20 Healthy, Easy 20-Minute Dinners to Make in March

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Taste the season with these healthy and easy dinner recipes. Highlighting spring produce like asparagus, broccoli, mushrooms and peas, these evening meals are perfect for March. And all it takes is 20 minutes or less to prepare these dishes, so you'll be enjoying recipes like our Creamy Lemon-Basil Chicken and Crispy Cod with Charred Snow Peas & Creamy Herb Sauce in no time.

01 of 20

Crispy Cod with Charred Snow Peas & Creamy Herb Sauce

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This crispy cod recipe shows you how to make golden fish that's not deep-fried, to put a healthy twist on a classic. Pat it dry and dredge it with a bit of flour before sautéing in a hot pan.

02 of 20

Sweet & Sour Chicken with Broccoli

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This easy chicken and broccoli recipe makes a delicious, healthier alternative to Chinese takeout--and it takes just 20 minutes to make, so it's ideal for an easy weeknight dinner. When toasted, ramen noodles make a tasty, crunchy topping for a stir-fry or salad.

03 of 20

Spinach, Lima Bean & Crispy Pancetta Pasta

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We opt for fresh spinach pasta here--it cooks quickly and adds a pop of color. Cooking lima beans in pancetta drippings infuses them with flavor.

04 of 20

Creamy Lemon-Basil Chicken

a recipe photo of the Creamy Lemon-Basil Chicken served in a skillet
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn

This ultra-quick creamy lemon-basil chicken is bright and refreshing. Using whole lemon slices in the sauce gathers the essential oils from the rind plus the acidic punch from the flesh and adds more depth of flavor than juice and zest alone.

05 of 20

Salmon with Curried Yogurt & Cucumber Salad

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Three ingredients you probably already have on hand--curry powder, yogurt and lemon juice--meld into a mouthwatering sauce that transforms simple grilled salmon. This healthy and easy dinner recipe comes together in just 20 minutes.

06 of 20

One-Pot Lemon-Broccoli Pasta with Parmesan

overhead shot of brown bowl filled with rotini pasta, broccoli, parmesan and lemon slices

This hearty pasta dish with bright, fresh flavor is ideal for busy weeknights. The Parmesan adds welcome saltiness and notes of umami and you get added texture from the slight crunch of broccoli and whole-wheat noodles. Add some shredded rotisserie chicken, grilled shrimp or crispy chickpeas to punch up the protein.

07 of 20

Air-Fryer Katsu Sandwiches

a recipe photo of the Air-Fryer Katsu Sandwiches
Photographer: Kelsey Hansen, Food Stylist: Kelsey Moylan

Katsu is a Japanese dish featuring a fried breadcrumb-coated piece of meat, often sliced and served with a dipping sauce on the side. Here, we take the crispy chicken cutlet and use it as a base for a sandwich. A tonkatsu-inspired tangy sauce pairs well with the chicken, while a napa cabbage and radish slaw provides freshness and crunch.

08 of 20

Garlic, Sausage & Kale Naan Pizzas

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We love sausage, but it can be high in sodium. In this fast, healthy dinner, we make our own turkey sausage with crushed red pepper, garlic, fennel seeds, paprika and just a touch of salt.

09 of 20

One-Pot Garlicky Shrimp & Broccoli

One-Pot Garlicky Shrimp & Broccoli
Photography / Kelsey Hansen, Styling / Greg Luna

Shrimp cooks quickly in this easy, one-pot recipe, making it perfect for busy weeknights. Serve over whole grains or rice.

10 of 20

20-Minute Balsamic Mushroom & Spinach Pasta

20-Minute Balsamic Mushroom & Spinach Pasta
Antonis Achilleos

This 20-minute veggie pasta dish is super savory, thanks to meaty mushrooms, while the natural sweetness from the balsamic vinegar, basil and pistachios brighten up this quick, healthy vegetarian dinner.

11 of 20

Panko- & Parmesan-Crusted Baked Scallops

Panko- & Parmesan-Crusted Baked Scallops

This baked scallops recipe features a delightful balance of a crunchy, golden-brown topping and tender, sweet scallops. They feel decadent like scallops should, thanks to the tasty lemon-butter sauce.

12 of 20

Gluten-Free Teriyaki Chicken with Broccoli

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Everyone loves teriyaki chicken—and this one is better for you with much less added sugar. It's also gluten-free so long as you use tamari (aka gluten-free soy sauce). Feel free to swap out the broccoli for any veggie—carrots, snow peas, green beans—that you have on hand.

13 of 20

Quick Tortilla Soup

Quick Tortilla Soup
Brie Passano

This hearty, veggie-packed soup packs a bit of heat, thanks to the tomatoes and green chiles! If you prefer things milder, swap in a 15-ounce can of no-salt-added diced tomatoes and add 2 teaspoons of low-sodium taco seasoning.

14 of 20

Air-Fryer Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

a recipe photo of the Air-Fryer Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Photographer: Brie Passano, Food Stylist: Greg Luna

Make these sandwiches with your favorite type of apple. Give Granny Smith, Gala or Pink Lady a try. If you don't love arugula, try romaine or spinach.

15 of 20

Old Bay Salmon with Lemony Mashed Peas

salmon on a plate with lemon wedges

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!

16 of 20

Vegetarian All-American Portobello Burgers

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Portobello mushrooms stand in for meat patties in this recipe for veggie burgers with all the fixings. Mushrooms are a source of glutamate, a naturally occurring compound that gives the fungi their umami flavor. But to really give these "patties" a savory boost, we brush them with steak sauce. Add a simple side salad or some grilled veggies for a satisfying and easy dinner on the grill.

17 of 20

BBQ Chicken Tacos with Red Cabbage Slaw

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This zippy, creamy slaw is so good you might find yourself making it for other sandwiches. Still, it pairs beautifully with the tangy pulled chicken for an incredibly quick dinner you can make even on your busiest nights. To save even more time, use a preshredded coleslaw blend.

18 of 20

Ravioli with Arugula & Pecorino

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Elevate frozen ravioli with sizzled garlic and shallots, shaved pecorino and fresh arugula. Serve with: Whole-grain baguette and a light-bodied red wine, such as pinot noir.

19 of 20

Egg Drop Soup with Instant Noodles, Spinach & Scallions

Egg Drop Soup with Instant Noodles, Spinach & Scallions

Whisking a beaten egg into simmering broth is a quick and easy way to add creaminess and protein to noodle soup mix. Add freshness with a handful of baby spinach at the end. This recipe can easily be doubled to serve 2 and use the whole package of noodles. To cut back on sodium, look for noodle varieties with less than 600 mg sodium per serving or use less of the seasoning packet.

20 of 20

Chopped Salad with Chicken & Avocado-Buttermilk Dressing

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This herb-loaded green goddess-inspired dressing gets a color boost from creamy avocado. Make a double batch of this healthy salad dressing to keep on hand for salads throughout the week.

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