g carbs per portion – not bad for a fancy soup.
Get the recipe: Gordon Ramsay’s cream of cauliflower soup
27. Cauliflower and broccoli steaks with peri peri sauce
Carbs: 12g | Calories: 84 | Saturated fat: 0.5g per portion
For all the vegans in our midst, this is for you – a veg-heavy dish with a wonderfully spiced sauce. Super-healthy and light, you won’t feel uncomfortably full after this low carb recipe.
Get the recipe: Cauliflower and broccoli steaks with Peri Peri sauce
28. Hake with smoky beans
Carbs: 25g | Calories: 400 | Saturated fat: 13g per portion
According to Diabetes UK, this would still be classed as a low carb dish, though if you’re following the keto eating plan it would include half of your daily carb allowance. If you’re following a more relaxed low carb diet though, this is a great choice of dinner, with protein-rich fish and beans and a host of nutritious veg.
Get the recipe: Hake with smoky beans
29. Hot honey chicken
Carbs: 22g | Calories: 300 | Saturated fat: 1.5g per portion
With a sweet, spicy coating and lashings of crunchy coleslaw, this succulent chicken dish is a healthy all-rounder for those on a low carb, low fat or low calorie eating plan.
Get the recipe: Hot honey chicken
30. King prawn stir-fry
Carbs: 12g | Calories: 265 | Saturated fat: 2g per portion
A combo of bok choy or spinach, red onion, peppers and fat juicy prawns, this is a flavour-packed king prawn stir-fry that will stay low carb if you skip the rice.
Get the recipe: King prawn stir-fry
31. Phil Vickery’s special fried rice
Carbs: 23g | Calories: 269 | Saturated fat: 2g per portion
Surprisingly for a special fried rice dish, celebrity chef Phil Vickery has created another dish to add to our round-up of low carb recipes. This recipe is a healthy option filled with veggies, nutritious brown rice, protein-packed prawns and ham and chicken, as well as those divine Asian spices we know and love.
Get the recipe: Phil Vickery’s special fried rice
