In addition to being a form of therapy, cooking at home allows you to control exactly what's in your food. When you cook from scratch, you can choose healthier options like whole grains and lean protein. In addition to weight loss, eating a healthy dinner has several benefits: People who stick to a healthy eating plan tend to see improvements in mood (especially when combined with adequate sleep), energy levels, and overall quality of life.
However, there never seems to be enough time to cook a delicious and healthy dinner that fits your meal plan. A delicious meal doesn't have to take overnight to prepare or difficult to prepare. But with these healthy 30-minute dinner recipes, you'll never have to sacrifice a hearty meal for your diet again!
Quick 30-Minute Dinner Ideas
After a long day at work, cooking is probably the last thing you want to do. So it's important to stock up on some quick and easy dinner recipes, especially if your significant other is picky. These five delicious and healthy dinner recipes for two will keep your family happy without leaving room for dessert!
Steak Fajita Bowl
Add more vegetables to your diet with Steak Fajita Bowls. Fajita bowls are a quick, easy meal with all your favorite flavors.
Ingredients
● 2 tablespoons. vegetable oil
● ½ onion
● 2 peppers
● Salt and pepper to taste
● ½ kg rump steak
● ½ teaspoon. paprika
● Cooked brown rice
● 1 avocado
● chopped parsley
● sour cream
Recipe
Preheat a skillet or skillet over medium-high heat. Add the cut skirt steak to the hot pan and fry until browned. Add vegetables and chopped garlic to taste; cook another five minutes, until meat is tender and vegetables are tender. Drain excess fat, then season with fajita seasoning.
Add steak, vegetables, and remaining toppings to brown rice. Squeeze the limes on top and serve hot!
Vegetables and protein-rich meats provide an energy boost, and you'll automatically feel healthier and lighter after this nutritious dinner. Fajita Bowls are the quickest recipe to make a healthy 30-minute dinner for two in no time!
Chicken Piccata
Believed to have originated in Italy, chicken piccata is a quick and easy dinner that can be made in 25 minutes. Chicken Piccata is an excellent weeknight meal because it's quick to make and uses ingredients you probably already have on hand.
Ingredients
● 4-6 chicken breasts
● Salt and pepper to taste
● 1 cup flour
● 7 tablespoons. butter
● 5 tablespoons. olive oil
● 2 cloves garlic, chopped
● 1 ½ cups chicken stock
● lemon peel
● chopped parsley
Recipe
Take the boneless chicken breast and slice it like a butterfly to make a chicken piccata. Season chicken well with dry seasoning and coat all sides of chicken thoroughly with flour. Add unsalted butter and olive oil to a pan.
Add your chicken chops and let them cook to perfection on both sides. Remove the chicken from the pot, add more butter, chicken stock, and spices, and simmer for 5 to 7 minutes on low heat. Add the chicken and let it soak in the flavors of the sauce.
Finish the chicken, pour the sauce over it and sprinkle with chopped parsley. Your delicious and healthy family meal for two is ready!
Spaghetti Aglio and Olio
Ingredients
● 1 package of pasta
● 1 cup olive oil
● 5-6 cloves of garlic
● 1 tablespoon. red pepper flakes
● ½ cup Parmesan cheese
Recipe
Start with your favorite pasta recipe, then add garlic, peppers, olive oil, and Parmesan-Reggiano cheese to a skillet and toss with the pasta. Don't overdo one element or your pasta will be overwhelmed by that ingredient, such as garlic or chili peppers.
This pasta recipe reminds me of when my nona (grandma) made all pasta from scratch like all Italian women. The beautiful aroma of garlic and olive oil used to fill our home and we were always happy to eat it.
Variety
Pairing the Aglio e Olio recipe with white wine is the best combination. And because these recipes use olive oil instead of butter or a creamy sauce, they're usually lower in calories than most pasta dishes, making them the perfect 30-minute healthy meal.
Plus, there are endless variations! A squeeze of lemon juice can replace the bright vibrancy with some olive oil, or basil and parsley make a nice garnish. Likewise, roasted red peppers add another layer of flavor to things; chicken sausage adds protein, and anchovies enhance umami. There are many different ways to enjoy aglio e olio without getting bored!
Glazed Salmon with Spiced Carrots
Ingredients
• 1 pound carrots
• 1 tablespoon. Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon. lime juice
• 4-5 salmon steaks
• salt and pepper
• 1 tsp. Cumin Powder
• 1 tablespoon. sugar
Recipe
Take a medium skillet or skillet, add olive oil and chopped carrots and let it soften. In a separate bowl, add remaining ingredients and a few drops of lemon juice to keep it fresh. Spread the mixture over the salmon, skin side down next to the carrots. Let the salmon cook until it turns a nice light brown.
Meanwhile, take out your carrots and place them in a bowl with olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, chili flakes and cumin. Take out the salmon and serve it with chili carrots for a time-saving and delicious treat. Ready in half an hour, this healthy recipe is sure to get compliments from the chef!
Fried Rice
The Chinese have turned fried rice into an art form and they do it so well that it has become one of the most popular Chinese dishes in the world. Honestly, you can never go wrong with fried rice. The trick to making the perfect fried rice lies in the ingredients you use and how you prepare them. Follow our step-by-step instructions and you can make restaurant-quality fried rice that your family will talk about for weeks!
Ingredients
● 4 tablespoons. melted butter
● 3 eggs
● carrots, onions, peas
● 3 cloves garlic
● salt and black pepper
● 3 cups white rice
● 3-4 teaspoons. soy sauce
Recipe
Get a large pot and heat it up well before you start; a cold pan will ruin your eggs. Add butter and beat in eggs. Next, set the eggs aside and sauté the garlic and vegetables until soft. Finally, push the vegetables to the side of the pan and add your rice.
Make sure the flame is high and add soy sauce to the rice. Sauté thoroughly, combine vegetables and rice, season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat and add scrambled eggs. Plate the rice and garnish with green onions. This classic fried rice recipe includes nutritious veggies, making it the perfect dinner for two in 30 minutes or less!
Cooking for two has never been easier!
Save time and make the most delicious dinners with these healthy 30-minute dinners. They're not difficult or time-consuming to prepare, don't require a ton of ingredients, and keep you happy and healthy. Try it today and you're guaranteed to get uninterrupted compliments from your significant other!
（Writer：Hira Azam Khan）
