21+ Dinner Recipes Under 500 Calories

These 21+ Meals Under 500 Calories are all hearty, healthy meals, with many high in protein — they will keep you going all day long! 

Hello, friends!

I have been working really hard to add nutrition information to a lot of my recipes. Mostly the dinner and breakfast recipes, as dessert is usually a splurge and not an everyday thing (unless it is, and that’s okay, too!).

If you had asked me a few months ago, you’d know that I never had any intentions to add calorie counts to my recipes.

Not because they’re not healthy, but because it’s so easy for calorie calculators to be wrong. All brands of products are slightly different, and a lot of ingredients I don’t weigh, which makes it even more difficult. I don’t feel it’s realistic for me to give you a recipe that requires 468 grams of chicken breast — it makes more sense for me to ask for 2 chicken breasts, but 2 chicken breasts can vary greatly in size and calories.

I want you to keep that in mind as we go from here — all of my calorie counts were calculated using the My Fitness Pal Recipe Calorie Calculator (which is free for anyone to use!), and I’ve done my best to ensure they’re accurate. But they will still vary slightly for everybody.

If you have a condition that requires you to know exactly what you are eating, you will want to do your own calculations using your own preferred brand of ingredients. The nutrition information is only to be used as a guide.

Moving on!

I want you to know that I generally take my health and nutrition pretty seriously. I feel like most people who browse my recipe index would assume otherwise — when what comes up is pastas, and cheesy skillet dinners, and burritos.

However, I have done a lot of research about nutrition in my day. For a couple years before I had my first child, I was fascinated with it. I subscribed to all kinds of health and fitness magazines, and I counted calories.

These days, I focus on making healthier swaps so that I can eat the food I want to eat. I don’t count calories. I don’t deprive myself. I work out so I can eat cookies. And that’s what you’ll see here.

I don’t do kale chips, or salad, or just generally a lot of green things (though I do love a good mint chocolate cookie 😉 ). I confess — as I’ve confessed before — I am a picky eater.

So what you’ll find here are healthier dinner recipes with sneaky swaps and hidden veggies. If you’re looking to eat healthier but you can’t live off broccoli and celery alone, I’m your girl. I hope you enjoy these dinner recipes as much as I have!

P.S. If you have any favorite recipes you’d like me to make healthier, I would love to hear about them!

Slow Cooker Garlic Parmesan Chicken Stew: 255 calories

One Pan Teriyaki Chicken and Noodles: 413 calories

Easy Homemade Hamburger Helper: 469 calories

Loaded Baked Potato Breakfast Casserole: 166 calories

Healthier Skillet Chicken Parmesan: 440 calories (serve half a breast with pasta and veg for a full meal!)

Our Favorite Breakfast Burritos: 356 calories

The Best Oven Fried Chicken: 338 calories

Maple Ginger Beef: 224 calories (serve with rice and veggies)

Slow Cooker Mango Salsa Chicken: 160 calories (serve with buns or rice and salad)

Healthier Skillet Lasagna: 460 calories

Lightened Up Slow Cooker Cheeseburger Soup: 424 calories

Fajita Turkey Burgers: 172 calories (serve with buns if desired)

One Pot Chicken Chow Mein: 316 calories

Healthier Slow Cooker Hamburger Helper: 410 calories

Honey Lemon Chicken and Potato Skillet: 330 calories

Slow Cooker Italian Chicken Sandwiches: 112 calories (serve with buns if desired)

20 Minute Ham and Pineapple Rice: 208 calories

Quinoa Corn Chowder: 313 calories

Slow Cooker Beef and Lentil Sloppy Joes: 365 calories (serve with buns if desired)

30 Minute Skillet Chicken Stew: 278 calories

BBQ Chili Cheese Biscuit Casserole: 458 calories

Slow Cooker Honey Sriracha Chicken Tacos: 293 calories