Healthy eating is actually pretty fun.
There are so many ways to get creative and use wholesome ingredients to create some really good healthy dinners. And whether you’re looking for nourishing plant-based foods or comfort food classics with a healthy twist, you’ll never run out of ideas.
I personally love finding really tasty healthy dinner ideas. There’s something very satisfying about being able to take care of my body while also having an incredible dining experience.
And if you’re tired of having boring salads and plain chicken for your dinners, then here are some healthy meals you can try this week!
Healthy Authentic Mexican Tostadas
These tostadas were something I had tried when living in Mexico, and was able to easily replicate myself. The fresh raw tuna and avocado paired so well with the queso fresco (fresh cheese). Also, making your own crunchy tostadas with just a bit of olive oil makes this healthy dinner even healthier.
Add a bit of tangy salsa verde, and you’re all set!
GET THE RECIPERoasted Veggie Grain Bowl
Whether you like meatless recipes or not, I think this healthy grain bowl is worth a try!
With kale, goat cheese, sweet potatoes, wild rice, and a delicious sounding dressing, this is perfect for those evenings when you want a light, well-balanced meal.
Also, if you want to add a bit of protein, then nothing’s stopping you from adding some soft-boiled eggs or meat of your choice!
GET THE RECIPEHealthy Chicken Marinades (Whole30 & Paleo)
Chicken needs all the help it can get when it comes to flavor. And if the marinades are healthy, then even better!
Also, this makes planning and meal prepping healthy dinner recipes for the week so much simpler. And depending on the spices, you might be able to use these marinades for other types of meats.
If you wanna make sure you’re able to have protein-packed dinners all week long, then this might be the way to go!
GET THE RECIPEHealthy Greek Salad Bowl
If you’re looking for easy, healthy dinner ideas, then this is it!
Just toss some spiced, oven-baked chickpeas and sun dried tomatoes on top of a salad, and finish it up with some kalamata olives and feta cheese. It’s a wholesome meal for when you want something flavorful and easy to clean up.
GET THE RECIPEChickpea Curry With Spinach and Rice
If you’re gathering a list of healthy meal ideas, then veg-forward, creamy curry dishes should always be on it. They’re the perfect way to make sure you’re adding a lot of flavor into your weeknight dinners.
Also, with a total cook + prep time of 25 minutes, I think this is perfect for those super busy evenings when you need healthy quick dinners.
GET THE RECIPETuna, Sweet Potato, Avocado, & Brown Rice
Another better-for you weeknight dinner that takes barely anytime to prep. In fact, the only thing that really takes time is the pan-fried rosemary sweet potatoes.
This was just a quick and easy healthy meal I threw together. All you need is some brown rice, fresh tuna (that’s labeled as safe to be eaten raw), avocado, olive oil, spices of your choice, and the previously mentioned sweet potatoes.
Once assembled, you’ll have a rich in flavor, aesthetically pleasing healthy dinner.
Vegan White Mushroom Lasagna Rolls
I love lasagna and I love pasta in general, so if there’s a healthy pasta dish, I’m all over it! And you might be too, so add this to your list of healthy meal ideas to try this week and see what your family thinks!
GET THE RECIPEÇılbır
If you like having savory breakfasts for dinner, and you want to try something from a different country, then I’d recommend Çılbır, or Turkish eggs.
It’s garlicky yogurt that’s been topped with some poached eggs and a spiced oil. Just pair it with some crusty whole grain or sourdough bread and you’ll have a very mouthwatering, flavorful, and nourishing meal.
Also, this makes for a great dinner idea for two if that’s what you’re looking for!
GET THE RECIPEArroz Con Pollo
While this won’t be on your table in under 30 minutes, it is packed with a lot of flavor. So think garlic, peppers, beer, shallots, lime, and a lot of other tasty ingredients.
So if you have the patience and your day wasn’t too busy, then this arroz con pollo (or rice with chicken) might be the perfect healthy dinner for you.
GET THE RECIPELemon Garlic Pasta
I love simple pasta dishes, and they’re even better when they’re healthy; it gives me the excuse to take in some carbs. And while the original recipe with the image above no longer exists, here’s a different healthy lemon pasta dish you can try instead!
Gluten-Free Pizza Rolls
More Italian! But I mean, can you even blame me? They’re healthy pizza rolls! I think even the pickiest eater in your family will be happy.
Also, they’re ready in just 25 minutes, so you can have this gluten-free nourishing dinner fast!
GET THE RECIPECoconut Lime Grilled Chicken and Rice
If you’re craving something Thai or at least Thai-inspired, then this flavorful and healthy coconut lime grilled chicken is a great dinner to pull together.
Done in 40 minutes, you can enjoy it solo or maybe have a friend over!
GET THE RECIPEThe Everything Protein Salad
Another straight forward healthy salad recipe I made recently. It’s high-protein (hence the title) and will make you feel great post eating.
Here are the ingredients:
- Boiled eggs
- Beef (or other meat of your choice)
- spiced chickpeas
- Oven-roasted sun-dried tomatoes
- Cheese of your choice (I used small mozarella balls)
- Green of your choice
- Hot sauce of your choice (I used Tabasco’s Chipotle hot sauce 👌)
Everything is to taste, very flavorful, and it’s pretty quick to pull together.
Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
I love mac and cheese and I also like cauliflower, which makes this low-carb dish perfect for a night when I’m needing some comfort food.
Also, it looks a bit like a cheat meal, so if you wanna have something cheesy but still healthy, then this is a great recipe to try out!
GET THE RECIPERoasted Tomato Puttanesca
I love those Italian recipes where you throw in a lot of flavorful ingredients into one pasta dish and call it a meal. And while this is Italian-inspired (so not authentic), it does have plenty of tasty components like capers, garlic, parmesan, and olives.
So if you want to feel like you’re kind of on the Mediterranean on a random weeknight, then this healthy pasta dish might just be for you.
GET THE RECIPELentil Soup With Ham
This looks super comforting, hearty, flavorful, and delicious! I mean with all those adjectives, can you even go wrong? Make it on a cold evening in the fall or winter, and it’s the perfect nourishing dinner to reach for when you’re craving comfort food.
GET THE RECIPEAsian Lettuce Wraps
I feel like Asian lettuce wraps are the perfect healthy meal to make for when you really want something fresh, satisfying, and flavorful.
Also, the total prep and cook time is just 30 minutes, so you get to have a wholesome dinner on your table in no time.
GET THE RECIPEButternut Squash Curry
Curry and butternut squash is an immediate yes for me. Both are healthy, packed with flavor, and add a nice pop of color to your dinner table. Just sub the jasmine or basmati rice out for brown rice to make it even healthier!
GET THE RECIPERoasted Vegetable Bowls With Green Tahini
Another vegetarian option for people who are either on a meat-free diet, or just want to save a bit on their grocery bill.
And while this dinner is mainly veg, it’s packed with a lot of flavor thanks to the tasty sounding garlicky, tangy, green tahini sauce. Just make sure the eggs come out soft boiled for max deliciousness and you’re set!
GET THE RECIPETeriyaki Air Fryer Salmon
If you have an air fryer, then this healthy dinner idea is perfect for you! It’s ready in 15 minutes which makes it super quick and easy for those really busy nights. Just have some brown rice pre-prepped, and you’ll have dinner on the table fast.
GET THE RECIPERoasted Cauliflower Burrito Bowls
I love burrito bowls and especially when they’re guilt-free!
And I don’t care if you’re vegan or not, you can always add a protein of your choice and enjoy this flavor-packed dinner.
Also, you’re getting a ton of veggies which makes this meal super nutritious.
GET THE RECIPESalmon Tacos With Greek Yogurt Sauce
Fish tacos with a Greek yogurt sauce sound so delicious for a healthy dinner. And with a squeeze of lime, I think these will be perfect!
Also, if you only have 30 minutes to be in the kitchen, then that’s perfect because that’s exactly how long they’ll take.
GET THE RECIPEButter Bean Stew
Another hearty stew that looks like a total crowd-pleaser. And if it’s the colder months, then this healthy meal is perfect!
It has plenty of good spices, and all you need is some crusty sourdough bread to dip into it for max enjoyment.
GET THE RECIPEInstant Pot Chicken Cacciatore
I really like adding pasta dishes into lists of healthy recipes.
It kind of proves that yes, you can have carbs and not feel guilty about it. You can still have the things you actually enjoy!
Of course you can’t have them every single night of the week, but they can still be apart of a healthier lifestyle. And this quick, tangy, and savory pasta recipe looks like a great one to try!
GET THE RECIPECreamy Dairy-Free Tuscan Chicken Skillet With Orzo
This healthy dinner idea looks absolutely incredible. I personally think I would have more than I should, but then that would defeat the purpose of being healthy!
Also, the orzo is gluten-free so you don’t have to worry as much about your carb intake.
GET THE RECIPEMarinated Kale and Chicken Bowls with Sun Dried Tomato Sauce
Something about having marinated kale paired with spiced chicken, avo, and a sun-dried tomato sauce sounds so incredibly good.
Also, I like that the quinoa is flavored with the sauce; I feel like it really make this healthy dish so much more flavorful.
GET THE RECIPEGrilled Chicken Fajitas
Fajitas are so good and normally very simple and easy to make. So if you’re wanting to feel healthier, but also want something flavorful, then this is one of those easy healthy meals you should try this week!
GET THE RECIPESheet Pan Chicken Pitas with Tzatziki
I really love sheet pan meals; they make putting together a healthy dinner so much simpler. And this well-spiced recipe looks incredibly satisfying, nourishing, and filling. I can only imagine how good this smells cooking!
GET THE RECIPERelated: Want more similar ideas? Here are 10 healthy Mediterranean sheet pan dinners you can try!
Chicken Parmesan One Pot Pasta
Pasta… again! 😂 But I mean, shouldn’t we always have an excuse to eat pasta if it’s healthy? And this one looks so savory and delicious; I think it’ll be a great for your list of healthy family dinners to try this month.
GET THE RECIPEHealthy Kung-Pao Chicken
Asian food is always so satisfying and if you can make it healthy, then it’s an immediate win.
Also, you might want to think about making enough to enjoy the following nights or at work for lunch. That way you can eat healthy more days of the week and save time.
GET THE RECIPESpicy Peanut Soba Noodle Salad
Spicy peanut anything always sounds like a good idea. And these creamy, tangy, spicy, and low-calorie noodles look perfect for when you’re craving something Asian-inspired.
Top it with chicken (my personal preference) to make it even more filling, and you have a really good looking healthy dinner.
GET THE RECIPEMadras Lentils
I love yummy lentil recipes and this one looks so cozy and comforting. Like who doesn’t want to get a spoonful of something so hearty yet satisfying?
It’s spicy, creamy, garlicky, and packed with protein which is great for keeping you filled up!
GET THE RECIPEDomoda (African Peanut Stew)
This one is African and if you’re wanting to try something yummy and new, but also want to keep your healthy lifestyle going, then this is a great option for your list of dinners to make!
Also, it’s quick and has a lot of ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen, so I’d say give it a try!
GET THE RECIPEHearty Homemade Bean Chili
The smoky and complex flavors combined with creamy and crunchy textures make this dish absolutely irresistible. When you’re craving real comfort food, a bowl of this bean chili will hit the spot!
GET THE RECIPESmoky Sweet Potato and Black Bean Burgers
Although I normally associate burgers with junk food, it doesn’t need to be that way! These homemade burger patties are made with wholesome nutritious ingredients. And if you want to make it even healthier, then swap the bun for a side salad or steamed sweet potato.
GET THE RECIPESweet Potato Chickpea Buddha Bowl
A Buddha bowl is, “a bowl which is packed so full that it has a rounded ‘belly’ appearance on the top much like the belly of a buddha” (definition from Urban Dictionary).
This big bowl of plant-based goodness will definitely leave you feeling satisfied and nourished!
GET THE RECIPECozy Butternut, Sweet Potato, and Red Lentil Stew
Butternut squash, red lentils, and sweet potato are wrapped in a lightly sweet and creamy coconut and tomato broth. It’s then completed with spiced notes of turmeric, cumin, chili powder, cayenne, and garlic.
Make a large batch of it since it might just taste even better the next day!
GET THE RECIPEEasy One-Pot Vegetarian Spaghetti
Pasta is super easy to make, but it’s even better if you can make everything in one pot and keep it healthy! Perfect on a night when you’re in a rush, since it takes only 25 minutes to cook.
GET THE RECIPEStuffed Sweet Potatoes With White Beans and Kale
Another simple recipe that’s packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Try adding avocado to this oven-baked sweet potatoes; it tastes really good!
GET THE RECIPEShepherd’s Pie
The main ingredients of this dish are lentils and potatoes, the ultimate budget foods. This healthy version of the traditional Irish dish is hearty, filling, and satisfying!
GET THE RECIPE
Grace Moser is the author and founder of Chasing Foxes, where she writes articles to help women create a life they love in big and small ways. She's been a full-time traveler since 2016 and loves sharing her experiences and exploring the world with her husband, Silas. Her lifestyle and travel advice can also be seen on sites such as Business Insider, Glamour, Newsweek, Huffpost, & Apartment Therapy.