49 Low Effort and Healthy Dinner Recipes

This is your “best-friend” guide to cooking delicious, healthy dinner recipes for you and your family with minimal effort. From healthy chicken and meat recipes to light pasta or salmon dinners, these super easy and healthy meals are on the table in 30 minutes or less and make a great option to grab the basics if you’re just getting started learning to cook! Most of these easy dinner recipe ideas only require a skillet, two basic ingredients, and spices, and believe us; it is more than enough to whip up some delicious and healthy meals in a breeze. Enjoy!

Easy Healthy Dinner Ideas: 49 Low Effort and Healthy Dinner Recipes

1. Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken and Green Beans Skillet

This easy chicken thighs recipe is a snap to fix and cook. Chicken and green beans are cooked in one skillet for easy prep and the flavor combination is amazing. With only 25 minutes of total work, this nourishing chicken meal makes weeknight dinners a breeze.
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2. Sheet-Pan Maple-Dijon Sausage and Fall Veggies

This easy sheet pan dinner is loaded with seasonal vegetables and protein. You’ll love the combo of roasted veggies and the smokey flavor of sausage. Try it for a quick and easy dinner at home!
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3. Salmon and Asparagus Foil Packs with Garlic Lemon Butter Sauce

Whip up something quick and delicious tonight! Salmon and asparagus are baked together with a rich buttery sauce in individual foil packs. The bright lemon flavor pair perfectly with butter, and garlic adds a pungent touch to this wonderful care-free dinner. This easy oven baked salmon in foil recipe is a winner!
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4. Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas

This effortless shrimp fajita recipe is baked on a single sheet pan for an 100% hands off dinner! Throw bell peppers, onion, and shrimp on the rimmed baking sheet, sprinkle fajitas seasoning, olive oil, toss to combine, and bake in a hot oven for less than 10 minutes.
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5. Garlic Butter Chicken Bites with Lemon Asparagus

This easy chicken recipe with asparagus is a winner for dinnertime. Chicken bites are so juicy, tender, and delicious you’ll eat them hot right off the pan! This low carb, keto-friendly one-pan chicken dinner is ready in under 30 minutes. So much flavor and so easy to throw together!
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6. Creamy Garlic Tuscan Salmon With Spinach and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Another easy dinner idea: Smothered in a luscious garlic butter spinach and sun-dried tomato cream sauce, you won’t believe how easy, fast and simple it is to cook salmon this way! These deliciously seasoned, Tuscan salmon filets are juicy and tender on the inside with perfect crisp edges.
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7. One Pot Chicken and Vegetables Skillet

This one-pot chicken breast recipe with vegetables takes 20 minutes to make and will wow your family with its fantastic flavor!
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8. Garlic butter Steak Bites with Lemon Zucchini Noodles

So much flavor and so easy to throw together! Sirloin steak cubes are marinated and cooked to perfection in a delicious garlic butter sauce and served with healthy, low carb zucchini noodles. Ready in 30 minutes or less, this easy healthy recipe will make all of your family go crazy!
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9. Parmesan Chopped Salad

This parmesan chopped salad is light, flavorful, crunchy, and takes only 5 minutes to throw together. Enjoy for a light and easy dinner or lunch at the office!
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10. Garlic Butter Turkey Meatballs with Lemon Zucchini Noodles

An easy and nourishing skillet meal that keeps carbs low and morale high for dinner!
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11. Honey Garlic Chicken Bites

This honey garlic chicken recipe is a wonderful quick dinner idea for busy nights that you can serve over rice, pasta, or zucchini noodles – or for meal prepping.
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12. 15-Minute Garlic Butter Chicken with Parmesan Cauliflower Rice

Crispy, soft and SO delish! These thin chicken cutlets served with rich and fragrant cauliflower rice are just perfect for those busy weeknights
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13. Healthy Chicken Pasta Salad with Avocado, Tomato, and Basil

This healthy chicken pasta salad is loaded with tomatoes, avocado, and fresh basil.
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14. 15-Minute Lemon Garlic Butter Steak with Zucchini Noodles

So much flavor and nearly IMPOSSIBLE to mess up! Delicious juicy marinated steak and zucchini noodles cook up together in just one pan for a quick low carb meal you’ll be crazy about.
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15. Cilantro Lime Shrimp with Zucchini Noodles

Shrimp and zucchini noodles make a perfect low-carb option when you’re looking for a quick, light dinner that’s packed with flavor.
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16. Pineapple BBQ Chicken Foil Packets in Oven

So easy and packed with tons of flavor. Moist and tender chicken breasts are cooked to perfection in foil packets with sweet pineapple and delicious summer veggies. You’ll love the simplicity!
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17. Tomato Spinach Shrimp Pasta

A low effort, nourishing dinner ready in just 30 minutes. Al dente pasta is tossed with spicy grilled shrimps, tomatoes, fresh spinach, garlic, and a drizzle of olive oil. This healthy meal will become your new favorite for busy weeknights!
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18. Garlic Butter Chicken Bites with Lemon Zucchini Noodles

These delicious chicken bites are so juicy and tender you’ll eat them hot right off the pan!
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19. Crisp-Tender Baked Garlic Chicken with Potatoes

Loaded with garlic and delicious roasted potatoes, chicken is incredibly crisp-tender and totally fool-proof. This healthy recipe will become a staple in your weekly meals rotation.
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20. Baked Honey Garlic Salmon

A whole salmon fillet coated in honey mustard garlic sauce gets baked in foil and broiled to a flaky finish. A no-fuss, healthy dinner recipe on the table in just 25 minutes!
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21. Juicy Garlic Pork Stir-Fry

This quick pork stir-fry recipe is an easy way to get dinner on the table in less than 20 minutes tonight!
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22. Honey Dijon Chicken and Veggies Foil Packs

These honey dijon chicken and veggies foil packs make for a savory and nourishing dish. Chicken fillets are steamed with spices and veggies, perfect for a quick and healthy dinner.
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23. 20 Minute Healthy Sausage and Veggies One-Pot

This one-pot sausage and veggies is a down home, healthy, inexpensive, and delicious meal that you’ll love to make again and again.
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24. Lemon Garlic Butter Salmon in Foil with Pineapple

This healthy lemon garlic butter salmon is a breeze to make and the method of cooking it all together in a foil pouch seals in moisture and keeps the sweet aroma intact. A no-fuss weeknight dinner with no clean up!
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25. Healthy Teriyaki Shrimp with Zucchini Noodle

A delicious, low-carb, healthy weeknight dinner made with spiralized zucchini and shrimp with teriyaki sauce and toasted sesame seeds. This stir fry is so quick and easy to make, and takes less than 20 minutes in total!
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26. Sheet Pan Garlic Butter Chicken and Asparagus

Crisp at the perfection, this simple one pan meal will have your family gathering around the table in no time on a busy weeknight!
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27. Lemon Garlic Herb Shrimp in Foil Packets

Enjoy the hearty flavors of a nourishing dinner with these lemon garlic herb shrimp in foil packets. This quick, healthy dinner is so easy to make, anyone can do it!
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28. One-Pan Tomato Spinach Tortellini

Easy, healthy and family friendly, on the table in 20 minutes. This delicious comfort food is the perfect answer to your weeknight dinner prayers!
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29. Sausage, Pepper and Cauliflower Fried Rice

A nutritious blend of flavors for a delicious dinner ready in 20 minutes. Cauliflower rice is a wonderful low-carb substitute and it cooks so quickly.
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30. Quick Pesto Chicken Pasta

You’ll be delighted by this pesto chicken pasta, packed full of mediterranean flavors. A fresh and easy dinner, ready in 30 minutes.
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31. Spicy Shrimp with Garlic Parmesan Broccoli Mash

Packed full of flavor, this low carb, paleo dinner will blow you away. Spicy, savory shrimp are cooked just right, until they’re perfectly tender, and served on top of a creamy broccoli mash specked with parmesan. Dinner’s ready!
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32. Roasted Harissa Chicken Breasts

This quick, wholesome recipe for chicken breasts is downright simple. Just rub chicken breasts with harissa and bake in the oven. Lovers of spicy flavors will be delighted!Get the recipe

33. Easy Pesto Baked Pork Chops

These baked pork chops stand on the healthier side of the scale. Put them on the menu and you’re sure to make a hit.
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34. Zucchini Noodles in Creamy Tomato Sauce

Try these zucchini noodles for a low carb comfort dinner that will be on your table in less than 20 minutes!
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35. One-Skillet Mediterranean Gnocchi

Now you can enjoy a super fast and delicious meat-free meal at home. This mediterranean inspired gnocchi and vegetables skillet will surprise you by its association of textures and flavors.
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36. Quinoa and Cucumber Noodles Salad With Avocado Dressing

Loaded with quinoa, this protein-rich salad will quickly become a weekday staple.
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37. Spicy Honey Garlic Salmon

This Spicy Honey Garlic Salmon is perfect for a quick weekday evening: smother your pan seared salmon fillets with a garlic honey mustard glaze and dinner is ready in under 20 minutes! Say hello to your new favorite healthy dinner!
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38. Balsamic Honey Skillet Chicken Legs

This crisp chicken skillet makes for a crazy-easy dinner with a punch of flavor. 2 to 3 serving; ready in 30 minutes only.
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39. Stuffed Tomatoes with Chicken Quinoa

These healthy quinoa stuffed baked tomatoes are filling, delicious and incredibly nutritious! Chicken and quinoa make for a nutritious combo, rounded up with the juicy tomatoes.
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40. Chicken Breasts & Asparagus Foil Packets

Keep all the good-for-you nutrients with this healthy dinner option using parchment pockets to steam chicken and asparagus. This simple and healthy cooking technique will save your dinner!
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41. Spicy lime Chicken with Herbed Quinoa.

This garlic lime chicken tenders and quinoa is a whole and satisfying meal, perfect for a dinner for two.
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42. Basil Garlic Chicken with Spicy Tomato Sauce

A healthy family dinner full of flavors and ready in 30 minutes.
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43. Quick Chickpea Chicken Soup

Yummy and Hearty— A simple and comforting chicken soup with tons of flavor. The addition of chickpeas makes it very satisfying without bulking up on calories.
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44. Spicy Harissa-Glazed Salmon with Yogurt Sauce

Salmon is so easy to cook comparing to other types of fish. Here’s a sweet and spicy dish, perfect for a quick dinner after a long day at work.
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45. Cashew Whole Cauliflower Curry (Slow Cooker)

A filling main course packed with good-for-you nutrients. Throw cauliflower in the slow cooker with plenty of spices and forget it until it’s dinner time. Did we mentioned it is vegan?
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46. Garlicky Cajun Carrots Mushroom Chicken

This one skillet chicken with garlic cajun sauce is perfect for a midweek dinner with minimal fuss. After a good braise with sweet carrots, bell peppers and mushrooms, pop the spicy chicken skillet in the oven for 20 minutes for additional crispiness.
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47. Crock Pot Potato Carrot Beef Stew

This stew using ground beef cooks faster than regulars chunks of meat. A quick, comforting dinner, yet easy on your waistline.
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48. Grape Tomato and Basil Pasta

This grape tomato and basil pasta comes together in less than 15 minutes, making for a delicious and super easy dinner your family will love, especially kids.
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49. Carrot Turmeric Red Lentil Stew

A flavorful vegetarian dinner option ready in 20 minutes from scratch.
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50. Baked Chickpea Tomato Eggplant Cups

Try this wholesome meal loaded with plant-based protein.
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51. Healthy Baked Tandoori Chicken

Healthy and delicious Indian flavors you can enjoy right in your home. The recipe is pretty straightforward and the flavors are crazy delicious!
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52. Bacon Egg and Spinach Fried Rice

This nourishing fried rice is loaded with bacon and spinach and only takes 20 minutes to make! Customizable with any of your favorite ingredients, it makes for a quick dinner everyone will love.
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53. Baked Quinoa Pork Chops

This tasty, simple, and satisfying one pan pork chops quinoa for two proves cooking healthy doesn’t have to be expensive or a giant time suck.
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54. Oven Roasted Salmon with Zucchini Noodles

Roasting is one of the fastest and easiest ways to prepare salmon. Crispy on the outside and juicy inside, these healthy oven roasted salmon fillets with cajuns spices over zucchini noodles are ready in less than 20 minutes.
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