Think fresh! Our favorite fresh and light dinner ideas include pastas, salads, frittatas, and more meals you'll crave. We even have healthy recipes for favorite comfort foods. Think pasta is off the table for low-calorie eating? You'll be surprised to see that it isn't—and neither is family-friendly pizza (that's easy to make, too!).
With ten delicious recipes to try, you'll have weeknight dinner covered for two weeks, so you'll save time and money on last-minute take-out meals. Dinner need not be smothered in gravy or loaded with calories to be delicious—these meals under 500 calories prove that.
Garlic-Ginger Pork Lettuce Wraps
Get dinner on the table fast with help from your pressure cooker or Instant Pot—the pork filling will cook in just six minutes! Then, instead of tortillas or other carb-based wraps, tuck the filling of this light dinner idea inside fresh lettuce leaves with your choice of toppings. (We're fans of adding shredded carrots, sliced radishes, and green onion.) Eat them handheld or with a knife and fork—either way, they're yummy!
Mexican Chopped Chicken Salad with Jalapeño Dressing
If you like tacos and enchiladas, you'll love this fresh, light dinner idea. It won't take much convincing for even your pickiest eaters to dive fork-first into this gorgeous rainbow-colored salad, since it tastes similar to all of their Mexican faves. Speed up prep by starting with leftover or rotisserie chicken and mixing up the homemade salad dressing in advance. If you're feeling ambitious, line up your fruits and veggies in rows for the ultimate photo-ready meal!
Chicken with Basil Sauce and Cucumber Radish Salad
This French-Italian fusion recipe looks elegant and extravagant but is simple to whip up (it only takes 30 minutes). The light dinner idea includes a creamy basil sauce made with crème fraîche and a light salad of cucumbers, radishes, and broccoli sprouts.
Striped Bass en Brodo
Seafood isn't a hassle to make at home! You only need a handful of ingredients to enjoy this fish dish. Paired with tomato slices and seasoned with fresh thyme, this is one light dinner idea you'll want to keep handy since it takes only ten minutes to prep and 25 minutes to get it on the table for a quick weeknight dinner. A side of crusty bread won't ruin your meal plan for the day, and it's worth it to soak up all the juice.
Orange Salmon and Green Onions
In the mood for fish and chips? This beautiful baked fish recipe is a brilliant dinner swap (and you have our complete permission to add a side of baked or air-fryer fries). Oranges and limes are the stars of the Asian-inspired sauce. While it tastes complex, this light dinner idea calls for just seven ingredients and can be on the table in 30 minutes.
Tahini-Ginger Noodles and Veggies
Skip those ho-hum microwave "diet" meals. This yummy veggie and noodle bowl will become your go-to healthy dinner! Tahini helps make the sauce extra creamy, and lemon juice and ginger give this easy dinner a burst of brightness. One-bowl meals are a cinch to serve, making doing dishes quick and simple.
Turkey Burgers with Peaches and Blueberries
Savory meets sweet in this grilled turkey burger recipe topped with fresh seasonal peaches and blueberries. Seasoned with spicy chili powder and served on garlic bread, this easy turkey burger recipe is sure to wow dinner guests. Serve it open-faced to show off the colorful ingredients (and to make it even lower-cal).
Skillet Vegetables on Cheese Toast
We can't get enough roasted vegetables! The hands-off, healthy cooking technique accentuates the natural sugars in even the most bitter veggies. Layers of garlicky cooked carrots and mushrooms balance the creaminess of the goat cheese spread in this hearty-but-light dinner idea. For a bit more protein, feel free to top each open-face sandwich with a poached egg or shredded chicken, which you can make in advance and freeze until you need it.
Roasted Vegetable-Chicken Sausage Pizza
Pizza gets a fresh update when covered with fresh asparagus, sweet peppers, onions, and mushrooms. Chicken sausage pumps up the protein, so each slice (11 grams of protein strong!) is surprisingly satisfying. This easy, kid-friendly light dinner idea is perfect for a jam-packed weeknight evening.
Spicy Shrimp Pasta
Busy night? Add shrimp, jalapeño peppers, and cherry tomatoes to a simple pasta dish for extra heartiness and spicy flavor for a tasty, easy, light dinner idea. Start with a green salad, and you'll meet all your nutrition and flavor needs for a satisfying meal.
