15 Quick Clean Eating Recipes for Busy Weeknights

15 Quick Clean Eating Recipes for Busy Weeknights

Clean eating doesn’t have to mean hours in the kitchen or complicated meal prep. When you’re tired after a long day, you need something simple, nourishing, and fast. These 15 clean eating recipes are ready in 30 minutes or less and use whole, fresh ingredients that support your health without sacrificing flavor.

Whether you love chicken, plant-based meals, or Mediterranean-inspired flavors, you’ll find something here to make weeknights easier.

1. Lemon Garlic Salmon with Asparagus

Ingredients

• 2 salmon fillets (about 4 oz each)
• 1 bunch asparagus, trimmed
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• Juice of ½ lemon
• Salt and pepper

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a sheet pan with parchment.
2. Place salmon fillets and asparagus on the pan.
3. Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice, then sprinkle garlic, salt, and pepper.
4. Roast for 15 minutes until salmon flakes and asparagus is tender.
5. Serve warm with extra lemon wedges.

Nutrition: ~330 calories, 32g protein

2. Southwest Chicken Salad

Ingredients

• 1 grilled chicken breast, sliced
• ½ cup black beans, rinsed
• ½ cup corn (fresh or frozen, thawed)
• ½ avocado, diced
• 2 cups mixed greens
• 2 tbsp plain Greek yogurt
• Juice of ½ lime
• ½ tsp cumin

Instructions

1. Place mixed greens in a bowl.
2. Top with beans, corn, avocado, and sliced chicken.
3. In a small bowl, whisk yogurt, lime juice, and cumin.
4. Drizzle dressing over salad and toss gently.

Nutrition: ~370 calories, 35g protein

3. Quinoa Chickpea Bowl

Ingredients

• 1 cup cooked quinoa
• ½ cup canned chickpeas, rinsed
• ½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• ½ cucumber, diced
• 2 tbsp tahini
• Juice of ½ lemon

Instructions

1. Place quinoa in a bowl as the base.
2. Add chickpeas, tomatoes, and cucumber on top.
3. Whisk tahini with lemon juice and 2 tbsp water for dressing.
4. Drizzle over the bowl and serve.

Nutrition: ~320 calories, 15g protein

4. Turkey and Zucchini Skillet

Ingredients

• ½ lb lean ground turkey
• 1 zucchini, diced
• ½ onion, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp olive oil

Instructions

1. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat.
2. Add onion and garlic, cook 2–3 minutes.
3. Add ground turkey, season with paprika, cook until browned.
4. Stir in zucchini and cook 5 more minutes until tender.

Nutrition: ~280 calories, 28g protein

5. Shrimp Stir-Fry with Broccoli

Ingredients

• 1 cup shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 cup broccoli florets
• ½ cup carrots, sliced
• 1 tbsp soy sauce or tamari
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 tsp olive oil

Instructions

1. Heat oil in a skillet or wok over medium-high heat.
2. Add garlic, sauté for 30 seconds.
3. Add shrimp, cook 2 minutes per side until pink.
4. Stir in broccoli and carrots, cook 4–5 minutes.
5. Add soy sauce, toss well, and serve hot.

Nutrition: ~250 calories, 24g protein

6. Mediterranean Stuffed Peppers

Ingredients

• 2 bell peppers, halved and seeded
• 1 cup cooked quinoa
• 1 cup spinach, chopped
• ½ cup diced tomatoes
• 2 tbsp feta cheese

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Mix quinoa, spinach, and tomatoes in a bowl.
3. Stuff pepper halves with the mixture.
4. Place on baking dish, cover with foil, bake 15 minutes.
5. Remove foil, sprinkle with feta, bake 5 more minutes.

Nutrition: ~290 calories, 14g protein

7. Sweet Potato Black Bean Tacos

Ingredients

• 1 cup roasted sweet potato cubes
• ½ cup black beans, rinsed
• 4 corn tortillas
• ½ avocado, sliced
• Salsa to taste

Instructions

1. Roast sweet potato cubes at 400°F (200°C) for 20 minutes until tender.
2. Warm tortillas in a dry skillet.
3. Fill tortillas with sweet potato, black beans, avocado, and salsa.

Nutrition: ~320 calories, 10g protein

8. Chicken and Vegetable Soup

Ingredients

• 1 chicken breast, diced
• 2 carrots, sliced
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• ½ onion, diced
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 tsp olive oil

Instructions

1. Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat.
2. Add onion, carrots, and celery, cook 5 minutes.
3. Stir in chicken and cook until browned.
4. Add broth, bring to a boil, then simmer 20 minutes.
5. Season with salt and pepper, serve hot.

Nutrition: ~250 calories, 27g protein

9. Zucchini Noodles with Pesto

Ingredients

• 2 cups zucchini noodles (zoodles)
• 3 tbsp pesto sauce
• ½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• Optional: grilled chicken or shrimp

Instructions

1. Heat a skillet over medium heat.
2. Add zucchini noodles, cook 2–3 minutes until just softened.
3. Stir in pesto and cherry tomatoes.
4. Top with optional protein if desired.

Nutrition: ~210 calories, 12g protein (without added protein)

10. Lentil and Spinach Curry

Ingredients

• 1 cup red lentils
• 3 cups vegetable broth
• 1 cup spinach
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp curry powder
• 1 tsp olive oil

Instructions

1. Heat oil in a pot over medium heat.
2. Add onion and garlic, cook until fragrant.
3. Stir in curry powder and lentils.
4. Add broth, bring to boil, reduce to simmer 15 minutes.
5. Add spinach, cook 2 more minutes until wilted.

Nutrition: ~300 calories, 18g protein

11. Baked Cod with Lemon and Herbs

Ingredients

• 4 oz cod fillet
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• Juice of ½ lemon
• 1 tbsp chopped parsley
• Salt and pepper

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Place cod in baking dish.
3. Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice, season with parsley, salt, and pepper.
4. Bake 12–15 minutes until fish flakes easily.

Nutrition: ~220 calories, 24g protein

12. Cauliflower Fried Rice

Ingredients

• 2 cups cauliflower rice
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• ½ cup peas and carrots
• 1 green onion, sliced
• 1 tbsp soy sauce or tamari

Instructions

1. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat.
2. Add cauliflower rice, cook 3–4 minutes.
3. Push rice to one side, scramble egg on the other side.
4. Stir in peas, carrots, and green onion.
5. Add soy sauce, toss well, cook 2 more minutes.

Nutrition: ~200 calories, 12g protein

13. Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Ingredients

• ½ lb ground chicken
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
• 2 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 6 lettuce leaves

Instructions

1. Heat olive oil in skillet over medium heat.
2. Add garlic and ginger, sauté 1 minute.
3. Add ground chicken, cook until browned.
4. Stir in soy sauce and cook 2 minutes.
5. Spoon mixture into lettuce leaves and serve.

Nutrition: ~240 calories, 27g protein

14. Greek Chicken Bowls

Ingredients

• 1 grilled chicken breast, sliced
• ½ cup cooked quinoa
• ½ cup cucumber, diced
• ½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 2 tbsp tzatziki sauce
• 4–5 olives (optional)

Instructions

1. Place quinoa in a bowl as base.
2. Add cucumber, tomatoes, and olives.
3. Top with sliced chicken.
4. Drizzle tzatziki sauce on top and serve.

Nutrition: ~340 calories, 32g protein

15. Chickpea and Spinach Stew

Ingredients

• 1 cup canned chickpeas, rinsed
• 1 cup spinach
• 1 cup diced tomatoes
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp olive oil

Instructions

1. Heat oil in a pot over medium heat.
2. Add onion and garlic, sauté 3 minutes.
3. Stir in cumin, chickpeas, and tomatoes.
4. Simmer 10–12 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5. Add spinach, cook 2 more minutes, then serve hot.

Nutrition: ~280 calories, 14g protein

Tips for Fast Clean Eating

• Keep pre-chopped veggies and frozen produce on hand.
• Cook grains like quinoa or brown rice in bulk for quick meals.
• Stock your pantry with beans, chickpeas, and lentils for protein.
• Use one-pan or sheet pan meals to cut down on dishes.

Final Thoughts

Eating clean during the week doesn’t have to be stressful. These 15 quick recipes prove you can enjoy flavorful, nourishing meals without spending hours in the kitchen. With a little prep and the right ingredients, healthy eating fits right into busy weeknights.