FAST and Healthy Dinner Recipes for Every Single Day of the Month (2024)

A homemade dinner is within your reach, every night of the week. No hours of prep, no endless number of pans, no gourmet ingredients or advanced culinary techniques needed. Heart-healthy proteins like chicken and pork, and high fiber veggies, all to your table in 30 minutes or less. Try these quick and easy healthy dinner recipes to feed yourself and your family a delicious meal even on busy nights.

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Chile-Lime Tilapia with Corn Saute

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FAST and Healthy Dinner Recipes for Every Single Day of the Month (1)

Fish is a cook's dream because most varieties take less than 10 minutes to grill or sear to perfection. Try tilapia, cod, or sole in this Tex-Mex skillet dinner loaded with color and spice.

How to Bake Fish to Flaky Perfection in Minutes

02of 27

Seared Salmon with Pistachio Gremolata

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FAST and Healthy Dinner Recipes for Every Single Day of the Month (2)

Just one pan and six minutes of cooking time stand between you and this herbaceous salmon supper. That means you have zero excuses to not serve it for dinner tonight! Pair it with a side of quinoa or brown rice to round out the meal.

Buy It: All-Clad Fry Pan Set ($60, Bed Bath & Beyond)

03of 27

Balsamic Chicken and Vegetables

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FAST and Healthy Dinner Recipes for Every Single Day of the Month (3)

A magical blend of balsamic vinegar, honey, and crushed red pepper makes this chicken dish taste out of the world. With veggies added, this will be an all-in-one meal that's frequently requested for years to come.

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Roasted Asparagus, Fish, and Bay Leaves

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FAST and Healthy Dinner Recipes for Every Single Day of the Month (4)

Whether you're eating low-fat, low-carb, Paleo, or Whole 30, this 30-minute heart-healthy recipe fits the bill. If asparagus isn't in season, try the same sheet pan strategy with fresh green beans or Broccolini.

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Skillet Lasagna

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FAST and Healthy Dinner Recipes for Every Single Day of the Month (5)

There's not much better than a hot meal in 30 minutes. This lasagna will be a hit for the whole family and comes together way faster in a skillet than a classic baked lasagna. Meat, noodles, and ample cheese. We love everything about it.

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Veggie Tostadas with Cauliflower Mash

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FAST and Healthy Dinner Recipes for Every Single Day of the Month (6)

A cheesy cauliflower puree stands in for refried beans in this vegetarian entrée that proves you can enjoy hearty meals without meat. Stir some black beans into the corn, asparagus, and tomato topping for extra protein.

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Spicy Shrimp Pasta

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The jalapeño chili peppers and garlic are spicy enough to catch your attention without setting your mouth on fire. Top this healthy pasta dinner with parsley for a fresh look and flavor. For a shortcut, using frozen shrimp is an easy and cost-effective choice.

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Cilantro Ginger Chicken with Peanuts

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FAST and Healthy Dinner Recipes for Every Single Day of the Month (8)

This 30-minute heart-healthy recipe is an Asian-inspired chicken dish with all your favorite ingredients. The freshness of napa cabbage and a full cup of cilantro combined with succulent chicken and topped with honey-roasted peanuts makes this one of our more flavorful, easy healthy dinner recipes for any weeknight.

There's a Scientific Reason Some People Think Cilantro Tastes Like Soap

09of 27

Quick Eggplant Parmigiana

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FAST and Healthy Dinner Recipes for Every Single Day of the Month (9)

Cooking eggplant is easy with this parmigiana recipe. One pan, 30 minutes to cook, and packed with flavor. You'll feel like you're dining on a meal prepared at a gourmet Italian restaurant.

Buy It: Cuisinart Nonstick Skillet ($30, Target)

10of 27

Salmon with Lemon and Herbs

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FAST and Healthy Dinner Recipes for Every Single Day of the Month (10)

If you're looking for a seafood dinner, give this one a try. Simple herbs, plus simple fish, equals delicious. Pair with rice pilaf or a fresh green salad to round out this easy healthy recipe.

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Farfalle with Mushrooms and Spinach

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FAST and Healthy Dinner Recipes for Every Single Day of the Month (11)

This pasta dinner comes together lightning fast. Farfalle pasta, also known as bow tie, is a thicker pasta, so it stands up to the mushrooms, spinach, and garlic. This hearty dish is packed with vitamins and minerals, and you won't believe it has less than 10 ingredients.

Restaurant-Caliber Pasta Recipes

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Tahini-Ginger Noodles and Veggies

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FAST and Healthy Dinner Recipes for Every Single Day of the Month (12)

Nope, that's not Alfredo sauce you see! Nutty tahini is the base of the rich, gingery sauce that coats each bite of linguine, broccoli, carrots, and peas.

Buy It: Joyva Tahini ($8, Target)

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Basil Halibut with Jalapeno Butter

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FAST and Healthy Dinner Recipes for Every Single Day of the Month (13)

Warning: Things are about to get real toasty. Butter-seared jalapeños give flaky, iron-rich grill halibut an undeniable kick. If the weather isn't cooperating for outdoor grilling, take things inside with a grill pan.

Buy It: Calphalon Square Grill Pan ($30, Bed Bath & Beyond)

14of 27

Lemon-Thyme Roasted Chicken with Fingerlings

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FAST and Healthy Dinner Recipes for Every Single Day of the Month (14)

This bright and delicious chicken dinner is a 30-minute heart-healthy recipe. You'll love the flavorful twist of adding thyme to the classic chicken and potatoes combo. You can incorporate additional herbs like basil, oregano, and rosemary for more flavor-building.

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Greens, Cannellini Beans, and Andouille Sausage Pan Stew

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Thanks to reduced-sodium chicken broth and chicken sausage, this stew is healthier than it sounds. Cannellini beans give it an even bigger protein boost and a dose of fiber, while onions add tender crunch.

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Feta-Stuffed Chicken Breasts

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If sautéed chicken breast is your go-to easy recipe for dinner, take it to the next level with a creamy cheese stuffing. Crumbled feta teams up with sun-dried tomatoes and fresh basil to upgrade your dinner in less than half an hour.

17of 27

Chicken with Parmesan Noodles

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Chicken and noodles come together fast for a hungry family. Add carrots or any of your favorite veggies for variety. Serve with a fresh spinach salad to up the fiber.

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Chicken Meatball Noodle Bowl

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FAST and Healthy Dinner Recipes for Every Single Day of the Month (18)

The next time you crave takeout, try our rice-noodle bowl, complete with juicy ginger-spiced chicken meatballs and a refreshing shredded salad. This low-cal, easy recipe is ready in under 25 minutes—probably faster than delivery!

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Garlic Lime Pork with Farro and Kale

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Delicious is the word that best describes this 20-minute meal. Lime juice, honey, and peanut butter combine to add nutrients to this meal—and tons of flavor. Farro (a whole grain) and kale round out this dish for a complete, satisfying, easy, and healthy dinner.

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Turkey Steaks with Spinach, Pears, and Blue Cheese

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FAST and Healthy Dinner Recipes for Every Single Day of the Month (20)

Turkey tenderloins stacked with deliciousness in just about 20 minutes. Browned pears, lightly wilted spinach, and crumbled blue cheese will have you cooking up this easy healthy dinner recipe again and again.

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Lemon Dill Shrimp Pasta

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Fresh, light, and ready to eat in 25 minutes, this pasta dish can't be beaten. This yummy dinner is cooked in a single skillet and each ingredient added builds the flavor. Keep some sauce on the side to use with chicken or turkey for another night.

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Smoked Salmon Flatbread

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FAST and Healthy Dinner Recipes for Every Single Day of the Month (22)

Coming in at just under 300 calories, this salmon recipe is short on time, not on flavor. The radishes and capers are the stars of the show offering just a hint of spice and zest. It's a simple yet decadent—but healthy—30-minute meal.

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Scallops and Spinach with Pomegranate Glaze

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Coriander-spiced pomegranate glaze adds a sweet and spicy zip to this savory scallop recipe. For a vitamin-rich base, toss spinach into the skillet for just a few minutes to slightly wilt.

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Apple Pecan Pork Chops

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FAST and Healthy Dinner Recipes for Every Single Day of the Month (24)

Apple and pork are two flavors commonly served together. Try this refreshing twist by adding pecans. In total, three steps to a perfectly cooked pork chop dinner. Chicken or turkey makes an excellent lean protein substitute with these flavors.

25of 27

Smoky Slider Skewers

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These ground beef sliders use seven ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen or pantry. The recipe is so basic, but this meal feels like a treat. Whip up this healthy dinner in 30 minutes and serve with corn tortillas.

26of 27

Grilled Salmon with Leeks and Rosemary-Mustard Butter

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FAST and Healthy Dinner Recipes for Every Single Day of the Month (26)

If you haven't thought of flavoring butter before, you will now. The rosemary and mustard combination will make your taste buds sing. An added bonus—this meal is packed with heart-healthy salmon for big nutrition.

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Buffalo Chicken Pizza

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FAST and Healthy Dinner Recipes for Every Single Day of the Month (27)

This pizza is a complete meal from your oven to the table in mere minutes. Its premade ingredients mean all that's left for you to do is assemble and serve. The blue cheese dressing with the chicken takes this entrée from ordinary to extraordinary.

FAST and Healthy Dinner Recipes for Every Single Day of the Month (2024)

FAQs

How do I prepare my 1 week meal? ›

HOW TO COOK MEALS FOR A WEEK?
  1. Step 1: Meal Plan. Make a menu. ...
  2. Step 2: Shop. Before you head out to the grocery store, check your fridge, freezer, and pantry for items you already have. ...
  3. Step 3: Cook. Prepare meals according to the recipe. ...
  4. Step 4: Store. Package up your food for the fridge and freezer.
Dec 5, 2022

How do you plan a healthy easy dinner? ›

Come Up with a Weekly Game Plan

Plan to have most dinner plates follow a balanced model, like MyPlate: one-quarter of the plate goes to whole grains, one-quarter to lean protein, and half to fruits and veggies. Collect healthy recipes online or from cookbooks and magazines and keep them in a binder or folder.

What is the best day to meal plan? ›

Sunday and Wednesday are two common choices. Determine how much you want to prep. Experiment with prepping for two or three days before attempting five. You may not like eating the same or similar things the whole week.

What are the 10 healthiest foods to eat everyday? ›

Top 15 healthy foods you should be eating
  • Fish. ...
  • Broccoli or any of the cruciferous vegetables. ...
  • Beets. ...
  • Spinach and other leafy green vegetables. ...
  • Kale. ...
  • Peanut butter. ...
  • Almonds. ...
  • Mangos.
Apr 5, 2019

Is it OK to meal prep for 7 days? ›

One important note though: as long as you cook meals properly, food will be perfectly safe to eat within seven days. However, by day five, it might not be as tasty. If there's one number to remember from this cheat sheet, it's four. Most meals are good (safe AND tasty) in the fridge for up to four days.

What meat is best for meal prep? ›

When you're prepping, focus on choosing easy-to-cook, bulk-packaged foods that store well. My recommendation is to mix and match from these categories and go to town: Protein: Chicken breast, lean ground beef, pork tenderloin, flank steak, lean lunch meat (turkey breast, ham, or roast beef) and low-fat beef jerky.

What is a one day a week cheat meal? ›

The Benefits of Cheating

After eating a larger meal than usual, your body increases leptin production by as much as 30 percent for up to 24 hours. For those on a highly restrictive, low-calorie diet, psychologists and nutritionists often believe that cheat meals allow individuals to eat better throughout the week.

What is the healthiest meal to eat for dinner? ›

Healthy Meals: The 10 Best Foods for Dinner
  • Salmon.
  • Sweet Potato.
  • Chickpeas.
  • Lentils.
  • Dark Leafy Greens.
  • Tempeh.
  • Wheat Berries.
  • Olive Oil.
Oct 3, 2022

What is the healthiest thing to eat for lunch? ›

Healthy People Usually Eat These 7 Things for Lunch
  1. Avocado and egg sandwich. ...
  2. Summer rolls with peanut sauce. ...
  3. Quinoa pear salad with spinach, cranberries and pecans. ...
  4. Protein Salad. ...
  5. Loaded Vegetable Sandwich. ...
  6. Lentil vegetable soup. ...
  7. Chicken burrito bowl with rice and beans.
Aug 30, 2023

What meat is good for heart? ›

Options include:
  • Seafood — fish and shellfish.
  • Poultry — chicken or turkey breast without skin or lean ground chicken or turkey (at least 93% lean)
  • Lean meats — like pork shoulder, beef sirloin, or lean ground beef (at least 93% lean)
  • Beans, peas, and lentils — like black beans and garbanzo beans (chickpeas)
  • Eggs.
Jul 1, 2023

What is the most important meal of the day to lose weight? ›

Studies show that most people who lose weight and keep the weight off eat breakfast every day.

What is the healthiest first meal of the day? ›

Here are 10 of the best healthy breakfasts to eat, according to dietitians.
  1. Baked Sweet Potato with Peanut Butter and Sliced Apples or Raisins. ...
  2. Overnight Oats with Chia Seeds and Berries. ...
  3. Lentil Breakfast Bowl. ...
  4. Quinoa Breakfast Bowl. ...
  5. Savory Oatmeal Bowl. ...
  6. Kefir Smoothie. ...
  7. Avocado Toast. ...
  8. Tofu Scramble.
Sep 24, 2023

What is the best dinner time to lose weight? ›

“Eating between 5 to 7 p.m. would be ideal,” says Dana Cohen, M.D., integrative medical doctor and co-author of Quench. “However, the later it gets the less food you should consume.” One study published in Cell Metabolism found that people who ate meals at 5 p.m. burned 60 more calories than those who ate dinner later.

What are 10 healthy meals? ›

10 healthy meals you can easily make at home
  • Curry quinoa with veggies. ...
  • Build-your-own Buddha bowl. ...
  • Roasted beet and citrus salad. ...
  • Chickpea salad. ...
  • Mexican quinoa salad with black beans, corn, and tomatoes. ...
  • Salmon salad wrap. ...
  • Roasted vegetables and heirloom tomato pasta. ...
  • Shakshuka with chickpeas and lemon.
Nov 14, 2022

What are the 5 daily meals? ›

Five meals a day equals breakfast, lunch, dinner, and two snacks. To do this right, you need to plan what you'll eat every day for each “meal.” And you need to schedule eating every 2 to 3 hours.

What is 3 healthy meals a day? ›

Some quick and nutritious meal options include cereal topped with fruit and milk; slice of toast, egg, and juice; low sodium soup, crackers and cheese; sandwich with lettuce, deli meat and bread; pasta with marinara sauce and milk; or chicken breast, frozen vegetables (cooked) and rice.

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