You may believe that creating nutritious, delectable dinners at home is difficult, but I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be.
Even though I like eating and enjoy cooking, I prefer to keep mealtimes simple. This entails selecting recipes that are simple to follow and do not need complex culinary methods or endless procedures.
Here are some of my favorite simple dinner dishes that will help you quickly put a healthy meal on the table.
1. Sweet potato stuffed with meat.
Vitamin C, potassium, and fiber abound in sweet potatoes, making them a powerhouse of health benefits. (1)
In addition, they’re excellent and may be paired with just about any kind of food. As a result, they’re ideal as the foundation for a hearty supper.
Stuffed sweet potatoes are a staple in my household. I load a roasted sweet potato with a variety of ingredients, including sautéed vegetables, beans, chicken, and cheese. I serve it with sour cream.
There are a plethora of tasty options to select from while making this dish. Try one of the basic recipes below, or improvise and put your favorite toppings atop a baked sweet potato if you want.
2. Bowls of grain
My family loves grain bowls. In our house, grain bowls are our go-to dish when we want a tasty yet easy-to-prepare supper that’s also nutritious.
We utilize gluten-free grains like quinoa and brown rice since I adhere to a gluten-free diet. Many different grains may be used to make a grain bowl, such as farro or millet.
Fiber and other nutrients, such as magnesium, may be found in grains. Colon cancer, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes have been related to a decreased risk of grain-rich diets, according to research. (2)
To make a grain bowl, top a dish of cooked grains with cooked or raw vegetables and a protein source such as chicken, fried eggs, or hard-boiled eggs.
Make your salad dressing, or just sprinkle olive oil and lemon juice over it.
Brown rice, roasted broccoli, sugar snap peas, avocado, hard-boiled eggs, toasted pumpkin seeds, and a creamy yogurt sauce combine in this Green Goddess Buddha Bowl.
In case you’re in a hurry, here are a couple of additional grain bowl recipes you may like:
- Buddha Bowls with Thai Chicken
- Lemon Tahini Sauce with Salmon Grain Bowls
- Buddha Bowl with Sweet Potatoes and Chickpeas
3. Veggie stuffed frittatas
When you raise hens as I do, eggs are used for more than simply breakfast. We often utilize eggs as a protein source in fast and delectable dinners like frittatas.
For your fiber requirements, all you need to do is include a wide selection of your favorite vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts.
Asparagus, spinach, sweet potatoes, zucchini, onions, broccoli florets, mushrooms, and tomatoes are some of my favorite frittata veggies. You may also add cheese, herbs, spices, or pesto to your frittata for more flavor.
Your frittata may also include leftovers like fish, shredded chicken, and potatoes.
Some sliced avocado or a piece of fresh fruit goes well with frittatas. At any hour of the day or night, it’s a satisfying supper. Frittatas are quick and easy to prepare, taking just about an hour from start to finish.
Here are a few recipes for great and simple frittatas:
- Frittata with Spring Vegetables.
- Frittata with Chicken, Peppers, and Broccoli Cheesy
- Cheddar and Green Onion Wild Mushroom Frittata
4. Dinner salad
One of my go-to meals is a big, satisfying salad, particularly when I don’t feel like cooking.
Because most salads aren’t well-crafted, you’ll be hungry again soon after you’ve finished your meal. Protein, healthy fats, and fiber are all important components of any satisfying dinner salad.
Your preferred greens, such as spinach, mixed greens (such as kale or mixed greens), or mixed greens (arugula), should form the foundation of your salad. Increase the fiber level of your greens by adding a few extra vegetables such as peppers and cucumbers as well as broccoli, carrots, and red onions.
Then add grilled chicken, shrimp, salmon, or hard-boiled eggs as a protein source. Beans or roasted sweet potatoes, which are abundant in fiber, can increase the feeling of satiety even more.
If you want to add some crunch, sprinkle some toasted sunflower or pumpkin seeds on top of your dish, then drizzle it with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
The following are some additional salad recipes for dinner:
- Salad of Chicken Shawarma with Tahini Dressing
- Salmon Salad with Superfoods, a Healthy Alternative
- salad with a crunch from Asia
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 dinner.
First, choose your pasta. Tinkyada brown rice pasta is my favorite, but you may use whatever pasta you choose. 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 or 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. Soups that may be made in a single pot
Few meals are more filling than a hot bowl of soup. Soup, on the other hand, is a simple dish to make and is ideal for meal prep since it can be made in big batches.
I like creating soups that just 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 dinner since it is adaptable, simple to prepare, and family-friendly. Furthermore, eating curry daily may assist improve your health by lowering risk factors for heart disease, such as excessive triglycerides and blood sugar levels. (4, 5)
During the winter, I like making a comforting chickpea and sweet potato curry and eating it over rice or quinoa.
Many curry recipes, like these easy curry meals, 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
9. Burgers
Burgers are an excellent option for families since they are easy to prepare and will 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. roasted whole 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 it has finished 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 dinners
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
Result in Bottom Line
Preparing a nutritious and filling dinner 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 dinner.
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