Carbohydrates are a staple macronutrient because they give us energy and eating complex carbs, like beans, whole grains, and vegetables provide fiber alongside nutrients. I firmly believe carbs can be good for us, but I’ve noticed benefits of short periods of low carb consumption during my luteal phase or when I want to focus in on better balancing my blood sugars.
We often reach for carb-rich foods because they are usually the most convenient. Bread, crackers, wraps, etc are delicious, quick-grab items, but aren’t always the most beneficial to our longer term health goals. If you find yourself wanting a low carb meal but feeling busy, stressed, or wanting to avoid long and complicated recipes, this post is for you.
Below I’ve gathered together some of my favorite low-carb recipes that you can make in 15 minutes or less! There’s nothing complicated here, just simple, fresh, and fast meals that you can get on the table no matter how busy your weeknights are.
15-Minute Low-Carb Recipes
You may not think 15 minutes is long enough to prepare a healthy low-carb meal, and I get that. Some of those keto recipes can be pretty complicated! Picking low-carb meals can help you lower your blood sugar and cholesterol levels while improving the health of your heart. The key is to focus on protein and whole-grain carbs (complex carbs) when you make your meals. Thankfully, you don’t have to go full keto to get the benefits of low-carb, and it’s doable to get a healthy meal on the table in 15 minutes or less.
What Is Considered Low Carb?
Anything under 100-150 carbs a day is considered to be low-carb. The key to a low-carb diet is to focus on eating whole, nutritious foods that are minimally processed. This doesn’t have to be complex, and you don’t need to pull out your calculator; just ask yourself if the ingredients you’re using are as close to nature as you can get. Low-carb diets are rich in dairy products and meats with whole grains, vegetables, and some fruits. You can make a move towards lower carbs by simply reducing the amount of packaged foods like crackers, chips, and snack foods in your diet.
8 Delicious 15 Minute Low Carb Meals
Skillet Chicken and Kale with Garlic Mushroom Sauce
Hearty chicken is served with some fresh veggies and a rich sauce in this adaptable and delicious meal from Raising Generation Nourished. The creator, Renee, has made this skillet dinner so you can choose to add or avoid dairy products, as well as offering the option to serve it over pasta, potatoes, or by itself for a tasty low-carb meal. If you season the chicken in advance you can have this recipe on the table in under 15 minutes!
15 Minute Cauliflower Fried Rice
One of my favorite Chinese food recipes is chicken fried rice! A Pinch of Yum takes this classic and gives it a low-carb twist by using cauliflower rice in place of regular white rice so there are only 9.6 grams of carbs in the whole meal. All the traditional flavors are still there with seasonings like sesame oil and low-carb soya sauce, crunchy carrots, edamame and green onions, as well as scrambled eggs. The best part is, that you can enjoy this low-carb meal with only 15 minutes of preparation and cooking time!
Veggie Scrambled Eggs
Dinner isn’t the only meal you can find yourself pressed for time. That’s where Katie’s Veggie Scrambled Eggs come in. These delicious, protein-packed eggs are one of the best easy breakfast recipes you’ll find and you can whip them up in only 10 minutes! What I love about this recipe is how customizable it is. You can add in the veggies your kids love, and avoid the ones they aren’t as fond of. Altogether you’re looking at 7 grams of carbohydrates a serving in this easy breakfast recipe.
Best Zucchini Noodles Recipe
If you’re a pasta lover then going low-carb might seem a little intimidating. Thankfully, nature has provided us with several vegetables that can be spiralized to create a veggie noodle substitute. One of the best veggie noodles is the zoodle which is made using zucchini. This zoodle recipe by Inspired Taste is versatile with the option to swap in half the zoodles for regular pasta if you’re not quite ready to make the full switch to veggie noodles. The fresh tomatoes, rich olive oil, and savory parmesan cheese make this zoodle recipe a hit with everyone in the family. If you make these according to recipe directions you’ll have a meal with 11.2 grams of carbs.
15 Minute Pan-Seared Scallops
If your family loves seafood, you’ve got to try this pan-seared scallop recipe from Wholesomelicious. This impressive meal comes together in under 15 minutes. If you’ve never had scallops before, don’t be intimidated. They have a slightly sweet flavor that is balanced out nicely by the saltiness of the capers. Wholesome, simple ingredients like minced garlic, avocado oil, unsalted butter, and lemons are the star of this easy recipe that is low in carbs and high in flavor!
Lemon-Dill Salmon and Smashed Potatoes
Salmon is a superstar of the food world with its high dose of heart-healthy omegas. You only need four ingredients to make this low-carb salmon recipe — fresh lemon and dill, olive oil, deboned salmon, and a little salt and pepper.
If you have some wiggle room in your carb consumption for the day, consider pairing the salmon with smashed potatoes. They are what the name suggests, potatoes that have been smashed! Start by boiling the potatoes, then smash them with the bottom of a jar, drizzle with olive oil and spices, and use an oven to create a nice crunchy crust. These two work very well together, and although they take a little bit of time in the oven to cook, the preparation time only takes 15 minutes for the two combined!
Teriyaki-Glazed Cod with Cauliflower Rice
Fish is a great protein option for low-carb meals and this teriyaki-glazed cod from Eating Well uses another low-carb superstar as well — cauliflower rice! By using a store-bought teriyaki sauce you can easily make this fish meal using freezer foods like cauliflower rice and cod, alongside common pantry items like olive oil and a bit of pepper. There are only 12 grams of carbs in this simple meal and if you cook the rice and cod at the same time you can easily get it on the table in under 15 minutes.
Spicy Shrimp
Another low-carb meal featuring seafood is this spicy shrimp recipe by Rachel over at Healthy Recipe Blogs. If you have any heat lovers in your family, they’re bound to get a kick out of spicy shrimp — you can leave out the cayenne pepper for anyone who isn’t a fan of spice. This recipe can be served over cauliflower rice, on top of a leaf salad, or nestled inside a low-carb taco. With simple ingredients, and only 10 minutes of prep time, spicy shrimp are a great low-carb recipe with only 6 grams of carbs in the meal.
Healthy low-carb cooking doesn’t have to be time-consuming or complicated. In fact, one of the main features of low-carb eating is its use of simple, whole, minimally processed ingredients! Try out these 15-minute meal options and let me know which of these easy recipes is your family’s new favorite!
