24 Heart-Healthy Dinners in 30 Minutes (2024)

Make a filling, heart-healthy dinner with these easy recipes. Each dinner meets the American Heart Association's recommendations for saturated fat and sodium, so you can follow a heart-healthy eating pattern. Plus, these recipes take just 30 minutes from start to finish. Dinners like Vegan Black Bean Burgers and Salmon with Chopped Tomatillo Salad are healthy, delicious and can help you meet your nutritional goals.

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Buttermilk Fried Tofu with Smoky Collard Greens

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24 Heart-Healthy Dinners in 30 Minutes (1)

Dipping tofu in buttermilk makes the coating stick for a crispy pan-fried tofu, reminiscent of fried chicken. Spicing up the collards with paprika coats them with smoky flavor while keeping this dish vegetarian. And this quick, easy and healthy dinner comes together in just 25 minutes, so it's great for busy weeknights. Source: EatingWell Magazine, October 2019

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Homemade Chicken Tenders with Everything Bagel Seasoning over Salad

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24 Heart-Healthy Dinners in 30 Minutes (2)

Using everything bagel spice is a quick way to season and add extra crunch to breadcrumbs for chicken tenders. If you can't find any premixed, make your own by combining equal parts dried minced onion and garlic, poppy seeds, sesame seeds, salt and ground pepper (see Associated Recipes). This healthy chicken recipe tops a simple salad for an easy dinner that's ready in 25 minutes. Source: EatingWell Magazine, September 2019

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Seared Scallops with White Bean Ragu & Charred Lemon

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24 Heart-Healthy Dinners in 30 Minutes (3)

This recipe for seared scallops with white beans and spinach turns out a healthy dinner that looks impressive (and tastes great) in just 25 minutes. Giving lemons a quick sizzle in the skillet amps up the flavor of this piccata-inspired dish. The heat helps release even more citrus juice and sweetens it too. When shopping for scallops, look for ones labeled "dry." Some scallops are soaked in a solution that prevents them from searing properly and can give them a soapy flavor. Source: EatingWell Magazine, September 2019

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Flank Steak Tacos with Strawberry Salsa

For this easy taco recipe, we've topped skillet-cooked flank steak with a quick fresh salsa that takes advantage of perfectly ripe strawberries. Make the salsa while the steak cooks for a 30-minute dinner the whole family will love. Source: EatingWell Magazine, May 2019

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Salmon with Chopped Tomatillo Salad

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24 Heart-Healthy Dinners in 30 Minutes (4)

We made this chopped salad with pico de gallo in mind. Tangy tomatillos add fresh crunch to the classic mixture of tomatoes, cilantro and onion to brighten up this broiled salmon recipe. Source: EatingWell Magazine, July / August 2020

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Black Beans & Corn with Poached Eggs

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24 Heart-Healthy Dinners in 30 Minutes (5)

This sweet and spicy black bean and corn recipe features queso fresco, a Mexican cheese that is salty, crumbly, and perfectly meltable. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine, Summer 2020

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Herby Mediterranean Fish with Wilted Greens & Mushrooms

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24 Heart-Healthy Dinners in 30 Minutes (6)

This Mediterranean fish recipe makes a tasty and healthful weeknight meal. Serve with wild rice or roasted potatoes. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine, Spring 2020

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Vegan Black Bean Burgers

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24 Heart-Healthy Dinners in 30 Minutes (7)

These easy vegan black bean burgers have a healthy dose of fiber thanks to the combination of black beans and quinoa. Cumin and chipotle chile powder give these vegan burgers a Southwestern spin. Using your hands to combine the mixture creates a soft, uniform texture. Source: EatingWell.com, February 2020

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Cheeseburger Stuffed Baked Potatoes

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24 Heart-Healthy Dinners in 30 Minutes (8)

Skip the bun and serve all of your favorite cheeseburger ingredients--beef, cheese, tomatoes, red onions and lettuce--with baked potatoes for a hearty and easy dinner recipe that kids and adults will love. Feel free to swap out the ground beef for ground turkey or tofu crumbles. Source: EatingWell Magazine, October 2019

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Grilled Salmon with Cilantro-Ginger Sauce

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24 Heart-Healthy Dinners in 30 Minutes (9)

Ginger, fish sauce and honey combine to create a delicious basting sauce in this easy grilled salmon recipe. Look for Thai red chiles in the produce section of your grocery store, or use a green or red jalapeño instead. Not only is this salmon dish delicious, it also takes just 25 minutes to prepare, making it the ideal centerpiece for a healthy weeknight dinner. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine, Summer 2019

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Shrimp & Pepper Kebabs with Grilled Red Onion Slaw

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24 Heart-Healthy Dinners in 30 Minutes (10)

These healthy grilled shrimp and mini bell pepper kebabs come together in just 30 minutes, so they're great for weeknight dinners. A bag of coleslaw mix is a time-saving meal starter. Here, we make it our own by mixing in grilled red onion and crushed pita chips. A homemade herb-feta dressing both coats the slaw and sauces the kebabs. Source: EatingWell Magazine, May 2019

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Mushroom & Tofu Stir-Fry

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24 Heart-Healthy Dinners in 30 Minutes (11)

This tofu veggie stir-fry is quick and easy, making it a great go-to weeknight meal. Baked tofu has a firm, toothsome texture that crisps well in a hot pan. You can find it in flavors like teriyaki and sesame, both of which are delicious here. Or opt for a smoked version, which has the same texture with a more robust flavor. Serve over brown rice. Source: EatingWell Magazine, December 2019

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Chinese Ginger Beef Stir-Fry with Baby Bok Choy

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24 Heart-Healthy Dinners in 30 Minutes (12)

All of the ingredients for this easy beef stir-fry recipe are cooked in one wok (or skillet), so not only is the meal-prep fast for this healthy dinner, cleanup is quick too. Look for Lee Kum Kee Premium oyster-flavored sauce in the Asian-foods aisle of your grocery store. It has the most concentrated oyster flavor. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine, Fall 2019

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Peppery Barbecue-Glazed Shrimp with Vegetables & Orzo

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24 Heart-Healthy Dinners in 30 Minutes (13)

In this healthy BBQ shrimp recipe, shrimp are seasoned with a peppery spice blend and served with zucchini, peppers and whole-grain orzo for a delicious and easy dinner that's ready in just 30 minutes. The shrimp and veggies are cooked in the same skillet, so cleanup is a snap too. Source: What to Eat with Diabetes 2019

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Mushroom-Swiss Turkey Burgers

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24 Heart-Healthy Dinners in 30 Minutes (14)

In this gluten-free turkey burger recipe, lean ground turkey stands in for ground beef, and portobello mushrooms produce a juicy, flavorful alternative to the traditional bun. Melted Swiss cheese, sliced tomato and arugula top off this delicious low-carb dinner! Source: EatingWell.com, February 2020

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Sheet-Pan Chili-Lime Salmon with Potatoes & Peppers

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24 Heart-Healthy Dinners in 30 Minutes (15)

Busy weeknights beg for something simple like this salmon sheet-pan dinner. Like the name suggests, it's all cooked on one pan. The potatoes get a head start, followed by sweet bell peppers and finally chili-coated salmon fillets. It's a complete meal with easy cleanup! Source: EatingWell.com, February 2020

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Baked Halibut with Brussels Sprouts & Quinoa

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24 Heart-Healthy Dinners in 30 Minutes (16)

Fish plus two sides? It seems fancy but this healthy dinner comes together in just 30 minutes. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine, Winter 2020

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Vegetarian Lo Mein with Shiitakes, Carrots & Bean Sprouts

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24 Heart-Healthy Dinners in 30 Minutes (17)

A hit of Sriracha gives a sweet and spicy edge to this healthy vegetarian recipe. Traditional lo mein is made with fresh lo mein noodles, which can be found in Asian markets. You can also use fresh or dried linguine noodles--fresh linguine is in the refrigerated section of some grocery stores. This easy dinner comes together in just 30 minutes, so it's perfect for weeknights. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine, Fall 2019

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Charred Shrimp & Pesto Buddha Bowls

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24 Heart-Healthy Dinners in 30 Minutes (18)

These shrimp and pesto Buddha bowls are delicious, healthy, pretty and take less than 30 minutes to prep. In other words, they're basically the ultimate easy weeknight dinner. Feel free to add additional vegetables and swap the shrimp for chicken, steak, tofu or edamame. Source: EatingWell.com, June 2019

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Sweet & Spicy Roasted Salmon with Wild Rice Pilaf

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24 Heart-Healthy Dinners in 30 Minutes (19)

Fresh jalapeños give this quick and easy roasted salmon dish its kick; honey and balsamic vinegar give it a sweet finish. A nutty-tasting wild rice pilaf completes this healthy dinner that comes together in just 30 minutes. Source: What to Eat with Diabetes 2019

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Zucchini-Chickpea Veggie Burgers with Tahini-Ranch Sauce

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24 Heart-Healthy Dinners in 30 Minutes (20)

This vegan burger recipe is one you'll want to make again and again. Savory chickpea and zucchini patties are topped with a creamy, herb-flecked tahini ranch sauce, juicy tomato slices and peppery arugula for a satisfying and healthy homemade veggie burger. Serve them on buns or stuff them in pitas. We recommend making extra sauce--it's a great dip for veggie sticks and, thinned with a little water, it makes a wonderful salad dressing. Source: Eatingwell.com May 2019

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Lemon-Tahini Couscous with Chicken & Vegetables

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24 Heart-Healthy Dinners in 30 Minutes (21)

When you want pasta in no time, couscous is your best friend! The tiny pasta balls cook up in minutes, and absorb all the water so you don't have to fuss with draining. Tossed with sautéed vegetables plus leftover chicken, it's a fast and tasty meal in a bowl that's perfect as an easy dinner recipe. Source: Diabetic Living Magazine, Summer 2019

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Big Beautiful Summer Salad

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24 Heart-Healthy Dinners in 30 Minutes (22)

This gorgeous and healthy summer vegetable salad is loaded with pretty produce, including golden beets, avocado, corn, microgreens and radishes. Chickpeas and edamame add substance, and an herb-filled buttermilk-avocado dressing makes this salad really special. Serve it on its own for a light vegetarian meal or add grilled chicken for an easy weeknight dinner. Source: EatingWell.com, April 2019

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Tofu Tacos

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24 Heart-Healthy Dinners in 30 Minutes (23)

These quick vegan tacos, filled with a spicy tofu filling, make a perfect weeknight dinner. To keep them vegan, top them with shredded cabbage, fresh pico de gallo and guacamole. For vegetarians, add crumbled queso fresco. Source: EatingWell.com, January 2020