Looking for high protein low carb recipes that go beyond plain chicken? Think colorful lettuce boats, salmon bowls and a chicken bake with a golden top.
These 20 pictures give you plenty of meal inspiration, whether you’re planning breakfast or deciding what’s for dinner.
You can keep things simple or try something a little different. These are visual ideas rather than tested recipes, so check ingredients, portions and nutrition before deciding what fits your goals.
Protein-Focused Meal Ideas Worth Saving
chicken zucchini bake
We’re starting off strong with this golden chicken zucchini bake. I love the browned topping and the overlapping vegetable slices.
The cut portion gives you a peek at the chicken tucked underneath.
If you want something green alongside it, a simple leafy salad would be a lovely addition.
egg roll in a bowl
How colorful is this bowl? The crumbled meat sits among pale and purple cabbage, carrot strips and plenty of green onion.
Those little sesame seeds finish it off.
For your own version, choose a ground meat you enjoy and check the sauce ingredients rather than assuming every egg roll bowl has the same carb content.
loaded lettuce boats
I am obsessed with how these lettuce boats are lined up on the platter. Each leaf holds a crumbled filling with avocado, tomato, red onion and shredded cheese.
Try the same serving idea when you want an alternative to taco shells. Keep the toppings chopped small so you can tuck a little of everything into each leaf.
golden chicken and asparagus
If you like a simple chicken-and-vegetable combination, this one is for you. The browned chicken pieces sit beside asparagus with lemon slices tucked at the top.
I especially love the little green herbs scattered over everything.
salmon and avocado bowl
This salmon bowl may just be one of my favorites here. I love the fan of avocado beside the tomato wedges, leafy greens and cabbage.
Black and white seeds stand out against the pink fish.
The pale base isn’t clear enough to identify from the photo. For a lower-carb version of your own, you could choose cauliflower rice.
bacon-wrapped chicken
Want to try something different with chicken? These pieces have browned bacon strips wrapped around them, with a little chopped green garnish on top.
The golden juices collect in the bottom of the baking dish.
I’d pair this with broccoli or a cabbage salad rather than add another rich side.
steak and broccoli skillet
The steak and broccoli fans are going to love this combination. Thick pieces of steak sit between bright green florets, with dark sauce underneath and sesame seeds scattered on top.
To adapt the idea, look for a sauce without added sugar. The keto label on the image isn’t a substitute for checking the actual recipe.
little vegetable egg cups
How cute are these little egg cups? The pale centers are dotted with red vegetable pieces and leafy greens, with golden patches around the edges.
This is a pretty serving idea for breakfast. For your own batch, red pepper and spinach would give you a similar mix of colors.
shrimp and avocado salad
I love this shrimp salad with its big avocado slices. The chopped red onion and green leaves make it look even more colorful against the pale lettuce underneath.
Read also: 20 New Year's Eve Dinner Ideas for Two, From Steak to Sharing Boards
If you want to add a citrus finish, try a squeeze of lime just before serving. That’s an optional addition rather than a dressing we can identify here.
chopped chicken and red peppers
Sometimes the prep photo is the useful part. Here, chopped chicken is piled on a board beside red pepper halves. There isn’t a finished dish shown yet.
You could use this combination as a starting point for chicken-filled peppers or a chopped salad. Pick a complete recipe before deciding on the remaining ingredients.
pepperoni pizza chicken
Calling all pepperoni fans, this pizza chicken is worth a look. The pieces are covered with melted cheese and overlapping pepperoni rounds, with red sauce collecting around them.
If you’re borrowing this idea for dinner, I’d keep the side simple with roasted zucchini or a green salad.
meatballs in red sauce
Don’t want another plain meat-and-vegetable plate? This bowl takes a different direction with large meatballs, red sauce and a fine grated topping.
The strands underneath aren’t identifiable from the picture. For your own lower-carb adaptation, try zucchini noodles and check whether the meatball recipe includes breadcrumbs.
tuna with sesame seeds
This one shows the prep rather than the finished meal. A red tuna steak sits in a dish of black and white sesame seeds, ready for the next step.
I love the sesame coating idea. Use a tested tuna recipe for the cooking instructions, then consider cucumber salad as a side.
golden casserole squares
That browned cheese topping is the first thing that catches my eye. The casserole has been cut into thick squares, with a pale interior and darker pieces showing along the edges.
The full filling isn’t clear from this photo, so this is one to verify before adding it to your meal plan. A golden top alone won’t tell you its protein or carb content.
chicken fajita bowl
There’s so much to like about this bowl, from the browned chicken to the peppers and onions. The image identifies the pale base as cauliflower rice, with black beans served beside it.
Beans contribute carbohydrates too. If you want to lower the carbs in your version, you could use a smaller bean portion and add more non-starchy vegetables.
pork chops and green beans
If you’re looking for a straightforward dinner idea, save this combination. The browned pork chops sit over green beans with little flecks of seasoning across the top.
I’d keep the same simple arrangement when serving. There’s no need for lots of extra toppings to follow this look.
buffalo chicken avocado halves
I am obsessed with this serving idea. The avocado halves hold orange-coated buffalo chicken, with white crumbles and sliced green onion scattered over the top.
The celery sticks in the background are worth keeping alongside your own version. They fit right in without needing another elaborate side.
spinach and cottage cheese quiche
The spinach-packed filling and golden top look so pretty together. The image calls this a cottage cheese and spinach crustless quiche, although a distinct brown bottom layer is visible.
Check the original recipe to confirm what that layer contains before treating it as crustless or low carb. The picture alone doesn’t settle that detail.
steak and pepper skewers
These skewers are such a colorful way to serve steak. I love the green and yellow peppers alternating with red onion and browned meat.
Try that same arrangement for your own skewers. There’s a sauce on the side here, but you’ll need the recipe to know what’s in it.
tofu and spinach scramble
Last but definitely not least, we have this bright tofu scramble. The yellow crumbles are mixed with spinach, sliced mushrooms and chopped green onion, with tomato wedges alongside.
Read also: 20 Meal Ideas to Inspire Your High Protein Low Cal Meals
The image also shows some served on bread. For a lower-carb variation, you could serve yours over extra greens instead.