600 calorie meals: Dinners under 600 calories
We’ve rounded up our tastiest dinners under 600 calories including prawn pad Thai and bacon and pea risotto.
From kedgeree to fish and chips, from sausage bake to gnocchi, we’ve got lots of hearty 600 calorie meals to choose from.
Our collection of 600 calorie dinners cater to a variety of different diets including fussy eaters and those on the 400-600-600 diet plan.
First on our must-makes list is our indulgent cottage pie, as made in the video above. It's hard to believe that this comfort classic is just 570 calories per portion. The tender mince is cooked in a rich tomato-based sauce and topped with a generous helping of creamy mash. It’s a hearty meal that the whole family can enjoy together.
If you’re looking for something a little lighter however we would recommend our low calorie meals under 500 calories.
600 calorie meals: Dinners under 600 calories
600 calorie meals: Salmon and asparagus with tarragon hollandaise
521 calories per portion
This salmon dish is easy to prepare in just 25 minutes. The salmon is paired with tender asparagus and drizzled in a homemade lemon infused hollandaise.
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Get the recipe: Salmon and asparagus with tarragon hollandaise
600 calorie meals: Tuna pasta bake
595 calories per portion
This tuna pasta bake is hiding vegetables including sweetcorn, mushrooms and red onion. It’s also topped with an unusual ready salted crisps and cheese coating which makes it taste extra flavoursome as well as giving it a crispy top.
Get the recipe: Tuna pasta bake
600 calorie meals: Tom Kerridge’s crab mayo on griddled sourdough
505 calories per portion
Prepared in just 10 minutes, this delicious crab mayo on griddled sourdough is a real midweek treat by Tom Kerridge. Ideal for the summer months, it's perfect served with a salad and is surprisingly filling thanks to the protein from the crab.
Get the recipe: Tom Kerridge’s crab mayo on griddled sourdough
Bacon and pea cheesy risotto
538 calories per portion
It’s hard to believe that it takes just 20 minutes to make this bacon and pea cheesy risotto. The saltiness of the smoked lardons, the sweetness of the peas and richness of the Parmesan cheese packs this dish with flavour.
Get the recipe: Bacon and pea cheesy risotto
600 calorie meals: Sardine and spinach bread salad
532 calories per portion
This is a classic Italian bread salad which is traditionally known as panzanella. Made with sourdough, spinach and lemon sardines. Drizzled in a homemade, four-ingredient dressing of garlic, olive oil, white wine vinegar, and Dijon mustard.
Get the recipe: Sardine and spinach bread salad
600 calorie meals: Antipasti open lasagne
530 calories per portion
This open lasagne serves four people. The artichokes, sun blushed tomatoes and Gruyère transform this lasagne into a mouth-watering meal under 600 calories.
Get the recipe: Antipasti open lasagne
600 calorie meals: Butternut and cheese penne
580 calories per portion
Prepare this butternut squash and cheese penne in just 10 minutes and cook it in 20 minutes. It’s the ideal midweek meal that serves four. This recipe uses goat’s cheese but you could opt for whichever cheese you prefer.
Get the recipe: Butternut and cheese penne
600 calorie meals: Spring sausage and mash
520 calories per portion
Mash fluffy King Edward potatoes with swede and carrot to make this veggie packed mashed potato. We’ve chosen pork and herb chipolatas but you could opt for other sausages that are even lower in calories like chicken or Quorn.
Get the recipe: Spring sausage and mash
Cheesy pesto gnocchi
500 calories per portion
This recipe uses readymade gnocchi. Coated in a full-fat soft cheese and pesto mix, this gnocchi is very moreish. Serve with grated Parmesan cheese, nutmeg and rocket.
Get the recipe: Cheesy pesto gnocchi
600 calorie meals: Prawn pad Thai
524 calories per portion
Our filling prawn pad Thai serves two people but can easily be double to cater for a larger family. The combination of rice noodles, king prawns, spring onions, bean sprouts, and roasted salted peanuts work wonders together.
Get the recipe: Prawn pad Thai
600 calorie meals: Deep fried squid greek salad
525 calories per portion
If you’re looking for something a bit different to whip up for dinner, this deep-fried squid with Greek salad is a great meal under 600 calories. The freshly prepared salad is packed with veggies such as cucumber, red onion, Greek olives, white cabbage and plum tomatoes.
Get the recipe: Deep fried squid Greek salad
600 calorie meals: Pan Haggerty
523 calories per portion
This cheesy potato dish from Northumberland is layered with potatoes, onion and plenty of cheese. Serve with a side salad.
Get the recipe: Pan Haggerty
600 calorie meals: Cheesy chicken Kiev
528 calories per portion
At just 528 calories you can serve this cheesy chicken Kiev with a side salad or handful of roasted vegetables. Each chicken breast is coated in golden dried breadcrumbs and stuffed with garlic and herb cheese.
Get the recipe: Cheesy chicken Kiev
600 calorie meals: Roast ratatouille halloumi salad
529 calories per portion
The lemon dressing on the halloumi cheese is particularly good and helps keep the calories down without sacrificing any flavour. This recipe serves four and takes just 30 minutes.
Get the recipe: Roast ratatouille halloumi salad
600 calorie meals: Quick kedgeree recipe
529 calories per portion
Kedgeree is made with spring onions, pilau rice and hot smoked salmon. We’ve used quail eggs in this recipe but you can use chicken or duck eggs instead.
Get the recipe: Quick kedgeree
600 calorie meals: Herby chicken schnitzel
529 calories per portion
Tender chicken breasts coated in golden breadcrumbs flavoured with parsley and oregano. Served with a homemade fennel salad infused with lemon, fennel and capers.
Get the recipe: Herby chicken schnitzel
600 calorie meals: Crab and chilli pasta
490 calories per portion
This speedy crab, lemon and chilli linguine takes just 25 minutes and is so light and fresh. Invest in a good quality olive oil for maximum flavour.
Get the recipe: Crab, lemon and chilli linguine
600 calorie meals: Sole colbert
532 calories per portion
Our lemon sole garnished in a homemade parsley butter is the ideal dinner under 600 calories. As its just 532 calories per serving you can serve with new potatoes and greens.
Get the recipe: Sole colbert
600 calorie meals: Shepherd’s pie
580 calories per portion
The ultimate family dinner, this recipe serves four people and takes just 30 minutes to cook. The rich mince meat is stewed in a Worcestershire sauce and tomato-based sauce. Topped with creamy mashed potato.
Get the recipe: Shepherd’s pie
600 calorie meals: Healthy fish and chips
536 calories per portion
The crispy breadcrumb topping is a great substitute to fatty batter and it's full of flavour. We've used white fish which is quick to cook and a great source of lean protein. It’s hard to believe this fish and chips is under 600 calories.
Get the recipe: Healthy fish and chips
600 calorie meals: Scrambled egg and crab on garlic croutes
537 calories per portion
Pair scrambled eggs with white crusty bread and shredded crab all infused with garlic, butter and a little cress to garnish. This dish is best made and eaten immediately for the best flavour.
Get the recipe: Scrambled egg and crab on garlic croutes
Courgette, garlic and herb oaty crust quiche
557 calories per portion
This courgette, garlic and herb oaty crust quiche is the perfect option on a summer's eve as it's a light, yet filling dinner. We’d recommend using a loose-bottom sandwich tin so you can easily remove the quiche.
Get the recipe: Courgette, garlic and herb oaty crust quiche
Sausage bake
500 calories per portion
Tender pork sausages baked with buttery new potatoes, tangy garlic, soft butternut squash and sweet cherry tomatoes. Drizzled in thick balsamic vinegar, this dish is bursting with flavour.
Get the recipe: Sausage bake
Hash ‘n’ eggs
480 calories per portion
At just 480 calories per serving, this hash ‘n’ eggs is a filling meal that transforms classic potatoes and egg. Prepare this dish in just 10 minutes.
Get the recipe: Hash 'n' eggs
Squash and onion toad in the hole
545 calories per portion
Squash and onion toad in the hole is a tasty twist on the traditional toad in the hole recipe using a similar recipe to Yorkshire pudding too. This recipe serves four and is prepared in just 15 minutes.
Get the recipe: Squash and onion toad in the hole
600 calorie meals: Fish chowder
523 calories per portion
This hearty fish chowder is packed full of flavour. Chowder is a creamy soup made with potato, celery, leeks, milk and fish. The smoked haddock has lots of B vitamins which are important for cell metabolism.
Get the recipe: Fish chowder
600 calorie meals: Melting middle lamb burger
580 calories per portion
These tasty lamb burgers have a delicious melted cheese centre. We’ve pan-fried the burgers but weather-permitting they could be finished off on the barbecue. Serve between two ciabatta halves with rocket leaves and sliced tomatoes.
Get the recipe: Melting middle lamb burger
600 calorie meals: Shepherd’s pie
580 calories per portion
The ultimate family dinner, this recipe serves four people and takes just 30 minutes to cook. The rich mince meat is stewed in a Worcestershire sauce and tomato-based sauce. Topped with creamy mashed potato.
Get the recipe: Shepherd’s pie
Jessica Dady is Food Editor at GoodtoKnow and has over 12 years of experience as a digital editor, specialising in all things food, recipes, and SEO. From the must-buy seasonal food hampers and advent calendars for Christmas to the family-friendly air fryers that’ll make dinner time a breeze, Jessica loves trying and testing various food products to find the best of the best for the busy parents among us. Over the years of working with GoodtoKnow, Jessica has had the privilege of working alongside Future’s Test Kitchen to create exclusive videos - as well as writing, testing, and shooting her own recipes. When she’s not embracing the great outdoors with her family at the weekends, Jessica enjoys baking up a storm in the kitchen with her favourite bakes being chocolate chip cookies, cupcakes, and a tray of gooey chocolate brownies.
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