Following a heart-healthy eating pattern doesn’t mean you have to miss out on your favorite comfort foods. These heart-healthy dinner recipes bring all the cozy vibes you love, with lower amounts of saturated fat and sodium. Whether you’re in the mood for a bowl of piping hot soup, creamy pasta or hearty casserole, there are plenty of options to hit the spot. Try our Chicken Parmesan Casserole or our High-Protein Pasta with Peas for the ultimate satisfying and comforting meal.
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Pesto Pasta with Peas & Tomatoes
Ali Redmond
Pasta is cooked alongside frozen sweet peas, then tossed with juicy cherry tomatoes and basil pesto for a fresh, herbaceous finish. A sprinkle of Parmesan and a squeeze of lemon add the perfect final touch.
Chicken Parmesan Casserole
We took the best parts of chicken Parmesan–ooey-gooey cheese, crispy breadcrumbs and plenty of tomato sauce–and spun them into an easy family-friendly casserole. We skipped breading the chicken and, instead, loaded the top of the casserole with cheese and breadcrumbs.
High-Protein Pasta with Peas
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer
This one-pot pasta with peas is packed with plant-based protein and a healthy dose of fiber. The chickpea pasta is cooked with vibrant green peas and tossed with fragrant basil and a rich pesto sauce for fresh flavor in every bite. Nutty toasted pine nuts provide the perfect crunch, adding depth and texture.
Skillet Chicken Potpie
A store-bought pie crust, frozen veggies and precooked chicken simplify the prep for this easy potpie. This healthy dinner recipe is comfort food at its best.
Stuffed Sweet Potato with Hummus Dressing
Ali Redmond
Hearty yet simple to prepare, this stuffed sweet potato with black beans, kale and hummus dressing is a fantastic 5-ingredient lunch for one!
Spicy Jerk Shrimp
Here’s a shrimp sheet pan supper that’s roasted and caramelized to perfection! The pineapple in this recipe makes a sweet sauce that balances the heat of the Jamaican jerk seasoning.
Eat-the-Rainbow Vegetable Soup
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall , Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
This vibrant and wholesome soup recipe helps support your well-being. It’s packed with a variety of colorful vegetables, like tomatoes, which contain lycopene, a phytochemical that may help reduce inflammation, and in turn reduce your risk of heart disease.
Skillet Salmon with Orzo & Green Pea Pesto
Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop stylist: Gabriel Greco
This delightful one-pan dinner combines salmon fillets with fresh green pea pesto and orzo pasta. Green pea pesto adds a unique twist to the traditional pesto, bringing a hint of sweetness, body and a vibrant green color to your plate.
Teriyaki Chicken Skillet Casserole with Broccoli
Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Lauren McAnelly, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco
Whip up this quick and easy teriyaki chicken casserole in just one skillet—it’s the perfect go-to recipe for hectic weeknights that’s sure to satisfy a crowd.
Chicken Fajita Soup
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel
The vibrant, smoky flavors of traditional fajitas make for a delicious soup. This versatile dish is perfect for a cozy dinner, and can be easily adjusted to suit your preferences. To kick up the heat, add a chopped jalapeño to the veggie mixture.
Crispy Salmon Rice Bowl
Ali Redmond
Tender pieces of salmon get a sweet and crispy coating thanks to a sweet and savory teriyaki glaze in this salmon rice bowl. We love crunchy cucumber and creamy avocado as toppings, but feel free to add whatever veggies you like best.
Braised Lentils & Kale with Fried Eggs
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Melissa Gray, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
These braised lentils are cooked with tender kale and bathed in a fire-roasted tomato broth with an egg on top to pack in the protein. We like how the soft, runny yolk coats the dish.
Chicken Parmesan Soup
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood, Food Stylist: Sally McKay
This dish combines the rich flavors of a traditional chicken Parm—juicy seasoned chicken, tangy marinara sauce and savory Parmesan cheese—with the warmth and comfort of a soup. It’s a perfect dish for those chilly days when you crave something familiar with a fun, innovative twist!
Chhole (Chickpea Curry)
Andrew Scrivani
This flavorful chickpea curry comes together in just 20 minutes. Also called chana masala, it makes a comforting and delicious dinner.
Slow-Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili
Jason Donnelly
If you like Buffalo wings, you’ll love the flavors in this warm, hearty chili that comes together easily in the slow cooker. Sour cream helps cut the heat, but you could also use plain strained yogurt.
Caramelized Broccolini & White Beans
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Margret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
Broccolini takes on a smoky char from the cast-iron pan before it’s combined with white beans and aromatics in this savory dish. A vibrant parsley and hazelnut sauce finishes the dish with a bright and nutty flavor.
Chickpea Pasta with Mushrooms & Kale
Greg DuPree
Loading up your pasta with vegetables like the kale and mushrooms here is not only delicious, it also makes the meal more satisfying.
Instant Pot Chicken Soup with Root Vegetables & Barley
Be sure to use bone-in chicken here–it enhances the flavor of the broth, and the bones are easy to remove after cooking. This healthy chicken soup can be made in an Instant Pot or pressure cooker.
Ground Beef & Potatoes Skillet
Photographer: Jake Sternquist, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Natalie Ghazali
In this healthy one-pan meal, ground beef and potatoes are paired with colorful veggies, including kale, tomato and peppers. Everything is cooked in one skillet, which builds layers of flavor while also cutting back on the number of dishes.
Vegetable and Tofu Soup
In this veggie-packed soup, tofu gets marinated in Italian seasoning for up to four hours, for a flavorful and nourishing meal.
Roast Chicken & Sweet Potato
Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hausser, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall
This low-calorie sheet-pan meal combines chicken thighs and sweet potatoes and cooks up fast in a very hot oven. Serve with a fall salad of mixed greens, sliced apples and blue cheese.
Moroccan-Inspired Chicken & Sweet Potato Soup
This healthy chicken soup recipe gets bold Moroccan flavor from sweet potatoes, cumin, cinnamon, cayenne pepper and a touch of fiery harissa.
Skillet Steak with Mushroom Sauce
This one-skillet meal that will be on your table in just 25 minutes.The pan drippings combine with mushrooms, broth and grainy mustard to make a thick and delicious sauce.
