25 Healthy Dinners You can Make in 40 Minutes or Less

Healthy eating is essential for building a strong body and improving the immune system to ward off ailments. The ideal eating habits differ from one person to the other — while some dwell on incorporating low-carb meals into their weekly eating, others focus on having a Mediterranean diet or more plant-based foods. Whichever way works for you, it’s perfectly fine, and we can attest to the benefits of fulfillment, nourishment, and wholesome ingredients we get from well-prepared meals. For this reason, we’ve drawn up below some quick and easy dinners you can prepare under 40 minutes and have your serving in no time. If you are looking to prepare a few, read on, or just curious, read on anyway to learn what it takes to prepare these wholesome dishes.

Let’s get straight to it!

1. Ground Turkey Enchilada Stir-Fry with Couscous

This is a fun way to make your enchilada without much hustle and still get the same unique, smoky, spicy flavor you’d experience in the classic enchilada. This version will fill up on black beans or broccoli and can be served with fresh lime juice, a garnish of cilantro, and diced avocado. Here’s the recipe and ingredients.

2. Cajun Cabbage Skillet

The Cajun cabbage skillet comes together relatively fast and is an ideal dinner option on a weeknight. While at it, you can use spicy andouille sausages or any other sausages to spice things up. Ensure to cook the meal at medium heat for the vegetables and sausages to caramelize fast. If they overcook, be sure to add a splash of cold water to even out the temperatures. Get the recipe here.

3. Chicken Katsu With Ginger Recipe

You can get this meal right precisely by using lightly breaded chicken, ginger and bok choy rice, and tangy katsu sauce. Coming together in under 40 minutes, this Asian-inspired meal oozes layers of flavors, attributes to the simple ingredients. Go ahead and pair it with crispy fried chicken — now that’s a proper dinner, I tell you!. Get the recipe and ingredients here.

4. Middle Eastern Chicken Burgers

Middle Eastern chicken burgers are an ideal alternative to the grilled burger, not to mention they are undoubtfully healthier. They are easy to make and incorporate flavors of cinnamon, pepper flakes, coriander, and parsley to add a kick to the palate. Find the recipe here.

5. Lemon-Dijon Pork Sheet-Pan Supper

Opt for this sheet-pan dinner on the nights that you need something ready without much hustle. This meal has become an all-time favorite to many, not only for its deliciousness but also for the speedy cleanup time. Get the recipe and give it a try.

6. Pasta Puttanesca

The good news is that you can make Italian pasta with the readily available ingredients already in your pantry, such as canned tomatoes, spaghetti, anchovy paste, crushed red pepper flakes, and garlic. Also, it’s perfect for the days you want something to prepare in 40 minutes. Get the pasta puttanesca recipe here.

7. Pork Tenderloin With Sugar Snap Pea Salad

This wholesome meal comes together by just using sugar snap peas, absolutely completing your plate. With a bit of hummus, these green peas are what you need to get the crisp sweetness on your pork tenderloin. The pork tenderloin has an amazing crust and is juicy on the inside, topped up by a special sugar snap pea salad comprising steamed carrots, sliced almonds, and watercress along with a parsley mustard garlic vinaigrette. Here’s the recipe.

8. Indian Shrimp and Lentils

Lentils are an excellent source of proteins, though underrated. They carry benefits such as absorbing flavors evenly, having a softy and pleasant texture, and offering myriads of ingredients. The Indian shrimp and lentils dish is a mouth-watering delicacy for any weeknight. The lentils absorb the flavors of garlic, garam masala, shallot, and coconut cream, adding a kick to the shrimp, and served with a garnish of fresh cilantro. Get the stewed garam masala lentils with buttery shrimp recipe here.

9. Healthy Chipotle Beer-and-Butter Shrimp Foil Pack

This shrimp dinner comes together in a jiffy and comprises chipotle and cumin — tampered by butter and lime. Seal the ingredients in an aluminum foil before grilling to contain the juices; the resulting sauce is perfect when served with rice. Here’s the recipe.

10. Kale and Apple Salad

This antioxidant-rich meal is overwhelmingly nutritious, particularly when eaten raw. Cut into thin strips and soften in light of lemon dressing. Next, toss with the sweet blend of almonds, dates, apple, and cheese. Give the salad a kick by adding a little amount of pecorino to magnify the flavor. Get the kale and apple salad recipe here.

11. Chicken Thighs and Couscous with Dill

This ideal evening meal comes together quickly in under 40 minutes. It includes using boneless and skinless chicken thighs to keep the meat moist flavorful. Additionally, the grape tomatoes soften, adding juices to magnify the flavor of the chicken. Add lots of lemons, dill, and oregano for a Greek feel. Find this amazing recipe here.

12. Seared Salmon with Ponzu and Baby Bok Choy

In the mood for some ponzu and baby bok choy? Or want to try Jammin with Salmon? Well, crazy as it sounds, we got the recipe for that ready for you. Prepare with soy sauce, fresh lime, ginger, and rice wine vinegar. The Ponzo sauce enhances the fish’s natural sweetness and the crispness of the bok choy.

13. Sage Rubbed Pork Chops with Warm Apple slaw

This hearty dish is a perfect alternative to the classic pork chops and apple sauce. To prepare, cook the seared pork chop and finish it in a pan with a mixture of cabbage, carrot, onion, and apple. Even better, add warm slaw on the sides to magnify the flavor. The recipe can be streamlined by buying precut slaw mix instead of doing that yourself.

14. Cod with Lentils

You simply use canned lentils instead of raw ones to save yourself a significant amount of time. Simmer the lentils quickly with bacon and red wine. Add sliced celery at the end for extra crispiness and a more earthly flavor. These are the perfect bed for meaty cod fillets. Get the 25-minute cod with lentils recipe for the evenings you want to make something to eat fast.

15. Chicken-Chickpea Curry

Generally, curry dishes are easy to make and have lots of flavors. The chicken-chickpea curry adds a creamy appeal to the meal and can be prepared with jalapeno, ginger, tomatoes, and okra. For a fully satisfying finish, pair it with a small amount of plain yogurt and naan bread. Here’s the recipe.

16. Hot and Sour Shrimp Noodle Soup

A dish of this protein-packed shrimp comes together in minutes, making an ideal evening dish when you’re in a hurry. You can serve it with red curry paste, fish sauce, and a light touch of brown sugar which presents a similar flavor to takeout but is healthier in terms of low calories. Use this shrimp and vegetable noodle soup with a red curry paste recipe for a quick meal.

17. Blackened Salmon with lima bean Smashed Potatoes

Salmon is rich in flavor, and when prepared properly, it absorbs flavor evenly, making the blackened Salmon with lima bean smashed potatoes a fantastic diner option. Rub the Salmon heavily with a flavored mix of cayenne pepper, paprika, thyme to season it deeply and create a golden crust. Pair it with a bright lima bean smashed potato side for a hearty meal. Get the recipe here.

18. Steak with avocado sauce and tomato salad

This Mexican-inspired steak dinner is what you need for a well-deserved main course. Prepared under 40 minutes, this dish features slices of beef eye round roast, hearts of palm salad, avocado cilantro, and tomato salad. Follow this steak with avocado sauce and tomato salad recipe for a fantastic dinner option.

19. Kale and Artichoke Chicken Casserole

Although casseroles have had a not-so-good reputation, this kale and artichoke casserole will have you feeling otherwise. The casserole here merges the flavors of chicken, grated parmesan, artichoke hearts, onions, cream sauce, and lots of panko bread crumbs. Furthermore, it’s topped with extra parm and then broiled to a finer cheesy and toasty miracle. Try the recipe to see if you can debunk the common misconception around the casserole.

20. Turmeric Chicken Flatbread

Although turmeric is commonly used in smoothies and juices, you can try something different; see how it goes when you season boneless chicken thighs with it, mixed with pumpkin pie spice. Serve this delicacy on top of crispy naan, drizzled on a tangy yogurt sauce. Here’s the recipe.

21. BLT Bean Salad

The classic BLT bean salad incorporates all the flavors of the BLT sandwich, and you can prepare it in under 30 minutes. This homemade dressing adds freshness to the meal, while the crisp bacon and croutons add the needed crunchiness. Follow the BLT bean salad recipe here and learn how to use your pantry beans.

22. Crispy chicken thighs with caramelized lemon rinds

You probably didn’t know there’s more to the rinds after juicing a lemon, right? Well, save the rinds up for later in your fridge and use them for this chicken recipe. Also, you can use zest lemon rinds as well. Cook the rinds with the chicken and maple syrup. The result is tangy pan drippings that go well with almost everything.

23. Pretzel Mustard Crusted Pork sliders

Forget the classic pairing of mustard and pretzels and transform the usual pork tenderloin into a mouth-watering delicacy. For this recipe, cut the tenderloin into thin pieces, then coat the pieces with an egg and mustard mixture. Roll them in pretzel crumbs and fry until they crisp, then put into slider buns and top with creamy, tangy mustard sauce.

24. Stuffed Cabbage Cups

The stuffed cabbage is undoubtedly a quick way to make your dinner without sacrificing on flavor. Boil cabbage leaves and scoop the sauteed filling into the leaves. The remaining bit is to top it with a creamy tomato sauce and serve. In minutes you’ll have made yourself a hearty meal for a busy weeknight. Here’s the recipe.

25. Spaghetti alla carbonara

Start this quick and straightforward meal by sautéing your salty pancetta with garlic. Mix eggs with Parmesan to create a thickening sauce, and stir into the hot pasta. Wait for the eggs to cook while the sauce clings onto each strand of spaghetti. Follow the recipe to make yourself a fulfilling evening meal in minutes,

Categories

---

• 4th of July
• Daily Dishes
• Healthy Recipes
• Holidays & Events
• Juneteenth
• Recipes
• Seafood Recipes
• Seasonal
• Shopping
• Uncategorized
• World Cuisine Recipes