It isn’t easy to come up with a week’s worth of meal ideas that are both under 500 calories and taste good. And then, you will want to have something comforting, sweet, and not repeat the same recipes over and over again.
I have over 3000 recipes on my blog, and I have selected the best healthy, low-cal meals you can try and make tonight! This list has ideas for the main courses with fish, chicken, or vegetarian options, side dishes, and even a pie!
Many of these recipes are not just low in calories but also low in carbs and gluten, which makes them perfect for a keto lifestyle and safe for everyone to enjoy, guilt-free.
Gina’s Rundown:
Why I love it: I like how diverse these low-cal recipes are! They will surprise you with bold flavors and you will never guess you are eating something so healthy just by looking at them!
Air Fryer Turkey Breast
A healthy dinner made using air frying, this recipe delivers juicy, tender and simple turkey meat with under 300 kcal per portion. It makes enough to feed a big family and use leftovers the next day.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Turkey Breast
Chicken Roulade
Chicken roulade is a flavorful one-hour meal with only 2 g of carbs! Tender and moist chicken stuffed with delicious sauce, bell peppers, spinach, and topped with cheese. Restaurant-level dish you can make at home.
Get the recipe: Chicken Roulade
Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie
This recipe turns a classic holiday dessert into not just low-cal but also gluten-free pumpkin pie. It maintains all the flavors of a childhood treat, yet without any added calories. Each slice has under 250 kcal.
Get the recipe: Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie
Garlic Butter Salmon
Fish recipes are incredibly healthy and low in carbs! Flaky, buttery, falling apart, these salmon fillets are cooked with garlic butter and lemon. It’s a light dinner idea ready in 40 minutes. Pairs well with salad or green beans for easy cleanup. This dish hovers over 300 calories per serving.
Get the recipe: Garlic Butter Salmon
Carrot Cucumber Salad
This 15-minute light and crunchy salad with 6 g of carbs and 85 kcals per portion makes a great side dish or a super light and low-calorie lunch. Just fresh veggies and light honey lemon dressing.
Get the recipe: Carrot Cucumber Salad
Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings
Game day food that’s low in calories but high in flavor? Very easy, I’ll tell you! My lemon pepper chicken wings are quickly air-fried (using less oil) and served in no time. A few ingredient recipe anyone can make.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings
Smashed Broccoli
This is a baked crispy veggie side with a bit of cheese and just 3 g of carbs. Often, rice or potatoes, gravy and sauces follow the main course and add lots of calories. So broccoli is a no-brainer to me! But to make it more interesting, pairing them with cheese and smashing them is a great move!
Get the recipe: Smashed Broccoli
Zucchini Soup
Light, silky, and packed with flavor, this Italian sausage zucchini soup uses fresh zucchini, cauliflower, minced beef or sausage, tomatoes, garlic, and herbs for a bright yet cozy dish. Low-carb and low in calories, to (under 200 kcals per portion)
Shrimp Scampi without Wine
You can make delicious scampi without wine to keep your dinner healthy and cheap! Beautiful Mediterranean flavors for seafood lovers with a low-cal nutrition profile (only 255 kcal/serving). My favorite thing about this recipe is that it takes less than 20 minutes.
Get the recipe: Shrimp Scampi without Wine
Air Fryer Cod
Flaky cod fillet cooks up tender in the air fryer with simple seasoning and lemon. It’s a healthy, keto-friendly, and light dinner idea with 270 kcals per serving that’s done in 20 minutes. Pairs well with a side salad or green beans.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Cod
Slow Cooker Flank Steak
Dump-and-go main dish low in carbs that pairs perfectly with my keto-friendly Cilantro Chimichurri Sauce. Slow-cooked in spices till tender, this flank steak is so juicy and yummy, you’ll make it again and again. A serving of crockpot flank steak only has 180kcal and 2 g of carbohydrates.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Flank Steak
White Bean Vegan Chili
Low in calories, with 284 kcal, this version of chili is high in protein, low in fats, and completely plant-based. A great way to eat cleaner and healthier. Very bold flavors, too!
Get the recipe: White bean vegan chili
Vegan Miso Soup
A variation of a classic Japanese soup, this recipe makes a delicious, earthy-flavored bowl of soup for cold weather. Very easy to make in an Instant Pot and holds just 100kcal per portion.
Get the recipe: Vegan miso soup
Gluten-Free Vegan Cheesecake
I am in this game of eating clean and healthy a looong time, trust me! I’ve been making this no-bake, raw cheesecake since 2014! It is dairy-free, gluten-free, has no added refined sugars, and is low in calories. But how delicious it is! With dates, coconut, zesty flavors, and berries as decoration? Incredible!
Get the recipe: GF Vegan cheesecake
Smoked Oysters
Smoking oysters is a gourmet dinner idea that is low in carbs and calories (only 106 kcal per serving). Will be great for celebrating something or for Valentine’s. Oysters are incredibly healthy, loaded with so many minerals and vitamins, and perfectly keto-friendly. They cook up in 30 minutes max.
Get the recipe: Smoked Oysters
Ground Chicken Stuffed Peppers
Comforting classic that I make every year, which is a bit on the higher end of low-cal meals with 414 kcal. Bell peppers filled with seasoned ground chicken, rice, and tomato sauce, then baked until tender and cheesy. Simple! Make ahead and reheat for easy meals. A lighter, veggie-forward fall dinner that’s hearty without being heavy.
Get the recipe: Ground Chicken Stuffed Peppers
Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
Meatballs just scream homemade food for me. I love them! To make low-carb meatballs, I use ground chicken, but my meatballs are never bland. I load them with tangy buffalo sauce and seasonings. Only 39 kcals in one juicy meatball!
Get the recipe: Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
Greek Chicken Kabobs
I love chicken recipes for how simple and affordable they are, but it doesn’t have to be boring! These chicken kabobs are marinated in Greek yogurt to make them extra tender. Bright, healthy, and fast dinner.
Get the recipe: Greek Chicken Kabobs
Avocado Chicken Salad
My favorite salad idea for low-carb and low-cal lunch or dinner prep! Smooth and chunky, Avocado Chicken Salad blends ripe avocado with tender shredded chicken. Red onion and lime juice add a fresh, zesty flavor. You can’t go wrong with this one.
Get the recipe: Avocado Chicken Salad Recipe
Easiest Instant Pot Carnitas
Straight from Mexico, these low-carb and low-cal carnitas are so tender, they melt in your mouth. Instant Pot makes slow cooking pork shoulder so much easier and faster – you get that signature texture in under 2 hours! Serve with Keto BBQ Sauce.
Get the recipe: Easiest Instant Pot Carnitas
Baked Broccoli and Chicken
If you’re a fan of casseroles and bakes, to keep it healthy, make this dish with broccoli and chicken. Comforting, simple, and low in carbs, which is perfect for a low-calorie diet. It is cheesy and doesn’t use rice, so you can pair it with low-carb sides, too.
Get the recipe: Baked Broccoli and Chicken
Stir Fry Vegetarian Noodles
A colorful noodle dish with lots of crunchy veggies, delicious sauce, and fewer calories, even though it has noodles. Easy meatless dinner idea for the week.
Get the recipe: Stir Fry Vegetarian Noodles
Vegetarian Dumplings
Skip takeout and learn how to quickly make dumplings from scratch! These juicy dumplings are filled with mushrooms and are healthy, bold in flavors, and a small portion of 4 dumplings only has 293 kcal!
Get the recipe: Vegetarian Dumplings
Spinach Feta Rice Casserole
If you’re craving something simple and filling, a good old casserole bake, try this meatless casserole with spinach, feta cheese, eggs, and rice. It comes together in one hour and carries about 300 kcal in each serving.
Get the recipe: Spinach Feta Rice Casserole
Carrots and Cauliflower Soup
There are plenty of healthy soup recipes to make, especially using all the veggies. This smooth, velvety soup blends seared carrots and cauliflower with garlic and herbs into a lighter but flavorful bowl. Delicious vegetarian option with no dairy or meat.
Get the recipe: Carrots and Cauliflower Soup
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