Lower-calorie mains

Our lower-calorie main course recipes will help you eat lighter without scrimping on flavour. Try healthier chicken satay, cauliflower dhal and more.

54 recipes

Filter This Page

Effort

Serves

APPLY FILTERS
Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe
Chilli tofu veg ‘noodles’

Vegan dinner recipes

Chilli tofu veg ‘noodles’

Our carb-light take on noodles is an easy weeknight win, and a great option for...

  • Effort icon Easy
  • Comment count icon 0
Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe
Prawn noodle salad

Prawn recipes

Prawn noodle salad

This quick Thai-inspired salad brings crunch and tang to your table. It makes a great...

  • Effort icon Easy
  • Comment count icon 0
Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe
Thai vegetable curry with coconut chilli cauliflower

Lower-calorie mains

Thai vegetable curry with coconut chilli cauliflower

A great-tasting low-calorie Thai vegetable curry with roasted cauliflower. This recipe is great if you’re...

  • Effort icon Easy
  • Comment count icon 0
Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe
Scallops with cauliflower and bean purée

Delicious recipes for 1 person

Scallops with cauliflower and bean purée

This scallops dish makes a smart supper for one that’s ready in 20 minutes and...

  • Effort icon Easy
  • Comment count icon 0
Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe
Hot and sour chicken soup

Delicious recipes for 1 person

Hot and sour chicken soup

A nourishing Asian soup that’s just the tonic for a fast day, or to kick-start...

  • Effort icon Easy
  • Comment count icon 0
Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe
Chicken and vegetable traybake

Lower-calorie mains

Chicken and vegetable traybake

Easy to throw together and super-nutritious, this recipe is a healthy-supper winner. Or go meat-free...

  • Effort icon Easy
  • Comment count icon 0
Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe
Quick & easy vegetable curry

Lower-calorie mains

Quick & easy vegetable curry

The spicy flavours in this vegetable curry recipe will really get your tastebuds racing. It’s...

  • Effort icon Easy
  • Comment count icon 0
Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe
30-minute chicken and cauliflower curry

Lower-calorie mains

30-minute chicken and cauliflower curry

This tasty chicken and cauliflower curry is a great option if you’re following the 5:2...

  • Effort icon Easy
  • Comment count icon 0
Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe
Mussels and cannellini beans in white wine

Lower-calorie mains

Mussels and cannellini beans in white wine

This is a great recipe for those following a 5:2 diet, but equally makes a...

  • Effort icon Easy
  • Comment count icon 0
Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe
Healthier chicken satay

Chicken breast recipes

Healthier chicken satay

A lot of the calories in satay come from the peanut butter, so we’ve replaced...

  • Effort icon Easy
  • Comment count icon 0
Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe
Chicken, kale and pesto soup

Chicken breast recipes

Chicken, kale and pesto soup

Change up this quick and easy midweek dinner by swapping the freekeh for other mixed...

  • Effort icon Easy
  • Comment count icon 0
Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe
Quinoa, feta, pea and mint salad with lemon and chilli

Healthy salad recipes

Quinoa, feta, pea and mint salad with lemon...

Laura Herring’s quick quinoa, feta and mint salad from The Fast Days Cookbook is low...

  • Effort icon Easy
  • Comment count icon 0
Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe
Spiced cauliflower dhal

Cauliflower recipes

Spiced cauliflower dhal

If you’re on the 5:2 diet, make a double batch of Laura Herring’s vegetarian dhal...

  • Effort icon Easy
  • Comment count icon 0
Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe
Chicken, cider and vegetable casserole

Casserole recipes

Chicken, cider and vegetable casserole

Our easy recipe for creamy chicken, cider and vegetable casserole makes a double portion –...

  • Effort icon Easy
  • Comment count icon 0
Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe
Thai-style beef noodles

Noodle recipes

Thai-style beef noodles

Have a filling, low-calorie dinner on the table in only 15 minutes with our healthy...

  • Effort icon Easy
  • Comment count icon 0
Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe
Baked chicken thighs with peppers and butter beans

Chicken thigh recipes

Baked chicken thighs with peppers and butter beans

Make two portions of this healthy Mediterranean-style chicken and bean bake then pop one in...

  • Effort icon Easy
  • Comment count icon 0
Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe
Baked beans with turkey meatballs

Lower-calorie mains

Baked beans with turkey meatballs

For a healthier weeknight dinner, swap spaghetti and meatballs for this combination of turkey meatballs...

  • Effort icon Easy
  • Comment count icon 0
Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe
Healthy chicken arrabbiata

Lower-calorie mains

Healthy chicken arrabbiata

A quick and easy midweek dinner, this chicken arrabbiata recipe with new potatoes and spinach...

  • Effort icon Easy
  • Comment count icon 0
Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe
Ham hock salad

Lower-calorie mains

Ham hock salad

Ham hock is a great way to bulk up a salad while adding lots of...

  • Effort icon Easy
  • Comment count icon 0
Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe
Lighter aubergine parmigiana

Healthy family meals

Lighter aubergine parmigiana

We’ve kept all the gorgeous summery flavours of a traditional aubergine parmigiana but recreated the...

  • Effort icon Easy
  • Comment count icon 0
Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe
Lighter chicken enchiladas

Friday night dinners

Lighter chicken enchiladas

After a healthy makeover these enchiladas contain 229kcals less than the traditional recipe; a guiltless...

  • Effort icon Easy
  • Comment count icon 0
Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe
Pork chops with roasted baby veg, potatoes and feta

Pork chops with roasted baby veg, potatoes and...

This easy pork chop recipe is served with roasted courgette and tangy feta – it’s...

  • Effort icon Easy
  • Comment count icon 0
Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe
Quick lentil, chicken, spring greens and broccoli soup

Quick chicken recipes

Quick lentil, chicken, spring greens and broccoli soup

A soup recipe that’s anything but boring – this quick shortcut supper is bursting with...

  • Effort icon Easy
  • Comment count icon 0
Save recipe icon Save recipe icon Save recipe
Quick chicken noodle soup

Classic soup recipes

Quick chicken noodle soup

There’s no midweek meal more comforting than a bowl of chicken noodle soup made with...

  • Effort icon Easy
  • Comment count icon 0
Load more
Load more
Save icon Save this collection

Subscribe to our magazine

Subscribe to delicious. magazine this month for a half price subscription

Subscribe

Download our digital version

Subscribe to the digital edition of delicious. magazine

Download on the App Store Get it on Google Play