Recipes & Cooking Healthy Recipes Healthy Dinners 19 Light Dinner Ideas to Refresh Your Menu for Under 500 Calories You won't believe how good these recipes taste! By Karla Walsh Karla Walsh Karla Walsh began her career at FITNESS magazine in 2010. Since, she's worked at a wide variety of publications full-time, including BHG.com, Recipe.com and as a cross-brand social media specialist. From search engine optimization to features for print to video strategy, she has a diverse background in all things magazines. At the start of 2019, Karla chose to pursue full-time freelance writing and has contributed to more than 3 dozen brands. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on June 9, 2023 Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Andy Lyons Think fresh! Our favorite fresh and light dinner ideas include pastas, salads, sandwiches, grain bowls, and more meals you'll crave. We even have healthy recipes for steak, burgers, and other comfort foods. Dinner need not be smothered in gravy or loaded with calories to be delicious—these meals under 500 calories prove that. 12 Healthy Make-Ahead Meals for Busy Weeknights 01 of 19 Paleo Broccoli Rice-Stuffed Peppers View Recipe Andy Lyons Stuffed peppers won't leave you feeling overstuffed. Two fully-loaded pepper halves—one serving of this light dinner idea—have just 358 calories and 19 grams of carbs. That's because broccoli or cauliflower rice stands in for regular rice. Protein-rich, lean ground turkey and a just-spicy-enough blend of seasoning staples complete this tasty meal. 02 of 19 Seared Steak and Peppers with Cilantro Chimichurri View Recipe Andy Lyons This mouthwatering main dish features flank steak, among the leanest cuts of beef. The delicious seared steaks are ready quickly since this cut is thin and quick-cooking. A zesty chimichurri sauce ties together the juicy steak and peppers and adds a pop of freshness to the light dinner idea. 03 of 19 Garlic-Ginger Pork Lettuce Wraps View Recipe Marty Baldwin Get dinner on the table fast with help from your pressure cooker or Instant Pot—the pork filling will cook in just six minutes! Then, instead of tortillas or other carb-based wraps, tuck the filling of this light dinner idea inside fresh lettuce leaves with your choice of toppings. (We're fans of adding shredded carrots, sliced radishes, and green onion.) The 6 Best Stainless Steel Cookware Sets of 2024, According to Lab Testing 04 of 19 Mexican Chopped Chicken Salad with Jalapeño Dressing View Recipe Jason Donnelly If you like tacos and enchiladas, you'll love this fresh, light dinner idea. It won't take much convincing for even your pickiest eaters to dive fork-first into this gorgeous rainbow-colored salad, since it tastes similar to all of their Mexican faves. Speed up prep by starting with leftover or rotisserie chicken and mixing up the homemade salad dressing in advance. If you're feeling ambitious, line up your fruits and veggies in rows for the ultimate photo-ready meal! 05 of 19 Thai Rice Noodle and Grilled Steak Salad View Recipe Andy Lyons Marinated flank steak hot off the grill mixes with rice noodles, fresh veggies, and a zesty homemade dressing to create this light dinner idea that feels like a hearty feast. Add a squeeze of lime for another hit of freshness. 18 Asian-Inspired Main Dishes You Can Easily Make at Home 06 of 19 Chicken with Basil Sauce and Cucumber Radish Salad View Recipe Andy Lyons This French-Italian fusion recipe looks elegant and extravagant but is simple (it only takes 30 minutes) to whip up. The light dinner recipe includes a creamy basil sauce and a fresh salad of cucumbers, radishes, and broccoli sprouts. How to Boil Chicken Breasts: Our No-Fail Method for Juicy Chicken 07 of 19 Striped Bass en Brodo View Recipe Andy Lyons Seafood isn't a hassle to make at home! You only need a handful of ingredients to enjoy this fish dish. Paired with tomato slices and seasoned with fresh thyme, this is one light dinner recipe you'll want to keep handy. 13 Tasty Seafood Recipes You Can Whip Up in Under an Hour 08 of 19 Creamy Spring Vegetables and Smoked Trout View Recipe Andy Lyons Think of this springy supper as a lower-carb and lower-calorie twist on a pot pie. A trio of veggies and smoked trout make for a delicious and speedy dinner. And just look at that creamy sauce! Buy It: Calphalon 10-Inch Fry Pan with Cover ($32, Target) 09 of 19 Indian Cauliflower Fried Rice View Recipe Jason Donnelly Instead of the usual white rice, this light dinner idea utilizes cauliflower rice for an extra helping of veggies. You can also substitute shredded yellow squash or zucchini for the carrots and cut green beans for the peas if you like. Anti-inflammatory turmeric plus cumin, ginger, and garam masala infuse each bite with an Indian flair. 10 of 19 Orange Salmon and Green Onions View Recipe Andy Lyons In the mood for fish and chips? This beautiful baked fish recipe is a brilliant dinner swap (and you have our complete permission to add a side of baked or air-fryer fries). Oranges and limes are the stars of the Asian-inspired sauce. While it tastes complex, this light dinner idea calls for just seven ingredients and can be on the table in 30 minutes. 11 of 19 Tahini-Ginger Noodles and Veggies View Recipe Andy Lyons Skip those ho-hum microwave "diet" meals. This yummy veggie and noodle bowl will become your go-to healthy dinner! Tahini helps make the sauce for this dish extra creamy. Lemon juice and ginger give this easy dinner a burst of brightness. 32 Cheap, Healthy Meals That Cost Less Than $3 Per Serving 12 of 19 Grilled Turkey Gyros View Recipe Jason Donnelly Lighten up traditional gyros by filling whole wheat pita rounds with grilled turkey patties, bright tomatoes, and a homemade cucumber-yogurt sauce. You'll get all the taste of the classic Greek wrap while cutting the fat, sodium, and calories. Just add a side of veggies and hummus to complete this light dinner idea. 17 Healthy Mediterranean Diet Recipes 13 of 19 Turkey Burgers with Peaches and Blueberries View Recipe Andy Lyons Savory meets sweet in this grilled turkey burger recipe topped with fresh seasonal peaches and blueberries. Seasoned with spicy chili powder and served on garlic bread, this easy burger recipe is sure to wow dinner guests. Serve it open-faced to show off the colorful ingredients (and to make it even lower-cal). 14 of 19 Skillet Vegetables on Cheese Toast View Recipe Andy Lyons We can't get enough roasted vegetables! The hands-off, healthy cooking technique accentuates the natural sugars in even the most bitter veggies. Layers of garlicky cooked carrots and mushrooms balance the creaminess of the goat cheese spread in this hearty open-face veggie sandwich. For a bit more protein, feel free to top each serving with a poached egg. 15 of 19 Roasted Vegetable Chicken Sausage Pizza View Recipe Jason Donnelly Pizza gets a fresh update when covered with fresh asparagus, sweet peppers, onions, and mushrooms. Chicken sausage pumps up the protein, so each slice (11 grams of protein strong!) is surprisingly satisfying. This easy, kid-friendly light dinner idea is perfect for a jam-packed weeknight evening. 12 Healthy Pizza Recipes That Are So Tasty You’ll Ditch Delivery 16 of 19 Cumin-Crusted Veggie Burgers with Pineapple Salsa View Recipe Andy Lyons Want a meal that's flavor-packed but won't take forever to make? Look no further. This unique beef-free burger is topped with a fresh pineapple salsa and comes together in 20 minutes flat. (By the way, a plant-based burger would work well here, too!) How to Prepare a Pineapple in Four Easy Steps 17 of 19 Spicy Shrimp Pasta View Recipe Kritsada Panichgul Busy night? Add shrimp, jalapeño peppers, and cherry tomatoes to a simple pasta dish for extra heartiness and spicy flavor for a tasty, easy dinner. Start with a green salad, and you'll meet all your nutrition and flavor needs for a light meal. 18 of 19 Sheet-Pan Greens and Feta Frittata View Recipe Carson Downing Step outside the usual breakfast-for-dinner routine and try this protein-packed big-batch frittata. Filled with fresh herbs, chard, and tomatoes, this egg dish makes a quick and satisfying meal any night of the week. 19 of 19 Basil, Chicken, and Tomatoes View Recipe Andy Lyons When you're craving the flavors you'd normally savor at an Italian restaurant but are also leaning into light eats, try this fast and fresh 20-minute solution. Jump-start the dish with store-bought rotisserie chicken. Then all that's left to do is slice or dice that chicken and dress it up with sliced tomatoes, avocado, and basil. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit