10 Heart-Healthy Meals to Make for Dinner

Sheela Prakash
Sheela PrakashSenior Contributing Food Editor
Sheela is the Senior Contributing Food Editor at Kitchn and the author of Mediterranean Every Day: Simple, Inspired Recipes for Feel-Good Food. She received her master's degree from the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Italy and is also a Registered Dietitian.
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updated May 1, 2019
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(Image credit: Lauren Volo)

Eating for your heart means loading your plate with vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and healthy fats. Whether you’re actually concerned about your heart health or not, this is just a great way to eat to ensure you’re doing what you can to treat your body right. These 10 recipes are wholesome dinner choices that don’t skimp of flavor but definitely do good by your heart.

1. Saucy Skillet Salmon

Salmon is a simple heart-healthy choice since it’s filled with good-for-you omega 3 fatty acids, a component of unsaturated fat found in certain foods can help reduce the risk of heart disease. Here it’s simmered in a flavorful tomato sauce that’s reminiscent of bruschetta.

(Image credit: Lauren Volo)

2. How To Make Creamy Avocado Pasta

This vegan pasta gets its creamy richness from blended avocado, which also means you’re getting a dose of healthy fats with every twirl.

(Image credit: Christine Han)

3. Tofu and Broccoli Salad with Peanut Butter Dressing

Eating a meatless dinner at least one night a week ensures more vegetables get into your diet. Also, the fiber that’s found in the veggies you’re replacing the meat with keeps your heart strong. The protein from tofu and peanut butter in this salad ensure its satisfying.

(Image credit: Emily Han)

4. Kale and Black Bean Tacos with Chimichurri

These beans and greens tacos are loaded with good-for-you kale and made extra flavorful with help from garlicky chimichurri sauce.

(Image credit: Lauren Volo)

5. Roasted Eggplant and Brown Rice Bowl with Turmeric Tahini Dressing

Sprinkling this whole-grain, veggie- and bean-packed bowl with pomegranate seeds not only adds color and juicy crunch, but also an extra layer of heart-heathy goodness.

(Image credit: Joe Lingeman)

6. Make-Ahead Chicken and Chopped Veggie Salad

The best part about this colorful salad is that it can be prepped, without the dressing, and kept in the fridge for up to week. That makes for an easy dinner solution when you need a fast, healthy meal on crazy weeknights.

(Image credit: Sarah E Crowder)

7. Farro Bowl with Crispy Salmon and Toasted Sesame Spinach

While brown rice gets most of the whole-grain love, don’t forget about farro — it’s got a nutty chew that’s a welcome change from the usual grain.

(Image credit: Joe Lingeman)

8. Tex-Mex Quinoa Salad

Here’s a well-balanced salad that you can make for dinner tonight and then pack for lunch tomorrow. The quinoa and black beans ensure there’s enough protein to keep you full, and the avocado lends a bit of healthy fat to the bowl.

(Image credit: Maria Siriano)

9. Smoked Salmon Soba Noodle Salad

Buckwheat flour, which is what is used to make soba noodles, is a heart-healthy ingredient that’s full of antioxidants. Smoked salmon also has all the heart benefits that cooked salmon does.

(Image credit: Kelli Foster)

10. Coconut & Rainbow Chard Baked Sweet Potato

Pomegranate seeds strike again in this eye-catching recipe. Sweet potatoes are also a great heart-healthy alternative to white potatoes, as they are packed with even more vitamins and nutrients.

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