Introduction
We all know how hard it is to cook a healthy, homemade meal after a long day at work. You’re tired, you’re hungry, and the last thing you want to do is spend an hour in the kitchen. But, with a little bit of planning and some simple ingredients, you can make a delicious, healthy & easy in under 40 minutes for dinners. Whether you’re looking for a quick weeknight meal or something to meal-prep for the week ahead, these 10 recipes are sure to please. So go ahead and put away those delivery menus—it’s time to get cooking!
Spicy Sausage and Veggie Foil PacksÂ
Make this tasty spicy sausage and veggie foil pack in under 40 minutes for a quick dinner on a busy night.
Preparation Instructions:
Start by preheating the oven to 200 degrees C or 400 degrees F. Add the 12 oz smoked sausage strips, 1 diced bell pepper, 1 diced small onion, 1 diced zucchini, 4 minced garlic cloves, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, and salt and black pepper to a large bowl and mix everything until well combined. Take 4 large sheets of aluminum foil and divide the mixture equally between these. Wrap each foil packet tightly and place it on a baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes or until you find that the vegetables are tender and cooked. Serves 4.
One-Pot Chicken, Broccoli, and RiceÂ
Dinner doesn’t get any easier than this. It’s a healthy, one-pot dinner that cooks in under 40 minutes. It gives a good source of protein. The broccoli goes in with the rice and chicken, so it’s fully cooked for the best flavor.
Preparation Instructions:
Start by heating 1 tbsp olive oil over medium heat in a large pot. Add 1 diced onion and 3 minced garlic cloves to this heated olive oil and cook until softened, stirring occasionally. Add 1 lb chicken breast, cubed, and 2 cups broccoli florets and season with 1 tbsp Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine. Add 1 cup of uncooked white rice and 1 1/2 cups of chicken broth. Stir to combine. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 20 minutes, or until the rice is cooked through and the chicken is cooked through. Serve hot!
Honey-Garlic Salmon and Brussels SproutsÂ
Honey-Garlic Salmon and Brussels Sprouts are a healthy and easy dinner. This recipe takes less than 40 minutes to make and the clean up is easy too! Read on to know the recipe.
Preparation Instructions:
Preheat your oven to 200 degrees C. In a small bowl, whisk together honey, garlic, soy sauce, and vegetable oil. Place the salmon fillets on a baking sheet in a single layer. Brush with honey-garlic mixture and roast for up to 12 to 15 minutes, or until the salmon is cooked through. Meanwhile, place Brussels sprouts in a large pot of boiling water. Cook it for a minimum of 3 to 5 minutes, or until they turn tender but still crisp. Drain well. Serve salmon and Brussels sprouts with the honey-garlic sauce from the baking sheet spooned over top.
Tomato-Basil Creamy Soup with Grilled Cheese Croutons
This recipe is for all of you who love food and want to cook healthy & easy but delicious dinners. The ingredients list may be long, but this recipe is pretty easy and you will get the result within less than 40 minutes!
Preparation Instructions:
Start by heating 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat in a large pot. Add 1/2 cup of diced onion, 3 minced garlic cloves, 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, and 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, and cook until onions are soft, about 5 minutes. Add 1 can (28-ounce) of crushed tomatoes and 2 cups of vegetable broth. Bring this to a simmer and keep on cooking for 10 minutes. Add 1/4 cup of chopped fresh basil leaves to this and lastly, season with salt and black pepper to taste. Remove from heat.
To make grilled cheese croutons: Take 8 slices of toasted whole wheat bread, 4 tablespoons of softened butter, and 8 slices of mozzarella cheese. Butter one side of each slice of toast. Place 4 slices of toast in a skillet over medium heat and top each with a slice of mozzarella cheese. Top with remaining 4 slices of toast, butter-side up. Cook on both sides until the cheese is melted and the bread is golden brown. Cut into bite-size pieces and float on top of soup bowls when serving.
Thai Turkey Meatballs with Cauliflower
This recipe is a healthier, yet delicious alternative to the traditional meatballs recipe. The vegetables and spices add some much-needed flavor and texture to the dish, while the cauliflower brings it all together with a fresh taste.
Preparation Instructions:
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. In a large bowl, mix 1 lb ground turkey, 1/2 cup chopped onion, 1/4 cup chopped cilantro, 2 cloves minced garlic, 1 tbsp coconut aminos, 1 tsp fish sauce, 1/4 tsp ground ginger, 1/4 tsp sea salt, fresh cracked pepper to taste. Once everything is mixed well, use your hands to form small meatballs – should make around 20-24.
Place these on a baking sheet (it must be lined with parchment paper). Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes, or until lightly browned and cooked through. Serve over 1 head of riced cauliflower and enjoy!
Spaghetti with roasted garlic and tomatoes
Spaghetti with roasted garlic and tomatoes is a healthy and easy dinner, made in under 40 minutes. In this recipe, creamy roasted garlic cloves are mixed with tomatoes for a well-balanced dish that’s always the highlight of any meal.
Preparation Instructions:
Split 1/2 pound spaghetti in half, then drop it into a pot of boiling water. Let it cook according to package instructions, then drain the pasta and set it aside. Meanwhile, heat 1/2 cup of olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet. Add 1 head of garlic, cloves peeled, roasted, and chopped, and cook for about 1 minute.
Stir in 1 pint of halved cherry tomatoes and season with salt and pepper. Cook for 5 minutes more, until the tomatoes, are soft but not too mushy. Add spaghetti to tomato mixture and toss to combine everything well. Stir in 1/4 cup of chopped fresh parsley leaves and 1/4 cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese, reserving some for topping. Serve hot immediately!
Grilled salmon with honey-glazed carrotsÂ
Grilled salmon with honey-glazed carrots is a quick and healthy recipe that can be cooked in under 40 minutes for dinners!Â
Preparation Instructions:
In a small bowl, whisk together 1 tbsp. honey, 1 tbsp. olive oil, 1/2 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. black pepper. Rub this mixture thoroughly over the salmon fillet. Grill in a preheated grill at 375 degrees F for about 10 minutes, or until cooked through. While the salmon is grilling, toss 1 bunch of carrots, peeled and cut into thin strips in a bit of olive oil and salt and pepper. Grill for about 7 minutes, or until slightly charred and tender. Serve with honey-glazed carrots on the side.Â
Note: It’s easier to cut the cooking time if you buy pre-marinated salmon.
Chicken parmesan with roasted Brussels sproutsÂ
Chicken parmesan with roasted Brussels sprouts is a healthy and easy dish made in under forty minutes for dinners! The dish is perfect for those who are discovering gluten-free food, as it includes ingredients that are usually excluded from the diet.
Preparation Instructions:Â
In a shallow bowl, mix 1 cup Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Take 4 chicken breasts (skinless, boneless) and coat them with the breadcrumb mixture. Place 1/2 cup all-purpose flour in a separate shallow bowl. Dip the coated chicken in 2 beaten eggs, then coat it with the flour.
Over medium heat in a large skillet, heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil until hot. Cook the chicken for two minutes on each side or until golden brown. Remove the cooked chicken from the file and place it on a baking sheet on your oven rack. Then bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius) for ten minutes while keeping your eye on it so that it doesn’t burn.
In the same large skillet over medium heat, sauté 1 pound Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved, in 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar until tender. Serve both together in whatever way you prefer!
Cajun Cabbage Skillet
This easy cabbage skillet is awesome for dinners and a healthy and flavorful way to get your vegetables in! Packed with Cajun flavor, this dish is sure to please everyone at the table. And it’s ready in under 30 minutes, so you can have a delicious and nutritious meal on the table in no time!
Preparation Instructions:
Add 1/2 head of chopped cabbage, 1/4 diced onion, 2 cloves of minced garlic, and 1/4 teaspoon cajun seasoning to a skillet heated with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Season with salt and pepper, and cook until the cabbage is soft about 10 minutes. Add 1/4 cup chicken broth, 1 tablespoon vinegar, 1 tablespoon sugar, and 1 can diced tomato, drained. Cook for another 5 minutes. Serve hot.
Chicken Katsu with Ginger Rice
This dish is healthy, easy to make, and only takes a few minutes to cook for dinners! Chicken katsu is a Japanese dish made with chicken that is breaded and fried. This version of chicken katsu is made with ginger rice, which is a type of rice that has been cooked with ginger. Ginger gives the rice a slightly spicy flavor.
Preparation Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Place 1-pound chicken breast strips in a bowl. In another bowl, mix ½ cup all-purpose flour, 2 beaten eggs, and 1 cup panko bread crumbs. Season with salt and black pepper. Dip each chicken strip in the flour mixture, then in the egg mixture, and then coat with the bread crumbs. Place on a baking sheet lightly greased with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Bake this for a minimum of 20 minutes or more, until it is browned and cooked through. Serve over cooked ginger rice.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are plenty of healthy and easy dinners that you can make in under 40 minutes! So next time you’re feeling too tired or busy to cook a healthy meal, remember these recipes and give them a try. Try these, for both your taste buds and your waistline, will thank you for it!
