Make main dishes the whole family will love with these top-rated dinner recipes under 500 calories.
Top 10 Dinner Recipes Under 500 Calories
Updated on Jan. 03, 2021
Flavorful Chicken Fajitas
This flavorful recipe is definitely on my weeknight dinner rotation. The chicken fajita marinade in these popular wraps is mouthwatering. They go together in a snap and always get raves! —Julie Sterchi, Campbellsville, Kentucky
1/10
2/10
Zucchini Pizza Casserole
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My husband has a hearty appetite, our two kids never tire of pizza, and I grow lots of zucchini. So this tasty tomato casserole is absolutely tops with us throughout the entire year. Once you've tried the recipe, you may even decide to grow more zucchini in your own garden next summer! —Lynn Bernstetter, White Bear Lake, Minnesota
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 315 calories, 20g fat (10g saturated fat), 119mg cholesterol, 855mg sodium, 10g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 2g fiber), 25g protein.
3/10
Chicken Potpie
Total Time
1 hour 15 min
Servings
2 potpies (8 servings each)
From the Recipe Creator:
This is the best chicken potpie recipe! Chock-full of chicken, potatoes, peas and corn, this recipe makes two golden pies, so you can serve one at supper and save the other for a busy night. —Karen Johnson, Bakersfield, California
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 475 calories, 28g fat (14g saturated fat), 74mg cholesterol, 768mg sodium, 41g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 2g fiber), 15g protein.
4/10
Enchilada Casser-Ole!
Total Time
55 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My husband loves this casserole, so it never lasts too long in our house. Packed with black beans, cheese, tomatoes and southwestern flavor, it's an impressive-looking entree that's as simple as it is delicious. —Marsha Wills, Homosassa, Florida
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 357 calories, 12g fat (5g saturated fat), 45mg cholesterol, 864mg sodium, 37g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 3g fiber), 23g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 2 starch, 1 vegetable, 1 fat.
5/10
Cheesy Meat Loaf
Total Time
40 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I got this recipe from my aunt when I was a teen and have made these miniature loaves many times since. My husband and three children count this main dish among their favorites. —Kathy Bowron, Cocolalla, Idaho
Nutrition Facts:
1 meat loaf: 279 calories, 13g fat (6g saturated fat), 81mg cholesterol, 547mg sodium, 25g carbohydrate (20g sugars, 1g fiber), 17g protein.
6/10
Jambalaya
Total Time
4 hours 50 min
Servings
11 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
During chilly times of the year, I fix this jambalaya at least once a month. It’s so easy—just chop the vegetables, dump everything in the slow cooker and forget it! Even my sons, who are picky about spicy things, like this dish. —Cindi Coss, Coppell, Texas
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup jambalaya: 230 calories, 13g fat (5g saturated fat), 75mg cholesterol, 1016mg sodium, 9g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 2g fiber), 20g protein.
7/10
Huli Huli Chicken
Total Time
30 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
When I lived in Hawaii, I got this recipe for chicken marinated in a ginger-soy sauce from a friend. Huli means "turn" in Hawaiian and refers to turning the meat on the grill. —Sharon Boling, San Diego, California
Nutrition Facts:
2 chicken thighs: 391 calories, 16g fat (5g saturated fat), 151mg cholesterol, 651mg sodium, 15g carbohydrate (14g sugars, 0 fiber), 43g protein.
8/10
Flavorful Pot Roast
Total Time
7 hours 10 min
Servings
15 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
On hectic days, this is so quick and easy to prep! Convenient packages of dressing and gravy combine to create a sauce worthy of a fall-apart roast. For a filling meal-in-one, serve with mashed potatoes and ladle the juices over top.
—Arlene Butler, Ogden, Utah
Nutrition Facts:
6 ounce-weight: 142 calories, 7g fat (3g saturated fat), 49mg cholesterol, 496mg sodium, 3g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 0 fiber), 15g protein.
9/10
Baked Mushroom Chicken
Total Time
40 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
This mushroom chicken bake recipe is the perfect way to dress up a standard weeknight dinner. It's a recipe I can count on to yield tender and flavorful results every time. —Barbara McCalley, Allison Park, Pennsylvania
Nutrition Facts:
1 chicken breast half : 311 calories, 16g fat (9g saturated fat), 109mg cholesterol, 575mg sodium, 8g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 1g fiber), 33g protein.
10/10
Baked Tilapia
Total Time
20 min
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I've decided to cook healthier for my family, and that includes having more fish at home. This is an amazing recipe, and it's fast, too! —Hope Stewart, Raleigh, North Carolina
Nutrition Facts:
1 fillet: 224 calories, 10g fat (6g saturated fat), 106mg cholesterol, 304mg sodium, 2g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 0 fiber), 32g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 4 lean meat, 2 fat.
