18 Anti-Inflammatory Dinners to Try

December 27, 2019

Skip gallery slides

Similar to the Mediterranean diet, eating an anti-inflammatory diet can fight off free radicals and protect against many chronic illnesses, like heart disease and diabetes. These recipes are packed with vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and healthy fats to help keep inflammation at bay. With dinner ideas like Roasted Salmon with Smoky Chickpeas & Greens, these is no sacrificing delicious for healthy.

Start Slideshow

1 of 18

Roasted Salmon with Smoky Chickpeas & Greens

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

In this healthy salmon dinner, you'll get a dose of greens and green dressing! Chowing down on 6 or more servings of dark leafy greens a week can help keep your brain in top shape. This dish features the Test Kitchen's current go-to method for doctoring a can of chickpeas: spice them up and roast until crispy.

Advertisement

Advertisement

2 of 18

Mediterranean Chicken Quinoa Bowl

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Olives, cucumber, roasted red peppers and spices come together magically in this healthy chicken quinoa bowl recipe. Serve with a squeeze of lemon and a glass of cold Italian white wine.

3 of 18

Tomato, Cucumber & White-Bean Salad with Basil Vinaigrette

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This no-cook bean salad is a delicious way to use summer's best cherry or grape tomatoes and juicy cucumbers for a light dinner or lunch. Fresh basil elevates an easy vinaigrette recipe that dresses up this simple salad into something extraordinary.

Advertisement

4 of 18

Pesto Pasta Salad

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

A creamy pesto sauce turns this simple pasta salad into a delightful dinner. Adding broccoli to the pasta cooking water just before the pasta is done is a convenient way to briefly cook it so that it turns a vivid shade of green and softens slightly.

5 of 18

Greek Roasted Fish with Vegetables

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This dish is packed with flavor and fits perfectly into a Mediterranean diet.

6 of 18

Slow-Cooker Mediterranean Stew

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This Mediterranean stew is a healthy dinner chock-full of vegetables and hearty chickpeas. A drizzle of olive oil to finish carries the flavors of this easy vegan crock-pot stew. Swap out the chickpeas for white beans for a different twist, or try collards or spinach in place of the kale. Any way you vary it, this stew is sure to go into heavy rotation when you are looking for healthy crock-pot recipes.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

7 of 18

Greek Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

A mixture of tomatoes, spinach, feta, olives and fresh oregano gives portobellos a Mediterranean vibe in this healthy stuffed mushroom recipe. Serve these along with chicken, fish or tofu as a super-satisfying side dish, or add a hearty salad and make them the centerpiece of a vegetarian dinner.

8 of 18

Mediterranean Ravioli with Artichokes & Olives

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Store-bought spinach ravioli and a handful of basic pantry items are all you need to get a healthy dinner on the table in 15 minutes. Ingredients like oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, briny Kalamata olives and toasty pine nuts help to build big flavor fast. If you can't find frozen artichokes, swap in a 15-ounce can (just be sure to drain and rinse them well).

9 of 18

Provençal Baked Fish with Roasted Potatoes & Mushrooms

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This easy healthy meal--which requires just 15 minutes of active time--is typical of southern France. You can use halibut, grouper or cod for this simple Mediterranean baked fish recipe, so just choose what looks best at your market. Look for herbes de Provence, an aromatic spice blend, at most grocery stores.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

10 of 18

Sheet-Pan Mediterranean Chicken, Brussels Sprouts & Gnocchi

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

In this healthy dinner recipe, chicken thighs, Brussels sprouts, cherry tomatoes and packaged gnocchi are all roasted on the same sheet pan for a complete meal that couldn't be easier to make. And though it's simple, this dish gets tons of flavor from Mediterranean seasonings, including garlic, oregano and red-wine vinegar. It all adds up to a dish that's ready to go into heavy weeknight rotation in your house.

11 of 18

Vegan Pesto Spaghetti Squash with Mushrooms & Sun-Dried Tomatoes

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Low-carb spaghetti squash stands in for wheat noodles in this updated twist on a classic pesto pasta dish. Cashews lend richness to the pesto, while nutritional yeast, mushrooms and sun-dried tomatoes contribute satisfying umami to this vegan dinner recipe.

12 of 18

Simple Grilled Salmon & Vegetables

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Grilled salmon and veggies make for a colorful and balanced seafood dinner that's ready in just minutes. The grill turns the salmon flaky and moist while tenderizing the crispy pepper and onion pieces. Round out the meal with brown rice or quinoa.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

13 of 18

Goat Cheese Pizza

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Tangy goat cheese adds loads of flavor to this easy pizza meal.

14 of 18

Slow-Cooker Mediterranean Chicken & Chickpea Soup

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This set-it-and-forget-it slow-cooker recipe simmers away all day so you come home to a warm and healthy dinner the whole family will love. Using bone-in chicken is the key to making rich soup without adding broth.

15 of 18

Romesco Sauce with Whole-Grain Pasta & Parmesan

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Originating from the Catalonia region of Spain, "salsa romesco" is a tomato sauce made with nuts and peppers. It's traditionally eaten with fish, but in this recipe we pair it with whole-grain pasta for a yummy vegetarian meal. Parmesan is our choice for cheese, but you can substitute Pecorino Romano or Manchego cheese if you'd like.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

16 of 18

Farfalle with Tuna, Lemon, and Fennel

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This warm, flaked tuna and lemon pasta recipe is ready in 30 minutes.

17 of 18

Sheet-Pan Chicken & Brussels Sprouts

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Roasted Brussels sprouts and chicken thighs are a match we go back to over and over again in the Test Kitchen. Paired with cumin, thyme, sweet potatoes and a hit of sherry vinegar, they create one of our favorite easy dinner recipes.

18 of 18

Slow-Cooker Pasta e Fagioli Soup Freezer Pack

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Your favorite restaurant soup just got easier and healthier with this freezer-to-crock-pot recipe. If you keep a special bottle of olive oil on hand for stand-out dishes, this is the recipe to pull it out for. The headiness of the fruity olive oil truly elevates the flavors in this Italian meal-prep slow-cooker soup.

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Up Next