7 easy dinners under 600 calories

Make these healthy and delicious meals any day of the week.

Written by Michael Gollust. Medically reviewed in April 2024 by Megan Burke, MD.

Updated on June 18, 2025

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Stressed about what to cook for dinner this week? Whether you have no dietary restrictions, are vegetarian, or avoid dairy, we’ve got you covered with these simple, flavorful meals that are all fewer than 600 calories. Each dinner serves one, but you can always double or triple the ingredients to feed more.

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Spaghetti and meatballs

Serve this Italian-style dinner with arugula salad mixed with fresh veggies. A peppery leafy green, arugula is a good source of vitamins C and K, as well as the minerals calcium, magnesium, and potassium.

Make it:
2 oz lean meatballs
1 cup whole-wheat spaghetti
1/2 cup marinara sauce
1 cup arugula
5 cherry tomatoes
1/4 cup cucumber, chopped
2 tbsp oil-and-vinegar dressing
Make salad with fresh veggies. Serve with pasta.

Nutritional info: Calories 491; fat 21g; protein 22g; carbs 61g

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Soft tacos with avocado and salsa

This Mexican-inspired soft taco recipe can be easily scaled up to feed a crowd. Lean ground beef is a good source of muscle-building protein, while avocado provides heart-healthy fats.

Make it:

5 oz 95% extra lean ground beef
2 whole-wheat, lower-carb flour tortillas
1/3 avocado
1/4 cup salsa
1/4 cup reduced-fat shredded cheddar
1/2 cup romaine lettuce

Brown the beef, spoon into tortillas, and top with the last 4 ingredients.

Nutritional info: Calories 575; fat 25g; protein 53g; carbs 34g

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Zesty Quinoa Salad

This Greek-inspired quinoa salad with lemon vinaigrette is both vegetarian and gluten-free. Quinoa is a healthy, high-protein whole grain that cooks like rice.

Toss together:
3/4 cup cooked quinoa
1 tbsp red onions, sliced
1/2 cup tomatoes, chopped
1/2 cup cucumbers, chopped
5 Greek olives (such as kalamata)
1/4 cup reduced-fat feta cheese
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp lemon juice

Nutritional info: Calories 412; fat 25g; protein 14g; carbs 38g

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Simple stir-fry

This tasty tofu, vegetable, and cashew stir-fry contains three servings of veggies.

Make it:
1/4 block firm tofu
1 cup cooked soba noodles
1/2 cup each: steamed broccoli, snow peas, and carrots
3 tbsp cashews
2 tbsp store-bought stir-fry sauce

Pan-fry firm tofu with sauce. Toss with noodles, vegetables, and cashews.

Nutritional info: Calories 593; fat 20g; protein 31g; carbs 76g