Low-Calorie European Recipes

Find healthy, delicious low-calorie European recipes, from the food and nutrition experts at EatingWell.

Staff Picks

Chicken & White Bean Soup

Rating: 4.5 stars 21
Once again, rotisserie chickens can really relieve the dinner-rush pressure-especially in this Italian-inspired soup that cries out for a piece of crusty bread and a glass of red wine.
Eating Well Bio Page
By EatingWell Test Kitchen

Mozzarella, Basil & Zucchini Frittata

Rating: 5 stars 20
This vegetable-studded frittata recipe is one of the quickest meals you can make. Make it for breakfast, or serve for lunch or dinner with a tossed salad and a slice of olive oil-drizzled crusty baguette.
A portrait of Breana Killeen, M.P.H., RD
By Breana Lai Killeen, M.P.H., RD

Sheet-Pan Roasted Salmon & Vegetables

Rating: 5 stars 13
This dish is packed with flavor and fits perfectly into a Mediterranean diet.
By Diabetic Living Magazine

Beet Salad

Rating: 4 stars 9
This simple beet salad recipe uses just a handful of ingredients to create a delightful side dish. Roasted beets add a sweet, earthy and aromatic flavor that shines in this side salad.
By Bruce Weinstein & Mark Scarbrough

EatingWell's Eggplant Parmesan

Rating: 4.5 stars 35
Here we bake breaded eggplant for crispy results with fewer calories to boot. This makeover of the classic eggplant Parmesan recipe was originally developed by our Test Kitchen in 1995 and got an update in 2020 for our 30th anniversary issue.
Eating Well Bio Page
By EatingWell Test Kitchen

Hearty Minestrone

Rating: 4 stars 16
This version of the Italian classic soup Minestrone is packed with leeks, potatoes, beans, zucchini, spinach and orzo, making it perfect for a hearty lunch or supper on a cold winter's night. To make a vegetarian version use vegetable rather than chicken broth. Top each bowl with freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano for a zesty burst of flavor.
By Kathleen Desmond Stang

Tuscan White Bean Soup

Rating: 4 stars 6
A pound of dried beans is the inexpensive foundation for this simple, hearty meal. Serve it with slices of whole-wheat bread or a side salad for a complete and satisfying lunch or dinner.
By Lauren Grant

Creamy Cucumber Soup

Rating: 4 stars 22
There's no reason to only eat cucumbers raw—they are wonderful sautéed then pureed with avocado for a silky cucumber soup that's good warm or cold.
Eating Well Bio Page
By EatingWell Test Kitchen

Lemon & Dill Chicken

Rating: 4.5 stars 38
Fresh lemon and dill create a quick Greek-inspired pan sauce for simple sautéed chicken breasts. Make it a meal: Serve with roasted broccoli and whole-wheat orzo.
Eating Well Bio Page
By EatingWell Test Kitchen

Chicken Saltimbocca

Rating: 4.5 stars 5
This healthy chicken saltimbocca recipe makes an impressive, yet fast, classy dinner. Serve this Italian-inspired chicken with roasted broccoli rabe and creamy polenta to round out this elegant meal.
By Diana Henry

Garlic Chicken Thighs with Olives & Potatoes

Rating: 5 stars 7
Bright-green Castelvetrano olives hail from Sicily and have a buttery flavor and meaty texture that pair perfectly with the Italian seasoning and salty capers in this one-skillet chicken dinner. Look for them on your supermarket olive bar or in jars with Italian ingredients.
Hilary Meyer
By Hilary Meyer

Avocado Pesto

Rating: 4.5 stars 11
Avocados add a silky consistency and cheese-like richness to this dairy-free pesto recipe.
By Jason Mraz
Advertisement

Inspiration and Ideas

15 Low-Calorie Mediterranean Diet Dinners You Can Make in 30 Minutes or Less
From grain bowls and salads to pasta and shrimp, these delicious and easy dinners are packed with staple ingredients of the Mediterranean diet, like fresh produce, whole grains and healthy fats. All containing 400 calories or less, these dinners will help you reach your nutritional goals and only take 30 minutes or less to make. Recipes like our Quinoa Salad with Feta, Olives & Tomatoes and Vegetarian Sushi Grain Bowl will have you enjoying one of the healthiest eating patterns around.
15 Low-Calorie Lunch Recipes for the Mediterranean Diet
With only 400 calories or less, these light yet filling lunches can help you meet your nutritional goals. They include ingredients like whole grains, leafy greens and fish, which are staples of the Mediterranean diet, one of the healthiest eating patterns around.
Sheet-Pan Ratatouille

Ratatouille is a type of veggie-forward, Provençal-style stew. Our sheet-pan ratatouille features tangy goat cheese and sweet balsamic glaze that complement the tender charred vegetables. Bake the tomatoes on a separate pan so that the steam from the tomatoes won't steam the other vegetables.