15 Delicious Low-Calorie Dinner Recipes- Healthy + Full of Flavor (2024)

Tasty Low-Calorie Meal Ideas.

Have you decided on your New Year’s resolutions? The main resolution for many people in the new year is to eat healthy and lose weight! Yet many people abandonthis resolution just a few months into the year. Why? Because what they were eating was healthy, but not tasty! It’s not hard to eat healthy, if you’ve got some delicious recipes in your meal plan! To help you start the new year off right, here are 15 Delicious Low-Calorie Dinner Recipes!

15 Delicious Low-Calorie Dinner Recipes- Healthy + Full of Flavor (1)

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I’m a big fan of eating healthy! Not just because healthy eating usually means eating home-cooked meals from fresh ingredients (which is more frugal than eating out or using a bunch of boxed mixes), but because the healthy recipes my family eats actually taste good! For example, you’ll see some zoodle recipes below. While I was skeptical at first (like most people) I now love zoodles! Having a spiralizer helps me make them fast, and they’re a wonderful noodle substitute! I’m also a big fan of using ground turkey instead of ground beef. Add enough seasonings and mix-ins (onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, etc.) and you won’t miss ground beef at all!

And that’s what a good healthy recipe should be like- it should make you not miss unhealthy food because the healthy recipe just tastes so good! That’s why you won’t find any bare chicken breasts or lightly seasoned salmon below. All of these are low-calorie dinner recipes, but they’re full of flavor!

15 Delicious Low-Calorie Dinner Recipes

Cooking healthy low-calorie dinner recipes doesn’t mean you have to compromise on flavor. Making simple swaps and additions can help you reduce fat, carbs, and calories without losing out on taste. Here are some tips.

  • Meat – Lean meats like chicken and turkey will have less fat and fewer calories. You can also try meat substitutes, like the Beyond or Impossible line of meat alternatives. They can be surprisingly authentic tasting!
  • Pasta Swaps – Choose a whole grain pasta or swap in zoodles or squash for a healthier option.
  • Veggies – Load a meal with veggies. You will get a lot of food and your meal with be both colorful and tasty.
  • Dairy – You don’t have to give up dairy completely. Choose reduced fat cheeses instead of full fat options. And for milk choose 2% or skim milk, though I honestly never buy anything other than almond milk these days and find that it’s just as wonderful in cereal and in baking recipes!

1. Mexican Chipotle Beef Stuffed Peppers

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A delicious way to get all the vitamins in bell peppers is to make these Mexican Chipotle Beef Stuffed Peppers by Isabel Eats!

2. Balsamic Caramelized Onion Turkey Burger

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These Balsamic Caramelized Onion Turkey Burgers from The Foodie and the Fix are so juicy and flavorful you won’t even know it’s a healthier turkey burger!

3. One Pan Parmesan Tuscan Chicken

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This healthy One Pan Parmesan Tuscan Chicken from It’s Cheat Day Everyday will help to curb those craving for rich, hearty food without overindulging.

4. Honey Sriracha Mongolian Beef with Rice Noodles

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Forget the take out! Make this healthy, low calorie Honey Sriracha Mongolian Beef with Rice Noodles from Joyful Healthy Eats.It’s sweet, spicy, and perfect for a quick & easy weeknight meal.

5. Skinny Shrimp Alfredo Pasta Bake

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Damn Delicious’s skinny version of Shrimp Alfredo Pasta is just as creamy as the original but it’s much lighter.

6. Pesto Zoodles with Chicken

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Zoodles are a healthy substitute for pasta. This Pesto Zoodles with Chicken recipe from Bound By Food is big on flavor and light on carbs.

7. Green Chile Chicken Enchilada Stuffed Spaghetti Squash

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You won’t miss the tortillas or time spent rolling up the enchiladas when you make this Green Chile Chicken Enchilada Stuffed Spaghetti Squash from Recipe Runner.

8. Turkey Spaghetti Zoodles

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This Turkey Spaghetti Zoodles from Skinny Fitalicious is pasta without the pasta! It’s a SUPER simple one-pan dinner that’s low calorie and low carb

9. One Pot Turkey Taco Skillet

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This One Pot Turkey Taco Skillet from Bijoux and Bits is piled high with veggies and you’ll only have one pan to clean.

10. Sweet Potato Spicy Chicken

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Sweet Potato Spicy Chicken from A Healthy Life for Me is an impressive dinner recipe that is easy, and packed full of rich flavor that is sure to make the whole family happy.

11.Greek Turkey Meatballs with Lemon Orzo & Creamy Feta Yogurt Sauce

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This meal looks amazing and has so many yummy ingredients! I can’t wait to try these Greek Turkey Meatballs with Lemon Orzo & Creamy Feta Yogurt Sauce from Ambitious Kitchen.

12. Healthy Orange Chicken Stir Fry with Coconut Cauliflower Rice

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Cauliflower rice is a great way to lower your calorie and carb intake and this yummy chicken will make it delicious! Ambitious Kitchen shows you how to make this tasty Orange Chicken Stir Fry with Coconut Cauliflower Rice.

13. Salmon and Asparagus Sheet Pan Meal

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Sheet pan meals are so great for busy families; everything goes on the pan and into the oven to cook. Time efficient and less mess in the kitchen to clean up after! That’s a win-win! Get the recipe for Salmon and Asparagus Sheet Pan Meal from A Couple Cooks.

14. Easy Power Bowl

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Get all the goods with this easy power bowl from A Couple Cooks! It is full of tons of good things and would be a great way to clean out the fridge.

15. Instant Pot Lentil Soup

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No Instant Pot, don’t worry it could be adapted to a cooktop recipe. Love and Lemons shows you how to make this easy lentil soup.

What’s your favorite low-calorie dinner recipe?

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15 Delicious Low-Calorie Dinner Recipes- Healthy + Full of Flavor (18)

You might also be interested in: Lemon Shrimp with Vegetable Noodles and Pasta

15 Delicious Low-Calorie Dinner Recipes- Healthy + Full of Flavor (2024)

FAQs

What is the most filling low-calorie meal? ›

Lunch and dinner options:
  • Salad with lean poultry or beans, vegetables, and quinoa.
  • Beef or lentil soup or stew with vegetables, peppers, and rice.
  • Whole grain sandwich or wrap with lean protein, leafy greens, and low-fat cheese.
  • Grilled or baked salmon with roasted vegetables and potatoes.
Nov 6, 2023

What food is filling but low in calories? ›

Fish. Lean meat and poultry. Low-fat or fat-free dairy products, such as milk, yogurt and cheese. Egg whites.

What are high volume low-calorie foods? ›

12 High-Volume Low-Calorie Foods
  • Leafy Greens. Leafy greens like spinach, kale, Swiss chard, arugula, and romaine lettuce are great additions to your volume eating plan. ...
  • Cauliflower. Cauliflower continues to be a favorite low-calorie staple, and with good reason. ...
  • Legumes. ...
  • Zucchini. ...
  • Cucumber. ...
  • Watermelon.
Dec 8, 2023

What is considered a low-calorie dinner? ›

“A low-calorie meal can be in the 300 to 400 calorie range for breakfast and 500 to 600 calorie range for lunch and dinner meals, and 100 to 200 calorie range for snacks,” says Vandana Sheth, R.D.N., C.D.E.S., F.A.N.D., registered dietitian nutritionist and author of My Indian Table: Quick & Tasty Vegetarian Recipes.

How to lose 5 pounds in a week? ›

Losing 5 pounds a week comes to reducing your food intake by 3500 calories over seven days. The value that represents the decrease in calorie intake is known as the calorie deficit. If you want to lose 5 pounds in a week, you will need to reduce your food intake by 17,500 calories, which is a huge calorie deficit.

How can I eat 1200 calories a day and feel full? ›

Leafy greens, broccoli, cauliflower, cucumbers, and other similar vegetables are high in fiber and water. Adding these non-starchy vegetables to your lunch and dinner can help you feel full. If you need some dinner plans, you could make salmon, a baked potato, and vegetables like green beans or carrots.

What is a food that you can eat a lot of and not gain weight? ›

Foods you can eat a lot of without weight gain. If you're looking for low-calorie food that's also filling, cauliflower fits the bill. An entire head contains just 146 calories (not that I'd recommend eating that much in one sitting)! Calories aside, cauliflower is incredibly versatile.

How many calories should I eat for dinner to lose weight? ›

1 How many calories per meal to lose weight? At dinner time, women should aim for between 300-400 calories, while men should keep to 400-500 calories (by adding some extra protein, wholegrains or good fats).

How to eat to lose belly fat? ›

In general, a low-carb way of eating shifts your intake away from problem foods—those high in carbs and sugar and without much fiber, like bread, bagels and sodas—and toward high-fiber or high-protein choices, like vegetables, beans and healthy meats.

What are 4 foods that are high in empty calories? ›

The foods and drinks that contain primarily empty calories are:
  • Soft drinks, sports drinks, sweet tea, lemonade and energy drinks.
  • Alcohol.
  • Junk food and fast food.
  • Candy, including hard candies and sweet or sour chews.
  • Cakes and donuts.
Jan 21, 2021

What is the smallest most caloric food? ›

Originally Answered: What food has the most calories with the smallest serving? The food group that is the most calorie dense is fats. So butter, oil and other fats have the most calories with the smallest serving.

What food has less than 200 calories? ›

Snacks under 200 calories*:

An apple with a tablespoon of peanut butter. A cup of grapes with an ounce of cheese (1 ounce of cheese is about the size of your whole thumb, from base to tip). 2 tablespoons of hummus and raw veggies like carrots, celery, cauliflower or broccoli. Air-popped popcorn.

Are there 0 calorie meals? ›

In reality, no food has zero calories. However, there are some low-calorie foods that provide very few calories per serving. These foods are often referred to as "zero-calorie" or "negative-calorie" foods because the calories they contain are negligible or the body burns more calories digesting them than they provide.

What are the most filling foods? ›

Foods That Help Beat Hunger and Keep You Fuller Longer
  • Avocado. ...
  • Oatmeal. ...
  • Red Chili Pepper. ...
  • Fish. ...
  • Nuts. ...
  • Beans and Legumes. ...
  • Eggs. ...
  • Fruits and Vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are full of vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients.

How can I eat 500 calories a day less? ›

It is easier than you may think.
  1. Swap your snack. Many people reach for a snack or two in between meals. ...
  2. Cut one high-calorie treat. ...
  3. Do not drink your calories. ...
  4. Skip seconds. ...
  5. Make low calorie substitutions. ...
  6. Ask for a doggie bag. ...
  7. Just say "no" to fried food. ...
  8. Build a thinner pizza.
Jun 22, 2022

How can I eat 500 calories a day and feel full? ›

Some low-calorie, high-volume foods that can help you feel full on a 500-calorie diet include non-starchy vegetables like spinach, kale, broccoli, and bell peppers. These foods are high in fiber and water content, which can help fill you up without adding a lot of calories.

How can I lose 10 pounds in a month? ›

We explain how specific changes might help you meet these goals.
  1. Try cardio for weight loss. ...
  2. Eat fewer refined carbs. ...
  3. Counting calories. ...
  4. Choose better beverages. ...
  5. Eat slowly. ...
  6. Add fiber to your diet. ...
  7. Eat a high protein breakfast. ...
  8. Get enough sleep every night.
Jun 30, 2023

What does eating less than 1200 calories do? ›

Many studies have shown that following low calorie diets, including 1,200-calorie diets, can promote weight loss. For example, a study including 2,093 people with obesity demonstrated that a medically supervised 1,200-calorie meal replacement diet resulted in an average fat loss of 4.7% over 12 months ( 6 ).

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