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  7. 24 Fresh & Lemony Dinner Recipes

24 Fresh & Lemony Dinner Recipes

A portrait of Alex Loh
Alex Loh Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD April 14, 2020
Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD
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Slow-Cooker Citrus Salmon with Melted Leeks

These dinner recipes are bright and fresh thanks to the addition of lemon. Lemon provides a nice boost of acidity and pairs well with chicken, seafood and more. Recipes like Lemon-Garlic Pasta with Salmon and Skillet Lemon Chicken with Spinach are healthy, delicious and the perfect dinner for any weeknight.

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Baked Lemon-Pepper Chicken

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Looking for a quick, easy dinner? This baked lemon-pepper chicken recipe is it. Chicken breasts are cooked in a skillet, then finished in the oven with lemon slices that soften and become part of the sauce, with a touch of maple syrup and butter to carry the flavor. It's so simple and delicious, you'll be making this healthy dinner again and again. Source: EatingWell.com, December 2019

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Crispy Chickpea Grain Bowl with Lemon Vinaigrette

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Our favorite part of these vegetarian grain bowls is the tangy lemon vinaigrette, which ties together a satisfying combo of quinoa, toasted pumpkin seeds, and roasted chickpeas and kale. Whip them up for easy meal-prep lunches or a healthy and satisfying dinner. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine, Winter 2019

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Lemon-Garlic Pasta with Salmon

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Wondering what to do with leftover salmon? This is a delicious and easy way to turn it into another weeknight-friendly, quick dinner. Don't forget to reserve some pasta water--its starch thickens the lemon-garlic pasta sauce and makes it silky-smooth. Source: EatingWell Magazine, November 2019

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Creamy Lemon Pasta with Shrimp

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Yogurt makes a fine substitute for cream in the sauce for this easy pasta recipe. Just warm the yogurt (do not boil) and add some pasta-cooking water to thin it out. Lemon and fresh basil brighten up the whole-wheat pasta and complement the shrimp in this quick dinner recipe. Source: EatingWell Magazine, June 2019

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Lemon-Garlic Chicken with Green Beans

Lemon-Garlic Chicken with Green Beans
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This easy lemon-garlic chicken recipe calls for cutlets, which cook in less than 10 minutes! Can't find them? Make your own from chicken breasts. Place each breast on a cutting board and, with your knife parallel to the board, slice into the skinny side of the chicken breast in a single smooth motion. The side of green beans is cooked right in the same pan as the chicken, so this 20-minute easy, healthy dinner is not just a snap to prepare--the cleanup is a cinch too. Source: EatingWell Magazine, October 2019

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Lemon Garlic Scallops

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Lemon brightens up sweet scallops in this simple, light dinner. Serve the scallops alongside sautéed spinach with a piece of toasted whole-grain bread to sop up the buttery sauce. Source: EatingWell.com, March 2020

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Lemon-Sopressata Chicken

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You'll only need 5 ingredients and 30 minutes for this healthy chicken recipe. Serve with mashed potatoes and a mixed green salad with red-wine vinaigrette to round out dinner. Source: EatingWell Magazine, March/April 2017

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Herb-Grilled Chicken Frites

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We combine fresh herbs, capers, lemon juice and olive oil along with the juices collected from the chicken as it rests to make a simple sauce that livens up this take on poulet frites, or chicken and fries. Source: EatingWell Magazine, May 2020

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Lemon-Tahini Couscous with Chicken & Vegetables

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When you want pasta in no time, couscous is your best friend! The tiny pasta balls cook up in minutes, and absorb all the water so you don't have to fuss with draining. Tossed with sautéed vegetables plus leftover chicken, it's a fast and tasty meal in a bowl that's perfect as an easy dinner recipe. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine, Summer 2019

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Spice-Roasted Chicken & Lemon Potatoes

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If it isn't already, this vibrant dish will make oven-roasted chicken a favorite at your house. With the lemon potatoes, it's an irresistible and simple meal. You can use the leftover meat in soup, sandwiches, and salads. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine, Spring 2020

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Old Bay Salmon with Lemony Mashed Peas

salmon on a plate with lemon wedges
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Cooking butter until it browns adds a toasty, nutty flavor to this easy skillet salmon recipe. Here it gives Old Bay-rubbed salmon a chef-worthy finish--not bad for 20 minutes! Source: EatingWell Magazine, March 2020

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Skillet Lemon Chicken with Spinach

Skillet Lemon Chicken with Spinach
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This simple, ultra-quick chicken dinner--packed with spinach and peppers--is delicious on its own or served over brown rice or your favorite pasta. Source: EatingWell.com, February 2020

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Slow-Cooker Lemon-Coriander Shrimp & Grits

<p>Creamy shrimp and grits is a comfort food classic, and everyone at your table will love this version with coriander-accented slow-cooker shrimp. Turn on the slow cooker before picking up the kids from school, and add the shrimp and make the grits right before dinnertime. Source: Everyday Slow Cooker</p>
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Creamy shrimp and grits is a comfort food classic, and everyone at your table will love this version with coriander-accented slow-cooker shrimp. Turn on the slow cooker before picking up the kids from school, and add the shrimp and make the grits right before dinnertime. Source: Everyday Slow Cooker

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Chicken & Spinach Skillet Pasta with Lemon & Parmesan

Chicken & Spinach Skillet Pasta with Lemon & Parmesan
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This one-pan pasta that combines lean chicken breast and sautéed spinach for a one-bowl meal is garlicky, lemony and best served with a little Parm on top. I call it "Mom's Skillet Pasta" and she called it "Devon's Favorite Pasta." Either way it's a quick and easy weeknight dinner we created together and scribbled on a little recipe card more than a decade ago, and it remains in my weekly dinner rotation to this day. It's a simple dinner the whole family will love. Source: EatingWell.com, August 2018

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Lemon-Chile Shrimp Skewers

<p>Serve these zesty, lemony shrimp and vegetable skewers over hot rice for a complete meal. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine</p>
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Serve these zesty, lemony shrimp and vegetable skewers over hot rice for a complete meal. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine

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Creamy Lemon Chicken Parmesan

Creamy Lemon Chicken Parmesan
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This riff on classic chicken Parmesan replaces the usual marinara with a luscious lemony cream sauce. We've lightened it up by using half-and-half instead of cream, with just-as-delicious results. Serve this lemony chicken dinner with whole-wheat pasta or brown rice. Source: EatingWell.com, January 2018

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Slow-Cooker Lemon-Pepper Chicken Thighs with Broccolini

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What if you could have tender, slow-cooker chicken thighs and crisp Broccolini to feed four with 10 minutes of hands-on time and eight common ingredients? Now, you can, and here's the recipe to prove it. Garnish with fresh oregano leaves and additional kosher salt and black pepper, if desired. Source: Everyday Slow Cooker

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Linguine with Lemon Alfredo Shrimp

Linguine with Lemon Alfredo Shrimp
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This bright and lemony shrimp pasta dish was inspired by traditional Alfredo but comes in at only a fraction of the fat and calories. Reduced-fat cream cheese adds body to the sauce, while Parmesan cheese adds its signature robust flavor. This recipe calls for brown rice pasta, which is gluten-free, but if gluten is not a concern for you feel free to serve this sauce over regular linguine or fettucine--or any pasta you like! Source: EatingWell.com, March 2020

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Skillet Lemon Chicken & Potatoes with Kale

Skillet Lemon Chicken & Potatoes with Kale
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This easy one-pan skillet-roasted lemon chicken is perfect for weeknight dinners. Juicy chicken thighs are cooked in the same pan as baby potatoes and kale for a satisfying meal with the added bonus of minimal cleanup. Source: EatingWell.com, March 2019

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Slow-Cooker Citrus Salmon with Melted Leeks

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Credit: Slow-Cooker Citrus Salmon with Melted Leeks
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We've discovered the perfect pairing for this moist, lemony, slow-cooker salmon--slightly chewy leeks. Like other alliums, leeks become sweet and rich when roasted slowly for a long time. When cooked in the slow cooker they "melt," becoming jam-like but still retaining pleasant chewiness. Garnish with fresh sage leaves and thyme sprigs, if desired. Source: Everyday Slow Cooker

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Lemon Chicken Pasta

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We love the combination of lemon zest and toasted breadcrumbs in this quick and easy pasta recipe for one. This healthy dinner is made with rotisserie chicken and quick-cooking spiralized zucchini and baby zucchini, so you get a complete meal in just 10 minutes. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine, Summer 2019

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Lemon Chicken & Rice

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This easy Persian-inspired chicken and rice dish has a beautiful golden color and a wonderful fragrance. If you have saffron in the cupboard, do add that optional pinch; just a little will enhance the flavor and aroma of the dish. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine, Spring 2019

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Lemon-Glazed Trout

<p>Quick-cooking fish fillets are an excellent choice for a speedy entree. Be sure to purchase skinless fillets so the coating sticks evenly. For a healthy meal, serve this lemon-glazed trout with wilted greens. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine</p>
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Quick-cooking fish fillets are an excellent choice for a speedy entree. Be sure to purchase skinless fillets so the coating sticks evenly. For a healthy meal, serve this lemon-glazed trout with wilted greens. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine

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Quinoa, Chicken & Broccoli Salad with Roasted Lemon Dressing

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Roasting lemons mellows their tartness and creates a layer of caramelized flavor that pairs well with the raw broccoli and savory quinoa in this healthy chicken dinner salad. Even better, the chicken and lemons roast on one sheet pan, making cleanup a breeze. Source: EatingWell Magazine, November/December 2018

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    1 of 24 Baked Lemon-Pepper Chicken
    2 of 24 Crispy Chickpea Grain Bowl with Lemon Vinaigrette
    3 of 24 Lemon-Garlic Pasta with Salmon
    4 of 24 Creamy Lemon Pasta with Shrimp
    5 of 24 Lemon-Garlic Chicken with Green Beans
    6 of 24 Lemon Garlic Scallops
    7 of 24 Lemon-Sopressata Chicken
    8 of 24 Herb-Grilled Chicken Frites
    9 of 24 Lemon-Tahini Couscous with Chicken & Vegetables
    10 of 24 Spice-Roasted Chicken & Lemon Potatoes
    11 of 24 Old Bay Salmon with Lemony Mashed Peas
    12 of 24 Skillet Lemon Chicken with Spinach
    13 of 24 Slow-Cooker Lemon-Coriander Shrimp & Grits
    14 of 24 Chicken & Spinach Skillet Pasta with Lemon & Parmesan
    15 of 24 Lemon-Chile Shrimp Skewers
    16 of 24 Creamy Lemon Chicken Parmesan
    17 of 24 Slow-Cooker Lemon-Pepper Chicken Thighs with Broccolini
    18 of 24 Linguine with Lemon Alfredo Shrimp
    19 of 24 Skillet Lemon Chicken & Potatoes with Kale
    20 of 24 Slow-Cooker Citrus Salmon with Melted Leeks
    21 of 24 Lemon Chicken Pasta
    22 of 24 Lemon Chicken & Rice
    23 of 24 Lemon-Glazed Trout
    24 of 24 Quinoa, Chicken & Broccoli Salad with Roasted Lemon Dressing

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    24 Fresh & Lemony Dinner Recipes
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