Easy And Healthy Dinner Recipes You Need Right Now
Summer is just around the corner, and we all want to look our best. However, this quarantine has us eating like there’s no tomorrow. So, in lieu of all the snacks we’ve all been eating, here is a list of easy and healthy dinner recipes that are extremely tasty and won’t make you feel guilty afterward! Bon appetit.
1. Cauliflower Hot Wings
Both vegan and gluten-free, these cauliflower hot wings are the perfect comfort food. Not to mention, they’re healthier than the fried chicken wings you’d be ordering in, but with the same delicious flavor! These are always a great crowd-pleaser.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1 head of cauliflower
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour (or chickpea flour for a gluten-free version)
- 3/4 cup unsweetened almond or soy milk
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons paprika powder
- Salt (to taste)
- Black pepper (to taste)
- 3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs (omit for a gluten-free version)
- 1 cup spicy BBQ sauce
- 1 teaspoon sriracha sauce (optional)
- 2 green onions, cut into rings
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 °F.
- Cut the cauliflower into bite-sized florets.
- In a large bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, the plant-based milk, the water, the garlic powder, the paprika powder, the salt, and the black pepper. Stir until well combined. For a gluten-free version substitute the all-purpose flour with chickpea flour (also omit the water if using chickpea flour).
- Dip the florets into the batter so they’re completely coated.
- Roll them in the panko breadcrumbs. Omit this step for a gluten-free version. However, they’re way crispier with the panko breadcrumb coating.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lay the cauliflower florets on the baking sheet. Don’t put them on top of each other. Bake for 25 minutes at 350 °F.
- Transfer the cooked cauliflower wings to a bowl. Combine the BBQ sauce with a teaspoon of sriracha sauce and pour it over the baked cauliflower wings. Evenly coat them from all sides by stirring them a few times.
- Put the coated hot wings back on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake again for 20 minutes at 350 °F.
- Enjoy!
2. Sweet Potato and Black Bean Quinoa Salad
This amazing chili-roasted sweet potato and black bean quinoa salad is the perfect easy dinner during the summer. With tons of fiber, protein, and delicious flavor, this recipe will be one of your new go-tos.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Ingredients:
For the salad:
- 1 large sweet potato
- 1 15 oz can of black beans
- 3 cups cooked quinoa made from 1 cup dry
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- Juice of 1 lime
- Salt (to taste)
- Pepper (to taste)
- Lettuce/greens to serve
- 1 batch cilantro-avocado dressing
For the dressing:
- 1 avocado
- 1/2 cup cashews
- 1/2 cup cilantro
- 1/2 – 3/4 cup water
- Juice of 2 limes
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon cayenne (optional)
- Salt (to taste)
- Pepper (to taste)
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 425° F.
- Peel and chop the sweet potato in small, bite-sized pieces. Melt the coconut oil and drizzle it over the sweet potatoes. Toss to coat. Add in chili powder and sprinkle with salt and pepper, tossing to combine.
- Roast sweet potatoes for 20 – 25 minutes until tender, moving them around halfway so you don’t burn them.
- Separately rinse and drain the black beans. Add them to a large bowl along with quinoa.
- Add all dressing ingredients to a blender (starting with less water and adding more as needed). Blend on high until smooth and creamy.
- Once sweet potatoes are done roasting, let them cool for 5 minutes. Add to the bowl with black beans and quinoa. Squeeze lime juice over the top and stir to combine.
- Arrange lettuce in 4 bowls. Top with sweet potato and black bean mixture, and drizzle with dressing.
- Enjoy!
3. Chicken Parmesan Stuffed Zucchini Boats
These are amazing. They are healthy, easy, and absolutely delicious. It’s also a low carb, keto recipe! Plus, the fact that they are in boats is super fun.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground chicken
- 3 large zucchinis (or 4 small)
- 2 cups marinara or tomato sauce
- 3 cups freshly shredded mozzarella
- 1 cup shredded parmesan
- Salt (to taste)
- Pepper (to taste)
- Garlic powder (to taste)
Instructions:
- Chop the ground chicken, and then cook it in a large skillet over medium heat until no longer pink. Season to taste with salt, pepper and garlic powder.
- Mix in about 2 cups of tomato sauce with the chicken, and turn the heat to low so it can simmer and absorb the sauce for a bit.
- Preheat your oven to 400° F and grease a baking dish.
- While the chicken and sauce are simmering, cut your zucchinis in half, length wise. Use a spoon or melon baller to carve out the guts.
- Mix in 2 cups of shredded mozzarella and 1/2 cup of parmesan to the chicken and sauce mixture; stir until melted.
- Spoon the mixture into your zucchini boats, and then sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and parmesan over top.
- Bake uncovered in the center rack for 25 minutes, and then switch your oven to broil for a few minutes to brown the cheese.
- Enjoy!
4. Healthy Shrimp Scampi
This low-carb meal will satisfy your pasta cravings and is an easy and quick recipe that still delivers on tons of flavors. Try out this recipe for a new take on a traditional dish that is healthier and lighter in both calories and fat.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 pounds shrimp, shelled and deveined
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ cup vegetable broth
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- Juice of a lemon
- 3 zucchinis, spiralized
- Shaved parmesan cheese for serving
- Fresh parsley for serving
Instructions:
- In a large skillet, heat the butter, then add the garlic and crushed red pepper and cook until fragrant (about 1 minute).
- Add shrimp to the pan and season with salt, pepper and paprika; cook until shrimp turns pink (2-4 minutes, depending on their size) and remove with a slotted spoon.
- Add the vegetable broth, red wine vinegar and lemon juice to the sauce leftover in the pan and cook until sauce thickens slightly.
- Turn off heat, then toss the spiralized zucchini with the shrimp to warm slightly.
- Serve with parmesan cheese and fresh parsley, if you want to!
5. Grilled Greek Chicken Recipe
Greek chicken is one of the best summer recipes out there! With the combination of lemon juice, fresh herbs, olive oil and tons of garlic, this yogurt-based marinade has all of your favorite chicken touches with the intense Greek flavors.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
For the marinade:
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- Zest of 1 lemon
- 1 tablespoon white balsamic vinegar
- 2 tablespoons fresh oregano leaves, chopped (or 2 teaspoons dried)
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves, or 1 teaspoon dried
- 6 medium garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
For the skewers:
- 3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 2-inch pieces for skewers
- 1 large red bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes
- 1 medium red onion, cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes
- 6-8 skewers (if using wooden skewers, soak in water for 30-minutes before grilling)
Ingredients:
- Combine all the marinade ingredients in a large Ziploc bag. Seal and massage the bag to combine all the ingredients.
- Add the chicken to the bag, turning to coat. Marinate for 4-24 hours. Turn the bag a few times while marinating.
- Preheat gas grill to 400° F.
- Pour the marinated chicken pieces into a large strainer to remove the excess marinade.
- Thread chicken pieces onto the skewers alternating with peppers and onions.
- Grill until the chicken is cooked through, about 4 minutes on each side or until juices run clear.
- Enjoy!
Enjoy these easy healthy recipes that are perfect for summer. I made my way through this list with my family and every single one was a winner! Have fun cooking and check out the rest of our site for more ideas on what to make!
As always, drop any questions or comments below! If you have any other recipes you want to share with our readers comment below!
Recipes found at:
https://veganheaven.org/recipe/cauliflower-hot-wings-with-vegan-aioli/, https://www.simplyquinoa.com/chili-roasted-sweet-potato-black-bean-quinoa-salad/, https://www.instrupix.com/low-carb-chicken-parmesan-stuffed-zucchini-boats/, https://feelgoodfoodie.net/recipe/healthy-shrimp-scampi-zucchini-noodles/, https://www.savingdessert.com/grilled-greek-chicken-recipe/
