The 17 Low-Carb Dinners I Make When I’m This Close to Giving Up and Ordering Takeout

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When I’m tired, hungry, and dangerously close to hitting that takeout app, these low-carb dinners save me. They’re easy, filling, and made with simple ingredients I actually have on hand. No guilt, no crazy prep, just real food that helps me stick to my goals without losing my mind.

Sheet Pan Chicken with Vegetables

Sheet pan chicken with veggies is what I make when I’ve got no energy left but still want to eat a real dinner without the carbs. Everything roasts together in one pan: seasoned chicken, whatever vegetables I’ve got, and it’s done in 30 minutes with almost zero cleanup. It feels like a full meal without actually doing much, one that definitely saves me from dialing up takeout when I’m too tired to think.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Chicken with Vegetables

Easy Cheeseburger Pie

Cheeseburger pie is my back-pocket dinner when I’m craving something filling and comforting but don’t want to blow my low-carb goals. It’s all the best parts of a cheeseburger, ground beef, cheese, and simple seasoning, baked into one cozy dish. No bun, no fuss, this one keeps me away from the drive-thru every single time.
Get the Recipe: Easy Cheeseburger Pie

Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli

Beef and broccoli in the slow cooker is how I beat Chinese takeout cravings without leaving my low-carb routine. It’s got that same savory, garlicky sauce I love, but it’s made with clean, simple ingredients. I let it cook low and slow, then serve it with cauliflower rice for the full effect, perfect when I want flavor and comfort without the carb overload; this dinner recipe is gold.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli

Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas

These chicken fajitas come together fast, and the sheet pan does all the heavy lifting. I season chicken, peppers, and onions, throw them in the oven, and in under 30 minutes, dinner’s ready. When I’m craving something bold and flavorful but don’t want to cook, this is what I reach for, it’s low-carb, colorful, and way better than waiting on delivery.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas

Air Fryer Boneless Pork Chops

Air fryer pork chops are the answer when I’m hovering over the “order now” button and trying to make a better choice. No breading, no mess, just seasoned pork chops that cook up juicy and golden in under 20 minutes. It’s one of those low-carb dinners that feels like zero effort but still checks every box, quick, tasty, and keeps me out of the takeout trap.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Boneless Pork Chops

Pan Seared Chicken Breast

When I want something fast and foolproof, pan-seared chicken breast is my go-to. It takes 15 minutes and turns out golden, juicy, and way more flavorful than you’d expect from something this basic. I’ll pair it with a salad or microwave some frozen veggies, for a low-carb dinner that’s done in minutes, perfect when I’m too tired to cook, but still want to eat like I care.
Get the Recipe: Pan Seared Chicken Breast

Slow Cooker Cheesy Ranch Chicken

Slow cooker cheesy ranch chicken is the kind of dinner I start in five minutes and forget about until it’s magically ready. It comes out creamy, rich, and full of flavor, and no one ever complains when it’s on the table. I love that it fits my low-carb plan and doesn’t require me to lift a finger after I turn the slow cooker on.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Cheesy Ranch Chicken

Cheesy Ground Beef Taco Skillet

This taco skillet saves me every time I’m craving cheesy, spicy, and fast dinner. Ground beef, seasoning, and melty cheese all come together in one pan, no shells, no carbs, no stress. It’s on the table in 30 minutes and hits every takeout-style craving I’ve got, I make this one more than I care to admit, because it works every single time.
Get the Recipe: Cheesy Ground Beef Taco Skillet

Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken

Slow cooker salsa chicken is my emergency dinner plan for those “I’m about to give up” days. I toss in chicken and salsa in the morning, and by dinner, I’ve got something juicy, flavorful, and low-carb, without lifting a finger. It’s great over greens, in a bowl, or straight off the fork. This one always reminds me that eating well doesn’t have to be complicated.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken

Philly Cheesesteak Casserole with Hamburger

When I want something warm, cheesy, and ridiculously easy, I make this Philly cheesesteak casserole. It takes just five ingredients, is ready in 30 minutes, and totally satisfies that “I need comfort food” mood. No bread needed, just seasoned beef, peppers, onions, and cheese, it’s the kind of low-carb dinner that makes takeout unnecessary.
Get the Recipe: Philly Cheesesteak Casserole with Hamburger

Chicken Francese

Chicken Francese feels fancy but is secretly super easy, which is perfect when I’m wiped out but still want a good meal. It’s lightly pan-fried and simmered in a lemony butter sauce that tastes like I worked way harder than I did. Served with a few greens or on its own, it’s a low-carb dinner that feels like a little upgrade from the usual, definitely a mood-lifter after a long day.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Francese

Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole

This chicken bacon ranch casserole is so ridiculously good, no one even realizes it’s low-carb. It’s packed with juicy chicken, crispy bacon, ranch, and gooey cheese, all baked into one dish that disappears fast. It’s easy, crowd-pleasing, and helps me stay on track when I’m about to say “forget it.” I make this when I want dinner that feels indulgent but doesn’t come with guilt.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole

Italian Beef and Cauliflower Rice Skillet

Italian beef skillet is perfect when I need something fast, filling, and low-carb without tasting like diet food. Ground beef and cauliflower rice come together in a creamy tomato sauce, all topped with cheese for good measure. It’s one of those meals that feels cozy and complete but takes barely any time, something I reach for when I need a solid but simple dinner.
Get the Recipe: Italian Beef and Cauliflower Rice Skillet

Shrimp Scampi with Zoodles

Shrimp scampi with zoodles is my last-minute trick when I want something fresh and low-carb that doesn’t taste like a compromise. The lemony, garlicky butter sauce clings to zucchini noodles just right, and it’s all done in 20 minutes. It tastes like a fancy dinner, but it’s one pan and no stress, definitely one of those meals that keeps me out of the takeout zone.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp Scampi with Zoodles

Chicken Cordon Bleu

Chicken Cordon Bleu sounds like a production, but this version keeps it simple enough for a weeknight. A quick fill of ham and cheese, a creamy sauce, and it’s ready to go, no breading, no stress. It’s rich, filling, and low-carb without cutting corners on flavor, one that keeps me from reaching for restaurant food when I want something hearty for dinner.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Cordon Bleu

Cabbage and Sausage Alfredo

This cabbage and sausage Alfredo is a creamy, rich one-pan dinner that saves me from pasta cravings every single time. The cabbage takes the place of noodles, and the sausage adds that perfect smoky bite. It’s done in 30 minutes and tastes like comfort food in a bowl, perfect when I want fast, no-fuss low-carb food that feels like a splurge; this is it.
Get the Recipe: Cabbage and Sausage Alfredo

Ground Beef and Cabbage Stir Fry

Ground beef and cabbage stir fry is what I throw together when I need something quick, low-carb, and actually good. It’s savory, hearty, and comes together in just 20 minutes with stuff I usually have on hand. No fancy ingredients, no complicated steps, just a solid, no-brainer dinner that keeps me from giving in to delivery.
Get the Recipe: Ground Beef and Cabbage Stir Fry

Italian Beef

Slow cooker Italian beef is my secret weapon when I want cozy food but don’t want to stand in the kitchen. I just throw in the beef, peppers, and seasoning in the morning, and by dinner, it’s tender and full of flavor. I pile it over cauliflower rice or eat it with a side of veggies, it’s always filling. It gives that “comfort food” vibe without throwing off my low-carb streak.
Get the Recipe: Italian Beef