101 Amazing Low-Carb Lunch Recipes That Aren't Just Salads - TheDiabetesCouncil.com (2024)

We understand the daily difficulty in trying to come up with new recipes that fit your diet needs. You simply do not need this extra stress factor in your life.

So we have taken the initiative and researched all the low-carb cooking websites to compile some of the greatest lunch recipes for our readers. This way, you can focus on eating well. In order to keep this list easy to read, we have organized the recipes according to their carb contents:

Quick Links

• 5 Grams Or Less Recipes.
• 6 to 10 Grams Recipes.
• 11 to 15 Grams Recipes.
• 16 to 20 Grams Recipes.
• 21 to 25 Grams Recipes.

5 Grams Or Less Recipes

1. Roast Beef, Red Bell Pepper and Provolone Lettuce Wraps. With 44.5 grams of protein and 3.3 grams of net carbs, these beautiful wraps are wonderful as lunch or afternoon snacks. If you wish to lower your cholesterol intake, you may want to swap for chicken breast, turkey breast, or even salmon fillet.
2. No-Mayo Tuna Salad in Romaine Cups. Tuna salad can be a diet trap. Depending on how much mayonnaise you add into the mixture, you can end up engulfing loads of sugar without realizing it. This super clean no-mayo tuna salad recipe is the way to go if you want to keep your carb intake to minimal. With Dijon mustard, pepper, celery, and parsley added to the mix, it has a refreshing grown-up taste you can’t miss. If you are worried about the fishiness factor, try adding a little lime or lemon juice or zest into the mix.
3. Prosciutto & Egg Roll-Ups. This quick and easy recipe is a wonderful grab-and-go lunch idea. Pair with some salad greens, steam broccoli, and cherry tomatoes, your lunch box will be pretty to look at and easy on your taste buds.
4. Stuffed Peppers. This recipe can double as a great dinner and lunch meal. If you are making this as a dinner dish, don’t hesitate to make a few extras as your family’s next day lunch. They are so good that you will actually look forward to the “left-over” at lunch time.
5. Tuna Avocado Salad. Dressing and mayonnaise are always the booby traps in a diet plan. This recipe simple omits this problem by using avocado as the dressing. It just can’t get any lower carbs than this.
6. Lazy Devil Eggs. This is a perfect weekend brunch finger food. All you need to do is make some perfect hard boiled eggs and top them with your favorite salads and side ingredients.
7. Chicken and Asparagus Lemon Stir Fry. Feeling like you need some Chinese food? This is a wonderful spring and summer chicken dish. The zesty lemon taste will allow you to savor every bite of your lunch until it is all gone. If you want to switch up the recipe, consider using some pineapples, plums, or apricots into the stir fry mix.
8. Roast Beef Roll-Ups. Got some leftover roast beef from last night? This quick and easy recipe will allow you to jazz up your leftover into a beautiful lunch. If you don’t have roast beef, some ham will also do. These are also great as an afternoon snack and pre-gym treat.
9. Wicked Good Butter Burgers. This ketogenic, low-carb lunch recipe will allow you to have an awesome burger without needing to eat those carb-filled buns. Afterall, it is that juicy beef patty and cheese that matter the most. Along with some perfectly grilled onions and salad greens, this hearty lunch will allow you to enjoy every bite of your meal. If you love a variety, you may choose to make the patty into meatballs as a take-to-work lunch box. Lesser mess. Same awesomeness.
10. Keto Bread. If you truly are craving for some bread, this recipe may be your savior. With 2.1 grams of carbohydrates per serving, this recipe will allow you to make a quick sandwich or toast some croutons for your salad.
11. Simple Paleo Chicken Curry. On cold wintery days, this toasty hot chicken curry will warm you up in no time. The best part about this dish is that you can make this as a dinner meal and save some for lunch the next day. What many people don’t know is that curry tastes even better the day after.
12. Blackened Shrimp, Asparagus, and Avocado Salad. On days when you have had enough meat, this easy shrimp salad can brighten up your day. With the amazing lemon pepper yogurt dressing, you will chow down this whole bowl of yummy goodness in no time.
13. Crispy Flourless Crab Cakes. Unless you are allergic to crabs, you probably love a crispy crab cake every now and then. But the problem with the traditional recipes is that they are coated with so much breading. To fix this issue, this revised flourless recipe lowers the carb content to roughly 1 gram per serving. No more worrying and time for feasting on these tasty roundlets for lunch.
14. 5 Minute Chicken Liver Pate. Protein does not have to be expensive. Chicken liver is a great way to get in your daily protein, fat, nutrients, and minerals to boost red blood cells production. This pate goes well with salads, keto breads, and veggie “dip”.
15. Gluten-Free Cauliflower Mac and Cheese. For all mac and cheese lovers, this may sound too good to be true. By using cauliflower as a substitute for macaroni, you can have a robust bowl of this “mac” and cheese along with some meat. You can even add a little bit of bacon to add a little bit of smoky flavor to the mix.
16. Beef Satay. For meat lovers, meat on a stick is simply irresistible. They can transform simply with a different dipping sauce and go well with so many different vegetables. If you haven’t discover a great beef satay recipe yet, here it is. A note of warning, go easy on the dipping sauce. This is where you can take in too much sodium and sugar without realizing.
17. Low Carb Taco Night with Cheese Taco Shells. Taco shells made out of baked cheese, have I got your attention yet? That means you will taste cheese in every bite of your taco. Along with all the freshly made ingredients, this is a recipe you don’t want to miss.
18. Keto Sushi with Avocado, Cream Cheese, Cucumber. This is the riceless version of a Philadelphia roll. If you wish to build up the roll without adding loads of cream cheese, you may want to substitute part of the cream cheese with cauliflower rice. You can also top up the protein content by adding some smoked salmon, tuna, or even sashimi-grade raw fish.
19. Easy Cheesy Zucchini Gratin. This extra creamy dish is extremely easy to prepare and perfect for weekend lunch events. It can be served as a side dish along with some mouth-watering meat dish or you can just toss in bacon bits and ham to make it a one dish deal. This is one of the dishes that you can convince picky eaters and vegetable haters to get into the low-carb diet adventure.
20. Foil Chicken. Grocery-bought baked chickens sure is convenient, but they are often layered with loads of salt. Plus there is the money issue. If chicken is a main food staple at your home, this foil chicken recipe will allow you to save a lot of money and provide you with an easy way to produce your own tender, moist chicken breast with only 10 minutes of prep time. That is much less time than driving to the grocery store and waiting in line to pay for that cooked chicken.
21. Zucchini Crust Grilled Cheese. There will be days when you crave for a grilled cheese sandwich. This will allow you to enjoy the closest thing to it without eating pieces of bread. If you truly do need bread, opt for some keto bread.

6 to 10 Grams Recipes

1. Buffalo Chicken Salad. When you feel like you need to splurge on a fast food meal, this recipe can quickly curb the urge. And combined with some fresh healthy salad greens, you will be able to go straight back to work without feeling bloated and sleepy.
2. Shrimp and Cauliflower Salad. Fried rice taste so delicious, but it is so high in carbohydrates that it is simply not an ideal lunch meal. This is where cauliflower comes in. Instead of using rice, grind a head of cauliflower into fine grain-size bits and use it as “rice”. It will fill you up with all that healthy fiber and nutrients.
3. Paleo California Rolls. This riceless sushi roll is the perfect solution if you love sushi but want to watch your carb consumption. Just wrap up your favorite ingredients in some seaweed, voila!
4. Shawarma Chicken Bowls with Basil-Lemon Vinaigrette. No more plunging your hard earn money for a shawarma at the food trucks. Just reach into your lunch bag and a homemade healthy shawarma chicken bowl is ready for you.
5. Chicken and Avocado Salad with Lime and Cilantro. This delicious lunch recipe is a super helper for anyone who are constantly battling the after-lunch sleepiness problem. With a low-glycemic index, it will cause less blood glucose fluctuation and reduce the chance of developing brain fog.
6. Zucchini Noodles with Tomatoes, Artichokes, Olives, and Feta. Instead of using cucumbers, the zucchini gives a new twist to the salad. This way, you can eat until you are truly satiated. No more worrying about how much carbs you are consuming.
7. Cauliflower “Couscous” with Leeks and Sun-Dred Tomatoes. Did you know that 1 cup of cooked Couscous contains approximately 36 grams of carbs? In comparison, 1 cup of cauliflower has only 5 grams of carbs. If you don’t tell your family and friends, they will never know the difference of these two similar texture foods. If you are not a leek fan, feel free to swap for other ingredients. But do give this recipe a try.
8. Prosciutto-Wrapped Mini Frittata Muffins. These little muffin-size convenient lunch muffins taste so heavenly good that it almost seems impossible that it only takes 10 minutes to prep. Toss those puppies in the oven and you will get the most savory lunch muffins ever. They also make the best brunch ideas and after-gym snacks.
9. Almond Butter Beastie Bunless Bacon Burger. This is exactly what the name describes, a cheesy meat loaded burger served on some salad greens and no buns. A meat lover’s little piece of heaven you can chow down for lunch. That is one reason to look forward to noon time.
10. Vietnamese Banh Mi Meatballs. Did you know that you can easily make your own Banh Mi sandwich? But if you are on a low-carb diet, this recipe will let you make a wicked Banh Mi meatball dish without the buns. That means more yummy meat and less carbs. It is a delightful summery lunch you will love during those hot days.
11. Onion Soup. Canned soup is filled with so much preservatives, sodium, and harmful chemicals from the can lining. If you love a cup of soup on those breezy afternoons during winter time, you can now make your own onion soup using bone broth as a stock. This all-natural soup can help you get in a lot of vitamins and minerals such as vitamin B12 and B6, vitamin A, vitamin C, and manganese.
12. Easy Keto Lasagna Stuffed Portobello. These little packages are great finger foods for parties and lunchboxes. Your co-workers will all stare at you with envy while you savor every bite of this healthy comfort food. And they will never know why you can still be so healthy either. A little secret between us.
13. Italian Chicken Meal Prep Bowls. This is another excellent weekday recipe for those who don’t mind eating same dish for several days. It is a great way to save time and ensure you are eating well. It can truly help you focus your energy and concentration on your work instead of constantly worrying about what you should eat for lunch, whether you need to swing by the grocery store after work, and how much earlier you have to wake up in the morning to prepare your lunch.
14. Cheeseburger Lettuce Wraps. When you have some great quality beef patties, you want to spend your calories savoring every bit of it. Why waste them on the buns? This minimal cheeseburger lettuce wrap will allow you to enjoy the perfect harmony of the salad greens and juicy beef.
15. Veggie-Loaded mini Meatloaves. Instead of forming your meat into a loaf, this is more like a meat muffin. The same great taste, only much easier to distribute and pack into a lunchbox. For all the muscle builders and gym fanatics, this is a perfect after-workout snack.
16. Easy Crockpot Chicken Stew. Nothing taste better than a thick, creamy stew when you are low in energy. The best thing is that you literally just need to throw in all the ingredients into the slow cooker and allow it to do its magic while you are asleep. In the morning, all you have to do is scoop the stew into a thermos and you are good to go. If you are looking for ways to increase protein and fat, you may go with the writer’s suggestion of adding sour cream to the mix. If you are a cheese fan, you may try to add some cheese to create a cheesy stew. This way, you can add less thickener to get the same creamy consistency.
17. Thai Chicken Zoodle Soup. This recipe calls for the invention of zucchini noodles. It is a fantastic companion in the Thai chicken soup. With so many flavors already in the soup, the little bit of sweetness in the zucchini noodles enhances the texture of the broth.
18. Pork Souvlaki. Another awesome meat on a stick recipe that uses all the simple ingredients to create these irresistible pork souvlaki. It goes well with a bed of salad greens, zucchini noodles, or picked cucumbers.
19. Keto Beef Stroganoff Meatballs. Besides losing weight, the perk of ketogenic eating is that you get to have these amazing dishes such as beef stroganoff without guilt. This low-carb recipe swaps out wheat flour with almond flour for minimal carb content. If you want to take in more fibers, you may add in some zucchini noodles to go with this creamy sauce.
20. Low-Carb Marinated Cauliflower Antipasto Salad. For the hot summer days, this cauliflower antipasto salad will help you cool down and stay energized without feeling stuffed. When you choose a vinaigrette dressing, take note of the carb content.

11 to 15 Grams Recipes

1. Peachy Pork Lettuce Wraps and Cherry Tomatoes. Pork can be a tricky meat to cook. But when done right and with a little bit of help from some sweet sauce, it can taste so moist and savory. It is a wonderful alternative option for warmer days when you feel like having some barbeque pork for lunch.
2. Tofu Living Salad with Sesame Lemon Dressing. Tofu is a great protein substitute for meat on days when you feel like you need to cleanse out your intestines. The best thing about this salad is that you can toss everything into a canning jar and let your tofu marinade in the dressing for more taste.
3. Deconstructed Gyro Salad. Gyros are just a meat lover’s heaven. If you love that intense flavored meat, you can create this dish at home with this recipe. And the best part is that you can omit the bread to make it low-carb.
4. Vegan Big Fat Nori Wraps. If you are looking for an alternative way to make a wrap without using flour flatbreads or rice paper, you may want to give this idea a go. Using seaweed sheets for the wrap, you can drastically increase your fiber and mineral consumption. Plus it will instantly give your wrap an Asian-fusion taste.
5. 5 Min Spicy Asian Chicken Salad. This recipe is catered to all the busy individuals who can’t find time to cook for themselves every day. Just purchase a rotisserie chicken from your local grocery store along with some salad greens. Mix together the spicy Asian salad dressing. Toss. That’s it.
6. Chicken Pad Thai. No more lunch time Asian takeout when you have this healthy recipe. It has all the flavor you need to curb the cravings and nutritional values to meet your dietary needs. The only things you have to watch out in this recipe are the peanut butter and rice vinegar. These two can pack quite a bit of carbs depending on the brand you choose.
7. Cauliflower Fried Rice. Rice is definitely a no-go when it comes to low-carb diets. So when you are craving for some fried rice, this cauliflower substitute recipe will hit you in all the right spot. If you want to jazz up the recipe, you may add a little pineapple chunks or peach chunks for a little bit of sweet taste. You can throw in some shrimps for a seafood fried rice. As long as you get the basics down, everything is possible.
8. Shrimp with Cauliflower “Grits” and Arugula. Shrimps always go well with a bed of grits to soak up all that lip-smacking juices. With the invention of cauliflower grits, you can now enjoy the combination without guilt. If arugula is not your cup of tea, consider using chard, spinach, or some Asian dark leafy greens as a side dish.
9. Eggplant Rollantini. Eggplants are literally sponges that can soak up all the sauces to create these soft appetizing yummy goodness. If you are craving for some Italian food, this dish is a great idea as a brunch or hot lunch box idea. If you happen to be a meat lover, adding some ground beef or some shredded chicken breast meat can turn this rollantini into a lasagna. Only you will be creating the layers with eggplants instead of pasta.
10. Keto Reuben Skillet. If you corned beef and sauerkraut is your thing, you will absolutely love this convenient skillet dish. Just fry up the corned beef, layer on the sauerkraut, mustard, and Swiss cheese. Once the cheese turns into a melting glob, it is time to dig in. With the wonderful burst of flavor in your mouth, you won’t even notice about the missing bread. But if you truly do want some bread to go with this amazing dish, please look up the keto bread recipe.
11. Easy Chicken Broccoli Casserole. This is one of the wonderful crowd pleaser for any lunch events. It only takes 15 minutes to prep and 40 minutes to cook. The thing that sets this dish apart from many other keto casseroles is that this recipe is gluten-free and dairy-free. For all the lactose-intolerant individuals, this will quickly become one of their favorite dish.
12. Primal Chili Cheese Dogs. For an afternoon movie or sports event, you and your family may want to go with some all American food – chili hot dogs. Here is a healthier version that allows you to enjoy the food with your family without breaking your dietary limits.
13. Winter Rainbow Panzella. Vegetables and salad greens can be expensive during winter time. For an affordable and beautiful winter vegetable dish, try out this gorgeous panzella made with a majority of root vegetables.
14. Low Carb Hummus. This hummus is bean-free. By using zucchini and tahini, you will get the same smooth consistency as the real deal. If you feel adventurous, you can even try to make hummus with cauliflower.
15. Zucchini Noodles with Sun Dried Tomato Cream Sauce. If you are looking for a more sophisticated take on zucchini noodles, this is it. By using heavy cream in the sauce, you will get to experience one of the best tomato cream sauce ever.
16. Salmon BLT Stacks with Lemon Caper Vinaigrette. Fish never taste as good as this. This meaty wild salmon dish will make you want to eat this on a regular basis. As a lunch, this delicious salmon BLT will amp you up with lots of nutrients to power your brain and body for the busy day ahead.
17. Favorite Apple Chicken Salad. This is a fall favorite. All that crispy apple can add an extra crunch factor to your chicken salad. And toss in some walnuts, you will have a salad that looks even better than a Whole Foods salad. As an alternative, try using some pears instead.
18. Salmon with Dill Sauce. This is one of the easiest salmon recipe that you can prepare for several weekday meals. Just portion out your salmon into packets. Throw them into the oven for 3 minutes and it is done.
19. Healthy Eggs Benedict. Egg benedict is one of the best way to enjoy a weekend brunch affair. Depending on your carb restrictions, you may want to go easy on the hollandaise sauce.
20. Healthy Mackerel Salad. If you are sick of the usual ingredients and looking for new foods to add to your staple, you will want to try this delicious mackerel dish. Much cheaper than salmon, mackerel are loaded with lots of omega-3 and minerals such as magnesium and potassium. And meat-wise, it has a much more delicate texture and taste.

16 to 20 Grams Recipes

1. Watercress with Seared Prosciutto and Peaches. On summery days when the temperature kills your appetite, this refreshing peachy salad is the perfect answer. The mouthwatering juicy peaches will help you rehydrate your body and power up your brain for the busy afternoons.
2. Spaghetti Squash with Kale, Hazelnuts, and Chickpeas. Instead of filling your tummy with carb-filled spaghetti, many people have raved about using a spiralizer to create these vegetable noodles as substitute. But if you are a little wary of this new “invention, you can try out your taste buds with this spaghetti squash recipe.
3. Mexican Chickpea Salad with Chile-Lime Dressing. This salad in a jar recipe is a quick fix for any Mexican food lover. Just pack all the ingredients into a canning jar, you are set for lunch.
4. Shrimp Salad Cabbage Cups. This salad is simple but good. The only thing you may want to consider reducing is the mayo. If you want to lower your carb intake, you may even want to consider omitting the mayo for a cleaner taste. The green onion and lemon juice is enough to take out the fishiness taste and bring out the freshness of your shrimps.
5. Chicken, Hearts of Palm, and Avocado Chopped Salad. This chicken salad is made by the ultimate foodie who wants to eat healthy. It is so amazingly tasty that it will become one of your favorite recipes for lunch or a quick summer dinner dish.
6. Light Eggplant Parmesan with Salsa. This baked eggplant parmesan is such an awesome way to have Mexican food without needing breads and chips. This beautiful dish does well as a weekend family lunch dish and a lunchbox takeaway. Your co-workers will all be asking for this recipe for sure.
7. Sweet and Sour Broccoli Salad. When your broil or steam chicken breast taste bland, this sweet and sour broccoli salad can make things better. Just dice up your chicken breast or even shred it into strips, toss it into this delicious salad and you are all set for lunch.
8. Indian Chicken Korma. If you find curries to be a little too spicy for you, this creamy non-spicy Indian chicken recipe will allow you to enjoy the same yummy goodness without breaking into a hot teary sweat. It is truly a wonderful dish especially if you are cooking for a family with kids or you are a coconut lover.
9. California Turkey and Bacon Lettuce Wrap with Basil-Mayo. This wrap tastes just like an insanely scrumptious turkey and bacon sandwich without the bread. It is easy to make and so convenient to bring along to any outdoor events. A word of caution, use the mayo sparingly as it can pack on quite a few carbs.
10. Chipotle Pulled Pork Lettuce Wraps with Avocado Aioli. Chipotle pulled pork can be an easy dish to master if you have a slow cooker or pressure cooker. And instead of piling the tender meat on a bun, give it a refreshing twist with a lettuce wrap. Just spritz some lime juice on top. You will quickly fall in love with this new method of eating pulled pork.
11. 15-Minute Zucchini Pasta with Poached Eggs and Quick Heirloom Cherry Tomato Basil Sauce. Don’t let the length of the name fool you. The recipe itself is quite straightforward. The best time to make this dish is the summer time when cherry tomatoes are abundant and at their finest qualities.
12. Moroccan Meatballs. Spices are great solution to flavor meats without using a lot of salt. This Moroccan spicy lamb meatballs is a must-try if you love ethnic food. With paprika, cumin, and coconut oil mix in with tomato paste, your kitchen will be filled with this exotic aroma in the air. For an alternative option, try using ghee instead of coconut oil to bring in another layer of exotic flavor to the meat.
13. Bacon Cheddar Cauliflower Chowder. If you love a creamy baked potato soup every now and then, you will enjoy this cauliflower chowder. Equally scrumptious. Equally creamy and filling.
14. Vietnamese Cauli-Fried Rice. Unlike other traditional style fried rice, this recipe uses fish sauce instead of soy sauce to flavor the dish. It gives it totally different exotic taste that is almost addictive.
15. Zucchini Lasagna. This to-die-for lasagna dish will allow you to entertain a horde of hungry eaters without breaking a sweat. And instead of wasting your time pre-cooking the lasagna pasta, just slice the zucchini into strips. So much easier!
16. Strawberry Chicken Salad. Just the smell of strawberry can instantly make you feel better. This recipe is a brilliant summer salad lunch idea. A little bit of sweet and sour just make your regular chicken taste so much better.
17. Ragu Meatloaf. This is one of the weekend lunch recipe that pleases all the meat lovers. Along with that rich sauce, this dish will make everyone fall more in love with your healthy cooking. If you wish to lower the carb intake, you may want to make your own tomato sauce instead. By making it from fresh tomato, you are in total control how much sugar goes into the mixture.
18. Superfood Salad. Are you a kimchi fan? Then you will absolutely love this salad. Combining several fermented vegetables together, you will get a “dressing” that truly makes the salad pop.
19. Zucchini Pizza Boats. If making a pizza crust out of zucchini seems too much work, this alternative recipe will brighten up your day. It will make picky eaters and vegetable haters fall in love with this so-called tasteless veggie.
20. Breaded Shrimp Salad with Chipotle Mayo. Breaded shrimps are so irresistible. But the traditional recipe calls for regular breading that can hike up the carb content. Don’t worry. Almond flour substitute breading solves this problem so that you can still enjoy this dish within reason. If you wish to lower your carb consumption, you may want to skip the mayonnaise and simply go with lime juice instead.

21 to 25 Grams Recipes

1. Salmon & Chickpea Salad. Many scrumptious Asian food dishes have loads of carbs hidden in the sauce and marinade. For your low-carb needs, this zingy salmon & chickpea salad will allow you to enjoy a healthy Asian style salad without breaking your diet habits.
2. Thai Stuffed Avocados. Thai foods are always filled with bursts of flavor. This dish is no exception. The awesome thing about this recipe is that it is so easy to make and super convenient as a quick lunch, summery afternoon snack, or even a brunch with friends.
3. Tempeh “Bread” Kitchen Sink Sandwich. If you haven’t try tempeh, it is time to give this versatile ingredient a try. This high protein, gluten-free, yeast-free, low-carb food can easily turn into a chewy and crispy bread that can be used as a side dish or the base of a sandwich. Along with whatever salad greens and sandwich materials you have, slap all these together and you have a kitchen sink sandwich.
4. Bean and Cheese Salad. If you have some white kidney beans, some cheese, and some cucumber, you are already halfway done with this recipe. It is truly this easy. It is a wonderful way to pack a quick lunch on days when you are too busy or just want to sleep in a little longer.
5. Roast Beef Salad with Shiitake Mushrooms and Soft Goat Cheese. For all beef lovers, this will be your favorite weekend lunch. Along with some goat cheese, this will make your taste buds super happy.
6. Caesar Lettuce Wraps with Quinoa, Kale, and Tofu. Even though quinoa is known to have a slightly higher carb count, it is so full of good nutrients and minerals. If you would like to eat less meat, this quinoa and tofu lettuce wrap will allow you to take in enough protein for your afternoon needs.
7. White Bean and Tuna Salad with Radicchio and Parsley Vinaigrette. Just because it’s a tuna salad doesn’t mean it has to be plain. If you are looking for a fancier salad to please your family and guests, this beautiful and flavorful salad won’t disappoint.
8. BBQ Chicken Cobb Salad. The key to a delicious salad often lies in the dressing. This homemade buttermilk ranch dressing will instantly make all vegetables taste better.
9. Rainbow Salad with Balsamic Roasted Brussels & Paleo Almond Crusted Chicken. This is one of the fancy lunch meals that will please everyone. Instead of using regular breadcrumbs for the chicken coating, almond flour is used to give the chicken a nice crunchy texture. And along with a beautiful array of nutritious vegetables, your dish will as good as, if not better, than a restaurant lunch affair.
10. Grilled Chicken Veggie Bowls. If you are a meal prepper who loves making a whole week’s worth of lunch and stick to it, this recipe will be perfect for you. With a wealth of grains, vegetables, this grilled chicken bowl is great as a hearty lunch or weeknight dinner idea.
11. Thai Chicken Tacos. For the Thai spring roll lovers, this recipe will allow you to feast on the Thai chickens without consuming all the fat and carbs. This refreshing take is just as delicious and much lower in carbs. If you wish to lower the sugar content even more, you may want to lower the amount of orange juice, soy sauce, and honey used in the marinade sauce and peanut sauce.
12. Vegetable Stir Fry with Carrots, Broccoli, and Cauliflower. On days when you are sick and tired of meat, this recipe is here to rescue you. This Asian-fusion stir fry will allow you to savor a diverse texture of vegetables that goes well with some sweet potato rice or zucchini noodles. If you wish to lower the carb content in this recipe, you may want to omit some of the ingredients such as molasses, tahini paste, and cornstarch. If you need to infuse a little bit of sweetness into the sauce, consider adding some Stevia or agave syrup instead.
13. Crispy Peanut Tofu & Cauliflower Rice Stir-Fry. If you are an Asian food fan, you will not want to miss this healthy baked crispy peanut tofu recipe. Because it is not fried, this dish tastes much less oily and drenched in sauce. It is much easier on the stomach and less prone to cause indigestion afterwards.
14. Fake Meat-Based Pizza. For all the pizza lovers, you can enjoy the taste of pizza without the pizza bread. This way, you can save your carbs on desserts instead. A word of caution, please pay attention to the sugar content in the salsa. If possible, make your own salsa or tomato paste for this recipe for a lower carb variation.
15. Tabbouleh. This Arabic salad will fill you up without leaving you feeling bloated and dazed from the blood glucose fluctuation. It is great as a side dish with some kabobs or a simple quick lunch idea.
16. Barbacoa. If you are a regular at Chipotle, you will have heard of this tender beef dish. For those who haven’t heard of this dish, it is almost like a pulled-pork stew except it is done with beef. It tastes awesome by itself, but also goes superbly well in burritos, salads, tacos, enchiladas, tostadas, sandwiches, rice, or even pasta. This slow-cooker recipe will allow you throw everything in the pot before you go to bed and wake up to this restaurant style lunch. It is like getting take outs delivered to your door, except it is healthy and low-carb.
17. Low-Carb Spaghetti Squash & Meatballs. This addictive dish will make you wanting more. But be careful not to use this as a main dish as half a serving packs in about 21 grams of carbs.
18. Chipotle BBQ Bacon and Grilled Corn Pizza. People will wonder how you can call it a diet when you are snacking on a piece of pizza for lunch. The secret is in the crust. Instead of using flour dough, the crust is made of zucchini. In order to keep this recipe within 25 grams of carbs, you will want to cap the corn to ¼ cup instead of ½ cup as instructed. If you are not a corn person, you may as well omit it altogether.
19. Sichuan-Style Chicken with Peanuts. Looking for some classic Chinese food? This savory dish works well with meats, tofu, fish, and eggplants depending on what you feel like. If you wish to lower the carb content, you may want to use almond flour instead of cornstarch for the sauce.
20. Tomato Basil and Mozzarella Galette. These cheesy packets are the best grab-and-go lunch idea. Just throw on some ham and chicken breast. It is a complete meal.

Conclusion

We hope that this list has provided you with some great lunch ideas. We know that there will be certain recipes that look awesome but contain carbs that are too much for your dietary restriction. In these situations, don’t hesitate to make any adjustment to fine tune the recipe. If you don't enjoy salads I hope you found what you are looking for!

After all, they are here to give you an idea what wonderful dishes you can have and ways to make a traditional recipe work for you. If you have any personal tips you wish to share with other readers, please leave us a comment. We would absolutely love to hear from you.

TheDiabetesCouncil Article | Reviewed by Dr. Sergii Vasyliuk MD on May 21, 2020

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