51 Healthy Dinner Recipes for Weight Loss

 

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.

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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!

• • Ready in 30 Minutes or Less

• • Ready Not As Fast But Still Delicious

 

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Ready in 30 Minutes or Less

 

Korean Chicken Stir Fry Recipe

By: Your Healthy Beginning

Number of Servings: 4

Total Time: 30 Minutes

Nutrition: Calories: 444 Fat: 9g Carbs: 66g Protein: 26g

 

Korean Lettuce Wraps with Chicken

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: 27 

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

 

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: 4g 

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: 39g 

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: 8g 

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

 

Greek Chicken Kabobs

By: Ambitious Kitchen

Number of Servings: 8

Total Time: 35 Minutes

Nutrition: Calories: 213 Fat: 9g Carbs: 9g Protein: 24g

 

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

 

Easy Vegan Enchiladas

By: Blissful Basil

Number of Servings: 8 enchiladas

Total Time: 45 Minutes

Nutrition: Not Specified

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Set It and Forget It(ish)

 

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

 

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

 

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

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Okay, we made it to the end! Now you have 51 delicious & healthy dinner recipes for weight loss and your healthy living journey. Thank you for stopping by Your Healthy Beginning, 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.