• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Easy and Delish logo

Secrets on How I Lost 45 Pounds and Kept Them Off Subscribe
  • About
  • All Recipes
    • Recipe Index
    • Diet
      • Keto
      • Gluten-Free
      • Dairy-Free
      • Vegetarian
      • High-Protein
    • Course
      • Dinner & Lunch
      • Dessert
      • Breakfast
      • Appetizers
      • Snacks
      • Drinks
      • Sides
    • Type
      • Instant Pot
      • Slow Cooker
      • One Pot Meals
      • Quick & Easy
      • 5 Ingredients or Less
    • Cuisine
      • American Recipes
      • Brazilian Recipes
    • How-To
  • Brazilian
  • Conversions
    • US Cups to Ounces to Grams (with Charts)
    • How Many Teaspoons in a Tablespoon?
    • How Many Sticks of Butter in a Cup
    • Temperature Conversion (Chart and Calculator)
    • Volume Conversions (Table for Dry & Liquid Ingredients)
    • Baking Substitutions (with Charts and Tables)
  • Português
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • All Recipes
  • Brazilian
  • Conversions
  • Português
  • Todas as Receitas
  • Sobre Mim
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home > American Recipes

    Published: May 19, 2020 · Modified: Aug 21, 2024 by Denise Browning

    30 Quick and Easy Low Carb Dinner Recipes (Less than 400 Calories)

    Share and Enjoy!

    1022 shares

    30 Quick and Easy Low Carb Dinner Recipes that have up to 400 calories and are super delish! These are also gluten-free and will make your life easier-- especially after a long day of work.

    a photo collage with 8 images of quick and easy low carb dinners

    Wondering what to make for dinner without having to slave away in the kitchen? These are the best low carb dinner recipes ever! Why? Because they call for up to 10 ingredients or less, are prepared in under 30 minutes, and most only require one pan (or are mess-free!)!

    But that's not all! They feed you without stretching your waistline and are super duper delish! I tell ya: the whole family will love them!

    Moreover, most are loaded with tasty, lean protein and low carb veggies.

    Enjoy… without feeling guilty!

    Table of Contents

    • 1 What’s considered low carb?
    • 2 Benefits of a Low Carb Diet and Meals
    • 3 Quick and Easy Low Carb Dinners
    • 4 Other Dinner Recipes

    What’s considered low carb?

    There is no strict definition of a low-carb diet. But generally speaking, anything up to 150 grams of carbohydrates per day can be considered low-carb.

    However, please be aware that to reach ketosis most people will need to ingest under 50 grams of net carbs per day, which is required on a keto diet.

    Basically, the main sources of carbs must come from low-carb vegetables and small amounts of berries.

    Benefits of a Low Carb Diet and Meals

    According to the Mayo Clinic , while a low-carb diet is mostly used for weight loss it may also help to prevent/improve serious health conditions, such as:

    • Metabolic syndrome
    • Diabetes
    • High blood pressure
    • Cardiovascular disease
    • Lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and triglyceride values.

    Quick and Easy Low Carb Dinners

    Dinner is for many the main meal of the day... the time that you sit with your family and relax a bit. After a long day of work, slaving away in the kitchen is a no-no task.

    That means quick and easy dinners are a real must, agree?

    Easy recipes are those that are simple to prepare, with a limited amount of ingredients -- I would say up to 8 or 10. While quick recipes are those that can be prepared in 30 minutes or less.

    Our easy low carb dinner recipes made in up to 30 minutes will not only make your life easier but they also can benefit your overall health due to the reduced amount of carbs.

    Most of all, every single one of them are delish and have up to 400 calories per portion. That means you will enjoy a tasty meal without stretching your waistline!

    Big smile? Me too!

    I'm gonna give you one more reason to be happy: most of them are easy freezer meals too! What that means is, storing leftovers for later use won’t be a problem.

    Well, here are our favorite low carb dinner ideas for you:

    1. Easy Broiled Pork Chops (103 calories)

    One-pan  broiled pork chops made in 20 minutes. They are tender, saucy and low carb!

    pork chops close up -- one out of 30 quick and easy low carb dinner recipes

    2. Cajun Dirty Rice Recipe (366 calories)

    This 25-minute Cajun dirty rice is one of those quick and easy low carb dinner recipes that will make your taste buds dance. It calls for cauliflower rice, ground beef, seasonings, and a few veggies.

    Cajun dirty rice with garnish on the side

    3. Honey Garlic Butter Shrimp  (347 calories)

    A 5-ingredient shrimp recipe with a garlic and honey sauce. It’s dinner made in only 15 minutes using one pan.

    A skillet filled with shrimp and lime wedges

    4. Weight Loss Cabbage Soup Recipe (70 calories)

    A vegetarian low carb dinner prepared in 30 minutes. It makes a lean yet comforting dish ideal for chilly days!

    A bowl of cabbage soup

    5. Low Carb Sushi Bowl (384 calories)

    This Sushi Bowl Recipe makes a trendy low carb dinner prepared in 15 minutes with seasoned cauliflower rice, cooked shrimp, avocado, veggies, and sriracha mayo.

    sushi bowl with a napkin on the side

    6. Ranch Chicken Thighs (367 calories)

    Our 5-Ingredient, One Pan Ranch Chicken Thighs is a tasty and easy low carb dinner recipe made in less than 30 minutes.

    A pan with ranch chicken thighs with sauce on top

    7. Cauliflower Curry Soup (342 calories)

    A Low Carb meatless soup prepared in 30 minutes that makes for a perfect, healthy dinner.

    a bowl of cauliflower soup with garnishes on the side

    8. Skirt Steak (175 calories)

     In just 10 minutes you can make this tender skirt steak which is great for fajitas, sandwiches, tacos, and more. It is one of our most fave quick and easy low carb dinner recipes ever!

    a close up of skirt steak topped with chimichurri sauce -- one of our quick and easy low carb dinner recipes

    9. Shrimp and Asparagus (150 calories)

    One sheet pan lemon garlic Parmesan shrimp and asparagus that can be prepared in less than 30 minutes.

    one pan with skewers of shrimp and asparagus

    10. Teriyaki Salmon (159 calories)

    A quick and easy low carb dinner, ideal for busy days. The salmon is seared, glazed with a mildly spicy, sticky teriyaki sauce, and served with crisp and tender sugar snap peas.

    close up of teriyaki salmon with sugar snap peas

    11. Homemade Coleslaw (146 calories)

    A fresh, colorful salad made with kale, onions, and coleslaw mix, tossed with a lime-garlic vinaigrette and served with bacon strips. It is a light low carb dinner ideal for summertime!

    a plate of homemade coleslaw with bacon slices on top and lime wedges

    12. Shrimp Fajitas (316 calories)

    Have an easy low carb dinner ready in 27 minutes with these super flavorful shrimp fajitas. Serve them with fresh lettuce instead of tortillas for a keto meal!

    a skillet with shrimp fajitas -- one of the 30 quick and easy low carb dinner recipes

    13. Low Carb Sesame Chicken (338 calories)

    Craving Chinese food? Make this dish in 25 minutes for a full-flavor, guiltless dinner!

    chicken and broccoli with a napkin

    14. Keto Lasagna Roll Ups (243 calories)

    Prepare this cozy dinner in 20 minutes using only 6 ingredients. So yummy!

    lasagna roll ups in a platter

    15. Lemon Parmesan Chicken and Cauliflower (348 calories)

    Tender chicken thighs served over a garlicky herbed parmesan cauliflower rice with wilted spinach is a delicious all-in-one-meal made in 30 minutes.

    a skillet of chicken with lemon slices on top

    16. Garlic Parmesan Chicken Tenders (342 calories)

    A 30-minute keto dinner recipe that the kids will love! It is tender and super flavorful!

    chicken tenders with green beans in a plate

    17. Keto Beef and Broccoli Stir-Fry (271 calories)

    A 20-minute, easy Asian inspired meal that your family will love! Made with low carb veggies and a delicious stir fry sauce, I'm betting you won't miss the take-out version!

    a bowl of keto beef and broccoli -- one of the quick and easy low carb dinner recipes

    18. Mexican Kielbasa and Cabbage (322 calories)

    This 16-minute, one-pan, and 4-Ingredient skillet dish is filling, crazy tasty, and so easy for any weeknight dinner!

    chopped sausage and cabbage in a skillet

    19. Air-Fryer Hibachi Shrimp (255 calories)

    This 23-minute recipe makes it quick and easy to serve up a delish restaurant-quality Japanese meal.

    shrimp, vegetables and rice in a container with a bowl of sauce

    20. Tuna Salad Cucumber Boats (180 calories)

    A 10-minute salad made with pantry staples that is pure flavor! So easy, light,  and refreshing!

    a row of tuna cucumber salad -- one of 30 quick and easy low carb dinner recipes

    21. Camarones Enchipotlados (171 calories)

    This is made of tender shrimp in a rich tomato sauce that’s jam-packed with flavor. Mildly spicy, but it can be easily adapted to your tastes. All ready in under 20 minutes!

    a plate of shrimp, rice and green beans with limes on the side

    22. Egg Roll in a Bowl (287 calories)

    All the goodness of egg rolls in a healthy version! This is a 20-minute easy dinner meal.

    a bowl of egg roll desconstructed with chopsticks on the side

    23. Keto cajun BBQ Shrimp (245 calories)

    Easier to make than you might think, this 20-minute keto seafood dish is so good! Treat yourself to NOLA's BBQ Shrimp today!

    shrimp and lemon in a plate with silverware on the side

    24. Keto Chicken with Peanut Butter Sauce (317 calories)

    In about 30 minutes, you can enjoy a saucy chicken stew with Asian flavors that will knock your socks off.

    a skillet of chicken in peabut bitter sauce -- one of our quick and easy low carb dinner recipes

    25. Korean Ground Beef (261 calories)

    This Paleo and low carb Korean beef recipe cooks cheap ground beef with sweet and spicy seasonings. It’s a dish that can be cooked and served within 15 minutes.

    Korean ground beef with rice and chopsticks on the side

    26. Broccoli Gratin with Bacon (335 calories)

    A less than 30-minute low carb and gluten-free gratin with bacon made with 7 ingredients that can be served either as a side or a cheesy casserole.
    cheesy baked broccoli gratin with bacon in a white dish
     
     
    27. Healthy Pumpkin Soup (137 calories)
    A creamy and healthy pumpkin soup cooked in 20 minutes with a few simple ingredients. Cut down the prep time by using frozen or canned pumpkin.
     
    a bowl of creamy pumpkin soup drizzled with heavy cream and spoons on the side
     
     
     
    28. Italian Sausage and Zucchini Bowls (253 calories)
     
    Put dinner together in just 30 minutes! These are gluten-free, low carb, and perfect for those on the keto diet.
     
    sausage and zucchini in 2 bowls with a spoon on the side
     
    29. Grilled Lamb Kabobs (106 calories) 
     
    In less than 30 minutes, you can have these kabobs ready for one of those easy low carb dinners. You'll enjoy them for their great Middle Eastern flavor.
     
    lamb kabobs in a plate -- 30 quick and easy low carb dinner recipes
     
    30. Chicken Dalmatian (255 calories)
     
    A 30-minute, tasty Croatian chicken dish with tomato, olives, and herbs. Tender meat in an aromatic sauce is one of our must-have quick and easy low carb dinner recipes!
     
    Mediterranean chicken Dalmatian -- one of our quick ane easy low carb dinner recipes

    Other Dinner Recipes

    • 12 Gut Health Recipes
    • 20 Insulin Resistance Recipes
    • 35 Anti-Inflammatory Recipes
    • 27 High-Fiber Recipes
    • 75 Easy Dinner Ideas
    • 50+ Healthy Crockpot Meals for Dinner
    • 50 Gluten-free Dinners
    • 30 High-Protein Dinners
    • 80 Low-Calorie Dinners
    • 20 Easter Dinner Recipes

    More American Recipes

    • Passion fruit cupcakes filled with mousse and topped with a pink frosting.
      Passion Fruit Cupcakes
    • Lemon meringue cupcakes with some lemons around them!
      Lemon Meringue Cupcakes
    • Several cherry bars drizzled with a white chocolate glaze on a baking sheet.
      Cherry Bars
    • Image collage featuring 4 out of 22 summer dessert recipes, including ice cream, popsicles, mousse, and frozen yogurt bark.
      20+ Summer Desserts To Beat The Heat

    About Denise Browning

    I'm Denise Browning, a chef with almost 2 decades of experience, a nutrition researcher, and cookbook author. Here you’ll find easy healthy meals with some occasional splurges. More About Me.

    Subscribe

    for your weekly recipe fix.

    Please read our privacy policies before subscribing

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Raymund says

      May 25, 2020 at 2:28 am

      Great list! I can live with minimal carbs as long as there is a lot of protein in my diet, so this list is definitely a keeper for me.

      Reply
    2. 2pots2cook says

      May 23, 2020 at 7:51 am

      Fantastic collection Dense ! I wish you have great week end 🙂

      Reply
    3. Julia says

      May 21, 2020 at 4:31 pm

      These are a fantastic collection of recipes for busy mom! Such a win win:) Thank you Denise for sharing 🙂

      Reply
      • Denise Browning says

        May 21, 2020 at 6:01 pm

        My pleasure! I use this list myself since I try to eat most of a low carb diet.

        Reply
    4. John / Kitchen Riffs says

      May 20, 2020 at 9:33 am

      What a wonderful recipe roundup! Some terrific dishes here. I want to try them all! 🙂 Thanks.

      Reply
      • Denise Browning says

        May 21, 2020 at 6:00 pm

        Thank you! I hope these help many on a keto or low carb diet.

        Reply
    5. Dennis Yannakos says

      May 20, 2020 at 3:53 am

      Thank you so much! Can people who are on keto diet eat these dishes?

      Reply
      • Denise Browning says

        May 21, 2020 at 5:59 pm

        Yes! All these recipes are keto/low carb. But like any other keto or low carb recipes you have to pay attention to their net carbs. If you eat about 50 grams of net carbs per day on a keto diet, you have to pay attention to how many grams of net carbs each of these recipes has to adjust your other daily meals so it won't surpass the total amount of carbs that you have to ingest on each day.

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




     

    Primary Sidebar

    Portrait of Denise Browning, author of Easy and Delish

    My name is Denise Browning, a Brazilian living in Texas and a mom of 2. I am also the author of this blog, a chef with almost two decades of experience, a nutrition researcher, and a cookbook author. Here you’ll find easy and delish healthy meals with some occasional splurges.

    More about me →

    SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER

    Popular

    • A close up of beef brisket with veggies
      Easy & Juicy Beef Brisket Recipe
    • A bowl of cabbage soup for weight loss and detox.
      The BEST Cabbage Soup Diet Recipe and 7-Day Diet Plan (PDF)
    • A pot of shrimp in coconut sauce
      Shrimp in Coconut Sauce
    • close up de camarao internacional sendo regado com o molho
      Honey Garlic Butter Shrimp Skillet Recipe
    SHOP MY DIET RECIPE BOOKS

    FEATURED IN

    Image displaying the logo of many important websites and publications Easy and Delish recipes have been featured in, among them Smithsonian Magazine, Food52, United Nations, Harvard University, and more.

    Seasonal

    • Air fryer hard boiled eggs on toast with smoked salmon.
      Air Fryer Eggs - Soft, Medium, or Hard-Boiled
    • A bitten brigadeiro on a rack.
      Brigadeiros Recipe (with Video)
    • A peeled pumpkin cut in half in a tray with a knife on the side.
      How to Cut and Peel a Pumpkin
    • Four out of 20 insulin resistance recipes for dinner shown in a collage.
      Insulin Resistance Recipes For Dinner

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Recipes | Brazilian Recipes | Contact | Privacy Policy | Press | Accessibility Statement

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2024 Easy and Delish

    1022 shares