Putting a healthy meal on the table can be challenging under normal circumstances. But with limited ingredients available and everyone home from school and work, it’s a tall order. And while easy pantry meal and snacks are a dime a dozen, healthy ones are harder to come by.
That’s why I’ve rounded up these 20 drool-worthy ideas for easy, healthy meals and snacks made with ingredients you already have. These recipes need minimal prep and almost no cleanup. That way you can free up 15 minutes of your time to sit down with a glass of wine while everyone thinks you’re busy cooking.
Sound good? Then read on!
1. Baked Salmon + Asparagus With Lemon + Dill
Got a couple salmon filets in your freezer? Defrost them and make this quick and easy dish tonight! If you don’t have any lemon or dill, brush the salmon with a little balsamic vinegar when it has 5 minutes left to cook for a little extra flavor.
2. Marinated Drumsticks With Italian Herbs
No boneless skinless breasts in sight? Grab some kid-friendly drumsticks instead! Toss some carrots and diced potatoes onto the pan for a complete, one-pan supper.
3. Easy Sheet Pan Supper With Root Veggies
All you really need to make this is the sausage. There are a million substitutions for the veggies! Try it with Brussels sprouts, bell pepper, fresh or even frozen broccoli instead!
4. Mushroom Cauliflower Rice Risotto
This cozy, creamy, one-pot meal from Cheerful Choices is exactly what you should make with that bag of cauliflower rice in your freezer. Enjoy it alone on meatless Monday or make it a bowl with your favorite ground meat.
5. Homemade Nut-Free Copycat Perfect Bars
The real deal flies from my fridge faster than I can restock them, so I started making my own! Feel free to sub in PB or almond butter unless you have an allergy, or trade the chocolate chips for your favorite mix-in or topping. I recommend using toasted coconut.
6. Cauliflower Gnocchi With Kale and Pomegranate Seeds
Got this Trader Joe’s favorite in your freezer? Dress it up with a few fresh veggies! Sub in pine nuts or hemp seeds for a little crunch if you don’t have pomegranate.
7. Pantry Cleanout Snack Granola
Make snacks while cleaning out your pantry with this easy, versatile recipe! Crumble this healthy, hearty granola onto yogurt bowls and smoothies, or enjoy it all by itself. But beware: your family will eat it up as quickly as you can make it!
8. Instant Pot Lentil Soup
If there was ever a time to dust off your Instant Pot, this is it! Clean Eating Kitchen’s Lentil Soup requires minimal prep, making it a perfect, plant-based meal for weeknights when you’re juggling.
9. White Beans With Tomatoes And Garlic
If there was ever a time to dust off your Instant Pot, this is it! Clean Eating Kitchen’s Lentil Soup requires minimal prep, making it a perfect, plant-based meal for weeknights when you’re juggling.
10. Cacio e Pepe Zoodles
It’s hard to do Cacio e Pepe right without the spaghetti. After all, the dish really _is _about the noodles. But Turntable Kitchen’s zoodle-based recipe isn’t trying to beat the original. It’s just trying to create the same silky, decadent feeling. I used avocado oil instead of algae oil and it came out great!
11. Chocolate Tahini Date Boats
No tahini? Sub in any kind of unsweetened nut butter. Too lazy to melt and dip your chocolate? A couple chocolate chips or a square from your favorite bar of dark will do fine.
12. Paleo Instant Pot Sweet Potato Chili
This recipe gets its rich flavor from bone broth, but regular chicken or beef broth will also work. Feel free to mix up the spice bouquet, too! Use curry powder instead of cumin, basil instead of oregano, or chipotle instead of paprika.
13. Golden Coconut Lentil Soup
Not only is Budget Bytes’ bowl of comfort the culinary equivalent to a passport stamp, it also costs less than $5 to serve a family of four.
14. Chocolate-Dipped Banana Pops
Wondering what to do with ripe nanners when you’re bored of making banana bread. Make this kid-friendly snack instead!
15. One Skillet Egg Roll In A Bowl
This healthy one-skillet meal from The Seasoned Mom will satisfy your Chinese food craving. And you won’t be hungry 30 minutes after eating it.
16. No-Bake Peanut Butter Protein Bites
This four-ingredient recipe is a great one to make with kids! They’ll love getting their hands messy as they roll the batter into bite-sized balls. And feel free to sub in your favorite vanilla protein powder. Just taste it before you add the honey to make sure you actually need more sweetener
17. Baked Pork Chops and Veggies
Leave it to Eat At Home to create the homey-est sheet pan supper! I don’t have the same seasoning blend, so I used Trader Joe’s 21 Seasoning Salute instead.
18. Apple Pie Filling Cups
Can’t stop stress-eating the sweet stuff? This fruit-based dessert will satisfy your craving without refined sugar.
19. Sheet Pan Sesame Chicken + Veggies
The sauce on Eat Yourself Skinny’s quick and easy meal is SO yum! I lined my baking sheet with parchment paper instead of using cooking spray to make cleanup even easier. I also subbed coconut aminos for the soy
20. Vegan Chocolate Cake Batter Spread
You can have your cake batter and eat it too…with ingredients that are sitting on your pantry shelf! Bust this recipe out when the kiddos are begging for cookies. They’ll go bonkers for it! Just don’t dare tell them it’s made from chickpeas!
How are you winning at dinner during these difficult times? Share your favorite dishes in the comments below!
