23+ Delicious Zero Carb Lunch Recipes to Try Today

Eating zero carb doesn’t mean sacrificing flavor or satisfaction—especially when it comes to lunch.

Whether you’re following a ketogenic lifestyle, managing blood sugar, or simply aiming to reduce your carbohydrate intake, zero carb lunches can be both delicious and nourishing.

From hearty grilled meats to fresh vegetable dishes and seafood delights, there are plenty of creative recipes to keep your midday meal exciting and full of variety.

In this collection of 23+ zero carb lunch recipes, you’ll discover flavorful options that are easy to prepare, packed with nutrients, and completely free from carbohydrates, making your lunchtime both healthy and indulgent.

23+ Delicious Zero Carb Lunch Recipes to Try Today

Zero carb lunches offer a wonderful way to enjoy rich, satisfying meals without the carbs, making them perfect for maintaining energy and staying on track with your dietary goals.

The 23+ recipes featured here provide plenty of inspiration—from crispy pork belly and flavorful grilled steaks to fresh salads and vegetable-based dishes—ensuring that your no-carb meals never feel boring or restrictive.

With these recipes, you can confidently prepare lunches that are as tasty as they are nutritious.

Grilled Ribeye Steak

Grilled ribeye steak is a perfect zero-carb lunch option that delivers rich flavor and satisfying protein without any carbohydrates.

The marbled fat in the ribeye keeps the steak juicy and tender, making it a hearty and fulfilling meal for those following a zero-carb or ketogenic lifestyle.

Ingredients:

• Ribeye steak
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Olive oil or butter
• Fresh herbs (optional)

Instructions:

1. Preheat your grill or skillet to high heat.
2. Season the ribeye generously with salt and pepper.
3. Lightly oil the grill grates or pan, then cook the steak to your desired doneness, about 3-5 minutes per side depending on thickness.
4. Let the steak rest for a few minutes before serving.

This grilled ribeye steak provides a juicy, flavorful meal that’s simple to prepare and completely free of carbs, perfect for anyone wanting to enjoy a zero-carb lunch that’s both indulgent and nutritious.

Pan-Seared Salmon with Herb Butter

Pan-seared salmon with herb butter is a delicious zero-carb lunch that combines the rich flavors of fatty salmon with a fragrant, buttery herb sauce.

This dish is packed with omega-3 fatty acids and offers a satisfying, low-prep meal option.

Ingredients:

• Salmon fillets
• Butter
• Fresh parsley, dill, or chives
• Lemon juice
• Salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. Season salmon fillets with salt and pepper.
2. Heat butter in a skillet over medium-high heat and cook the salmon skin-side down until crisp, then flip and cook until done.
3. In the same pan, melt more butter and stir in chopped fresh herbs and a squeeze of lemon juice.
4. Drizzle the herb butter over the salmon before serving.

This pan-seared salmon with herb butter is a flavorful and elegant zero-carb meal that’s both nourishing and satisfying, ideal for a quick yet impressive lunch.

Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Thighs

Bacon-wrapped chicken thighs are a savory and juicy zero-carb lunch option that combines tender chicken with the smoky flavor of crispy bacon.

This dish is easy to prepare and perfect for anyone looking for a protein-packed, carb-free meal.

Ingredients:

• Chicken thighs, boneless and skinless
• Bacon strips
• Garlic powder
• Paprika
• Salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. Season chicken thighs with garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
2. Wrap each thigh with a strip of bacon and secure with toothpicks if necessary.
3. Bake in the oven or cook in a skillet until the chicken is cooked through and the bacon is crispy.

This bacon-wrapped chicken thigh recipe is a flavorful, zero-carb lunch that combines juicy meat with crispy bacon, making it a satisfying and indulgent choice without any carbs.

Garlic Butter Shrimp

Garlic butter shrimp is a quick and flavorful zero-carb lunch recipe that highlights succulent shrimp cooked in a rich garlic butter sauce.

This dish is packed with protein and healthy fats, making it perfect for a satisfying low- or zero-carb meal.

Ingredients:

• Large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• Butter
• Garlic, minced
• Fresh parsley
• Lemon juice
• Salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat.
2. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant.
3. Toss in the shrimp, seasoning with salt and pepper, and cook until pink and opaque.
4. Finish with fresh parsley and a squeeze of lemon juice before serving.

This garlic butter shrimp dish is not only fast to prepare but also bursting with rich, savory flavors, making it an ideal zero-carb lunch that feels indulgent and fresh.

Beef Lettuce Wraps

Beef lettuce wraps are a fresh and easy zero-carb lunch option that replaces traditional wraps or bread with crisp lettuce leaves.

Filled with seasoned ground beef and aromatic spices, these wraps are both flavorful and low in carbs.

Ingredients:

• Ground beef
• Garlic and onion powder
• Soy sauce or coconut aminos
• Iceberg or romaine lettuce leaves
• Green onions (optional)
• Salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. Cook ground beef in a skillet, seasoning with garlic powder, onion powder, soy sauce, salt, and pepper.
2. Spoon the cooked beef into washed lettuce leaves.
3. Garnish with sliced green onions if desired and serve immediately.

These beef lettuce wraps offer a satisfying combination of juicy meat and crisp lettuce, making them a perfect zero-carb lunch that’s both fresh and filling.

Egg and Avocado Salad

Egg and avocado salad is a creamy, nutrient-dense zero-carb lunch recipe that combines protein-rich boiled eggs with healthy fats from ripe avocado.

This salad is easy to make and perfect for a light yet filling meal.

Ingredients:

• Hard-boiled eggs, chopped
• Ripe avocado, diced
• Mayonnaise or olive oil
• Lemon juice
• Salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. In a bowl, gently mix chopped eggs and diced avocado.
2. Add mayonnaise or a drizzle of olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper to taste.
3. Mix until combined but still chunky, then serve chilled.

This egg and avocado salad is creamy and satisfying, making it a great zero-carb lunch that provides both energy and essential nutrients without any carbohydrates.

Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad

Grilled chicken Caesar salad is a refreshing zero-carb lunch option that combines juicy grilled chicken breast with crisp romaine lettuce and a creamy Caesar dressing.

It’s packed with protein and healthy fats while keeping carbs at zero, making it perfect for a satisfying midday meal.

Ingredients:

• Grilled chicken breast, sliced
• Romaine lettuce, chopped
• Caesar dressing (low or no-carb)
• Parmesan cheese, shaved
• Salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. Grill chicken breast until fully cooked and slice it thinly.
2. Toss chopped romaine lettuce with Caesar dressing.
3. Top the salad with grilled chicken slices and shaved Parmesan cheese.
4. Season with salt and pepper as needed and serve immediately.

This salad offers a classic, flavorful meal that is filling and zero-carb, ideal for anyone wanting a quick and delicious lunch.

Stuffed Bell Peppers with Ground Beef

Stuffed bell peppers with ground beef make for a hearty zero-carb lunch.

The peppers are filled with savory, seasoned ground beef and baked until tender, providing a satisfying and flavorful meal that contains zero carbs.

Ingredients:

• Bell peppers, halved and seeded
• Ground beef
• Onion, diced
• Garlic, minced
• Olive oil
• Salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. Sauté onion and garlic in olive oil until softened.
2. Add ground beef and cook until browned; season with salt and pepper.
3. Stuff the bell pepper halves with the beef mixture.
4. Bake in the oven until the peppers are tender and the filling is hot.

This dish delivers a savory, comforting lunch that’s simple to prepare and perfect for those following a zero-carb lifestyle.

Zucchini Noodles with Pesto and Grilled Shrimp

Zucchini noodles with pesto and grilled shrimp is a light yet flavorful zero-carb lunch.

The zucchini noodles replace traditional pasta, paired with fresh basil pesto and juicy grilled shrimp for a meal that’s both refreshing and satisfying.

Ingredients:

• Zucchini, spiralized into noodles
• Shrimp, peeled and deveined
• Basil pesto (low-carb)
• Olive oil
• Salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. Grill or sauté shrimp seasoned with salt and pepper until cooked through.
2. Toss zucchini noodles with basil pesto and a drizzle of olive oil.
3. Top the noodles with grilled shrimp and serve immediately.

This dish combines fresh, vibrant flavors with zero carbs, making it an excellent choice for a quick and healthy lunch.

Seared Duck Breast

Seared duck breast is a rich and flavorful zero-carb lunch option that features tender, juicy meat with crispy skin.

The dish is simple to prepare and pairs well with a light salad or steamed vegetables to keep it carb-free.

Ingredients:

• Duck breasts
• Salt and pepper
• Olive oil or duck fat

Instructions:

1. Score the skin of the duck breasts and season with salt and pepper.
2. Heat a skillet over medium heat and place duck breasts skin-side down.
3. Cook slowly until the skin is crispy, then flip and cook the other side until medium rare or to your liking.
4. Rest the meat before slicing and serving.

This seared duck breast offers an indulgent, protein-packed meal with zero carbs, perfect for a gourmet zero-carb lunch.

Tuna Salad Stuffed Avocado

Tuna salad stuffed avocado is a creamy, nutrient-rich zero-carb lunch that combines the healthy fats of avocado with protein-packed tuna salad.

It’s easy to assemble and provides a refreshing, satisfying meal.

Ingredients:

• Ripe avocados, halved and pitted
• Canned tuna, drained
• Mayonnaise or Greek yogurt
• Celery, diced
• Lemon juice
• Salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. Mix tuna with mayonnaise, diced celery, lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
2. Spoon the tuna salad into avocado halves.
3. Serve immediately for a cool, creamy, and filling zero-carb lunch.

This dish is perfect for a quick, delicious meal that’s both healthy and completely carb-free.

Baked Cod with Lemon and Dill

Baked cod with lemon and dill is a light and flavorful zero-carb lunch choice.

The flaky white fish is baked with fresh herbs and lemon, delivering a fresh taste that’s both healthy and satisfying.

Ingredients:

• Cod fillets
• Lemon slices
• Fresh dill
• Olive oil
• Salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven and place cod fillets in a baking dish.
2. Drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper.
3. Top with lemon slices and fresh dill.
4. Bake until the fish flakes easily with a fork.

This baked cod dish is a simple yet elegant zero-carb lunch that’s perfect for a nutritious and light meal.

Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

Stuffed Portobello mushrooms make a delicious and satisfying zero-carb lunch option.

The large mushroom caps are filled with a savory mixture of cheese, herbs, and sautéed vegetables, creating a flavorful meal without any carbs.

Ingredients:

• Large Portobello mushrooms, stems removed
• Cream cheese or goat cheese
• Spinach, sautéed
• Garlic, minced
• Parmesan cheese
• Olive oil
• Salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven and brush mushrooms with olive oil.
2. Mix cream cheese, sautéed spinach, garlic, salt, and pepper.
3. Fill mushroom caps with the cheese mixture and sprinkle Parmesan on top.
4. Bake until mushrooms are tender and cheese is golden.

This dish offers a rich, creamy texture with earthy mushroom flavor, perfect for a zero-carb lunch that feels indulgent and wholesome.

Crispy Pork Belly

Crispy pork belly is a decadent zero-carb lunch that features tender, flavorful pork with a crispy crackling skin.

Slow-roasted and perfectly seasoned, it’s a mouthwatering dish that’s great for those following a carb-free diet.

Ingredients:

• Pork belly with skin
• Salt
• Olive oil
• Pepper

Instructions:

1. Score the pork skin and rub with salt and olive oil.
2. Roast pork belly slowly to render fat and tenderize meat.
3. Increase heat at the end to crisp up the skin.
4. Let rest before slicing and serving.

This crispy pork belly delivers a satisfying crunch and rich flavors, making it a perfect centerpiece for a zero-carb lunch.

Eggplant and Zucchini Stir-Fry

Eggplant and zucchini stir-fry is a quick, low-carb, and zero-carb lunch option packed with fresh vegetables sautéed in garlic and olive oil.

This light dish is flavorful and satisfying without adding any carbs to your meal.

Ingredients:

• Eggplant, diced
• Zucchini, sliced
• Garlic, minced
• Olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• Fresh basil or parsley

Instructions:

1. Heat olive oil in a pan and sauté garlic until fragrant.
2. Add diced eggplant and zucchini, cooking until tender and slightly caramelized.
3. Season with salt, pepper, and fresh herbs before serving.

This vegetable stir-fry is a tasty and healthy zero-carb lunch option that’s easy to prepare and full of vibrant flavors.

Grilled Lamb Chops

Grilled lamb chops are a rich and flavorful zero-carb lunch option, offering tender meat with a smoky char.

Seasoned simply with herbs and spices, they make for a satisfying and elegant meal without any carbohydrates.

Ingredients:

• Lamb chops
• Olive oil
• Garlic, minced
• Fresh rosemary or thyme
• Salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. Marinate lamb chops with olive oil, garlic, herbs, salt, and pepper.
2. Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
3. Grill chops for a few minutes on each side until cooked to desired doneness.
4. Let rest briefly before serving.

This dish delivers a juicy, aromatic lunch perfect for a zero-carb diet and a touch of indulgence.

Crispy Skin Salmon

Crispy skin salmon is a simple yet luxurious zero-carb lunch recipe.

The salmon skin crisps up beautifully while the flesh stays tender and moist, creating a delicious texture contrast.

Ingredients:

• Salmon fillets, skin on
• Olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• Lemon wedges

Instructions:

1. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
2. Season salmon with salt and pepper.
3. Place salmon skin-side down in the pan and cook until skin is crispy.
4. Flip and cook briefly on the other side until done.
5. Serve with lemon wedges.

This salmon dish is both nutritious and flavorful, making it a perfect zero-carb lunch choice.

Beef and Spinach Stir-Fry

Beef and spinach stir-fry is a quick zero-carb lunch packed with protein and greens.

The tender strips of beef sautéed with fresh spinach create a savory, nutrient-dense meal without any carbs.

Ingredients:

• Beef strips
• Fresh spinach
• Garlic, minced
• Soy sauce or coconut aminos
• Olive oil
• Salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. Heat olive oil in a pan and sauté garlic until fragrant.
2. Add beef strips and cook until browned.
3. Stir in fresh spinach and soy sauce, cooking until spinach wilts.
4. Season with salt and pepper and serve immediately.

This stir-fry is a flavorful and nourishing zero-carb lunch that’s quick to prepare and satisfying.

Herb-Roasted Chicken Thighs

Herb-roasted chicken thighs are a juicy and flavorful zero-carb lunch option that features tender chicken skin roasted to a perfect golden crisp.

Seasoned with fresh herbs and garlic, this dish is both satisfying and simple to make.

Ingredients:

• Chicken thighs, bone-in and skin-on
• Olive oil
• Garlic, minced
• Fresh rosemary and thyme
• Salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. Rub chicken thighs with olive oil, garlic, herbs, salt, and pepper.
3. Roast on a baking sheet until the skin is crispy and the meat is cooked through, about 35-40 minutes.
4. Let rest before serving.

This herb-roasted chicken delivers bold, savory flavors and crispy skin, making it a perfect hearty zero-carb lunch.

Shrimp Scampi

Shrimp scampi is a quick and elegant zero-carb lunch recipe where succulent shrimp are cooked in garlic butter and white wine, then finished with fresh lemon juice and parsley.

It’s rich in flavor yet light on carbs.

Ingredients:

• Large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• Butter
• Garlic, minced
• White wine or chicken broth
• Lemon juice
• Fresh parsley
• Salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. Melt butter in a skillet and sauté garlic until fragrant.
2. Add shrimp and cook until pink and opaque.
3. Pour in white wine or broth and simmer briefly.
4. Finish with lemon juice and fresh parsley.

This dish offers bright, savory flavors and is perfect for a satisfying zero-carb lunch that comes together in minutes.

Zucchini Noodles with Pesto

Zucchini noodles with pesto are a fresh and flavorful zero-carb lunch choice.

The spiralized zucchini serves as a pasta substitute tossed with a vibrant, herbaceous pesto sauce for a light yet satisfying meal.

Ingredients:

• Zucchini, spiralized
• Basil pesto (homemade or store-bought, low-carb)
• Olive oil
• Parmesan cheese (optional)
• Salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. Toss zucchini noodles with basil pesto and a drizzle of olive oil.
2. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
3. Optionally, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese before serving.

This refreshing dish is easy to prepare and perfect for a zero-carb lunch that’s full of fresh, vibrant flavors.

Pan-Fried Duck Breast

Pan-fried duck breast is a rich and elegant zero-carb lunch option that features crispy skin and tender, juicy meat.

This simple preparation brings out the natural flavors of duck, making it a luxurious yet easy meal.

Ingredients:

• Duck breasts, skin on
• Salt and pepper
• Olive oil or duck fat

Instructions:

1. Score the duck skin and season with salt and pepper.
2. Heat a skillet over medium heat and place duck breasts skin-side down.
3. Cook slowly until the skin is crispy and golden, then flip and cook until desired doneness.
4. Let rest before slicing and serving.

This dish offers a perfect balance of crispy texture and rich flavor, ideal for a satisfying zero-carb lunch.

Cauliflower Fried Rice

Cauliflower fried rice is a low-carb and zero-carb alternative to traditional fried rice, using finely chopped cauliflower as a base.

Combined with eggs and vegetables, it creates a flavorful and nutritious meal without any carbs.

Ingredients:

• Cauliflower, grated or riced
• Eggs
• Garlic and onion
• Soy sauce or coconut aminos
• Green onions
• Olive oil or sesame oil

Instructions:

1. Sauté garlic and onion in oil until fragrant.
2. Add riced cauliflower and cook until tender.
3. Push cauliflower to the side, scramble eggs in the pan, then mix together.
4. Add soy sauce and green onions, cook for another minute, then serve.

This dish is a flavorful and satisfying zero-carb lunch that’s easy to customize with your favorite ingredients.

Conclusion

Choosing zero carb lunches doesn’t mean you have to compromise on variety or taste. This diverse collection of 23+ recipes showcases how you can enjoy a wide range of proteins, vegetables, and creative preparations all free from carbohydrates. Whether you prefer quick and easy dishes or more elaborate meals, these zero carb lunches offer something for everyone. Embrace the freedom of flavorful, carb-free meals that support your health goals while delighting your palate.