22 Low-Calorie Dinners That Taste Good

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You need to save this collection of easy and filling low-calorie dinner ideas because they’re quick to make and taste amazing.

Those fitness and weight loss goals aren’t going to achieve themselves, so let’s start cooking! Take a look through this list of flavorful filling low-cal meals and print out the ones that make your mouth water. The recipe collection includes healthy lettuce wraps, chicken recipes, easy stir-fries, delicious vegetarian soups, as well as light pasta dishes, all ready in 15-30 minutes.

With a focus on nutrient-dense foods, these low-calorie healthy dinner recipes will help you stay on track with your diet, so that you can feel better, more functional, more beautiful and more alive in your body.

This collection of easy and filling low-calorie dinner ideas features healthy lettuce wraps, chicken recipes, easy stir-fries, delicious vegetarian soups, as well as pasta dishes. All of these healthy dinners are under 400 calories and ready in less than 30 minutes.


Calories Matter, But Aren’t Everything

If your goal is to lose weight, sustainably and long-term, you need to learn how to eat healthy and enjoy it. There’s no reason to not eat, but you need to be wise about what you put into your body.

You can follow a low-calorie diet and eat a cheeseburger and nothing else today. But, remember that your body needs nutrients, not just calories. So make your meals low-calorie AND nutrient-dense. Bulk them up with lots of vegetables, add in some protein, healthy fats and slow carbs to the mix.

Go for high-fiber and high-protein foods to keep you satiated for longer periods. This way you will consume fewer calories throughout the day, but won’t feel deprived and your body will not be deprived of essential nutrients either.

These are exactly the type of recipes you will find in this list of healthy dinners under 400 calories.


One-Pan Low Calorie Dinners

Make this Mediterranean chicken for dinner in around 20 minutes with ingredients you probably already have at home! You can use a chicken breast or boneless skinless chicken thighs. This easy chicken recipe is perfect for anyone who loves the Mediterranean diet and food. You can serve this healthy chicken dinner as is, with bread and salad or if you want to keep things low carb, gluten-free or paleo, check out the options in the post.

1. Mediterranean Chicken Skillet

Sneak some Mediterranean flavor into your diet with this healthy chicken recipe. Made with feta cheese, olives, garlic, chicken and lots of vegetables this healthy dinner is absolutely amazing. Recipe here.

Calories per serving: 352

15-Minute Spicy Chicken and Chickpeas! Forget about chicken and rice, forget about chicken and broccoli (if you’re doing it to lose weight!) too! This easy healthy chicken recipe is the perfect dinner - it’s delicious, it’s spicy and you only one pan. Also it’s a very versatile and easy meal prep recipe that you can make in about 15 minutes. Pair with some fresh salad on the side and tzatziki or hummus and you’ve got yourself a tasty and healthy Mediterranean diet dinner in no time. This chicken recipe is gluten-free and high-protein.

2. 15-Minute Spicy Chicken and Chickpeas

Herbs, spices, chicken and canned chickpeas all get stirred around in a nonstick pan at medium-high heat to get this meal on your dinner table in 15 minutes. At only 273 calories per serving, this chicken dinner provides 35g of protein to keep you full and satiated! Recipe here.

Calories per serving: 273

Super tasty 15-Minute Quinoa fried rice! Easy healthy dinner recipe you will gladly eat every single day! This simple quinoa recipe is vegetarian and gluten-free if you use tamari sauce! This recipe also keeps well in the fridge, so if you'd like to meal prep it, you can do so, but you'll need to double the ingredients.

3. Vegetarian Quinoa Fried Rice

Eat your fried rice, but make it better. Use cooked quinoa and cut down on calories by using less oil and adding in some extra vegetables. You wouldn’t believe how good this healthy version of vegetable fried rice actually is. And it’s done in 15 minutes. Recipe here.

Calories per serving: 323

shrimp and vegetable stir fry - high protein low carb meals

4. 15-Minute Spicy Shrimp And Veg Stir-Fry

Green beans, shrimp, broccoli, more vegetables and some tamari sauce are needed for this tasty and quick stir-fry. At just 289 calories per serving this healthy dinner recipe provides 33g of protein and 6g of fiber and is bursting with flavor. Recipe here.

Calories per serving: 289

spicy feta pasta

5. Spicy Feta Pasta

Feta pasta, but better. Make it spicy, make it low cal by adding in more vegetables, and enjoy every bite of this fantastic vegetarian meal! You can make it in less than 15 minutes on the stove with fresh and healthy ingredients that you probably already have at home. Recipe here.

Calories per serving: 388

Beef and Broccoli Quinoa Fried Rice! Healthy easy ground beef dinner idea that you can probably even meal prep!

6. 20-Minute Ground Beef and Broccoli Fried Quinoa

Healthy broccoli, some cooked quinoa, spinach and ground beef or turkey are the main ingredients in 372-calorie dinner! The recipe is ready in about 15-20 minutes and is super filling and satisfying. Recipe here.

Calories per serving: 372

One-pan spicy and cheesy cauliflower recipe! Learn how to make cauliflower rice with this vegetarian cauliflower recipe that is delicious, healthy and the perfect easy low carb dinner idea for busy weeknights!

7. Cheesy and Spicy Cauliflower Rice

Whenever you need something comforting and all you have is cauliflower, vegetables and some cheese at home, this is the meal you make. This quick cauliflower recipe is genius! You can eat the whole thing, or one serving with some protein on the side. Recipe here.

Calories per serving: 212

Low carb garlic shrimp. This is a 15-minute healthy dinner recipe that is creamy and delicious and perfect if you're doing the keto diet!

8. Garlic Shrimp and Broccoli

A nonstick pan, some broccoli, cream cheese, garlic, shrimp and BOOM! 15 minutes later you’ve got yourself this super yummy shrimp and broccoli recipe! It’s so flavorful, satisfying and light at the same time. Recipe here.

Calories per serving: 381

ust try this Mediterranean vegetarian dinner recipe with chickpeas and feta cheese! If you love garbanzo beans and got some canned chickpeas and fresh vegetables to use up - you are going to love this healthy meal! This is a one-pan Mediterranean chickpea dinner recipe, it's ready in about 15 minutes, it's healthy, and tastes AMAZING.

9. Mediterranean Chickpea Skillet

Whenever you want to prep a flavorful Mediterranean-inspired meatless dinner, remember this easy chickpea recipe! All you need to do is open a can of chickpeas and saute them on the stove with vegetables, garlic and feta. So easy, so delicious. Recipe here.

Calories per serving: 291

Creamy pesto pasta recipe: you need to try this one-pan veggie-packed meatless dinner idea, so easy, so good and your kids will absolutely love this healthy pasta recipe!

10. Hidden Veggie Creamy Pesto Pasta

If you value pasta as much as we do, you are going to enjoy this simple healthy pasta recipe made with hidden cauliflower, arugula and pesto. Even my 4-year old absolutely loves it. Adding those veggies in, really helps to lighten up the recipe and reduce the calories, so you can enjoy ACTUAL pasta for dinner even when you’re trying to lose weight. Recipe here.

Calories per serving: 376


Easy Low-Calorie Soup Recipes

When prepared without cream and all the extras, soups are low in calories, filling and super satiating. This can help with reducing your overall caloric intake and makes soups the perfect choice for weight loss. These are some of my favorite healthy soup recipes, all under 400 calories, all full of deliciousness!

cabbage beef soup

11. 30-Minute Ground Beef And Cabbage Soup

I know. You hear cabbage soup and roll your eyes. But this one is different. You will love this cabbage and ground beef soup whether you’re on a low calorie diet or not. It’s lightly spiced, super tasty and ready in about 30 minutes when you make it from scratch. Recipe here.

Calories per serving: 252

20-minute coconut curry shrimp soup! This delicious Thai soup is gluten-free, paleo and a great low-carb / keto dinner recipe! This healthy soup is easy, quick and tastes amazing!

12. Creamy Shrimp Coconut Curry Soup

This is my favorite creamy coconut curry soup to make when I have some coconut milk and red curry paste at home. You can definitely make it with other vegetables and protein too. It’s so creamy, so fresh, so delicious and ready for dinner in about 15 minutes. Recipe here.

Calories per serving: 358

Lentil vegetable soup

13. Easy Lentil Vegetable Soup

Vegetable soup is so much better when you add in some high-protein high-fiber lentils! You can use up whatever vegetables you have at home to make this easy delicious soup. Recipe here.

Calories per serving: 209

Nothing more comforting than a bowl of hearty homemade chicken soup! This is a delicious protein-packed easy healthy chicken soup recipe made with chickpeas, vegetables and noodles. This healthy soup recipe is ready in about 45 minutes from start to finish.

14. Protein-Packed Homemade Chicken Soup

Chicken soup is my kind of soup, nothing more comforting than homemade chicken soup. This recipe is made with noodles and chickpeas for some extra fiber and protein, but it’s still just under 300 calories per serving. The recipe is here.

Calories per serving: 284

Butternut squash red lentil soup - a creamy, easy and healthy soup recipe! This easy vegan soup is absolutely delicious and perfect for a warming weeknight dinner as it's ready in about 30 minutes.

15. 30-Minute Butternut Squash Lentil Soup

Coconut cream, spices, red lentils and butternut squash are some of the ingredients you need for this tasty vegan soup! It tastes fresh, creamy and lightly sweet, you need to try it. Recipe here.

Calories per serving: 281

easy chickpea soup

16. 20-Minute Chickpea Soup

Canned chickpeas to the rescue! You can seriously make this satisfying chickpea soup in just about 20 minutes. It’s 300 calories of warming, flavorful deliciousness. Recipe here.

Calories per serving: 298

ground turkey mushroom soup

17. Ground Turkey and Mushroom Soup

Mushrooms, turkey, zucchini and carrots are some of the main ingredients of this healing ground turkey soup. It is light, yet satisfying – the perfect healthy dinner. Recipe here.

Calories per serving: 310


Flavorful Low-Calorie Bowls, Wraps & Salads

Easy and healthy meal prep lunch bowl recipe. You can easily assemble these tuna chickpea healthy lunch bowls using non-perishable foods and some fresh vegetables. They’re delicious and quick!

18. Chickpea Tuna Meal Prep Bowls

Canned tuna, chickpeas and hummus are some of the ingredients in these easy meal prep bowls. You wouldn’t believe, but they taste SO wonderful and are only 334 calories per serving! You’ll be so happy you made them! Recipe here.

Calories per serving: 334

Mediterranean Chicken Lettuce Wraps Recipe: perfect healthy dinner idea to help you eat clean!

19. Mediterranean Chicken Lettuce Wraps

These Mediterranean chicken lettuce wraps are a lightened up version of gyros. So good, they make a fresh, flavorful and easy healthy dinner with only 338 calories per serving! Recipe here.

Calories per serving: 338

black bean Mediterranean salad

20. Mediterranean Black Bean Salad

Use a can of black beans, feta cheese, herbs, greens and tomatoes and make this super tasty vegetarian salad. The combination of different flavors here is just wonderful. Recipe here.

Calories per serving: 245

Shredded chicken roasted veg bowls

21. Shredded Chicken and Roasted Veg Bowls

Roasted zucchini, cauliflower and peppers, shredded chicken and some fresh tomato cucumber salad make these bowls a healthy and flavorful dinner! Recipe here.

Calories per serving: 318

high fiber salad

22. 8-Minute High-Fiber Salad

This veggie-loaded high-fiber salad with beans and corn is ready in no time! It is a super filling vegan meal that will leave you satisfied and feeling light. Recipe here.

Calories per serving: 383


Low-Calorie Foods

These are some examples of healthy and nutritious foods that are perfect for a low calorie diet:

  • Non-starchy vegetables: broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, arugula, spinach, onions, garlic, zucchini, eggplant, cucumber, carrots, green beans and peas
  • Protein: Tofu, chicken, ground beef (every once in a while) or ground turkey are all great sources of protein to keep you satiated for longer
  • Legumes. These foods are low in calories, high in protein and rich in fiber, and therefore a great addition to low calorie meals.
  • Whole grains: quinoa, barley and oats. These high-fiber foods are great to have on a healthy diet. If you have insulin resistance like myself, you will need to watch your servings with these.
  • Nuts and seeds. Nuts and seeds are high-fiber, proteins, healthy fats, vitamins and minerals. They are incredibly healthy, but if you’re going for a low-calorie diet you want to consume only small amounts. Also, I would go for the whole nut, rather than the butter (e.g. almonds and not almond butter).


How To Lose Weight Sustainably

I highly recommend you make a meal plan for the week and keep track of your meals.

Whenever you feel ready, you can also start incorporating some workouts into your daily routine, keep it simple and remember, 10 minutes every day is better than 60 minutes once a week.

Something that can really help on your weight loss journey, that I’ve used to lose 40 pounds after having a baby is this fitness planner. It truly helps you with everything you need to maintain a healthy body – meal planning, planning your workouts, keeping track of your habits, meals, your gratitude and mental health. Set your goals in different areas of life and work on them. You can find the planner inserts here, make sure to use the code NTB20 for 20% off your purchase.

More Easy Recipes For Weight Loss:

I hope you got some low cal meal ideas, as you can see there are many options when it comes to eating better!

Creamy pesto pasta recipe: you need to try this one-pan veggie-packed meatless dinner idea, so easy, so good and your kids will absolutely love this healthy pasta recipe!

Low-Calorie Dinners

Yield: 3
Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 13 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes

This collection of easy and filling low-calorie dinner ideas features healthy lettuce wraps, chicken recipes, easy stir-fries, delicious vegetarian soups, as well as pasta dishes. All of these healthy dinners are under 400 calories and ready in less than 30 minutes.

5.0 Stars (3 Reviews)

Ingredients

  • 2 cups whole grain pasta
  • 1 cup milk
  • ⅔ cup mozzarella cheese
  • 2 tbsp red pesto
  • 2 tbsp green pesto
  • ½ cup cauliflower
  • handful arugula
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • ½ cup cherry tomatoes
  • salt and black pepper to taste
  • Parmesan cheese (optional)

Instructions

  1. Cook pasta with salted water in a pan according to package instructions in a nonstick pan.
  2. Shred cauliflower to cauliflower rice. Wash chop thinly arugula and cherry tomatoes, peel and mince garlic.
  3. Once the pasta is almost cooked, add the pesto, garlic, cauliflower, and ½ of the milk. Mix together and cover with a lid for 2-3 minutes.
  4. Add the mozzarella and the rest of the milk, salt, and black pepper. Stir continuously until creamy.
  5. Finally add the chopped tomatoes and arugula. Stir in and serve immediately with Parmesan cheese on top if desired.
Nutrition Information
Yield 3 Serving Size 1
Amount Per Serving Calories 372Total Fat 20gSaturated Fat 7gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 11gCholesterol 33mgSodium 541mgCarbohydrates 34gFiber 5gSugar 7gProtein 17g

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© Her Highness - Hungry Me
Cuisine: Vegetarian / Category: Dinner

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