Skip to content

Top Navigation

Midwest Living Midwest Living
  • Travel
  • Food
  • Home
  • Garden
  • Holidays
  • Videos
  • current issue
  • Sweepstakes
  • Road Rally
  • About Us

Profile Menu

Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Email Preferences
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Win Your Dream Getaway!
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Magazine Issues
  • Destinations
Login
Subscribe
Pin FB

Explore Midwest Living

Midwest Living Midwest Living
  • Explore

    Explore

    • 7 Fresh Places to Eat, Drink, Play and Stay This Winter

      7 Fresh Places to Eat, Drink, Play and Stay This Winter

      Hot off the minds of Midwest travel writers: a fresh look at where to eat, drink, play and stay around the region. Read More
    • Meet Five Midwest Cake Creators (and Try Their Recipes)

      Meet Five Midwest Cake Creators (and Try Their Recipes)

      One has conquered the world of plant-based baking. Another runs a microbakery from her home. Two own businesses with their spouses. And the fifth is a James Beard finalist chef. The common thread? Absolutely delicious cakes. Read More
    • The No-Fail Relish Tray Recipe is Here

      The No-Fail Relish Tray Recipe is Here

      For many Midwesterners, holiday feasting kicks off with a relish tray. We dare not mess with an icon—at least, not too much. Read More
  • Travel

    Travel

    See All Travel
    Why Wisconsin Supper Clubs Just Keep Getting Better With Age

    Why Wisconsin Supper Clubs Just Keep Getting Better With Age

    At Wisconsin supper clubs, the steak is served rare and the traditions are well done. Like the brandy in an Old-Fashioned, these timeless institutions only get better with age.
    • Weekend Getaways
    • Family Travel
    • Around the Region
    • Beyond the Region
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Michigan
    • Minnesota
    • Missouri
    • Nebraska
    • North Dakota
    • Ohio
    • South Dakota
    • Wisconsin
    • Free Travel Info
  • Food

    Food

    See All Food
    Tomatoey Parmesan Beans

    Tomatoey Parmesan Beans

    This sleeper hit of a weeknight dinner comes from Food Network star Molly Yeh's cookbook Home is Where the Eggs Are—and is basically a vehicle for Parmesan and garlic toast. No complaints! (The alternate version, with ham and cream, is excellent too.)
    • Comfort Foods
    • Desserts & Baking
    • Breakfast
    • Quick & Easy
    • Chicken
    • Soups & Stews
    • Midwest Favorites
    • Fruits & Vegetables
    • Fish
    • Grilling
  • Home

    Home

    See All Home
    Avid DIYers Transform a 1929 Chicago Home One Project at a Time

    Avid DIYers Transform a 1929 Chicago Home One Project at a Time

    With visions of dinner parties and game nights dancing in their heads, a Chicago couple renovated their historic (and first) home, one DIY project at a time.
    • Quick Decorating
    • Featured Homes
    • Organizing & Storage
    • Outdoor Living
    • Seasonal Decorating
    • Room Decorating
  • Garden

    Garden

    See All Garden
    How to Care for Flowering Houseplants

    How to Care for Flowering Houseplants

    Author Lisa Eldred Steinkopf shares how to make blooms last longer—and repeat.
    • Container Gardens
    • Flowers
    • Featured Gardens
    • Midwest Gardening Calendar
    • Garden Ideas & Inspiration
  • Holidays

    Holidays

    See All Holidays
    Unique Midwest Light Displays to See This Winter

    Unique Midwest Light Displays to See This Winter

    Buses, trains and very few automobiles—check out these out-of-the-ordinary holiday lights displays.
    • Easter
    • July 4th
    • Thanksgiving
    • Halloween
    • Christmas
    • Valentine's Day
  • Videos

    Videos

    See All Videos
    Chef Jorge Guzmán's Step-by-Step Guide to Making Tamales

    Chef Jorge Guzmán's Step-by-Step Guide to Making Tamales

    Tamales are a project, but many hands—even tiny ones—make lighter work.
    • Brighten Your Front Door with This Colorful Easter Egg Wreath
    • These DIY Orange Beeswax Candles Will Make Your Home Smell Amazing
    • Ring in the New Year with This Glam Star Garland
    • How to Make a Modern Fruit Cake Box
    • An Eye-Catching Oval Treat Box You Can Make
    • Make a Colorful Paper Raffia Wreath to Welcome Fall
    • How to Make a Dried Floral Arrangement
    • How to Make an Easy Pina Colada
    • How to Make an Amazing Pavlova
    • How to Make Pumpkin-Spice Icebox Cake
    • How to Make an All-Butter Pie Crust
    • DIY Pistachio Wheat Stalks for Fall Decorating
  • current issue

    current issue

    See All current issue
    About Us

    About Us

    • March/April 2022 Issue
    • January/February 2022 Issue
    • November/December 2021 Issue
    • September/October 2021 Issue
    • July/August 2021 Issue
    • May/June 2021 Issue
    • Summer 2022 Issue
    • Fall 2022 Issue
    • Winter 2022 Issue
  • Sweepstakes
  • Road Rally
  • About Us

Profile Menu

Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • Newsletters
  • Email Preferences
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout

More

  • Win Your Dream Getaway!
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Magazine Issues
  • Destinations
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Midwest Living
  2. Food
  3. Midwest Favorites
  4. 25 Healthy Dinner Recipes

25 Healthy Dinner Recipes

By Midwest Living editors Updated December 06, 2022
Skip gallery slides
Pin
Fusion Bowl with Tofu and Soft-Cooked Egg

You'll find lower-fat and lower-calorie versions of casseroles, soups, stews, wraps, bowls, salads and more among our favorite healthy dinner options.

Start Slideshow

1 of 25

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Fusion Bowl With Tofu and Soft-Cooked Egg

Fusion Bowl with Tofu and Soft-Cooked Egg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Carrot matchsticks, shiitake mushrooms and tender Napa cabbage hide in a tangle of chewy udon noodles. The tofu acts like a sponge, soaking up a sweet-and-spicy honey-Sriracha marinade.

Related: Try our Salmon Grain Bowl with Carrot-Miso Dressing

1 of 25

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 25

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Pork Chops with Grapes and Onions

Pork Chops with Grapes and Onions
Credit: Blaine Moats
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This dinner for two is weeknight-easy. Use bone-in chops for the best flavor and serve with mashed potatoes or rice.

Related: Fast-Fix Weeknight Recipes

2 of 25

3 of 25

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Cheesy Dutch Baby with Pesto-Dressed Vegetables

Cheesy-Dutch-Baby-RU237845.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

We're convinced that colorful food tastes better-and nutritionists will tell you it's better for you, too. Proof: Our innovative recipe. While the egg-and-cheddar batter puffs in a skillet, a crazy-quilt of veggies roasts separately. When the timer beeps, put them together for a savory twist on a fruit-filled Dutch baby pancake.

3 of 25

Advertisement

4 of 25

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Laap Tofu

Laap Tofu
Credit: Carson Downing
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Laap (or larb, as it's often spelled) is an herby ground meat or tofu salad that's eaten across Thailand and is traditionally scooped with rice or lettuce. This super simple, healthful dish is a favorite of chef Shayn Prapaisilp, whose family owns four Thai restaurants and two grocery stores in St. Louis.

4 of 25

5 of 25

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Quinoa Salad with Roasted Zucchini

Quinoa Salad with Roasted Zucchini, Almonds and Feta
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

You could make a meal of this dish: caramelized zucchini, crunchy almonds, salty cheese and hearty quinoa, all dressed in honey-basil vinaigrette. The recipe comes from a Columbus, Ohio, restaurant.

Related: Hearty, Healthy Salad Recipes

5 of 25

6 of 25

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Winter Bean Salad with Fennel and Clementines

Winter Bean Salad with Fennel and Clementines
Credit: Blaine Moats
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Turn a humble can of beans into this impressive salad. It's already a main dish, but you can make it heartier by adding seared salmon or sizzled shrimp.

6 of 25

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 25

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Pasta with Chard and Basil

Pasta with Chard and Basil
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

If you have a big bunch of chard from the farmers market or a CSA box, this healthy, easy 30-minute dinner is a great way to use it up. 

Related: Try our Chard Chimichurri

7 of 25

8 of 25

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Winter Tabbouleh with Fennel and Cranberries

Winter Tabbouleh with Fennel and Cranberries
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This delicious and healthy twist on a traditional Middle Eastern parsley salad features protein-rich quinoa, cranberries, sunflower seeds and crisp fennel.

Related: Sumptuous Salads

8 of 25

9 of 25

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Oven-Fried Parmesan Chicken

Oven-Fried Parmesan Chicken
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Herbed bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese make the coating on this oven-baked dish extra tasty—and lower-fat and lower-calorie than its fried counterpart.

Related: Fresh Ideas for Chicken Recipes

9 of 25

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 25

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Green Bean and Tofu Stir Fry

white dish of Green Bean and Tofu Stir Fry
Credit: Blaine Moats
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Extra-firm tofu is the choice for this quick, pretty and nourishing dish. It's least likely to stick in the pan or fall apart when turned.

10 of 25

11 of 25

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Herbed Salmon

Herbed Salmon
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This recipe is a cinch to make, and you'll get all those healthy omega-3 fatty acids from the salmon.

Related: Favorite Salmon Recipes

11 of 25

12 of 25

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Baked Ratatouille Sausage Penne

Baked Ratatouille Sausage Penne
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

What's the secret to keeping this pasta casserole as healthy as it is cozy? Lean turkey sausage, whole wheat pasta and just a sprinkling of cheese.

12 of 25

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 25

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Blackened Chicken with Avocado Salsa

Blackened Chicken with Avocado Salsa
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

A zesty fresh salsa tops flavorful chicken breast. A little bit of creamy avocado goes a long way to making the dish taste more indulgent than it really is.

13 of 25

14 of 25

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Braised Green Beans with Tomatoes and Lentils

dish and plate of Braised Green Beans with Tomatoes and Lentils
Credit: Brie Passano
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This is a lazy Sunday—or tired Tuesday—recipe from chef Abra Berens' book Ruffage: A Practical Guide to Vegetables. Don't be alarmed by cooking beans this long. Make it vegetarian by using vegetable broth and skipping the Parmesan.

Related: Top Vegetarian Recipes

14 of 25

15 of 25

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Tuscan Bean Soup

Tuscan Bean Soup
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Flecked with a grab bag of hearty vegetables, this healthy soup hums with garlic and crushed red pepper. The recipe comes from La Soupe, a nonprofit cafe in Cincinnati.

Related: Try Power Green Soup from La Soupe

15 of 25

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 25

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Jerk Pork Wraps with Lime Mayo

Jerk Pork Wraps with Lime Mayo
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Prepare pork shoulder in the slow cooker, then whip up dinner in a flash. The Lime Mayo topping uses fat-free mayo, so it doesn't add heaps of fat or calories.

Related: So-Good Slow-Cooker Recipes

16 of 25

17 of 25

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Mediterranean Chicken-Pomegranate Stir-Fry

Mediterranean Chicken-Pomegranate Stir-Fry
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Pomegranate seeds add a punch of sweet-tart flavor to this easy and healthy stir-fry. Thinly sliced pork tenderloin or peeled, deveined shrimp can be substituted for the chicken. For extra nutrition, serve with brown rice or quinoa.

17 of 25

18 of 25

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Smoky Beef, Black Bean and Corn Chili

Smoky Beef, Black Bean and Corn Chili
Credit: Blaine Moats
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This hands-off, slow-cooker recipe has just a pound of ground beef and a can of stock. All the rest of the heft and taste comes from black beans, fire-roasted tomatoes, smoked paprika, chipotle peppers and corn tortillas.

Related: Warm-You-Up Chili Recipes

18 of 25

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 25

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Five-Spice Beef Kabobs

Five-Spice Beef Kabobs
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

These kabobs use lean flank steak or boneless sirloin, and the sauce is made with healthy yogurt.

19 of 25

20 of 25

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Cilantro Cauliflower "Rice"

Cilantro Cauliflower "Rice"
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This nutritious alternative to rice is a tasty side dish for Mexican meals. Try it in a burrito with refried black beans, cheddar cheese and assorted toppers.

Related: Creative Cauliflower Recipes

20 of 25

21 of 25

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Bean-Mushroom Sloppy Jos

Bean-Mushroom-Sloppy-Jos-RU237844.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Canned beans supply fill-you-up protein at a fraction of the cost, fat and calories of ground beef or turkey. In our sloppy joes, we dress navy beans in mustardy tomato sauce that has all the familiar flavor of the meaty original.

Related: Great Recipes for Canned or Dry Beans

21 of 25

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

22 of 25

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Chili Bean Stuffed Peppers

Chili Bean Stuffed Peppers
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Beans, tomato, onion: it's a hearty vegetarian chili stuffed inside a bell pepper. If you're looking for extra kick, try topping with pepper jack instead of mozzarella.

22 of 25

23 of 25

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Roasted Vegetable Pasta Salad with Walnut Pesto

Roasted Vegetable Pasta Salad with Walnut Pesto
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This lower-calorie pasta salad features roasted vegetables, whole wheat penne pasta and homemade pesto. To turn it into a main dish, stir in a can of rinsed and drained white beans or add chunks of grilled chicken.

Related: Easy, Crowd-Pleasing Picnic Menus

23 of 25

24 of 25

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Chicken Enchilada Casserole

Chicken Enchilada Casserole
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

By cutting the sour cream and adding black beans, we lowered the fat and boosted the protein and fiber in this healthy twist on a Mexican-restaurant standard.

24 of 25

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

25 of 25

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Sunday Dinner Stew

Sunday Dinner Stew
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

You couldn't ask for a simpler dinner than this! Just four ingredients and only 300 calories per serving.

25 of 25

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Midwest Living editors

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 25 Fusion Bowl With Tofu and Soft-Cooked Egg
    2 of 25 Pork Chops with Grapes and Onions
    3 of 25 Cheesy Dutch Baby with Pesto-Dressed Vegetables
    4 of 25 Laap Tofu
    5 of 25 Quinoa Salad with Roasted Zucchini
    6 of 25 Winter Bean Salad with Fennel and Clementines
    7 of 25 Pasta with Chard and Basil
    8 of 25 Winter Tabbouleh with Fennel and Cranberries
    9 of 25 Oven-Fried Parmesan Chicken
    10 of 25 Green Bean and Tofu Stir Fry
    11 of 25 Herbed Salmon
    12 of 25 Baked Ratatouille Sausage Penne
    13 of 25 Blackened Chicken with Avocado Salsa
    14 of 25 Braised Green Beans with Tomatoes and Lentils
    15 of 25 Tuscan Bean Soup
    16 of 25 Jerk Pork Wraps with Lime Mayo
    17 of 25 Mediterranean Chicken-Pomegranate Stir-Fry
    18 of 25 Smoky Beef, Black Bean and Corn Chili
    19 of 25 Five-Spice Beef Kabobs
    20 of 25 Cilantro Cauliflower "Rice"
    21 of 25 Bean-Mushroom Sloppy Jos
    22 of 25 Chili Bean Stuffed Peppers
    23 of 25 Roasted Vegetable Pasta Salad with Walnut Pesto
    24 of 25 Chicken Enchilada Casserole
    25 of 25 Sunday Dinner Stew

    Share & More

    Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message
    Midwest Living

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • Contact Us
    • Help
    • Free Newsletters this link opens in a new tab
    • Subscribe this link opens in a new tab
    • Customer Service this link opens in a new tab
    • Renew this link opens in a new tab
    • Advertise this link opens in a new tab
    • Content Licensing this link opens in a new tab
    • Affiliate Program
    • Free Travel Info this link opens in a new tab
    • Special Promotions this link opens in a new tab
    • Sweepstakes this link opens in a new tab
    • Video
    • Home Advisor this link opens in a new tab
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Subscribe to Our Newsletter
    Sign Up
    MeredithMidwest Living is part of the Meredith Home Group. © Copyright 2023 Meredith Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright Midwest Living. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.midwestliving.com

    Sign in

    View image

    25 Healthy Dinner Recipes
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.