60 Healthy Dinner Ideas in 30 Minutes or Less
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If you’re wondering what to make for dinner tonight, browse through this list of 60 healthy dinner ideas that take 30 minutes or less. Including omni, veggie, and vegan salads, soups, pasta dishes, and more!
As a food blogger, I’m constantly on the hunt for new and delicious recipes and fun dinner ideas to try. But even I get the “kitchen slumps”. There are evenings when you’re just struggling to decide on a quick dinner idea.
So let this list of simple and healthy 30-minute dinner ideas eliminate the stress. And keep you from giving in to takeout or unhealthy freezer food for dinner.
Luckily, here is a list of over 60 quick and easy healthy dinner ideas. So you’re bound to find the perfect options for dinner tonight, tomorrow, and perhaps the rest of the month. You might even return to some of the recipes to time and time again! Whether you’re in the mood for a light bite, a hearty salad, warming soup, quick and delicious pasta, or more.
I’ve also included a “build your own” section at the bottom of the post. It includes some of my favorite simple proteins and sides to assemble simple and delicious healthy meals for busy weeknights in no time!
Plus, for those running particularly low on time, about 1/3 of the recipes below can be prepared in 15 minutes or less. These recipes also primarily use inexpensive and easy-to-find ingredients. And they are often vegetarian, vegan, or can be adjusted to be so. For some of them, I also have the option to use an Instant Pot.
So, let’s jump into the healthy recipes for dinner success!
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Quick And Healthy Salads
Whenever I’m struggling to come up with easy healthy food ideas for dinner, salads are my go-to. Even with minimal time and effort, you can prepare a hearty and delicious salad. It will be packed with nutrients and macros to keep your body nourished and satisfied.
Crunchy Asian Salad (10 Minutes)
Crunchy Asian Salad (Asian Slaw)
This crunchy Asian salad (Asian slaw) is loaded with fresh, vibrant, crisp veggies and tossed in a simple, flavorful sweet-savory sesame ginger salad dressing. Perfect for enjoying as a side of boosting with protein for a light main!
Crunchy Asian Salad
Greek Pasta Salad (10 Minutes)
Greek Pasta Salad (Bow Tie Pasta Salad)
This easy Greek pasta salad is bright and sunny with a delicious combination of al dente pasta, tons of fresh Mediterranean vegetables, briny olives, creamy avocado, and tangy feta, all in a zesty lemon-olive oil dressing! A crowd-pleasing addition to picnics, BBQs, potlucks, and mid-week meals!
Greek Pasta Salad
Eggplant Salad
The Best Eggplant Salad
If you're a fan of eggplant, this roasted eggplant salad will quickly become one of your favorite dishes. It's a light and refreshing yet hearty salad that's ready in just over 30 minutes. It's also vegan-friendly and tastes great served with pita.
Eggplant Salad
Quinoa Salad
The Best Quinoa Salad
This quinoa chickpea salad is packed with versatile mixed veggies, chickpeas, and avocado in a zesty lemon-garlic dressing, for a delicious and nutritious side salad packed with plant-based protein, fiber, and heart-healthy fats! If you have leftover quinoa, this salad takes just 10 minutes to prep for a quick, healthy dinner.
Quinoa Salad
Red Cabbage Salad (10 Minutes)
Healthy Rainbow Chopped Veggie Salad (Red Cabbage Salad)
Just chop and shred your way to this super versatile immune-boosting, detoxing, nutrient-dense rainbow chopped veggie salad (red cabbage salad). Enjoy it as a side dish, light meal, or boost with grains and protein for a heartier meal.
Rainbow Chopped Salad
Cold Broccoli Apple Salad (5 Minutes)
Easy Cold Broccoli Apple Salad
This easy broccoli apple salad uses just a handful of fresh ingredients with a tangy honey-mustard dressing for a crunchy, flavorful, and nutritional sweet and savory salad perfect for the Fall months (but also year-round!). This broccoli crunch salad is gluten-free, dairy-free, and optionally vegan and keto with simple ingredient swaps.
Broccoli Apple Salad
Panzanella Salad
The Perfect Panzanella Salad
This Panzanella salad (aka Tuscan-style tomato and bread salad) combines red onions, cucumber, and tomatoes with hearty toasted bread in a simple salad dressing for a delicious and nutritious Summery salad! All you need is 8 ingredients and 25 minutes to prepare this simple,flavor-packed Italian bread salad!
Panzanella Salad
Easy Tuna Salad with Mixed Vegetables
Easy Mediterranean Tuna Salad
This high protein, healthy tuna salad recipe contains a good combination of protein, carbs, fat – and plenty of vegetables. The result is an easy healthy dinner idea you'll love!
Tuna Salad
For even more salad dinner ideas for family, feel free to check out my list of 40+ salads!
Light Bites
If you aren’t in the mood for anything too heavy or filling, try one of these light, easy healthy dinner options in under 30 minutes.
Korean Vegetable Pancakes
Korean Vegetable Pancake (Buchimgae/Pajeon)
This Korean vegetable pancake (buchimgae) combines a mixed vegetable filling and simple pancake batter for crispy, flavorful veggie pancakes- easy to adapt and perfect for serving alongside a simple dipping sauce!If you're looking for healthy family dinner ideas, then this is an adult and child-approved keeper! I mean, when is pancakes for dinner ever a bad thing?!
Pajeon
Grilled Cheese (10 Minutes)
How to Make Grilled Cheese in a Pan (Cheese Toastie)
How to make grilled cheese in a pan – with tips and tricks for the best grilled cheese (aka cheese toastie) every time. All you need is 3 base ingredients and under 15 minutes for this classic and super quick dinner idea.
Grilled Cheese
Avocado Toast (Multiple Toppings) (5-10 Minutes)
The Best Avocado Toast with Egg (4 Ways)
This list of easy healthy dinner ideas wouldn't be complete without this "throw together in a moment" avocado toast. With many topping options (fish, meat, and veggie/vegan options included), these quick meal ideas can be ready in as little as 5 minutes and made as simple or hearty as you'd like!
Avocado Toast
TikTok Tortilla Hack (Multiple Fillings)
Viral Tortilla Hack (20+ Global Filling Ideas + Low-carb Options!)
Learn 20+ ways of enjoying delicious tortilla wraps in a way you never have before (plus TIPS!) – including vegan tortillas, low-carb wraps, dessert options, and more.They're easy to prepare, can be ready in as little as 10 minutes, and are easily transportable, too.
20+ Globally Inspired Tortillas
Chili Oil Noodles (10 Minutes)
Easy Garlic Chili Oil Noodles (10 Minute Meal!)
These easy garlic chili oil noodles recipe combine your noodles of choice (gluten-free, vegan, low-carb) with an aromatic garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and chili oil sauce for a simple, low-fuss 10-minute meal! Top them up with extra veggies and protein for a heartier healthy meal for dinner, if preferred.
Garlic Chili Oil Noodles
Zoodles (5-10 Minutes)
How to Make and Cook Zoodles (Pesto Zucchini Noodles)
Swap out carb-heavy pasta for zucchini noodles, raw or cooked and with the sauce of your choice, for a nutritious meal that’s ready in just minutes! As super quick dinner ideas go, this is top of my list for those lazy evenings. You can reduce prep further by using pre-prepared zoodles and sauce!
Zucchini Noodles
Rainbow vegan tacos
Quick and Juicy Vegan Jackfruit Tacos
Tacos are always a great quick and healthy dinner idea for those who want tons of fun and flavor in minimal time. Not to mention that the whole family will love them. These simple, veggie-loaded rainbow vegan tacos can be whipped up in around 20 minutes and are a delicious healthy meal for dinner!
Rainbow Tacos
Looking for more quick and healthy dinner taco recipes? You might enjoy these easy mushroom tacos or vegetarian (OR vegan) birria tacos.
Soups and Curries
Soups, stews, and curries make perfect sense on a list of healthy dinner recipes. However, they can often require an hour or more of low and slow simmering. Luckily, I’ve compiled a collection of my favorite quick dinner soups for you and your family!
The Best Instant Pot Vegetable Soup
The Best Instant Pot Vegetable Soup
Instant Pot vegetable soup is hearty, healthy, packed with vegetables, full of flavor, super adaptable, and ready in under 30 minutes! A delicious and nutritious meat-free meal to warm you this winter!
Vegetable Soup
Cream of Mushroom Soup (15 Minutes)
Easy Mushroom Soup
A super creamy, rich, and delicious cream of mushroom soup (with tons of recipe versatility). A combination of mushrooms, a creamy element, veggie stock, and several spices – for a simple, comforting, quick meal idea in 15-20 minutes!This recipe is also gluten-free, wheat-free, soy-free, and optionally dairy-free & vegan!
Mushroom Soup
Potato Leek Soup
The Best Potato Leek Soup
This quick and easy creamy potato leek soup is incredibly comforting. With potatoes, leeks, and broth, it's a family favorite ready in under 30 minutes!
Potato Leek Soup
Tom Yum Soup
Tom Yum Soup
This is a simple yet delicious creamy tom yum soup; a Thai hot and sour soup that is aromatic, rich, spicy, and satisfying and a great 30 minute dinner idea! Plus this recipe is customizable, meat-free, and can be made vegan!
Tom Yum Soup
This 30-minute soup was just one of several recipes I created when competing on Netflix “Crazy Delicious”. You can check out my full Crazy Delicious recipe round-up for more fun family dinner ideas.
Thai Green Curry
Vegan Green Curry
If you're looking for a healthy 30 minute dinner idea that is also warming, comforting, and super cozy, then you'll love this creamy Thai green curry. You can make it from scratch or use a store-bought green curry paste along with the protein and veg of your choice. It's versatile, loaded with nutrients, packed with creamy, spicy, savory, flavor, and one of my favorite easy healthy dinner ideas.
Thai Green Curry
I also have an equally simple, versatile, and delicious Thai red curry recipe. You could enjoy it as a healthy 30-minute meal with rice.
Ramen Soup
The Best Chicken Ramen
A simple and delicious Japanese-inspired vegetarian ramen noodle soup recipe. It's packed with vegetables, easily vegan by omitting the egg, and packs in plenty of flavour for a satisfying, super quick dinner in just 15 minutes.Plus, swap out the noodles for low-carb zoodles for an even lighter meal.
Ramen
Minestrone
Copycat Olive Garden Minestrone Soup
Warm up with this hearty, budget-friendly, flexible, veggie-packed vegetarian minestrone soup (aka vegetable pasta soup), using versatile seasonal veggies! This vegetable tomato pasta soup is incredibly simple to prepare and meal-prep friendly (vegan optional + Instant Pot and Crockpot methods included). Plus, it make for a delicious and healthy 30 minute dinner!
Minestrone
Indian Lentil Dal
Easy Red Lentil Dal (Tarka Dal | Indian Lentil Dish)
This easy red lentil dal (tarka dal) recipe is a quick and easy 30-minute dinner idea for busy weeknights using just a handful of ingredients, 3 steps, and minimal hands-on prep.The results are a naturally plant-based, gluten-free, dairy-free, flavorful, hearty, and protein-packed tarka dal to enjoy with naan, rice, salad, etc.
Lentil Dal
Healthy Pasta Recipes in Under 30 Minutes
Choose a pasta dish below for a simple weeknight dinner. It will be packed with flavor but made with minimal ingredients, prep, and fuss. As easy dinner ideas go, pasta is one of my go-to’s for a meal that never lets me down. Even better, they’re highly versatile too – and easy to boost with extra veggies and proteins, for quick and healthy 30-minute meals.
Garlic Lemon Pasta (15 Minutes)
Easy Garlic Lemon Pasta (Pasta al Limone)
This 15-minute garlic lemon pasta (aka Pasta al Limone) is creamy, buttery, lemony, and ready to become your new favorite quick recipe for dinner. Enjoy the lemon spaghetti alone, add protein or veggies, ditch the cream, turn it vegan – there are tons of ways to adapt this lemon pasta recipe for quick, healthy dinners.
Pasta al Limone
Pesto Pasta (10-15 minutes)
You can use homemade (like the below traditional basil pesto, vegan green pesto, or sun-dried tomato pesto) or store-bought pesto. It all depends on how fuss-free you want your healthy dinner recipe to be. Match it with the pasta of your choice, along with quick-cooking veg and protein. Voila – a quick meal idea in under 15 minutes.
Homemade Basil Pesto (Pesto Alle Genovese)
Homemade basil pesto, aka pesto alle Genovese is a green basil pesto sauce made with basil, Parmigiano-Reggiano, pecorino, pine nuts, garlic, and salt! The result is a super flavorful sauce perfect for combining with pasta and making a super delicious and quick dinner in under 15 minutes!
Basil Pesto
Avocado Pasta Sauce (15 Minute)
Creamy Avocado pasta Sauce (Green Pasta)
This creamy avocado pasta is rich and flavorful, contains just 5 simple ingredients, and will be on your table in 15 minutes for a nutritious, healthy dinner recipe!Best of all, the green pasta sauce is gluten-free, dairy-free, oil-free, and 100% vegan!
Avocado Pasta
Roasted Tomato Sauce (Stove or Oven)
Homemade Stovetop or Roasted Tomato Sauce (Pasta Sauce)
Enjoy homemade stovetop or roasted tomato sauce with fresh tomatoes (regular or cherry tomatoes) in as little as 20 minutes, with 5 ingredients, then freeze or can for later. This fresh tomato pasta sauce is rich, flavorful, versatile, and makes for a delicious and healthy sugar-free, dairy-free, vegan tomato sauce!
Tomato Pasta Sauce
You may enjoy this roasted red bell pepper pasta sauce instead. Make it from scratch in just 30 minutes, or use canned peppers for a super quick dinner option.
Vegan Bolognese
Vegan Bolognese (Vegan Spaghetti Sauce)
Enjoy this rich and flavorful vegan bolognese made with soy mince and a flavorful tomato vegan spaghetti sauce. This soy bolognese is hearty, meaty, and 100% dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan- and only takes 20 minutes to prepare!
Vegan Bolognese
You can enjoy this Bolognese sauce with spaghetti/pasta. Or, you could also pair it with mashed potato, nachos, fries, or even use it to stuff veggies. All of these make for hearty, plant-based 30-minute dinner ideas!
Wraps, Rolls, and Burgers
I nearly always have some form of pita bread or tortilla wraps (regular or gluten-free) in my kitchen. And they are just waiting to be turned into a quick weeknight meal. Best of all there are 1001+ ways to fill them!
Easy Falafel Wrap
Easy Falafel Wrap
If you're looking for a delicious, nutritious, plant-based healthy dinner recipe, give this falafel wrap a try. It combines crisp outside, tender in the middle homemade falafels with pickled veg, salad ingredients, and a creamy tahini sauce for a simple but delicious 30-minute dinner!
Falafel Wrap
You could also make healthier baked falafels or rainbow falafels to enjoy with wraps and other sides.
Chicken Shawarma Wraps
Chicken Shawarma
How to make chicken shawarma with a handful of pantry spices in a yogurt-based shawarma marinade. Simply marinate and sauté (or grill/bake) to perfection before serving the tender, juicy, flavorful chicken in a wrap for a quick and healthy family dinner recipe. Along with wraps, this chicken also works well as part of a mezze platter, alongside grains, and with salad.
Chicken Shawarma
For a meat-free, vegan alternative, you might enjoy this mushroom shawarma.
Eggplant Halloumi Wraps (15 Minute)
Healthy Eggplant Halloumi Wrap
This healthy Middle-Eastern eggplant and halloumi wrap is filled with grilled halloumi, eggplant, lettuce, and a fresh tomato and cucumber salad with garlic sauce. It makes for a quick and delicious vegetarian dinner and BBQ dish in under 15 minutes!
Eggplant Halloumi Wrap
Stuffed Swiss Chard Rolls
Vegan Stuffed Swiss Chard Leaves
These vegan rice, tomato and herb stuffed swiss chard rolls make for a delicious, nutritious, vegan healthy dinner idea. Plus, the rolls can easily be customized and made gluten-free, adding your own favourite grain and veggies to the filling.
Stuffed Chard Leaves
Pumpkin Bean Burger
The Perfect Pumpkin Burger
These delicious pumpkin burgers are hearty, vegan, and easy to prepare in under 30 minutes. The burger patties are versatile and freezer-friendly—perfect for quick mid-week lunches.
Pumpkin Burger
Looking for more burger ideas? This falafel burger is also a great healthy dinner recipe in under 30 minutes. If you have a little more time, you might also enjoy this sweet potato black bean burger. Or even this sweet potato burger in a mushroom bun.
Other 30-Minute Dinner Ideas
For those meals that I struggled to categorize, here are more delicious, quick, easy, and healthy dinner recipes for the entire family.
Chinese Stir-Fried Eggplant with Garlic Sauce
Authentic Chinese Eggplant Recipe
How to make Chinese eggplant with garlic sauce – a quick, simple, flavorful eggplant stir-fry perfect for serving over rice or noodles for a simple and healthy dinner option.All you need are 11 ingredients and 20 minutes (after salting), for this super tasty dish. It's also naturally vegan and can be made gluten-free.
Chinese Eggplant
Easy Shakshuka
Shakshuka
A shakshuka can be enjoyed for any meal of the day and it's not hard to see why. With a simple combination of tomatoes, pepper, onion, several spices, and eggs, this easy shakshuka is surprisingly loaded with flavor and ready in just 20 minutes!It's also super versatile, able to swap out the veggies and seasonings to please your tastes. Enjoy it with bread for a quick and simple healthy dinner.
Shakshuka
Stir-Fry Thai beef (15 Minute)
Stir-Fried Thai Basil Vegan Beef (Pad Krapow)
This stir-fried Vegan Thai Basil beef recipe is packed with flavor and some heat, perfect for a low-effort mid-week meal. The entire dish uses just one pan and around 15 minutes and can be served alongside noodles or rice. Plus, this recipe is meat-free, high-protein, low-fat, and can be made 100% vegan and gluten-free!
Veggie Burrito Bowl
Veggie Burrito Bowl (Mexican Rice Bowl)
Combine your favorite burrito ingredients into a quick-to-prepare and meal-prep-friendly veggie burrito bowl (no fiddly wrapping necessary). This Tex-Mex/Mexican rice bowl combines cilantro lime rice, beans, vegetables, and guacamole for the ultimate flavor-packed "naked burrito," and is easily adjustable to gluten-free/vegan.
Burrito Rice Bowl
Vegetable Omelette (15 Minutes)
Vegetable Omelette
How to make a fluffy omelette (omelet) in 15 minutes. This western-omelet style veggie omelette is packed with veggies (and makes for a great "clear out the fridge" meal) and is one of my favorite go-to low-effort, quick dinner ideas!
Vegetable Omelette
One-Pan Vegetarian Full English Breakfast
One-Pan Vegetarian Full English Breakfast (British Fry-Up)
Breakfast for dinner is always a treat, and now it's simplified with the one-pan version of a hearty vegetarian full English breakfast (vegan optional). This hearty British fry-up combines sauteed mushrooms, tomato, beans, egg, toast, and more for the ultimate cooked breakfast made with minimal fuss, minimal washing up, and under 30 minutes.
Vegetarian Full English
Build Your Own Healthy Dinners
Another simple way to pull together healthy 30-minute dinner ideas is by making the classic pairing of Protein + Starch (carbs) + Veggies. Below I’ve compiled my favorite of all three categories that you can mix and match for last-minute healthy meals for dinner.
The Protein
Honey Glazed Salmon
Honey Glazed Salmon Recipe
This one-pan, restaurant-quality honey glazed salmon yields perfectly tender, flaky salmon fillets smothered in a sticky, sweet-savory glaze and is ready in under 30 minutes!
Honey Glazed Salmon
Baked Teriyaki Salmon
Easy Baked Teriyaki Salmon
Cook tender, flaky, restaurant-quality baked teriyaki salmon in just 15 minutes with a sticky sweet homemade teriyaki sauce, sesame seeds, and green onions! A quick, simple, low-carb main!
Teriyaki Salmon
Air Fryer Salmon
The Best Air Fryer Salmon
Deliciously tender and flaky inside, with a touch of crispiness outside, this air fryer salmon recipe will give you perfect fish every time – and keep a fresh cooking atmosphere in your kitchen.
Air Fryer Salmon
Oven-Baked Salmon
The Best Oven Baked Salmon
Here is how to make the best oven baked salmon in just 25 minutes. It is tender and flaky, with a lemon-garlic flavor, and perfect with veggies, grains, salads, and more!
Oven Baked Salmon
Grilled Chicken Breasts
Oven Baked Chicken Breast
Follow 3 simple steps for the most tender, juicy, and flavorful oven baked chicken breast you'll want to eat with every meal! It's easy to customize with your favorite seasonings and marinades!
Baked Chicken Breast
Chicken Shish Tawook
Chicken Shish Tawook (Chicken Shish Kabobs)
This Middle Eastern-inspired shish tawook /taouk recipe marinates chicken pieces (plan for this time) in a lightly spiced yogurt and garlic marinade before grilling, baking, or broiling them to tender, juicy, flavorful perfection. Ready in as little as 30 minutes. Enjoy the grilled chicken in a wrap, with grains, alongside salads and more weeknight meals.
Chicken Shish Tawook
Kofta kebab
Lamb Kofta Recipe
Lebanese lamb kofta (aka kafta) use a simple combination of ground lamb (or beef) with parsley, onion, and Middle Eastern spices for simple and flavorful meatballs/ kebabs. Plus, you can enjoy these lamb kofta grilled, using a grill pan, or baked.
Kofta
Tofu Ground Beef
Tofu Ground Beef (Vegan Tofu Crumbles)
Delicious tofu ground beef (aka tofu crumbles) made with just a handful of ingredients, minimal hands-on prep, and a baked or stovetop method. You can use it as a plant-based ground beef replacement in all your favorite healthy dinner recipes! Gluten-free, dairy-free, plant-based, vegan.
Vegan Tofu Mince
Coconut Shrimp
The Best Coconut Shrimp Recipe
These crispy baked coconut shrimp are tender and juicy in the middle, with a crisp coconut breading shell. Perfect for serving as an appetizer or as a part of larger healthy dinner recipes like wraps, salads, rice rolls, and more.
Coconut Shrimp
The Starch
Baked Sweet Potatoes
Oven or Microwave Baked Sweet Potatoes
How to make baked sweet potatoes in the oven and microwave – with tender, fluffy results every time! These easy baked sweet potatoes can be topped with all your favorite toppings (several options listed) and served as a healthy meal for dinner. They're also meal-prep friendly for super quick dinners over several days.
Baked Sweet Potato
Creamy Mashed Potato
Creamy Mashed Potatoes
These creamy mashed potatoes are decadent and perfect for impressing during the holidays and special occasions as well as for quick 30-minute dinner ideas.Serve them alongside chicken and fish, with meatballs, a stew, and more.
Mashed Potatoes
Depending on what you have in your kitchen and the healthy dinner you’re planning, you could alternatively prepare sweet potato mash or mashed purple potatoes. Or, if you prefer, serve boiled potatoes or roasted new red potatoes.
Cilantro Lime Rice
The Fluffiest Cilantro Lime Rice
Learn how to make cilantro lime rice – perfect for Asian, Tex-Mex/Mexican, and Middle Eastern dishes like burritos, rice bowls, and more.This recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, and ready to become your new favorite rice dish in under 30 minutes!
Cilantro Lime Rice
Brown rice
How To Cook Brown Rice Perfectly Every Time
Make perfectly fluffy and tender brown rice every single time, with no rice cooker necessary. Brown rice is a truly versatile side, perfect for serving with all sorts of proteins, veg, and meals!Plus, it only takes just over 30 minutes (around 35 in total) to prepare and is meal-prep and freezer safe.
Brown Rice
Indonesian Coconut Milk Rice
Simple Fragrant Indonesian Coconut Milk Rice (Nasi Uduk)
Nasi Uduk is a fragrant Indonesian coconut milk rice with pandan leaves, lemongrass, and several aromatics for a delicious Indonesian rice side dish! Cook it on the stovetop, in a rice cooker, or Instant Pot then serve with your favorite seafood, curries, and more.
Nasi Uduk
Perfectly Cooked Quinoa
Simple Steps to Perfect Quinoa
How to cook quinoa perfectly every single time – no mushy, stodgy mess, just fluffy, delicious cooked quinoa to boost any of these 30 minute dinner ideas!
Quinoa
Veggie and Egg fried Rice (15 Minute)
The Best Egg Fried Rice Recipe
This easy egg-fried rice (with vegetables) is fuss-free, budget-friendly, and ready in under 15 minutes to enjoy alone or pair with a protein and more veggies as a healthy and super quick dinner idea.Plus, make endless modifications with your choice of veggies, protein, etc. (tons of recommendations listed below!). Omnivore, vegan, and vegetarian egg fried rice options included.
Egg Fried Rice
Alternatively, for a different flavor profile, give this super quick kimchi fried rice a try!
The Vegetable Side Dishes
Perfectly Cooked Asparagus (5+ Minute methods)
How to Cook Asparagus 6 Ways
Follow one of five methods to prepare and cook asparagus. These include boiled, steamed, broiled, baked, and sauteed – based on the time you have and your desired outcome.Either way, asparagus makes for a great side dish to many of these healthy dinner recipes.
Cooked Asparagus
I’ve also previously shared a quick recipe for air-fried asparagus.
Crispy Fried Squash
Crispy Fried Squash (or Zucchini)
Take advantage of summer produce with this quick and simple Southern fried squash. All you need is 5 ingredients, 20 minutes, and either yellow summer squash or zucchini (or both!). Gluten-free and egg-free optional!
Fried Squash
Sautéed Zucchini (10 Minute)
The Best Pan-Fried Zucchini
Pan-fried zucchini is a quick, easy, and healthy, versatile side dish for any meal! Enjoy the sauteed zucchini with garlic, lemon, and parmesan as I have, or experiment with tons of other seasoning options – just 10 minutes from start to finish!A delicious, versatile, and QUICK side for super quick dinners!
Sauteed Zucchini
Oven Roasted Eggplant Slices
Perfect Oven Roasted Eggplant Slices
These perfect oven roasted eggplant slices require minimal ingredients, time, and effort. They are perfectly tender in the middle and crisp and brown outside in just 3 simple steps.
Eggplant Slices
Garlic Sauteed Spinach (10 Minute)
Easy Garlic Sauteed Spinach
Super simple and nutritious garlic sauteed spinach makes for a nutritional boost (with immune-boosting properties) for any meal, and is a super simple, fuss-free side in just 10 minutes. Pair it with practically any protein, pasta, grains, and more!
Sauteed Spinach
Sautéed Sugar Snap Peas (5 Minute)
5 Minute Sugar Snap Peas Recipe
This 5-minute sautéed sugar snap peas recipe is simple, fuss-free, and makes a delicious and nutritious, gluten-free, vegan side dish for tons of healthy quick dinners!
Sugar Snap Peas
Sauteed Green Beans (10 Minutes)
Simple Sauteed Green Beans with Garlic
These 10-minute sautéed green beans with garlic (skillet green beans) are tender in the middle and lightly blistered outside for a simple, fuss-free, nutritious, and super tasty side dish! Gluten-free, low-carb, vegan, paleo, whole30, etc.!
Sautéed Green Beans
If you prefer, I also have Air Fryer green beans, boiled green beans, and roasted green bean recipes, all taking less than 20 minutes to prepare.
Honey Roasted Carrots
Easy Honey Roasted Carrots (Glazed Carrots | Vegan Optional)
Honey roasted carrots (air fryer method included) are tossed with honey, oil, and optional herbs, then roasted until tender and lightly caramelized in just 30 minutes! They're sweet, savory, low-fuss, and make for a delicious and nutritious (plus low cost!) side to many family dinner ideas.
Honey Glazed Carrots
Grilled Cauliflower Steaks
Grilled Cauliflower Steaks
Roasted or grilled cauliflower steaks are juicy and tender in the middle with a crisp, lightly charred, caramelized, and crispy outside. Perfect as a versatile vegan side dish or main to almost any healthy dinner recipe! Gluten-free, dairy-free, low-carb, paleo, etc.!
Cauliflower Steaks
Roasted Cherry Tomatoes
Simple Roasted Cherry Tomatoes (Baked Cherry Tomatoes)
Roast cherry tomatoes with just 4 ingredients – for lightly caramelized, sweet, flavor-packed morsels that burst with flavor! The roasted cherry tomatoes are perfect for topping toast, adding to pasta dishes, pizza, salads, pairing with fish, and more!
Roasted Cherry Tomatoes
Roasted or Air Fryer Cauliflower and Broccoli
Roasted Cauliflower and Broccoli (2 Methods + Flavor Variations)
Air fried or oven-roasted Cauliflower and Broccoli with garlic and lemon are tender-crisp, lightly caramelized, and a nutritious, low-carb, all-purpose vegetable side dish for quick an healthy dinners!I've included several seasoning/ flavor variations, too.
Air Fryer Cauliflower and Broccoli
More Recipe Roundups
- 30 Hot Lunch Ideas
- 50+ Healthy Breakfast Meal Prep Ideas on the Go
- The Essential Guide to Meal Prep + Meal Prep Ideas
- 50+ Healthy Vegetarian Breakfast Ideas
- 20+ Delicious Sandwich Ideas for Lunch
If you try any of these 30-minute dinner idea recipes, I’d love to hear your thoughts/questions below. I’d appreciate a recipe card rating below. Feel free to tag me in your recipe recreations on Instagram @Alphafoodie!
