Your Low-Carb Meal Plan for March
Updated: Jul. 20, 2022Enjoy fresh, healthy dinner ideas all month long.
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Day 1: Tomato Walnut Tilapia
Tomato, bread crumbs and crunchy walnuts dress up pan tilapia fillets in this favorite recipe. I serve it with cooked julienne carrots and green beans. —Phyl Broich-Wessling, Garner, IowaGoes Great With: Italian Green Bean Salad
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Day 2: Lemon-Garlic Turkey Breast
It’s simple to prepare a main dish that easily morphs into tender slices of lunch meat. This turkey breast is hearty, healthy and easy to make!—Sandra Hall, Decatur, TexasGoes Great With: Lemon-Parmesan Broiled Asparagus
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Day 3: Cajun Shrimp
These zippy shrimp bring a lot of pizazz to the table. Use as much or as little cayenne pepper as you’d like, depending on your family’s tastes. We love ours served alongside rice pilaf. —Donna Thomason, El Paso, TexasGoes Great With: Grilled Broccoli
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Day 4: Air-Fryer Pork Chops
These air-fryer pork chops get their rich flavor from Creole seasoning and Parmesan cheese. Bonus: They’re low in carbs, too! —Dawn Parker, Surrey, British ColumbiaGoes Great With: Old Bay Cauliflower
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Day 5: Herbed Slow-Cooker Chicken
I use my slow cooker to prepare these well-seasoned chicken breasts that cook up moist and tender. My daughter, who has two young sons to keep up with, shared this great recipe with me several years ago. I now rely on cooking chicken in a Crockpot many days a week.—Sundra Hauck, Bogalusa, LouisianaGoes Great With: Radish Asparagus Salad
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Day 6: Easy Poached Salmon
In 46 years of marriage, we had never tasted salmon until a friend told me about poaching it in a low cooker. I tried it and got flaky, moist results with little fuss. I added some soy sauce for extra flavor. — Johnna Johnson, Scottsdale, ArizonaGoes Great With: Sauteed Radishes with Green Beans
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Day 7: Chicken Thighs with Shallots & Spinach
This moist and tender chicken comes complete with its own creamy spinach side dish! It makes a pretty presentation and comes together in no time flat for a nutritious weeknight meal. —Genna Johannes, Wrightstown, WisconsinGoes Great With: Steamed Kale
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Day 8: Grandma Edna’s Cajun Pork
My grandma used to make this for our family on special occasions. We love to carry on the delicious tradition. —Tonya Cline, Greenville, OhioGoes Great With: Cherry Tomato Salad
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Day 9: Deviled Chicken Thighs
When I make this dish, I invite my next-door neighbor over for supper. It’s just enough for the two of us. The chicken stays tender and moist, and the cashews add a perfect bit of crunch. —Bernice Morris, Marshfield, MissouriGoes Great With: Marinated Mushrooms & Artichokes
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Day 10: Mediterranean Tilapia
I recently became a fan of tilapia. The mild taste makes it easy to top with our favorite ingredients. And it’s low in calories and fat. What’s not to love? —Robin Brenneman, Hilliard, OhioGoes Great With: Feta Romaine Salad
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Day 11: Pork Chops with Dijon Sauce
Here’s a main course that tastes rich but isn’t high in saturated fat. It’s easy for weeknights, but the creamy sauce makes it special enough for weekends. —Bonnie Brown-Watson, Houston, TexasGoes Great With: Kale Caesar Salad
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Day 12: California Roast Lamb
This recipe is very easy to make and requires little attention. It goes well with any rice dish, and it’s perfect for just about any occasion.Goes Great With: Kohlrabi, Cucumber and Tomato Salad
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Day 13: Pan-Seared Salmon with Dill Sauce
This is one of my husband’s favorite recipes. Salmon is a go-to for busy nights because it cooks so quickly and goes with so many different flavors. The creamy dill sauce with cucumber tastes light and fresh. —Angela Spengler, Tampa, FloridaGoes Great With: Oven-Baked Asparagus
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Day 14: California Burger Wraps
I love the way these fresh flavors blend together. It’s a snap to throw this together using leftover burgers for a quick, healthy lunch. The burgers can also be served on buns. —Rachelle McCalla, Batesville, ArkansasGoes Great With: Oven-Dried Tomatoes
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Day 15: Poached Chicken
You can’t beat poaching for chicken that is moist and tender. Once it’s cooled, store extra in the freezer for quick meals.—James Schend, Taste of Home Food Editor
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Day 16: Glazed Pork Chops
When I was a new mom, I needed tasty, healthy meals I could whip up fast. These juicy chops won me over. Since this is a one-pan dish, cleanup is a breeze, too.—Kristin Tanis, Hatfield, Pennsylvania
Goes Great With: Sauteed Squash with Tomatoes & Onions
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Day 17: Sesame Beef & Asparagus Salad
Cooking is one of my favorite hobbies—especially when it comes to experimenting with fresh ingredients like these. This meaty salad is wonderful at the start of asparagus season. —Tamara Steeb, Issaquah, WashingtonGoes Great With: Zesty Garlic Broccoli
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Day 18: Twisted Eggs Benedict Salad
Salad for breakfast? Absolutely. You can prep everything except the dressing and chill it overnight. In the morning, dress the salad and poach the eggs. —Noelle Myers, Grand Forks, North DakotaGoes Great With: Roasted Rosemary Cauliflower
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Day 19: Chicken Veggie Skillet
I invented this chicken and veggie dish to use up extra mushrooms and asparagus. My husband suggested I write it down because it’s a keeper. —Rebekah Beyer, Sabetha, KansasGoes Great With: Garlic Asiago Cauliflower Rice
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Day 20: Creamy Pesto Chicken
You really won’t miss the cheese at all in this dairy-free pesto. It’s especially good over cauliflower rice or gluten-free pasta. —Courtney Stultz, Weir, KansasGoes Great With: Italian Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
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Day 21: Pistachio Salmon
This simple salmon gets its crunch from a coating of crushed pistachios, panko bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese. Add steamed veggies and rice and it’s dinnertime! —Anthony Oraczewski, Port St. Lucie, FLGoes Great With: Roasted Asparagus
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Day 22: Greek Fish Bake
As a military spouse living overseas, I got the chance to try many styles of cooking. Here’s a Mediterranean-inspired recipe that we still love today. —Stacey Boyd, Springfield, VirginiaGoes Great With: Sugar Snap Pea Stir-Fry
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Day 23: Busy-Day Pork Chops
It was time to use or lose some pork chops I had in the fridge, so I dressed them in bread crumbs and Parmesan and baked them up. Necessity sure is the mother of invention, and in this case I invented an amazing healthy pork chop recipe. —Dee Maltby, Wayne, OhioGoes Great With: Tarragon Asparagus Salad
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Day 24: Balsamic Roast Chicken
When the aroma from this dish fills your house, your family will think you spent all day cooking. But this elegant, Sunday-special roast chicken, flavored with rosemary, wine and balsamic vinegar, is surprisingly simple to make. —Tracy Tylkowski, Omaha, NebraskaGoes Great With: Ruby Raspberry Slaw
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Day 25: Thyme & Basil Roast Pork
Dad’s favorite roast pork was rubbed with cinnamon, thyme, basil and lemon. He loved thick slices and wanted only a salad to finish off the meal. —Lorraine Caland, Shuniah, OntarioGoes Great With: Sauteed Spring Vegetables
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Day 26: Chicken & Garlic with Fresh Herbs
The key to this savory chicken is the combination of garlic and fresh rosemary and thyme. I like to serve it with mashed potatoes or crusty Italian bread. —Jan Valdez, Lombard, IllinoisGoes Great With: Shaved Fennel Salad
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Day 27: Skillet Chicken with Olives
While I was visiting my cousin Lilliana in Italy, she made this heavenly chicken for lunch. Now it’s a family favorite stateside, too. —Rosemarie Pisano, Revere, MassachusettsGoes Great With: Thymed Zucchini Saute
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Day 28: Lemon-Pepper Tilapia with Mushrooms
My husband and I are trying to add more fish and healthy entrees to our diet and this one makes it easy. It comes together in less than 30 minutes, so it’s perfect for hectic weeknights. —Donna McDonald, Lake Elsinore, CaliforniaGoes Great With: Three-Pepper Coleslaw
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Day 29: Slow-Cooker Turkey Breast
Try this wonderfully flavored, easy-to-fix slow-cooker turkey breast when you’re craving something delicious. It makes a great holiday dish for smaller families, too. —Maria Juco, Milwaukee, WisconsinGoes Great With: Lemon Garlic Mushrooms
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Day 30: Red Pepper & Parmesan Tilapia
My husband and I are always looking for light fish recipes because of the health benefits. This Parmesan tilapia is a hit with him, and we’ve tried it for dinner parties, too. It’s a staple! —Michelle Martin, Durham, North CarolinaGoes Great With: Air-Fryer Asparagus
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Day 31: Marinated Steak with Grilled Onions
This marinade is magic —it will make even economy cuts of beef tender and delicious. —Gail Garcelon, Beaverton, OregonGoes Great With: Cauliflower Mash
Originally Published: January 12, 2021
