8 Lower-Carb Dinner Recipes: Swaps for Pasta, Rice, and More

Mar 3 2017
It's dinner time, and you want something supremely satisfying. But you don't want something heavy and loaded with carbs. We've got solutions! Each of these recipes has under 20 grams of carbs per serving, and they are soooooo good.



Pizza-fied Chicken 2.0

Entire recipe: 272 calories, 8.5g total fat (3.5g sat. fat), 633mg sodium, 6g carbs, 1g fiber, 2.5g sugars, 40.5g protein

SmartPoints® value 5*

Scoot over, deep dish: This personal pizza has a chicken crust! Pizza crust doesn't get any lower in carbs... This one's all protein. And we know how to lighten up traditional pizza toppings, making this recipe a total winner. Pair it with a side salad for an ideal meal.

Zucchini Marinara Pasta Swap

Entire recipe: 117 calories, 3.5g total fat (1g sat. fat), 388mg sodium, 17g carbs, 4g fiber, 12g sugars, 7g protein

SmartPoints® value 3*

This one is so simple, and it's made with nutritious zucchini! It's a fantastic starter recipe for anyone interested in veggie noodles. You don't even need a spiralizer -- just a regular veggie peeler. Wanna see how it's done? Check out this video! Then doctor it up with your protein of choice: chicken breast, lean ground turkey, shrimp... Your call!

Chicken Enchilada Stuffed Spaghetti Squash

1/4th of recipe: 190 calories, 5.5g total fat (2g sat. fat), 646mg sodium, 14.5g carbs, 3g fiber, 4.5g sugars, 21.5g protein

SmartPoints® value 3*

Enchiladas have major comfort-food appeal, but the tortillas themselves are carby bummers. So we took inspiration from traditional chicken enchiladas and came up with this twice-baked spaghetti squash creation. So yummy, with nice big portions and a small calorie count. This is how you make veggies fun!

Fettuccine Hungry Girlfredo

Entire recipe: 82 calories, 4g total fat (1.5g sat. fat), 296mg sodium, 9.5g carbs, 4g fiber, 1.5g sugars, 3.5g protein

SmartPoints® value 3*

Classic carb-slashing swap alert! This is an old-school HG recipe, and we still love it. With only 20 calories and 6g carbs in an entire bag, House Foods Tofu Shirataki noodles are a carb-counting pasta lover's BFF. Our favorite way to eat them is in a creamy DIY sauce, which makes this recipe a MUST. Feel free to load it up with smart extras, like we did in this Avocado Girlfredo recipe!

Zucchini-Noodle & Shrimp Stir-Fry

1/2 of recipe (about 2 cups): 206 calories, 2g total fat (0.5g sat. fat), 792mg sodium, 19.5g carbs, 4.5g fiber, 12.5g sugars, 25g protein

SmartPoints® value 2*

Not only is this awesome recipe an incredible alternative to carb-heavy noodle stir-frys, but it also requires only five main ingredients! Bust out that spiralizer (every carb-slashing cook should have one), grab a few staple ingredients, and dinner will be ready in no time...

Salsa Verde Chicken with Cauliflower Rice

1/4th of recipe (about 1 1/4 cups): 206 calories, 3.5g total fat (0.5g sat. fat), 769mg sodium, 14.5g carbs, 3.5g fiber, 5.5g sugars, 28g protein

SmartPoints® value 2*

Rice lovers, rejoice! This meal is here for you. It's amazingly delicious and a great make-ahead option. Let the chicken, salsa, and other goodies simmer in your slow cooker, and then just toss in the cauliflower 45 minutes before dinner. HG tip: Buy premade cauliflower rice/crumbles -- like the kinds by Trader Joe's and Green Giant -- and that last step is even simpler!

Roasted Veggie Girlfredo Bake

1/4th of pan: 218 calories, 10g total fat (5.5g sat. fat), 743mg sodium, 16g carbs, 5g fiber, 9g sugars, 18.5g protein

SmartPoints® value 5*

It looks like lasagna, but wait! There's not a noodle to be found in this recipe. And the creamy white sauce that screams decadence? Surprise! It's made from light ingredients and pureed cauliflower. There's so much veggie goodness in this dish, plus a surprising amount of protein. Low in carbs... high in yum!

Lasagna-Stuffed Spaghetti Squash

1/4th of recipe: 215 calories, 6g total fat (3g sat. fat), 538mg sodium, 17.5g carbs, 3.5g fiber, 7.5g sugars, 23g protein

SmartPoints® value 3*

Speaking of lasagna, here's another way to get that saucy, cheesy flavor without all the starchy carbs. Extra-lean ground beef makes the dish hearty without bogging it down in excess fat, and the classic lasagna add-ins make it taste juuuust right. Let spaghetti squash into your life, people!

Chew on this:

Happy National Cold Cuts Day, March 3rd. Our favorite way to enjoy deli turkey slices is wrapped around pickles or seedless cucumber spears. It's so good!

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