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Healthy low carb meals are no longer just a weight-loss trend but a proven nutritional approach for improving metabolic health, stabilizing blood sugar, and supporting sustainable fat loss. Whether you follow a Keto Diet, a Carnivore Diet, or a flexible low-carb lifestyle, choosing the right meals is what helps you reach long-term success. So, let’s learn 10+ best healthy low-carb meals.
Highlights
What Are Healthy Low Carb Meals?
Healthy low carb meals are meals that contain very low levels of carbohydrates, usually under 20-50g net carbs per day, while providing high levels of protein, healthy fats, and focusing on whole foods.
The goal is not just lowering carbohydrates, but improving metabolism and metabolic markers, such as stable insulin levels and increased satiety.
You can have different types of low carb meals depending on the diet you are following. You can eat healthy low carb meals on any diet, especially if you are on diets, including Low-Carb, Keto, Ketovore, and sometimes Carnivore.
Low-Carb, Keto, and Ketovore Diet meals are high in fat and low in carbohydrates, while Carnivore meals are zero-carb and include only animal-based foods and not plants.
The table below compares the daily carbohydrate limit and the main foods in a Low-Carb, Keto, and Carnivore Diet.
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Benefits of Healthy Low Carb Meals
Healthy low carb meals help blood sugar regulation, making them effective for people with insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes.
Consuming lower levels of carbohydrates reduces glucose spikes, which improves energy stability throughout the day.
Another major benefit is natural appetite control. High protein low carb meals increase satiety hormones and reduce hunger signals, eliminating the need for calorie counting. This is why low-carb, healthy meals are better than low-calorie diets in the long term.
Also, low carb meals improve metabolic flexibility, letting the body switch between glucose and fat to provide energy. This is especially powerful on Keto and Carnivore diets, where fat-adaptation becomes one of the main advantages.
The Best Healthy Low Carb Meals for Keto Diet: High Protein Low Carb Meals
Keto-friendly meals focus on high protein (25-40g per meal), moderate fat from whole-food sources (butter, tallow, olive oil), and very low carbohydrates (≤10g per meal).
These high protein low carb meals improve satiety and metabolic rate while keeping carbs minimal. They also help maintain ketosis while preserving lean muscle mass.
The Best Healthy Low Carb Meals for the Carnivore Diet
Carnivore meals eliminate all plant foods, making them zero-carb and highly bioavailable. These meals are good for individuals looking to improve digestive issues, autoimmune conditions, or metabolic problems.
Healthy Carnivore meals include animal-based sources, such as:
Ruminant meats (beef, lamb)
Animal fats
Organ meats
Carnivore meals are easy because food choice is simple, and they do not require macro tracking, as hunger naturally regulates food consumption.
So, to enjoy these benefits and reach your diet goals, you need to learn how to make healthy low carb meals with quick and easy recipes.
Calories: 410 kcal | Protein: 34 g | Fat: 28 g | Net Carbs: 3 g
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Carnivore Beef Liver and Bacon
Two servings of this Carnivore beef liver and bacon can be made in only 15 minutes, if you know the right ingredients and instructions. Let’s get cooking!
Ingredients
8 oz. beef liver
2 slices of bacon
1 tsp ghee
2 tsp salt
Instructions
Fry bacon until crispy. Then remove them from the heat and chop.
Sear liver in the same pan for 3 minutes per side with ghee.
Sprinkle bacon over the liver and serve.
Nutrients per Serving
Calories: 350 kcal | Protein: 38 g | Fat: 22 g | Net Carbs: 0 g
These chicken zucchini noodles, or zoodles that are Keto-friendly, can be made in about 25 minutes. Let’s make 2 servings with the ingredients and instructions below.
Ingredients
2 chicken breasts (6 oz. each)
1 cup heavy cream
½ cup parmesan cheese
2 medium zucchini
1 tbsp butter
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
Instructions
Sauté chicken in butter for 5-6 minutes per side until cooked.
Add cream and parmesan and simmer for 5 more minutes.
Spiralize zucchinis.
Toss zucchini noodles in the sauce for 2-3 minutes.
Serve and enjoy!
Nutrients per Serving
Calories: 450 kcal | Protein: 40 g | Fat: 30 g | Net Carbs: 6 g
In addition to pork, you can use chicken in the above recipe. You need 4 hours to make 4 servings of this mouth-watering slow cooker pulled chicken, which is another common low carb crockpot recipe.
Ingredients
2 lbs chicken thighs
1 cup bone broth
2 tsp salt
Instructions
Add all ingredients to the crock pot.
Cook on low for 4 hours.
Shred and serve.
Nutrients per Serving
Calories: 310 kcal | Protein: 38 g | Fat: 18 g | Net Carbs: 0 g
This Keto shrimp and garlic butter is one of the best healthy low carb meals. You can make 2 servings of this dish in about 15 minutes, using the ingredients and instructions below.
Ingredients
12 large shrimp
2 tbsp butter
2 cloves of garlic
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
Instructions
Peel and devein the shrimp and mince garlic.
Melt butter and add garlic and shrimp.
Cook for 3 minutes per side and sprinkle paprika.
Serve hot and enjoy!
Nutrients per Serving
Calories: 220 kcal | Protein: 28 g | Fat: 12 g | Net Carbs: 2 g
Another of the best healthy low carb meals is this Keto chicken ceaser salad that is very popular among those on a Low-Carb Diet and a Keto Diet. Let’s make 2 servings in just about 15 minutes.
Ingredients
2 grilled chicken breasts
3 cups romaine lettuce
2 tbsp parmesan cheese
2 tbsp Caesar dressing (low-carb)
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
Instructions
Slice the chicken and toss it with lettuce and dressing.
Sprinkle parmesan and serve immediately.
Nutrients per Serving
Calories: 350 kcal | Protein: 32 g | Fat: 24 g | Net Carbs: 3 g
Garlic Butter Steak with Spinach (Low Carb High Protein Recipe)
This garlic butter steak with spinach is made in only 20 minutes. Let’s gather the ingredients below and follow the instructions to make this yummy dish.
Ingredients
8 oz. ribeye steak
1 tbsp butter
1 clove garlic
1 cup spinach
2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
Instructions
Season the steak with salt and pepper.
Sear the steak in a hot skillet for 3-4 minutes per side or more for more doneness.
Add butter and minced garlic, and baste the steak.
Remove the steak from the heat and set aside.
Sauté spinach in the remaining fat for 1 minute.
Serve hot and enjoy!
Nutrients per Serving
Calories: 540 kcal | Protein: 43 g | Fat: 40 g | Net Carbs: 2 g
Ground beef dishes are popular among those on a Carnivore Diet because ground beef makes various healthy low carb meals, which are also quick, yummy, and nutritious.
Ingredients
1 lb 80/20 ground beef
1 tsp sea salt
Instructions
Brown the beef over medium heat.
Season with salt.
Cook until desired doneness; do not drain fat.
Enjoy!
Nutrients per Serving
Calories: 960 kcal | Protein: 68 g | Fat: 76 g | Carbohydrates: 0 g
Low Calorie Meals vs Low Carb Meals: What Is Healthier?
Low-calorie meals focus on energy restriction, which usually costs protein and nutrients, while low-carb meals prioritize hormonal balance rather than calorie reduction.
The table below summarizes the main features of low calorie meals vs low carb meals:
Meal Type
Hunger
Sustainability
Muscle Loss
Low Calorie
High
Low
Common
Low Carb
Low
High
Minimal
Healthy low carb meals can lead to spontaneous calorie reduction without conscious restriction, making it easy to lose weight or improve health markers.
Low carb frozen meals can be convenient, but many contain hidden sugars, seed oils, or insufficient protein. If you want to make low carb frozen meals, look for ≥25g protein, ≤5g net carbs, and minimal ingredients.
But please remember that frozen meals should supplement, not replace, whole-food low-carb meals.
Final Takeaway
Healthy low carb meals are most effective when they emphasize protein quality, carb control, and metabolic health rather than calories alone.
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