Do you sometimes feel like eating something light, healthy yet something mouthwateringly delicious after a few nights of heavy binging on cheesy, calorie bomb meals?
Are you on a clean lifestyle diet and looking for some light meal ideas that you can whip up in a few minutes? Then you have all come to the right place!
We have compiled this amazing list of Light Dinners just for you. There are many options that you can make, from chicken, to fish, to shrimp or even go meatless and still end up with an awesome meal.
Eating healthy during those busy weeknights really doesn’t have to be hard. All of these light dinner options can actually be easy and fun for anyone to enjoy.
Go through all and we are sure they will become your constant companions. We believe that light and healthy don’t have to be bland and boring… Period!
Light Dinner Ideas
1. Mediterranean Pasta
This Mediterranean Pasta will be your new favorite weeknight meatless meal. It’s loaded with great flavors and is ready in just 20 minutes!
Boil the pasta, chop a few ingredients, mix , and your pasta is ready! The simple combination of ingredients gives so much flavor to this healthy meal.
This light and refreshing dish is perfect for busy weeknights but is also fancy enough for special occasions. Try it!
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Pasta
2. Ground Turkey Stuffed Peppers
These easy Ground Turkey Stuffed Peppers are a hit! Brimming with Mediterranean flavors, even your picky eaters won’t mind their veggies.
With hearty wild rice, sweet cherry tomatoes, briny olives, nutty pine nuts, and plenty of great seasonings, they’re a meal that you’ll want to make again and again.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Stuffed Peppers
3. Ratatouille
Ratatouille sounds fancy, but at its core it’s just a simple, hearty and rustic dish out of the South of France.
This classic Provencal dish is a medley of summer vegetables accentuating all the Mediterranean flavors.
Melt in your mouth chunks of beautifully cooked eggplant, zucchini and yellow squash in a tomato sauce spiked with fresh herbs and olive oil. That’s Ratatouille for you!!
Get the Recipe: Ratatouille
4. Chicken Meatball Noodle Soup
Give your classic comfort food a new twist, and make this Chicken Meatball Noodle Soup. It has all the flavors you love, but is somehow more fun!
Perfect for when the temperatures start to dip, the whole family is going to love slurping this tasty soup down.
Make a huge pot of this deliciousness, and cozy up to the biggest bowl you can find!
Get the Recipe: Chicken Meatball Noodle Soup
5. Pasta e Piselli
This Pasta e Piselli recipe is perfect for those last minute weeknight dinners, when you want something tasty and comforting, without a lot of hassle.
A simple Neapolitan dish of Pasta and Peas, it’s a light one pot meal that you can have on the table in about 25 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Pasta e Piselli
6. Sheet Pan Chicken and Veggies
Sheet Pan dinners, the perfect answer to fuss free weeknight meals! This Sheet Pan Chicken with colorful veggies not only looks very inviting, but every single bite is bursting with flavor.
Here, chicken bites and veggies are seasoned well with a zesty, herby marinade and cook on a sheet pan in about 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Chicken
7. Grilled Shrimp Skewers
These grilled shrimp skewers are buttery, smoky, lemony, and perfectly juicy with bold Creole flavor. Quick to grill, easy to make, and perfect for summer cookouts, weeknight dinners, or backyard gatherings.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp Skewers
8. Chicken Spaghetti
Looking for a lighter twist on your easy weeknight dinner? My quick Chicken Spaghetti has a ton of flavor, without any guilt!
Get the Recipe: Chicken Spaghetti
9. Ground Turkey Stir Fry
Ground Turkey Stir Fry – So, who is ready for the easiest weeknight dinner ever? It’s easy, super fast, sneaks in loads of veggies, and is made with leanest protein out there…
You guessed it right… Turkey it is! Healthy looks so colorful!
Get the Recipe: Ground Turkey Stir Fry
10. Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
Your meatless night never looked so fancy and tasty! These Caprese Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms are what my dream looks like when I steer away from protein some days.
These big ol’ mushrooms are tender, fleshy goodness stuffed to the brim with everyone’s classic favorite… Caprese!! A simple mix of vibrant cherry tomatoes, gooey mozzarella balls and fresh basil.
Get the Recipe: Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
11. Mediterranean Flatbread
There is plenty to love about flatbreads. They’re one of the quickest meals on planet Earth, they are super delish, and they come out good looking, too. They are perfect any time meals, and act as superb, easy appetizers for your company.
This Mediterranean Flatbread is loaded with all the Mediterranean staples, full of delicious flavors in every single bite.
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Flatbread
12. Chicken Lettuce Wraps
There is nothing as light and tasty as lettuce wraps. They are a huge favorites to so many. These super quick chicken lettuce wraps are inspired by P.F.Chang.
They are bursting with flavors in every single bite and adorned by a delicious peanut sauce.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Lettuce Wraps
13. Greek Chicken Souvlaki
The Mediterranean diet is so refreshing, light and healthy. These flavorful Greek Chicken Kabobs are marinated with zesty lemon juice, garlic and fresh herbs and served with delicious homemade tzatziki dipping sauce!
Light dinners could be so flavorful and interesting when you try different world cuisines.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Souvlaki
14. Egg Roll Soup
This Egg Roll Soup is everything you dream about in your beloved egg roll, but in a cozy, delicious soupified way.
What a fun and delicious soup!
Get the Recipe: Egg Roll Soup
15. Shrimp Foil Packets with Summer Veggies
These Shrimp Foil Packets are a delicious, healthy-ish, light meal with all your favorite summer veggies.
Ready in just 12 minutes on your grill, campfire or even in the oven, this is great meal prep for all your future camp outs, Sunday cookouts, or simply great weeknight dinners.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp Foil Packs
16. Ground Turkey Pasta with Broccoli
Ready to whip up something super tasty that won’t have you feeling guilty? Here is our Ground Turkey and Broccoli Pasta. It’s like hitting the jackpot if you’re trying to keep things light and healthy without skimping on flavor.
It’s a simple dish that combines the pasta of your choice with lean ground turkey and broccoli, making it packed with protein and vitamins.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Broccoli Pasta
17. Greek Lemon Chicken Soup
Meet your new go to comfort food. This Avgolemono Soup is your chicken noodle soup taken to the next level. It’s silky and smooth and oh so delicious!
Give it a try, we bet you’ll love it!
Get the Recipe: Greek Lemon Chicken Soup
18. Farro Salad with Roasted Vegetables
We’re starting this list with something easy, quick, light and extremely delicious. You will love this Farro Salad with Roasted Vegetables recipe!
It’s so refreshing, a perfect alternative to those summer burgers. Perfect light dinner recipe for busy weeknights.
Get the Recipe: Farro Salad
19. Hawaiian Chicken Salad
Give this refreshing Hawaiian Chicken Salad a sure try tonight, and enjoy the best tropical flavors with everyone.
The marinade makes the chicken simply scrumptious, and other healthy salad fillings make this bowl just spot on.
You can whip it up in about half an hour. Just marinate the chicken in the morning and you are all set for a delicious salad dinner.
Get the Recipe: Hawaiian Chicken Salad
20. Ground Turkey Tacos
Add this Ground Turkey Tacos recipe to your Taco Tuesday collection. It’s a fun, hand-held treat that gets ready in no time!
This healthier, lighter version of tacos is loaded with amazingly delicious flavors of ground turkey and your favorite Mexican toppings, making a great family meal.
Once you make the ground turkey, you can make many other dishes to give your family something new and flavorful every night. So when you have lots of ground turkey, plan your meals with this recipe.
Get the Recipe: Ground Turkey Tacos
21. Sopa de Fideo
Everyone’s favorite Tomato Soup gets an upgrade with noodles. Tomato Noodle Soup? You got it right. Sopa de Fideo is Mexico’s version of everyone’s beloved tomato soup.
With its simple ingredients – thin noodles and a flavorful tomato broth – this dish is the epitome of comfort food. Sopa de Fideo is an easy and quick recipe, perfect for busy weeknights or whenever you need a soothing meal.
Get the Recipe: Sopa de Fideo
22. Rainbow Pasta Salad
Quick, easy, and very colorful. This pasta salad is your answer if you want to keep your dinner simple. You can mix and match with any protein you have.
Make a big batch, it’s a great meal prep contender.
Get the Recipe: Rainbow Pasta Salad
23. Chicken Burgers
My easy Ground Chicken Burgers are a great way to satisfy those summer cravings while also keeping things a bit leaner and healthier. The key is to season the chicken well before making the patties. That way, they’re just as tasty and juicy as even the best beef burger.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Burgers
24. Moroccan Lentil Soup
Give your regular lentils an exotic makeover with this delectable soup. The warm and flavorful combination of Moroccan spices will forever change your idea of a bowl of lentils.
Great for making a huge batch and saving it for leftover lunches.
Get the Recipe: Moroccan Lentil Soup
25. Thai Cashew Chicken
Give your stir fry night a new twist with this Thai Cashew Chicken. It’s an easy dish that’s bursting with layers of flavor and texture.
Just a little chopping, mix up a sauce, and a quick stir fry is all the effort needed to put this tasty and nutritious dinner on the table. Sounds like a great weeknight dinner option!
Get the Recipe: Thai Cashew Chicken
26. Pesto Bruschetta Chicken
This gorgeous dish highlights two summer favorites: fresh basil and vine ripe tomatoes!
It’s a great keto meal prep option, only 10 minutes of prep time and then your trusty old oven does the rest!
Get the Recipe: Pesto Bruschetta Chicken
27. Jennifer Aniston Salad
Tabbouleh getting a starry make over… That’s Jennifer Aniston Salad for you! A taste of Hollywood’s healthy living. Who wouldn’t want to dine like a Hollywood star?
Inspired by the famous Jennifer Aniston salad myth, this bulgur-based salad is a delightful combination of taste and wellness.
Get the Recipe: Jennifer Aniston Salad
28. Martini Pasta
Dirty Martini Pasta is a fun twist on the famous cocktail. Briny olives, tangy lemon and a splash of gin all combine to create a meal with unforgettable flavor. It’s James Bond approved!
Get the Recipe: Martini Pasta
29. Matzo Ball Soup
This Matzo Ball Soup is a classic comfort food, where fluffy matzo balls simmer in a delicately seasoned chicken soup. It’s a staple during Passover, but is also beloved all year long.
Get the Recipe: Matzo Ball Soup
30. Chicken Buddha Bowl
Need a healthy meal to wash away those summer hamburgers and ice cream cones? Try this light and tasty Buddha Bowl.
In case you haven’t heard, Buddha Bowls are the big thing now!
Get the Recipe: Chicken Buddha Bowl
30 BEST Light Dinner Ideas
This collection great Light Dinner Ideas will give you plenty of options when you crave an easy and healthy dinner.
Ingredients
- lean protein
- veggies
- grains
- seasonings
Instructions
- Choose a recipe that looks tasty. Try something you haven't had before, it's fun to experiment!
- Make a shopping list and buy the ingredients.
- Cook your new favorite Light Dinner Recipe!
Notes
- Let me know which recipes you try, I love hearing from you!
This post was originally published July 7, 2021. It has been updated with new content and images.
Welcome to GypsyPlate! I'm Alpana, former worldwide tour manager and professional caterer, now full time blogger. I love exploring cuisines from around the world, and my recipes have been featured on sites such as MSN, Parade, Brit + Co, CNET and AOL. You can explore my entire collection of sortable recipes in my Recipe Index or learn more about me here.
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