25 Light Dinner Recipe Ideas (2024)

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These delicious light dinner ideas are perfect for when you want an easy meal.

Sometimes you want a nice hearty meal but other nights when you're feeling snacky or just want something light and simple, these recipes will be perfect.

We've got ideas for vegetarian meals, salads as main meals, chicken and seafood recipes.

These recipes are perfect for when you want to quickly whip something healthy together.

Mediterranean Salmon Salad

Tender salmon combines with crisp Romaine lettuce, juicy tomatoes and cucumbers, and much more for a delicious Mediterranean salmon salad recipe.

25 Light Dinner Recipe Ideas (1)

Zucchini Noodles with Marina

This zucchini spaghetti with zoodles and a delicious marinara sauce is a bright, fresh meal! It's easy to make spiralized zucchini noodles and they taste great.

25 Light Dinner Recipe Ideas (2)

Black Bean Salad

You're going to love this black bean salad with bell peppers, red onion, and a kick of fajita seasoning.

25 Light Dinner Recipe Ideas (3)

Watermelon Poke Bowl

These watermelon poke bowls are easy and refreshing! This is obviously not a traditional poke recipe, but it is super tasty and vegan.

25 Light Dinner Recipe Ideas (4)

Udon Noodle Soup with Mushrooms and Bok Choy

This udon noodle soup is a wonderful, cozy meal. It's perfect for a night when you want a warm, brothy bowl that's fast.

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Coconut Crusted Tilapia

This coconut crusted tilapia recipe is richly flavorful and wonderfully spiced.You can make this recipe with any white fish fillet, but we chose tilapia because it's abundant and reasonably priced!

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Pesto Eggs

This recipe for pesto eggs is wildly flavorful. The eggs are fried in a layer of pesto sauce and served with a spread of goat cheese on some crusty toast.

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Lemon Chicken Rice Soup

This lemon chicken rice soup recipe is perfect for when you want a cozy bowl of warm and hearty soup.

While this soup is on the thicker side, from the rice and chicken, it's brightened up with the freshness of the lemon juice, leeks, carrots, and celery.

25 Light Dinner Recipe Ideas (8)

Vegetarian Miso Ramen Recipe

This fantastic vegetarian miso ramen recipe has layers of flavor, thanks to the stock, two types of miso, and toasted sesame oil!

25 Light Dinner Recipe Ideas (9)

Poached Sea Bass Recipe

This poached sea bass recipe will be one of your favorite seafood meals!

It's full of flavor - the delicate fish, the briny olives, the aromatic wine, and the fresh herbs all combine to make this an amazing meal.

25 Light Dinner Recipe Ideas (10)

Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs

These lemon pepper chicken thighs are a zesty and delicious weeknight meal. They're so juicy and flavorful while still be really easy to make!

25 Light Dinner Recipe Ideas (11)

Grilled Cod in Foil

This delicious grilled cod in foil is topped with a lemon butter sauce that pairs perfectly with the mild flavor of the cod.

25 Light Dinner Recipe Ideas (12)

Mediterranean Chicken Salad

This Mediterranean chicken salad is everything you need in an easy, quick weeknight meal. It's full of delicious flavors - artichokes, bell peppers, beans, chickpeas - it has everything.

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Crispy Baked Haddock

This delicious crispy baked haddock recipe is a tasty meal that's ready in minutes! The panko and parmesan crust on this fish is perfection.

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Roasted Tomato Soup

This delicious roasted tomato soup with basil and garlic is deeply flavorful. It's relatively simple to make and doesn't require much hands-on time.

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Savoy Cabbage Salad

This chopped savoy cabbage salad is bursting with flavor!

The variety of flavors in this salad is stunning! The ginger dressing is the perfect complement to the subtle veggie flavors.

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Blackened Tilapia

This spicy blackened tilapia recipe is ready in minutes! The seasoning and sautéing of this dish combine to make a delicious, tender fish.

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Avocado Caprese Salad

ThisAvocado Caprese Saladis a perfect saladrecipe. It's easy to make, highlights fresh, seasonal ingredients, and is full of flavor!

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Sheet Pan Salmon Recipe

This sheet pan salmon with haricots verts and radishes and a mustardy dressing is an easy weeknight meal.

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Shrimp Summer Rolls

These tasty shrimp summer rolls are made with crunchy cucumber, rice vermicelli noodles, and lots of fresh herbs. They're fun to make and absolutely delicious.

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Chickpea Salad with Cucumber

This easy chickpea cucumber and feta salad is ready in about 15 minutes! It's a great light meal for two.

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Roasted Acorn Squash Soup

This creamy acorn squash soup recipe combines roasted acorn squash, onions, garlic, apple, spices, and herbs for a wonderfully hearty winter squash soup.

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Asian Pear Arugula Salad with Blue Cheese

This delicious Asian pear salad is made with blue cheese, arugula, frisée, and grapes. It's such a delicious and beautiful salad recipe.

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Spring Farro Salad

This delightful spring farro salad has roasted asparagus, broccolini, and radishes. It's absolutely bursting with flavor.

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Pan-Seared Halibut with Capers and Dill


This delicious pan-seared halibut is topped with a lemon butter sauce, dill, and capers. The briny, bold flavors pair incredibly well with the fish.

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Tuna Salad Lettuce Wraps

These tasty tuna salad wraps are the perfect combination of creamy tuna salad and crispy lettuce.

They're ready in just a few minutes and make a fantastic, low-carb dinner option.

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Yield: 4 servings

Light Dinner Ideas

25 Light Dinner Recipe Ideas (27)

Try one of our favorite light dinner recipes - this tasty salmon salad has all the flavor and is a great healthy meal.

Prep Time15 minutes

Cook Time8 minutes

Additional Time5 minutes

Total Time28 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 pound salmon
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper, divided
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 4 cups chopped Romaine lettuce
  • 3 Persian cucumbers, sliced
  • 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 (14.5 ounces) can artichoke hearts, drained and halved
  • ½ cup pitted kalamata olives
  • 2 ounces crumbly feta cheese
  • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

Instructions

  1. Pat the salmon dry and then salt it with 1 teaspoon of kosher salt and ½ teaspoon black pepper.
  2. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, reduce the heat to medium and add the salmon, skin side down. Cook for 5 minutes. Flip and cook for another 2 to 4 minutes or until the salmon is flaky or reaches 145 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer.
  3. When the salmon is done cooking, remove it from the pan and allow it to rest on a cutting board. When cooled slightly, flake it apart into smaller pieces.
  4. On a large serving platter, spread out the lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, artichoke hearts, and olives. Top the salad with the salmon pieces. Sprinkle the feta cheese across the top.
  5. Whisk together the remaining two tablespoons of olive oil, a teaspoon of salt, ½ teaspoon of pepper, and lemon juice.
  6. Pour the dressing over the salad and serve immediately.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 445Total Fat: 31gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 22gCholesterol: 84mgSodium: 948mgCarbohydrates: 13gFiber: 4gSugar: 6gProtein: 30g

25 Light Dinner Recipe Ideas (2024)

FAQs

What is an example of a light meal? ›

Our favorite fresh and light dinner ideas include pastas, salads, sandwiches, grain bowls, and more meals you'll crave. We even have healthy recipes for steak, burgers, and other comfort foods.

What is a healthy light late night dinner? ›

Limited fat and protein

At night, that could lead to uncomfortable symptoms like reflux or bloating, so you're better off eating carbs and a little protein, she says. For example, scrambled eggs with a side of fruit, a small salad with nuts and chickpeas, or a piece of chicken and steamed veggies.

What to cook for 30 guests? ›

Feed-a-crowd recipes
  • Spiced salmon with traybaked sag aloo. ...
  • Chicken Provençal. ...
  • Chicken gyros. ...
  • Sharing bavette with blue cheese, beef dripping wedges & ranch salad. ...
  • Sticky tamarind tomato & spinach whirl. ...
  • Summer vegetable & flatbread platter with dill & mustard dip. ...
  • Spring sharing board. ...
  • Waste-nothing loaded potato wedges.

What is a good meal to make for a large group? ›

The Best Build-Your-Own Recipes/Ideas
  • Taco Salad/Taco BarTacos never get old and they are endlessly customizable! ...
  • Hawaiian Haystacks. ...
  • Breakfast Burritos. ...
  • Sandwich Bar. ...
  • Baked Potato Bar. ...
  • Mexican Haystacks. ...
  • Sweet Pork Cilantro Lime Rice Bowls. ...
  • Yum Yum Bowls/Buddha Bowls.
Jun 7, 2019

What food is light but filling? ›

The healthiest lower energy-dense choices are foods that are high in protein but low in fat and calories, such as:
  • Beans, peas and lentils, which are also good sources of fiber.
  • Fish.
  • Lean meat and poultry.
  • Low-fat or fat-free dairy products, such as milk, yogurt and cheese.
  • Egg whites.

What is the lightest food to eat at night? ›

Here are 14 excellent and healthy late-night snack ideas.
  1. Tart cherries. Consider adding tart cherries like Montmorency or their juice to your late-night snack options. ...
  2. Banana with almond butter. ...
  3. Kiwi. ...
  4. Protein smoothie. ...
  5. Goji berries. ...
  6. Crackers and cheese. ...
  7. Hot cereal. ...
  8. Trail mix.
Nov 30, 2022

What is the most light food? ›

Here are 13 low calorie foods that are surprisingly filling.
  • Popcorn. ...
  • Chia seeds. ...
  • Fish. ...
  • Cottage cheese. ...
  • Potatoes. ...
  • Lean meat. ...
  • Legumes. ...
  • Watermelon. Watermelon has a high water content to keep you hydrated and full while supplying a minimal number of calories.

Are scrambled eggs considered a light meal? ›

Scrambled eggs is a very easy to make dish among traditional recipes. This light meal is made of whites and yolks mixed with milk. It can be served with different sauces, gravies, vegetables and is ideal for breakfast.

What is a light meal easy to digest? ›

What are the easiest and fastest foods to digest?
  • canned or cooked fruit without seeds or skin.
  • canned or cooked vegetables without seeds or skin.
  • lean meat and other lean protein.
  • refined grains, like white bread.
  • low fat dairy products, if you aren't lactose intolerant.
  • fermented foods, like sauerkraut and pickles.
Mar 25, 2024

What foods to avoid before bed? ›

Suggested foods to avoid near bedtime include:
  • Spicy foods.
  • Foods high in fat, such as fried foods, full-fat dairy products, and fatty meats.
  • Acidic foods, such as tomatoes and citrus fruits.
  • Caffeine-containing food and drink, including chocolate, coffee, and tea.
  • Alcohol.
Jan 9, 2024

What to make for dinner when you're tired? ›

  • Absolutely, coming home tired from work calls for quick and easy recipes. Here are some simple and delicious ideas:
  • One-Pan Baked Lemon Garlic Chicken:
  • Sheet Pan Fajitas:
  • Quick Shrimp Stir-Fry:
  • Caprese Salad with Rotisserie Chicken:
  • Avocado and Chickpea Salad:
  • Pasta Aglio e Olio:
  • Egg Fried Rice:
Mar 17, 2023

What is the best dinner to eat at night? ›

Serve with Instant Pot Black Beans and Restaurant Style Mexican Rice.
  • Perfect Roast Chicken with Lemon Herb Pan Sauce. The original easy dinner—roast chicken. ...
  • Whole Roast Chicken with Carrots. Same as above but with carrots! ...
  • Greek Chicken Freezer Meal. ...
  • Freezer Chicken Fajitas. ...
  • Chicken Piccata.

What should I feed 20 people on a budget? ›

Cheap tricks for the best outdoor cookouts.
  • 1 / 7. Hot Dog Snack Board. ...
  • 2 / 7. No-Cook Dip and Veggie Summer Board. ...
  • 3 / 7. Instant Pot Pulled Porchetta Sandwiches. ...
  • 4 / 7. Chicken Caesar Salad Skewers. ...
  • 5 / 7. Chopped BBQ Chicken Salad. ...
  • 6 / 7. Fish Tacos. ...
  • 7 / 7. Ice Cream Sandwiches for a Crowd.
Apr 19, 2023

How to cater for 20 people? ›

Finger foods, canapes, and grazing tables are great options that can feed a crowd and are easy to shape around any style. From gourmet cured meats and cheeses to catering classics like mini pies and pastries, there is bound to be something for any theme.

How much food do you need for 20 guests? ›

Food for Dinner Parties
FoodUp to 10 guests20-30
Green salad10 cups30 cups
Fruit salad5 cups15 cups
Rolls or bread slices20 pieces60 pieces
Cakes1 layer cake3 layer cakes
9 more rows

What is the best cheap food to feed a crowd? ›

Feed the masses without breaking the bank with these budget-friendly dishes.
  • Turkey and Pumpkin Lasagne. ...
  • Slow Cooker Savoury Mince. ...
  • Slow cooker barbecue chicken. ...
  • Slow cooker chicken and olives. ...
  • Slow cooker beef stew. ...
  • Creamy Chicken Pie. ...
  • Chicken, Avocado and Bacon Salad. ...
  • Potato Salad.

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