At the end of a long day, we all crave something that feels comforting but not so heavy that it sends us straight into a food coma. I know we've all been there, and while a food coma sounds ideal, most of the time it ends with feeling sick rather than satisfied. Whether you're winding down after work or trying to find lighter evening meals to practice healthier routines, finding the right dinner that satisfies and supports your wellness goals can be tricky.
But what exactly does that entail?
Think warm lentil soups or hearty salads, or veggie-packed dishes that deliver all the satisfaction of a full meal without the weight of one. These dinners use real, whole ingredients like lean proteins, leafy greens, and healthy fats to create meals that are simple yet nourishing. We've rounded up our 12 go-to light and filling dinners that are perfect for the end of a long day.
This hearty bowl combines roasted sweet potatoes, crispy chickpeas, sautéed cauliflower and broccoli, roasted potatoes, and a quinoa base all drizzled with a zesty cashew sauce. It's rich in fiber, plant-based protein, and healthy fats. It's a delicious combination of texture and taste in a perfectly balanced meal that fuels you with energy and improves your gut health.
This vibrant and comforting dish uses pantry staples like white onion, carrots, and garlic along with lemons, seasonings like cumin and saffron, and chicken broth. The lemon adds a hit of acidity while the lentils make a serving of soup quite filling without being heavy. It's a refreshing, hearty meal with fresh ingredients and a feel-good process of blending and stirring veggies in a crockpot.
Salmon bowls can often be quite filling; however, the salmon on its own is a perfectly good meal, as well. Salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids and other proteins and vitamins that improve your heart health and keep your blood pressure steady. Adding on a bit of a miso glaze of butter, soy sauce, garlic, and rice vinegar adds extra taste without being too heavy on your stomach.
What better food to scream healthy than zoodles? AKA zucchini, carefully shredded down and steamed to be a healthier version of spaghetti, given they are low in carbs. This quick and easy meal uses lean ground turkey in a garlic butter sauce that is rolled into meatballs and pan-fried before being served over zoodles that have been cooked to perfection. The meal may seem heavy, but with zoodles' lack of carbs, this dish will sit more easily in your stomach.
Quinoa and lettuce are every health nut's favorite ingredients. The benefits of both alone are great, but together? Power couple. Quinoa is one of the few plant-based foods that contains all nine essential amino acids, making it the perfect protein. Added with lettuce's vitamin C, this wrap is up to standards on the healthy dinners list. These light-hearted wraps are filled with mushrooms, carrots, quinoa, and cucumbers tossed in a healthy serving of olive oil and soy sauce for added flavor.
This no-cook dinner is perfect for hot summer nights and for when you're short on time. A blend of cucumbers, crumbled feta, olives, chickpeas, and red onions, this Mediterranean salad is chock-full of plant-based protein and vitamins. A fresh herb vinaigrette is recommended for this fresh salad, but feel free to change it up a little with a salad dressing of your choosing. Chickpeas are the star of the show in this dish, bringing an extra crunch and the added benefit of feeling full after a healthy serving of this salad.
Now, I know what you're thinking. Lasagna? As a light meal? That's a tough pill to swallow. However, this version of lasagna require fewer carbs and even fewer servings of cheese. It also requires 0 minutes of bake time. This no-bake lasagne uses boiled, whole wheat lasagna sheets layered between grilled mixtures of cherry tomatoes and zucchini. An oregano and garlic sauce goes on top, with small amounts of ricotta placed in between each layer. It's a healthier, lighter version of the classic dish if you're craving a pasta without all the additional filling ingredients.
These tempeh rice bowls are easy to make with a marinade made with soy sauce, brown sugar, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and cornstarch -- all the best flavors needed for the perfect Asian-inspired dish. The dish is customizable, so add as many of your favorites as you want! We recommend bell peppers, cucumbers, and chopped spinach to go with the rich flavors of the bowl. Mini corns are another great addition along with large chunks of tempeh to tie the dish together. Try adding bok choy and other vegetables traditionally found in Asian recipes for more authenticity.
What's better than a freshly made tostada hot out of the oven? The black beans in this Tex-Mex dish bring protein and fiber to the table, making these tostadas incredibly filling without relying on meat. It's a hearty meal packed with nutrients from the radish salad, and if you're still left feeling lacking, add some grilled chicken to the top for another source of protein. Tostadas give you a satisfying meal without needing to deep fry your food or fill up on heavy carbs.
These cold peanut noodles offer a quick, healthy dinner with the additional benefit of a chilling refresher during hot summer nights. You can make it in advance and store it long enough to eat days later, or take it on the go without a fear of it going bad. Using soba or whole wheat noodles will give the dish a large serving of protein and fiber, along with healthy fats in the dressing that will fill you up. The peanut dressing with sesame oil, soy sauce, and rice wine vinegar adds a bit of a kick to the dish for a good bit of flavor.
Romaine lettuce and cucumbers combined with shrimp and a creamy soy-mayo dressing bring together a delicious meal worthy of a dinner serving. It's also quick and easy for when you're on the go or in a pinch for time! Shrimp is a lean source of protein, which helps keep you full and improves your muscle health, which is perfect for a light yet satisfying dinner. Romaine adds a big, crunchy base packed full of vitamins A and K as a bonus.
What might appear as an appetizer actually makes for the perfect meal, especially if you're looking for a vegetarian version of kebabs. Summer barbecues are one of the best parts of summer, so why feel left out of all the fun if you're avoiding heavy foods? These customizable skewers allow you to pick and choose whichever vegetables you fancy before grilling them to perfection with a chili-lime glaze. Who needs burgers and hot dogs when you have a lighter, more refreshing option instead?
