20 Easy Low-Carb Dinners You Can Make in 20 Minutes

January 30, 2020

Following a low-carb diet has never been easier (or more delicious). We have pulled together 20 of our favorite dinner recipes that will be on the table in 20 minutes of less. Not to mention, these dinners are loaded with vegetables and also serve up healthy proteins and fats. All of these quick dinners have fewer than 15 grams of carbs per serving, so that you can meet your nutrition goals without sacrificing time or flavor.

Start Slideshow

1 of 21

Chicken Cutlets with Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Though a chicken cutlet may be a chicken breast cut in half, this recipe shows how to make chicken cutlets with double the deliciousness. A jar of sun-dried tomatoes does double duty for this healthy dinner recipe. The flavorful oil they're packed in is used to sauté the chicken, and the tomatoes go into the cream sauce. Source: EatingWell Magazine, November 2019

 

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 21

Salmon with Curried Yogurt & Cucumber Salad

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Three ingredients you probably already have on hand--curry powder, yogurt and lemon juice--meld into a mouthwatering sauce that transforms simple grilled salmon. This healthy and easy dinner recipe comes together in just 20 minutes. Source: EatingWell Magazine, July/August 2019

 

3 of 21

Goat Cheese & Fresh Herb Omelet

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

The secret to this easy omelet recipe is choosing a really great goat cheese. Luckily most supermarkets have great chevre--Vermont Creamery and Laura Chenel are straightforward varieties you're likely to find. If you've got access to funky local options, bust them out for this quick breakfast recipe. Aside from the goat cheese, eggs and herbs, you need just a few pantry ingredients and 20 minutes for one of the best omelets you can make. Source: EatingWell Magazine, April 2019

 

Advertisement

4 of 21

Antipasto Baked Smothered Chicken

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

We like the touch of heat that pepperoncini give to this briny chicken, but if you really want to turn up the spiciness, swap them for hot cherry peppers. Source: EatingWell Magazine, January/February 2020

 

5 of 21

Watch: Are Carbs Bad?

EatingWell Senior Digital Nutrition Editor, Lisa Valente, M.S. R.D., answers the Internet's top questions about carbs and low-carb diet.

6 of 21

Salmon-Stuffed Avocados

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Canned salmon is a valuable pantry staple and a practical way to include heart-healthy omega-3-rich fish in your diet. Here, we combine it with avocados in an easy no-cook meal. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine, Spring 2019

 

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 21

20-Minute Chicken Cutlets & Zucchini Noodles with Creamy Tomato Sauce

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This low-carb chicken dinner whips up in only 20 minutes, thanks to thin-cut chicken breast and packaged zucchini noodles. If you have a spiralizer and want to make your own zucchini noodles, use two medium zucchini. Source: EatingWell.com, January 2020

 

8 of 21

Pan-Seared Steak with Crispy Herbs & Escarole

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This easy dinner takes just 20 minutes to prepare, meaning that seared steak can be a weeknight meal. Cooking herbs in the pan with the steak releases their aroma, infusing it into the meat while creating a crispy garnish. After the steaks and herbs are pan-seared, the escarole is cooked in the same skillet, so this healthy dinner requires minimal cleanup too. Source: EatingWell Magazine, October 2019

 

9 of 21

Spinach & Strawberry Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Homemade poppy seed dressing pairs beautifully with tender spinach, crunchy almonds and juicy berries for a fantastically refreshing and easy spring salad. To make ahead, whisk dressing, combine salad ingredients and store separately. Toss the salad with the dressing just before serving. To make it a complete meal, top with grilled chicken or shrimp. Source: EatingWell.com, February 2019

 

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 21

Chicken Cutlets with Creamy Spinach & Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Serve these saucy, ultra-quick chicken cutlets over your favorite pasta. This easy dinner recipe is sure to become a new weeknight favorite. Source: EatingWell.com, January 2020

 

11 of 21

Skillet Pork Chops with Peas, Carrots & Pearl Onions

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This superfast one-dish dinner is full of classic flavor and is such a crowd pleaser that you'll want to work it into your regular weeknight dinner rotation. We call for bone-in pork chops to maximize flavor, but boneless pork chops are a fine substitution. To round out this meal a little more, serve with rice or mashed potatoes. Source: EatingWell.com, October 2019

 

12 of 21

Easy Spicy Salmon Cakes

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Looking to add some interest to an easy dinner recipe? Five-spice may be your new best friend. What is five-spice powder? A mixture of these five spices: cinnamon, clove, fennel, star anise and Szechuan peppercorns. (There are regional recipes in China that include more spices, including white pepper, nutmeg and orange peel.) It adds a distinct warm flavor to these healthy salmon cakes. Source: EatingWell Magazine, November 2019

 

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 21

Sweet & Sour Pork with a Sesame Crust

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

You'll recognize the classic Chinese flavor pairing of sesame, soy and white pepper on these sweet and sour pork chops. White pepper is more mild and earthy than black pepper, but either will work here. Source: EatingWell Magazine, January/February 2020

 

14 of 21

Chicken, Brussels Sprouts & Mushroom Salad

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Shaving the vegetables for this easy salad recipe makes them deliciously tender-crisp without having to cook anything and helps them stand up to the bright homemade vinaigrette and salty Parmesan cheese. Source: EatingWell Magazine, January/February 2019

 

15 of 21

Zucchini Noodle "Pasta" Salad

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This healthy zucchini noodle salad has all the flavors you love in a classic Mediterranean pasta salad but we've swapped in zoodles for wheat pasta, which makes the salad lighter, lower in carbs and gluten-free. Serve it with grilled chicken or fish for a light and healthy summer dinner. Source: EatingWell.com, April 2019

 

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 21

Grilled Short Ribs & Cherry Tomatoes with Chimichurri

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Short ribs lend themselves to braising--but don't stop there. You can get surprisingly tender results on the grill too. Here the ribs are used in an easy dinner recipe that's ready in just 20 minutes. Hailing from South America, chimichurri is a fresh herb sauce that gets a little heat from crushed red pepper. Source: EatingWell Magazine, June 2019

 

17 of 21

One-Pan Chicken with Basil-Anchovy Butter & Shishito Peppers

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Don't skip the anchovies in this healthy chicken thigh recipe. Their fishiness blends in, adding salty, umami flavor, so that even skeptics of the salty little fish won't protest. And this healthy skillet dinner is cooked in one pan and takes just 20 minutes to prep--in case you need more selling points for this recipe. Source: EatingWell Magazine, July/August 2019

 

18 of 21

Tarragon Scallops on Asparagus Spears

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

In this 15-minute recipe, crisp and tender asparagus spears serve as a vibrant base for lemon- and tarragon-flavored sea scallops. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine

 

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 21

Chopped Mediterranean Salad

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Chopped vegetables take on a Mediterranean flair in this quick and easy salad recipe. Flavored with a simple pesto vinaigrette and topped with crumbled feta cheese, this salad serves two and is ready in just 20 minutes. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine

 

20 of 21

Baked Lemon-Pepper Chicken

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Looking for a quick, easy dinner? This baked lemon-pepper chicken recipe is it. Chicken breasts are cooked in a skillet, then finished in the oven with lemon slices that soften and become part of the sauce, with a touch of maple syrup and butter to carry the flavor. It's so simple and delicious, you'll be making this healthy dinner again and again. Source: EatingWell.com, December 2019

 

21 of 21

Sweet & Spicy Scallops

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This 20-minute recipe comes together quickly with the help of frozen vegetables and store-bought salsa. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine

 

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Up Next