80 Easy Healthy Dinner Ideas You’ll Want to Make on Repeat

updated Jul 26, 2023

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Credit: Shelly Westerhausen
Cheesy Chickpea Melts

You’re not sure what to make for dinner, but you know one thing: You want your dinner to be healthy. What exactly does healthy mean? It’s tricky, because it’s such a broad term with no single cut-and-dry definition. We’re strong believers that the term “healthy” means different things to different people.

For you maybe it means adding an extra helping or two of vegetables to your plate, or cooking something that’s colorful and fresh that your whole family will agree on. Perhaps you’re trying to limit or exclude meat from your diet entirely. Or maybe your idea of healthy means eating low-calorie or watching your carbs.

Basically, what I’m saying is that healthy dinners can vary widely in what they look like. And no matter what it looks like for you, we’ve got plenty of options. Here are 80 of our best wholesome, feel-good dinner ideas that are easy to cook up any night of the week.

Healthy Vegetarian Dinners

Whether you’re a practicing vegetarian or you’re simply looking to fill your plate with extra veggies, these meatless meals are a great place to start.

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Easy French Ratatouille

This thick and silky French stew of eggplant, zucchini, sweet peppers, and ripe summer tomatoes is perfect over rice or couscous, or on its own.

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Weeknight General Tso's Tofu

Inspired by the take-out favorite, this at home version packs in a whole lot more veggies for a feel-good meal.

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No-Chop Cold Veggie Noodle Bowls With Soy Lime Vinaigrette

This quick sauté served over rice noodles is everything you'll crave in a cold noodle bowl.

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Radish and Goat Cheese Farro Salad Bowl

Feel free to add other veggies to the mix to make this grain salad even more colorful.

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Orzo with Butternut Squash, Spinach & Blue Cheese

If you're not a fan of blue cheese, feta or goat cheese are great alternatives.

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Vegetarian Kale Taco Salad

There's so much going on in this taco salad, your fork will have trouble deciding where to go next.

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Crispy Sheet Pan Gnocchi and Veggies

No boiling necessary! This one-pan dinner of gnocchi and vegetables gets roasted in the oven.

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Kimchi Fried Rice with Extra Greens

Use whatever leafy greens you have handy for this flavorful fried rice.

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Cold Lentil Salad with Cucumbers and Olives

Whatever you have left of this lentil salad is perfect for lunch the next day, too.

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Cheesy Vegetable Melts

The familiar comfort of grilled cheese, with a big dose of veggies.

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Tofu Chickpea Stir Fry with Tahini Sauce

Tahini adds richness to this quick vegetarian stir-fry without weighing it down.

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Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili

Chili is a thick, hearty one-pot meal best cooked low and slow, so put away the Dutch oven and plug in the slow cooker for this vegetarian number.

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Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

This vegan mac and "cheese" uses butternut squash as a substitute for cheese. Nutritional yeast also helps it feel more cheesy and it gets a spicy kick from chipotles in adobo.

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Roasted Mushroom and Poblano Tacos

This quick and easy recipe for vegetarian tacos is filled with roasted portobello mushrooms and poblano peppers and topped with creamy goat cheese.

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Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers

Black beans and brown rice keep these weeknight-friendly stuffed peppers packed with protein, so they're guaranteed to fill you up.

Kid-Friendly Healthy Dinners

Healthy dinners that your whole family can agree on are not always easy to come across. Luckily, these are both kid- and adult-approved.

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Almond-Crusted Chicken Fingers with Yogurt-Herb Dip

Breading the chicken in almond flour means these tenders are also gluten-free.

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Loaded Black Bean Nachos

Smashed black beans, tangy Greek yogurt, and guac to make this tray of nachos satisfying enough for dinner time.

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5-Ingredient Baked Potato Soup

Spoiler: No baked potatoes are required for this soup. Just one freezer shortcut will get you from done to devoured in less than 30 minutes!

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Lemony Broccoli Pasta

This family favorite mixes plenty of broccoli, peas, and olive oil into the spaghetti.

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Chickpea Nuggets

These meatless nuggets are guaranteed to surprise both you and your kids.

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Classic Tomato Soup

It's just as easy to make great tomato soup at home as it is to pop open a can.

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Easy One-Pot Chicken Taco Soup

Loaded with juicy chicken, hearty black beans, and sweet corn, this quick soup was made with weeknight dinners in mind.

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Broccoli and Cheese Risotto

This one-pot dinner that feels a bit special for the adults, but it’s extra satisfying for the kids

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Let your kids have fun making the rainbow for this veggie-packed pizza.

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5-Ingredient Enchilada Casserole

Easy weeknight enchiladas are within reach, thanks to a grocery store shortcut.

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Chicken and Vegetable Stir-Fry

This step-by-step guide for this chicken and broccoli stir-fry doesn't require a wok.

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Slow Cooker Salsa Pulled Chicken

Thanks to the slow cooker, shredded salsa chicken has never been easier.

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Juicy Turkey Meatballs

If you're worried turkey meatballs will be dry, we've found the solution.

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Gnocchi Skillet with Chicken Sausage & Tomatoes

Go ahead and toss in other veggies, like broccoli or peas, too, if you'd like.

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Potsticker Stir-Fry

Here is how you turn frozen dumplings into a veggie-packed, one-pan meal.

Low-Carb Dinners

If meals that are low in carbohydrates are what you’re after, these vibrant recipes definitely fit the bill.

1 / 5

Coated in herby pesto and baked with cherry tomatoes, these chicken breasts are oh-so quick and easy to bring to the table.

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Zucchini Lasagna

This low-carb lasagna swaps thin-sliced zucchini for lasagna noodles, which shifts the emphasis to the best parts of lasagna: the tomato sauce, the cheese, the veg.

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Parmesan Chicken and Kale Sauté

A splash of white wine, squeeze of lemon, and plenty of Parm are the secret to making chicken breast and kale a totally lovable dinner.

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5-Ingredient Sausage Stuffed Onions

Get a head start by roasting the onion shells, making the filling, and stuffing the onions, so all that's left to do is pop the baking dish in the oven before dinner.

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Easy Crispy Chicken Carnitas

Start the week with a batch of juicy carnitas then turn them into tacos, quesadillas, and dinner-worthy salads.

Light, Low-Calorie Dinners

If you happen to be watching your calories, for whatever reason, these light recipes fit your goals without compromising flavor or satisfaction.

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Easy Cabbage & White Bean Soup

If you think cabbage is boring, get to know this cozy, flavor-packed soup, and it will surely change your mind.

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Weeknight Vegetable Stir-Fry

This easy weeknight veggie stir-fry is more template than recipe. Make it once a week to clear out the crisper and ensure you're eating your veggies!

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Chicken and Veggie Pesto Salad

Filled with a robust assortment of tender veggies, strips of juicy chicken, and tossed with an herby pesto, this no-lettuce salad is a summer essential.

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Mediterranean White Bean Soup

Simmering a Parmesan rind in this hearty, wholesome soup packs it with even more flavor.

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Veggie-Filled Frittata

As long as you have a few vegetables and some eggs on hand, you can have a wholesome frittata on the table in about 20 minutes.

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Swiss Chard Taco Wraps with Cumin-Lime Sauce

Hearty Swiss chard leaves take the place of tortillas for these tacos. You can also swap in collard leaves.

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The Best Chicken Zoodle Soup

This one-pot wonder brings chicken soup together with fresh zucchini and carrot noodles for a soothing yet fresh take on the classic.

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Baked salmon makes this simple, fresh Greek salad filling enough for dinner.

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Slow-Cooker White Beans in Parmesan Broth

The slow cooker does all the work for you in this light and comforting recipe.

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Buffalo Cauliflower Lettuce Wraps

All the flavor of your favorite wings in one light dinner.

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Stir-Fried Chili-Lemon Shrimp and Rice Noodles

If you can't find broccolini, spinach or kale are great substitutes.

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This easy recipe for classic split pea soup flavored with thyme and a smoked ham hock, with the option to make it vegetarian.

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Lentil Dal with Hearty Greens

This classic dal is extra-spiced, flavorful, and comforting.

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Spicy Shrimp Skillet with Tomatoes and White Beans

Serve this saucy mixture over brown rice, if you'd like, or on its own.

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Feta and Tomato Braised Chickpeas

Tender chickpeas swimming in an oregano- and garlic-spiked tomato sauce and topped with plenty of melty feta cheese. Make enough for lunch too!

Healthy Dinners for Two

What’s perfect about these dinners is that they’re easy to halve for two and if not, the leftovers make awesome, healthy lunches.

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Moroccan-Spiced Chickpea Bowls

These saucy, spiced chickpea bowls with kale, avocado, and a runny-yolked egg are all the proof you need that comfort food can also be healthy.

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Open-Faced Chicken Salad Sandwich

Pair these sandwiches with a simple green salad and dinner is covered.

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Broiled Salmon with Lemon, Herbs and Mustard

This easy recipe for broiled salmon fillets feels fancy thanks to Dijon mustard and fresh herbs.

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"Low-Rent" Tuna Poke Bowl

A can of plain-old tuna is transformed in these inspired poke bowls.

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Smoky Roasted Vegetable Hummus Bowl

Reach for your favorite tub of store-bought hummus to pull this dinner together instantly.

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Peanut Chicken Power Bowls

These nourishing peanut chicken bowls are packed with quinoa, a rainbow of veggies, and finished with a creamy peanut sauce.

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Chopped Kale, Farro & Chickpea Salad

Feel free to swap in your favorite cooked whole grains or beans for the farro and chickpeas.

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Slow Cooker Turkey Chili

You only need six ingredients for this super-easy turkey chili, and the slow cooker practically does the work for you.

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These easy, gluten-free salmon patties are made with canned salmon and flavored simply with dill, lemon, and Dijon.

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Pasta with Hummus, Olives, Feta, and Red Pepper

This quick vegetarian pasta is tossed in a creamy hummus sauce and filled with olives, feta, and roasted red peppers.

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Warm Bulgur and Lentil Salad with Roasted Shrimp

Halve the salmon but make the full batch of lentil salad and you have lunch taken care of tomorrow.

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Chicken Soup with Fennel and Farro 

This chicken soup freezes quite well, so consider making a double batch.

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Cheesy Chickpea Melts

A stewy mixture of tomato-y chickpeas and greens are piled onto garlicky toast, then topped with cheese and broiled until browned and bubbly.

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Turkey and Greens Skillet Pasta

Go ahead and use any hearty greens you like here, including spinach, Swiss chard, or kale.

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Crispy Mushroom and Greens Quesadilla

Packed with hearty vegetables surrounded by a crispy cheese crust, this quesadilla is filling enough to serve as an entire meal.

Quick & Easy Healthy Dinners

While just about all of the recipes here are pretty simple, these are the quickest and easiest. They’re just the thing when you’re looking for a healthy dinner but you’re strapped for time.

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Quick and Easy Roasted Vegetable Salad

A warm, entree-friendly salad that's filled with roasted sweet potatoes, mushrooms, and shallots and tossed in a tangy balsamic mustard vinaigrette.

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Easy Sheet Pan Chili Garlic Roasted Shrimp and Broccoli

This easy sheet pan supper is flavored with a combination of soy sauce and ginger and amped up with just one simple addition: chili garlic sauce.

3 / 15

Easy Crustless Quiche

Quiche can absolutely be dinner and this easy recipe proves it.

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Easy 5-Ingredient Teriyaki Salmon

Five ingredients and about 15 minutes is all you need to pull off wholesome meal.

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Quick Balsamic Quinoa Salad

Here's a whole new way to bring quinoa to the center of your table.

6 / 15

Easy Cauliflower Rice Burrito Bowls

With cilantro-lime cauliflower rice at the helm, plus smoky black beans and corn, salsa and creamy avocado, this is wholesome indulgence at its finest.

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Cold Ramen with Quick-Pickled Mushrooms, Celery, and Ginger

Pickled vegetables and chewy ramen noodles combine for a mighty yet simple cold noodle salad.

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Easy Roasted Vegetable Enchiladas

From a cilantro-lime yogurt topping, to smoky roasted veggies, this naturally gluten-free meal is a lighter take on hearty enchiladas.

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Quick & Easy Crispy Fish Tacos with Cabbage Slaw

These crispy fish tacos start with frozen beer-battered cod fillets, which makes them extra quick to prepare.

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Easy Juicy Turkey-Veggie Meatloaf

This turkey meatloaf is packed with good-for-you veggies that ensure it doesn't cook up dry. Get ready for a crowd-pleaser the whole family will love.

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Quick Butternut Squash Curry

Grab pre-cut squash to pull this Thai-inspired curry together in no time.

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Easy Baked Tilapia with Cumin and Lime

Rubbed with cumin and lime and dressed in a bright cilantro and garlic salsa, this basked tilapia is packed with flavor and surprisingly easy to pull off.

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5-Ingredient Black Bean Veggie Burgers

These vegetarian black bean veggie burgers are made with pantry staples and are ready in 30 minutes.

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Easy Sheet Pan Greens and Beans

This family-friendly sheet pan is nothing short of a miracle meal.

15 / 15

Fast and Easy Grilled Salmon

Grilling is a quick and easy way to cook salmon that you'll want to remember.

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