You may believe that making nutritious, tasty meals at home is a difficult task, but I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be.
Even though I love eating and like cooking, I prefer to keep mealtimes simple. This entails selecting simple dishes to prepare and do not need intricate culinary skills or endless stages.
Here are some of my favorite fast dinner dishes to help you get a nutritious meal on the table quickly.
1. Sweet potato stuffing
Sweet potatoes are high in beta carotene, vitamin C, potassium, and fiber. (1)
They’re also tasty and go well with almost everything. This makes them the ideal foundation for a substantial dinner.
We make stuffed sweet potatoes at least once a week in my home. I bake a whole sweet potato before stuffing it with sautéed vegetables, beans, chicken, and cheese.
This dinner is quite adaptable, with several taste combinations to select from. You may follow one of the essential recipes below or just wing it and layer your favorite food on roasted sweet potato.
- Sweet Potatoes with Chicken Pesto Stuffing
- Sweet Potatoes with Taco Filling
- Sweet Potatoes Stuffed with Vegetables
- Sweet Potatoes with a Mediterranean Twist
2. Grain bowls
Grain bowls are a big hit at my house. My husband and I enjoy how simple and versatile grain bowls are, and we make them regularly when we want a tasty yet quick supper.
Because I am gluten-free, we utilize gluten-free grains such as quinoa and brown rice. On the other hand, Grain bowls may be made with whatever grain you like, including farro, millet, and barley.
Grains are an excellent source of fiber and other minerals such as magnesium. According to research, Grain-rich diets have been associated with a decreased risk of various health issues, including colon cancer, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. (2)
To make a grain bowl, combine cooked grains, cooked or raw vegetables, and a protein source such as chicken, fried or hard-boiled eggs, grilled shrimp, or salmon.
Then sprinkle it with olive oil and lemon juice or top it with a store-bought or homemade dressing.
This Green Goddess Buddha Bowl, for example, is made with brown rice, roasted broccoli, sugar snap peas, avocado, hard-boiled eggs, toasted pumpkin seeds, and a creamy yogurt-based sauce.
Here are a few more grain bowl dishes that would be ideal for a quick meal on a weeknight:
- Buddha Bowls with Thai Chicken
- Grain Bowls with Salmon and Lemon Tahini Sauce
- Buddha Bowl with Sweet Potatoes and Chickpeas
3. Veggie loaded frittatas
As I do, eggs are used for more than simply breakfast when you raise hens. We often utilize eggs as a protein source in fast and delectable dishes like frittatas.
Eggs provide a good source of healthy fat and protein, so all you need to do is add a selection of your favorite vegetables to meet your fiber requirements.
Asparagus, spinach, sweet potatoes, zucchini, onions, broccoli florets, mushrooms, and tomatoes are some of my favorite veggies to add to frittatas. You may also add cheese, herbs, spices, or pesto to your frittata to make it more flavorful.
In your frittata, you may even utilize leftovers like fish, shredded chicken, and potatoes.
I prefer to serve frittata with avocado slices or fresh fruit. It’s a hearty dish that may be had at any time of day or night. Frittatas are easy to cook and maybe ready in under an hour.
Here are some great and straightforward frittata recipes:
- Frittata with Spring Vegetables
- Frittata with Cheesy Chicken, Peppers, and Broccoli
- Frittata with Wild Mushrooms, Cheddar, Green Onions, and Peas
4. Salad for dinner
A vast, satisfying salad is one of my go-to meals, particularly when I don’t feel like cooking.
The trouble with most salads is that they are poorly constructed, and you wind up feeling hungry again soon after you complete your meal. The secret to producing a filling supper salad is to add enough protein, healthy fats, and fiber.
Begin with your preferred greens, such as spinach, mixed greens, arugula, kale, or romaine. To increase the fiber content of your gardens, mix in some peppers, cucumbers, carrots, broccoli, or red onions.
Then choose a protein source, such as grilled chicken, shrimp, salmon, or hard-boiled eggs. Including a fiber-rich carbohydrate item, such as beans or roasted sweet potatoes, can increase the fullness factor even further.
For a crunchy texture, top your creation with toasted sunflower or pumpkin seeds, then sprinkle with a healthy dressing like olive oil and balsamic vinegar, or use this recipe for Homemade Green Goddess Dressing.
Here are a couple more salad recipes for dinner:
- Salad of Chicken Shawarma with Tahini Dressing
- Salad with Salmon Superfoods
- Salad with Crunchy Asian Chopped Vegetables
5. Brown rice pasta loaded with vegetables
Most people like a delicious pasta meal, but most pasta recipes lack the crucial components to keep you full, such as protein and fiber. (3)
Fortunately, a few basic suggestions may assist you in quickly preparing a substantial and healthy pasta meal.
First, choose your pasta. Tinkyada brown rice pasta is my favorite, but you may use whatever pasta you prefer. If you’re on a low-carb diet, you can also use zucchini noodles for spaghetti.
Choose a protein source next. I prefer to use chicken breast, ground chicken, or chickpeas if I want a plant-based protein.
Next, choose your vegetables. I like the traditional combination of spinach and broccoli, but practically any vegetable would do. Finally, choose a sauce like pesto, marinara, or olive oil.
Here are a few recipes to try the next time you’re in the mood for pasta:
- Pasta with Broccoli Pesto and Chicken
- Salad with Roasted Vegetables and Chickpea Pasta
- Mini Chicken Feta and Spinach Meatballs on Zucchini Noodles
6. One-pot soups
Few meals are more filling than a hot bowl of Soup. On the other hand, SoupSoup is a simple dish and is ideal for meal prep since it can be made in big batches.
I like creating soups that take one pot since it saves me time cleaning up. I cook my soups on the stovetop, but you may save time by making any of the following recipes in an Instant Pot.
- Yellow Split Pea Soup with Cream
- Soup with Curry Chicken
- Stew with lentils, kale, and quinoa
7. Curried
Curry is an excellent option for a fast and satisfying meal since it is adaptable, simple to prepare, and family-friendly. Furthermore, eating curry daily may improve your health by lowering risk factors for heart disease, such as excessive triglycerides and blood sugar levels. (4, 5)
I like making a comforting chickpea and sweet potato curry during the winter and eating it over rice or quinoa.
Like these easy curry meals, many curry recipes take 30 minutes or less to make.
- Thai Chickpea Curry in 30 Minutes or Less
- Salmon Red Curry in a Single Pan
- Thai Chicken Curry in 30 Minutes
8. Burgers
Burgers are an excellent option for families since they are easy to prepare and satisfy even the most discriminating palates.
Although beef burgers are a popular option, burgers may be made from almost any protein source, including ground chicken, salmon, tuna, and lentils.
My husband cooks an excellent chicken burger, which I serve with a huge salad and roasted sweet potato fries.
To fit your dietary preferences, serve your burgers on sturdy whole grain bread, in a lettuce wrap, or on top of a bed of greens.
Here are a few quick and easy burger recipes:
- Burgers with Chickpea Pizza
- Burgers with Spinach, Feta, and Salmon
- Sweet Potato Cheddar Barbecue Chicken Burgers That Are Seriously Delicious
9. Whole roasted chicken
Although roasting a whole chicken takes some time, it couldn’t be easier. Check out this approach to roasting the perfect chicken.
When I roast entire chickens, I pack the bottom of the roasting pan with potato wedges, onions, and carrot pieces to cook with the bird.
Allow your chicken to rest for 15 minutes after roasting before cutting. You may utilize that time to prepare a fast salad, such as those mentioned below:
- Salad with Tomatoes and Avocados
- Green Salad with Apples, Cranberries, and Pepitas is a favorite.
- Salad with Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Olives, and Feta
10. Sheet pan meals
If you despise washing dishes, this is the idea for you.
Most recipes call for the use of many pots, pans, and bowls. Sheet pan dinners, on the other hand, enable you to arrange all of your ingredients onto a single sheet pan to cook, saving you time in the kitchen.
Check out these delectable sheet pan meals:
- Harissa Chicken on a Sheet Pan with Chickpeas and Sweet Potatoes
- Lemon Brown Butter Salmon on a Sheet Pan with Parmesan Asparagus
- Chicken Fajitas on a Sheet Pan
- Sheet Pan Vegetarian Mediterranean Dinner
In conclusion
Preparing a nutritious and filling supper does not have to include intricate recipes and hours in the kitchen.
The dishes described above are not only healthy, but they are also easy to make.
Try one of the recipes above the next time you’re at a loss for what to make for supper.
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