55 Low-Carb Lunch Ideas You’ll Actually Be Excited to Eat
Following a low-carb diet can potentially help you lose weight, lower your cholesterol and blood pressure and reduce your risk for type 2 diabetes. It’s no wonder you’ve decided to give it a go. (We salute you!) But you still want to eat meals that are quick and easy, not to mention delicious…and we have just the ticket. Read on for 55 low-carb lunch ideas that will make it a breeze to stick to your new meal plan.
RELATED: 80 Keto Dinner Recipe Ideas to Try Tonight
1. Cold Sesame Cucumber Noodles (14g carbs)
Adding store-bought baked tofu not only makes this recipe so easy to prepare, but it boosts the protein content to keep you full until dinnertime.
2. Bruschetta Chicken (6g carbs)
Why bother with breading when your chicken is crispy all by itself? The secret lies in making sure your skillet is hot enough to get everything well browned.
3. Whole30 Chicken Meatballs and Cauliflower Rice with Coconut-Herb Sauce (17g carbs)
Nothing against traditional spaghetti and meatballs, but this low-carb lunch might be even better. The meatballs are juicy, tender and flavorful, but won’t put you in a carb coma by 3 p.m.
4. Family-Style Chicken Caesar Salad (8g carbs)
Skip the croutons for a dish that clocks in at just 8 grams of carbs per serving. With garlic, olives and Worcestershire in the dressing, we promise you won’t miss a thing.
5. Keto Steak and Blue Cheese Salad for One (8g carbs)
You don’t have to follow a keto diet to enjoy its low-carb benefits. This salad is impossibly quick and simple when you use leftover steak from last night’s dinner.
6. Pesto Zoodles (14g carbs)
Between the sauce and the zucchini noodles, you’re looking at just 14 grams of carbs in one meal. This might be a diet miracle (and a delicious one, at that).
7. Low-Carb Pesto and Turkey Cucumber Roll Ups (2.5g carbs)
Thanks to Coterie member Monique Volz, you’re on your way to winning lunchtime. This modern, healthy take on turkey pinwheels will inspire all the envy from your coworkers.
8. 20-Minute Shrimp Scampi Zoodles (16g carbs)
And you thought sticking to a healthy meal plan was going to be time-consuming. Want to make this dish even easier? Pick up some store-bought zoodles instead of spiralizing them at home.
9. Meal-Prep Turkey Meatballs with Zucchini Noodles (28g carbs)
Sure, 28 grams of carbs per serving might seem like a lot (especially compared to others on this list), but think about how many carbs a bowl of angel hair would rack up.
10. Zucchini & Tomato Ragù (7g carbs)
If there’s one thing we know for sure, it’s that zucchini is a (nearly) carbless wonder vegetable. Think of this dish as ratatouille’s elegant Italian cousin.
11. Tomato Salad with Grilled Halloumi and Herbs (8g carbs)
Not only does this salad feature grilled halloumi cheese (a major selling point for us), but it comes together in ten minutes. Swoon.
12. Meal-Prep Creamy Kale Caesar Salad (8g carbs)
We see your store-bought $15 kale salad and raise you this homemade version dressed in an irresistible lemon-sour cream dressing. And psst: It costs less than $3 per serving to make.
13. Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad Stuffed Peppers (16g carbs)
This isn’t your mother’s chicken salad (no offense, Mom). We’re swapping the mayo for Greek yogurt and sandwich bread for crispy bell peppers. Lunch rut, be gone.
14. Thai Lettuce Wraps (9g carbs)
When it comes to cutting carbs, everyone knows the trusty lettuce wrap trick. What they don’t know is that the spicy flavors of Thai cuisine are a genius way to take lunch from standard to exciting.
15. Hemp-Crusted Baked Chicken Tenders (16g carbs)
If chicken tenders were a food group, they’d be our all-time favorite. So the fact that a diet-friendly version exists is music to our ears.
16. Chicken and Snap Pea Stir-Fry (11g carbs)
If you can carve out 20 minutes on Sunday night for meal-prep, you’ll have healthy, ready-to-eat lunches prepared for the whole week.
17. Taco Cauliflower Rice Bowls (17g carbs)
Coterie member Liz Falcigno knows that when it comes to tacos, it’s what’s inside that counts. With tasty cilantro cauliflower rice and all the fixings, you won’t even miss the tortillas.
18. Summer Chipotle Chicken Cobb Salad with Cilantro Vinaigrette (11g carbs)
There’s something about a cobb salad that makes us feel fancy even when we’re eating at our desk. This one has strawberries, avocado and corn to boot.
19. Spicy Stir-Fried Chicken and Shredded Brussels Bowls (19g carbs)
Brussels sprouts in a stir-fry? Why the heck not? The way they get all caramelized and crispy around the edges is *chef's kiss.*
20. Quiche with Gluten-Free Sweet Potato Crust (15g carbs)
Ditch the traditional crust and you’ve got yourself a low-carb slice of heaven. We’re filling our version with kale, but if you’re in the mood for a fridge cleanout, any green will work.
21. Mini Eggplant Pizzas (13g carbs)
You’ve heard of cauliflower pizza crust…but what about eggplant pizza crust? You can easily make these babies the night before, then heat them up the next day for a satisfying low-carb lunch.
22. Keto Pasta with Lemon-Kale Chicken (9g carbs)
Ever heard of shirataki noodles? They’re made from yams, high in fiber and low in calories. Win-win-win.
23. Mediterranean Tuna Salad (12g carbs)
This upgraded tuna salad is tossed in a light red wine vinaigrette that will have your coworkers jealous that they didn’t bring tuna to the office.
24. Kung Pao Chicken (17g carbs)
This takeout main uses a single skillet and only requires ten minutes of your time. (Though we'd gladly give this recipe more of ours.)
25. Baked Sesame-Ginger Salmon in Parchment (21g carbs)
Our motto, forever and always? Make it ahead. This 30-minute dish will leave you with minimal cleanup too, so you won’t even mind a little weekend meal-prep.
26. Sheet Pan Lemon Butter Veggies and Sausage (18g carbs)
A hands-off, low-carb dish that cooks on a single sheet pan? This one checks all the boxes. And because it makes six servings, you’ll have enough for the week and then some.
27. Cold Lemon Zoodles (8g carbs)
Zucchini noodles come to the rescue yet again, and we’re not mad about it—especially since this versatile, light lunch comes together in only 25 minutes.
28. Cacio e Pepe Cauliflower (8g carbs)
Oh hey, lunch of our dreams. We’ll be eating you every day for the rest of forever.
29. Zoodle Stir-Fry (18g carbs)
Why do we love stir-fries? Their versatility and lightning-fast cook time, for starters. Plus, this dish is packed with so many veggies, you won’t even miss the rice.
30. Za’atar Chicken Bowls with Tomato and Cucumber Raita (5.5g carbs)
If you thought watching your carbohydrate intake meant eating bland steamed veggies and plain chicken, we present this Middle Eastern-inspired bowl to change your mind.
31. Cauliflower Fried Rice with Crispy Tofu (21.5g carbs)
Oh, cauliflower. What would we do without you? Certainly not make this 15-minute meal-prep recipe…or show it off to everyone in the office.
32. Zucchini Noodle Pad See Ew (22g carbs)
This healthy spin on a Thai favorite tosses wide zucchini noodles (instead of traditional rice noodles) in a gingery, garlicky sauce you'll go gaga for.
33. 20-Minute Paleo Egg Roll Bowls (8g carbs)
All of the eating and none of the assembly? Yes, please. If you’re not yet on the egg roll bowl train (it’s a thing), now's the time.
34. Honey Mustard Sheet Pan Salmon (23g carbs)
This simple sheet-pan recipe will convert you into a seafood-for-lunch person for sure. (The key is not to heat it up in the microwave.)
35. 40-Minute Saag Paneer (14g carbs)
This Indian staple is loaded with yummy spices, and the leftovers get better and more flavorful the longer they sit in the fridge.
36. Vegan Keto Coconut Curry (10g carbs)
Plant-based? Check. Keto-friendly? Check. We knew there was a reason we liked this diet.
37. Cumin Beef Stir-Fry (10g carbs)
This Sichuan-style dish is spicy, aromatic and surprisingly easy to make. All you need is a searing-hot wok (or skillet) and an appetite.
38. Gochujang Chicken Stir-Fry (22g carbs)
Have you tried gochujang yet? The Korean chili paste is packed with funky flavor, and it's the key to this quick chicken dish.
39. Keto Chicken Pesto Burgers (3g carbs)
We’ve found the definition of “no bun, no problem,” and it’s these protein-packed burgers. Serve ’em on a bed of spinach and don’t forget the cheese.
40. 15-Minute Skillet Pepper Steak (12g carbs)
Give us a skillet and we’ll give you a reason to be excited for tomorrow’s lunch. This low-calorie dish takes less time to make than it does to order delivery.
41. Lemon Salmon with Garlic and Thyme (3g carbs)
Not only does this low-carb recipe only require six ingredients, but it's also ready in 25 minutes.
42. Zoodles with Tomato Sauce and Mozzarella (22g carbs)
If you miss the pasta, compensate by treating yourself to extra fresh mozz. You deserve it.
43. Shrimp with Cauliflower “Grits” and Arugula (13g carbs)
Yup, we'll definitely be whipping up those goat cheese grits for breakfast, too. (Aren't you glad bacon and eggs are keto?)
44. Keto Sheet Pan Chicken and Rainbow Veggies (35g carbs)
This dish boasts a little more than a quarter of your daily recommended fiber. (Subtract those 6 grams of fiber from the total carbs and you're down to 29g net carbs per plate.)
45. Warm Ginger-Scallion Pork & Kale Salad (19g carbs)
If you find kale tough to eat raw, sautéing it in honey-ginger dressing will be a major help.
46. Keto Instant Pot Greek Cauliflower Rice (6g carbs)
BRB, eating our weight in feta and kalamata olives. (P.S., low-carb pita bread exists.)
47. Everything Chicken Wings (1g carbs)
Consider these your newest go-to Super Bowl appetizer. Save time by using store-bought everything bagel seasoning.
48. Camarones al Mojo de Ajo (3g carbs)
Serve these garlic shrimp over cauliflower rice or low-carb pasta if you must. But they taste downright divine all by themselves.
49. Spicy Lemon-Ginger Chicken Soup (12g carbs)
One slurp and you'll never look at canned chicken noodle soup the same way again.
50. Cauliflower Fried Rice (23g carbs)
A runny egg will never do you wrong, especially atop this takeout staple.
51. Tuna Salad with Yogurt, Capers and Za’atar (2g carbs)
This O.G. lunch deserves the glow-up of a lifetime. Creamy Greek yogurt, briny capers and a few pantry staples can no doubt transform canned tuna into something spectacular.
52. Oven-Baked Buffalo Wings (3g carbs)
One bite, and you'll be making these baked beauties for every game day you ever host. Serve them with a green salad and plenty of blue cheese or ranch dressing.
53. Poached Egg with Frisée and Arugula Salad (8g carbs)
It turns out that all it takes to make a restaurant-quality poached egg is a dash of vinegar. It helps the egg white set neatly.
54. Salmon with Pesto and Blistered Tomatoes (11g carbs)
You're only six ingredients and 35 minutes away from this stunning seafood dish, thanks to easy store-bought pesto. Plate it over greens or cauliflower rice to keep the carbs low.
55. Instant Pot Keto Indian Butter Chicken (6g carbs)
This pressure cooker wonder is packed with protein and flavor, thanks to a mélange of warm spices and coconut cream.
RELATED: 45 Keto Chicken Recipes You've Never Tried
For even more great recipes, check out our first cookbook, Only the Good Stuff.
