25 Light Dinner Recipe Ideas (2024)

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These delicious light dinner ideas are perfect for when you want an easy meal.

Sometimes you want a nice hearty meal but other nights when you're feeling snacky or just want something light and simple, these recipes will be perfect.

We've got ideas for vegetarian meals, salads as main meals, chicken and seafood recipes.

These recipes are perfect for when you want to quickly whip something healthy together.

Mediterranean Salmon Salad

Tender salmon combines with crisp Romaine lettuce, juicy tomatoes and cucumbers, and much more for a delicious Mediterranean salmon salad recipe.

25 Light Dinner Recipe Ideas (1)

Zucchini Noodles with Marina

This zucchini spaghetti with zoodles and a delicious marinara sauce is a bright, fresh meal! It's easy to make spiralized zucchini noodles and they taste great.

25 Light Dinner Recipe Ideas (2)

Black Bean Salad

You're going to love this black bean salad with bell peppers, red onion, and a kick of fajita seasoning.

25 Light Dinner Recipe Ideas (3)

Watermelon Poke Bowl

These watermelon poke bowls are easy and refreshing! This is obviously not a traditional poke recipe, but it is super tasty and vegan.

25 Light Dinner Recipe Ideas (4)

Udon Noodle Soup with Mushrooms and Bok Choy

This udon noodle soup is a wonderful, cozy meal. It's perfect for a night when you want a warm, brothy bowl that's fast.

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Coconut Crusted Tilapia

This coconut crusted tilapia recipe is richly flavorful and wonderfully spiced.You can make this recipe with any white fish fillet, but we chose tilapia because it's abundant and reasonably priced!

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Pesto Eggs

This recipe for pesto eggs is wildly flavorful. The eggs are fried in a layer of pesto sauce and served with a spread of goat cheese on some crusty toast.

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Lemon Chicken Rice Soup

This lemon chicken rice soup recipe is perfect for when you want a cozy bowl of warm and hearty soup.

While this soup is on the thicker side, from the rice and chicken, it's brightened up with the freshness of the lemon juice, leeks, carrots, and celery.

25 Light Dinner Recipe Ideas (8)

Vegetarian Miso Ramen Recipe

This fantastic vegetarian miso ramen recipe has layers of flavor, thanks to the stock, two types of miso, and toasted sesame oil!

25 Light Dinner Recipe Ideas (9)

Poached Sea Bass Recipe

This poached sea bass recipe will be one of your favorite seafood meals!

It's full of flavor - the delicate fish, the briny olives, the aromatic wine, and the fresh herbs all combine to make this an amazing meal.

25 Light Dinner Recipe Ideas (10)

Lemon Pepper Chicken Thighs

These lemon pepper chicken thighs are a zesty and delicious weeknight meal. They're so juicy and flavorful while still be really easy to make!

25 Light Dinner Recipe Ideas (11)

Grilled Cod in Foil

This delicious grilled cod in foil is topped with a lemon butter sauce that pairs perfectly with the mild flavor of the cod.

25 Light Dinner Recipe Ideas (12)

Mediterranean Chicken Salad

This Mediterranean chicken salad is everything you need in an easy, quick weeknight meal. It's full of delicious flavors - artichokes, bell peppers, beans, chickpeas - it has everything.

25 Light Dinner Recipe Ideas (13)

Crispy Baked Haddock

This delicious crispy baked haddock recipe is a tasty meal that's ready in minutes! The panko and parmesan crust on this fish is perfection.

25 Light Dinner Recipe Ideas (14)

Roasted Tomato Soup

This delicious roasted tomato soup with basil and garlic is deeply flavorful. It's relatively simple to make and doesn't require much hands-on time.

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Savoy Cabbage Salad

This chopped savoy cabbage salad is bursting with flavor!

The variety of flavors in this salad is stunning! The ginger dressing is the perfect complement to the subtle veggie flavors.

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Blackened Tilapia

This spicy blackened tilapia recipe is ready in minutes! The seasoning and sautéing of this dish combine to make a delicious, tender fish.

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Avocado Caprese Salad

ThisAvocado Caprese Saladis a perfect saladrecipe. It's easy to make, highlights fresh, seasonal ingredients, and is full of flavor!

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Sheet Pan Salmon Recipe

This sheet pan salmon with haricots verts and radishes and a mustardy dressing is an easy weeknight meal.

25 Light Dinner Recipe Ideas (19)

Shrimp Summer Rolls

These tasty shrimp summer rolls are made with crunchy cucumber, rice vermicelli noodles, and lots of fresh herbs. They're fun to make and absolutely delicious.

25 Light Dinner Recipe Ideas (20)

Chickpea Salad with Cucumber

This easy chickpea cucumber and feta salad is ready in about 15 minutes! It's a great light meal for two.

25 Light Dinner Recipe Ideas (21)

Roasted Acorn Squash Soup

This creamy acorn squash soup recipe combines roasted acorn squash, onions, garlic, apple, spices, and herbs for a wonderfully hearty winter squash soup.

25 Light Dinner Recipe Ideas (22)

Asian Pear Arugula Salad with Blue Cheese

This delicious Asian pear salad is made with blue cheese, arugula, frisée, and grapes. It's such a delicious and beautiful salad recipe.

25 Light Dinner Recipe Ideas (23)

Spring Farro Salad

This delightful spring farro salad has roasted asparagus, broccolini, and radishes. It's absolutely bursting with flavor.

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Pan-Seared Halibut with Capers and Dill


This delicious pan-seared halibut is topped with a lemon butter sauce, dill, and capers. The briny, bold flavors pair incredibly well with the fish.

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Tuna Salad Lettuce Wraps

These tasty tuna salad wraps are the perfect combination of creamy tuna salad and crispy lettuce.

They're ready in just a few minutes and make a fantastic, low-carb dinner option.

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Yield: 4 servings

Light Dinner Ideas

25 Light Dinner Recipe Ideas (27)

Try one of our favorite light dinner recipes - this tasty salmon salad has all the flavor and is a great healthy meal.

Prep Time15 minutes

Cook Time8 minutes

Additional Time5 minutes

Total Time28 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 pound salmon
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper, divided
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 4 cups chopped Romaine lettuce
  • 3 Persian cucumbers, sliced
  • 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 (14.5 ounces) can artichoke hearts, drained and halved
  • ½ cup pitted kalamata olives
  • 2 ounces crumbly feta cheese
  • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

Instructions

  1. Pat the salmon dry and then salt it with 1 teaspoon of kosher salt and ½ teaspoon black pepper.
  2. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, reduce the heat to medium and add the salmon, skin side down. Cook for 5 minutes. Flip and cook for another 2 to 4 minutes or until the salmon is flaky or reaches 145 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer.
  3. When the salmon is done cooking, remove it from the pan and allow it to rest on a cutting board. When cooled slightly, flake it apart into smaller pieces.
  4. On a large serving platter, spread out the lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, artichoke hearts, and olives. Top the salad with the salmon pieces. Sprinkle the feta cheese across the top.
  5. Whisk together the remaining two tablespoons of olive oil, a teaspoon of salt, ½ teaspoon of pepper, and lemon juice.
  6. Pour the dressing over the salad and serve immediately.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving:Calories: 445Total Fat: 31gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 22gCholesterol: 84mgSodium: 948mgCarbohydrates: 13gFiber: 4gSugar: 6gProtein: 30g

25 Light Dinner Recipe Ideas (2024)

FAQs

What to serve 20 people for dinner? ›

19 Ideas For Easy Meals For Large Groups
  • Taco Bar.
  • Meatballs.
  • Butter Chicken.
  • Lasagna.
  • Chili.
  • Homemade Pizza.
  • Baked Pasta.
  • Skewers.
Apr 4, 2023

What is a light dinner menu? ›

Our best light dinner ideas
  • Avocado salad. We start this recipe roundup with a refreshing avocado salad with chickpeas and cherry tomatoes. ...
  • Kale soup. ...
  • Cherry tomato pasta. ...
  • Kabocha squash soup. ...
  • Butternut squash salad. ...
  • Chickpea salad. ...
  • Avocado toast (avocado spread) ...
  • Kale salad.
Sep 30, 2023

What to feed 25 people? ›

Easy Meat Dishes that are Great to Feed to a Crowd
  • Simple Barbecue Beef Roast.
  • Simple Overnight Saucy Crock Pot Chicken.
  • Simple Overnight Melt-in-Your-Mouth Beef Roast.
  • Simple Oven Fried Chicken.
  • Simple Honey Mustard Chicken Legs.
  • Simple Roasted Rotiserie Chicken.
  • Simple Hawaiian Beef Roast.
  • Simple Garlic Parmesan Chicken Legs.
Jul 24, 2011

What is the best cheap food to feed a crowd? ›

Feed the masses without breaking the bank with these budget-friendly dishes.
  • Turkey and Pumpkin Lasagne. ...
  • Slow Cooker Savoury Mince. ...
  • Slow cooker barbecue chicken. ...
  • Slow cooker chicken and olives. ...
  • Slow cooker beef stew. ...
  • Creamy Chicken Pie. ...
  • Chicken, Avocado and Bacon Salad. ...
  • Potato Salad.

What is the best light dinner to eat? ›

Light Dinner Ideas for Two
  • Oven-Roasted Salmon. This easy light dinner idea is the perfect meal for two. ...
  • Glazed Chicken. ...
  • Summer Squash Salad. ...
  • Herb Sausage Stuffed Acorn Squash. ...
  • Vegetable and Chicken Kebabs. ...
  • Hot Honey Bake Salmon. ...
  • Herb Roasted Turkey. ...
  • Sesame Chicken and Chili Lime Sauce.
Jan 10, 2024

What food is light but filling? ›

The healthiest lower energy-dense choices are foods that are high in protein but low in fat and calories, such as:
  • Beans, peas and lentils, which are also good sources of fiber.
  • Fish.
  • Lean meat and poultry.
  • Low-fat or fat-free dairy products, such as milk, yogurt and cheese.
  • Egg whites.

What is an example of a light meal? ›

A light meal could be eggs on toast or a salad, , while a heavy meal might be meat pie and vegetables/chips, and cake for dessert afterwards.

What is a light meal at night? ›

Quick & Light Dinner Ideas:

Greek salad with low-fat feta cheese, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and purple onions with hummus and a few wedges of whole wheat pita bread. Add chicken or lean meat to the salad for satisfying protein. Oven baked tilapia with green beans and quinoa.

What is a light meal taken in the evening? ›

Supper – light meal eaten in the late evening; as early as 7pm or as late as midnight. Usually eaten when the main meal of the day is taken at lunchtime or high tea.

What to make for dinner when nothing sounds good? ›

What to eat when nothing sounds good: 25 balanced meal ideas
  • Ham or turkey & cheese sandwich with a side of fruit.
  • Rotisserie chicken with frozen microwaveable rice and veggies.
  • “Adult Lunchable”: cheese, crackers, deli meat, raw fruits or veggies with dip.
  • Frozen chicken tenders or nuggets on top of a salad.
Jan 11, 2023

What is the most easiest thing to cook? ›

Easy staples of mine:
  • Eggs - scrambled and over easy.
  • spaghetti with meat sauce (brown meat and add a jar of sauce)
  • hamburgers on the grill.
  • tacos (hamburger meat and seasoning packet)
  • Bake a chicken breast with seasoning and microwave a bag of frozen veggies for side.
Jan 17, 2018

What is the cheapest thing to make for dinner? ›

65 Easy And Cheap Dinner Ideas That You'll Want To Make On Repeat
  • Sweet Potato And Black Bean Burritos. tasty.co. ...
  • Barbecue Beer Can Chicken. tasty.co. ...
  • Zucchini Noodles with Kale Pesto. ...
  • One-Pot Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta. ...
  • Chicken Alfredo Penne. ...
  • Avocado Quinoa Power Salad. ...
  • Tofu Scramble. ...
  • Egg Pizza With Scallions.
Dec 21, 2023

What should I feed 20 people on a budget? ›

Cheap tricks for the best outdoor cookouts.
  • 1 / 7. Hot Dog Snack Board. ...
  • 2 / 7. No-Cook Dip and Veggie Summer Board. ...
  • 3 / 7. Instant Pot Pulled Porchetta Sandwiches. ...
  • 4 / 7. Chicken Caesar Salad Skewers. ...
  • 5 / 7. Chopped BBQ Chicken Salad. ...
  • 6 / 7. Fish Tacos. ...
  • 7 / 7. Ice Cream Sandwiches for a Crowd.
Apr 19, 2023

How to cater for 20 people? ›

Finger foods, canapes, and grazing tables are great options that can feed a crowd and are easy to shape around any style. From gourmet cured meats and cheeses to catering classics like mini pies and pastries, there is bound to be something for any theme.

How much food do you need for 20 guests? ›

Food for Dinner Parties
FoodUp to 10 guests20-30
Green salad10 cups30 cups
Fruit salad5 cups15 cups
Rolls or bread slices20 pieces60 pieces
Cakes1 layer cake3 layer cakes
9 more rows

What is the best food to serve at a dinner party? ›

Dinner party mains
  • One-pot chicken chasseur. A star rating of 4.8 out of 5. ...
  • Lamb biryani. A star rating of 4.6 out of 5. ...
  • Beef bourguignon with celeriac mash. ...
  • Mustard-stuffed chicken. ...
  • Goat's cheese & thyme stuffed chicken. ...
  • One-pan salmon with roast asparagus. ...
  • Butternut chilli. ...
  • Smoked salmon & lemon risotto.

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