20 Low Carb High Protein Meals
1. Tuna Lettuce Wraps
Flaky tuna salad gets loaded into crisp cool lettuce leaves making the perfect keto-friendly hand-held light meal full of protein. First, flake canned tuna into a bowl before mixing gently together with minced red onion, celery, parsley, lemon juice and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon tuna salad into butter lettuce or romaine leaves before topping with slices of tomato for added freshness. Enjoy these satisfying lettuce wraps anytime.
Ingredients:
- Canned tuna
- Lettuce leaves
- Red onion, diced
- Celery, diced
- Parsley, chopped
- Lemon juice
- Olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- Tomato slices
Recipe
2. Steak and Asparagus
Juicy pan seared steak needs little more than quick roasted asparagus spears simply seasoned with olive oil and garlic salt lending the perfect balance of protein and vegetables. Start by roasting asparagus tossed in olive oil under broiler or grill. Then sear seasoned steaks in a hot pan to desired doneness. The protein-packed steak paired with nutrient-dense grilled veggie makes for a satisfying reduced carb dinner.
Ingredients:
- Beef steaks
- Asparagus spears
- Olive oil
- Salt
- Garlic powder
Recipe
3. Chicken Fajita Lettuce Wraps
All of the flavors of sizzling chicken fajitas get wrapped up conveniently in crisp lettuce leaves for the perfect portable low carb meal. Sauté sliced chicken breast with onions, bell peppers, lime juice, cumin and chili powder. Layer spoonfuls over butter lettuce leaves before topping with extras like guacamole, pico de gallo salsa, cheese and cilantro. Wrap it all up for tasty lettuce vessels full of Mexican flavor.
Ingredients:
- Chicken breasts, sliced
- Onions and bell peppers, sliced
- Lettuce leaves
- Lime juice
- Cumin and chili powder
- Guacamole, pico de gallo, cheese etc.
Recipe
4. Egg Roll in a Bowl
This low carb twist on classic takeout swaps wrapper for shredded cabbage creating an easy protein-packed stir fry combining conveniently in one pan for lightning fast dinner. Briefly stir fry ground pork before mixing in shredded cabbage, soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic and ginger cooking just until cabbage wilts but still retains crunch. Sprinkle with green onions for added freshness and flavor taking this easy all-in-one pan meal next level.
Ingredients:
- Ground pork
- Shredded cabbage
- Soy sauce
- Sesame oil
- Garlic and ginger
- Green onions
Recipe
5. Bunless Burgers
Ditch the bun and pile flavorful ground beef patties high with sautéed mushrooms, caramelized onion and melted cheese for the perfect protein-packed low carb dinner. Simply prepare patties before cooking and assembling desired toppings stacked generously on top. Bunless burgers focus the flavors on all of the delicious fillings inside perfectly permissible within low carb eating lifestyles. Add a fried egg on top too!
Ingredients:
- Ground beef patties
- Sliced mushrooms
- Caramelizing onions
- Cheese slices
Recipe
6. Philly Cheesesteak Lettuce Wraps
All of the melty cheesesteak flavors get conveniently wrapped up minus the doughy carbs simply substituting with crisp cool lettuce leaves. Thinly slice beef and sauté with onions, bell peppers and provolone cheese until meat cooks through and cheese melts gooey. Spoon mixture atop butter lettuce leaves adding more cheese if desired before wrapping tightly and digging in to layers of hot steak and melty cheese joy.
Ingredients:
- Steak, thinly sliced
- Onions and bell peppers, sliced
- Provolone cheese, shredded
- Butter or romaine lettuce
Recipe
7. Zucchini Noodle Bolognese
This lighter take on classic Bolognese tosses a rich meat sauce conveniently with spiralized zucchini noodles for the perfect low carb pasta alternative. Simply prepare zucchini noodles before heating up meaty marinara sauce and gently tossing through zoodles just until warmed so they retain perfect al dente bite. Garnish this fresh veggie noodle dish generously with Parmesan for a protein-packed low carb dinner.
Ingredients:
- Zucchini, spiralized
- Beef and tomato Bolognese sauce
- Parmesan cheese
Recipe
8. Chicken Crust Pizza
Crispy chicken crust gives way to any creative customized pizza toppings conveniently swapped for dough keeping carb counts lower. Simply press seasoned ground chicken mixture to edges of a baking sheet before baking at high heat to set crust. Remove before topping amply with sauce, cheese and preferred toppings returning back to the oven just to melt cheese and heat through. Slice up and serve this protein-packed pizza.
Ingredients:
- Ground chicken
- Pizza sauce
- Cheese
- Favorite toppings
Recipe
9. Taco Salad
All of your taco favorites get transformed conveniently into protein-packed salad full of zesty Mexican flavors and textures minus extra carbs. Fill a bowl first with crisp greens and cauliflower rice before topping amply with seasoned taco meat, pico de gallo, avocado, salsa verde, cheese making DIY salad allowing you to control ingredients and portions however suits your low carb healthy lifestyle.
Ingredients:
- Lettuce
- Cauliflower rice
- Ground beef or turkey
- Pico de gallo
- Avocado
- Salsa verde
- Shredded cheese
Recipe
10. Bacon Wrapped Pork
Lean and tender pork tenderloin gets wrapped in salty crispy bacon transforming beautifully into impressive low carb entree ready in under 30 minutes. Simply season pork all over before laying raw bacon strips evenly around diameter securing gently with kitchen twine if needed. Roast in hot oven 15-20 minutes until cooked through. Pair with simply steamed or grilled veggies like Brussels sprouts for perfect protein-focused dinner.
Ingredients:
- Pork tenderloin
- Bacon
- Brussels sprouts
Recipe
11. Loaded Cauliflower Mash
All of the rich, creamy comfort that loaded baked potatoes offer happens conveniently and deliciously paired down lower carb by using baked cauliflower florets processed smooth then loaded generously with cheese, bacon and sour cream. Simply steam cauliflower very well until quite soft then, then add butter, cream cheese, cheddar and seasoning pulsing until smooth creamy mash consistency ready for hearty delicious baked potato flavor minus the carbs.
Ingredients:
- Steamed cauliflower florets
- Butter
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Cooked bacon crumbles
- Sour cream
- Cream cheese
Recipe
12. Broccoli Chicken Salad
Satisfying chicken salad gets kicked up with protein-packed broccoli slaw mix adding fresh flavor and crunch balancing rich shredded chicken and mayonnaise or Greek yogurt-based dressing. Simply combine broccoli slaw with your favorite chicken salad recipe before seasoning and chilling completely. Chicken and cruciferous veggie pair wonderfully together on top of crisp greens or wrapped conveniently into lettuce leaves as nutritious high protein salad meal.
Ingredients:
- Shredded cooked chicken
- Broccoli slaw mix
- Lemon juice
- Greek yogurt or mayo
- Salt and pepper
Recipe
13. Cauliflower Fried Rice
Fluffy cauliflower “rice” stir-fried with shrimp, egg and mixed vegetables creates the perfect lighter version of takeout fried rice minus the starchy carbs and calories using fresh riced cruciferous instead. Simply pulse raw cauliflower florets into rice-like pieces before stir-frying in a wok with shrimp, eggs, frozen stir fry veggie blend lightly seasoning along the way for amazing better-for-you fried rice in minutes.
Ingredients:
- Riced raw cauliflower
- Shrimp
- Eggs
- Frozen stir fry vegetables
- Soy sauce or coconut aminos
Recipe
14. Buffalo Chicken Salad
Spicy shredded chicken gets loaded generously atop fresh salad greens before dousing everything with creamy, cooling ranch dressing in this protein-packed dinner salad lending the perfect balance of flavors and textures. Simply bake chicken coated in Buffalo style hot sauce before slicing over crisp lettuce, tomatoes, shredded carrot and celery tossed in tangy nutritious Greek yogurt based dressing taming the heat.
Ingredients:
- Chicken breast, baked
- Hot sauce
- Lettuce
- Tomatoes
- Carrots
- Celery
- Greek yogurt ranch dressing
Recipe
15. Meatballs over Zoodles
Tender homemade meatballs simmered in rich meaty marinara sauce pair perfectly served atop fresh zucchini noodles for effortless veggie pasta alternative full of protein. Simply mix ground meats thoroughly with eggs, seasoning and breadcrumbs before forming into balls then browning all over. Add to simmering sauce for 15-20 minutes before tossing with quickly sautéed or boiled zucchini noodles. Finish pasta-free dish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
Ingredients:
- Ground beef and pork
- Eggs
- Breadcrumbs
- Marinara sauce
- Zucchini noodles
- Grated Parmesan
Recipe
16. BLT Salad
The classic flavors of BLT sandwich get conveniently transformed into hearty yet healthy main dish salad protein-packed with the addition of tuna and hard boiled eggs making this far from boring salad. Make bed of greens before topping generously with diced hard boiled eggs, canned tuna, bacon crumbles, avocado and tomato all tied together with a citrusy vinaigrette taking this classic up a notch.
Ingredients:
- Lettuce
- Canned tuna
- Bacon crumbles
- Eggs, chopped
- Tomato
- Avocado
- Citrus vinaigrette
Recipe
17. Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole
Comforting flavors of chicken, bacon and nutritious cruciferous cauliflower bake together conveniently in cheesy creamy ranch sauce ready for slicing up and enjoying straight from the hot dish. Simply mix chopped cooked chicken with steamed cauliflower florets, bacon pieces and pour over creamy ranch made richer with cream cheese before topping everything with cheddar, baking until hot and melty.
Ingredients:
- Chicken breasts, chopped
- Cauliflower florets
- Bacon crumbles
- Cream cheese
- Cheddar cheese
- Ranch seasoning
Recipe
18. Beef Veggie Kabobs
Perfectly tender chunks of beef mingle on skewers brushed with Italian dressing conveniently paired with your favorite vegetables ready for easy grilling into impressive protein-packed meal. Assemble colorful veggies like zucchini, bell peppers, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes with cubes of top sirloin steak onto pre-soaked wooden skewers before coating everything in zesty vinaigrette dressing. Grill on high heat until veggies char and beef cooks through for satisfying kabobs.
Ingredients:
- Sirloin steak, diced
- Zucchini, bell peppers, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes
- Italian dressing
Recipe
19. Chili Lime Salmon
Delicate salmon fillets bake perfectly flaky simply seasoned with spices like cumin, cayenne pepper and fresh lime juice ready in 15 minutes for zesty protein pairing conveniently with steamed green veggies like zucchini. Arrange salmon portions skin side down on an oiled pan before sprinkling all over with bold seasoning blend of spices, lime juice and fresh chopped cilantro if desired. Bake at 400F until opaque and flaky ready to serve over healthy zucchini spears.
Ingredients:
- Salmon fillets
- Lime juice
- Cayenne, cumin
- Cilantro
- Zucchini spears
Recipe
20. Cabbage Roll Skillet
All of the flavors of stuffed cabbage rolls come together easily and conveniently all in one pan thanks to quickly wilting chopped cabbage leaves into flavorful seasoned ground meat mixture saving you time without sacrificing taste. Simply brown meat with seasonings first before adding jarred sauce and chopped cabbage allowing to wilt becoming tender while soaking up rich sauce just like the classic rolls but ready in half the time.
Ingredients:
- Ground beef or turkey
- Tomato sauce
- Chopped green cabbage
- Onion, garlic, paprika, etc.
