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25 Summer Dinner Recipes Under 500 Calories

summer dinner under 500 calories thai salad
Minimalist Baker

When it’s super-hot outside, the last thing we want to do is stuff ourselves with a heavy meal. The solution? These 25 dinners, all of which clock in at less than 500 calories and will leave you feeling light and wonderful.

summer dinner under 500 calories veggie sushi
Nutrition Stripped

1.

Veggie Sushi Rolls

They’ll be ready before your takeout would’ve arrived anyway.

summer dinner under 500 calories steamed salmon
The Gantzery

2.

Sesame Salmon and Cucumber Salad

So light, so delicious.

summer dinner under 500 calories lemon chicken stir fry
Skinnytaste

3.

Chicken and Asparagus Lemon Stir-Fry

Mmm citrusy.

summer dinner under 500 calories veggie hummus wrap
Chelsea's Messy Apron 

4.

Southwestern Veggie Hummus Wraps

No meat, no problem.

summer dinner under 500 calories portobello pizza
Eat Good 4 Life

5.

Portobello Stuffed Pizza

We were skeptical, but a giant mushroom makes a mighty fine crust.

summer dinner under 500 calories bbq pizza
Womanista

6.

Cheesy BBQ Chicken Pizza

Not that there’s anything wrong with regular pizza.

summer dinner under 500 calories lentil pasta
A Nutritionist Eats

7.

Lentil Pasta with Arugula Pesto

Nope, carbs don’t have to be calorie bombs.

summer dinner under 500 calories turkey burgers
The Lemon Bowl 

8.

Grilled Pesto Turkey Burgers

Honestly? We’re in it for the pesto.

summer dinner under 500 calories stuffed spaghetti squash
Recipe Runner 

9.

Green Chile Chicken Enchilada-Stuffed Spaghetti Squash

Bonus: Using the squash as a bowl saves dish-washing time later.

summer dinner under 500 calories gazpacho
Inquiring Chef

10.

Gazpacho with Crispy Chickpeas

It’s cold soup season.

summer dinner under 500 calories stuffed peppers
Isabel Eats

11.

Mexican Chipotle Beef Stuffed Peppers

We may never use a normal bowl again.

summer dinner under 500 calories chicken meatballs
The Skinny Pot

12.

Ground Chicken Breast Meatballs with Mozzarella Cheese

To be made as spicy as you please.

summer dinner under 500 calories steamed mussels
The Suburban Soapbox

13.

Corona Steamed Mussels with Corn and Chorizo

Pretty much summer on a plate.

summer dinner under 500 calories flank steak salad
Home & Plate

14.

Grilled Flank Steak Salad with Strawberries

One super-filling salad, coming right up.

summer dinner under 500 calories turkey taco skillet
Bijoux & Bits

15.

One-Pot Turkey Taco Skillet

Perfect for Taco Tuesday…or any day.

summer dinner under 500 calories rainbow spring rolls
Minimalist Baker

16.

Rainbow Spring Rolls with Ginger Peanut Sauce

Taste the rainbow—literally.

summer dinner under 500 calories zoodles and crispy tofu
Pinch of Yum 

17.

Spicy Sesame Zoodles with Crispy Tofu

Have zoodles ever done us wrong? (No, they have not.)

summer dinner under 500 calories fish tacos
Recipetin Eats

18.

Marinated Fish Tacos

Good luck just having two.

summer dinner under 500 calories blackened chicken
Womanista

19.

Blackened Chicken with Avocado Cream Sauce

FYI, this sauce would taste good on just about anything.

summer dinner under 500 calories thai salad
Minimalist Baker

20.

Thai Carrot Salad with Curried Cashews

Make some extra cashews to snack on the next day.

summer dinner under 500 calories paleo burgers
Joyful Healthy Eats

21.

Paleo Burgers with Caramelized Balsamic Onions and Avocado

Buns are overrated anyway.

summer dinner under 500 calories chicken tenders
Eating Bird Food

22.

Crispy Baked Chicken Tenders

Because sometimes you just want to eat like a kid.

summer dinner under 500 calories hawaiian chicken
Diethood

23.

Hawaiian Baked Chicken

If only we were eating this in Hawaii.

summer dinner under 500 calories buffalo chicken wrap
The Creative Bite

24.

Buffalo Chicken Wraps

Make sure you know how to wrap it first.

summer dinner under 500 calories teriyaki noodles
The Recipe Rebel

25.

One-Pan Teriyaki Chicken and Noodles

Oh, and did we mention this one only takes 20 minutes?


sarah stiefvater

Wellness Director

Sarah Stiefvater is PureWow's Wellness Director. She's been at PureWow for ten years, and in that time has written and edited stories across all categories, but currently focuses...