20 High Protein Low Carb Dinner Ideas (2024)

On a low carb diet but need to increase your protein intake? These high protein low carb dinners are delicious and super easy to make.

Did you know that a low-carb diet that is also high in protein can turbocharge your weight loss?

Of all the macros, protein helps you feel full the most and can boost your metabolism.

So, today I am sharing 20 high protein low carb dinner ideas that are not only delicious but will speed up your weight loss.

20 High Protein Low Carb Dinner Ideas (1)

1. Pan-Fried Salmon

20 High Protein Low Carb Dinner Ideas (2)

I loved making this pan-friend salmon. Easy, simple, buttery and lemony. It’s low carb and high protein but, most importantly, super quick and easy to make.

It’ll take you just about 12 minutes to make it. Yess! Just 12 minutes! So, it’s safe; it’s one of my favorite low-carb dinners of all time.

Per Serving:

  • Calories: 269
  • Fats: 18g
  • Protein: 18g
  • Carbs: 2.8g
  • Fiber: 0.2g
  • Sugar: 0.4g

Recipe

2. Keto Cauliflower Ziti

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Credit:simplystacie.net

This keto cauliflower ziti is meaty, saucy and packed with tons of cheese and low in carbs!

This cauliflower ziti is fantastic just the way it is, but if you like, you can add a side of Garden salad. This could do for a nice high protein freezer meal!

Per Serving:

  • Calories: 277
  • Fats: 13.1g
  • Protein: 31.4g
  • Carbs: 8.8g
  • Fiber: 2g
  • Sugar: 3.4g

Recipe

3. Creamy Pesto Chicken

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Credit:aileencooks.com

Chicken breasts are excellent sources of protein. But, let’s face it, chicken breasts can be quite bland.

This pesto chicken is anything but bland. It is creamy, cheesy, and packed with a Mediterranean flavor.

Serve with some roasted zucchini for an even more Mediterranean taste.

Per Serving:

  • Calories: 508
  • Fats: 41g
  • Protein: 29g
  • Carbs: 7g
  • Fiber: 0g
  • Sugar: 3g

Recipe

4. Marinated Turkey Breast

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Credit:diabetesstrong.com

This turkey breast is extra flavourful because you marinate it in a Mediterranean-inspired vinaigrette. To make the vinaigrette, all you do is mix together your balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and spices.

If you like it hot, feel free to add cayenne pepper or even some Frank’s hot sauce which you can get here.

Per Serving:

  • Calories: 268
  • Fats: 13.5g
  • Protein: 25.6g
  • Carbs: 4.6g
  • Fiber: 0.7g
  • Sugar: 2.2g

Recipe

5. Pan-Fried Seabass With Garlic Lemon Butter Sauce

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Credit:greedygourmet.com

Sea bass is an excellent source of protein and also low in fat and calories.

All you need is 15 minutes, and high protein dinner is ready.

To get the perfect sear on your sea bass, it is best to use a cast-iron skillet. So, if you’re looking for a cast-iron skillet, there is a good quality one here.

Per Serving:

  • Calories: 237
  • Fats: 9.3g
  • Protein: 35.5g
  • Carbs: 2.4g

Recipe

6. Chicken with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

Credit:aprilgolightly.com

To make this creamy and savory sauce all you need to do is mix your roasted red bell peppers, avocado oil, and seasoning in a food processor. This food processor here will work just fine.

Feel free to add some zucchini noodles to mop up all that delicious sauce. Here is a spiralizer to make the zucchini noodles.

Per Serving:

  • Calories: 577
  • Fats: 36g
  • Protein: 51g
  • Carbs: 8g
  • Fiber: 2g
  • Sugar: 5g

Recipe

7. Lemon Chicken Piccata

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Credit:diabetesstrong.com

These chicken breasts are juicy and tender. Meanwhile, the sauce has the perfect balance of tartness and creaminess.

This 30 minute dish is also low in calories, so it makes for a nice light meal.

To keep it low carb, serve over a bed of Shirataki noodles, which you can find here.

Per Serving:

  • Calories: 269
  • Fats: 15.6g
  • Protein: 20.3g
  • Carbs: 3.4g
  • Fiber: 0.6g
  • Sugar: 0.4g

Recipe

8. Easy Keto Italian Sausage Meatballs

20 High Protein Low Carb Dinner Ideas (9)

Credit:drdavinahseats.com

These keto meatballs are juicy, tender, and nicely seasoned with a good sear on them.

All topped with some grated Parmesan and swimming in a delicious tomato basil sauce.

To keep them low carb, you use almond flour to bind the ingredients together. You can find some almond flour here.

Check out more high protein dinner ideas here.

Per Serving:

  • Calories: 449
  • Fats: 39g
  • Protein: 18g
  • Carbs: 7g
  • Fiber: 2g
  • Sugar: 3g

Recipe

9. Oven-Fried Crispy Baked Chicken Wings

20 High Protein Low Carb Dinner Ideas (10)

Credit:drdavinahseats.com

These oven-fried chicken wings are perfect for game day.

The secret to keeping the wings tender on the inside, yet crispy on the inside is that you use some baking powder in the seasoning mix.

This makes the skin cook faster than the meat, giving you that crispy outside. So, make sure you have some baking powder on hand!

Per Serving:

  • Calories: 280
  • Fats: 19g
  • Protein: 22g
  • Carbs: 2g
  • Fiber: 0g
  • Sugar: 0g

Recipe

10. Spicy Tandoori Chicken Drumsticks

20 High Protein Low Carb Dinner Ideas (11)

Credit:lovefoodies.com

These tandoori chicken drumsticks are sure to transport you to India.

The key to them being so flavourful is that you marinate your drumsticks.

For the marinade, all you will need is some low-fat plain yogurt, lemons/limes, and some Tandoori powder or paste.

Serve with some low carb flatbread such as this.

Per Serving:

  • Calories: 227
  • Fats: 10g
  • Protein: 25g
  • Carbs: 11g
  • Fiber: 3g
  • Sugar: 3g

Recipe

11. Crispy Skin Baked Chicken Drumsticks

Credit:lowcarbafrica.com

Here is another drumstick recipe. You can never get enough drumsticks, right?

For the seasoning, you will need a couple of spices, as well as coconut aminos, and olive oil, to coat the drumsticks.

And these chicken drumsticks are not too greasy because you use an air fryer. You can find a good quality air fryer here.

Per Serving:

  • Calories: 136
  • Fats: 8g
  • Protein: 13g
  • Carbs: 1g

Recipe

12. Keto Cajun Jambalaya

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Credit:deliciouslittlebites.com

Prepare for your taste buds to be delighted with this keto Cajun jambalaya.

Since it makes 6 servings, this dish is excellent for meal prep. Just be sure to store your leftovers in some glass BPA-free containers like this to keep everything fresh.

Serve over a bed of cauliflower rice and fried okras.

Per Serving:

  • Calories: 401
  • Fats: 27g
  • Protein: 29g
  • Carbs: 9g
  • Fiber: 2g
  • Sugar: 5g

Recipe

13. Healthy Stuffed Chicken Breast

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Credit:diabetesstrong.com

If you are a chicken breast lover, this dish is for you.

Stuffed with a delicious combination of mozzarella cheese, sundried tomato, and artichoke hearts.

To make, just cut your chicken breasts almost in half, stuff them, and close up the opening with toothpicks.

Then, add some seasonings and bake for about 20 minutes.

Per Serving:

  • Calories: 262
  • Fats: 4.1g
  • Protein: 46.1g
  • Carbs: 8.5g
  • Fiber: 2.4g
  • Sugar: 1.1g

Recipe

14. Keto Chicken Bacon Ranch Crockpot Recipe

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Credit:soreyfitness.com

In this dish you have super moist shredded chicken breasts, crispy bacon, ooey-gooey cheddar cheese, creamy cream cheese, as well as tasty Ranch seasoning.

The secret to the chicken being so moist is that you are slow cooking the chicken. If you’re in the market for a slow cooker, you can find one here.

Per Serving:

  • Calories: 494.4
  • Fats: 34.59g
  • Protein: 41.44g
  • Carbs: 2.35g
  • Sugar: 1.26g

Recipe

15. Easy Cheeseburger Pie

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Credit:primaledgehealth.com

At only 2 grams of net carbs per serving, this pie is definitely low carb.

And it is meaty and cheesy and full of flavor.

To make it low carb, you use cheese and onions as your crust. To complete your cheeseburger pie theme, serve with some dill pickles.

Per Serving:

  • Calories: 383
  • Fats: 30g
  • Protein: 25g
  • Carbs: 3g
  • Fiber: 1g
  • Sugar: 1g

Recipe

16. Greek Turkey Meatballs

20 High Protein Low Carb Dinner Ideas (17)

Credit:sustainablecooks.com

These meatballs are tender, juicy, and have a nice sear on the outside. But the star of this dish is the lemon sauce.

To make the lemon sauce, all you need to do is mix together some chicken stock, lemon zest, lemon juice, and minced garlic and cook until halfway reduced.

Per Serving:

  • Calories: 274
  • Fats: 10g
  • Protein: 40g
  • Carbs: 5g
  • Fiber: 2g
  • Sugar: 0g

Recipe

17. Almond Crusted Baked Tofu Nuggets

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Credit:liveeatlearn.com

Are you vegan or trying to add more plant-based protein meals to your diet?

These tofu nuggets are packed with umami flavor thanks to the sesame oil and soy sauce marinade. The crushed almond crusting adds a nice texture to the nuggets.

And the dipping sauce is perfect for dipping your tofu nuggets in.

Per Serving:

  • Calories: 456
  • Fats: 34.1g
  • Protein: 21g
  • Carbs: 22.8g
  • Fiber: 8.4g

Recipe

18. Creamy Tuscan Chicken

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Credit:keenforketo.com

These chicken thighs are juicy and extra flavourful.

The herbs add a nice freshness, while the sun-dried tomatoes add a nice tang. Meanwhile, the heavy whipping cream adds a ton of creaminess.

Keep it low-carb with konjac root powder to thicken the sauce. You can find konjac powder here.

Per Serving:

  • Calories: 441
  • Fats: 19.3g
  • Protein: 23.5g
  • Carbs: 1.8g

Recipe

19. Easy Keto Lemon Garlic

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Credit:keenforketo.com

Tilapia is a great source of protein and is also low in fat.

The tilapia is nice and flaky and the salad is sure to transport you to Greece. Cooking the fish in grass-fed butter adds some much-needed fat.

You’ll be glad to know it contains only 0.2 grams of carbs.

Per Serving:

  • Calories: 197
  • Fats: 5.4g
  • Protein: 44.4g
  • Carbs: 0.2g

Recipe

20. Swedish Meatballs

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Credit:gnom-gnom.com

These Swedish meatballs are juicy and packed with tons of flavor.

And the sauce is creamy and luxurious. So, it goes perfectly on cauliflower mash.

To keep it low carb, you use almond flour as a binder. But, if you are allergic to nuts, you can use crushed pork rinds instead. You can find some here.

Per Serving:

  • Calories: 399
  • Fats: 34g
  • Protein: 17g
  • Carbs: 3g
  • Fiber: 0.25g
  • Sugar: 1g

Recipe

21. Keto Pork Chops With Super Creamy Mushroom Sauce

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Credit:lowcarbspark.com

What’s not to love about tender pork chops perfectly seared on the outside? All bathed in a creamy mushroom sauce and sprinkled with fresh herbs.

All it takes to get this yummy dish on the table is 25 minutes. So, it’s perfect for a nice quick dinner.

Per Serving:

  • Calories: 432
  • Fats: 32g
  • Protein: 30g
  • Carbs: 3g
  • Fiber: 0g
  • Sugar: 0g

Recipe

20 High Protein Low Carb Dinner Ideas (2024)
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