43 Healthy Recipes We Crave for Dinner
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.)
Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boytsova1/43Fall-Apart Braised Cabbage
A dollop of yogurt and a pot of grains are all you need to transform this surprisingly hearty vegetarian braise into a stunning and healthy dinner.
Photo by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Cyd McDowell, Prop Styling by Paige Hicks2/43Adobo Mushroom Tacos
Mushrooms roasted with oregano, garlic powder, and cumin are a flavorsome, plant-forward filling for warm corn tortillas. Serve with a side of refried black beans and brown rice for heft.
Photograph by Isa Zapata. Food Styling by Cyd McDowell. Prop Styling by Paige Hicks3/43Spaghetti Squash That Fancies Itself Baked Ziti
Spaghetti squash steps in for pasta in this comforting, gluten-free casserole dinner that still delivers on cheesy satisfaction.
Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton4/43Soba Noodles With Crispy Kale
Soba noodles with kale chips and a nutty tahini-honey-soy dressing make a hearty vegetarian weeknight dinner or make-ahead lunch.
Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by D'mytrek Brown, Ceramics by Meilen Ceramics5/43Khoresh Bademjan
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Thu Buser, prop styling by Christina Allen6/43Mostly Chard Tiny Pasta Salad
Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Susan Ottaviano, prop styling by Sophie Strangio7/43Kimchi 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.
Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio8/43Kale 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.
Photo by Hetty Lui McKinnon9/43Kung Pao Cabbage With Tofu
This bold dinner doesn’t hold back on flavor. Store-bought baked tofu and roasted cashews make the vegan riff on kung pao chicken fast and satisfying.
Photograph by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr., Food Styling by Micah Morton, Prop Styling by Sean Dooley10/43Butternut Squash Orzo With Fried Sage
Orzo cooks faster than risotto, making this a smart option for busy nights. Canned pumpkin purée works in a pinch.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, Prop Styling by Christine Keely11/43Smashed Broccoli Pasta
Photograph by Travis Rainey, Food styling by Liberty Fennell12/43Quick 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.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton, Prop Styling by Gerri Williams13/43Chicken Thighs With Spiced Couscous and Carrots
This one-pot dinner balances warming spices, sweet carrots, and rich chicken thighs for a meal that’s cozy, filling, and weeknight-friendly.
Photo by Alex Lau14/43Hoisin-Turkey Meatballs With Glass Noodles
Quinoa—not breadcrumbs—keeps these turkey meatballs light and protein-forward, while ginger, garlic, and prepared hoisin sauce ensure they have incredible flavor.
Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova15/43Obe 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.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Linden Elstran16/43Chicken and Cabbage Stir-Fry
Photograph by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr., Food Styling by Thu Buser, and Prop Styling by Christina Allen17/43Soy-Glazed Salmon Bowls
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, Prop Styling by Christine Keely19/43Saucy, Spiced Shrimp and White Beans
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton, Prop Styling by Gerri Williams21/43Sheet-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.
Photograph by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Sophie Strangio22/43Chana Masala
The key to this deeply spiced dinner recipe from Yasmin Khan? Chickpeas cooked until so tender they practically melt.
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Taneka Morris, Prop Styling by Tim Ferro23/43Just-Keeps-Getting-Better Lentil Salad
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Prop Styling by Gözde Eker25/43Coconutty Beans and Greens Stew
Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Sue Li, Prop Styling by Kalen Kaminski27/43Crispy Eggs Over Grains
Photograph by Carl Ostberg, Food Styling by Micah Morton, Prop Styling by Andrea Bonin28/43Curried Chickpeas and Baked Eggs
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Kendra Vaculin, prop styling by Emma Ringness32/43Pozole Blanco
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, Prop Styling Christine Keely33/43Green 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).
Photograph by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr., food styling by Thu Buser, prop styling by Sean Dooley35/43Roasted Cauliflower Salad With Feta And Dates
Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich36/43Fridge Clean-Out Nabe With Mushroom Dashi
Photograph by Heami Lee, food styling by Judy Kim, prop styling by Nicole Louie37/43Lemony 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.
Photo by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr, Food Styling by Emilie Fosnocht, Prop Styling by Christina Allen38/43Happy Fridge Salad
Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio39/43Chicken-Lentil Soup With Jammy Onions
Photograph by Elliott Jerome Brown Jr., Prop styling by Emma Ringness, Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi40/43Haitian Bouyon
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Thu Buser, prop styling by Christina Allen43/43Pumpernickel Panzanella
More exciting than a standard green salad, this healthy recipe layers fennel, chicories, citrus, and a bold balsamic-Dijon vinaigrette.
