Unlock Flavorful Fridays with These 13 Low Carb Meatless Meals Perfect for Lent

When you’re trying to avoid eating meat on Fridays during Lent and staying true to your low-carb ways, pizza is not an option. So how can you still have delicious meals on that one day of the week? Read on for 13 low-carb and meatless options that provide flavorful Friday meals during Lent. Some even come together quickly using a Crock Pot, Instant Pot or air fryer.

Sliced roasted cabbage with a golden-brown crust on a white plate, garnished with chopped herbs, placed on a striped cloth. — Parmesan Cabbage Steaks. Photo credit: On and Off Keto.

Butternut Squash Soup with Coconut Milk in a Dutch Oven

An immersion blender mixing orange soup in a white pot. — Butternut Squash Soup with Coconut Milk in a Dutch Oven. Photo credit: On and Off Keto.

Butternut Squash Soup with Coconut Milk in a Dutch Oven is a perfect lunch or dinner when you’re craving soup. Plus, it’s fast. It goes from pot to bowl in under 45 minutes, making it ideal for busy days. For a meatless meal, especially on Fridays during Lent, simply swap out chicken broth for vegetable broth!
Get the Recipe: Butternut Squash Soup with Coconut Milk in a Dutch Oven

Low Carb Spinach Artichoke Dip in the Crock Pot

A hand holding a cracker dips it into a creamy spinach and artichoke mixture. — Low Carb Spinach Artichoke Dip in the Crock Pot. Photo credit: On and Off Keto.

This Low Carb Spinach Artichoke Dip in the Crock Pot is a take on a popular appetizer at your favorite restaurant. You’ll love making it at home because it is so easy to do and it is lower in carbohydrates than you ever imagined. Designed to be an appetizer, this dish can easily be eaten as a lunch or dinner.
Get the Recipe: Low Carb Spinach Artichoke Dip in the Crock Pot

Low Carb Baked Cod

Grilled fish fillet with herbs served alongside cooked asparagus on a white plate. — Low Carb Baked Cod. Photo credit: On and Off Keto.

This low-carb baked cod recipe, featuring Atlantic cod and garlic herb butter, is bound to become a dinner favorite. One of the reasons I keep returning to it is how quickly it comes together and how delicious it is. It’s especially ideal for a fish Friday during Lent.
Get the Recipe: Low Carb Baked Cod

Shrimp Scampi with Spaghetti Squash

Spaghetti squash with shrimp, garnished with parsley on a plate, with a fork holding a portion. — Shrimp Scampi with Spaghetti Squash. Photo credit: On and Off Keto.

Shrimp scampi with spaghetti squash is a delightful dish that marries the nutty and slightly sweet flavor of squash with savory shrimp. If you’re seeking a low-carb option for a meatless dinner, especially on a Friday during Lent, this recipe is a tasty winner!
Get the Recipe: Shrimp Scampi with Spaghetti Squash

Air Fryer Salmon Patties Using Canned Salmon

Close-up of three cooked, golden-brown patties with visible herbs and green bits, on a white plate. — Air Fryer Salmon Patties Using Canned Salmon. Photo credit: On and Off Keto.

Making these salmon patties in the air fryer is simpler than baking them in the oven or frying them in a pan. The use of canned salmon adds to the convenience. As a low-carb, meatless option, especially great for Fridays during Lent, it’s fantastic — each serving contains just one gram of net carbs!
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Salmon Patties Using Canned Salmon

Keto Shrimp and Grits with Ground Lupin

Close-up of grilled shrimp on a bed of creamy grits, garnished with crispy bacon. — Keto Shrimp and Grits with Ground Lupin. Photo credit: On and Off Keto.

When creating a keto version of shrimp and grits, traditional grits are a no-no because of their high carb count. In this recipe, you use lupin meal, a great low-carb option. This meal is an excellent choice for Fridays during Lent!
Get the Recipe: Keto Shrimp and Grits with Ground Lupin

Low Carb Pancakes with Lupin Flour

A stack of pancakes made with lupin flour topped with sugar-free syrup and nuts. — Low Carb Pancakes with Lupin Flour. Photo credit: On and Off Keto.

I’ve been making lupin flour pancakes for some time now because they are super fluffy, delicious and only around two grams of net carbs per serving of three pancakes. Why not make them when having breakfast for dinner when you don’t want to have meat on Fridays?
Get the Recipe: Low Carb Pancakes with Lupin Flour

Low Carb Instant Pot Creamy Asparagus Soup

Two bowls of creamy instant pot asparagus soup garnished with cream and asparagus tips rest on a wooden board. A blue patterned cloth adds a touch of charm in the background. — Low Carb Instant Pot Creamy Asparagus Soup. Photo credit: On and Off Keto.

Low Carb Instant Pot Creamy Asparagus Soup is a delicious comforting soup that you can enjoy any time of the year. It is creamy, delicious and meat free when you replace the chicken broth with vegetable broth. It’s perfect for lunch or dinner on Fridays during Lent.
Get the Recipe: Low Carb Instant Pot Creamy Asparagus Soup

Keto French Toast with Strawberry Compote

Close-up of French toast topped with a layer of strawberry compote on a white plate. — Keto French Toast with Strawberry Compote. Photo credit: On and Off Keto.

This French Toast isn’t a sad soggy slice of bread dunked in milk and eggs when making breakfast or breakfast for dinner. It starts with keto egg loaf and is then topped with homemade, sugar-free strawberry compote, which is delightful and delicious. You can also serve it with sugar-free blueberry compote.
Get the Recipe: Keto French Toast with Strawberry Compote

Baked Keto Tuna Melt Cups

Twelve delicious keto tuna melt-inspired cheese and vegetable muffins sit in a dark muffin tray on a cooling rack, with wooden utensils nearby. — Baked Keto Tuna Melt Cups. Photo credit: On and Off Keto.

When I first created this recipe years ago, I named it a keto tuna melt. However, I soon realized that this name might not fully capture the essence of a low-carb version of a tuna sandwich with melted cheese. These are actually baked tuna melt cups made in a muffin pan, making them a fantastic meatless lunch option for Fridays during Lent!
Get the Recipe: Baked Keto Tuna Melt Cups

Salmon in the Air Fryer

Four seasoned salmon fillets placed in a black air fryer basket, seen from above. — Salmon in the Air Fryer. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

One of the beauties of cooking salmon or any seafood in the air fryer is that it is pretty difficult to do it wrong. Many air fryers have a seafood setting that you can select. You’ll never cook salmon another way once you try in the air fryer.
Get the Recipe: Salmon in the Air Fryer

Parmesan Cabbage Steaks

Two roasted cabbage steaks on a parchment-lined baking sheet, seasoned and browned on the edges. — Parmesan Cabbage Steaks. Photo credit: On and Off Keto.

Everyone is raving about cabbage steaks and these Parmesan Cabbage Steaks are truly delicious. The cabbage steaks roast on a delicious layer of parmesan cheese. Then, when you flip them over after baking, they come out roasted and crunchy and coated in cheese. It’s no wonder these have become everyone’s new favorite way to eat cabbage.
Get the Recipe: Parmesan Cabbage Steaks

Low Carb Air Fryer Salmon Bites

Baked salmon pieces topped with lemon slices, seasoned and served on parchment paper. — Low Carb Air Fryer Salmon Bites. Photo credit: Pink When.

Air Fryer Salmon Bites cook up fast with basic seasonings. The small pieces stay moist and cook evenly throughout. Air Fryer Salmon Bites work perfectly in lunch boxes, on dinner plates or as protein-rich snacks.
Get the Recipe: Low Carb Air Fryer Salmon Bites