Last Updated on November 7, 2022 by
If you’re anything like us, eating healthy is hardest at night. We’ve got our quick, healthy breakfasts, packed lunches, and snacks for work down, keeping us full and motivated all day long (our curried cashews have quelled many an afternoon hunger pang). But then we get home for dinner, and it’s a whole other story. We know it’s way easier to control your health when you do your own cooking, but lots of nights, it’s just too easy to turn to frozen meals or takeout. Take inspiration from these healthy dinner recipes to keep your momentum going every night of the week—we believe in you!
We know health looks different to different people, so we’ve included options for every diet, like low carb, vegan, pescatarian, or gluten-free. We’ve also included meals for home cooks of all skill levels, so we’ve got you whether you’re a master chef or a novice, whether your kitchen is full of gadgets or you’re working with one bowl and one knife (we’ve ALL been there).
Think you don’t have enough time to make a healthy dinner? Think again. These healthy meal ideas are ready in just 20 minutes, so you can get a flavorful dish on the table on even the busiest of days.
Healthy Food That Is Easy To Make
- Peach Cobbler Oatmeal
Forget flavored oatmeal packets and go au naturel with this oatmeal that’s reminiscent of a cobbler. With fresh peaches, chopped pecans or your nut of choice, and cinnamon, it will satisfy your sweet tooth so well that you may find yourself making it for dessert. - Simple Poached Egg and Avocado Toast
Avocado toast is all the rage, but adding a poached egg takes it to a new level and completes the trifecta of nutrition: protein, fats, and carbs. Parmesan cheese and fresh herbs sprinkled on top make it look and taste fancy. - Oatmeal Blueberry Yogurt Pancakes
A stack of homemade flapjacks doesn’t take that long to make. These are high-protein and free of gluten, but they still taste amazing and fluffy, thanks to bananas, oats, vanilla, and of course blueberries. - Cheddar-Garlic Grits with Fried Eggs
A Southern classic, cheesy grits don’t have to be a complete fat and calorie bomb. Cook them in water rather than milk and omit the butter. But keep the cheddar: The 2 tablespoons per serving here keeps the dish gooey and rich and provides almost 10 percent of your daily calcium.
Then add eggs for staying power, chopped chives for their slightly oniony flavor, and garlic, which makes everything taste better.
- Hot Quinoa Cereal
Fabulous as it is, quinoa takes some time to cook. While some people have said it can be nuked, that takes more than 10 minutes in most microwaves. But quinoa flakes, which are similar to oats but are a complete protein, can be ready in a flash.
Cook them in your preferred milk with dried berries, and then top away with nuts, nut butter, seeds, and fresh fruit.
- Scrambled Tofu
When properly prepared, tofu is anything but blah — and this version provides as much protein as a scrambled egg. Toss the vegan staple with cheesy nutritional yeast, turmeric, cumin, and paprika (buy smoked for even more flavor). Even egg lovers will enjoy it. - Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal
This healthy, autumn-inspired oatmeal gets its pie-like flavor from pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, and vanilla. A sprinkling of dried cranberries adds natural sweetness. - Open-Faced Sandwiches with Ricotta, Arugula, and Fried Egg
A breakfast sandwich can be so much more than a smashed bacon, egg, and cheese eaten behind the wheel. Yes, this one calls for a fork and knife, but it’s worth it.
Toasted bread is topped with spicy arugula, a good source of vitamin K, which helps your blood clot. Then add an egg, salty ricotta — it has more protein than cottage cheese — Parmesan, and thyme. It’s a sandwich like no other.
- Omelet in a Mug
Toss your favorite breakfast meat (or skip it if you’re vegetarian), salsa, eggs, and cheese in a mug and zap it for 1 minute. Stir, and then cook for another 30 to 45 seconds.
Season to taste and top with more cheese. Breakfast has never been easier to make — or to clean up.
- Butternut Squash Ramen Bowl with Rice Noodles, Tofu, and Fresh Pea Shoots
A delicious dinner for one, this noodle bowl has all the flavors of your fave quick-cook noodle cups but none of the icky additives. Rice noodles provide the bulk of this vegetarian-friendly bowl, which uses boxed butternut squash soup as a base for fast cooking.
Pea shoots taste like, well, peas, and are rich in vitamins A and C and folic acid. If you can’t find them, you can use spinach.
- Mediterranean Panzanella
Rather than top a salad with bagged croutons, whip up this Tuscan version with toasted pita bread.
There’s the usual good-alone-but-better-together suspects expected in something called “Mediterranean”: tomatoes, cucumbers, feta, and olives. The olives are key since the fats in them help your body absorb the nutrients in the veggies.
- Crunchy Asian Ramen Noodle Salad
This colorful, crunchy salad is just what the doctor ordered when leafy-greens-based varieties are boring you.
Crunchy coleslaw mix and dried ramen noodles (swap in crunchy rice noodles for a less-processed option) are tossed with avocado for healthy fat, edamame for protein, and mango for vision-protecting beta-carotene.