• Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Work With Me
  • Subscribe
  • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms and Conditions

Easy Peasy Foodie

easy, delicious, stress-free, family food

  • Recipe Index
    • Popular Recipes
    • Easy Midweek Meal Ideas
    • Under 30 Minutes
    • Traybakes
    • Easy Entertaining
    • Breakfast & Brunch
    • Soups, Salads & Light Meals
    • Sandwiches & Burgers
    • Main Courses
    • Side Dishes
    • Sauces & Dips
    • Desserts, Puddings & Cakes
    • Vegetarian & Vegan
    • Roundups
  • Reviews
  • Blogging Tips
  • Meal Plans
  • Easter
Home » Roundups » 20 Easy Dinners Under 500 Calories

Roundups

20 Easy Dinners Under 500 Calories

6.8K shares

Looking to eat more healthily this year? These 20 easy dinners are all under 500 calories per portion, but are packed with flavour, family friendly (no more cooking separate meals) and won’t leave you hungry, either!

Looking to eat more healthily this year? These 20 easy dinners are all under 500 calories per portion, but are packed with flavour, family friendly (no more cooking separate meals) and won’t leave you hungry, either! #under500calories #500caloriedinners #easydinners #healthydinners #easypeasyfoodie

 

Being a food blogger and staying slim is a tough gig! I am constantly taste-testing and photographing new recipes and looking at pictures of food on social media! In fact, trying to ensure I didn’t end up the size of a house was a big reason why I decided to focus on (mainly healthy) weeknight dinners here on Easy Peasy Foodie.

I have to eat dinner anyway, right? So I do all my taste-testing and most of my photography at dinner time, then I can just eat the food I’ve made without piling on the pounds!

30 Easy Dinners Under 500 Calories

 

The other trick I’ve found helpful, in my quest to stay slim, is to keep my portion sizes sensible. The NHS recommends a woman should have about 2000 calories per day to maintain her weight, so I try to eat 500 calories for breakfast, 500 calories for lunch and 500 calories for dinner – that keeps me from feeling hungry during the day and gives me a few calories leftover for healthy snacks and the occasional glass of wine!

30 Easy Dinners Under 500 Calories

 

To achieve this, my usual breakfast is a large bowl of muesli and milk. Lunch is generally leftovers from the previous evening’s healthy dinner or, if there are no leftovers, two slices of granary toast with marmite, a small piece of cheese and an apple. And dinner is either a new recipe I am testing or one of my existing Easy Midweek Meals.

To help you (and me!) to know which of my easy dinner recipes are under 500 calories per portion, I’ve compiled this list of 20 Easy Dinners Under 500 Calories…

(Pssst – need to go even lower? Check out my roundup of 20 Easy Dinners Under 400 Calories!)

 

 

20 Easy Dinners Under 500 Calories

 

1. Sticky Chicken Traybake

Sticky Chicken Traybake inspired by Mary Berry

Get the recipe => Sticky Chicken Traybake
Takes =>
35 minutes
Makes
=> 4 portions
Calories per portion => 328 kcal (without rice), 458 kcal (with 100g cooked white rice)

Read More

 

2. Chorizo, Chickpea and Sweet Potato Stew

One Pot Chorizo, Chickpea and Sweet Potato Stew

Get the recipe => Chorizo, Chickpea and Sweet Potato Stew
Takes =>
30 minutes
Makes
=> 6 portions
Calories per portion => 346 kcal (without rice), 457 kcal (with 100g cooked brown rice)

Read More

 

3. Quorn Shepherd’s Pie (Vegetarian)

Quorn Shepherd's Pie

Get the recipe => Quorn Shepherd’s Pie
Takes => 
40 minutes
Makes => 4 portions
Calories per portion => 471 kcal

Read More

 

4. Easy Salmon Fishcakes

Easy Peasy Salmon Fishcakes

Get the recipe => Easy Salmon Fishcakes
Takes => 30 minutes
Makes => 4 portions (3 fishcakes per portion)
Calories per portion => 329 kcal

Read More

 

5. Aubergine and Mozzarella Pasta (Vegetarian)

Aubergine and Mozzarella Pasta

Get the recipe => Aubergine and Mozzarella Pasta
Takes =>
30 mins
Makes => 4 portions 
Calories per portion => 479 kcal

Read More

 

6. Easy Lamb Jalfrezi 

Easy Lamb Jalfrezi

Get the recipe => Easy Lamb Jalfrezi
Takes =>
1h 45 mins (only 15 minutes prep!)
Makes => 4 portions 
Calories per portion => 354 kcal (without rice), 484 kcal (with 100g cooked white rice)

Read More

 

7. Chicken Chilli Con Carne

Chicken Chilli Con Carne

Get the recipe => Chicken Chilli Con Carne
Takes => 30 mins
Makes => 4 portions 
Calories per portion => 359 kcal (without rice), 460 kcal (with 100g cooked brown rice)

Read More

 

8. Easy One Pot Vegetable Paella (Vegan)

Easy One Pot Vegetable Paella Vegan

Get the recipe => Easy One Pot Vegetable Paella
Takes => 30 mins
Makes => 4 portions 
Calories per portion => 434 kcal

Read More

 

9. Tomato, Pepper and Chorizo Pasta

Tomato, Pepper and Chorizo Pasta

Get the recipe => Tomato, Pepper and Chorizo Pasta
Takes => 30 mins
Makes => 4 portions 
Calories per portion => 488 kcal (not including grated cheese)

Read More

 

10. Easy Vegetable Fajitas (Vegetarian)

Easy Vegetable Fajitas

Get the recipe => Easy Vegetable Fajitas
Takes => 20 mins
Makes => 4 portions 
Calories per portion => 399 kcal (not including sour cream)

Read More

 

11. Leftover Chicken, Kale, Quinoa and Pumpkin Salad

Leftover Chicken, Kale, Quinoa and Pumpkin Salad

Get the recipe => Leftover Chicken, Kale, Quinoa and Pumpkin Salad
Takes => 30 mins
Makes => 6 portions 
Calories per portion => 431 kcal

Read More

 

12. Easy Prawn Korma

Easy Prawn Korma

Get the recipe => Easy Prawn Korma
Takes => 20 mins
Makes => 4 portions 
Calories per portion => 304 kcal (without rice), 434 kcal (with 100g cooked white rice)

Read More

 

13. Easy Quorn Bolognese (Vegetarian)

Easy Quorn Bolognese

Get the recipe => Easy Quorn Bolognese
Takes => 20 mins
Makes => 4 portions 
Calories per portion => 423 kcal (not including grated cheese)

Read More

 

14. Chicken Shish Kebabs

Chicken Shish Kebabs

Get the recipe => Chicken Shish Kebabs
Takes => 20 mins
Makes => 4 portions 
Calories per portion => 275 kcal (not including pittas), 420 kcal (including 1 wholemeal pitta)

Read More

 

15. Jerk Salmon with Mango and Avocado Salsa

Jerk Salmon with Mango and Avocado Salsa

Get the recipe => Jerk Salmon with Mango and Avocado Salsa
Takes => 25 mins
Makes => 4 portions 
Calories per portion => 402 kcal (salmon and salsa only, not including rice)

Read More

 

16. Easy Chicken Rogan Josh

Chicken Rogan Josh

Get the recipe => Easy Chicken Rogan Josh
Takes => 30 mins
Makes => 4 portions 
Calories per portion => 372 kcal (not including rice), 472 kcal (including 1 portion Pilau Cauliflower Rice)

Read More

 

17. Easy Lamb Hotpot

Easy Lamb Hotpot 5 ingredients

Get the recipe => Easy Lamb Hotpot
Takes => 1 hour 40 mins
Makes => 4 portions 
Calories per portion => 310 kcal

Read More

 

18. Easy Quorn Sausage Casserole 

Quorn Sausage Casserole

Get the recipe => Easy Quorn Sausage Casserole 
Takes => 30 mins
Makes => 4 portions 
Calories per portion => 274 kcal (without rice), 404kcal (with 100g cooked white rice)

Read More

 

19. Oven Baked Chicken Shawarma with Garlic Sauce

Oven Baked Chicken Shawarma with Garlic Sauce

Get the recipe => Oven Baked Chicken Shawarma with Garlic Sauce
Takes => 30 mins
Makes => 4 portions 
Calories per portion => 274 kcal (without pitta bread), 419kcal (with 1 wholemeal pitta bread)

Read More

 

20. Turkish Spicy Lamb Pizzas (Lahmacun)

Turkish Lamb Pizzas Lahmacun

Get the recipe => Turkish Spicy Lamb Pizzas (Lahmacun)
Takes => 30 mins
Makes => 8 portions 
Calories per portion => 374 kcal

Read More

 

 

Did you find a new favourite?

I hope you enjoyed this roundup and have found lots of new favourites 😀 If you have tried and enjoyed any of these recipes I’d love to hear about it! Either let me know in the comments below, or snap a quick photo and share it on social media. Tag me @easypeasyfoodie and I’ll like and comment on as many as I see!

 

If you enjoyed this roundup…

…then you might also enjoy these:

  • 20 Easy Dinners Under 600 Calories
  • 20 Easy Dinners Under 400 Calories
  • 31 Easy Vegan Dinners
  • 18 Easy Peasy Salad Recipes
  • 27 Easy Chicken Dinners

 

 

Pin 20 Easy Dinners Under 500 Calories for later

Looking to eat more healthily this year? These 20 easy dinners are all under 500 calories per portion, but are packed with flavour, family friendly (no more cooking separate meals) and won’t leave you hungry, either! #under500calories #500caloriedinners #easydinners #healthydinners #easypeasyfoodie

 

FREE 4 Week Easy Dinners Meal Plan

Have you got your hands on a copy of my meal plan yet? If not CLICK HERE to download a copy of my FREE 4 Week Easy Dinners Meal Plan today!

 

Don’t want to miss a thing?

Follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Or why not subscribe to my blog and get delicious, stress free recipes straight to your inbox every week?

 

Linkies

I am linking this up to Cook Blog Share.

 

Disclaimer

* Nutrition advice is approximate and meant as a guideline only. I have done my very best to ensure nutrition information is as accurate as I can make it, however there will obviously be some variation depending on the exact ingredients you use.

I am a food blogger NOT a nutritional health professional, so while I do try to make (mostly) healthy recipes, none of this should be read as professional advice about weight loss!

6.8K shares


10 Comments

GET FREE MEAL PLANS!

Get my 4 Week Easy Dinners Meal Plan plus ready-made shopping lists...

« Easy Peasy Foodie 2018 Blogging Roundup and 2019 Goal Setting
Roasted Aubergine and Red Lentil Dhal (Vegan) »

Comments

  1. Corina Blum says

    8th January 2019 at 1:08 pm

    We are definitely trying to eat healthily at the moment and there are some great ideas here Eb! I have to admit that I’m always surprised by how low in calories some recipes are if they are homemade. For examples recipes like homemade curries are always a really healthy choice compared to bought ones and lots of people think of them as unhealthy! x

    Reply
    • Eb Gargano says

      9th January 2019 at 11:58 am

      Yes – me too! A curry made with just meat/veg, spices and tomatoes can come in at a fraction of the calories of a shop bought curry! Homemade curries are definitely a healthy choice. Eb x

      Reply
  2. Michelle Frank | Flipped-Out Food says

    8th January 2019 at 8:11 pm

    Ah, yes—I’m constantly running up against the “food blogger/fitness” conundrum. I just love this roundup because I’ll be able to eat restaurant-quality food QUICKLY, and WITHOUT GUILT. I’ll never get bored with this selection! And I’ll definitely be enjoying the odd glass of red wine, so the calorie “wiggle room” is much appreciated!

    Reply
    • Eb Gargano says

      9th January 2019 at 11:59 am

      Haha – thanks Michelle. It is a big problem for all us food bloggers. I have deliberately steered away from blogging about cake and dessert for this very reason!! So pleased you like my roundup… and the wiggle room for wine 😉 Eb x

      Reply
  3. Monika Dabrowski says

    10th January 2019 at 9:59 pm

    What a great collection, and all so healthy too! I love all your recipes but your curries are my favourite! Thank you for sharing with everyone at #CookBlogShare

    Reply
    • Eb Gargano says

      14th January 2019 at 11:34 am

      Thank you Monika! The curries are probably my favourite too – I love how healthy, yet filling a homemade curry can be! Eb x

      Reply
  4. Jo Allison / Jo's Kitchen Larder says

    10th January 2019 at 10:50 pm

    Such a handy selection of recipes to have handy post the period of festive indulgence. I really like that they are proper, delicious family dinners too and they definitely won’t leave you hungry. 🙂 x

    Reply
    • Eb Gargano says

      14th January 2019 at 11:37 am

      Exactly! Proper healthy family dinners – no miserable looking salads for one round here. This is the kind of food we eat every day. 😀 Eb x

      Reply
  5. Kat (The Baking Explorer) says

    11th January 2019 at 12:12 pm

    So many tasty options for this time of year!

    Reply
    • Eb Gargano says

      14th January 2019 at 11:37 am

      Thanks Kat! Eb x

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Connect with Me

  • E-mail
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

About Me

Eb Gargano Headshot

Hi and welcome to Easy Peasy Foodie! I’m Eb – a professional blogger, busy mum and passionate foodie and it is my mission in life to make cooking EASIER and MORE DELICIOUS! READ MORE

Find a Recipe

Get my 4 Week Easy Dinners Meal Plan!

COPYRIGHT © 2023 EASY PEASY FOODIE · DIVINE THEME BY RESTORED 316 · BUILT ON THE GENESIS FRAMEWORK · POWERED BY WORDPRESS
6.8K shares