23 Healthy Restaurant Favorites Made Low-Carb (2024)

Whether you're craving Chinese, Italian or classic American food, these recipes will help you recreate your favorite restaurant meals in your own kitchen—with a low-carb twist. The appetizers and main dishes contain 15 grams or less of carbohydrates per serving and are packed with flavor. Recipes like Sweet & Sour Pork with a Sesame Crust and Creamy Lemon Chicken Parmesan are healthy, delicious and now homemade.

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Almost Chipotle's Guacamole

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Make guacamole at home that tastes just like it came from Chipotle--but don't worry, our version won't be extra! This deliciously fresh guac is perfect for topping burrito bowls or tacos, or for serving as an appetizer or healthy snack with tortilla chips and veggies. Source: EatingWell.com, November 2017

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Shrimp Cauliflower Fried Rice

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Cut down on carbs and amp up your veggie servings with our recipe for cauliflower fried rice with shrimp, broccoli, bell peppers and garlic. Everything is cooked in one wok or skillet, but in stages, so each element keeps its integrity in the finished dish. Resist the urge to stir the cauliflower rice right away. Letting it cook undisturbed for a few minutes allows it to brown and develop sweet, nutty flavors. This healthy dinner comes together in just 25 minutes, so it's perfect for busy weeknights. Source: EatingWell.com, October 2019

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Vegetarian Lettuce Wraps

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Stuff crisp lettuce leaves with a savory filling inspired by PF Chang's famous lettuce wraps. These low-carb wraps made with tofu, mushrooms and daikon radish are an easy vegetarian dinner. Add julienned carrots to the wraps for a bonus crunch. Source: EatingWell.com, January 2020

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Spinach & Artichoke-Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

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Stuffed mushrooms and spinach-artichoke dip come together in this quick vegetarian recipe. Serve these cheesy stuffed mushrooms with a big salad for a satisfying and healthy dinner. Source: EatingWell.com, January 2020

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Mapo Tofu

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Mapo tofu is a dish that has become popular outside its roots in Szechuan Province, China, perhaps because it is so adaptable. The type and amount of both tofu and meat can vary and even the spicy sauce can be tuned to the desired level of heat. Source: EatingWell Magazine, May 2020

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Mushroom-Cauliflower Risotto

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Easy homemade cauliflower rice stands in for arborio rice in this healthy vegetable-based risotto, reducing both the calories and carbs in this comforting dish. To make this a vegetarian meal, use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine, Fall 2019

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Chicken & Shiitake Dumplings in Tangy Chile-Oil Sauce

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Serve these deliciously savory mushroom-and-chicken dumplings for Lunar New Year or any other special occasion. The sauce has just the right balance of sweet, spicy and tangy flavors. Source: EatingWell.com, January 2020

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Buffalo Chicken Cauliflower Pizza

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Cauliflower rice, egg and shredded mozzarella combine to make an easy low-carb pizza crust. Top the gluten-free pizza with tangy Buffalo sauce, chicken and blue cheese for a flavorful dinner or game-day favorite. Fresh celery is added at the end for cool crunch. Source: EatingWell.com, November 2017

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Honey Walnut Shrimp

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Walnuts are given a brown sugar coating that pairs nicely with sweet and savory shrimp in our version of this popular restaurant dish. Serve the shrimp with rice and steamed veggies to make it a full, healthy meal. This ultra-quick dinner recipe is sure to become a new weeknight favorite. Source: EatingWell.com, January 2020

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Sausage-Spiked Meatloaves

This meatloaf riff uses sausage to boost its flavor. When you're already cooking meatloaf, it's not much more effort to prep a second meatloaf. The extra one makes a delicious day-after meal (see Tip for ideas for the leftovers) or freeze it for another time. Source: EatingWell Magazine, December 2019

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Hot Pot-Style Pork & Vegetables

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We've adapted this hot pot-style dish for your slow cooker. Pork shoulder becomes meltingly tender during the slow braise, and ginger, garlic, star anise and cinnamon make for a beautifully flavored and aromatic broth. Serve over noodles or brown rice, with stir-fried napa cabbage.

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Chicken Piccata

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Here, chicken cutlets are cooked in a fragrant, tangy sauce featuring garlic, capers, wine and lemon juice. Serve over zucchini noodles to sop up all of the delicious sauce. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine

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Baked Zucchini Waffle Fries with Creamy Herb Dip

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These crispy baked zucchini waffle fries with a ranch-style dipping sauce are a super-fun snack, appetizer or side dish. You can use all sorts of herbs in the creamy dipping sauce, including chives, dill, tarragon or parsley. The sauce pairs nicely with the Old Bay in the breadcrumb coating on the zucchini. To create the waffle shape, you can use a mandoline or special waffle cutter. You can choose to slice the zucchini if you'd rather not fuss with special equipment. Source: EatingWell.com, September 2019

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Classic Beef Burgers with Cauliflower Buns

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These juicy burgers skip the traditional bread bun in favor of a savory grain-free cauliflower bun that contains a bit of Cheddar cheese. A mixture of onions, ketchup and Worcestershire sauce gives the burger patties tons of flavor, and the addition of a tangy special sauce makes for a burger with serious personality. Note: If you would like to make these burgers gluten-free, be sure to check the ingredients for the ketchup and Worcestershire sauce to make sure they're gluten-free. Source: EatingWell.com, June 2019

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Healthy Buffalo Chicken Dip

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This healthy Buffalo chicken dip is one quick appetizer to remember for your next Super Bowl party (or any party). A simple mixture of reduced-fat sour cream and reduced-fat cream cheese is baked with shredded chicken breast and the classic spicy-tangy hot sauce with a crumble of blue cheese on top. It's perfect for heaping onto celery and carrot sticks or any other crispy vegetable. Source: EatingWell.com, December 2019

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Sweet & Sour Pork with a Sesame Crust

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You'll recognize the flavors of sesame, soy and white pepper from the beloved restaurant dish that inspired this recipe for sweet and sour (boneless) pork chops. White pepper is more mild and earthy than black pepper, but either will work here. Source: EatingWell Magazine, January/February 2020

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Garlic-Parmesan Chicken Wings

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Forget the fryer—these baked garlic-Parmesan chicken wings get a crispy coating (without tons of oil) from panko breadcrumbs combined with grated Parmesan cheese. A drizzle of balsamic vinegar glaze gives this healthy appetizer a sweet and tangy finishing note. Source: EatingWell.com, December 2019

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Beef Stir-Fry with Baby Bok Choy & Ginger

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All the ingredients for this easy beef stir-fry recipe are cooked in one wok (or skillet), so not only is the meal-prep fast for this healthy dinner, cleanup is quick too. Look for Lee Kum Kee Premium oyster-flavored sauce in the Asian-foods aisle of your grocery store. It has the most concentrated oyster flavor. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine, Fall 2019

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Baked Piri Piri Chicken Thighs

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With Portuguese and southern African roots, piri piri is a spicy chile sauce that has become popular globally. Here we blend hot peppers (bird's eye chiles) with sweet bell peppers, vinegar, lemon, garlic and bay leaves to season baked chicken thighs. This easy, healthy chicken recipe is designed to make more than you need for one dinner. See Tips for ideas for using the leftovers to make healthy chicken tacos, grain bowls and salads. Source: EatingWell Magazine, October 2019

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Crab Wontons with Brie

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In this riff on crab Rangoon, we bake the stuffed wonton instead of frying to lighten things up. Preheating the pan and coating the bites with cooking spray ensures they still get crispy. Source: EatingWell Magazine, December 2019

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Creamy Lemon Chicken Parmesan

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This riff on classic chicken Parmesan replaces the usual marinara with a luscious lemony cream sauce. We've lightened it up by using half-and-half instead of cream, with just-as-delicious results. Serve this lemony chicken dinner with whole-wheat pasta or brown rice. Source: EatingWell.com, January 2018

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Best Caesar Salad with Crispy Parmesan

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For a nutrient-packed twist, this healthy Caesar salad features spinach and kale in addition to romaine. But it's the Parmesan crisps that make this salad holiday-worthy. Serve it for Thanksgiving or any other special meal. Source: EatingWell Magazine, November 2019

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Ginger-Lime Chicken Wings with Garlicky Peanut Sauce

Chicken wings are great for game night and a perfect appetizer for a party, but don't get stuck in the rut of always serving BBQ or buffalo wings. Add variety to game nights with this easy, flavorful slow-cooker recipe. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine

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Low-Carb Recipes:

This article features a collection of low-carb recipes that allow you to recreate your favorite restaurant meals at home. These recipes are designed to be healthy, delicious, and lower in carbohydrates. Some of the recipes mentioned include:

  1. Almost Chipotle's Guacamole: This recipe helps you make guacamole at home that tastes similar to the one served at Chipotle. It can be used as a topping for burrito bowls or tacos, or served as an appetizer with tortilla chips and veggies.
  2. Shrimp Cauliflower Fried Rice: This recipe is a low-carb version of fried rice. It uses cauliflower rice instead of traditional rice and includes shrimp, broccoli, bell peppers, and garlic for added flavor.
  3. Vegetarian Lettuce Wraps: Inspired by PF Chang's famous lettuce wraps, this recipe uses tofu, mushrooms, and daikon radish as a savory filling. Carrots can be added for extra crunch.
  4. Spinach & Artichoke-Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms: This vegetarian recipe combines stuffed mushrooms and spinach-artichoke dip. It can be served with a salad for a satisfying and healthy dinner.
  5. Mapo Tofu: Mapo tofu is a popular dish from Szechuan Province, China. It is known for its adaptability, allowing variations in the type and amount of tofu, meat, and spicy sauce used.
  6. Mushroom-Cauliflower Risotto: This recipe replaces arborio rice with homemade cauliflower rice to reduce calories and carbs. It can be made vegetarian by using vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
  7. Chicken & Shiitake Dumplings in Tangy Chile-Oil Sauce: These mushroom-and-chicken dumplings are a delicious option for Lunar New Year or any special occasion. The sauce combines sweet, spicy, and tangy flavors.
  8. Buffalo Chicken Cauliflower Pizza: This recipe offers a low-carb pizza crust made from cauliflower rice, egg, and shredded mozzarella. It is topped with tangy Buffalo sauce, chicken, blue cheese, and fresh celery for crunch.
  9. Honey Walnut Shrimp: This recipe pairs sweet and savory shrimp with brown sugar-coated walnuts. It can be served with rice and steamed veggies for a full, healthy meal.
  10. Sausage-Spiked Meatloaves: This meatloaf recipe uses sausage to enhance the flavor. It suggests preparing a second meatloaf alongside the main one for leftovers or freezing for future use.
  11. Hot Pot-Style Pork & Vegetables: This dish is adapted for slow cookers. It features pork shoulder braised with ginger, garlic, star anise, and cinnamon, served over noodles or brown rice with stir-fried napa cabbage.
  12. Chicken Piccata: Chicken cutlets are cooked in a tangy sauce with garlic, capers, wine, and lemon juice. It can be served over zucchini noodles for a low-carb option.
  13. Baked Zucchini Waffle Fries with Creamy Herb Dip: These crispy baked zucchini waffle fries are served with a ranch-style dipping sauce. The sauce can be customized with various herbs.
  14. Classic Beef Burgers with Cauliflower Buns: This recipe replaces traditional bread buns with savory cauliflower buns that contain Cheddar cheese. The burger patties are flavored with onions, ketchup, and Worcestershire sauce.
  15. Healthy Buffalo Chicken Dip: This dip is made with reduced-fat sour cream, reduced-fat cream cheese, shredded chicken breast, and spicy-tangy hot sauce. It can be served with celery and carrot sticks or other crispy vegetables.
  16. Sweet & Sour Pork with a Sesame Crust: This recipe is inspired by the flavors of sesame, soy, and white pepper. It offers a sweet and sour twist on boneless pork chops.
  17. Garlic-Parmesan Chicken Wings: These baked chicken wings are coated with panko breadcrumbs and grated Parmesan cheese for a crispy texture. A drizzle of balsamic vinegar glaze adds a sweet and tangy finish.
  18. Beef Stir-Fry with Baby Bok Choy & Ginger: This easy beef stir-fry recipe combines all the ingredients in one wok or skillet. It features Lee Kum Kee Premium oyster-flavored sauce for a concentrated oyster flavor.
  19. Baked Piri Piri Chicken Thighs: This recipe uses piri piri sauce, a spicy chile sauce with Portuguese and southern African roots, to season baked chicken thighs. Leftovers can be used to make healthy chicken tacos, grain bowls, and salads.
  20. Crab Wontons with Brie: This recipe is a baked version of crab Rangoon, using wonton wrappers stuffed with crab and Brie cheese. Preheating the pan and using cooking spray ensures a crispy texture.
  21. Creamy Lemon Chicken Parmesan: This recipe replaces the traditional marinara sauce with a lemony cream sauce for chicken Parmesan. Half-and-half is used instead of cream to lighten the dish.
  22. Best Caesar Salad with Crispy Parmesan: This Caesar salad recipe includes spinach and kale in addition to romaine lettuce. Parmesan crisps add a special touch to the salad.
  23. Ginger-Lime Chicken Wings with Garlicky Peanut Sauce: This slow-cooker recipe offers a flavorful twist on chicken wings, featuring ginger, lime, and a garlicky peanut sauce.

Please note that the information provided above is based on this article.

23 Healthy Restaurant Favorites Made Low-Carb (2024)

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