Fuel Your Weight Loss Journey: 19 Nutritious Dinner Recipes That Taste as Good as They Look!
These 19 low calorie healthy dinner ideas will fill you up and stay in your calories. Low fat and high protein, perfect for weight loss!
Published May 2021. Updated July 2024.
If you are currently in a calorie deficit, and have fewer than 300 calories left for dinner, I’ve got ideas for meals to make so you can stick to your plan!
There is no need to stay hungry! Dinner can be filling, satisfying, and so delicious, for very few calories. Check out these dinner ideas for ending your day within your calorie count! (see my weight loss story here!)
Healthy Dinner Ideas (Low Calorie)
This high-protein BLT (Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato) sandwich recipe is fantastic. Assemble your ingredients in a bowl and toss them to combine. Then, top with a creamy ranch dressing. Adding avocado and shredded rotisserie chicken is an excellent way to add protein and healthy fats to the salad.
This easy-to-make wrapped chicken breast recipe is protein-packed and ready to serve in only twenty minutes. Flatten each piece of chicken with a mallet to ensure that they are easy to work with and cook evenly throughout. Season with Italian seasoning, then wrap each chicken breast with thinly sliced prosciutto. Even though this dish only calls for three ingredients, it is incredibly filling.
While most lasagna dishes will ruin your diet goals, this low-calorie and high protein version is worth every bite. This recipe uses sliced zucchini in place of lasagna noodles, lean ground turkey, and fat-free cheese to limit the calories while providing a similar flavor. Prepare your cooked ground turkey and sauce on a stovetop skillet. Then, create alternating layers using the zucchini, turkey, and cheese. Top it all with fresh basil, and enjoy!
Who said pizza couldn’t be healthy? These low-calorie personal pizzas can be just as nutritious and they’re fun to make. Assemble your pizza using your ingredients of choice, then toss it into the toaster oven or air fryer. My go-to toppings are usually rotisserie chicken, zucchini, sweet potatoes, and mozzarella cheese. For an even healthier alternative, substitute standard frozen pizza or roll dough with this Greek yogurt-based crust. And if you don’t want leftovers, this is a healthy dinner idea for you.
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Delicious spaghetti squash is one of the best low-calorie substitutions for pasta. Spaghetti carbonara is an Italian staple that everyone must try at least once. This guilt-free recipe incorporates vegetables and protein-filled ham baked directly in the squash.
Forget about ordering take-out and whip up some delicious chicken Lo Mein right in the comfort of your kitchen. This low-calorie version features fiber-packed shirataki noodles that are derived from the Southeast Asian konjac plant. These miracle noodles have little to no calories depending on the brand. To prepare this dish, add your chicken thighs and vegetables to a skillet. Once the vegetables are soft, add your cooked noodles to the skillet and top with soy sauce for added flavor.
This satisfying, low-calorie meal is full of fiber, protein, and healthy fats. Cook your spaghetti squash in the oven for about an hour and a half. Then, remove and scrape out the flesh inside to combine with your cooked lean ground turkey. Feel free to top with some mouthwatering parmesan cheese. You need to add this tasty dish to your recipe book!
These tasty Italian-style grilled chicken thigh kabobs are incredible when served fresh off the grill. I like to add mushrooms, zucchini, and bell peppers to my skewers. Although, just about any vegetable in season will work well with this easy-to-make recipe. Prepare your skewers and place them on a lined baking sheet or grill to cook until nicely charred. Who knew that a healthy dinner could be so simple?!
Fajitas are an easy and delicious meal to make with your family. Cook your chicken thighs, bell peppers, and onions in a skillet until tender. Sprinkle some homemade fajita seasoning while sautéing to coat every ingredient. Once the fajitas are complete, top these tasty fajitas on a low-calorie tortilla or bed of lettuce for a healthy dinner meal.
This hearty and protein-packed leafy green salad is a must-try this summer! It is a great way to use up leftover grilled chicken from your last barbeque. Add romaine lettuce, avocado, tomatoes, corn, and sliced red peppers to a bowl. Combine with the grilled chicken and any other additional ingredients to toss until blended.
Another healthy dinner idea: lettuce wraps. These have become a popular low-carb substitute. This new recipe features avocado, ranch dressing, and crispy turkey bacon for an excellent source of protein with each wrap. Cook your ground chicken and bacon to then combine with mushrooms. Add your mixture to your lettuce wraps. Lastly, top with cheddar cheese and creamy ranch dressing.
These filling low-calorie mini stuffed peppers make for a beautiful dinner that will keep you full for hours. They also can act as an excellent appetizer for events since our recipe calls for thirty-six peppers. Slice your peppers in half and bake in the oven for approximately seven minutes. Once ready, add your cooked lean ground beef, chopped mushrooms, and mozzarella to the inside of each pepper.
Pair these savory meatballs with zucchini noodles for a terrific gluten-free feast. They are mainly composed of lean ground beef, portabella mushrooms, and mozzarella cheese. Combine all your ingredients into a bowl and roll into approximately twenty balls using your hands or a cookie scoop. Then, bake until they are ready to serve and top with some extra mozzarella cheese.
Needing more healthy dinner ideas? These easy protein-packed creamy enchiladas are a family favorite! Mix shredded rotisserie chicken, cream cheese, and salsa into a bowl. Add the mixture to a low-calorie tortilla with a sprinkle of cheddar cheese. Then, bake or microwave your enchiladas until they are warmed thoroughly.
Soups are comforting and nutritious meals, especially during the colder months of the year. This tomato soup is low calorie and low fat. It is prepared in a similar way to traditional tomato sauce, with the addition of hearty chicken broth. Bring your ingredients to a boil and blend after about fifteen minutes to remove any chunks. Finally, place the soup back into the pot and allow it to simmer until you are ready to serve.
This flavorful cobb salad featuring leafy greens, vegetables, grilled chicken, bacon, and hard-boiled eggs is another great way to use leftovers from your barbeque. It is also tasty enough to be worth making on its own. Prepare and assemble your salad with the necessary ingredients for a hearty high protein meal.
You can have this meal of simple stroganoff recipe is ready to serve in about five minutes! It requires a few healthy substitutes for traditional ingredients such as low-carb pasta, lean ground turkey, low-fat cheese, and light sour cream. Sautee mushrooms in a skillet and combine with the remaining ingredients.
These delicious chicken fajita rollups are so easy to prepare for dinner. They only call for three ingredients: chicken breasts, medium bell peppers, and fajita seasoning. Tenderize your chicken breasts and wrap around a couple of sliced peppers securing with a toothpick. Lastly, top with fajita seasoning and cook in the oven or stovetop skillet.
This easy-to-make low-calorie chicken fried rice dinner is a really satisfying healthy dinner idea. I used cauliflower crumbles as a substitute for traditional white rice and loved the results. Another alternative is to use shirataki rice, which is similar to the noodles mentioned above. Add chicken, cauliflower crumbles, and chopped mushrooms to a skillet. Cook until the vegetables have softened, then pour in some soy sauce for taste.
Thy these healthy dinner ideas and let me know in the comments what dinners are your go-to when you are trying to lose weight!
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