Food & Drink

10 Low-carb Diet Winter Recipes That Won’t Kill Your Six-pack

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by Toby Amidor, MS, RD

With winter upon us, it’s only natural to turn to “comfort foods,” which can turn your six-pack into a big, flabby one-pack. Instead, cozy up to these 10 healthy, lower-carb meals which contain between 8-24g of carbs per serving.

But just because they’re low in carbs doesn’t mean they’re not low in protein: Each contains a nice dose of protein to help you maintain and build muscle all season long.

Toby Amidor is the owner of Toby Amidor Nutrition and author of The Greek Yogurt Kitchen.

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1. Turkey bolognese with zucchini noodles

Instead of pasta, this dish uses lower-carb zucchini noodles. For more noodle alternative, use spiralized carrots or cucumbers, or bean or quinoa noodles.

Check out the full turkey bolognese with zucchini noodles recipe here.

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2. Paleo shrimp soup

This soup is gluten-free, Paleo-friendly, and has only 17g of carbs per serving, making it a nutrition (not to mention delicious) powerhouse.

Check out the full paleo shrimp soup recipe here.

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3. Creamy corn casserole

This delicious casserole weighs in at just 20g of carbs per serving thanks to the addition of vegetables and chicken breast, which help create volume without too many carbs.

Check out the full creamy corn casserole recipe here.

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4. Pepper jack stuffed mushrooms

Warm and melt-in-your-mouth stuffed mushrooms are perfect on a cold day—especially when you’re getting only 165 calories and 8g of carbs per serving for a whole lot of deliciousness.

Check out the full pepper jack stuffed mushrooms recipe here.

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5. Cauliflower fried rice

Make this dish a staple in your kitchen all year-round. On top of using cauliflower, it also uses unsalted chicken stock, which helps add flavor and protein without the added sodium.

Check out the full cauliflower fried rice recipe here.

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6. Garlic and wine-braised veal shank

Veal is a lean meat that comes from young male cows, and is absolutely delicious. Made with red wine, mushrooms, and aromatic herbs, this is a meal you would find at a fine restaurant. Luckily, you can make it for a fraction of the price in your own kitchen.

Check out the full garlic wine-braised veal shank recipe here.

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7. Chicken cacciatore

This lightened version of the Italian favorite provides 371 calories and 17g of carbs per serving. If you choose to eat it with additional carbs, choose whole grain varieties like whole wheat, brown rice, sorghum, farro, or freekeh.

Check out the full chicken cacciatore recipe here.

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8. Creamy carrot and cauliflower soup

How can creamy soup be made without cream? The trick is using reduced-fat Greek yogurt to get that creamy texture. Pureed carrots and cauliflower also add to the delicious mouthfeel. Both vegetables also provide a whopping 60% and 160% of the antioxidant vitamins C and A, respectively.

Check out the full creamy carrot and cauliflower soup recipe here.

National Pork Board 9 / 10

9. Milwaukee pork stew

As the name suggests, the flavors in this stew (beer, caraway, and onions) are typical for Milwaukee. This dish is also perfect to make a double batch and freeze for a later date. Serve with a tossed green salad and cooked greens on the side.

Check out the full Milwaukee pork stew recipe here.

Leslie Bonci, MPH, RD, CSSD, LDN 10 / 10

10. Chicken thigh cutlets stuffed with olive and dried plum tapenade

This Mediterranean-inspired dish uses dried plums to keep the chicken moist and balances beautifully with the array of flavorful ingredients. Even better, there are only 16g of carbs and close to 24g of protein per serving.

Check out the full chicken thigh cutlets stuffed with olive and dried plum tapenade recipe here.

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