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107 Healthy Dinners That Are Ready in 40 Minutes or Less

Updated on December 21, 2023

Healthy food fast? Yes, it's possible! These quick and easy meals are on the table in no time.

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Photo: Min Kwon ©

Quick and Healthy Dinner Ideas

Healthy eating can mean a lot of different things. For some of us it means incorporating more low-carb or Whole30-friendly meals into our weekly routine. For others it's all about following a Mediterranean diet or committing to meal prep and eating more plant-based foods. However you define it and put it into practice, we can all agree on two things: healthy eating nourishes us and fills our plates with plenty of wholesome ingredients. That’s the idea behind these quick and easy any-night dinner recipes, including this fun take on enchiladas. It has the same great smoky spicy, sweet flavor you'd find in the classic version—but this one will fill up on squash, broccoli and black beans (instead of cheese and tortillas). Serve with a garnish of cilantro, fresh lime juice, diced avocado and a bit of shredded cheese for maximum enchilada feels.

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Photo: Matt Armendariz

Healthy Rice Cooker Garlic Shrimp with Chorizo

Inspired by Spanish garlic shrimp, this ultra-simple dish is cooked entirely in a rice cooker. It’s boosted with the smoky flavors of chorizo and paprika, then rounded out with crunchy red peppers and a bright squeeze of lemon at the end. Layering the cooked chorizo on the bottom of the rice cooker releases a bright orange oil that flavors the rice. And the steam helps soften the sausage in a way that other cooking methods do not. Jumbo shrimp work better than large shrimp for this recipe because they won't overcook.

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Photo: Matt Armendariz

Healthy 40-Minute Pork, Pepper and Rice Noodle Soup

This healthy weeknight meal brings together irresistible flavors in just 40 minutes. Think savory pork, crunchy vegetables, filling noodles and a tangy broth. It’s family-friendly and completely customizable: feel free to swap out the pork for chicken, beef or even tofu. Don’t have a red bell pepper? Reach for an orange or yellow one instead. The rice noodles will expand as the soup sits or when leftovers are refrigerated, so add more stock or water to thin it out to the consistency you desire before reheating.

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Pan-Seared Salmon with Kale and Apple Salad

This dish may look fancy, but it's easy enough to be a weeknight main course. The salmon cooks in a skillet in less than 10 minutes while the flavors in the crunchy kale salad meld. Add a whole-wheat roll and dinner is ready.

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