500-Calorie Dinners: Chicken
Lean boneless, skinless chicken breast has always ranked as a favorite, especially for anyone trying to lose weight. With only 140 calories and a whopping 26 grams of protein per 3-ounce serving, this low-calorie, high-protein meat will help to fill you up and keep you feeling satisfied for fewer calories. Rich, dark meat is slightly higher in calories but its intense flavor and moistness make it a delicious trade-off when you want to switch things up from traditional chicken breasts. Here we pulled together some of our best 500-calorie dinners with chicken for weight loss. If you’re following a 1,500-calorie diet (a calorie level most people will lose weight following), 500 calories at dinner is an appropriate amount to aim for. Browse these delicious recipes, featuring chicken breasts, thighs and drumsticks, to find your new favorite chicken dinner recipe. Don’t Miss: High-Protein Meal Plan: 1,400 Calories Paprika Chicken Thighs with Brussels Sprouts Paprika Chicken Thighs with Brussels Sprouts Paprika Chicken Thighs with Brussels Sprouts 453 calories In this healthy chicken recipe, paprika-rubbed chicken thighs are nestled into Brussels sprouts and shallots and roasted on a sheet pan in the oven for an easy, healthy dinner. As the chicken thighs roast, the garlicky drippings flavor the Brussels sprouts and shallots. This delicious sheet-pan dinner will quickly become a favorite. Serve with: 2 slices whole-wheat baguette, ¼ inch thick (37 calories) Total: 490 calories Chicken Enchilada-Stuffed Spaghetti Squash Chicken Enchilada-Stuffed Spaghetti Squash Chicken Enchilada-Stuffed Spaghetti Squash 408 calories This healthy 5-ingredient spaghetti squash recipe is a satisfying low-carb alternative to taco night. Use leftover cooked chicken, if you have it on hand, for a fast dinner shortcut. Serve with: 2 cups mixed greens (18 calories)1 Tbsp. Cilantro-Lime Vinaigrette (53 calories) Total: 479 calories Chicken & Kale Taco Salad with Jalapeño-Avocado Ranch kale taco salad Chicken & Kale Taco Salad with Jalapeño-Avocado Ranch 429 calories This main-dish salad recipe tops hearty kale with lean poached chicken, a mix of tasty toppings and a creamy, tangy and spicy dressing you’ll want to drizzle on everything. The secret to the easy and amazing dressing: store-bought ranch dressing and pickled jalapeños. Serve with: 1 ear Corn on the Cob (74 calories) Total: 503 calories Chimichurri Chicken chimichurri chicken Chimichurri Chicken 261 calories Roasted chicken is marinated and topped with chimichurri: a no-cook herby-garlicky sauce from Argentina and Uruguay. It’s delicious on grilled proteins, vegetables and just about anything! Here, we use it to double the flavor of basic grilled chicken breasts. The chicken is baked with and topped with this flavor-packed sauce. Serve with: 1 cup Colorful Roasted Sheet-Pan Veggies (97 calories)1/2 cup Basic Quinoa tossed with 1 tsp. chimichurri sauce (148 calories) Total: 506 calories Meal-Prep Curried Chicken & Chili-Lime Chicken Meal-Prep Curried Chicken & Chili-Lime Chicken Meal-Prep Curried Chicken & Chili-Lime Chicken Curried Chicken: 198 calories Chili-Lime Chicken: 196 calories Save time and maximize your efforts by mixing up two separate chicken marinades and cooking multiple recipes at once. This simple but flavorful meal-prep chicken dinner idea lets you cook ahead and not be bored with your choices by mid-week. Both recipes are roasted together on a baking sheet; a foil barrier keeps them separate. For the Curried Chicken, serve with: 1/4 naan bread (76 calories)2/3 cup Moroccan Lentil Salad (250 calories) Total: 524 calories For the Chili-Lime Chicken, serve with: 1/2 cup brown rice seasoned with cilantro and lime (124 calories)1 cup Pineapple & Avocado Salad (186 calories) Total: 506 calories Chicken and Vegetable Souvlaki with Barley Pilaf and Tzatziki chicken souvlaki Chicken and Vegetable Souvlaki with Barley Pilaf and Tzatziki 371 calories Chicken is prepared Greek-style as souvlaki-skewered and grilled. Served with tzatziki, a traditional yogurt-based sauce, and a hearty barley pilaf, this fresh and delicious Mediterranean meal will leave your taste buds tingling and your stomach satisfied. Serve with: 2 cups mixed greens (18 calories)1 Tbsp. Parsley-Lemon Vinaigrette (86 calories) Total: 475 calories Roast Chicken & Sweet Potatoes Roast Chicken & Sweet Potatoes Roast Chicken & Sweet Potatoes 408 calories Mustard-and-thyme-coated chicken thighs sit on a bed of caramelized sweet potatoes and red onion. They cook up fast in a very hot oven-perfect for a quick, healthy weeknight chicken dinner. Serve with: 1 cup Apple Spinach Salad with Thyme-Dijon Vinaigrette (97 calories) Total: 505 calories Sheet-Pan Orange-Apricot Drumsticks 500-Calorie Dinners: Chicken Sheet-Pan Orange-Apricot Drumsticks 328 calories In this easy sheet-pan dinner, a sweet-and-savory glaze and a colorful medley of vegetables transform chicken drumsticks into a satisfying meal. Serve with: 2/3 cup Brown Rice Pilaf (199 calories) Total: 527 calories Slow-Cooker Mediterranean Chicken & Orzo Slow-Cooker Mediterranean Chicken & Orzo Slow-Cooker Mediterranean Chicken & Orzo 278 calories Perk up basic chicken breast and whole-wheat orzo with the vibrant flavors of the Mediterranean, like lemon and olives. This load-and-go recipe makes a satisfying meal and only involves 15 minutes of prep. Serve with: 2 cups mixed greens (18 calories)1 oz. goat cheese (80 calories)1 Tbsp. pine nuts (57 calories)2 Tbsp. Basil Vinaigrette (96 calories) Total: 529 calories Chicken Chili with Sweet Potatoes 3879388.jpg Chicken Chili with Sweet Potatoes 324 calories Tons of spice, corn and bell pepper give this healthy one-pot chicken chili recipe Southwestern flair. Serve with your favorite hot sauce for even more of a spicy kick. Serve with: 1 piece Real Cornbread (186 calories) Total: 510 calories Some original reporting by Nicci Micco, M.S. How to Make Roasted Chicken & Sweet Potatoes on One Pan What Does a 1,500-Calorie Day Look Like?Healthy Chicken Main Dish Recipes5-Ingredient Chicken RecipesBest Healthy Chicken RecipesChicken Dinners for 350 calories or Less
500-Calorie Dinners: Chicken
500-Calorie Dinners: Chicken
500-Calorie Dinners: Chicken
Lean boneless, skinless chicken breast has always ranked as a favorite, especially for anyone trying to lose weight. With only 140 calories and a whopping 26 grams of protein per 3-ounce serving, this low-calorie, high-protein meat will help to fill you up and keep you feeling satisfied for fewer calories. Rich, dark meat is slightly higher in calories but its intense flavor and moistness make it a delicious trade-off when you want to switch things up from traditional chicken breasts. Here we pulled together some of our best 500-calorie dinners with chicken for weight loss. If you’re following a 1,500-calorie diet (a calorie level most people will lose weight following), 500 calories at dinner is an appropriate amount to aim for. Browse these delicious recipes, featuring chicken breasts, thighs and drumsticks, to find your new favorite chicken dinner recipe.
Don’t Miss: High-Protein Meal Plan: 1,400 Calories
Paprika Chicken Thighs with Brussels Sprouts
Paprika Chicken Thighs with Brussels Sprouts
Paprika Chicken Thighs with Brussels Sprouts
453 calories
In this healthy chicken recipe, paprika-rubbed chicken thighs are nestled into Brussels sprouts and shallots and roasted on a sheet pan in the oven for an easy, healthy dinner. As the chicken thighs roast, the garlicky drippings flavor the Brussels sprouts and shallots. This delicious sheet-pan dinner will quickly become a favorite.
Serve with:
2 slices whole-wheat baguette, ¼ inch thick (37 calories)
Total: 490 calories
Chicken Enchilada-Stuffed Spaghetti Squash
Chicken Enchilada-Stuffed Spaghetti Squash
Chicken Enchilada-Stuffed Spaghetti Squash
408 calories
This healthy 5-ingredient spaghetti squash recipe is a satisfying low-carb alternative to taco night. Use leftover cooked chicken, if you have it on hand, for a fast dinner shortcut.
2 cups mixed greens (18 calories)1 Tbsp. Cilantro-Lime Vinaigrette (53 calories)
Total: 479 calories
Chicken & Kale Taco Salad with Jalapeño-Avocado Ranch
kale taco salad
Chicken & Kale Taco Salad with Jalapeño-Avocado Ranch
429 calories
This main-dish salad recipe tops hearty kale with lean poached chicken, a mix of tasty toppings and a creamy, tangy and spicy dressing you’ll want to drizzle on everything. The secret to the easy and amazing dressing: store-bought ranch dressing and pickled jalapeños.
1 ear Corn on the Cob (74 calories)
Total: 503 calories
Chimichurri Chicken
chimichurri chicken
Chimichurri Chicken
261 calories
Roasted chicken is marinated and topped with chimichurri: a no-cook herby-garlicky sauce from Argentina and Uruguay. It’s delicious on grilled proteins, vegetables and just about anything! Here, we use it to double the flavor of basic grilled chicken breasts. The chicken is baked with and topped with this flavor-packed sauce.
Serve with:
1 cup Colorful Roasted Sheet-Pan Veggies (97 calories)1/2 cup Basic Quinoa tossed with 1 tsp. chimichurri sauce (148 calories)
Total: 506 calories
Meal-Prep Curried Chicken & Chili-Lime Chicken
Meal-Prep Curried Chicken & Chili-Lime Chicken
Meal-Prep Curried Chicken & Chili-Lime Chicken
Curried Chicken: 198 calories
Chili-Lime Chicken: 196 calories
Save time and maximize your efforts by mixing up two separate chicken marinades and cooking multiple recipes at once. This simple but flavorful meal-prep chicken dinner idea lets you cook ahead and not be bored with your choices by mid-week. Both recipes are roasted together on a baking sheet; a foil barrier keeps them separate.
For the Curried Chicken, serve with:
1/4 naan bread (76 calories)2/3 cup Moroccan Lentil Salad (250 calories)
Total: 524 calories
For the Chili-Lime Chicken, serve with:
1/2 cup brown rice seasoned with cilantro and lime (124 calories)1 cup Pineapple & Avocado Salad (186 calories)
Chicken and Vegetable Souvlaki with Barley Pilaf and Tzatziki
chicken souvlaki
Chicken and Vegetable Souvlaki with Barley Pilaf and Tzatziki
371 calories
Chicken is prepared Greek-style as souvlaki-skewered and grilled. Served with tzatziki, a traditional yogurt-based sauce, and a hearty barley pilaf, this fresh and delicious Mediterranean meal will leave your taste buds tingling and your stomach satisfied.
2 cups mixed greens (18 calories)1 Tbsp. Parsley-Lemon Vinaigrette (86 calories)
Total: 475 calories
Roast Chicken & Sweet Potatoes
Roast Chicken & Sweet Potatoes
Roast Chicken & Sweet Potatoes
Mustard-and-thyme-coated chicken thighs sit on a bed of caramelized sweet potatoes and red onion. They cook up fast in a very hot oven-perfect for a quick, healthy weeknight chicken dinner.
1 cup Apple Spinach Salad with Thyme-Dijon Vinaigrette (97 calories)
Total: 505 calories
Sheet-Pan Orange-Apricot Drumsticks
Sheet-Pan Orange-Apricot Drumsticks
328 calories
In this easy sheet-pan dinner, a sweet-and-savory glaze and a colorful medley of vegetables transform chicken drumsticks into a satisfying meal.
2/3 cup Brown Rice Pilaf (199 calories)
Total: 527 calories
Slow-Cooker Mediterranean Chicken & Orzo
Slow-Cooker Mediterranean Chicken & Orzo
Slow-Cooker Mediterranean Chicken & Orzo
278 calories
Perk up basic chicken breast and whole-wheat orzo with the vibrant flavors of the Mediterranean, like lemon and olives. This load-and-go recipe makes a satisfying meal and only involves 15 minutes of prep.
2 cups mixed greens (18 calories)1 oz. goat cheese (80 calories)1 Tbsp. pine nuts (57 calories)2 Tbsp. Basil Vinaigrette (96 calories)
Total: 529 calories
Chicken Chili with Sweet Potatoes
3879388.jpg
Chicken Chili with Sweet Potatoes
324 calories
Tons of spice, corn and bell pepper give this healthy one-pot chicken chili recipe Southwestern flair. Serve with your favorite hot sauce for even more of a spicy kick.
1 piece Real Cornbread (186 calories)
Total: 510 calories
Some original reporting by Nicci Micco, M.S.
How to Make Roasted Chicken & Sweet Potatoes on One Pan
What Does a 1,500-Calorie Day Look Like?Healthy Chicken Main Dish Recipes5-Ingredient Chicken RecipesBest Healthy Chicken RecipesChicken Dinners for 350 calories or Less
Paprika Chicken Thighs with Brussels Sprouts
Paprika Chicken Thighs with Brussels Sprouts
Chicken Enchilada-Stuffed Spaghetti Squash
Chicken Enchilada-Stuffed Spaghetti Squash
kale taco salad
kale taco salad
chimichurri chicken
chimichurri chicken
Meal-Prep Curried Chicken & Chili-Lime Chicken
Meal-Prep Curried Chicken & Chili-Lime Chicken
chicken souvlaki
chicken souvlaki
Roast Chicken & Sweet Potatoes
Roast Chicken & Sweet Potatoes
Slow-Cooker Mediterranean Chicken & Orzo
Slow-Cooker Mediterranean Chicken & Orzo
3879388.jpg
3879388.jpg
