54 Low-Carb Lunch Ideas You Can Eat Guilt-Free

Read Time: 24 mins

54 Low-Carb Lunch Ideas You Can Eat Guilt-Free2/54 Buffalo Pulled Chicken Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 3 hours 5 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This slow-cooker dump meal is one of my go-to’s. The lighter chicken is a nice alternative to pulled pork. —Kim Ciepluch, Kenosha, Wisconsin Nutrition Facts: 1/2 cup chicken mixture: 147 calories, 3g fat (1g saturated fat), 63mg cholesterol, 1288mg sodium, 6g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 0 fiber), 23g protein. 3/54 Air-Fryer Pork Chops 3 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 4 servings

They’re low in carbs, too!

Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: These air-fryer pork chops get their rich flavor from Creole seasoning and Parmesan cheese. Bonus: They’re low in carbs, too! —Dawn Parker, Surrey, British Columbia Nutrition Facts: 1 pork chop: 310 calories, 16g fat (5g saturated fat), 86mg cholesterol, 308mg sodium, 4g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 1g fiber), 36g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 5 lean meat, 2 fat. 4/54 Cheesy Onion Chicken Skillet 6 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 20 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My zesty chicken with peppers and onions is so versatile,

it works when you serve it over rice, potatoes, noodles, even a hoagie bun

it works when you serve it over rice, potatoes, noodles, even a hoagie bun. —Kim Johnson, Sibley, Iowa Nutrition Facts: 1-1/4 cups: 293 calories, 17g fat (8g saturated fat), 88mg cholesterol, 226mg sodium, 4g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 1g fiber), 29g protein. 5/54 BLT Chicken Salad 18 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved BLT Chicken Salad Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 20 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Featuring all the fun fixings for a BLT chicken sandwich, this salad is so lovable. I can prep the ingredients ahead of time and just

throw it together at the last minute

throw it together at the last minute. Barbecue sauce in the dressing gives it unexpected flavor. Even picky eaters love my chicken salads. —Cindy Moore, Mooresville, North Carolina Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 281 calories, 19g fat (4g saturated fat), 112mg cholesterol, 324mg sodium, 5g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 2g fiber), 23g protein. 6/54 Tex-Mex Chicken Strips 12 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I was looking for a way to amp up the flavor of regular chicken strips so I crushed up some leftover corn chips

to create a crispy, flavorful coating

to create a crispy, flavorful coating. —Cynthia Gerken, Naples, Florida Nutrition Facts: 3 ounces cooked chicken: 258 calories, 14g fat (7g saturated fat), 85mg cholesterol, 351mg sodium, 7g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 0 fiber), 28g protein. 7/54 Southwest Turkey Lettuce Wraps 3 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: If you’re tired of the same old taco routine, give these a try. I tweaked a friend’s recipe to suit our tastes and my family’s loved it since. It’s so tasty and low maintenance. —Ally Billhorn, Wilton, Iowa

Diabetic Exchanges: 5 lean meat, 1 vegetable

Nutrition Facts: 3 filled lettuce wraps (calculated without optional toppings): 251 calories, 7g fat (3g saturated fat), 75mg cholesterol, 806mg sodium, 7g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 2g fiber), 43g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 5 lean meat, 1 vegetable. 8/54 Air-Fryer Fajita-Stuffed Chicken 2 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 35 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I had all the ingredients for fajitas, but instead of heating up my big oven I decided to try out the air fryer. Since mine is a small one, I wanted to get as much filling as I could

in each stuffed chicken breast

in each stuffed chicken breast. This worked nicely by cutting slits in the breasts and then filling them. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas Nutrition Facts: 1 chicken breast half: 347 calories, 17g fat (7g saturated fat), 126mg cholesterol, 628mg sodium, 5g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 1g fiber), 42g protein. 9/54 Slow-Cooker Chicken Taco Salad 17 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Dan Roberts For Taste of Home Total Time 3 hours 10 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: We use this super-duper chicken across several meals, including it in tacos, sandwiches, omelets and enchiladas. My little guys

love helping to measure the seasonings

love helping to measure the seasonings. —Karie Houghton, Lynnwood, Washington Nutrition Facts: 1-1/2 cups lettuce with 3 ounces cooked chicken: 143 calories, 3g fat (1g saturated fat), 63mg cholesterol, 516mg sodium, 4g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 2g fiber), 24g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1 vegetable. 10/54 Asparagus-Mushroom Frittata 6 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 45 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My Sicilian Aunt Paulina inspired this fluffy frittata. I remember visiting her garden, picking fresh veggies and watching her cook. Her wild asparagus frittata was my favorite. —Cindy Esposito, Bloomfield, New Jersey

Diabetic Exchanges: 1 vegetable, 1 medium-fat meat, 1/2 fat

Nutrition Facts: 1 wedge: 130 calories, 8g fat (3g saturated fat), 192mg cholesterol, 240mg sodium, 5g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 1g fiber), 9g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 vegetable, 1 medium-fat meat, 1/2 fat. 11/54 Chicken Caprese 22 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Caprese Chicken Recipe photo by Jackie Alpers for Taste of Home Total Time 40 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I love a Caprese salad of tomatoes, basil and cheese, so why not try a chicken caprese? You can grill this dish, but my family agrees it’s juicier straight from the oven. —Dana

Dress it with olive oil and vinegar, then add more olives and cheese

Johnson, Scottsdale, Arizona Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 525 calories, 34 g fat (11g saturated fat), 139 mg cholesterol, 761 mg sodium, 5 g carbohydrate (4 g sugars, 1 g fiber), 45 g protein. 12/54 Dad’s Greek Salad 14 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 20 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: The heart of a Greek salad recipe is in the olives, feta, cucumbers and tomatoes. Dress it with olive oil and vinegar, then add more olives and cheese. —Arge Salvatori, Little Ferry, New Jersey Nutrition Facts: 3/4 cup: 148 calories, 12g fat (2g saturated

Diabetic Exchanges: 2 vegetable, 2 fat

fat), 6mg cholesterol, 389mg sodium, 7g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 2g fiber), 3g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 vegetable, 2 fat. 13/54 Fontina Asparagus Tart 15 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 35 min Servings 16 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This lemony tart is loaded with fontina cheese and fresh asparagus. It’s a snap to make but looks really impressive. Be advised…your guests will be vying for the last tasty slice. —Heidi Meek, Grand Rapids, Michigan Nutrition Facts: 1 piece: 142 calories, 9g fat (4g saturated fat), 16mg cholesterol, 202mg sodium, 10g carbohydrate

(1g sugars, 1g fiber), 5g protein

(1g sugars, 1g fiber), 5g protein. 14/54 Almond Chicken Salad 22 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 15 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My mother used to prepare this chicken salad with grapes and almonds for an evening meal during the hot summer months. It’s my favorite of my mother’s chicken salad recipes. —Kathy Kittell, Lenexa, Kansas Nutrition Facts: 3/4 cup: 351 calories, 23g fat (5g saturated fat), 152mg cholesterol, 540mg sodium, 10g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 2g fiber), 25g protein. 15/54 Vegetable, Steak and Eggs 1 Review Test Kitchen

My Italian mother-in-law

Approved Total Time 30 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Low-carb doesn’t have to be skimpy with this lighter take on steak and eggs. I love cooking with squash, but feel free to toss in any vegetable combination you like. —Robert Deskin, Plantation, Florida Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 344 calories, 21g fat (10g saturated fat), 259mg cholesterol, 770mg sodium, 7g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 2g fiber), 33g protein. 16/54 Mediterranean Broccoli & Cheese Omelet 8 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 30 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My Italian mother-in-law

This is one of my favorite ways to use up leftover broccoli

taught me to make this omelet years ago—she would make it for breakfast, lunch or dinner and eat it on Italian bread. This is one of my favorite ways to use up leftover broccoli. —Mary Licata, Pembroke Pines, Florida Nutrition Facts: 1 wedge (calculated without shaved Romano cheese): 229 calories, 17g fat (5g saturated fat), 290mg cholesterol, 775mg sodium, 5g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 1g fiber), 15g protein. 17/54 Almond Vegetable Stir-Fry 26 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Almond Vegetable Stir-Fry Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 20 min Servings 5 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe

Creator: While broccoli florets and chunks of red pepper give these stir-fry vegetables plenty of color, it’s the fresh gingerroot, garlic, soy sauce and sesame oil that round out the flavor. —Mary Relyea, Canastota, New York Nutrition Facts: 3/4 cup: 143 calories, 10g fat (1g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 260mg sodium, 11g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 3g fiber), 4g protein. 18/54 Bacon-Wrapped Pesto Pork Tenderloin 8 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Bacon-Wrapped Pesto Pork Tenderloin Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 50 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I love to serve this

💡 Frequently Asked Questions

⭐ Expert Tips

• Include seasonal or trendy variations to keep your meals exciting.

• Highlight prep shortcuts or time-saving techniques for busy cooks.

• Consider dietary restrictions and include substitution suggestions.

✅ Key Takeaways

• These dinner ideas are perfect for impressing guests or enjoying special occasions.

• Choose recipes that match your skill level and available kitchen tools.

• Presentation and taste both contribute to a memorable dining experience.

📣 Join Our Community