The 10 Best Light Dinner Ideas

Looking for a healthy meal that won’t weigh you down? These light dinner ideas made with real food ingredients are flavorful and filling. 

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After a season of celebrating, many people are looking for lighter meals. 

I have always liked the saying “Breakfast like a king/queen, lunch like a prince/princess, dinner like a pauper.” 

It’s the opposite of what we associate with the typical American day: skipping breakfast for 2x coffee, lunch on the run, and a big meal for dinner. 

On days when I have a larger lunch, I often crave something on the light side for dinner — without heavy cream, rich red meat, or saturated with starches.

It is very possible to create filling and flavorful meals that incorporate all three macronutrients – carbohydrates, protein, and fat – without sending you to bed feeling like you can’t sleep on your stomach (been there, done that).

If you’re looking for some lighter meals to add to your meal plan, here is a list of 10 best light dinner ideas that you can enjoy year round.

They are easy to make, nutritious, and many are meal-prep friendly to enjoy any night of week — enjoy these delicious dinners!

The 10 Best Light Dinner Ideas

Mediterranean Grain Bowl Recipe

This Mediterranean Grain Bowl is great to prep in advance and assemble on the spot in less than 20 minutes. I love all of the creamy sauces!

Miso Noodle Soup

This soup is simple to make and full of flavor! It’s a hearty, comforting and nutrient-dense meal for cooler weather; it’s also vegan and gluten-free. 

Pesto Tuscan Kale Salad with Chicken

Craving a crunchy salad? This kale salad is made with Tuscan kale massaged with pesto and topped with chicken, blue cheese, and parmesan. The ultimate light dinner recipe!

Pumpkin Farro Salad

This pumpkin farro salad combines chewy farro with a whole roasted pumpkin and a few surprises, like pomegranate seeds! 

Cold Peanut Noodles

The whole family will love these cold peanut noodles with for a quick, healthy dinner. I always love this in the summer after a sweaty soccer game! These Nutty Noodles are another favorite.

Salmon Quinoa Burgers with Mint Yogurt Sauce

These burgers are super quick to put together, packed with protein, and they are baked, so there’s no fear of flipping!

Salmon Buddha Bowl

This salmon buddha bowl blends the simplicity of a seared salmon and brown rice bowl with the rainbow of veggies in a Buddha bowl – it’s light and delicious, and one of my favorite weeknight dinner recipes. 

Chicken Grain Bowl with Goddess Dressing

Hearty and healthy, this chicken grain bowl with goddess dressing is packed with goodness. One of my favorite light dinners and is ready in 30 minutes! It’s a great way to use chicken breasts from the freezer that need to be used up.

Hot Honey Quinoa Salad

This Hot Honey Quinoa Salad is spiced up with one great ingredient: hot honey! If you can’t find hot honey in a store, you can always make your own with pure honey and some red chili flakes. Served with herby grilled chicken, this salad makes a great all-in-one easy dinner. 

Easy Tempeh Rice Bowls

These easy tempeh rice bowls are made with a homemade marinade of broth, soy sauce, brown sugar, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and cornstarch. AKA all those good, strong Asian flavors! You can add whatever veggies you like, but bell peppers and green beans go great with this recipe.

Do you have a favorite light dinner recipe?