Lemony Tagliatelle With Meatballs
Calories: 350 Fat: 21g Carbs: 18.5g Protein: 22.2g 5-a-day: 1
Skill level: Easy Serves: 2-3 Cooking time: 25 mins
Serve your meatballs differently with this simple lemon meatballs tagliatelle. The meatballs are infused with lemon and tossed with courgette strips and fresh tagliatelle.
Making meatballs is a great way to limit the amount of meat you have in a portion. Opt for turkey mince when making the meatballs as it’s lower in fat and calories than beef or pork mince. We’ve used full fat crème fraîche but this could easily be swapped for a half fat version.
Prepare this low calorie meal in just 20 minutes. This zingy dish serves two to three people depending on your preferred portion size.
Get the recipe: Lemony tagliatelle with meatballs
Thai Prawn Curry And Noodles
Calories: 326 Fat: 17.0g Carbs: 32.5g Protein: 11.3g 5-a-day: 1
Skill level: Easy Serves: 4 Cooking time: 15 mins
Warming, filling, and full of flavour, this Thai prawn curry and noodles dish is one of our favourite low calorie meals on the list.
Weve used two cans of reduced-fat coconut milk in this recipe to ensure both the calorie and fat content are low. Weve also chosen prawns over other meat too like chicken or beef as they are much leaner, and healthier. And at just 326 calories per portion, this dish could be served with a crust of bread as a real treat.
This vibrant dish takes just 20 minutes to prepare and cook and serves four.
Get the recipe: Thai prawn curry and noodles
Chicken And Spring Onion Pancakes
Calories: 298 Fat: 12.9g Carbs: 24.6g Protein: 20.2g 5-a-day: 0
Skill level: Easy Serves: 1 Cooking time: 5 mins
Not just for Pancake Day, these savoury chicken and spring onion pancakes are the perfect low calorie option that will keep you fuller for longer.
The protein in the chicken ensures youll be full after enjoying a portion of this recipe. At just 298 calories, serve these pancakes with a side salad or portion of sweet potatoes. Choose semi-skimmed milk over full fat to keep the fat count low, you could also choose skimmed milk as an alternative too. The spring onions add a zing of flavour to each bite, as well as being rich in fiber helping to aid digestion.
These pancakes are best made and eaten on the same day for the freshest flavour and taste.
Get the recipe: Chicken and spring onion pancakes
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Roasted Parsnip & Carrot Soup
Gluten Free, Vegan
Heres your perfect nutrient packed and delicious soup under 300 calories bowl.
A velvety rich soup with hearty vegetables and aromatic turmeric for flavour. If you are looking for a new easy soup to add to your winter collection, Roasted Parsnip and Carrot Soupcould be one for you.
Vegetarian
Creamy, hearty, delicious and 423 calories a serving!
A creamy and fresh Italian favourite, risotto. This dish has the heartiness of a winter meal yet fresh enough for warmer spring days. This Portobello Mushroom & Spinach Risotto will have you going back for seconds.
Spicy Pepper Pulled Pork
Calories: 465 Fat: 30.1g Carbs: 16.1g Protein: 31.5g 5-a-day: 0
Skill level: Easy Serves: 6 Cooking time: 5hr
Made with a hint of spice, this succulent pork works out at just 465 calories per serving which means you can serve with homemade potato wedges or chips and salad and still be under the 500 calories limit.
This recipe opts for a homemade sauce, which not only infuses the pork with plenty of flavour, it also keeps the calorie count low. We’ve made sure to avoid any added sugar or salt in this recipe too.
Wed recommend preparing this dish ahead and making it in the day time as it takes five hours to slow cook in the oven. That way youll guarantee it’s ready to be eaten come dinner time.
Get the recipe: Spicy pepper pulled pork
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Southwestern Bell Pepper Quinoa
GLUTEN FREE, VEGETARIAN
Quinoa quite often gets overlooked, but its such a wholesome and easy grain to cook. It takes on the flavours you add to the pan and this dish comes in at just 446 calories per serving!
This Southwestern Bell Pepper Quinoa makes a great light dinner option. Made with fresh bell peppers, tomatoes and corn, its not only hearty its healthy as well.
NOTE, LEAVE OFF CHEESE TOPPING TO MAKE IT VEGAN
Baked Sausage And Gnocchi Gratin
Calories: 457 Fat: 20.9g Carbs: 48.4g Protein: 19g 5-a-day: 1
Skill level: Easy Serves: 6 Cooking time: 25 mins
This hearty baked sausage and gnocchi gratin is infused with fennel, chilli flakes, and fresh herbs. Gnocchi is commonly thought to be a high-calorie food but in this recipe, we’ve limited the amount per person to around 80g each that’s 131 calories and 0.2g of fat per portion of gnocchi.
Claire says “Gnocchi is an ideal substitute for high-calorie pasta options and is perfectly suited to mixing in vegetables and grain. Fennel is a high fibre contribution that makes you feel fuller for longer and has been shown to help moderate blood sugar release as part of a meal. To reduce the calories, swap out the sausage for super firm tofu substitute, which is rich in protein.”
This hearty family meal takes just 25 minutes to bake and serves four to six people. A portion of this mouthwatering dish also counts as one of your five-a-day.
Get the recipe: Baked sausage and fennel gnocchi gratin
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Asparagus Noodles With Pesto
While we’re on the topic of veggie noodles, how about asparagus noodles? Though they’re not as common, trust me when I say these are wonderfully flavorful. This pasta is a fun bright green color that serves as a delicious low carb dinner!
Why use a regular bowl when you can use a spaghetti squash bowl?! This quick and tasty pesto spaghetti bowl packs in the veggies without compromising on a single ounce of flavor.
+ Dinner Recipes Under 500 Calories
These 21+ Meals Under 500 Calories are all hearty, healthy meals, with many high in protein they will keep you going all day long!
Hello, friends!
I have been working really hard to add nutrition information to a lot of my recipes. Mostly the dinner and breakfast recipes, as dessert is usually a splurge and not an everyday thing .
If you had asked me a few months ago, youd know that I never had any intentions to add calorie counts to my recipes.
Not because theyre not healthy, but because its so easy for calorie calculators to be wrong. All brands of products are slightly different, and a lot of ingredients I dont weigh, which makes it even more difficult. I dont feel its realistic for me to give you a recipe that requires 468 grams of chicken breast it makes more sense for me to ask for 2 chicken breasts, but 2 chicken breasts can vary greatly in size and calories.
I want you to keep that in mind as we go from here all of my calorie counts were calculated using the My Fitness Pal Recipe Calorie Calculator , and Ive done my best to ensure theyre accurate. But they will still vary slightly for everybody.
If you have a condition that requires you to know exactly what you are eating, you will want to do your own calculations using your own preferred brand of ingredients. The nutrition information is only to be used as a guide.
Moving on!
P.S. If you have any favorite recipes youd like me to make healthier, I would love to hear about them!
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Cheese And Tomato Bake
Calories: 425 Fat: 21.4g Carbs: 37.7g Protein: 22.7g 5-a-day: 0
Skill level: Easy Serves: 2 Cooking time: 20 mins
Suitable for vegetarians, this delicious cheese and tomato bake is made with white bread, sweet tomatoes, cheesy cheddar, and a hint of pesto.
This recipe serves two but portions could easily be halved and served with a fresh salad instead. This would half the amount of calories and fat per portion. Choose brown bread over white for a healthier choice and choose a strong cheddar cheese so you don’t have to use as much.
The perfect one-pot option you and your partner can enjoy without the expense of endless washing up. This is a carb heavy dinner so choose smaller portions and serve with salad for an even lighter meal.
Get the recipe: Cheese and tomato bake
Sausage And Spinach Frittata
Calories: 338 Fat: 23.9g Carbs: 10.6g Protein: 19.9g 5-a-day: 1
Skill level: Easy Serves: 4 Cooking time: 30 mins
This mouth-watering sausage and spinach frittata is packed with sausages, red onion, cherry tomatoes, spinach, and plenty of eggs. Serve with salad for one of our light yet filling low calorie meals.
This frittata is made with six eggs. Eggs are a great source of protein and are low calorie too. One medium egg contains just 66 calories. Research suggests that eggs also aid weight loss as they help to boost metabolism.
Get the recipe: Sausage and spinach frittata
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Grilled Pesto Chicken Wraps
These Grilled Pesto Chicken Wraps are a healthy, easy way to enjoy your favorite flavors without compromising on flavor.
The pesto-marinated chicken is grilled and served in a whole wheat tortilla with fresh arugula, thinly sliced red onion, chopped tomato, and juicy cucumber slices.
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The result is a crunchy and refreshing wrap that’s packed with flavor.
This recipe only takes 10 minutes of prep time and 20 minutes of cooking time. It contains a calorie count of 456.
It’s also super easy to modify and alter the dish according to your tastes, so feel free to add extra veggies or swap out the ingredients for your favorites.
Spicy Ranch Chopped Chicken Cabbage Salad
Most of us, I included, could do with getting in more greens. And salads are an awesome way to add more greens to your diet.
But often, your typical salad tastes like rabbit food. And as healthy as it is, you just want to skip the salad.
This is a salad you wont want to miss. The crunchiness of the cabbage goes well with the tender juiciness of the chicken.
This is complemented by the sweetness of the carrots and red bell pepper. And the jalapeno peppers in the creamy dressing adds a nice kick- youll want this dressing on everything.
And the chicken breasts are really flavorful. Thats because youre marinating them first in a ton of spices.
Once youre done marinating your chicken breasts, simply place them on your grill. Then cook them for about 8 minutes on each side.
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Vegetarian Dinners Under 500 Calories
This post contains affiliate links.
Check out this list of 37 Vegetarian Dinners Under 500 Calories for quick and easy recipe options sure to satisfy hunger. This list of low-cal recipes includes something for every craving! Grams of fat are included as well.
Sometimes youre craving pizza, and other times pasta. Sometimes you want greens, but a salad just wont do! No matter what your craving may be, its usually easier when you can quickly reference a list of recipes that are sure to taste great but will be within your caloric limits too. Thats exactly what this list includes!
In this post youll find 37 vegetarian dinner ideas under 500 calories that are sure to rock your palette no matter your choice. Enjoy robust gyros, veggie-packed lasagna, creamy, bisque soup, or even jam-packed vegetarian sushi rolls!
Transform this weeks meal lineup with delicious meals that fit easily into your calorie allowance each and every time.
Chinese Vegetable Chow Mein
Calories: 195 Fat: 6.6g Carbs: 27.1g Protein: 6.1g 5-a-day: 1
Skill level: Easy Serves: 4-5 Cooking time: 5 mins
At just 195 calories per portion, this classic Chinese dish is a family dinner well under 500 calories. The groundnut oil, soy sauce, oyster sauce, and lime give this meal a real punch of flavour.
This vegetarian recipe is meat-free, which means you avoid any extra calories or fat some meat can contain. We’ve loaded this stir-fry with heaps of vegetables instead so you’ve got plenty of nutrients. We’ve also used egg noodles, which are around 144 calories per 100g, which are around 28 calories less than rice noodles . One of our easiest low calorie meals to make.
Ideal as a midweek option when youre short on time as it takes just two steps to make. This meal is also a great lower calorie substitute for a Chinese takeaway.
Get the recipe: Chinese vegetable chow mein
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Winter Root Vegetable Tagine
Calories: 367 Fat: 8.1g Carbs: 63.5g Protein: 13.7g 5-a-day: 3
Skill level: Easy Serves: 4 Cooking time: 40 mins
As one of our best low calorie meals, this hearty vegetable tagine has a healthy dose of vegetables and protein thanks to chickpeas. The slightly spiced Moroccan tomato sauce gives this dish plenty of flavour.
Chickpeas are a great meat replacement as they’re full of protein. A portion of chickpeas in this recipe is just 77 calories and around 19g of protein, which is just under half your recommended daily allowance. The masses of vegetables in this dish also count towards your five-a-day.
This comforting tagine counts as three of your five-a-day and takes 40 minutes to bake in the oven, which is rather quick for a slow cooked meal.
Get the recipe: Winter root vegetable tagine
Spicy Meatball Tagine With Bulgur & Chickpeas
Who knew meatballs could be 4 of your 5-a-day? This healthy tagine is full of flavour and low on fat, just make sure you choose a lean mince with 5% fat
A vibrant summer salad with radishes, edamame beans, peppers, almonds and herbs, drizzled with a citrus dressing
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Fish Tacos With A Spicy Mango Salsa
You can enjoy two of these delicious tacos for about 450 calories. The fish is fan fried on deep fried, which keeps the calorie count down.
The fresh flavours of mango and the light and crispy fish, you will feel like you are whisked away to a tropical vacation biting into these tacos. Well, maybe. In any case, these Fish Tacos with a Spicy mango Salsa are bursting with flavours that will keep you coming back for more. And you get TWO tacos under 500 calories!
What Is The Lowest Calorie Meal
The lowest calorie meal depends on the individual and their dietary needs. A meal between 400-500 calories ticks the boxes. My favorite high volume and low calorie meal is a dinner bowl. This involves lean protein, fresh vegetables, a grain, and some healthy fats. This combination promotes satiety and also is incredibly delicious. Here is how to make it.
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Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup
Vegan
Slow cooker soups are a great way to get dinner on the table. And this on is under 300 calories a bowl! Make room for a Whole Wheat Dinner Roll on the side.
Making soup has never been easier than in a slow cooker. This Slow Cooker Minestrone Soup is filled with a rich tomato flavour and studded with loads of vegetables. Serve topped with fresh parmesan and some crusty bread on the side. A great winter meal!
NOTE, LEAVE OFF THE PARMESAN CHEESE TOPPING TO MAKE IT VEGAN
Tomato And Sweetcorn Flan
Calories: 299 Fat: 13g Carbs: 34g Protein: 11.6g 5-a-day: 2
Skill level: Medium Serves: 4 Cooking time: 40 mins
The recipe includes succulent shredded ham and juicy medium-sized tomatoes. If you’re cooking for vegetarians you can take out the ham and replace it with a vegetable such as red pepper or onion. We’d recommend serving this low calorie meals with a salad or new potatoes to keep this recipe under the 500 calorie mark.
This flan is entirely made from scratch. The pastry is made from just three ingredients flour, butter, and salt, all of which can be substituted for healthier alternatives. You can remove the salt, opt for a low fat butter, or nut butter alternative and you can swap the plain white flour for spelt or rye flour instead, which are lower in calories.
Get the recipe: Tomato and sweetcorn flan
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How Many Layers Are In A Lasagne
Aim for 3-4 layers when making a lasagne. The smaller the dish, the more layers you’ll have, particularly if you choose a dish that’s deep. A wider, low-rim dish will make a big lasagne, but with only a couple of layers. It is entirely your choice of how many layers – and it depends on how much filling you have too.
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Mini Roasted Cauliflowers With Tomato Sauce
Calories: 243 Fat: 15.7g Carbs: 13.2g Protein: 11.8g 5-a-day: 3
Skill level: Easy Serves: 4 Cooking time: 30 mins
Each cauliflower is topped with a thick tomato sauce and topped with plenty of cheese too. The pancetta and hint of Worcestershire sauce add a real depth of flavour to this family bake.
Cauliflower is a great substitute for rice, pasta, or potatoes. It’s just a filling, keeping you fuller for longer but without the added calorie count. On average a small cauliflower is just 75 calories and 1g of fat.
This dish is so easy you could even get the kids involved in the preparation stages as we demo in the recipe video. A portion of this dinner is three of your five-a-day.
Get the recipe: Mini roasted cauliflowers with tomato sauce
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Day : Taco Lettuce Wraps
Taco Lettuce Wraps: Don’t limit yourself to lettuce for this taco lettuce wrap recipe-any fresh green sturdy enough to wrap around 1/2 cup of filling works. Try it out with kale, chard or even cabbage.
Make It a Meal: Top the lettuce wraps with 1 Tbsp. each shredded Cheddar cheese. Serve with 1 serving of whole-grain tortilla chips and 1/4 cup salsa.
Total: 510 calories