When it comes to low-calorie meals, we’re fans of recipes that go hard on flavorful, nutrient-packed ingredients like fresh seafood, colorful veg and filling whole grains. Just because a food is low in calories, after all, doesn’t mean that it’s a healthy choice. Instead of ditching dairy, carbs, and other high-calorie favorites, we love to load up our plates with high-protein and -fiber ingredients and healthy fats so we never feel deprived — because that’s not what low-calorie eating is about.

Whether you're practicing intuitive eating or simply looking to incorporate more nutritious meals into your routine, these healthy weeknight dinner recipes are the best of both worlds: low in calories and delicious. Love chicken parm? Tacos? How about Caesar salad? We’ve got it all. You can rest easy knowing that each of these meals is under 500 calories per serving, and feature small amounts of foods like steak, pasta, and — our forever favorite — parmesan cheese. We’ve also got a ton of delicious vegetarian options and vegan dishes in our mix. There’s no bland ‘diet food’ here: just nourishing whole foods, with a few treats thrown in.

Any one of these recipes can be served on their own, or with one or two healthy side dishes or healthy desserts (or both) for a heartier meal. Having a low-calorie weeknight dinner that fits into your diet plan just got a whole lot easier.

Here's what you need for this recipe: salmon, green beans, garlic, capers and red chile. That's it!

Get the Seared Salmon with Charred Green Beans recipe.

RELATED: 11 Surprising Health Benefits of Salmon

Not only is Broccoli one of our favorite low-calorie foods, but it's incredibly versatile as well. Seared in a skillet like steak and topped with crispy breadcrumbs, this is broccoli you eat with a fork and knife.

Get the Broccoli "Steaks" with Spicy Tomato Jam recipe.

RELATED: 7 Impressive Broccoli Health Benefits, According to Registered Dietitians

Ever tried soup in an air fryer? The even heat roasts squash, carrots and aromatics perfectly before blending.

Get the Air Fryer Squash Soup recipe.

RELATED: 57 Easy Air Fryer Recipes That Are Fast and Super Delicious

Whether you're sticking to a 1,200 calorie diet plan or just trying to incorporate more fish into your dinners, this easy sheet pan fish is light, flavorful perfection.

Get the Sheet Pan Fish and Vegetables recipe.

Set out a tray of healthy shrimp lettuce wraps made with veggies and fresh herbs for dinner tonight!

Get the Spicy Shrimp Lettuce Wraps recipe.

RELATED: 28 Healthy and Delicious Ways to Eat All the Shrimp

Not just for breakfast, toast is a totally acceptable dinner when topped with creamy beans and tender kale.

Get the White Bean and Kale Toasts recipe.

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150+ recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert and snacks — all 500 calories or less per serving!

Garam masala adds warming heat and lots of flavor to this simple chicken-and-veggies meal.

Get the Garam Masala Roasted Chicken and Cauliflower recipe.

RELATED: 60 Best Healthy Chicken Recipes That Are Easy to Make for Dinner

It's (vegetarian) taco night! With chili, coriander and cumin-spiced cauliflower as the filling, you won't miss the meat.

Get the Roasted Cauliflower Tacos recipe.

RELATED: 55 Easy Vegetarian Recipes for the Whole Family

Fresh orange and lime juice helps tenderize and season this steak without a ton of excess sugar or oil.

Get the Best-Ever Marinated Flank Steak recipe.

Add a sweet-sour touch to juicy pork tenderloin with an easy balsamic, honey and thyme glaze.

Get the Balsamic Glazed Pork with Roasted Butternut Squash recipe.

RELATED: 37 Best Butternut Squash Recipes That Are Easy to Make for Fall

Try fajitas on a sheet pan for easy prep and even easier cleanup.

Get the Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas recipe.

RELATED: 18 Easy Sheet Pan Dinners That Make Cleanup a Breeze

Packed with citrus juices, honey, shallot, jalapeño and ginger, this refreshing light dinner or appetizer is big on flavor.

Get the Shrimp Ceviche recipe.

Toasted almonds, garlic, parsley and thyme make a tasty, crunchy topper to this silkiest-ever soup.

Get the Creamy Cauliflower Soup with Almond-Thyme Gremolata recipe.

Gochujang adds impressive heat to juicy pork tenderloin. Cool it down with crisp lettuce and cooked rice.

Get the Fiery Pork Lettuce Wraps recipe.

Creamy goat cheese and crispy prosciutto add lots of flavor — but few calories — to this weeknight wonder.

Get the Air Fryer Stuffed Chicken recipe.

A yogurt marinade pretty much guarantees juicy, tender chicken legs in this tandoori spiced recipe. Plus, air frying gets you crisp, golden-brown skin with a fraction of the oil used for roasting.

Get the Tandoori Chicken recipe.

This deconstructed sushi bar classic keeps the calorie count low with a combo of brown rice and crisp Boston lettuce as the base.

Get the California Roll Salad recipe.

Try scooping up this rich tomato-and-egg stew with crusty bread, and then tell us you don’t love breakfast for dinner.

Get the Shakshuka recipe.

With tons of fiber from the chickpeas and lean protein from the chicken breast, this one-pan dish is a meal in itself — though you can totally serve it with rice or couscous if you prefer.

Get the Paprika Chicken With Crispy Chickpeas and Tomatoes recipe.

Pork chops — a surprisingly lean cut of meat — are grilled to tender, juicy perfection in this protein and veg pairing. The Bloody Mary-esque salad makes for a lip-smackingly zesty side dish.

Get the Pork Chops with Bloody Mary Tomato Salad recipe.

This peppy, garlic-laden Caesar dressing is way lighter than the typical bottled variety. Tossed with greens and served with grilled chicken, it makes for a quick dinner that won’t weigh you down.

Get the Grilled Chicken Skewers and Kale Caesar recipe.

Blending cauliflower with pasta water and nutritional yeast makes for a luxurious sauce that just so happens to be vegan.

Get the Cauliflower Alfredo recipe.

These richly spiced meatballs get a fresh, flavorful topping of parsley and crumbled feta. Serve with couscous, or swap in a crunchy chopped salad for an even lighter dinner option.

Get the Moroccan Meatballs recipe.

Rice can absolutely be a part of a low-calorie diet, and this plant-based paella recipe proves it. We add in lots of colorful veg for a satisfying, high-fiber dish with amazing depth of flavor.

Get the Vegetable Paella recipe.

Toss toasted bread cubes in a green, herby salad for a healthy meal that still feels filling.

Get the Spring Panzanella recipe.

RELATED: 40 Spring Recipes That Make the Most of This Season's Produce

Salmon and colorful veggies are the perfect pairing for a meal that will keep you full all day.

Get the Roasted Salmon with Green Beans and Tomatoes recipe.

If you're a fan of sweet and salty, you're going to love this combo of savory soup and coconutty pita bread.

Get the Spiced Fresh Tomato Soup with Sweet and Herby Pitas recipe.

If you have 25 minutes, you can have homemade ramen — complete with shiitake mushrooms, snow peas and bok choy.

Get the Vegetable Ramen with Mushrooms and Bok Choy recipe.

You'll instantly forget you're having a salad with the grilled steak mixed in. Plus, the jalapeños add an unexpected kick.

Get the Grilled Steak Tortilla Salad recipe.

This delicious veggie pizza clocks in at under 340 calories — even with a topping of nutty, gooey melted gruyere.

Get the Roasted Cauliflower Pizza recipe.

RELATED: 30 Crazy-Delicious Cauliflower Recipes to Instantly Upgrade Your Veggie Game

The fresh radish salsa on this fish fillet itself is just the bright spot of flavor you've been looking for.

Get the Striped Bass with Radish Salsa Verde recipe.

This isn't your usual lettuce wrap. Bring your steak to life with a special marinade and top it off with chopped peanuts before eating.

Get the Korean Pineapple Beef Lettuce Wraps recipe.

This soul-warming soup may be low in calories, but it doesn't feel lacking at all — especially with its velvety avocado topping.

Get the Vegan Black Bean Soup recipe.

Balance this spicy salmon with a fresh cucumber salad.

Get the Honey-Ginger Cedar Plank Salmon recipe.

RELATED: 30+ Easy Salmon Recipes to Make for Dinner Tonight

White rice can totally be part of a healthy dinner, and this 220 calorie meal is proof.

Get the Traditional Chicken Curry recipe.

Because they're so low on calories (this entire bowl clocks in at just 280 calories), you can pair these delicious mollusks with bread (or fries!) if you like.

Get the White Wine Mussels recipe.

Who said that fried food isn't healthy? Crisp tofu proves otherwise, especially when paired with a medley of zesty zucchini and crunchy toasted cashews.

Get the Crispy Tofu Bowl recipe.

RELATED: 40 Easy Tofu Recipes That Make the Perfect Vegetarian Meal

Give your weeknight chicken dish a seasonal spin with squash and pomegranate seeds.

Get the Pomegranate-Honey Glazed Chicken and Squash recipe.

No mess, no fuss over this foil packet-cooked shrimp. You'll have plenty of fresh veg, tender shrimp, and satisfying couscous at under 350 calories.

Get the Shrimp Packets with Kale Couscous recipe.

It's time to up your Instant Pot game with this warming stew. This recipe is also easily made vegan: just use vegetable broth instead of chicken.

Get the Pressure Cooker Winter Squash and Lentil Stew recipe.

RELATED: 30 Best Instant Pot Recipes for Easy Weeknight Dinners

The sweet vinaigrette glaze on this cod is dangerously delicious.

Get the Soy-Glazed Cod and Bok Choy recipe.

This flaky baked fish uses just a touch of butter for an elegant main with only 190 calories per serving.

Get the Zesty Lemon-Herb Baked Flounder recipe.

Who needs sauce when you have spicy sausage?

Get the Harvest Flatbreads with Italian Sausage recipe.

Because eating chicken on skewers is way more fun.

Get the Chicken Souvlaki Skewers recipe.

Maximize the crispy factor and minimize the carb count with this simple pasta dish.

Get the Speedy Eggplant Parmesan recipe.

RELATED: 30 Healthy Pasta Recipes That Will Keep You Full All Night

Roasted cherry tomatoes are nature's candy. Take our word for it.

Get the Roasted Baby Vine Tomato Grilled Chicken recipe.

It's rare to get an entire plate at under 450 calories, but this salmon dinner does it in style.

Get the Salmon with Grilled Eggplant and Chickpea Croutons recipe.

This big bowl of comfort is a must-have after a trip to the farmer's market.

Get the Spring Minestrone recipe.

You can have this takeout-classic and eat it, too. This version goes light on oil and adds in baked tofu and lots of fresh veg.

Get the Tofu Pad Thai recipe.

Sweet peppers, carrots and mint add some color to this easy weeknight dinner.

Get the Lamb Sausage with Confetti Couscous recipe.