Healthy Weeknight Dinner Recipes

Find healthy, delicious weeknight dinner recipes, from the food and nutrition experts at EatingWell.

Staff Picks

Mustard-Maple Pork Tenderloin

Rating: 5 stars 34
Pork tenderloin is about as lean as it comes so it's a great healthy option, but it shouldn't be overcooked as it can dry out. Maple and mustard make a sweet-and-savory mahogany-colored sauce. A delicate note of sage gives it a wintery touch. Fresh thyme or rosemary also work if you prefer. Serve with barley, roasted squash and a Pinot Noir.
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By EatingWell Test Kitchen

Lemon-Garlic Shrimp & Vegetables

Rating: 4 stars 17
Here's a healthy twist on shrimp scampi. We left out the butter and loaded the dish up with red peppers and asparagus for a refreshing spring meal. Serve with quinoa.
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By EatingWell Test Kitchen

Grilled Fish Tacos

Rating: 4.5 stars 12
Instead of deep-frying the fish for these tacos, we coat the fish with a flavor-packed chili rub and grill it.
Bruce Aidells
By Bruce Aidells

Sweet Potato & Black Bean Chili

Rating: 4.5 stars 96
Make a double batch of this quick vegetarian chili, full of black beans and sweet potatoes, and eat it for lunch the next day or freeze the extras for another night.
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By EatingWell Test Kitchen

Chicken & Spinach Skillet Pasta with Lemon & Parmesan

Rating: 4 stars 63
This one-pan chicken pasta combines lean chicken breast and sautéed spinach for a one-bowl meal that's 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.
By Devon O'Brien

American Goulash

Rating: 4.5 stars 30
American goulash, also known as old-fashioned goulash, is the perfect economical family meal. The pasta cooks right in the sauce, so this satisfying dish can cook in just one pot.
By Carolyn Casner

Creamy Chicken & Mushrooms

Rating: 4 stars 25
Whether you scored wild mushrooms at the farmers' market, found cultivated maitake or shiitake at the supermarket or just have some baby bellas on hand, this healthy creamy chicken recipe is delicious with any of them. Serve over whole-wheat egg noodles or mashed potatoes.
By Carolyn Malcoun

One-Pan Chicken Parmesan Pasta

Rating: 4.5 stars 29
This chicken Parmesan pasta uses the one-pot pasta method to cook your noodles, chicken and sauce all in one skillet for a fast and easy dinner with minimal cleanup.
Hilary Meyer
By Hilary Meyer

Chickpea & Quinoa Bowl with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

Rating: 4.5 stars 17
Quinoa and chickpeas pack this vegetarian grain bowl with plenty of plant-based protein. Whip up a batch of these flavorful grain bowls and pack them in lidded containers to stash in the fridge for easy, healthy grab-and-go lunches all week long.
By Carolyn Casner

Slow-Cooker Mediterranean Diet Stew

Rating: 4.5 stars 12
With a focus on vegetables, fiber-rich legumes and healthy fats, this slow-cooker stew fits the bill for those following the Mediterranean diet. Swap out the chickpeas for white beans for a different twist, or try collards or spinach in place of the kale. A drizzle of olive oil to finish pulls together the flavors of this easy vegan crock pot stew.
By Sarah Epperson

One-Pot Spinach, Chicken Sausage & Feta Pasta

Rating: 4.5 stars 24
A little bit of Sunday meal prep goes a long way in this one-dish 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.
Katie Webster
By Katie Webster

Slow-Cooker Chicken & Chickpea Soup

Rating: 4 stars 30
This set-it-and-forget-it slow-cooker recipe simmers away all day so you come home to a warm and healthy dinner the whole family will love. Using bone-in chicken is the key to making rich soup without adding broth.
By Carolyn Malcoun
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Inspiration and Ideas

5-Ingredient Dinners for Less Than $50
Get a week's worth of budget-friendly, 5-ingredient weeknight meals (plus, get a shopping list!)
Roast Chicken & Sweet Potatoes
Caramelized sweet potatoes and red onion are the bed for chicken thighs that cook up fast in a very hot oven—perfect for a quick healthy chicken dinner.
Rosemary Roasted Salmon with Asparagus & Potatoes
Rating: 4.5 stars 9

Yukon Golds are great here because they get crispy on the outside but completely creamy on the inside. A brush stroke or two of balsamic glaze provides a rich color and a sweet finish to the roasted salmon.