Looking for low calorie dinner ideas for one that go beyond a plain salad? Think shrimp with zucchini noodles, stuffed peppers or a little egg dish served in a mug.
These pictures give you plenty of combinations to try.
Keep things simple or try something different. Some photos show larger batches, so adapt them for your own portion.
Calories depend on the recipe, serving size and extras like oil or sauce; these aren’t calorie-verified meals.
Dinner ideas worth saving for your next solo night
shrimp and zucchini spirals
We’re starting off strong with these gorgeous zucchini spirals and browned shrimp. I love the little flecks of herbs across the pan, plus that lemon wedge tucked into the middle.
For your own dinner, try a smaller skillet version with a squeeze of lemon at the table.
marinated chicken and broccoli
If you are looking for a simple pairing, this one is for you. The tray shows uncooked chicken in a dark marinade beside bright green broccoli.
This is a before-cooking idea, not a ready-to-eat dinner.
You don’t need to copy the whole batch. Try a single-serving version and cook the chicken thoroughly, checking that it reaches 165°F in the thickest part.
taco-style lettuce cups
How cute are these little lettuce cups? The broad leaves hold a crumbled filling with shredded cheese and a small dollop of white topping.
Try your own version with seasoned lean ground meat or beans. Keep the toppings you actually enjoy rather than adding a little of everything.
fish with lemon and asparagus
I love this arrangement of fish over lemon slices and asparagus. The open foil packet shows everything tucked together before cooking.
For a smaller version, choose a recipe for one fillet with vegetables. Follow its cooking guidance rather than using the photo to judge doneness.
vegetable frittata wedges
This vegetable-filled frittata may just be one of my favorites here. The browned top, leafy greens and scattered scallion rings look so pretty together.
If you don’t want a whole skillet, try a smaller egg dish with broccoli and greens. A few sliced tomatoes on the side would be a lovely addition.
colorful fried-rice-style bowl
Don’t want another plate of vegetables on the side? No problem!
This bowl mixes little rice-like pieces with egg, carrots, peas, corn and green beans. The scallions on top are such a nice finishing touch.
For your version, choose rice, cauliflower rice or a mix of both. Keep the egg shown here or try tofu instead.
cheesy stuffed peppers
The stuffed pepper fans are going to love this! These red pepper halves hold a grain-and-crumbled-meat filling with melted yellow cheese on top.
I’d keep the chopped herb finish. For a solo dinner, look for a scaled-down stuffed pepper recipe rather than making the whole baking dish.
salmon and cucumber salad
I am obsessed with the colors in this salad. The salmon pieces sit among cucumber rounds, leafy greens and purple onion, with a pale dressing throughout.
Read also: 20 Lunch Box Ideas for Work With Wraps, Bowls and Colorful Sides
Those little dill sprigs are worth keeping if you like their flavor. You could serve your dressing separately to add as much as you want.
loaded spaghetti squash
Want something a little different from a bowl? This spaghetti squash half holds a chunky red filling with a grated topping.
Try a tomato-based filling for your own squash boat. The calorie and macro numbers printed on the image aren’t verified here, so calculate your version from the ingredients you use.
chicken and snow peas
I love those bright green snow peas mixed through the chicken. The wide pods sit alongside chicken slices and other chopped green vegetables, with a glossy coating over everything.
A little rice alongside would be an option if you want to make it a larger meal.
mini meatloaf plate
How good does this little meatloaf look? The glossy red coating and chopped herbs dress it up without a pile of toppings.
Green beans and a pale mash sit alongside it.
For your version, try a lean-meat mini loaf with potato or cauliflower mash. Either would fit this plate.
chicken and cucumber pita
This is actually one of my favorite combinations on the list. The pitas are packed with chicken, cucumber, tomato and red onion over a thick white sauce.
Use the photo for filling inspiration, not as a serving-size rule. A yogurt-based herb sauce would be a lovely option for your own pita.
tofu and greens soup
Looking for a brothy soup instead? This bowl has pale tofu cubes, sliced mushrooms and plenty of greens.
I especially love the scallion rings scattered across the top.
For a more substantial dinner, you could add extra tofu or serve rice alongside.
shrimp and avocado bowl
There’s so much color in this ceviche-style bowl. Chopped shrimp, tomato, purple onion and avocado are scattered with green herbs.
For a version at home, use fully cooked shrimp with your favorite chopped vegetables. A squeeze of lime would make a nice addition; citrus alone isn’t a reliable way to make raw seafood safe.
pizza zucchini boats
Who doesn’t love a pizza-inspired dinner? These zucchini halves have red sauce, melted cheese and pepperoni rounds, with chopped herbs over the top.
If you want to change up your toppings, try mushrooms or diced peppers. You can keep the pizza idea without copying every ingredient.
lentils with chunky vegetables
Those chunky vegetables are my favorite part of this lentil stew. There are carrot slices and tomatoes mixed right through the lentils, with a little broth around the edges.
I’d keep the vegetables in generous pieces for your own version rather than chopping everything tiny.
lettuce cups with sesame
Here’s another lettuce cup idea, but it’s a little different from the one above. These rounded green leaves hold a saucy filling with carrot strips, scallions and sesame seeds.
Try ground chicken or crumbled tofu for your version. I’d keep the carrot strips and scallions for that same colorful finish.
eggs and greens in a mug
How cute is this little mug meal? The yellow egg mixture has leafy greens and white crumbles tucked through it.
For your own breakfast-for-dinner version, try a tested spinach-and-feta egg mug recipe. Add a side that suits your appetite rather than expecting the mug alone to be enough.
stuffed avocado halves
I love these avocado halves piled with a flaked filling and chopped red and green vegetables. There’s barely any empty space in the middle!
Tuna with diced peppers and herbs would be a nice way to recreate the idea. You could also serve the filling over greens with sliced avocado instead.
Read also: 20 Crockpot Chicken Recipes and Dinner Ideas to Inspire Your Menu
cheesy cabbage skillet
Last but definitely not least, we have this cabbage skillet with crumbled meat, tomato pieces and patches of melted cheese. I love the chopped herbs over the top.
Read also: 20 Crockpot Ground Beef Recipes and Dinner Ideas to Explore
The pan shown is a larger batch. For dinner on your own, try a smaller cabbage-and-tomato skillet recipe or portion out a serving from a batch you’ve prepared.