Try our delicious low carb recipes - they're healthy, lighter and lower in calories and they still keep you feeling full! They make the perfect lunch or supper.
Low carb recipes will fill you up with fewer carbs, packed with vitamins and nutrients and interesting flavours and textures. Our pick of low carb recipes will help you find lighter options that are still delicious, whether you're cutting back for a week or two's detox or trying to eat fewer carbs in the longer term.
It might be a good idea to pick a day or two out of the week that you’ll try to avoid carbs, so you can start gradually. Cutting out carbs doesn’t mean you’ll go hungry either. You’ll replace the carbs with more vegetables and more protein, which will leave you feeling full for longer without weighing you down. You should notice that you feel more energised over the course of the day too.
It can sometimes feel a bit daunting cutting out staple foods from your diet so we’ve got some wonderful mouth-watering dishes that will make the process a lot easier. Why not give this lightorange, fennel and hazelnut salad with ginger and chilli dressingrecipe a go – it’s the perfect dinner party starter, packed with flavour, but without the calories to match. It’s quick and easy to make so you won't be stuck in the kitchen all day and you can throw it all together and toast the hazelnuts right before your guests arrive.
Our low carb recipes include a sticky chicken traybake, easy huevos racheros made with eggs and spiced tomatoes and smoked salmon fillets with fennel and mixed veg.
It's almost impossible to eat completely carb free and carbs still make up an important part of a balanced diet, but these recipes will give you options for how to eat fewer carbs or reduce your reliance on carbs to make meals more filling.
Click through for more low carb recipes…
Baked Cod and Bacon with Sage and Greens
The combination of bacon and sage really livens up this baked cod and bacon with sage and greens recipe. It's filling and flavoursome and you'll get plenty of vitamins and minerals from the combination of cod and the greens.
Sticky Chicken and Chorizo Traybake Roast
It's lovely to have a midweek 'roast' and it's so simple when you cook the meat and vegetables together in one tin as in this flavour-packed sticky chicken and chorizo traybake roast recipe. A traybake recipe is foolproof and so easy. You can throw all the ingredients together and let it cook in its juices. You don't need carbs to feel full - this protein-packed recipe is really tasty, easy to make and the perfect supper recipe.
Huevos Rancheros
This huevos rancheros is a Mexican classic, perfect for any mealtime. You can make it for breakfast or lunch and you can even enjoy it for dinner. You can have it as it is, with sliced avocado, or you can have it with a plain tortilla wrap, but bear in mind this recipe won't be carb-free.
Crispy Cod Traybake
Keep supper simple with this all in one crispy cod tray bake recipe. The veg makes a nice change from having cod and chips. Make this recipe in one tray for a no-fuss supper that can feed the whole family.
Roast Chicken Thighs with Lemon and Mint
A seriously simple one pan supper, this roast chicken thighs with lemon and mint recipe is completely delicious, and a lot quicker than a whole roast chicken. Serve it with a side salad for a really lovely dinner option that makes you feel like you're not missing out if you're on a diet.
Pan-fried Scallops With Caper, Raisin and Olive Vinaigrette
Gordon Ramsey's sophisticated pan-fried scallops with caper, raisin and olive vinaigrette recipe is even lower in carbs if you omit the new potatoes. Leave the potatoes out and you can have this recipe as a starter, or even for lunch.
Smoked Salmon Fillets with Fennel, Radish and Black Olive Salad
Replace the smoked salmon with plain if you prefer - this lightly smoked salmon fillets with fennel, radish and black olive salad recipe will be just as delicious!
Sticky Chicken and Chorizo Traybake Roast
The rich flavours in our sticky ginger chicken with Asian salad recipe are even better if you have time to marinate the chicken. Even if you're short on time, this recipe still makes a lovely supper - you don't necessarily need to give it loads of time!
Dukkah Eggs with Griddled Asparagus and Houmous Dip
Treat friends to a little something different for a starter with our Dukkah eggs with griddled asparagus and houmous dip recipe - Dukkah is a delicious middle eastern spice blend.
Monkfish, Chorizo and Romano Pepper Kebabs
Light but full of flavour, this monkfish, chorizo and romano pepper kebabs recipe is the perfect spring starter. You can also enjoy it for lunch or as a light supper.
Seared Tuna with Sesame and Ginger Salad
Quick to prepare with real wow factor, your guests will love our seared tuna with sesame and ginger salad recipe. Just make sure you don't over-cook the tuna steak, as it can dry out very quickly. It's best when it's still a little pink, so treat it as you would a steak!
Roasted Squash and Goats' Cheese with Breadcrumbs
This meat-free roasted squash and goats' cheese with breadcrumbs recipe is perfect for a weekend lunch or light supper. A hot salad with roasted veg is a healthy and tasty dinner option that the whole family can enjoy, plus you can use whatever veg you have at home.
BBQ Pineapple
A showstopping finale to dinner that's also one of your five-a-day - we love this BBQ pineapple recipe! It's very simple and all you need is pineapple. It's a low-calorie recipe that you can make any time, not only for a barbecue.
Roast Chicken Soup
This roast chicken soup recipe is real comfort food, can be made from Sunday lunch leftovers and will give you a lift if you're under the weather - it freezes brilliantly, too. A roast chicken soup is the perfect recipe to warm you up on those cold days when nothing else will do!
Sumac Lamb with Houmous and Roasted Red Onions
Sumac has a real citrussy taste to it, lovely with the rich flavour of lamb in this sumac lamb with houmous and roasted red onions recipe. It goes really nicely with a side sala and perhaps even some houmous to accompany it too.
Tom Yum Soup
The hot and sour flavour combinations in this Thai tom yum soup recipe will beat hunger and leave you satisfied! Depending on how much heat you can handle, you can add as much or as little fresh chilli as you like. It's a warming and healthy soup that everyone will love.
Oxtail Stew and Beluga Lentils
Oxtail is inexpensive and has a very rich flavour. It works so well in this oxtail stew and beluga lentils recipe. Ordinarily served with polenta or mashed potato, but if you want to avoid the carbs, you can serve it with grains, quinoa or some steamed veg.
Satay Vegetable Stir-Fry
An Indonesian style stir-fry recipe with lots of crunchy veg, this satay vegetable stir-fry recipe is still filling, despite being a low-carb, low-protein option. Plus, you can make this stir-fry in no time at all, so it makes a really speedy meal option.
Tandoori Marinated Prawns with Raita recipe
Juicy prawns with a hint of spice - no-one can resist this tandoori marinated prawns with raita recipe!
Beetroot and Broad Bean Salad
Roasted beetroot mixed with nutty broad beans is a match made in heaven. Try our beetroot and broad bean salad recipe and see if you agree!
Sausage and Pepper Kebabs
This sausage and pepper kebabs recipe is so full of flavour. Serve with sweet potato for a little carb hit.
Lamb Koftas with Tzatziki
These lightly spiced kofta are delicious with the cooling tzatziki dip. Try our lamb koftas with tzatziki recipe as a starter or a light main.
Hot Smoked Salmon with Cucumber Salad
A simple twist with a salmon fillet - the smoking gives a very subtle flavour to this hot smoked salmon with cucumber salad recipe
Boston Baked Beans
Bored of beans on toast? Try the American classic, Boston baked beans recipe
Slow Cooked Beef Chilli
This slow cooked beef chilli recipe is a new take on the classic recipe. Supermarket meat labelled as 'braising steak' can often be a combination of various cuts of beef. Ask your butcher to chop up a whole piece of chuck steak so you know that it is from the same part of the animal and will all cook at the same rate.
Sea Bass Fillet Parcels with Lemon Couscous
This low fat sea bass fillet parcels with lemon couscous recipe are a great speedy dinner but also impressive enough to serve to friends.
Broccoli and Cauliflower Bake
This broccoli and cauliflower bake recipe is a brilliant way of using up all manner of left over hard cheese, simply replace the Stilton and Gruyere with 100g of any grated or crumbled hard cheese.
Prawn and Mango Rice Salad
This super speedy prawn and mango rice salad recipe is ready in 10 minutes!
Spanish Chickpea Soup with Spinach and Tomato
This Spanish chickpea soup with spinach and tomato recipe is a nutritious, meat-free soup that's full of protein.
Slow Braised Middle Eastern Pork and Prunes
The rich hunks of pork shoulder meat in this slow braised Middle Eastern pork and prunes recipe are slow cooked until meltingly tender and hold up fantastically to the bold Middle Eastern flavours.
Lightened-Up Chicken Korma
Our lightened-up chicken korma recipe uses Greek yogurt instead of cream - just as delicious but much lower in saturated fat.
Crunchy Pancetta and Hazelnut Salad with Warm Balsamic Dressing
Crispy pancetta, crunchy hazelnut nuts, juicy apple and chewy cherries give this crunchy pancetta and hazelnut salad with warm balsamic dressing recipe a satisfying texture.
Thai Chicken Salad with Peanuts and Ginger
This Thai chicken salad with peanuts and ginger recipe is a refreshing dish, and very low in saturated fat. Any leftovers will be delicious for lunch the next day, when the flavours have the chance to really infuse together.
Beef Rendang
A wonderfully fragrant Indonesian curry, this beef rendang recipe is richly flavoured but not chilli hot.
Haddock with Hot Chopped Tomato Sauce
Choose sustainable fish for this haddock with hot chopped tomato sauce recipe.
Lamb Fillet with Chickpea and Pomegranate Couscous
A delicious lamb fillet with chickpea and pomegranate couscous, and harissa dressing recipe that's full of flavour and healthy fibre.
Roast Chicken Salad with Eggs, Chives and Sourdough Croutons
This roast chicken salad with eggs, chives and sourdough croutons recipe is a delicious main course salad and a brilliant way to use up leftover roast chicken. Or you could roast your own and keep the rest of the meat to shred and put in a pie or soup.
Fillet Steak with Spelt, Orange and Walnut Salad
A gorgeous fillet steak with spelt, orange and walnut salad recipe. Stir steak juices through the salad; serve with the steaks.
Grilled Mackerel with Pink Grapefruit
The mackerel's richness is perfectly offset by sharp grapefruit in this grilled mackerel with pink grapefruit recipe, which also gives you a good dose of vitamin C.
Quinoa Salad with Chickpeas, Soy Beans and Poached Chicken
Healthy quinoa makes this quick and easy quinoa salad with chickpeas, soy beans and poached chicken recipe super for lunch or as part of a low-carb dinner.
Crispy Duck Salad With Hoisin Dressing
A quick and delicious revamped crispy duck salad with hoisin dressing recipe which is a simple Chinese recipe to cook at home - we've even reduced the fat in this classic duck recipe.
Halloumi, Aubergine and Red Pepper Kebabs
Halloumi, aubergine and red pepper kebabs in an easy, halloumi, aubergine and red pepper kebabs recipe that's perfect for vegetarians - although meat eaters will love these too.
Chicken and Barley Broth
This chicken and barley broth recipe takes a while to cook, though it's simple and full of goodness. There's no added fat, plenty of veg, plus nutritious barley, a known cholesterol-reducer.
Thai Rare Beef Salad
Clean and fresh, it's best to use tender fillet of beef for this thai rare beef salad recipe and try to keep it on the rare side. You could also use prawns or cooked slices of chicken. If you are still craving a little bit of carbs, you could toss in some cooked egg noodles too.
Chargrilled Chicken, Orange and Watercress Salad
The combination of flavours in this chargrilled chicken, orange and watercress salad recipe is really refreshing. Try adding steamed new potatoes if you want a carb hit.
Sirloin Steak
This recipe uses Chimichurri, a very fragrant, fresh sauce from Argentina, that can be whizzed up while this sirloin steak recipe is cooking.
Crispy Duck Pancakes
Duck legs, which are inexpensive, can be poached two days ahead and stored in the fridge in the soy liquid. This crispy duck pancakes recipe can also be made with a whole duckling just increase the amount of liquid and the cooking time.
Watercress Soup
So easy it's almost not a recipe - this watercress soup recipe makes a wonderful starter or light lunch for a hot summer.
Stuffed Turkey Breast with Wild Mushroom and Madeira
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Chocolate and hazelnut roulade
This chocolate and hazelnut roulade comes with an optional Baileys Irish cream liqueur filling for an extra, festive twist
By Jen Bedloe Published
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Baileys Cheesecake
This no-bake Baileys cheesecake is so easy to make and perfect for cream liqueur lovers, plus it takes just 40 minutes to prepare
By Jess Meyer Published
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Chocolate torte with Baileys cream and salted praline
Serve this rich Chocolate torte with Baileys cream and salted praline for a festive dessert that makes a popular alternative to Christmas pudding
By Jen Bedloe Published
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Chocolate and hazelnut roulade
This chocolate and hazelnut roulade comes with an optional Baileys Irish cream liqueur filling for an extra, festive twist
By Jen Bedloe Published
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Baileys Cheesecake
This no-bake Baileys cheesecake is so easy to make and perfect for cream liqueur lovers, plus it takes just 40 minutes to prepare
By Jess Meyer Published
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Chocolate torte with Baileys cream and salted praline
Serve this rich Chocolate torte with Baileys cream and salted praline for a festive dessert that makes a popular alternative to Christmas pudding
By Jen Bedloe Published
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Sienna Miller's tailored navy jumpsuit is the chicest alternative to sequins - and it has a hidden meaning
I never would have thought to add festive red accessories to a navy outfit, but Sienna proved me wrong
By Caroline Parr Published
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Clodagh McKenna just wore the ME+EM velvet suit that's top of my Christmas wishlist
The TV chef shares the same stylist as Holly Willoughby and Christine Lampard
By Caroline Parr Published
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Kate Middleton’s cranberry red jumper dress is the most elegant low-key alternative to festive dresses and knits
The Princess of Wales once wore a splendid festive red jumper dress and it's got us excited to wear this colour more this Christmas
By Emma Shacklock Published