Eating healthy doesn’t need to be dull! With these quick and simple recipes, healthy, wholesome meals will be on your table in no time. Dinner is the final meal of the day and can significantly impact how your body repairs itself overnight. Refer to these top-rated, easy-to-clean dinner recipes for delicious yet nutritious meals to try tonight.
1. Grilled Cauliflower Steaks
Who needs steak when these flavorful cauliflower “steaks” can easily replace it? Plus, their simple preparation makes this treat that much sweeter! To create cauliflower steaks, start by peeling back and cutting away all outer leaves and stems from each head of cauliflower. A medium-sized head of cauliflower should yield two or three “steaks,” depending on how thickly you slice its florets.
Arrange the cauliflower in a bowl with olive oil, paprika, garlic powder, and liquid smoke, and mix them to coat each piece of cauliflower evenly before placing it on a baking sheet and roasting it in the oven. Roasting should continue until it becomes golden-brown in color and tender to the bite.
2. Zoodles
Zoodles are an easy and delicious way to incorporate extra vegetables into your family’s diet. Plus, they pair beautifully with any pasta sauce! Zoodles are an excellent option for anyone trying to reduce their carb consumption or simply looking for a tasty alternative to regular pasta dishes. Zoodles are very customizable and can take on any flavor. Each sauce gives them a unique taste!
To prevent your zoodles from becoming soggy, be sure to salt them before use and drain excess moisture by gently squeezing or wrapping in a paper towel. Additionally, you can help further evaporate any extra water that accumulates in them by placing them in a 200-degree oven on a sheet pan for half an hour.
3. Seafood Stew
Seafood stews like cioppino and bouillabaisse make delicious and convenient dinner recipes, ready in under half an hour and offering lean proteins and omega-3 fatty acids to boot! Fish fillets like halibut, cod, or salmon add a rich seafood taste to a dish, with butter adding indulgent silkiness and a velvety finish to the broth.
Add chopped parsley and olives for an aromatic gremolata that adds freshness to this impressive seafood meal. Serve alongside grilled bread for dipping. This recipe can easily be adjusted; switch scallops out for shrimp, or swap mussels for scallops as desired.
4. Grilled Swordfish
The swordfish is an ideal fish to pair with bold flavors, like those featured in this recipe, which uses an entire lemon. Finely chopped lemon flesh, pith, and peel are combined with grated raw garlic, fragrant ground coriander seeds, and fresh oregano before being drizzled onto grilled swordfish steaks for maximum effect.
With its delicious tomato-olive salad accompaniment, this meaty main course for your dinner party is far easier to make at home than you think. Simply prepare the salad shortly before grilling the swordfish steaks so as to prevent softening of the tomatoes, and grill for 3–5 minutes per side for tender, juicy perfection with beautiful char marks.
5. Pan-Roasted Butternut Squash
Butternut squash is naturally sweet and delicious when roasted, and this simple recipe takes only 25 minutes to prepare! Season the squash with garlic, black pepper, and salt before roasting it to tender golden-brown perfection for a healthy side dish for a weeknight dinner!
Cube your kabocha or butternut squash and season it before baking in an oven lined with parchment paper for the best results. Doing this prevents it from sticking to the pan and burning, thus saving both time and energy in this recipe! Try incorporating roasted squash in salads, grain bowls, tofu scrambles, or soup! Roasted squash adds a depth of flavor that won’t overshadow other flavors in any recipe.
6. Tuscan Soup
Eating clean is an effective way to lose weight and feel healthier. But the process can be time-consuming, requiring lots of prepping work. With these top-rated simple clean eating recipes on busy weeknights, eating clean can become effortless!
No matter your cooking style—intuitive or measured—this collection has everything you need for healthy meal planning. These nutritious dishes include easy-to-clean eating soup and roasted zucchini pasta dishes! Serve these dishes alongside No-Knead Bread or Dinner Rolls for a hearty, satisfying dinner! Enjoy!
7. Hummus
Hummus makes a delicious accompaniment for vegetables or bread and is the ideal base for many meals. When purchasing store-bought varieties, look for those without added sugars, inflammatory oils (such as soybeans), or preservatives, as these could add unnecessary calories and taste.
To create hummus, first rinse and drain the chickpeas, then cover them with water and baking soda, boil for 8-10 minutes, drain again, rinse well, peel the chickpeas (reserving some for garnish), and rinse once more. Put peas, garlic, and tahini in a food processor along with lemon juice and salt, then blend. You may choose to add ice cubes (optional) for an extra smooth texture or season as desired with spices like paprika, peppercorns, or other seasonings, such as herbs.
8. Baked Butternut Squash
Butternut squash is an indispensable fall ingredient, and this straightforward baked recipe makes it simple to incorporate it into meals. Simply toss cubed butternut squash in olive oil, maple syrup, and seasonings before replacing it in the oven to bake until tender. Enjoy as an effortless side dish, or add it into other recipes like Crock-Pot Pork with Apples and Chicken or Maple Dijon Chicken and Vegetables for even more fall flavor!
Leftover roasted butternut squash can also be transformed into a comforting soup by simply mixing it with some sautéed onions and a little oil, as well as stock. Simply blend to achieve delicious, satisfying results!
9. Roasted Butternut Squash
Butternut squash is an annual delight that makes an effortless addition to meals throughout the winter season, from main dishes like stuffed or sliced and roasted pieces as a side to even pureeing into soup! Plus, it provides essential vitamins A and D, as well as plenty of dietary fiber!
Cut the squash into cubes of approximately the same size to ensure even cooking. Drizzle olive oil over them and season them to your preference using salt and pepper as needed, adding nutmeg or cinnamon as desired for extra sweetness or spice! Combine with fresh sage leaves for an effortless and delicious healthy eating meal that will please the entire family.
