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  7. 18 500-Calorie Chicken Dinners You Can Make in 30 Minutes

18 500-Calorie Chicken Dinners You Can Make in 30 Minutes

Jessica Ball
Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Reviewed by Dietitian Victoria Seaver, M.S., RD February 18, 2020
Reviewed by Dietitian Victoria Seaver, M.S., RD
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a blue bowl full of chicken and vegetables and a smaller bowl with dressing

Research has shown that eating close to 500 calories at dinner, regardless of tracking calories throughout the day, can help with weight loss. All of these chicken recipes come in right around 500 calories per serving, and take 30 minutes or less to prepare to save you time in the kitchen. From Easy Chicken Tikka Masala to our popular Chipotle Chicken Quinoa Burrito Bowl, these recipes prove meeting your healthy eating and weight loss goals can be as delicious as ever.

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Easy Chicken Tikka Masala

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It's hard to believe you can get such a full-flavored, deeply spiced chicken tikka masala in just 30 minutes, but we did it! And, like the title says, this classic chicken tikka masala recipe really is as easy as it gets. Source: EatingWell.com, September 2019

 

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Chipotle Chicken Quinoa Burrito Bowl

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This chipotle-flavored burrito bowl recipe is even better than takeout and just as fast. Loading it with vegetables and using quinoa in place of rice adds nutrition for a healthy dinner. Source: EatingWell Magazine, July/August 2016

 

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Spaghetti & Chicken Meatballs with No-Cook Tomato Sauce

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This crowd-pleasing and easy dinner recipe takes just 20 minutes to make, start to finish, so it's perfect for weeknights! When tomatoes are at their in-season best, just a quick chop and a few ingredients are all you need to make a spaghetti sauce in minutes. Store-bought chicken meatballs keep the low-effort theme going all the way to the table. Source: EatingWell Magazine, June 2019

 

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Green Veggie Bowl with Chicken & Lemon-Tahini Dressing

a blue bowl full of chicken and vegetables and a smaller bowl with dressing
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For this healthy 30-minute dinner, treat your veggies like pasta and cook until al dente, or just done. If you have a little extra time, double or triple the lemon-tahini dressing and use it to quickly dress a salad or as a sauce for steak or shrimp. Source: EatingWell Magazine, May/June 2018

 

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Chicken & Vegetable Penne with Parsley-Walnut Pesto

Chicken and Vegetable Penne with Parsley-Walnut Pesto
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Homemade pesto may seem daunting, but in this quick pasta recipe you can make a simple sauce in minutes while the pasta water comes to a boil. You can substitute frozen green beans and cauliflower for fresh; in Step 4, cook the frozen vegetables according to package directions before tossing with the pasta and pesto. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine, Spring 2019

 

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Chicken Pad Thai

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A delicious balance of sweet, sour and salty flavors complements rice noodles and chicken in this quick and easy pad thai. We trimmed calories and boosted flavor by cutting back on the sugar you'll find in many restaurant versions. As with any stir-fry, be sure to have all your ingredients prepped before you begin--the steps move quickly once the cooking starts. Source: EatingWell.com, June 2018

 

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Pesto Chicken Cauliflower Pizza & Antipasto Salad

<p>While the antipasto salad has a distinctly retro vibe, the cauliflower-crust pizza is 100% au courant for pizza night. If you've never tried cauliflower crust, get ready to be pleasantly surprised! This recipe calls for store-bought cauliflower pizza crust, so this easy dinner comes together in just 30 minutes. This recipe makes extra roasted chicken thighs. Use the leftovers in salads and meal-prep lunches or to make Chicken &amp; Quinoa Buddha Bowls (see Associated Recipes). Source: EatingWell Magazine, September 2019</p> <p> </p>
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While the antipasto salad has a distinctly retro vibe, the cauliflower-crust pizza is 100% au courant for pizza night. If you've never tried cauliflower crust, get ready to be pleasantly surprised! This recipe calls for store-bought cauliflower pizza crust, so this easy dinner comes together in just 30 minutes. This recipe makes extra roasted chicken thighs. Use the leftovers in salads and meal-prep lunches or to make Chicken & Quinoa Buddha Bowls (see Associated Recipes). Source: EatingWell Magazine, September 2019

 

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Bruschetta Chicken Pasta

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This healthy chicken pasta recipe is jazzed up with traditional bruschetta toppers, including cherry tomatoes, garlic and basil. Multicolored cherry tomatoes look pretty, but you can use all one color of tomato too. Either way, you've got an easy weeknight dinner that's ready in 25 minutes. We've called for spaghettini (thin spaghetti) in this recipe, but feel free to use your favorite shape of pasta. Source: EatingWell.com, April 2019

 

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Mediterranean Chicken Quinoa Bowl

Mediterranean Chicken Quinoa Bowl
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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.

 

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Chicken Udon Bowl with Zucchini Noodles

<p>Mix udon and zucchini noodles for a lower-carb noodle bowl that's full of flavor thanks to the finger-licking-good peanut sauce. Using leftover chicken will save you even more time on this quick dinner recipe--you can whip it up in about 10 minutes. Source: EatingWell.com, July 2018</p> <p> </p>
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Mix udon and zucchini noodles for a lower-carb noodle bowl that's full of flavor thanks to the finger-licking-good peanut sauce. Using leftover chicken will save you even more time on this quick dinner recipe--you can whip it up in about 10 minutes. Source: EatingWell.com, July 2018

 

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One-Pot Greek Pasta

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A little bit of Sunday meal prep goes a long way in this one-dish Mediterranean pasta recipe. The pasta is cooked ahead of time and stored in the fridge to use for meals all week, but any leftover cooked pasta you have on hand will do. Chicken sausage with feta is especially good in this recipe. Source: EatingWell.com, February 2018

 

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Stir-Fried Chicken & Broccoli with Mango Chutney

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Resist the urge to make this stir-fry chicken recipe in a skillet instead of a wok, which will hold all your ingredients better. Buy a carbon-steel wok at an Asian market (or online) for around $30 and you'll have it forever. Make one stir-fry and you'll wonder how you survived without it. Source: EatingWell Magazine, March/April 2018

 

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Loaded Mediterranean Chicken-Quinoa Salad

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Turn simple precooked ingredients into a delicious one-dish meal, high in fiber and with plenty of protein to keep you feeling satisfied. Source: EatingWell.com, November 2017

 

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Chicken & Asparagus Skillet Pasta with Pesto

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Fresh lemon juice, tangy sun-dried tomatoes and zippy pesto tie together the flavors in this quick and easy skillet meal. The 30-minute dinner is so versatile--you can use any quick-cooking protein or vegetable you have on hand and still have a delicious meal on busy weeknights. Source: EatingWell.com, January 2019

 

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Grilled Chicken Legs with Fennel & Olive Relish

<p>A bright and briny relish made from fennel, lemon and olives is the perfect accompaniment in this Italian-inspired grilled chicken recipe. If you prefer, you can substitute 2 bone-in chicken breasts, cut in half (they're typically large enough to serve 2), or a mix of bone-in chicken pieces. Adjust the cooking time as necessary. Serve with a glass of dry Italian wine. Source: EatingWell Magazine, July/August 2016</p> <p> </p>
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A bright and briny relish made from fennel, lemon and olives is the perfect accompaniment in this Italian-inspired grilled chicken recipe. If you prefer, you can substitute 2 bone-in chicken breasts, cut in half (they're typically large enough to serve 2), or a mix of bone-in chicken pieces. Adjust the cooking time as necessary. Serve with a glass of dry Italian wine. Source: EatingWell Magazine, July/August 2016

 

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Chicken & Sun-Dried Tomato Orzo

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Sun-dried tomatoes and Romano cheese pack a flavorful punch along with the tantalizing aroma of fresh marjoram in this rustic Italian-inspired dish. Serve with sautéed fresh spinach or steamed broccolini. Source: EatingWell Magazine, March/April 2008

 

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Chicken Parmesan Sandwich

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You may disagree on whether the chicken parm sandwich should be known as a "sub," "hoagie" or "grinder," but who doesn't love this neighborhood-deli classic? We've added some spinach and done away with all the greasy breading to make it more healthy. Make it a meal: The sandwich is filling and complete on its own, but add some crunch with carrots, celery and cucumbers on the side. Source: EatingWell Magazine, December 2006

 

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Penne with Roasted Chicken & Radicchio

<p>Radicchio is a brawlingly bitter green that becomes impossibly meek and mild when simmered. Paired with some cheese and the meat from a rotisserie chicken, it cooks up quickly into a memorable pasta dish. Source: EatingWell Magazine, February/March 2005</p> <p> </p>
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Radicchio is a brawlingly bitter green that becomes impossibly meek and mild when simmered. Paired with some cheese and the meat from a rotisserie chicken, it cooks up quickly into a memorable pasta dish. Source: EatingWell Magazine, February/March 2005

 

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By Jessica Ball, M.S., RD

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    Everything in This Slideshow

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    1 of 18 Easy Chicken Tikka Masala
    2 of 18 Chipotle Chicken Quinoa Burrito Bowl
    3 of 18 Spaghetti & Chicken Meatballs with No-Cook Tomato Sauce
    4 of 18 Green Veggie Bowl with Chicken & Lemon-Tahini Dressing
    5 of 18 Chicken & Vegetable Penne with Parsley-Walnut Pesto
    6 of 18 Chicken Pad Thai
    7 of 18 Pesto Chicken Cauliflower Pizza & Antipasto Salad
    8 of 18 Bruschetta Chicken Pasta
    9 of 18 Mediterranean Chicken Quinoa Bowl
    10 of 18 Chicken Udon Bowl with Zucchini Noodles
    11 of 18 One-Pot Greek Pasta
    12 of 18 Stir-Fried Chicken & Broccoli with Mango Chutney
    13 of 18 Loaded Mediterranean Chicken-Quinoa Salad
    14 of 18 Chicken & Asparagus Skillet Pasta with Pesto
    15 of 18 Grilled Chicken Legs with Fennel & Olive Relish
    16 of 18 Chicken & Sun-Dried Tomato Orzo
    17 of 18 Chicken Parmesan Sandwich
    18 of 18 Penne with Roasted Chicken & Radicchio

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    18 500-Calorie Chicken Dinners You Can Make in 30 Minutes
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