Oh, hi, we’re approaching one year around the sun, and I thought it was time to put out another round-up of recipes.
Today, we’re talking about healthy dinner recipes for weight loss, which I know lots of you are thinking of getting on a fitness kick for the new year’s resolutions. All recipes in this article are under 500 calories per serving and offer nutritious and delicious options perfect for your healthy living or weight loss journey.
Let’s Talk Eating & Weight Loss
When I went on my weight loss journey, which feels like 100 years ago (but really was 10), I remember looking up recipes as one of the first things I did. I’ve always thought that when it comes to losing weight, the food is always a harder battle than the exercise, which is why I want to make articles like this for you.
I know when it comes to weight loss, many people believe that food is not your friend and believe restricting what you eat is the way you lose weight. Now, we need to be in a caloric deficit to lose weight, but people often take this to the extreme. I’m here to tell you that you don’t need to starve yourself to lose weight; instead, learn to make better choices that fit your lifestyle and those you can take with you for the rest of your life.
Planning For Healthy Eating
One of my best suggestions for you is to plan ahead. When you write down what you’re going to eat that day or week, you’ll be less likely to abandon ship when it comes down to eating.
Another thing is if you’re new to cooking, then definitely start small. You don’t need to learn to make a beef wellington on the first day! Instead, start with some basic options that don’t take too long to make, then when you build up some confidence in the kitchen, THEN start to get more creative.
Lastly, I recommend using a meal planner to help plan your meals ahead of time! This way, you know what to get at the store and what you’re going to make, and you have more control over what ends up going on your fork.
The last thing I will say about this is that I don’t recommend using meal-tracking apps that track every ingredient you eat. It’s good to have a ballpark idea of how many calories you’re eating but by no means do you need to have it down to a science.
Let’s Talk Ingredients
So you’re looking for healthy recipes, and you see some absolutely delish pictures, but is the dish actually healthy? First, let’s talk about the ingredient list.
One thing to always look for is the amount of veggies (or fruit) in a dish. Try and pick recipes packed with various veggies ( or at least one if the budget’s tight). Next, you want to have some sort of protein. Leaner proteins are typically chicken, turkey and some fish. However, don’t be afraid to add beef or pork to your diet. Just make sure you’re picking cuts with less fat hanging around. Lately, there was nothing ever wrong with a vegetarian or vegan protein source. Beans and lentils are also your friends, so don’t be afraid to try them.
Next, you want to avoid recipes that have a lot of processed ingredients. I often recommend skipping recipes that include frozen meatballs or chicken strips. However, frozen veggies and chicken or beef that you previously froze are more than encouraged.
Last but not least, don’t try and force yourself to eat something you don’t like just because it’s “healthy.” There are over 50 recipes in this article, and I know you can find a few that you’ll like, but that doesn’t mean you have to like them all!
My Best Advice
If you’re serious about your weight loss journey, my biggest piece of advice is to try and build the healthiest relationship with food that you can. Once you establish a good relationship with food, the whole process becomes WAY easier.
Healthy Dinner Recipes for Weight Loss
OK, now we’re at the part you actually came for, which ones to find some healthy dinner recipes to help you lose weight! Below are the recipe, the author, and some nutritional information. Please remember that nutritional information is often a good guess and not 100% accurate. So, with that being said, let’s find your next dinner!
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- Ready in 30 Minutes or Less
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- Ready Not As Fast But Still Delicious
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Ready in 30 Minutes or Less
Korean Lettuce Wraps with Chicken
By: Your Healthy Beginning
Number of Servings: 4
Total Time: 20 Minutes
Nutrition: Calories: 298 Fat: 10g Carbs: 22g Protein: 33g
Buffalo Chicken Pizza
By: Your Healthy Beginning
Number of Servings: 4
Total Time: 25 Minutes
Nutrition: Calories: 486 Fat: 24g Carbs: 54g Protein: 14g
Peanut Butter Stir Fry with Rice
By: Your Healthy Beginning
Number of Servings: 4
Total Time: 30 Minutes
Nutrition: Calories: 462 Fat: 16g Carbs: 46g Protein: 28g
Lemon Garlic Shrimp & Asparagus
By: Eat Yourself Skinny
Number of Servings: 4
Total Time: 25 Minutes
Nutrition: Calories: 302 Fat: 19g Carbs: 6g Protein: 27Â
Egg Roll in a Bowl
By: Well Plated
Number of Servings: 4
Total Time: 20 Minutes
Nutrition: Calories: 263 Fat: 15g Carbs: 9g Protein: 24g
Chicken Fajita Bake
By: Julia’s Album
Number of Servings: 4
Total Time: 30 Minutes
Nutrition: Calories: 350 Fat: 17g Carbs: 7g Protein: 42g
Cheeseburger Bowl
By: Momma Fit Lindsey
Number of Servings: 6
Total Time: 15 Minutes
Nutrition: Calories: 395 Fat: 20g Carbs: 29g Protein: 25g
Fish Taco Bowl
By: The Low Carb Life
Number of Servings: 4
Total Time: 26 Minutes
Nutrition: Calories: 365 Fat: 21g Carbs: 18g Protein: 25g
Cajun Sausage & Cauliflower Rice Skillet
By: Eat Yourself Skinny
Number of Servings: 4
Total Time: 25 Minutes
Nutrition: Calories: 193 Fat: 11g Carbs: 23g Protein: 11g
Vegetarian Paella
By: Gathering Dreams
Number of Servings: 4
Total Time: 30 Minutes
Nutrition: Calories: 445 Fat: 10g Carbs: 79g Protein: 9g
White Bean Chili
By: Jar of Lemons
Number of Servings: 4
Total Time: 30 Minutes
Nutrition: Calories: 476 Fat: 14g Carbs: 41g Protein: 48g
Curry Noodle Soup
By: Chelsea’s Messy Apron
Number of Servings: 4
Total Time: 30 Minutes
Nutrition: Calories: 493 Fat: 20g Carbs: 53g Protein: 24g
White Bean & Spinach Quesadillas
By: Sweetpeas & Saffron
Number of Servings: 5
Total Time: 30 Minutes
Nutrition: Calories: 396 Fat: 20g Carbs: 37g Protein: 19g
15-Minute Chicken Stir Fry
By: Eat Well 101
Number of Servings: 4
Total Time: 15 Minutes
Nutrition: Calories: 515 Fat: 19g Carbs: 54g Protein: 31g
Warm Kale and Brussel Sprouts Salad
By: A Simple Palate
Number of Servings: 4
Total Time: 20 Minutes
Nutrition: Calories: 221 Fat: 10g Carbs; 28g Protein: 7g
Summer Rolls with Peanut Sauce
By: Life Made Sweeter
Number of Servings: 10 rolls
Total Time: 30 Minutes
Nutrition: Calories: 111 Fat: 4g Carbs: 15g Protein: 5g
Chicken Pesto
By: Salt & Lavender
Number of Servings: 4
Total Time: 30 Minutes
Nutrition: Calories: 348 Fat: 21g Carbs: 6g Protein: 32g
20-Minute Shrimp Stir Fry
By: Fork in the Kitchen
Number of Servings: 4
Total Time: 20 Minutes
Nutrition: Calories: 230 Fat: 6g Carbs: 19g Protein: 29g
Chicken Tortellini Soup with Spinach & Lemon
By: Spoonful of Flavor
Number of Servings: 6
Total Time: 30 Minutes
Nutrition: Calories: 302 Fat: 9g Carbs: 25g Protein: 29g
Chicken Shawarma
By: Cotter Crunch
Number of Servings: 4-5
Total Time: 32 Minutes
Nutrition: Calories: 248 Fat: 15g Carbs: 9g Protein: 21g
Healthy Instant Pot Jambalaya
By: The Bettered Blondie
Number of Servings: 6
Total Time: 25 minutes
Nutrition: Calories: 437 Fat: 26g Carbs: 12g Protein: 35g
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Healthy Chicken Pad Thai
By: What Molly Made
Number of Servings: 6
Total Time: 30 minutes
Nutrition: Calories: 493 Fat: 20g Carbs: 50g Protein: 28g
Ready Not As Fast But Still Delicious
Asparagus, Mushroom & Turkey Stir Fry with Garlic Chili Honey Sauce
By: Your Healthy Beginning
Number of Servings: 4
Total Time: 35 Minutes
Nutrition: Calories: 440 Fat: 3g Carbs: 45g Protein: 9g
Zucchini Noodles with Sun-Dried Tomatoes
By: Your Healthy Beginning
Number of Servings: 4
Total Time: 45 Minutes
Nutrition: Calories: 386 Fat: 20g Carbs: 25g Protein: 17g
Instant Pot Turkey Chili
By: Savory Tooth
Number of Servings: 8
Total Time: 50 Minutes
Nutrition: Calories: 270 Fat: 12g Carbs: 11g Protein: 32g
Vegan Mushroom & Quinoa Burger
By: Simple Fit Vegan
Number of Servings: 6
Total Time: 45 Minutes
Nutrition: Calories: 124 Fat: 5g Carbs: 14g Protein: 4gÂ
Vegetarian Hot Honey Pizza
By: Jar of Lemons
Number of Servings: 8 Slices (so probably 4ish)
Total Time: 55 Minutes
Nutrition: Calories: 193 Fat: 13g Carbs: 11g Protein: 8g
Tilapia Fish Tacos
By: Chelsea’s Messy Apron
Number of Servings: 4
Total Time: 38 Minutes
Nutrition: Calories: 39gÂ
Vegan Stuffed Acorn Squash
By: Veggies Save the Day
Number of Servings: 8
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Nutrition: Calories: 212 Fat: 4g Carbs: 42g Protein: 7g
 Coconut Lime Grilled Chicken
By: Pinch of Yum
Number of Servings: 4
Total Time: 40 minutes
Nutrition: Calories: 366 Fat: 8g Carbs: 41g Protein: 26g
Baked Chicken Bruschetta
By: Sweetpeas & Saffron
Number of Servings: 8
Total Time: 45 Minutes
Nutrition: Calories: 226 Fat: 10g Carbs: 4g Protein: 28g
5- Ingredient Spicy Pork
By: Pinch of Yum
Number of Servings: 4
Total Time: 35 Minutes
Nutrition: Calories: 274 Fat: 10g Carbs: 6g Protein: 36g
Mexican Unstuffed Pepper Bowls
By: Peanut Butter & Fitness
Number of Servings: 4
Total Time: 40 minutes
Nutrition: Calories: 384 Fat: 11g Carbs: 34g Protein: 40g
Butternut Squash Casserole
By: 40 Aprons
Number of Servings: 8
Total Time: 65 minutes
Nutrition: Calories: 234 Fat: 17g Carbs: 16g Protein: 8gÂ
Beef & Barley Stew
By: Slimming Eats
Number of Servings: 4
Total Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
Nutrition: Calories: 242 Fat: 11g Carbs: 22g Protein: 16g
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Greek Chicken Kabobs
By: Ambitious Kitchen
Number of Servings: 8
Total Time: 35 Minutes
Nutrition: Calories: 213 Fat: 9g Carbs: 9g Protein: 24g
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Dreamy Refried Bean Chicken Enchiladas
By: Ambitious Kitchen
Number of Servings: 5
Total Time: 60 Minutes
Nutrition: Calories: 400 Fat: 10g Carbs: 45g Protein: 31g
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Easy Vegan Enchiladas
By: Blissful Basil
Number of Servings: 8 enchiladas
Total Time: 45 Minutes
Nutrition: Not Specified
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Instant Pot Pho
By: Lexi’s Clean Kitchen
Number of Servings: 6
Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
Nutrition: Calories: 354 Fat: 7g Carbs: 31g Protein: 37g
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Oil-Free Greek Zucchini and Potato Bake
By: Monkey & Me Kitchen Adventures
Number of Servings: 5-6
Total Time: 85 minutes
Nutrition: Calories: 146 Fat: 3g Carbs: 25g Protein: 5g
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Baked Salsa Chicken
By: Carlsbad Cravings
Number of Servings: 6-8
Total Time: 40 minutes
Nutrition: Not Specified
Chicken Cacciatore
By: Cafe Delites
Number of Servings: 6
Total Time: 50 minutes
Nutrition: Calories: 310 Fat: 11g Carbs: 22g Protein: 27g
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Healthy Baked Falafel
By: Joy Food Sunshine
Number of Servings: 18 Pieces
Total Time: 40 minutes
Nutrition: Calories: 38 Fat: 1g Carbs: 5g Protein: 1g
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Sweet Potato & Black Bean Quesadilla
By: Purely Kaylie
Number of Servings: 6
Total Time: 60 minutes
Nutrition: Calories: 384 Fat: 10g Carbs: 58g Protein: 16g
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Set It and Forget It(ish)
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Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken
By: Peanut Butter & Fitness
Number of Servings: 6
Total Time: 5 hours & 30 minutes
Nutrition: Calories: 468 Fat: 6g Carbs: 63g Protein: 38g
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Crockpot Cashew Chicken
By: Family Fresh Meals
Number of Servings: 4
Total Time: 3 hours & 20 minutes
Nutrition: Calories: 483 Fat: 22g Carbs: 32g Protein: 55g
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Slow Cooker Chicken Stew
By: Yellow Bliss Road
Number of Servings: 6
Total Time: 6 hours & 10 minutes
Nutrition: Calories: 456 Fat: 10g Carbs: 41g Protein: 50g
Okay, we made it to the end! Thank you for stopping by Your Healthy Begining, and if you liked what you read make sure to share it on your fave social platform (so pinterest hehe).
Until next time, remember to love how you live.
