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  7. 16 Easy 500-Calorie Dinners You'll Want to Make This Fall

16 Easy 500-Calorie Dinners You'll Want to Make This Fall

Leah Goggins headshot
Leah Goggins Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD August 30, 2021
Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD
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Sheet-Pan Chicken & Brussels Sprouts

Having a healthy, homemade meal doesn't have to be out of reach on busy days. These recipes keep active time in the kitchen to 20 minutes or less, so you can pull together a deliciously seasonal meal in no time at all. Plus, each recipe has 500 calories or less per serving so you can feel full and satisfied while meeting your nutrition goals. Recipes like our Sheet-Pan Chicken & Brussels Sprouts and Creamy White Chili with Cream Cheese are cozy meals that will taste like a labor of love—but without all the effort.

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Sheet-Pan Chicken & Brussels Sprouts

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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.

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Sheet-Pan Chicken Fajita Bowls

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Skip the tortillas in favor of this warm fajita salad, which features a nutritious medley of chicken with roasted kale, bell peppers and black beans. The chicken, beans and vegetables are all cooked on the same pan, so this healthy dinner is easy to make and the cleanup is easy too.

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Broccolini, Chicken Sausage & Orzo Skillet

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We love this quick skillet meal for busy evenings. The sausage and orzo simmer together in chicken broth, resulting in a creamy, risotto-like dish in under 30 minutes.

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Roasted Vegetable & Black Bean Tacos

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These hearty vegan tacos are quick and easy to make, perfect for busy weeknights. They are so tasty no one will miss the meat or dairy.

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Maple-Roasted Chicken Thighs with Sweet Potato Wedges and Brussels Sprouts

Maple-Roasted Chicken Thighs with Sweet Potato Wedges and Brussels Sprouts
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This easy sheet-pan recipe brings together many fall favorites into a hearty dinner.

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Layered Brisket Dinner with Tangy Mustard Sauce

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Perfectly seasoned red potatoes and baby carrots accompany this filling brisket dish.

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Creamy White Chili with Cream Cheese

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This rich, yet healthy, white chicken chili comes together in a flash thanks to quick-cooking chicken thighs and canned white beans. Mashing some of the beans acts as a fast thickener when your soups don't have a long time to simmer. Cream cheese adds the final bit of richness and a hint of sweet tang.

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Quinoa Chickpea Salad with Roasted Red Pepper Hummus Dressing

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This hearty vegan salad is loaded with plant-based power ingredients: chickpeas, quinoa and hummus. We love the crunch of the sunflower seeds and the unexpected flavor of roasted peppers.

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Parmesan Chicken & Brussels Sprouts

Parmesan Chicken & Brussels Sprouts
Credit: Jacob Fox
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Parmesan and breadcrumbs combine for a crispy chicken topping without having to go through the full dredging process. While your oven's on, roast some potatoes to serve alongside for a balanced, filling meal.

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White Bean-Sage Cauliflower Gnocchi

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Turn lower-carb cauliflower gnocchi into a complete and satisfying meal with this riff on classic brown butter and sage gnocchi. We added beans to amp up the fiber and protein for a fast and healthy dinner.

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Salt & Vinegar Sheet-Pan Chicken & Brussels Sprouts

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A strong vinegar, like malt or sherry, gives this baked chicken recipe a pucker factor reminiscent of salt-and-vinegar chips. Everything cooks on one pan, making this chicken sheet-pan dinner perfect for weeknights when you want big results for little effort (so, pretty much every weeknight!).

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Butternut Squash Soup with Avocado & Chickpeas

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Jazz up a can of soup by adding protein with chickpeas and flavor with curry powder. Stir in a little Greek yogurt to make it creamy.

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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.

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Taco-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Taco-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
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Take taco night to a new level with sweet potato taco "shells." Tender sweet potatoes pair perfectly with spicy taco meat, creamy cheese and crisp lettuce. Let everyone customize their taco potato with their favorite toppings.

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Pressure-Cooker Grain Bowl

Pressure-Cooker Grain Bowl
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Whip up this healthy vegetarian grain bowl with ease in your Instant Pot. Pressure-cooking the sweet potato is faster and yields the perfect texture. A drizzle of homemade spicy dressing takes this easy dinner to the next level.

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Butternut Squash & Black Bean Tostadas

Butternut Squash & Black Bean Tostadas
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The butternut squash-and-black bean base in these healthy vegetarian tostadas has a mild, sweet-spicy flavor thanks to ancho chile powder. If you can't find ancho chile powder, other mildly spicy chili powder can be used. Serve with your favorite hot sauce.

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    1 of 16 Sheet-Pan Chicken & Brussels Sprouts
    2 of 16 Sheet-Pan Chicken Fajita Bowls
    3 of 16 Broccolini, Chicken Sausage & Orzo Skillet
    4 of 16 Roasted Vegetable & Black Bean Tacos
    5 of 16 Maple-Roasted Chicken Thighs with Sweet Potato Wedges and Brussels Sprouts
    6 of 16 Layered Brisket Dinner with Tangy Mustard Sauce
    7 of 16 Creamy White Chili with Cream Cheese
    8 of 16 Quinoa Chickpea Salad with Roasted Red Pepper Hummus Dressing
    9 of 16 Parmesan Chicken & Brussels Sprouts
    10 of 16 White Bean-Sage Cauliflower Gnocchi
    11 of 16 Salt & Vinegar Sheet-Pan Chicken & Brussels Sprouts
    12 of 16 Butternut Squash Soup with Avocado & Chickpeas
    13 of 16 Loaded Mediterranean Chicken-Quinoa Salad
    14 of 16 Taco-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
    15 of 16 Pressure-Cooker Grain Bowl
    16 of 16 Butternut Squash & Black Bean Tostadas

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    16 Easy 500-Calorie Dinners You'll Want to Make This Fall
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