27 Healthy 500-Calorie Dinners for a Quick Meal
Low in calories, big on flavor.
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Eating low-calorie meals doesn't mean you have to sacrifice flavor: Our best 500-calorie dinners include hearty pasta dishes, healthy chicken dinners, vibrant fish mains and more. Plus, many of these recipes can be made in 30 minutes or less, which means you can stick to your health goals even on busy weeknights.
What do you get with a 500-calorie dinner? It's all about packing in the nutrition for the biggest bang for your (calorie) buck: protein, vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats will fill you up without weighing you down, and focusing on flavor will make every bite that much more satisfying. Think lean meat like boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or tofu and beans for a vegetarian option), high-impact, low-cal ingredients like fresh citrus and spices and all the green vegetables you can fit on your plate.
Enjoy tacos filled with chicken, peppers and onions for a family of four or serve up salmon tossed with spicy green beans for a romantic — yet healthy — dinner for two. Fire up the grill for smoky flank steak, skewers and so much more. Grilling is another great way to impart flavor without added calories.
Looking for A.M. inspo too? Start the day off right with our dietitian-recommended low-calorie breakfasts.
Samantha (she/her) is an Assistant Editor in the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen, where she writes about tasty recipes, must-try food products and top-tested secrets for home cooking success. She has taste-tasted hundreds of products and recipes since joining GH in 2020 (tough job!). A graduate of Fordham University, she considers the kitchen to be her happiest place.
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