Healthy Cooking Made Simple: 7 Low Carb and Paleo Dinner Ideas for Busy Weeknights
Low carb and paleo cooking is a popular dietary choice that has gained traction in recent years. It involves eating whole, unprocessed foods while avoiding grains, dairy, legumes, and added sugars. While it may seem challenging to stick to this way of eating, there are plenty of delicious recipes out there that make healthy eating easy and enjoyable. In this article, we’ll share seven low carb and paleo dinner ideas that are perfect for busy weeknights.
What Is Low Carb and Paleo Cooking?
Low carb and paleo cooking is based on the idea that our ancestors evolved to eat a certain type of diet – one that was high in protein, healthy fats, and vegetables, but low in sugar and processed foods. By following this approach, proponents of the diet believe they can improve their overall health and wellbeing. Some potential benefits include weight loss, improved blood sugar control, and reduced inflammation.
Seven Healthy Recipes for Busy Weeknights
1. Chicken Stir Fry with Broccoli and Mushrooms
Ingredients: chicken breast, broccoli florets, sliced mushrooms, coconut oil, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, honey
Preparation Tips: Cut the chicken into bite-size pieces, trim the broccoli and slice the mushrooms, heat up the coconut oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the chicken and stir-fry until browned, add the broccoli and mushrooms and continue to stir-fry until tender, drizzle with soy sauce and honey and serve hot.
2. Slow Cooker Beef Stew
Ingredients: beef chuck roast, onion, celery, carrots, tomato paste, beef broth, thyme, salt, pepper
Preparation Tips: Trim the beef and cut into bite-size pieces, brown the meat in a large skillet, transfer to slow cooker along with the remaining ingredients except for the fresh herbs, cook on low for 6-8 hours or until the meat is tender, sprinkle with fresh parsley before serving.
3. Salmon with Lemon and Herbs
Ingredients: salmon fillets, lemon juice, olive oil, chopped fresh herbs (such as parsley, dill, and basil), garlic, salt, pepper
Preparation Tips: Preheat the oven to 400°F, season the salmon fillets with salt and pepper, mix together the lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, and chopped herbs in a small bowl, brush the mixture onto the salmon fillets, bake for 15-20 minutes or until cooked through, serve hot.
4. Cauliflower Fried Rice
Ingredients: cauliflower rice, eggs, diced onion, minced garlic, frozen mixed vegetables (such as peas, corn, and carrots), soy sauce, sesame oil, scallions
Preparation Tips: Cook the cauliflower rice according to package instructions, beat the eggs in a separate bowl, sauté the onion and garlic in a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the cauliflower rice and mixed vegetables and continue to sauté until heated through, push the rice to one side of the skillet and pour the beaten eggs into the other side, scramble the eggs then mix them into the rice, drizzle with soy sauce and sesame oil and sprinkle with scallions before serving.
5. Turkey Chili
Ingredients: ground turkey, onion, bell peppers, garlic, canned crushed tomatoes, kidney beans, chili powder, cumin, coriander, salt, pepper
Preparation Tips: Brown the turkey in a large pot over medium-high heat, add the onion, bell peppers, and garlic and continue to sauté until softened, add the crushed tomatoes, kidney beans, chili powder, cumin, coriander, salt, and pepper and bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes or until thickened, serve hot.
6. Zucchini Noodles with Tomato Sauce
Ingredients: zucchinis, spiralizer or julienne peeler, tomato sauce, grated Parmesan cheese
Preparation Tips: Spiralize or julienne the zucchinis into noodle shapes, heat up a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the zucchini noodles and sauté for 2-3 minutes or until slightly softened, remove from heat and toss with tomato sauce and grated Parmesan cheese, serve hot.
7. Roasted Vegetables with Balsamic Glaze
Ingredients: eggplant, zucchini, red bell pepper, yellow squash, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, dijon mustard, salt, pepper
Preparation Tips: Preheat the oven to 400°F, cut the vegetables into bite-size pieces, toss with olive oil in a large bowl, arrange the vegetables on a baking sheet and roast for 20-25 minutes or until tender, whisk together the balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, dijon mustard, salt, and pepper in a small bowl, drizzle the glaze over the roasted vegetables and serve hot.
Ingredients and Preparation Tips
The ingredients used in these recipes are all natural and unprocessed, including lean proteins such as chicken and turkey, colorful vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower, and healthy fats such as coconut oil and olive oil. The preparation tips provided above will help you get started making these delicious meals at home. Don’t forget to check the nutritional information and benefits section below for more details about each recipe.
Nutritional Information and Benefits
All of these low carb and paleo dinner ideas are packed full of essential vitamins, minerals, and macronutrients needed for optimal health. They are also low in carbohydrates, which makes them ideal for those looking to manage their blood sugar levels or lose weight. Here are some specific nutritional highlights for each recipe:
1. Chicken Stir Fry with Broccoli and Mushrooms – This recipe contains approximately 300 calories per serving, with 29g of protein, 10g of fat, and 17g of net carbs. It’s also a good source of fiber, vitamin C, and antioxidants from the broccoli and mushrooms.
2. Slow Cooker Beef Stew – This recipe contains approximately 400 calories per serving, with 30g of protein, 18g of fat, and 10g of net carbs. It’s also rich in iron, zinc, and B vitamins from the beef and veggies.
3. Salmon with Lemon and Herbs – This recipe contains approximately 250 calories per serving, with 22g of protein, 20g of fat, and 4g of net carbs. It’s also an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, which have been linked to improved heart health.
