23 Low-Carb Dinners That Can Help Support Brain Health

By

Danielle DeAngelis

Published on September 2, 2022

Reviewed by Dietitian

Jessica Ball, M.S., RD

Scallops & Cherry Tomatoes with Caper-Butter Sauce

Dinner tonight can be nutritious and delicious, thanks to these recipes. With 15 grams of carbohydrates or fewer per serving, these meals are ideal for those looking to maintain a low-carb eating pattern. These dishes also feature ingredients like fish, leafy green vegetables and eggs, which all help support your brain, improve memory and reduce risk of cognitive decline. Recipes like Scallops & Cherry Tomatoes with Caper-Butter Sauce and One-Pot Garlicky Shrimp & Broccoli are flavor-packed dinners that can help you meet your nutritional goals.

01 of 23

Scallops & Cherry Tomatoes with Caper-Butter Sauce

Scallops & Cherry Tomatoes with Caper-Butter Sauce

These pan-seared scallops come together in just 20 minutes for a delicious, easy dinner. You'll want some whole-wheat angel hair pasta or polenta to sop up all the rich, briny sauce.

02 of 23

One-Pot Garlicky Shrimp & Broccoli

One-Pot Garlicky Shrimp & Broccoli — Photography / Kelsey Hansen, Styling / Greg Luna

Shrimp cooks quickly in this easy, one-pot recipe, making it perfect for busy weeknights. Serve over whole grains or rice.

03 of 23

Walnut-Rosemary Crusted Salmon

Salmon and walnuts are both great sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Pair this easy salmon recipe with a simple salad and a side of roasted potatoes or quinoa.

04 of 23

Homemade Chicken Tenders with Everything Bagel Seasoning over Salad

Using everything bagel spice is a quick way to season and add extra crunch to breadcrumbs for chicken tenders. If you can't find any premixed, make your own by combining equal parts dried minced onion and garlic, poppy seeds, sesame seeds, salt and ground pepper (see Associated Recipes). This healthy chicken recipe tops a simple salad for an easy dinner that's ready in 25 minutes.

05 of 23

Salmon-Stuffed Avocados

Salmon-Stuffed Avocados

Canned salmon is a valuable pantry staple and a practical way to include heart-healthy omega-3-rich fish in your diet. Here, we combine it with avocados in an easy no-cook meal.

06 of 23

Easy Salmon Cakes with Arugula Salad

Easy Salmon Cakes with Arugula Salad

After making the salmon cakes, we firm them up for 5 minutes in the freezer before cooking so they don't fall apart when they hit the hot oil. You can also make these salmon cakes with canned salmon to make them pantry- and budget-friendly.

07 of 23

Chicken & White Bean Soup

Once again, rotisserie chickens can really relieve the dinner-rush pressure-especially in this Italian-inspired soup that cries out for a piece of crusty bread and a glass of red wine.

08 of 23

Chickpea Tuna Salad

Chickpea Tuna Salad — Photography / Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling / Ruth Blackburn

This chickpea tuna salad with capers, feta and cucumber makes for the perfect lunch to pack for work or school. You can prep the salad the night before (just be sure to keep the spinach separate and dress the salad right before serving).

09 of 23

Mozzarella, Basil & Zucchini Frittata

This vegetable-studded frittata recipe is one of the quickest meals you can make. Make it for breakfast, or serve for lunch or dinner with a tossed salad and a slice of olive oil-drizzled crusty baguette.

10 of 23

Avocado Tuna Salad

Avocado-Tuna Salad — Photography / Greg DuPree, Styling / Ruth BlackBurn / Julia Bayless

Jazz up a can of tuna with this easy avocado tuna salad recipe. Silky avocado adds creaminess that's cut with a hit of acidity from lemon and a briny punch from feta cheese. Romaine hearts and cucumber offer refreshing crunch.

11 of 23

Sheet-Pan Shrimp & Beets

For this easy sheet-pan dinner, beets get a head start in the oven while you prep the shrimp and kale. For a prettier presentation, leave the shrimp tails intact. Serve this one-pan recipe with a cool glass of rosé.

12 of 23

Chicken Florentine

Classic chicken Florentine--creamy spinach served atop sautéed chicken cutlets--is a fast and easy meal. To keep calories lower, this recipe uses cornstarch to thicken the cream instead of cheese. This chicken recipe is simple enough for weekdays but also elegant enough for a dinner party.

13 of 23

Teriyaki-Glazed Cod with Cauliflower Rice

This healthy fish recipe comes together fast with just three ingredients you can always have on hand in your freezer and fridge. Store-bought teriyaki glaze makes a great marinade for cod that doubles as a sauce for the cauliflower rice.

14 of 23

Salmon Caesar Salad

This easy Caesar salad subs creamy Greek yogurt and buttermilk for the traditional egg yolks and olive oil and mixes in mildly bitter radicchio in addition to classic romaine. Using just a small amount of flavorful Parmigiano-Reggiano shaves calories and sodium too.

15 of 23

Grilled Salmon with Sweet Peppers

It may seem counterintuitive to start the fish skin-side up. But when you flip it, the fish skin captures the juices as it finishes cooking for extra-flavorful results. Serve with chimichurri sauce (see Associated Recipe).

16 of 23

Skillet Eggs with Tomatillos & Spinach

This healthy skillet recipe features eggs cooked in a mixture of spinach, herbs and tomatillos. Garnish with a touch of harissa—a fiery chile paste—and dip some toasted whole-grain country bread into the jammy yolks.

17 of 23

Chopped Salad with Sriracha Tofu & Peanut Dressing

Prep four days' worth of high-protein vegan lunches using just four easy ingredients from your local specialty grocery store, including a veggie-heavy salad mix as a base. Because this salad mix is hearty, you can dress these bowls up to 24 hours before serving to allow the flavors in this healthy chopped salad to marry. If you can't find a hearty mix, go with broccoli slaw or shredded Brussels sprouts.

18 of 23

Crispy Cod with Charred Snow Peas & Creamy Herb Sauce

This crispy cod recipe shows you how to make golden fish that's not deep-fried, to put a healthy twist on a classic. Pat it dry and dredge it with a bit of flour before sautéing in a hot pan.

19 of 23

Frittata with Asparagus, Leek & Ricotta

Asparagus, Leek & Ricotta Frittata — Photographer / Jacob Fox, Food styling / Sue Mitchell, Food Styling / Kelsey Bulat

Serve this spring-vegetable-loaded frittata with an arugula salad and a hunk of crusty bread. Tip: This recipe cooks quickly, so be sure to have all your ingredients prepped and ready to go.

20 of 23

Roasted Salmon & Asparagus with Sauce Gribiche

Roasted Salmon & Asparagus with Sauce Gribiche — Jason Donnelly

Gribiche is a classic French sauce made with pantry items including capers, cornichons and Dijon mustard, plus fresh parsley and hard-boiled eggs. It's often served with cold meats or vegetables, but here we pair it with roasted fish and asparagus for a bright and acidic burst of flavor.

21 of 23

Chopped Power Salad with Chicken

Chopped Power Salad with Chicken — Jason Donnelly

Enjoy this filling and colorful salad for lunch or dinner. The dressing gets made in the same bowl that the salad is tossed in, so the greens absorb every bit of flavor.

22 of 23

Spinach & Artichoke Chicken

Spinach & Artichoke Smothered Chicken — Dera Burreson

Inspired by artichoke dip, we made a creamy cheese topping to serve on quick-cooking chicken breast cutlets for an oh-so-satisfying meal.

23 of 23

Fish Stew with Olives, Capers & Potatoes

The olive, caper and tomato-based sauce in this healthy fish stew recipe gives this very traditional Italian dish tons of flavor. Serve with crusty bread for dipping.

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Tell us why!

Related Articles

Buffalo Chicken Cauliflower Pizza

24 Comfort Food Dinners That Are Low-Carb and Satisfying

Philly Cheesesteak Stuffed Peppers

20 Low-Carb Dinners You'll Want to Make Forever

Shrimp Cauliflower Fried Rice

20 Low-Carb Dinners You'll Want to Make This Winter

Asparagus, Leek & Ricotta Frittata

22 Low-Carb Dinners You'll Want to Make This Spring

Easy Shrimp Scampi with Zucchini Noodles

18 Anti-Inflammatory Dinners That Are Low in Carbs

Salmon & Avocado Salad

29-Day Low-Carb Low-Cholesterol Dinner Plan

23 Low-Carb Dinners That Are Good for Your Heart

Easy Shrimp Scampi with Zucchini Noodles

30 Low-Carb Dinners You Can Make in 30 Minutes

a collage of recipe photos of 22 Low-Carb, High Protein Comfort Food Dinners

22 Low-Carb, High-Protein Comfort-Food Dinners

Easy Salmon Cakes with Arugula Salad

27 Low-Carb Sunday Dinners

One-Skillet Chicken Paprikash with Mushrooms & Onions

18 Low-Carb Skillet Dinners for the Mediterranean Diet

Crispy Cod with Charred Snow Peas & Creamy Herb Sauce

Our 19 Best Low-Carb Dinners That Are Easy to Make

Chopped Power Salad with Chicken

11 No-Cook, Low-Carb Dinners for a Healthy, Refreshing Evening

Grilled Flank Steak with Tomato Salad

15 Low-Carb Dinners You Can Prep in 15 Minutes

Shrimp Cauliflower Fried Rice

16 Easy Low-Carb Dinners You Can Make in One Pot

a collage of some of the 17 Low Carb High Protein Dinners for Fall

17 Low-Carb, High-Protein Dinners for Fall