Low-Calorie Dinner Recipes

A dinner that's delicious and low in calories? Yes, it's possible! Try these guilt-free main meal dishes, each less than 300 calories per serving.

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Farfalle with Mushrooms and Spinach

Skillet-Roasted Potatoes with Pork & Wilted Arugula

Scallops & Spinach with Pomegranate Glaze

Sassy Pork Chops

Linguine with Fresh Veggies

Brisket with Ale-BBQ Sauce

Italian Penne

Chicken & Garbanzo Bean Soup

Salmon and Asparagus

Pork Chops with Lime Salsa

Grilled Lemon Chicken

Fajita-Ranch Chicken Wraps

Tex-Mex Spinach Omelet

Grilled Bass with Strawberry Salsa

Pulled Chicken Sandwiches

Beef Goulash Soup

Grilled Peanut Shrimp Skewers

Horseradish Flank Steak

Sea Bass with Fennel Slaw

Chicken Salad Sandwiches

Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato Salsa Wrap

Grilled Halibut with Blueberry Pepper Sauce

Open-Face Ratatouille Sandwiches

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Farfalle with Mushrooms and Spinach

Toss together bowtie pasta, fresh mushrooms, spinach, and shredded Parmesan cheese for this 10-minute, 219-calorie dinner favorite.

Farfalle with Mushrooms and Spinach

Makes: 4 servings

Yield: Makes 4 side-dish servings

Prep: 10 mins

Cook: 10 mins

Skillet-Roasted Potatoes with Pork & Wilted Arugula

Scents of rosemary and garlic from the slow-roasted pork tenderloin and skillet-roasted potatoes will beckon the whole family to the dinner table.

Skillet Roasted Potatoes with Pork and Wilted Arugula

Makes: 4 servings

Yield: 3/4 cup arugula, 3/4 cup potatoes, and 3 ounces cooked pork per serving

Start to Finish: 55 mins

Oven: 25 mins 425°F

Scallops & Spinach with Pomegranate Glaze

Look for antioxidant-rich pomegranates arils in your grocer's produce or freezer section.

Seared Scallops and Baby Spinach with Spiced Pomegranate Glaze

Makes: 4 servings

Yield: 3 scallops, 1/2 cup cooked spinach, and 2 tablespoons sauce per serving

Start to Finish: 30 mins

Sassy Pork Chops

The sultry heat from the chipotle peppers gives these slow-cooked pork chops their name. Serve over 1/2 cup steamed brown rice to keep this healthy meal around 300 calories.

Sassy Pork Chops

Makes: 8 servings

Prep: 25 mins

Slow Cook: 6 hrs to 7 hrs (low) or 3 to 3 1/2 hours (high)

Linguine with Fresh Veggies

Satisfy your craving for pasta while keeping your calorie count in check. Substitute whole grain pasta for extra cardio benefit in this 280-calories-per-serving dish.

Tip: For more flavor, boil the pasta in low-sodium chicken broth instead of plain water.

Linguini with Fresh Veggies

Makes: 4 servings

Brisket with Ale-BBQ Sauce

Let this beer-infused brisket simmer throughout the day for an unbeatably tender dish come suppertime.

Brisket in Onion-Ale BBQ Sauce

Makes: 10 servings

Prep: 25 mins

Slow Cook: 10 hrs to 12 hrs (low) or 5 to 6 hours (high)

Italian Penne

Artichokes, Kalamata olives, and mozzarella cheese bring the salty Italian flavors you crave to this simple pasta dish.

Italian Penne

Makes: 4 servings

Start to Finish: 35 mins

Chicken & Garbanzo Bean Soup

Bored with everyday chicken noodle soup? Add a spunky twist to the classic by using garbanzo beans instead of pasta. Your waistline will be happy, too, with only 216 calories per bowl.

Chicken & Garbanzo Bean Soup

Makes: 6 servings

Prep: 20 mins to 1 hr 20 mins soak for one hour

Salmon and Asparagus

This simple 235-calorie recipe is packed with great flavor, making it one of our most popular dinners. Salmon skin has a higher concentration of heart-healthy omega-3 fats, than the fish fillet, so you may choose to eat the skin as well

Salmon and Asparagus

Makes: 4 servings

Prep: 10 mins

Bake: 12 mins 450°F

Pork Chops with Lime Salsa

Put some bite on your dinner plate with these spicy pork chops. A mouthful of delicious flavors may tease you into thinking you'll pay for it in calories, but it's a light 211 calories per serving.

Tip: The jalape�o jelly in this recipe can be found in specialty sections of your local grocery, at most Mexican groceries, or online.

Pork Chops with Lime Salsa

Makes: 6 servings

Prep: 15 mins

Marinate: 2 hrs to 4 hrs

Grill: 8 mins to 11 mins

Grilled Lemon Chicken

Enjoy a grilled chicken classic for just 161 calories per serving. Serve it alongside a crisp salad loaded with vegetables for even more satisfying results.

Tip: For added zest, use fresh-squeezed lemon to flavor the chicken instead of bottled lemon juice.

Grilled Lemon Chicken

Makes: 4 servings

Prep: 20 mins

Marinate: 1 hr

Grill: 12 mins

Fajita-Ranch Chicken Wraps

resh ingredients and just 20 minutes of prep time make these fajitas a go-to recipe. Fast-food Mexican restaurants can't compete with 224 calories per serving.

Fajita-Ranch Chicken Wraps

Makes: 4 servings

Start to Finish: 20 mins

Tex-Mex Spinach Omelet

Omelets are a hit any time of day-and this low-calorie version (142 per serving) features three of Cleveland Clinic's top veggie picks. Try serving this salsa-topped treat with a fruit salad to round out your meal.

Tex-Mex Spinach Omelet

Makes: 2 servings

Start to Finish: 25 mins

Grilled Bass with Strawberry Salsa

Lime is a key ingredient in many Latin American-inspired dishes and also provides heart-healthy nutrients including folate, potassium, and phytochemicals. Enjoy this easy, light recipe for 130 calories per serving.

Grilled Bass with Strawberry Salsa

Makes: 4 servings

Prep: 20 mins

Grill: 7 hrs to 9 hrs per 1/2-inch thickness

Pulled Chicken Sandwiches

The best part about this recipe, besides being a low 284 calories per serving, is the homemade barbecue sauce. You can make this dish at the last minute with simple ingredients that you likely have already.

Pulled Chicken Sandwiches

Makes: 6 servings

Yield: Makes 6 sandwiches

Prep: 25 mins

Cook: 7 mins

Beef Goulash Soup

This delicious meal can be made in one pan, so there's no need to spend all day in the kitchen. And with only 188 calories per serving, you won't mind leftovers.

Tip: Use kitchen shears instead of a knife to cut steak into cubes. It's much faster.

Beef Goulash Soup

Makes: 4 servings

Prep: 30 mins

Cook: 20 mins

Grilled Peanut Shrimp Skewers

This is a perfect light dinner if you enjoyed a big lunch. The tasty marinade, made of peanut butter and savory spices, brings the dish's total to just 248 calories per serving.

Grilled Peanut Shrimp Skewers

Makes: 4 servings

Prep: 20 mins

Marinate: 30 mins

Grill: 10 mins to 12 mins

Horseradish Flank Steak

You'll love the tangy kick that horseradish adds to this grilled favorite, and no one can balk at 208 calories. If you don't have a grill, use a large cast-iron pan.

Horseradish Flank Steak

Makes: 4 servings

Prep: 20 mins

Marinate: 6 hrs to 24 hrs

Grill: 12 mins

Sea Bass with Fennel Slaw

This oily fish contains heart-healthy omega-3's and magnesium. Enjoy all those benefits for only 213 calories per serving.

Sea Bass with Fennel Slaw

Makes: 4 servings

Prep: 40 mins

Chill: 2 hrs to 24 hrs

Grill: 4 mins to 6 mins per 1/2-inch thickness of fish

Chicken Salad Sandwiches

This chicken salad recipe gets its crunch from chopped apples. Light mayo and plain low-fat yogurt help the sandwich weigh in at just 237 calories per serving.

Chicken Salad Sandwiches

Makes: 4 servings

Start to Finish: 20 mins

Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato Salsa Wrap

Enjoy this classic sandwich for fewer calories than you might expect. The recipe has just 227 calories and can be made in 25 minutes.

Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato Salsa Sandwich

Makes: 4 servings

Start to Finish: 25 mins

Grilled Halibut with Blueberry Pepper Sauce

Blueberries are a superfood; they are full of vitamin C and antioxidants and are known to lower LDL (bad) cholesterol. Dive into this seafood dish featuring the sweet berry; it has just 222 calories per serving.

Tip: Refrigerate blueberries as quickly as possible and keep them dry. Do not wash until ready to use. They should last up to two weeks if stored properly.

Grilled Halibut with Blueberry-Pepper Sauce

Makes: 4 servings

Prep: 25 mins

Grill: 12 mins

Open-Face Ratatouille Sandwiches

Five of Cleveland Clinic's top vegetables are included in this recipe. Get a jump on your daily servings of veggies with these tangy, balsamic-laden sandwiches at 251 calories.

Open-Face Ratatouille Sandwiches

Makes: 4 servings

Prep: 25 mins

Roast: 45 mins to 50 mins 400°F

Low-Calorie Dinner Recipes

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