It’s not easy to find easy but healthy dinner ideas. It’s especially hard if you work full time and have a busy family. Finding real food recipes that the whole family will love has been the catalyst for creating this blog.
Looking to eat healthy? If yes, then you’ve come to the right place. Check out these super easy but healthy dinner ideas!
healthier comfort foods we’re making this winter
Loaded with vegetables and lower in carbs, these healthier but hearty dinners are perfect for the cooler months. Choose from chicken noodles soups, slow cooker mains, creamy pastas and better-for-you twists on family favourites.
1Healthier minestrone
For a winter warmer without the extra calories, add nutritious vegetables like zucchini and borlotti beans to your minestrone.
2Slow cooker beef barbacoa with green chilli and pepper salsa
This healthy Mexican slow-cooked beef stew is low-cal and also packed with veg.
3Haloumi and mushroom ‘steak’ sanger
For a healthy twist on the steak sandwich, whack this on the barbecue. It’s vegetarian and a real winner at lunch and dinner.
4Easy vegetarian paella
For a Spanish-inspired meal that’s tasty, healthy and loaded with nourishing vegetables, try our easy vegetarian paella.
5Crispy Vietnamese pancakes with tofu
The perfect light lunch or dinner, these Thai and Vietnamese-inspired tofu pancakes are a plant-based or vegan winner.
6Healthy slow cooker French chicken recipe
Slow-cooked dishes can be healthy (and creamy!) with a few tweaks, like this low-cal creamy French chicken.
7Low-cal chicken and mushroom one-pot
As the temperature dips, go from stovetop to tabletop with this warming and healthy French chicken and mushroom casserole.
8Cauliflower, kale and pepita soup
A low-cal, super-nutritious veg soup to dive your spoon into.
910-minute green tea soup with dumplings
A warm and nourishing soup that doesn’t have to bubble away for hours.
10Healthier creamy chicken noodle soup
This comforting one-pot soup is full of nourishing ingredients like chicken and ginger, plus it’s lower in calories to boot.
Dinner Ideas That Don’t Need a Recipe
Forget complicated recipes—all you need are a few minutes and a handful of ingredients.
EAT THIS, NOT THAT! IS READER-SUPPORTED AND EVERY PRODUCT WE FEATURE IS INDEPENDENTLY VETTED BY OUR EDITORS. WHEN YOU BUY THROUGH LINKS ON OUR SITE, WE MAY EARN A COMMISSION.
When it comes down to it, it can be challenging to find the time to sit down, decide on a week’s worth of recipes, write down all the necessary ingredients, hit up the supermarket, and then go through the tedious step-by-step process of making the meal. Thankfully, there’s a better way: Ditch the recipes and seek out flavorful “freestyle” dinner ideas that don’t need a recipe. (Yes, it’s a thing!)
All of the healthy meals below are made with just a handful of ingredients—many of which you likely already have in your kitchen—and are self-explanatory to pull together. Better yet, they all go from the stove to the kitchen table in under an hour. Add them to your weekly lineup to rid the stress from your daily mealtime grind. And while you’re at it, continue down a path of low-effort healthy eating by ordering one of these healthiest menu options from the most popular restaurant chains.
Chicken & Veggie Pan Roast
What You’ll Need: Chicken breasts, dried herbs and spices (garlic powder, rosemary, ground pepper, oregano, etc), roasting veggies (we like onions, Brussels sprouts, and sweet potatoes), and olive oil
We love sheet pan meals because all you need to do is put your meat and veggies on a pan, drizzle with a bit of EVOO, spice everything to taste, set it, and forget it. The best part? All of these ingredients can easily be paired with some lettuce and some rinsed chickpeas for the next day’s lunch.
2
Pesto Zoodles with Chicken, Tomatoes & Pine Nuts
What You’ll Need: Zucchini, olive oil, jarred pesto, grilled or pan-cooked chicken, grape tomatoes (cut in half), and pine nuts
Love the taste of pasta dishes, but looking to cut back on calories? Zoodles, or zucchini noodles, are the perfect solution. After you create noodles with the vitamin C-rich veggie, toss ’em in a sauté pan with some olive oil and let them get a bit soft. Then, add in the pesto, chicken, and tomatoes. After you’ve plated your meal, top with pine nuts. Done and done.
No spiralizer? No problem. A veggie stripper can also create zoodle-like strands in seconds.
Berry, Goat Cheese, & Quinoa Salad
What You’ll Need: Berries (we like blueberries and raspberries), spinach, chopped almonds, goat cheese, your favorite vinaigrette dressing
As the quinoa is cooking on the stove, wash and chop your berries and nuts. After the quinoa has cooled a bit, add it to a bed of spinach, along with the nuts, fruit, goat cheese, and dressing.
We love this lazy dinner recipe because it’s easy to pull together and serves up a host of antioxidants and a source of complete protein. Not to mention, it’s 100% Instagram-worthy.4
Chicken & Veggie Teriyaki Stir-Fry
What You’ll Need: Cubed chicken breasts, dry Asian seasoning, low-sodium teriyaki sauce (we like Organicville Island Teriyaki), frozen Asian-style veggies, brown rice or black bean noodles (we like Explore Cuisine Black Bean Spaghetti)
After you put up a pot of water to boil for the spaghetti, place the chicken breasts in a lightly greased skillet and sprinkle it with some seasoning. Once it starts to cook a bit, dump in the vegetables and cover the skillet with a lid. After a few minutes, add some more seasoning to the vegetables and a bit of teriyaki sauce, to taste. Once the meat, veggies, and your starch of choice are fully cooked, it’s time to plate your protein and veggie-filled meal.5
Chicken Fajita Salad
What You’ll Need: Cubed chicken breasts, Mexican seasoning (we like Mrs. Dash Fiesta Lime Seasoning Blend), sliced bell peppers, sliced onion, drained and dried black beans, chopped romaine lettuce, sliced avocado, low-sodium salsa (we like Newman’s Own Mild)
See ya, Chipotle. Thanks to this quick and easy recipe, you won’t need to waste your hard-earned cash on pre-made food again. Throw the chicken and veggies on a lightly greased skillet, sprinkle it with Mexican seasoning, and cover with a lid. Once the meat is cooked and the veggies are soft, remove from the heat and allow it to cool. Next, begin to construct your salad. Start with the greens and then pile on the avocado and salsa. Last, top it off with the chicken and veggie mixture.
Grilled Steak with Roasted Asparagus & Brown Rice
What You’ll Need: 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar, 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce, 2 tablespoons honey, crushed red pepper, chopped scallions, sirloin tip side or top round steak, asparagus, olive oil, salt, pepper brown rice
In a shallow bowl, combine the first five ingredients and place the steak in the marinade. Let the flavors mingle in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. While the meat is tenderizing, snap off the ends of the asparagus and toss the top part into a bowl with some olive oil, salt, and pepper. Oh, and don’t forget to make the rice. Next, heat your grill to high and place the meat and asparagus on the slats and cook until slightly charred.7
Caprese Entree Salad with Whole-Grain Pita
What You’ll Need: Spinach, chopped tomatoes, cubed fresh mozzarella, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt, ground pepper, shredded basil, toasted whole-grain pita
If you’re a fan of Insalata Caprese apps from Italian restaurants, you’ll be a fan of this entree-sized bed of greens, too. To make this stress-free recipe at home, toss spinach or your favorite green into a large bowl, and top with ingredients two through eight. Serve with a toasted whole-grain pita for a complete and filling meal.
Skeptical that this dish will be enough to sate your appetite? Add your favorite source of protein. Grilled chicken and steak both make for appetizing additions. And if you’re looking to put a fun twist on this classic dish, add some sliced fresh peaches. It may seem like an odd combination, but we promise you that it tastes divine.8
Chicken Israeli Salad Over Greens
What You’ll Need: Cubed chicken breasts, chickpeas, diced onion, diced tomato, diced cucumber, diced red bell pepper, ground pepper, dry parsley, red wine vinegar, olive oil, your favorite salad green
This refreshing Middle Eastern salad is beyond tasty and takes less than 20 minutes to make. Start your culinary adventure by tossing the chicken on a hot skillet and seasoning it with your favorite spices. While it’s cooking, drain and rinse a can of chickpeas and combine them with the vegetables. Once the chicken is cooked and cooled, add it to the bean and vegetable mixture, and sprinkle everything with pepper, parsley, vinegar, and oil, and serve over a bed of your favorite greens.
Eat This! Tip:
Use the leftover mixture to make a pita for the next day’s lunch.9
Turkey Burgers, Sweet Potato Fries & Roasted Asparagus
What You’ll Need: Pre-formed raw turkey burgers, dry rosemary, garlic powder, ground pepper, sliced sweet potatoes, paprika, asparagus, extra virgin olive oil, your favorite salad green, sliced tomato
To make this better-for-you “cookout,” throw the turkey burgers on a grill pan and season with rosemary, garlic powder, and ground pepper—this should all be happening while your oven is pre-heating to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Next, chop the sweet potatoes and snap the ends off the asparagus. Lay each veggie on their own bake pan and drizzle both with some olive oil and pepper, and give the spuds a dusting of paprika.
Instead of serving your burger on a bun, enjoy it with some lettuce and tomato—you know, the stuff you typically find snuggled up with your burger in between the bread. Your body doesn’t need the additional carbs when it’s already getting a potent punch of the nutrient from the taters.10
Veggie Frittata with Avocado Toast & Berries
What You’ll Need: Eggs, cracked and whisked, your favorite chopped veggies, grated parmesan, salt, pepper, Ezekiel bread, avocado, your favorite fresh berries
Sometimes brinner is the only thing that will hit the spot. And for those nights, we suggest whipping up this simple—yet flavorful—meal. Here’s how to make it: Grease a 9×9 baking dish and pour in the veggies and eggs. Add parmesan, salt, and pepper to taste. Pop it in the oven for 30 minutes, or until cooked all the way through. In the meantime, wash the berries, toast the bread, and top each slice with some mashed avocado.
EASY HEALTHY DINNER IDEAS & RECIPES
Looking for easy healthy dinner ideas? You’ve come to the right place! These healthy dinner recipes are quick to prepare, use simple whole food ingredients, and will please the whole family. These savory dishes are perfect for busy weeknights when you need a meal on the table quickly.
My favorite kinds of healthy meals for dinner are those with liberal (but simple) spices and seasonings, healthy fats, plenty of protein, and an abundance of vegetables. And just as important, the recipes have to come together fast, with minimal effort. While I don’t specialize in vegan recipes, I do have lots of quick healthy dinner recipes to offer that check all the other boxes. They all happen to be gluten-free, and many are low carb as well.
HEALTHY CHICKEN DINNER IDEAS
Chicken recipes make my favorite weeknight dinners! They are quick and easy, often make great leftovers, and are generally fuss-free. Add a salad or some veggies for a side dish (plus brown rice or pasta for those who want them), and you’re good to go.
CRISPY OVEN BAKED CHICKEN THIGHS
Learn how to make crispy baked chicken thighs in the oven, perfectly every time! This easy oven baked chicken thighs recipe is juicy on the inside, crispy on the outside, with simple ingredients.
BAKED CHICKEN LEG QUARTERS
You’ll love this simple recipe for baked chicken leg quarters in the oven! You only need a few simple ingredients for perfectly juicy, crispy roasted chicken leg quarters every time.
CRISPY BAKED CHICKEN LEGS DRUMSTICKS RECIPE
This 10-minute-prep easy oven roasted chicken drumsticks recipe will make SUPER crispy baked chicken legs that turn out perfectly every time! It’s the only guide for how to bake chicken legs you’ll ever need.
AIR FRYER CHICKEN BREAST RECIPE
Learn how to cook chicken breast in the air fryer, in just 10 minutes! It turns out juicy and tender every time with this easy air fryer chicken breast recipe.
SPATCHCOCK CHICKEN RECIPE IN THE OVEN
This spatchcock chicken recipe in the oven turns out perfectly juicy every time, with super crispy skin. Learn how to spatchcock a chicken step by step — it’s EASY!
PAN SEARED CHICKEN BREAST RECIPE (STOVETOP)
Learn how to sear chicken with this EASY stovetop pan seared chicken breast recipe. Just 25 minutes needed for perfectly juicy pan fried chicken breast, using simple ingredients.
EASY TANDOORI CHICKEN RECIPE IN THE OVEN
An EASY baked tandoori chicken recipe with basic ingredients! Learn how to make tandoori chicken in the oven, including the tandoori chicken marinade and the best method for a crispy skin and juicy inside.
JUICY BAKED CHICKEN BREAST RECIPE: THE BEST WAY TO BAKE CHICKEN
Simply the BEST way to bake chicken breast in the oven! This juicy baked chicken breast recipe at 450 degrees is fast, EASY, and never dry.