You can whip up a delicious dinner with these low-calorie meals any day of the week. Each recipe has less than 575 calories per serving and is packed with protein and vegetables to create a well-rounded meal that’s on the table in 30 minutes or less. Recipes like Cheesy Spinach-&-Artichoke-Stuffed Spaghetti Squash and Salmon Tacos with Pineapple Salsa are flavorful and fast.
Cheesy Spinach-&-Artichoke-Stuffed Spaghetti Squash
This spaghetti-squash-for-pasta swap slashes both carbs and calories by 75% for a delicious, creamy casserole you can feel good about eating. It’s worth roasting the squash versus cooking it in the microwave if you have the time—the flavor gets sweeter and more intense.
Quick King Ranch Chicken Casserole
Ali Redmond
Usually made by layering creamy chicken and tortillas (lasagna-style), this classic Tex-Mex-inspired chicken casserole recipe gets speedier when we mix everything together in a skillet and then pop the whole pan under the broiler to make the cheese topping gooey.
Salmon Tacos with Pineapple Salsa
An easy-to-make slaw served on the side of these salmon tacos makes for a filling and fast weeknight dinner. If you prefer more heat in these fish tacos, simply add a pinch or two of chipotle chile powder or cayenne with the chili powder.
Chicken & Broccoli Casserole
Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Sue Mitchell
This one-pan chicken and broccoli casserole is prepared in a skillet on the stovetop, then finished in the oven until it’s browned, cheesy and bubbling. Serve with a crunchy green salad.
Caesar Salad with Grilled Steak
Traditional Caesar salad dressing uses egg yolk to make it creamy. Here we use mayo instead for the same rich results without the raw egg.
Garlic-Anchovy Pasta with Broccolini
Here, we sprinkle the final pasta dish with crumbled goat cheese for nice tangy bites throughout. But if you prefer a creamy sauce, stir the cheese into the pasta in Step 3 along with the reserved cooking water.
Eggs in Tomato Sauce with Chickpeas & Spinach
Simmer eggs in a rich tomatoey cream sauce studded with chickpeas and silky spinach for a super-fast vegetarian dinner. Serve with a piece of crusty bread to soak up the sauce. Be sure to use heavy cream; a lower-fat option might curdle when mixed with acidic tomatoes.
Creamed Spinach-Stuffed Salmon
For this easy baked salmon recipe, we’ve stuffed salmon fillets with a luscious creamed spinach mixture for a main and side in one dish. It all adds up to a healthy dinner that’s elegant, simple and delicious–and ready in 30 minutes. Wider fillets work best for this salmon recipe because they’re easier to stuff than the skinny ones. You could also serve the creamed spinach on the side if you don’t feel like stuffing the salmon.
Chipotle Chicken Quinoa Burrito Bowl
This flavorful burrito bowl features grilled chicken coated in a spicy chipotle glaze. Loading it with vegetables and using quinoa in place of rice adds nutrition for a healthier dinner.
General Tso’s Chicken
To recreate this beloved dish, we’ve reduced the fat content by not frying the chicken and cut the sodium by using reduced-sodium soy sauce. Serve with steamed baby bok choy or sautéed spinach and steamed brown rice.
Grilled Chicken Caesar Salad Wrap
This chicken Caesar salad wrap recipe is elevated by the irresistible smoky flavor of grilled chicken and grilled romaine. Whisk together this easy Caesar salad dressing, toss with the grilled chicken and romaine and wrap it all together for a delicious lunch or dinner.
Five-Spice Turkey & Lettuce Wraps
These turkey lettuce wraps come together fast for a healthy dinner, or try them as a fun appetizer for entertaining. Adding instant brown rice to the filling increases the fiber, making these wraps more satisfying. Serve with chile-garlic sauce and rice vinegar for extra zip.
Garlic Shrimp with Cilantro Spaghetti Squash
Garlicky shrimp are served on top of buttery, cilantro-flecked spaghetti squash in this quick, healthy dinner recipe inspired by shrimp scampi. Pair with a side of sautéed greens, such as kale, collards or spinach.
Mushroom & Tofu Stir-Fry
This tofu veggie stir-fry is quick and easy, making it a great go-to weeknight meal. Baked tofu has a firm, toothsome texture that crisps well in a hot pan. You can find it in flavors like teriyaki and sesame, both of which are delicious here. Or opt for a smoked version, which has the same texture with a more robust flavor. Serve over brown rice.
Easy Miso-Chicken Ramen
Warm up a chilly evening with this healthy chicken-and-vegetable ramen noodle bowl recipe. For a little spice, top with hot sauce, such as Sriracha. Look for dried curly Chinese-style noodles near other Asian ingredients in most well-stocked supermarkets. For a substitute, try whole-wheat angel hair pasta and cook for a few minutes longer.
Steak Burritos
Here’s a burrito inspired by San Francisco’s super burritos, which come packed with meat, beans, rice, cheese, guacamole and salsa. We’ve kept this homestyle version a bit simpler to make and a whole lot healthier with brown rice, whole-wheat tortillas and a more reasonable serving size. We recommend wrapping it in foil—the traditional way to serve it—so you can pick the burrito up and eat it without it falling apart, peeling back the foil as you go. Serve with a cold beer and vinegar-dressed slaw.
Beef & Bean Chile Verde
Chile verde, usually a slow-cooked stew of pork, jalapeños and tomatillos, becomes an easy weeknight meal with quick-cooking ground beef and store-bought green salsa. Make it a meal: Serve with fresh cilantro, red onion and Monterey Jack. Add cornbread on the side and your favorite hot sauce.
Saucy Ginger-Tomato Chicken
Inspired by the flavors of chicken tikka masala, this recipe uses convenient canned tomato soup so that you can get this dish on the table on any busy night. Rather than cooking the chicken in a tandoor, we add it directly to the sauce so it gets coated in the ginger-tomato flavors.
Grilled Skirt Steak with Corn-Tomato Relish
Corn, tomato and basil scream summer, but simplicity makes this easy dinner recipe perfect for the season. Serve the grilled skirt steak and relish with salad greens for a quick and healthy dinner you’ll want to make over and over.
Chicken Tomato Tortilla Soup
Transform canned tomato soup by adding chicken, black beans and corn for a filling and quick lunch or dinner. Garnish with your favorite toppings, such as sour cream, avocado and tortilla chips.
Philly Cheese Steak Sloppy Joes
Two of our favorite comfort-food sandwiches join forces in this family-friendly dinner. We found that softer buns make this easier to eat, and it’s all the better when wrapped takeout-style in a sheet of foil.
California Turkey Burgers & Baked Sweet Potato Fries
Inspired by an option at the West Coast chain In-N-Out Burger, this turkey burger recipe keeps the carbs in check with a lettuce wrap instead of a bun. The side of sweet potato fries bakes while you prep the burgers, so this entire healthy dinner is ready in under 30 minutes.
Scrambled Egg Curry
This mildly spiced Indian scrambled egg recipe makes a great light lunch or light dinner. Tuck the curried eggs into a warm whole-wheat tortilla or an Indian flatbread, like paratha, which can be found in the freezer case at Indian markets. Serve with a dollop of yogurt.
Cheeseburger Stuffed Baked Potatoes
Skip the bun and serve all of your favorite cheeseburger ingredients—beef, cheese, tomatoes, red onions and lettuce—with baked potatoes for a hearty and easy dinner recipe that kids and adults will love. Feel free to swap the ground beef for ground turkey or tofu crumbles.
Sweet & Sour Chicken with Broccoli
This easy chicken and broccoli recipe makes a delicious, healthier alternative to Chinese takeout—and it takes just 20 minutes to make, so it’s ideal for an easy weeknight dinner. When toasted, ramen noodles make a tasty, crunchy topping for a stir-fry or salad.
Cauliflower Tikka Masala with Chickpeas
In this vegetarian riff on a popular Indian dish, we swap cauliflower and chickpeas for the chicken in tikka masala. The cauliflower’s nooks and crannies are particularly good at soaking up all the intense flavors of the sauce. Serve over rice for an easy healthy dinner that’s ready in just 20 minutes.
Beef Stir-Fry with Baby Bok Choy & Ginger
Blaine Moats
All the ingredients for this easy beef stir-fry recipe are cooked in one wok (or skillet), so not only is the meal-prep fast for this healthy dinner, but cleanup is quick too. Look for Lee Kum Kee Premium oyster-flavored sauce in the Asian foods aisle of your grocery store—it has the most concentrated oyster flavor.
Chicken & Shrimp Alfredo
Sonia Bozzo Photography
This easy pasta with creamy homemade Alfredo sauce, chicken and shrimp takes less than 30 minutes to make! Add a simple green salad, and you have a family-friendly weeknight dinner that you’d be happy to serve to company.
