39 Delicious Low-Carb Summer Recipes

Grilled Lobster Tails

I had never tried grilling lobster tails at home until I tried this convenient and deliciously different recipe. It turned out amazing, and has left me with little reason to ever order grilled lobster tail at a restaurant again. Here’s how to cook lobster tails on the grill. —Katie Rush, Kansas City, Missouri

Get Recipe

Can-Can Chicken

Here's a tasty take on the popular beer-can chicken. Once the bird is on the grill, the work's basically done. And cleanup is a cinch—a must for a guy like me. —Steve Bath, Lincoln, Nebraska

Caprese Skewers

Light, satisfying and healthful in one impossibly easy-to-make dish? Yes, please! Enjoy these Caprese skewers as an app, side dish—truly perfect paired with grilled meat or poultry—or a convenient snack. Every bite is a little taste of summer.

Tequila Lime Shrimp Zoodles

This tangy shrimp dish is a smart way to cut carbs without sacrificing flavor. If you don't have a spiralizer, you can use thinly julienned zucchini to get a similar effect. —Brigette Schroeder, Yorkville, Illinois

Watermelon Cups

This lovely appetizer is almost too pretty to eat! Sweet watermelon cubes hold a refreshing topping that showcases cucumber, red onion and fresh herbs. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Juicy & Delicious Mixed Spice-Burgers

We like trying to make "street foods" at home, perfecting recipes for dishes like gyros and these spiced burgers, known as kofta. — Anne Henry, Toronto, Ontario

Garbanzo-Stuffed Mini Peppers

Mini peppers are so colorful and are the perfect size for a two-bite appetizer. They have all the crunch of pita chips but without the extra calories. —Christine Hanover, Lewiston, California

Lemon-Parsley Baked Cod

After trying a few baked cod recipes, this was the first fish recipe that got two thumbs up from my picky meat-only eaters. The tangy lemon gives the cod fish some oomph. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho

Zucchini Pico de Gallo Salsa

I love veggies and fresh ingredients this time of year. I make big bowls of this salsa, which we eat with pretty much everything in the summer when tomatoes are bountiful. My kids love it, though I leave out the jalapeno when making it for them. —Amy Gattuso, Madison Heights, Michigan

Crab Cakes

There's no need to travel to the shore for crab cakes. Our easy crab cake recipe makes crispy cakes that show off the rich, sweet flavor of crab without deep-frying.

Easy Seafood Salad

This super simple, deceptively delicious recipe was inspired by a seafood salad I had in the Bahamas that featured conch. I substituted crab and shrimp for the conch and like it even more! —Cindy Heyd, Edmond, Oklahoma

Simple Guacamole

Because avocados can brown quickly, it’s best to make this guacamole just before serving. If you have to make it a little in advance, place the avocado pits in the guacamole until ready to serve. —Heidi Main, Anchorage, AK

Chimichurri Steak

This flavorful chimichurri steak recipe comes together in less than 30 minutes. Spoon the bright, zesty, herbaceous sauce over any type of grilled steak, like flat iron, top sirloin, ribeye, flank or skirt steak.

Grilled Cauliflower Wedges

This side is incredibly easy, yet is packed with flavor and looks like a dish from a five-star restaurant. The grill leaves the cauliflower cooked but crisp, and the red pepper flakes add bite. —Carmel Hall, San Francisco, California

Tilapia with Cucumber Relish

I spotted this easy entree on a recipe card in my local fish market. Although my husband isn’t big on fish, he enjoys this mild-tasting tilapia. The relish adds garden-fresh flavor and pretty color to the lightly browned fillets. —Mary VanHollebeke, Wyandotte, Michigan

Cucumber Salad Boats

Scoop out the seeds and fill fresh cucumbers with your favorite salad for a crunchy and refreshing light lunch. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Spiced Grilled Chicken with Cilantro Butter

The spicy heat of the chicken pairs beautifully with the flavorful cilantro butter in this original recipe from Diane Halferty of Corpus Christi, Texas. We added spicy chocolate cinnamon cane sugar to the chicken, which complemented the other spices that are brushed over the chicken before grilling. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Thymed Zucchini Saute

Simple and flavorful, this recipe is a tasty and healthy way to use up all those zucchini that are taking over your garden. It's ready in hardly any time! —Bobby Taylor, Ulster Park, New York

Dill Sauce for Salmon

Dill sauce for salmon is a classic pairing. The easy baked salmon is full of lemon flavor, and the tangy, creamy sauce brings the whole dish together.

Lettuce-Wrap Burgers

A lettuce-wrap burger offers all the best parts of a burger—a juicy patty, crisp toppings and a delicious sauce—without the bun.

Herb-Roasted Olives & Tomatoes

Eat these roasted veggies with a crunchy baguette or a couple of cheeses. You can also double, or triple, the amounts and have leftovers to toss with spaghetti the next day. —Anndrea Bailey, Huntington Beach, California

Grilled Shrimp

This grilled shrimp recipe is easy and delicious! These shrimp are great with steak, but for a special occasion, brush the sauce on lobster tails and grill. —Sheryl Shenberger, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Chicken

Tender chicken gets a special treatment when spread with a creamy filling and wrapped with tasty bacon strips. This easy bacon-wrapped stuffed chicken recipe is frequently requested by my bunch. —MarlaKaye Skinner, Tucson, Arizona

Oven-Roasted Tomatoes

I love tomatoes, as they're both healthy and versatile. You can use these roasted ones in sandwiches or omelets, or to top broiled chicken. —Julie Tilney (Gomez), Downey, California

Firecracker Grilled Salmon

Let this sensational salmon perk up dinner tonight. With a super flavorful glaze that kicks you right in the taste buds, this weeknight dish is anything but boring. —Melissa Rogers, Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Caprese Chicken with Bacon

Smoky bacon, fresh basil, ripe tomatoes and gooey mozzarella top these appealing chicken breasts. —Tammy Hayden, Quincy, Michigan

Buffalo Chicken Wings

Hot wings got their start in Buffalo, New York, in a kitchen. Although there was no game on at the time, today spicy wings and cool sauces are traditional game-day fare. Cayenne, red sauce and spices keep these tangy buffalo chicken wings good and hot, just like the originals. —Nancy Chapman, Center Harbor, New Hampshire

Crudite Dip

To bring out the crudite dip’s tangy flavor, chill it before serving. This will allow the flavors time to blend. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Grilled Boneless Pork Chops

These sweet, spicy and aromatic grilled boneless pork chops get soaked in a parsley balsamic marinade to develop a bright flavor. 

Bacon-Wrapped Avocado Wedges

We all know almost everything is improved with bacon, and avocado is no exception. Since it's made in an air fryer, this appetizer is one to remember. It will definitely impress your friends! —James Schend, Pleasant Prairie, Wisonsin

Baked Tilapia

Baked tilapia is easy and quick to make and very versatile. Learn how to make it here.

Southwestern Star Dip

I enjoyed this sensational dip at a holiday party and begged for the recipe. No others are the ones begging me! —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas

Salmon Patties

Salmon patties are quick and easy! Prepare this versatile recipe the night before for a simple lunch, or turn it into a vibrant appetizer platter, and serve with a creamy dipping sauce.

Fennel Spinach Saute

Spinach and fennel are two of my favorite veggies, so I'm always looking for new ways to use them. This is an amazing side dish, but if you slice the fennel a bit smaller, it also makes a great stuffing for chicken breasts or beef tenderloin. —Noelle Myers, Grand Forks, North Dakota

Butter Steak

This garlic butter steak recipe is the restaurant-quality steak you've been looking for. The pan-seared steak is deliciously rich and garlicky, and the butter makes it oh, so tender—even if you use a budget cut like top sirloin or flat iron steak.

Classic Crab Boil

Dig in to Dungeness crab boiled in a special mix of spices. —Matthew Hass, Franklin, Wisconsin

Asian Green Beans

These Asian-style green beans are a tasty addition to any meal. The flavors of sesame oil and soy sauce work so well together! —Susan Bickta, Kutztown, Pennsylvania

Chicken Thighs with Shallots & Spinach

What could be better than an entree that comes with its own creamy vegetable side? This healthy supper goes together in no time flat and makes an eye-catching presentation. —Genna Johannes, Wrightstown, Wisconsin