So, you know those days when you just want something light but still super satisfying for dinner? Yeah, me too. It’s like, I crave that balance between indulgence and restraint—kind of like trying to walk a tightrope while holding a plate of lasagna.
Anyway, whether you’re juggling a million things or just binge-watching your favorite series, these low-calorie dinners are here to save the day. Let’s just say, think less of a diet and more of a delicious hug on a plate.
Steps
- White Bean & Veggie Salad
- Mix white beans and avocado with a variety of seasonal vegetables. Toss the mixture to combine and serve as a refreshing salad.
- Easy Shrimp Scampi with Zucchini Noodles
- Replace traditional pasta with zucchini noodles to lighten up shrimp scampi. Add tomatoes and cheese for sweetness and richness.
- 15-Minute Salmon & Creamy Orzo with Spinach & Mushrooms
- Cook salmon fillets at high heat for a quick meal. Serve with creamy orzo, spinach, and mushrooms for a well-rounded dish.
- Pesto Ravioli with Spinach & Tomatoes
- Use grape tomatoes, prewashed spinach, and prepared pesto to create this easy ravioli dish. Combine the ingredients for a fresh, Caprese-inspired meal.
- Green Goddess Salad with Chickpeas
- Make a green goddess dressing with avocado, buttermilk, and herbs. Toss it with cucumber, tomato, Swiss cheese, and chickpeas for a flavorful salad.
- Black Bean-Quinoa Bowl
- Combine black beans and quinoa with pico de gallo, cilantro, and avocado. Drizzle with a simple hummus dressing for a taco salad-inspired meal.
- Lemon-Garlic Pasta with Salmon
- Use leftover salmon to create a quick lemon-garlic pasta. Reserve pasta water to thicken the sauce for a smooth finish.
- Gluten-Free Teriyaki Chicken with Broccoli
- Make a healthier teriyaki chicken using tamari and less sugar. Pair with broccoli or any available vegetables for a gluten-free meal.
- Spinach & Feta Scrambled Egg Pitas
- Scramble eggs with frozen spinach and feta cheese, then place in whole-wheat pitas. Spread sun-dried tomato tapenade inside for added flavor.
- 15-Minute Sheet-Pan Chicken Tenders & Broccoli with Everything Bagel Seasoning
- Broil chicken tenders with everything bagel seasoning and serve with broccoli. Prepare a simple three-ingredient dipping sauce for added flavor.
- Quinoa Chickpea Salad with Roasted Red Pepper Hummus Dressing
- Mix chickpeas, quinoa, and hummus with roasted peppers and sunflower seeds. Serve as a hearty vegan salad with plenty of textures.
- Roasted Vegetable & Black Bean Tacos
- Fill tacos with roasted vegetables and black beans. These vegan tacos are quick, easy, and perfect for busy evenings.
- BBQ Chicken Tacos with Red Cabbage Slaw
- Combine tangy pulled chicken with a creamy red cabbage slaw. Use a preshredded coleslaw blend to save time on this quick dinner.
- Mixed Greens with Lentils & Sliced Apple
- Combine lentils, feta, and apple with mixed greens for a vegetarian meal. Use canned lentils for convenience and ensure they are rinsed.
- Toaster-Oven Tostadas
- Layer black beans and Cheddar on corn tortillas and toast them. These quick tostadas resemble restaurant-style ones but are made at home.
- White Bean-Sage Cauliflower Gnocchi
- Pair cauliflower gnocchi with white beans and sage for a healthy meal. This dish mimics traditional brown butter and sage gnocchi.
- Spinach-Artichoke-Sausage Cauliflower Gnocchi
- Combine turkey sausage and artichoke hearts with cauliflower gnocchi. This quick meal offers hearty flavors with minimal prep.
- Cheese Quesadillas with Peppers & Onions
- Sauté peppers and onions before placing them in cheese quesadillas. Let everyone add their favorite toppings for a fun, interactive meal.
- Salmon Sushi Grain Bowl
- Assemble a grain bowl with salmon, rice, and sushi-inspired ingredients. This dish captures sushi flavors without the need for rolling.
- 15-Minute Broiled Cod with Tomatoes & Herbed Mayonnaise
- Broil cod and top it with sliced tomatoes and herbed mayonnaise. This quick dish is colorful and full of flavor.
- Tuna & Olive Spinach Salad
- Mix tuna with olives, feta, and tahini dressing over spinach. This salad offers a simple yet flavorful meal option.
- Lemon Chicken Pasta
- Combine lemon zest, rotisserie chicken, and spiralized zucchini for a quick pasta. Toasted breadcrumbs add texture to this refreshing dish.
Ingredients
- White beans
- Avocado
- Seasonal vegetables
- Shrimp
- Zucchini noodles
- Tomatoes
- Cheese
- Minute Salmon & Creamy Orzo with Spinach & Mushrooms
- Salmon fillets
- Orzo
- Spinach
- Mushrooms
- Ravioli
- Grape tomatoes
- Prewashed spinach
- Prepared pesto
- Cucumber
- Tomato
- Swiss cheese
- Chickpeas
- Avocado
- Buttermilk
- Herbs
- Quinoa Bowl
- Black beans
- Quinoa
- Pico de gallo
- Fresh cilantro
- Avocado
- Hummus dressing
- Garlic Pasta with Salmon
- Salmon
- Pasta
- Lemon
- Garlic
- Free Teriyaki Chicken with Broccoli
- Chicken
- Tamari (gluten-free soy sauce)
- Broccoli (or other vegetables)
- Frozen chopped spinach
- Feta cheese
- Sun-dried tomato tapenade
- Whole-wheat pita
- Eggs
- Minute Sheet-Pan Chicken Tenders & Broccoli with Everything Bagel Seasoning
- Chicken tenders
- Everything bagel seasoning
- Broccoli
- Dipping sauce (3-ingredient)
- Chickpeas
- Quinoa
- Hummus
- Sunflower seeds
- Roasted peppers
- Black beans
- Roasted vegetables
- Taco shells
- Pulled chicken
- Red cabbage slaw
- Coleslaw blend
- Lentils
- Mixed greens
- Sliced apple
- Feta cheese
- Oven Tostadas
- Black beans
- Cheddar cheese
- Corn tortillas
- Sage Cauliflower Gnocchi
- Cauliflower gnocchi
- White beans
- Sage
- Artichoke-Sausage Cauliflower Gnocchi
- Cauliflower gnocchi
- Turkey sausage
- Artichoke hearts
- Cheese
- Peppers
- Onions
- Tortillas
- Salmon
- Grains
- Sushi toppings
- Minute Broiled Cod with Tomatoes & Herbed Mayonnaise
- Cod
- Tomatoes
- Mayonnaise
- Chopped herbs
- Tuna
- Olives
- Feta cheese
- Tahini dressing
- Baby spinach
- Rotisserie chicken
- Lemon zest
- Breadcrumbs
- Spiralized zucchini
- Baby zucchini
FAQ
- What makes these recipes suitable for a quick dinner?
- These recipes are designed to be prepared in just 15 minutes, making them ideal for busy evenings. They use simple techniques, minimal ingredients, and often incorporate pre-prepared items to save time.
- Are these recipes healthy?
- Yes, each serving contains 575 calories or less, featuring ingredients like vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains to ensure a nutritious meal.
- Can I customize these recipes with different ingredients?
- Absolutely! Many recipes suggest alternatives, such as swapping vegetables or proteins, to suit your preferences or what’s available in your pantry.
- Are these recipes suitable for people with dietary restrictions?
- Some recipes are naturally gluten-free or can be adjusted to fit dietary needs by substituting certain ingredients, like using tamari instead of soy sauce for gluten-free options.
- Do I need special equipment to make these meals?
- No special equipment is required. Basic kitchen tools like a skillet, oven, or toaster oven are sufficient to prepare these dishes.
Tips
- For the Easy Shrimp Scampi with Zucchini Noodles, try using spiralized zucchini instead of pasta for a lighter twist on this classic dish. Tomatoes can add a sweet touch and a splash of color while cheese provides a nutty richness.
- When preparing the 15-Minute Salmon & Creamy Orzo with Spinach & Mushrooms, consider cooking the salmon at a high temperature to speed up the process. Using presliced mushrooms can also help save time.
- If you’re making the Pesto Ravioli with Spinach & Tomatoes, opt for grape tomatoes, prewashed spinach, and pre-made pesto to eliminate prep work and quickly create a fresh, five-ingredient meal.
- For the 15-Minute Sheet-Pan Chicken Tenders & Broccoli, coat the chicken with everything bagel seasoning for a unique flavor. Pair it with a simple three-ingredient dipping sauce to add a hint of sweetness and spice.
Equipment
- Zucchini Spiralizer: For making zucchini noodles (zoodles) in the Easy Shrimp Scampi with Zucchini Noodles and Lemon Chicken Pasta.
- Toaster Oven: For making the Toaster-Oven Tostadas.
- Broiler Pan: For broiling in the 15-Minute Broiled Cod with Tomatoes & Herbed Mayonnaise and 15-Minute Sheet-Pan Chicken Tenders & Broccoli with Everything Bagel Seasoning.
- Immersion Blender or Food Processor: For making dressings like the green goddess dressing in the Green Goddess Salad with Chickpeas.
- High-Quality Non-Stick Pan: For quick and efficient cooking of dishes like the Spinach-Artichoke-Sausage Cauliflower Gnocchi and Cheese Quesadillas with Peppers & Onions.
