Recipes

43 Healthy Recipes We Crave for Dinner

Like salmon with sizzled nut salsa, lemony white bean soup, kung pao cabbage with tofu, and more healthy dinner ideas for every night of the week.
By Rebecca Firkser
A healthy dinner of shrimp and white beans in a skillet with tomato sauce topped with dill and mint and served with...
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, Prop Styling by Christine Keely

Our favorite healthy recipes aren’t about buzzwords like “low-fat” or “low-carb”—they’re about dinners that make you feel good, and want to go back for seconds. These are nutrient-dense meals built around vegetables, beans, whole grains, and thoughtfully cooked proteins, with plenty of sauce, spice, and texture throughout.

Whether you’re cooking at the end of a long workday or settling in for a cozy night at home, these healthy dinner recipes are warming, flavorful, and genuinely filling. Proof that healthy eating doesn’t have to look virtuous or boring. (We knew that already.)

  • Image may contain Food Dish Meal and Platter
    Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by D'mytrek Brown, Ceramics by Meilen Ceramics
    5/43

    Khoresh Bademjan

    This Persian spiced eggplant and tomato stew is warming and full of vegetables—just the kind of dinner you want for cool evenings.

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  • Chard Salad in a dark brown bowl
    Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Thu Buser, prop styling by Christina Allen
    6/43

    Mostly Chard Tiny Pasta Salad

    Hardy greens, olive oil-toasted pistachios, and salty feta make this a healthy-ish pasta salad that holds up beautifully in cooler weather.

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  • Kimchi Fried Rice With Broccoli with egg on white dish on wooden background
    Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Susan Ottaviano, prop styling by Sophie Strangio
    7/43

    Kimchi Fried Rice With Broccoli

    This sizzling, meal-prep-friendly leftover-rice dish makes the case that you’ve been sleeping on broccoli stalks and leaves. Their crunch and heft combine with florets for a fast, vegetable-forward main dish.

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  • Image may contain Food and Plant
    Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio
    8/43

    Kale Pesto With Whole Wheat Pasta

    Inspired by Joshua McFadden, this healthy pasta dinner uses whole-wheat noodles and a vibrant pistachio-and-kale pesto that proves there’s still no better way to eat your greens.

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  • Three bowls of mezze rigatoni tossed broccoli stems in a lemonyanchovy sauce.
    Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, Prop Styling by Christine Keely
    11/43

    Smashed Broccoli Pasta

    Lemony pasta and a whole head of broccoli come together in this budget-friendly weeknight dinner that delivers on both comfort and crunch.

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  • Shakshuka in a cast iron skillet on a fabric surface
    Photograph by Travis Rainey, Food styling by Liberty Fennell
    12/43

    Quick Shakshuka With Yogurt

    This cozy egg-and-tomato skillet dinner can handle a long simmer, but the half-hour version is always in our saved folder for weeknights.

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  • Image may contain Dish Food Meal Bowl and Stew
    Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova
    15/43

    Obe Ata Stew With Chicken and Spinach

    Obe ata—a Nigerian sauce of bell peppers and floral hot chiles—forms the base of this spicy, healthy chicken and sweet potato stew, finished with tender spinach.

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  • Ground chicken seared cabbage julienned scallions and a vinegary sambal oelek sauce in a shallow bowl with serving spoons.
    Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Linden Elstran
    16/43

    Chicken and Cabbage Stir-Fry

    A punchy sauce made with oyster sauce, sambal, vinegar, and fish sauce turns humble chicken and cabbage into a craveable weeknight dinner.

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  • Two bowls in different hues of purple filled with cubes of soyglazed salmon atop white rice and alongside string beans...
    Photograph by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr., Food Styling by Thu Buser, and Prop Styling by Christina Allen
    17/43

    Soy-Glazed Salmon Bowls

    Salmon does the heavy lifting in this satisfying dinner recipe. It’s paired with a bright cherry tomato salad that keeps things fresh even outside of summer.

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  • Image may contain Bowl Food Dish Meal Soup Bowl and Soup
    Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou
    18/43

    Soy and Ginger Steamed Fish

    This foolproof steaming method works with any sturdy fish—salmon, snapper, black cod, or arctic char—for a flavorful, low-effort dinner.

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  • A healthy dinner of shrimp and white beans in a skillet with tomato sauce topped with dill and mint and served with...
    Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, Prop Styling by Christine Keely
    19/43

    Saucy, Spiced Shrimp and White Beans

    This weeknight meal offers double protein (shrimp and beans!) in just one dish. Soak up the sauce with flatbread or rice.

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  • Salt and Pepper Fish
    Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boytsova
    20/43

    Salt and Pepper Fish

    Classic versions of this Chinese dish include a batter; here, bathing the just-seasoned fish in gingered oil and searing it provides plenty of texture (and saves you from dirtying extra dishes).

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  • A baked salmon fillet on a bed of tteokbokki baby bok choy and kimchi in a sheet tray and topped with curled scallions.
    Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton, Prop Styling by Gerri Williams
    21/43

    Sheet-Pan Salmon With Rice Cakes and Kimchi

    Roasting tteok (Korean rice cakes) and salmon on a sheet pan makes for a bold, balanced dinner with minimal cleanup.

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  • Image may contain Plant Food Dish Meal and Produce
    Photograph by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Sophie Strangio
    22/43

    Chana Masala

    The key to this deeply spiced dinner recipe from Yasmin Khan? Chickpeas cooked until so tender they practically melt.

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  • A big kale and lentil salad in a serving bowl with torn olives and strips of lemon peel.
    Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Tim Ferro
    23/43

    Just-Keeps-Getting-Better Lentil Salad

    This make-ahead healthy lunch only improves with time; as it sits, the lemony dressing absorbs into the lentils, softens the kale, and marries the crunchy almonds and salty feta cheese.

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  • Marinated Tofu With Brussels Sprouts and Farro
    24/43

    Marinated Tofu With Brussels Sprouts and Farro

    Marinating tofu in ginger and soy while roasting vegetables (tossed in the same marinade) and cooking a pot of grains gives the protein time to soak in tons of flavor.

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  • A bowl of Coconutty Beans and Greens served with a slice of toast
    Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Prop Styling by Gözde Eker
    25/43

    Coconutty Beans and Greens Stew

    “The wife and I love this so much we have made it twice already,” said one commenter about this recipe for fat butter beans and hearty sweet potato and chard in tingly coconut broth. Another admitted to logging in solely to print the recipe immediately after polishing off their first batch.

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  • Image may contain Dish Food Meal Bowl Tortellini Pasta Stew Curry and Soup Bowl
    Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton
    26/43

    Brothy Pasta With Chickpeas

    Quick and comforting, this is a healthy dinner idea you can eat all week and never tire of—make a big batch and enjoy it for days.

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  • Image may contain Plant Food Produce Lentil Bean Vegetable Cutlery and Fork
    Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Sue Li, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski
    27/43

    Crispy Eggs Over Grains

    The fried shallot, garlic, and mustard seed condiment is excellent with fried eggs and whole grains, but just wait until you try it on a piece of fish or soft-steamed sweet potato.

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  • Curried Chickpeas and Baked Eggs served in a cast iron skillet
    Photograph by Carl Ostberg, Food Styling by Micah Morton, Prop Styling by Andrea Bonin
    28/43

    Curried Chickpeas and Baked Eggs

    Herby Caribbean green curry paste is bright green and packed with heat—ideal for a cold evening. Sop up the eggs and sauce with toast, or a side of steamed rice for a heartier bite.

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  • Image may contain Plant Food Produce Lentil Vegetable and Bean
    Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by D'mytrek Brown
    29/43

    Glazed Sweet Potatoes With Lentils

    Tearing sweet potatoes creates more surface area to char and glaze (and it’s fun), while lentils add the body that makes this a complete dinner.

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  • Image may contain Plant Food Produce and Vegetable
    Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Frances Boswell
    30/43

    Soy-Ginger Dinner Scramble

    Don’t knock scrambled eggs for dinner until you try this version seasoned with ginger and soy sauce. Serve with pickly massaged cucumbers or a side of warm rice.

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  • Image may contain Plant Food Produce Vegetable Bean Lentil Dish Meal and Bowl
    Photo by Laura Murray, food styling by Susie Theodorou
    31/43

    Khichdi

    This one-pot Indian mung bean and rice stew was practically made for stay-inside days. Built from pantry ingredients, it’s low-effort, deeply comforting, and quietly nourishing.

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  • Posole Blanco in an speckled bowl on a green fabric texture
    Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Kendra Vaculin, prop styling by Emma Ringness
    32/43

    Pozole Blanco

    Brothy and comforting, this recipe proves healthy dinners—and, yes, even stews—can still feel celebratory. Finish each bowl with crunchy cabbage, radishes, and cilantro.

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  • A bowl of chopped kale whole wheat pasta and white beans in vegetable stock and topped with yogurt and black pepper.
    Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, Prop Styling Christine Keely
    33/43

    Green Pasta e Fagioli

    This spin on classic pasta e fagioli is made hale and hearty with whole wheat pasta and kale used two ways (blended for body and torn for texture).

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  • Mushroom soup
    Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Pearl Jones
    34/43

    Cream-ish of Mushroom Soup

    Puréeing a portion of the mushrooms with cashews gives this vegan soup its creamy body without dairy, making it a satisfying main-dish dinner that’s even better when served for the next day’s lunch.

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  • Roasted cauliflower salad with feta and dates on a baking sheet
    Photograph by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr., food styling by Thu Buser, prop styling by Sean Dooley
    35/43

    Roasted Cauliflower Salad With Feta And Dates

    Yes, you can make salad on a sheet pan. Roasted cauliflower anchors this healthy recipe, finished with cheese, nuts, and fresh greens.

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  • Image may contain Bowl Food Dish Meal Soup Bowl Stew and Soup
    Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich
    36/43

    Fridge Clean-Out Nabe With Mushroom Dashi

    Savory mushroom dashi turns whatever vegetables and proteins you have on hand into a flexible, cold-weather dinner meal you can iterate on again and again.

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  • Lemony White Bean Soup on a pink marbled surface
    Photograph by Heami Lee, food styling by Judy Kim, prop styling by Nicole Louie
    37/43

    Lemony White Bean Soup

    It’s true, we love a canned bean dinner, but just can’t beat the depth that comes from cooking dried beans from scratch. Slowly simmered with aromatics, they transform into this rich soup.

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  • A serving bowl of chopped lacinato kale shredded carrots chickpeas red onions red bell peppers and shredded cabbage.
    Photo by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht, Prop Styling by Christina Allen
    38/43

    Happy Fridge Salad

    The power of this healthy salad recipe comes from the dressing: The citrus and sherry vinaigrette tenderizes hardy kale and store-bought broccoli slaw as it sits, making it a great option for a week’s worth of make-ahead lunches.

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  • Image may contain Bowl Food Dish Meal Soup Bowl Soup Egg and Plant
    Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio
    39/43

    Chicken-Lentil Soup With Jammy Onions

    This quick soup coaxes big flavors from a short ingredient list. The lentils provide the body you usually only get from a long-simmered stew.

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  • Potato green plantain and broth in a bowl on textured pattern.
    Photograph by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr., Prop styling by Emma Ringness, Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi
    40/43

    Haitian Bouyon

    This fiery chicken soup relies on starchy vegetables and plantains to build the rich, satisfying broth.

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  • Image may contain Plant Dish Food Meal Platter and Salad
    41/43

    Raw and Roasted Dinner Salad

    Half salad bowl, half sheet-pan dinner, this balanced weeknight meal combines raw and roasted vegetables with crunchy, creamy, sweet, and salty elements that truly satisfy.

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  • Image may contain Food Dish Meal Bowl Stew Soup Bowl Soup and Curry
    Photo by Laura Murray, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou
    42/43

    Brothy Tomato and Fish Soup With Lime

    This sour-salty soup was made for using up sweet, late-summer tomatoes, but even an out-of-season one can taste great when sautéed with shallots, garlic, and lemongrass.

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  • Pumpernickel Panzanella salad in shallow bowl on a white plate
    Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Thu Buser, prop styling by Christina Allen
    43/43

    Pumpernickel Panzanella

    More exciting than a standard green salad, this healthy recipe layers fennel, chicories, citrus, and a bold balsamic-Dijon vinaigrette.

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Rebecca’s work has appeared in TASTE, Eater, Food52, The Kitchn, Serious Eats, The Strategist, and NYT Cooking, among others. Previously, she was a staff editor at a handful of media publications, as well as a freelance recipe tester, culinary producer, and stylist. Before joining Bon Appétit and Epicurious, she was ... Read More
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