30 Delicious Low-Cal Meals
While all of our recipes keep calories in check, we’ve collected 30 especially low-calorie meals that pack just 300 cals or less per serving! Toss them on your menu after a cheat meal and keep them around for your regular rotation. With recipes like mac & cheese, shrimp ’n’ grits and a loaded grilled cheese, they’re definitely satisfying!
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1. Seared Scallops with Mint Vinaigrette and Green Pea Purée
Calories: 259
Instead of mashed potatoes, we’ve made a lighter green pea purée to accompany our tender scallops, ready in just 30 minutes!
See the complete Seared Scallops with Mint Vinaigrette and Green Pea Purée recipe.
2. Salmon, Radish and Shallot Roast
Calories: 244
Roasting your radishes and shallots in the oven allows them to soften and caramelize. So much flavor for so few calories! And this dish is gluten free to boot.
See the complete Salmon, Radish and Shallot Roast recipe.
3. Sautéed Fish Sticks with Chips and Slaw
Calories: 269
Costing less than $2 per serving, this cleaned-up classic with homemade potato chips is as easy on your budget as it is on your waistline!
See the complete Sautéed Fish Sticks with Chips and Slaw recipe.
4. Collards with Turkey Sausage and Shrimp
Calories: 268
This Cajun dish is packed with protein thanks to shrimp and lean sausage, plus the entire meal is ready in 15 minutes!
See the complete Collards with Turkey Sausage and Shrimp recipe.
5. Skillet-Grilled Red Pepper Shrimp
Calories: 224
Yes, it’s true – We give you cheesy grits topped with flavorful red pepper shrimp for less than 250 calories!
See the complete Skillet-Grilled Red Pepper Shrimp recipe.
6. One-Skillet Lamb Chops with Pears
Calories: 230
Lamb chops are easy to trim, making them a lovely, lean choice where animal proteins are concerned.
See the complete One-Skillet Lamb Chops with Pears recipe.
7. Greek Salad with Baked Pita
Calories: 280
Fresh veggies, crisp pita and the simplest vinaigrette make for a slimming and satisfying 15-minute Greek meal!
See the complete Greek Salad with Baked Pita recipe.
8. Couscous with Seven Vegetables
Calories: 260
Seven may be a lucky number in Morocco – hence the seven vegetables in our couscous dish – but your waistline is also the lucky one where this meal is concerned!
See the complete Couscous with Seven Vegetables recipe.
9. Grilled Cuban
Calories: 231
Is your mouth watering yet? This clean take on the traditional Cuban sandwich is both loaded with ham, pickles, Swiss cheese and mushrooms and is ridiculously low in calories!
See the complete Grilled Cuban recipe.
10. Spinach and Chicken Sausage Pizza
Calories: 230
Pizza, the great smile-inducer! Your whole family will flip for this tasty, 25-minute pie, and you’ll know that each serving is less than 250 calories!
See the complete Spinach and Chicken Sausage Pizza recipe.
11. Pork Steaks with Roasted Summer Squash Salsa
Calories: 204
Summer squash adds great texture and flavor as a topping for our super-lean pork steaks, ready in just 30 minutes!
See the complete Pork Steaks with Roasted Summer Squash Salsa recipe.
12. Turkey and Black Bean Soft Tacos
Calories: 276
For a quick weeknight supper, these fiber-fuelled ground turkey tacos are easy as pie! All you need is 20 minutes and a handful of ingredients.
See the complete Turkey and Black Bean Soft Tacos recipe.
13. Green Chile Hash with Eggs
Calories: 252
Spicy and sweet, this satiating hash is quick to prepare and offers a protein boost thanks to a poached egg topper!
See the complete Green Chile Hash with Eggs recipe.
14. Sirloin and Peppery Tomato Reduction
Calories: 235
Our flavorful reduction is made entirely of pantry staples, so you can whip it together any time to enjoy this 30-minute meal!
See the complete Sirloin and Peppery Tomato Reduction recipe.
15. Ahi “Burger” with Wasabi Sauce
Calories: 286
Turn burger night into something new with our low-calorie, seared tuna take. The wasabi sauce and pickled ginger give it a real sushi sandwich feel.
See the complete Ahi “Burger” with Wasabi Sauce recipe.
16. Crab Louis Salad
Calories: 246
Don’t let your weight get you crabby! At just 246 calories, this egg- and crab-studded salad is a definite waist-whittler.
See the complete Crab Louis Salad recipe.
17. Orange Chipotle Chicken with Cilantro Rice
Calories: 283
Our readers went bananas over this quick chicken dish! And despite ample orange-chipotle flavor, it still keeps calorie and fat counts shockingly low!
See the complete Orange Chipotle Chicken with Cilantro Rice recipe.
18. Traditional Twist Mac & Cheese
Calories: 299
Mmm…creamy, fully loaded mac ’n’ cheese! Who would have thought this decadent dish, speckled with ham and mushrooms, would find itself on a calorie-conscious list?
See the complete Traditional Twist Mac & Cheese recipe.
19. Grilled Portobello Burger with Blue Cheese
Calories: 253
Did we have you at blue cheese? This veggie burger option packs so much flavor into so few calories and takes less than 15 minutes to prepare!
See the complete Grilled Portobello Burger with Blue Cheese recipe.
20. Tortilla Soup with Lime Crema
Calories: 190
Tortilla soup can pack a mean punch where your girlish figure is concerned, but our clean version is rich in vitamin K and as lean as they come!
See the complete Tortilla Soup with Lime Crema recipe.
21. Mexican Poblano Stuffed Peppers
Calories: 242
Thanks to the rice and beans in our poblano stuffing, this vegetarian dish is an excellent source of complete protein.
See the complete Mexican Poblano Stuffed Peppers recipe.
22. California Rolls
Calories: 230
Skip the takeout, and make your own sushi. It’s tons of fun for a family or a group of friends, and we promise your lightened masterpieces taste just as good!
See the complete California Rolls recipe.
23. Farro Risotto with Butternut Squash, Ham and Peas
Calories: 252
We put farro in the risotto seat and cooked the chewy grain with ham, squash and peas for a textural treat that’s easy on the hips!
See the complete Farro Risotto with Butternut Squash, Ham and Peas recipe.
24. Grilled Pork and Peaches with Pine Nut Basil Vinaigrette
Calories: 274
Satisfy your sweet tooth with the grilled peaches in this succulent salad. Our nutty vinaigrette lends lots of flavor and texture without abundant calories.
See the complete Grilled Pork and Peaches with Pine Nut Basil Vinaigrette recipe.
25. Wakame Rice Salad with Tofu
Calories: 130
This vegetarian meal is loaded with magnesium. Get acquainted with wakame seaweed if you aren’t already – it’s a low-fat, low-calorie way to add unique flavor to salads and rice bowls!
See the complete Wakame Rice Salad with Tofu recipe.
26. Chilled Corn Soup with Shrimp, Avocado and Tomato Relish
Calories: 251
Corn? Shrimp? Avocado? Yes, yes and yes! This mouthwatering soup, packed with color and served chilled, overflows with flavor, not calories.
See the complete Chilled Corn Soup with Shrimp, Avocado and Tomato Relish recipe.
27. Southwest Quinoa Salad
Calories: 221
This dish is part of our collaboration with the American Heart Association. Its southwest ingredients (including corn, black beans, cilantro and citrus) have made this slimming salad a hit!
See the complete Southwest Quinoa Salad recipe.
28. Spice-Rubbed Tofu Steaks
Calories: 191
Less than 200 calories for a tofu dish with a smoky-sweet rub that’ll have your taste buds thinking they’re at a Southern BBQ!
See the complete Spice-Rubbed Tofu Steaks recipe.
29. Orange-Poached Catfish with Confetti Salad
Calories: 200
With the equivalent of half an orange per serving, this flavorful, budget-friendly fish dish is full of nutrients and ready in just 25 minutes!
See the complete Orange-Poached Catfish with Confetti Salad recipe.
30. Halibut and Black Bean Burrito Casserole
Calories: 298
This quick casserole, brimming with halibut, beans and veggies, offers a Mexican burrito fix without the usual grease and soaring calorie count!
See the complete Halibut and Black Bean Burrito Casserole recipe.