15 Low-Carb, High-Protein Dinners Ready in 15 Minutes or Less By Danielle DeAngelis Danielle DeAngelis Danielle DeAngelis is a journalist and Associate News & Trending Editor for EatingWell. Her current beat is focused on food and health news as well as exclusive celebrity features, regularly interviewing the top names of today’s entertainment industry. She previous worked as the 2022-23 fellow and as an assistant editor for the brand. Her passion for reading, writing and eating local all guide her in her position at EatingWell. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Published on February 22, 2023 Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Jessica Ball, M.S., RD, is the senior nutrition editor for EatingWell. She is a registered dietitian with a master's in food, nutrition and sustainability. In addition to EatingWell, her work has appeared in Food & Wine, Real Simple, Parents, Better Homes and Gardens and MyRecipes. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Close These nutrient-packed dinners are nutritious, flavorful and easy to make. With no more than 14 grams of carbohydrates and at least 15 g of protein per serving, these light yet satisfying meals are perfect for any night of the week. Recipes like our Sweet & Sour Pork with a Sesame Crust and 15-Minute Sheet-Pan Chicken Tenders & Broccoli with Everything Bagel Seasoning will get you a delicious and healthy dish on the table in just 15 minutes or less. Love any of these recipes? Tap "Save" to add them to MyRecipes, your new, free recipe box for EatingWell. 01 of 15 Sweet & Sour Pork with a Sesame Crust View Recipe Save You'll recognize the flavors of sesame, soy and white pepper from the beloved restaurant dish that inspired this recipe for sweet and sour (boneless) pork chops. White pepper is more mild and earthy than black pepper, but either will work here. 02 of 15 Skillet Lemon-Pepper Salmon View Recipe Save Ali Redmond Simple ingredients like lemon, cracked black pepper and paprika completely awaken this fall-apart-tender salmon with a crispy exterior. Use this salmon to add protein to a grain bowl or salad, or enjoy alongside roasted veggies. 03 of 15 15-Minute Sheet-Pan Chicken Tenders & Broccoli with Everything Bagel Seasoning View Recipe Save Jacob Fox Dinner is ready in only 15 minutes and cleanup is a breeze with these easy broiled chicken tenders coated in everything bagel seasoning with fresh broccoli on the side. The three-ingredient dipping sauce adds just a hint of sweet and spice. 04 of 15 Easy Shrimp Scampi with Zucchini Noodles View Recipe Save Diana Chistruga Enjoy classic shrimp scampi lightened up with zucchini noodles in place of pasta. The tomatoes add some sweetness and color, while the cheese contributes nuttiness and richness. 05 of 15 Grilled Red Snapper View Recipe Save This simple grilled red snapper recipe has clean flavors and a nice char flavor from the grill. It's well-seasoned but not overly spicy. Serve with grilled veggies or a green salad to make it a meal. 06 of 15 Strawberry Poppy Seed Salad with Chicken View Recipe Save In this healthy copycat of a takeout salad favorite, we combine precooked (or leftover) chicken and poppy seed dressing with fresh greens, strawberries and goat cheese for an easy throw-together meal that's ready in 10 minutes. 07 of 15 Salmon-Stuffed Avocados View Recipe Save 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. 08 of 15 Mediterranean Cod with Roasted Tomatoes View Recipe Save Oregano, thyme and paprika flavor the cod in this 15-minute, Mediterranean-inspired meal. Olives, capers and roasted cherry tomatoes add color and zest to each bite. 09 of 15 Chicken, Brussels Sprouts & Mushroom Salad View Recipe Save 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. 10 of 15 Seared Salmon with Green Peppercorn Sauce View Recipe Save A simple sauce of piquant green peppercorns, lemon juice and butter tops this seared salmon recipe. Green peppercorns come from the same plant as black ones, but are harvested before they mature. Typically packed in vinegar, they have a refreshingly sharp flavor. Look for them near the capers in most supermarkets. Serve with smashed red potatoes and sautéed kale. 11 of 15 Chicken Curry Cup of Noodles View Recipe Save Make your own cup of instant soup at home with this chicken curry zoodle (spiralized zucchini noodles) recipe. Pack several jars at once to take to work for easy lunches throughout the week. 12 of 15 Quick Shrimp Scampi View Recipe Save Many scampi recipes involve cooking the shrimp with the other ingredients. You can do that here, too, but the benefit of cooking the shrimp separately is twofold: it's easier not to overcook them, and you can whisk in the butter to create a smooth, emulsified sauce. Serve as an appetizer or as a main course with rice, orzo or your favorite grain, spooning the garlicky sauce over everything. It's also great with crusty bread. 13 of 15 Avocado Tuna Salad View Recipe Save Photography / Greg DuPree, Styling / Ruth BlackBurn / Julia Bayless Jazz up a can of tuna with this easy avocado tuna salad recipe. Silky avocado adds creaminess that's cut with a hit of acidity from lemon and a briny punch from feta cheese. Romaine hearts and cucumber offer refreshing crunch. 14 of 15 Miso-Maple Salmon View Recipe Save White miso paste packs an umami punch to this healthy salmon recipe. But being the mildest and sweetest variety of the gluten-free fermented paste, it won't overpower this dish. Use any leftover salmon (within 3 days) to make our Lemon-Garlic Pasta with Salmon, Easy Scallion-Salmon Dip or Spicy Salmon Cakes (see Associated Recipes). 15 of 15 Chicken & Cabbage Salad Bowls with Sesame Dressing View Recipe Save Everything you need (just 4 ingredients!) to prepare a week's worth of healthy, low-carb lunches can be found at your neighborhood grocery store. A bag of prechopped red and green cabbage serves as the crunchy low-carb base in these chicken salad bowls, which only require 10 minutes to assemble. Top with sesame-flavored almonds and a sesame dressing and you have one irresistible lunch you'll look forward to all week. Explore more: Healthy Recipes Nutrient-Focused High-Protein High-Protein Dinner Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit