23 Low-Effort Recipes With High Nutrition Payoff

You care about eating well, but that doesn’t mean you want to spend your night making something elaborate. These meals are for the days when time is short and energy is low, but you still want food that’s good for you. They’re simple to make, packed with real ingredients, and don’t require a ton of steps. You’ll get solid nutrition without having to overthink dinner.

Turkey Skillet Mac and Cheese

This one-pan meal skips the boxed shortcuts and loads in protein from ground turkey and cheddar, plus a hefty helping of spinach and peppers for fiber and vitamins. It comes together in 30 minutes and hits the mark for a quick, balanced dinner.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Skillet Mac and Cheese

Gochujang Chicken

Made in just one pan in under 30 minutes, this chicken dish delivers on both flavor and nutrition. Gochujang sauce adds fermented depth, while lean chicken brings protein and the rice rounds it out into a filling, energizing meal.
Get the Recipe: Gochujang Chicken

Steak Potato & Pepper Skillet

You get iron-rich steak, hearty potatoes for complex carbs, and bell peppers full of vitamin C all cooked together in one skillet. It’s a great way to check a bunch of nutrition boxes without doing much at all.
Get the Recipe: Steak Potato & Pepper Skillet

Thai Basil Cashew Chicken Skillet

This dish gives you lean protein from chicken, healthy fats from cashews, and fresh greens from basil—all in one pan. It’s fast to make, easy to clean up, and packs a punch without relying on heavy ingredients.
Get the Recipe: Thai Basil Cashew Chicken Skillet

Shaved Beef & Broccoli Stir Fry

Shaved beef cooks in minutes and pairs with broccoli for a fiber- and antioxidant-rich dinner. It’s a great quick meal when you want something with a takeout feel but more nutritional value.
Get the Recipe: Shaved Beef & Broccoli Stir Fry

Chinese Chicken Zoodles

Zucchini noodles bring extra vegetables into your day without much prep. Add lean chicken and a simple sauce and you’ve got a 15-minute meal that’s high in protein and low on effort.
Get the Recipe: Chinese Chicken Zoodles

Cream Cheese Chicken

With just five spices and a creamy base, this dish keeps it simple but packs in protein from chicken. Add a side of greens or grains and you’ve got a filling, easy dinner that skips anything processed.
Get the Recipe: Cream Cheese Chicken

Garlic Chicken Bite Skillet

This 20-minute meal gets flavor from fresh garlic and herbs, and nutrition from lean chicken, mushrooms, peppers, and onions. It’s all done in one pan and makes a great low-stress weeknight dinner.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Chicken Bite Skillet

Greek Shrimp Skillet

Shrimp cooks fast and brings in lean protein and minerals like selenium. Tossed with tomatoes, spinach, and olives, this 30-minute dinner gives you healthy fats, fiber, and fresh herbs in every bite.
Get the Recipe: Greek Shrimp Skillet

Ground Beef and Sweet Potato Skillet

Sweet potatoes give you slow-digesting carbs and vitamin A, while ground beef adds protein and iron. It’s a one-pan dish with staying power, great for meal prep or easy weeknight eating.
Get the Recipe: Ground Beef and Sweet Potato Skillet

Ground Beef Stir Fry

This stir fry brings together a mix of vegetables and beef in one pan for a fast dinner that covers your protein, fiber, and healthy fat needs. It’s a practical and balanced alternative to greasy takeout.
Get the Recipe: Ground Beef Stir Fry

Mexican Ground Beef Skillet

Taco spices make this skillet dinner flavorful without needing a bunch of extras. Ground beef supplies protein, and with added vegetables or beans, you get fiber and a filling meal in 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Ground Beef Skillet

Pork and Cabbage Stir Fry

Cabbage and mushrooms bulk this up with fiber and nutrients, while ground pork brings in protein. It’s quick to make and works great for nights when time is tight but you still want something hearty and real.
Get the Recipe: Pork and Cabbage Stir Fry

Ground Beef and Cabbage Skillet

This quick skillet packs in flavor with garlic, ginger, and sesame while combining beef and cabbage for a fiber-rich, protein-packed meal. Ready in about 30 minutes with very little cleanup.
Get the Recipe: Ground Beef and Cabbage Skillet

Instant Pot Bolognese

The Instant Pot does the heavy lifting here, giving you a deep, rich tomato and meat sauce in way less time. Packed with protein, lycopene, and iron, this is an easy route to a nutrient-dense pasta night.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Bolognese

Vegetable Bean Skillet

This meatless skillet makes up for it with plenty of protein from beans and nutrients from fresh vegetables. It’s a great way to use up produce while getting a fiber-heavy, filling meal on the table fast.
Get the Recipe: Vegetable Bean Skillet

Instant Pot Creamy Chicken With Mushrooms

This one checks all the boxes: protein from chicken, antioxidants from mushrooms, and a smooth sauce without needing heavy cream. The Instant Pot gets it all done in 15 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Creamy Chicken With Mushrooms

Tart Cherry Glazed Salmon

Salmon brings in omega-3 fats and protein, while tart cherries add antioxidants. Broiled in under 15 minutes, this is an easy weeknight dinner that actually feels like you did something fancy.
Get the Recipe: Tart Cherry Glazed Salmon

Sheet Pan Turmeric Salmon

Anti-inflammatory turmeric, omega-rich salmon, and fiber-filled broccoli roast together on one sheet pan. Minimal cleanup, major nutrition benefits, and you don’t even need to babysit the stove.
Get the Recipe: Sheet Pan Turmeric Salmon

Kale and Feta Egg Bake

Eggs bring in protein and healthy fats, while kale adds fiber and a load of vitamins. Toss everything in a muffin tin and let the oven handle it—perfect for a low-effort dinner or meal prep.
Get the Recipe: Kale and Feta Egg Bake

Air Fryer Salmon Bites

These salmon bites are marinated for flavor and then air-fried to keep the texture just right. Full of protein and omega-3s, it’s a fast way to get a nutrient-packed dinner on the table with barely any work.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Salmon Bites

Lemon Feta Spinach Pasta

This pasta is full of spinach for fiber and iron, with bright lemon and feta to round it out. Add a protein on top or leave it as-is for a simple, high-nutrition meal that comes together fast.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Feta Spinach Pasta

Maple Mustard Air Fryer Frozen Salmon

No need to thaw—this recipe goes straight from freezer to air fryer. It’s a great way to get in those omega-3s and protein with minimal prep and a sweet-savory sauce that’s ready in minutes.
Get the Recipe: Maple Mustard Air Fryer Frozen Salmon