19 Healthy Dinners Under 500 Calories That You’ll Actually Want To Eat
Calorie counting is not for everyone! And that’s OK. But if you have certain goals, like building muscle, getting leaner, or losing weight, then being mindful of how much you’re eating can be super helpful to you.
Something else that’s important is to make sure that the foods you eat are high in nutritious value. Nutrients like protein, fiber, and fat can take a while to digest and help you feel satisfied for longer — meaning fewer cravings and lower general hangry-ness.
Something else that’s important is to make sure that the foods you eat are high in nutritious value. Nutrients like protein, fiber, and fat can take a while to digest and help you feel satisfied for longer — meaning fewer cravings and lower general hangry-ness.
These dinners are all tasty and healthy, and they come with about 500 calories or less. Some may not work with your personal diet (the lower-calorie ones, in particular, may be bad choices for people who only eat three meals a day with no snacks). But you may just find something on this list that you like.
1. Lentil Pasta With Arugula Pesto
1. Lentil Pasta With Arugula Pesto
Nom nom nom. Get the recipe here.
397 calories
19 g protein
20 g fat
28 g carbohydrates (3 g fiber, 1 g sugar)
2. Crock Pot Cauliflower Chicken Chili
397 calories
19 g protein
20 g fat
28 g carbohydrates (3 g fiber, 1 g sugar)
2. Crock Pot Cauliflower Chicken Chili
Get the recipe here.
432 calories
46.6 g protein
18.3 g fat (4.5 g saturated)
22.6 g carbohydrates (7.5 g fiber, 9.5 g sugar)
575 mg sodium
3. Sweet Potato Burger With Creamy Avocado
432 calories
46.6 g protein
18.3 g fat (4.5 g saturated)
22.6 g carbohydrates (7.5 g fiber, 9.5 g sugar)
575 mg sodium
3. Sweet Potato Burger With Creamy Avocado
Get the recipe here.
367 calories
12.6 g protein
13.9 g fat (2.1 g saturated)
54.4 g carbohydrates (11.5 g fiber, 7 g sugar)
574 mg sodium
4. Turkey-Basil Meatballs With Collard Greens
367 calories
12.6 g protein
13.9 g fat (2.1 g saturated)
54.4 g carbohydrates (11.5 g fiber, 7 g sugar)
574 mg sodium
4. Turkey-Basil Meatballs With Collard Greens
Get the recipe here.
478 calories
31.2 g protein
23.1 g fat (4.8 g saturated)
37.1 g carbohydrates (9.9 g fiber, 12.7 g sugars)
726 mg sodium
5. Chicken Enchilada Stuffed Zucchini Boats
478 calories
31.2 g protein
23.1 g fat (4.8 g saturated)
37.1 g carbohydrates (9.9 g fiber, 12.7 g sugars)
726 mg sodium
5. Chicken Enchilada Stuffed Zucchini Boats
Get the recipe here. Nutrition info is for four boats.
464 calories
48 g protein
14 g fat
44 g carbohydrates (12 g fiber, 18 g sugar)
1,640 mg sodium
6. Shaved Asparagus Salad With Shallots and Fried Eggs
464 calories
48 g protein
14 g fat
44 g carbohydrates (12 g fiber, 18 g sugar)
1,640 mg sodium
6. Shaved Asparagus Salad With Shallots and Fried Eggs
Get the recipe here.
395 calories
20.2 g protein
26.6 g fat (7.2 g saturated)
20.7 g carbohydrates (4.3 g fiber, 5.3 g sugar)
336 mg sodium
7. Pan-Seared Smoky Steak and Eggs
395 calories
20.2 g protein
26.6 g fat (7.2 g saturated)
20.7 g carbohydrates (4.3 g fiber, 5.3 g sugar)
336 mg sodium
7. Pan-Seared Smoky Steak and Eggs
Get the recipe here. Nutrition info assumes that you’re sharing this dinner with a friend:
404 calories
38.2 g protein
26.7 g fat (12.7 g saturated)
1.4 g carbohydrates
1,265 mg sodium
8. Spicy Tamari Shrimp Lettuce Cups
404 calories
38.2 g protein
26.7 g fat (12.7 g saturated)
1.4 g carbohydrates
1,265 mg sodium
8. Spicy Tamari Shrimp Lettuce Cups
Get the recipe here.
396 calories
32.6 g protein
22.7 g fat (3.2 g saturated)
17.4 g carbohyrdates (3.8 g fiber, 4.6 g sugars)
1,167 mg sodium
9. Spaghetti Squash With Spinach, Parmesan, and a Fried Egg
396 calories
32.6 g protein
22.7 g fat (3.2 g saturated)
17.4 g carbohyrdates (3.8 g fiber, 4.6 g sugars)
1,167 mg sodium
9. Spaghetti Squash With Spinach, Parmesan, and a Fried Egg
This tasty dish is from the BuzzFeed 2015 Clean Eating Challenge. Get the recipe here.
403 calories
22.8 g protein
22 g fat (7.7 g saturated)
31 g carbohydrates (8.1 g fiber, 8.4 g sugars)
205 mg cholesterol
10. Shrimp Arugula Salad With Avocado
403 calories
22.8 g protein
22 g fat (7.7 g saturated)
31 g carbohydrates (8.1 g fiber, 8.4 g sugars)
205 mg cholesterol
10. Shrimp Arugula Salad With Avocado
328 calories
23.4 g protein
24.1 g fat (4.1 g saturated)
9.2 g carbohydrates (4.4 g fiber, 1.4 g sugars)
214 g sodium
11. Slow-Cooker Paella
23.4 g protein
24.1 g fat (4.1 g saturated)
9.2 g carbohydrates (4.4 g fiber, 1.4 g sugars)
214 g sodium
11. Slow-Cooker Paella
Get the recipe here.
467 calories
27 g protein
12 g fat
58 g carbohydrates (7 g fiber, 7 g sugar)
12. Butternut Squash and Red Lentil Soup
467 calories
27 g protein
12 g fat
58 g carbohydrates (7 g fiber, 7 g sugar)
12. Butternut Squash and Red Lentil Soup
Get the recipe here.
416 calories
24.2 g protein
8.4 g fat (1.5 g saturated)
64.3 g carbohydrates (22.6 g fiber, 8 g sugar)
1,082 mg sodium
13. Veggie “Sushi” Rolls
416 calories
24.2 g protein
8.4 g fat (1.5 g saturated)
64.3 g carbohydrates (22.6 g fiber, 8 g sugar)
1,082 mg sodium
13. Veggie “Sushi” Rolls
Get the recipe here. To get the nutritional info down to around 500 calories, adjust the recipe to just 1 tablespoon of nutritional yeast, and 1 teaspoon of tamari sauce. It’s just a touch over 500 calories…but it’s close enough.
512 calories
14.2 g protein
40.9 g fat (8.5 g saturated)
33.1 g carbohydrates (19.2 g fiber, 6.7 g sugar)
1,321 mg sodium
14. Slow-Cooker Salsa Verde Chicken With Cauliflower Rice & Green Beans
512 calories
14.2 g protein
40.9 g fat (8.5 g saturated)
33.1 g carbohydrates (19.2 g fiber, 6.7 g sugar)
1,321 mg sodium
14. Slow-Cooker Salsa Verde Chicken With Cauliflower Rice & Green Beans
Here’s a tasty dinner from BuzzFeed’s 2015 Clean Eating Challenge. Get the recipe here.
358.7 calories
32.8 g protein
8.2 g fat (1.5 g saturated fat)
33.2 g carbohydrates (9.1 g dietary fiber, 4 g sugars)
860 mg sodium
15. Stuffed Winter Squash & Quinoa, Cranberry and Pistachio
358.7 calories
32.8 g protein
8.2 g fat (1.5 g saturated fat)
33.2 g carbohydrates (9.1 g dietary fiber, 4 g sugars)
860 mg sodium
15. Stuffed Winter Squash & Quinoa, Cranberry and Pistachio
Get the recipe here. Nutritional info is for each half-squash.
443 calories
11.4 g protein
18.2 g fat (2.4 g saturated)
63.8 g carbohydrates (8.8 g fiber, 7.7 g sugar)
18 mg sodium
16. Roast Chicken Bowl With Quinoa and Kale
443 calories
11.4 g protein
18.2 g fat (2.4 g saturated)
63.8 g carbohydrates (8.8 g fiber, 7.7 g sugar)
18 mg sodium
16. Roast Chicken Bowl With Quinoa and Kale
Get the recipe here.
379 calories
34.8 g protein
10.6 g fat (1.4 g saturated)
38.6 g carbohydrates (5 g fiber, 1.4 g sugar)
677 mg sodium
17. Simple Roasted Salmon With Green Beans and Lentils
379 calories
34.8 g protein
10.6 g fat (1.4 g saturated)
38.6 g carbohydrates (5 g fiber, 1.4 g sugar)
677 mg sodium
17. Simple Roasted Salmon With Green Beans and Lentils
Get the recipe here.
334 calories
40.1 g protein
5.1 g fat (0.8 g saturated)
31.9 g carbohydrates (11.9 g fiber, 3.1 g sugar)
926 mg sodium
18. Chicken and Asparagus Lemon Stir-Fry
334 calories
40.1 g protein
5.1 g fat (0.8 g saturated)
31.9 g carbohydrates (11.9 g fiber, 3.1 g sugar)
926 mg sodium
18. Chicken and Asparagus Lemon Stir-Fry
Get the recipe here. This one is also not quite under 500 calories, but that’s because we calculated nutrition info by doubling portion size recommendations.
536 calories
82 g protein
14 g fat
20 g carbohydrates (6 g fiber)
874 mg sodium
19. Black Bean Chili With Greek Yogurt and Zucchini Ribbons
536 calories
82 g protein
14 g fat
20 g carbohydrates (6 g fiber)
874 mg sodium
19. Black Bean Chili With Greek Yogurt and Zucchini Ribbons
Get the recipe here.
358 calories
20.2 g protein
7.7 g fat (1.1 g saturated)
58.5 g carbohydrates (18.5 g fiber, 21.1 g sugar)
823.2 mg sodium
358 calories
20.2 g protein
7.7 g fat (1.1 g saturated)
58.5 g carbohydrates (18.5 g fiber, 21.1 g sugar)
823.2 mg sodium