There is never an excuse to not enjoy a delicious but healthy dinner.
A key aspect of losing weight is controlling what you eat, but trying to cook healthy dinners every night can be difficult. They can become a repetitive cycle of flavors you grow tired of, and the temptation to eat unhealthy dinners can grow too large. Never fear, for SkinnyMs. is here with suggestions for dinners for weight loss endeavors. We know it can be hard, and we’re here to support you.
Extremely Low-Calorie Meals
Extremely low-calorie meals are meals that provide a minimal amount of calories, usually less than 800 calories per day. These meals are typically designed for people trying to lose weight quickly or for those who have specific health conditions. Examples of extremely low-calorie meals include salads, smoothies, soups, and other light meals that are high in nutrients but low in calories.
Low energy density suggests that a significant amount of food contains few calories. When trying to lose weight, one technique is to eat low-energy-dense foods. That is, you want to eat more food that contains less calories. This makes you feel fuller while eating less calories. Replacing high-calorie items with lower-calorie options and reducing portion sizes will help you decrease calories and lose weight. Technically, on a low-calorie diet, you can eat anything as long as your total calorie consumption is minimal. However, in order to get the maximum nutritional value out of your calories and to stay satiated, you should make good choices.
With a wide variety of dishes available, there is never an excuse to not enjoy a delicious but healthy dinner. Sit down and browse our list of 30 delicious low-calorie dinners for weight loss and become inspired!
1. Zucchini Noodles Aglio et Olio
Making noodles entirely out of vegetables is a fantastic way to cut down on calories and sugar. An extremely simple dish, these noodles feel just right for slurping and twirling!
Get the recipe: Zucchini Noodles Aglio et Olio
2. Chicken and Black Bean Chili
Hearty meals are a key part of staving off hunger, and chili has that stick-to-your-ribs quality hearty meals rely on. Based heavily on chicken, beans, and vegetables, this is a fantastic dish that can be easily reheated and enjoyed more than once!
Get the recipe: Chicken and Black Bean Chili
3. Philly Cheese and Chicken Sandwich
Choosing chicken over red meat cuts down on nasty saturated fats, making this sandwich leagues healthier than its inspiration. Packed full of vegetables, this isn’t your mother’s Philly cheesesteak, but a healthy alternative that aims to capture the original’s feeling without its downsides.
Get the recipe: Philly Cheese and Chicken Sandwich
4. Blackened Sockeye Salmon
Simple salmon covered in black spices packs this dish full of delicious flavors. Choose the canola oil over the coconut oil, as coconut oil is full of saturated fats, while canola oil has very little and actually has omega-3 and -6 acids to supplement what you’ll get from the fish.
Get the recipe: Blackened Sockeye Salmon
5. Slow Cooker Red Lentil Curry
A big splash of warm, welcoming color is a distinct trait of this dish, as is the wide variety of spices it uses. Lentils are a good source of fiber and other nutrients, so eating a serving of them will serve you well in the long run.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Red Lentil Curry
6. Quinoa Shrimp Paella
Paella can have a wide variety of ingredients, but substituting its main factor—rice—for superfood quinoa takes this dish to another level health-wise. Since it’s full of protein and other nutrients, this dish offers fantastic bang for its buck!
Get the recipe: Quinoa Shrimp Paella
7. Skinny Lasagna Rolls
Easy to make and easy to reheat, this recipe offers healthy food in an easy-to-eat package. A batch can be frozen and eaten whenever it pleases you, so invest in your future dinners with this fantastic recipe!
Get the recipe: Skinny Lasagna Rolls
8. Slow Cooker Tamari-Glazed Chicken
Tamari is a (potentially) gluten-free big brother to soy sauce, helping make this sauce for this chicken delicious and unforgettable. Bok choy, a member of the cabbage family, is full of nutrients, making it an important aspect of this dish.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Tamari-Glazed Chicken
9. Better Than Your Mom’s Chicken Soup
Getting sick is no longer an excuse to compromise your clean diet. Broth full of healthy vegetables and brown rice, this recipe will have you back in your feet in no time.
Get the recipe: Better Than Your Mom’s Chicken Soup
10. Santa Fe Chicken and Zucchini Stir Fry
Stir fry is usually packed full of vegetables, and the olive oil it’s cooked in is one of the healthiest oils in the world. This dish can be served on brown rice, quinoa, or whatever healthy grain suits your taste buds best!
Get the recipe: Santa Fe Chicken and Zucchini Stir Fry
11. Butternut Squash and Black Bean Quesadillas
Squash is a delicious and nutritious vegetable, and has the right texture to be stuffed into a quesadilla. With whole wheat tortillas, beans, and other vegetables, this is a perfect quick and light dinner.
Get the recipe: Butternut Squash and Black Bean Quesadillas
12. Stuffed Bell Peppers
These tiny peppers are perfectly proportioned to be as healthy and filling as possible. Wild rice and bell peppers are both fantastic health wise, and will help you to stay full and satisfied!
Get the recipe: Stuffed Bell Peppers
13. Fresh Spring Rolls with Smoked Salmon
Crammed full of vegetables and the superbly healthy salmon, these little spring rolls are fantastic for your health and waist line. Rice paper is delicate, but serves to make this dish as light and crisp as the vegetables inside of it!
Get the recipe: Fresh Spring Rolls with Smoked Salmon
14. Slow Cooker Spinach Artichoke Chicken
If you’re a fan of spinach artichoke dip, this dinner may just be for you. It transforms the flavors of that dip into a full meal that’s both healthy and nutritious. Light cheeses and tomatoes add some extra nutrients and flavor for a more rounded meal.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Spinach Artichoke Chicken
15. Slow Cooker Cheesy Spinach Lasagna
Four kinds of cheeses lend their strengths to this lasagna, though spinach is the nutritional powerhouse of this dish. Assemble in a slow cooker and come back in a few hours to a perfectly cooked lasagna!
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Cheesy Spinach Lasagna
16. Quick Fish with Chickpeas, Tomatoes, and Sage
Fish is obviously a great source of protein and omega-3 acids, while chickpeas offer more protein, nutrients, and also fiber. Add in some tomatoes and herbs for their health and flavor benefits and enjoy a quick and healthy meal.
Get the recipe: Quick Fish with Chickpeas, Tomatoes, and Sage
17. Tuna Casserole
While this recipe traditionally has a reputation for being fatty and greasy, this recipe has only 300 calories per serving, a stark improvement over other versions. Clean up an old favorite and indulge!
Get the recipe: Tuna Casserole
18. Quinoa Lentil Burgers
Not one, but two superfoods combine to create a powerful alternative to fast-food burger joints. Featuring many healthy alternatives to standard burger fair, this is a great recipe to try if you’ve been having a craving!
Get the recipe: Quinoa Lentil Burgers
19. Slow Cooker Indian Stew
Stew’s a great dish to make when you need to just put things into a pot and forget. Featuring three kinds of beans, which are fantastic health-wise, this stew is a great way to pack on the protein without all the carbs.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Indian Stew
20. Balsamic Chicken and Brussels Sprouts
Brussels sprouts are a fantastic source of fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants, and this recipe has them prepared to be delicious and flavorful. Walnuts and olive oil add in some healthy fats and protein.
Get the recipe: Balsamic Chicken and Brussels Sprouts
21. Slow Cooker Savory Superfood Soup
How’s that for alliteration? Imagine if you could simply open a pot and dish out a meal full of super soup? With this, you can. Carrots, beans, and even potato here all combine in a simple spiced soup that’ll for sure hit the spot!
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Savory Superfood Soup
22. Slow Cooker Chicken Enchiladas
With many different offered ways to prepare it, and even suggesting a side dish, this recipe is perfect if both if you have a lot of time on your hands or if you need to quickly get everything together and cooking before you leave for work. Wheat tortillas and fat free cheese and sour cream ensure the integrity of this dish is maintained.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Enchiladas
23. Greek Pita Sandwich
Bright, flavorful, and healthy are the key qualities of this dish. Easy to make and easy to transport in its own pita pocket, this is a fantastic and simple dish for watching your weight.
Get the recipe: Greek Pita Sandwich
24. Slow Cooker White Bean and Chicken Chili
A favorite comfort dish packed full of super-healthy delicious foods. With healthy substitutions made, this chili is a fantastic meal that will stick with you, but not on you.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker White Bean and Chicken Chili
25. Crockpot Loaded Creamy Corn Chowder
A “skinny” chowder has been achieved, people, so listen up! Crafted with almond milk and olive oil, this is sure to be just as creamy and comfortable as normal chowder, without all the calories and fat.
Get the recipe: Crockpot Loaded Creamy Corn Chowder
26. Spaghetti with Cauliflower and Peas
Whole-grain pasta meets favorite healthy vegetables cauliflower and peas for a healthy meal, while added hazelnuts create a perfect balance. Sprinkle on some Parmesan for a delicious, no-guilt meal.
Get the recipe: Spaghetti with Cauliflower and Peas
27. Crockpot Potato Leek Soup
This is an extremely low-effort recipe, and the rewards are absolutely fantastic. Greek yogurt and Yukon potatoes combine to create the creamiest soup base you can imagine.
Get the recipe: Crockpot Potato Leek Soup
28. Parmesan Crusted Tilapia
A simple recipe with few ingredients, this is a great place to turn for a quick and easy dinner. Whole-wheat bread crumbs add in a little fiber while keeping out empty carb calories.
Get the recipe: Parmesan Crusted Tilapia
29. Turkey Burger with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Feta Cheese
A well-rounded dish in an easy-to-eat package. Whole wheat bread provides fiber, turkey burger cuts out saturated meat fats, tomatoes add in nutrients, and cheese adds in those nice dairy proteins.
Get the recipe: Turkey Burger with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Feta Cheese
30. Oven Crisp Fish Tacos
Healthy and delicious fish tacos are what’s for dinner! This recipe beats restaurant style tacos any day of the week.
Add this recipe to your healthy eating plan, it’s only 198 calories. Yeah!
Get the recipe: Oven Crisp Fish Tacos
What do you like to have for dinner? Is your clean diet compromised? Tell us in the comments below.
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