21 Low-Carb Fall Dinners You Can Actually Stick To

Low-carb eating gets way easier in fall when you got tons of hearty vegetables and warming flavors to work with. These 21 dinners prove you don’t need pasta or bread to feel satisfied after a meal.

Most of these are one-pan or simple prep which helps when you’re trying to stick to a new way of eating. The key is making food that tastes so good you don’t miss the carbs.

Stuffed Acorn Squash with Ground Turkey and Herbs

The acorn squash becomes your bowl which is pretty cool and saves on dishes. The turkey filling has herbs like sage and thyme that make it taste really fall-like. The squash gets sweet and tender when roasted. This looks fancy but is actually pretty simple – just scoop out the seeds, stuff, and bake. One squash half per person makes a perfect portion size.

Get the recipe here.

Cauliflower Mac and Cheese with Bacon

This hits all the comfort food notes without the pasta. The cauliflower gets creamy when you mix it with cheese sauce and you barely notice it’s not noodles. Adding bacon makes everything better and gives it that smoky flavor. The trick is not overcooking the cauliflower so it doesn’t get mushy. Kids will actually eat this if you don’t tell them what’s in it first.

Get the recipe here.

Pork Chops with Apple and Sage Pan Sauce

The apple sauce with the pork is such a classic combo and screams fall. You cook the pork chops first then make the sauce in the same pan so you get all those good brown bits. The apples get soft and sweet and the sage adds an earthy flavor. This feels fancy enough for company but easy enough for a weeknight. Bone-in chops stay more juicy than boneless.

Get the recipe here.

Roasted Chicken Thighs with Brussels Sprouts

Everything cooks in one pan which makes cleanup super easy. The chicken fat renders out and makes the Brussels sprouts taste amazing – way better than when you steam them. Dark meat chicken stays moist even if you overcook it a little. The Brussels sprouts get crispy on the outside but tender inside. This is my go-to when I want something simple but satisfying.

Get the recipe here.

Beef and Mushroom Skillet with Cauliflower Rice

The mushrooms make this taste really rich and meaty. You can use any ground beef but 80/20 has the best flavor. The cauliflower rice soaks up all the flavors from the beef and mushrooms. This cooks fast which is great for busy weeknights. You can buy pre-made cauliflower rice to save time or make your own by pulsing cauliflower in a food processor.

Get the recipe here.

Butternut Squash and Sausage Soup

This soup is thick and creamy without any cream – the pureed squash does all the work. Italian sausage adds tons of flavor and makes it filling. You can make a big batch and freeze portions for later. The sweetness of the squash balances the spicy sausage perfectly. Great for meal prep cause it actually tastes better the next day.

Get the recipe here.

Zucchini Lasagna with Ground Beef

Using thin zucchini slices instead of pasta noodles works surprisingly well. You gotta salt the zucchini first and let it drain or the lasagna gets watery. The meat sauce and cheese layers taste exactly like regular lasagna. This takes a bit of time to assemble but you can make it ahead and bake later. Way less heavy than pasta lasagna but just as satisfying.

Get the recipe here.

Salmon with Roasted Fall Vegetables

Salmon cooks so fast that it’s perfect for weeknight dinners. Roasting vegetables like Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and radishes brings out their sweetness. Everything goes on one sheet pan which makes this super easy. The key is cutting the vegetables the same size so they cook evenly. Don’t overcook the salmon – it should still be a little pink in the middle.

Get the recipe here.

Turkey Meatballs in Creamy Mushroom Sauce

These meatballs are way more flavorful than regular beef ones cause turkey can be kinda bland on its own. The mushroom sauce is rich and creamy and makes you forget you’re eating healthy. You can make the meatballs ahead and freeze them for quick dinners later. Serve over zucchini noodles or just eat them with a fork like I do sometimes.

Get the recipe here.

Spaghetti Squash Carbonara

This is probably the closest you can get to real pasta without actual pasta. The spaghetti squash has that stringy texture that works perfect with the creamy egg sauce. Real carbonara doesn’t have cream – just eggs, cheese, and bacon. The trick is tempering the eggs so they don’t scramble. This tastes so much like the real thing it’s kinda amazing.

Get the recipe here.

Chicken and Broccoli Casserole

This is comfort food that happens to be low-carb. The cheese sauce holds everything together and makes the broccoli taste way better. You can use rotisserie chicken to save time or cook your own. Adding some garlic powder and onion powder to the cheese sauce makes a huge difference. This reheats really well for lunches the next day.

Get the recipe here.

Stuffed Bell Peppers with Ground Turkey

The peppers get sweet and tender when you bake them. The turkey filling has onions, garlic, and Italian herbs that make it taste like a complete meal. You can prep these ahead and just pop them in the oven when you get home from work. Red or yellow peppers are sweeter than green ones if you got picky eaters. Top with cheese if you want but they’re good without it too.

Get the recipe here.

Creamy Tuscan Chicken with Spinach

The sun-dried tomatoes in this give it such a rich flavor and the spinach wilts right into the creamy sauce. You can use chicken thighs or breasts but thighs stay more moist. The cream sauce is flavored with garlic and Italian herbs. This looks fancy but comes together pretty quick. Serve over cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles if you want something to soak up the sauce.

Get the recipe here.

Baked Cod with Lemon Herb Butter

Cod is mild and flaky and doesn’t taste fishy at all. The herb butter melts over the fish and keeps it moist. You can use frozen cod which makes this super convenient for last-minute dinners. Just thaw it in cold water for about 20 minutes. The lemon brightens everything up and makes it taste fresh. This cooks in like 15 minutes so it’s perfect for busy nights.

Get the recipe here.

Pork Tenderloin with Roasted Radishes

Roasted radishes taste completely different from raw ones – they get mild and almost like potatoes. The pork tenderloin is lean but stays juicy if you don’t overcook it. Season both the pork and radishes with herbs like rosemary or thyme. This is elegant enough for company but simple enough for a regular Tuesday. The radishes are way cheaper than potatoes and work just as good as a side.

Get the recipe here.

Chicken Tikka Masala with Cauliflower Rice

This Indian-inspired dish is creamy and spicy and so much flavor. You can use store-bought tikka masala sauce to save time or make your own if you’re feeling ambitious. The cauliflower rice soaks up all that amazing sauce. This is way better than takeout and you know exactly what’s in it. You can adjust the spice level depending on who’s eating it.

Get the recipe here.

Beef Stir-Fry with Shiitaki Mushrooms

Stir-fries are perfect for low-carb eating cause you can load them up with vegetables. Shiitaki mushrooms have such a meaty texture and earthy flavor. The key is having everything prepped before you start cooking cause it goes fast. Use a really hot pan and don’t overcrowd it or everything will steam instead of getting crispy. Soy sauce, garlic, and ginger make the perfect sauce.

Get the recipe here.

Turkey and Vegetable Curry

This warming curry is perfect for cold fall nights. Ground turkey is lean but the coconut milk makes it rich and satisfying. You can use any vegetables you got – cauliflower, green beans, spinach all work great. The curry spices warm you up from the inside. This makes great leftovers and actually tastes better the next day when the flavors have time to develop.

Get the recipe here.

Baked Eggplant Parmesan (Breadcrumb-Free)

Instead of breading the eggplant you just slice it, salt it, and bake until tender. Layer with marinara sauce and cheese just like regular eggplant parm. The eggplant gets creamy inside and the cheese gets all bubbly on top. This is way less work than traditional eggplant parm cause you don’t have to fry anything. Even people who think they don’t like eggplant usually like this.

Get the recipe here.

Chicken Enchilada Bowl with Cauliflower Rice

All the flavors of enchiladas without the tortillas. The chicken is seasoned with cumin, chili powder, and garlic. Top with cheese, salsa, avocado, whatever you like on enchiladas. The cauliflower rice works perfect to soak up all the flavors. You can meal prep these bowls for the whole week. Way healthier than takeout Mexican food but just as tasty.

Get the recipe here.

Garlic Butter Shrimp with Zucchini Noodles

Shrimp cooks so fast this dinner is ready in like 10 minutes. The garlic butter sauce is simple but so good – just butter, garlic, and maybe some red pepper flakes. Zucchini noodles are way better than they sound, especially when they soak up that garlic butter. Don’t overcook the shrimp or they get rubbery. This is perfect for when you want something light but still satisfying.

Get the recipe here.