21 quick and easy dinners for a healthy pregnancy (2023)

Healthy Chickpea and Spinach Stew

21 quick and easy dinners for a healthy pregnancy (1)

Everyone experiences pregnancy differently, so this mix of stews, soups, salads, and more has something for every palate. Whether you're in the mood for a quick pasta for two, a mini charcuterie plate, or a loaded vegetarian one-skillet dinner, these dinners require 20 minutes or less of active time. Calcium, iron, and folic acid are important during pregnancy, so these recipes are a good source of one or more of these important nutrients. Recipes like our Skillet Ravioli Lasagna and Healthy Chickpea Spinach Stew are easy and delicious meals that support a healthy pregnancy. For more information, see ourpregnancy diet center.

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Grilled chicken with spelt and roasted cauliflower

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21 quick and easy dinners for a healthy pregnancy (2)

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You can find farro near the rice in most supermarkets. If you can't find farro, you can use wheat berries or brown rice; Cook according to package instructions.

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Skillet Ravioli Lasagna

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21 quick and easy dinners for a healthy pregnancy (3)

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This easy Inside Out Ravioli Lasagna is the ultimate weeknight comfort food—no layers or mixing bowls required. Feel free to swap the ground turkey for beef. Look for fresh mozzarella balls (also known as "pearls") in the specialty cheese section of your grocery store.

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Baked Chicken Fajita Bowls

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Swap out tortillas for this warm fajita salad, which features a hearty medley of chicken with grilled kale, bell peppers, and black beans. Chicken, beans, and vegetables all cook in the same pot, making this hearty dinner easy to prepare and clean up.

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Healthy Chickpea and Spinach Stew

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21 quick and easy dinners for a healthy pregnancy (5)

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This stuffing stew is ready in no time. The chickpea puree gives the broth body and the tomato paste adds a salty touch without adding sodium. For ease of preparation, look in the produce department for chopped fresh onions and shredded carrots or soup mix.

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Creamy mushroom and spinach pasta

Creamy mushroom and spinach pasta

21 quick and easy dinners for a healthy pregnancy (6)

Credit: Jennifer Causey

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Prepare this creamy mushroom and spinach pasta for an easy and healthy dinner. Be sure to save some of the pasta cooking water as it will help emulsify the sauce.

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Lentil and vegetable soup with Parmesan

Lentil and vegetable soup with Parmesan

21 quick and easy dinners for a healthy pregnancy (7)

Photo credit: Antonis Achilleos

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This vegetable lentil soup is packed with kale and tomatoes for a hearty and flavorful main dish. If you have it, the Parmesan rind adds nuts and gives the broth body.

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Grilled Halibut with Brussels Sprouts and Quinoa

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21 quick and easy dinners for a healthy pregnancy (8)

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Fish plus two sides? It sounds fancy, but this healthy dinner is ready in just 30 minutes.

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Plate of sweet and savory hummus

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Fresh vegetables with dip, juicy fruit, and even a sweet treat make up this easy-to-make picnic dinner that's great to pack or enjoy at home. Plus, this combination rules out the most common food allergens and intolerances (it's dairy-free, egg-free, soy-free, nut-free, gluten-free), so almost anyone can enjoy it with confidence.

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Vegan Coconut Chickpea Curry

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21 quick and easy dinners for a healthy pregnancy (10)

(Video) 21 foods to avoid when pregnant: dietitian reveals

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To make this 20-minute vegan curry even faster, buy pre-cut lettuce leaves at the grocery store. For a complete and hearty dinner, serve with cooked brown rice. When shopping for cooking sauce, look for one with 400 mg of sodium or less, and check the ingredients list for cream or fish sauce if you want to keep it vegan. If you like a touch of heat, add a few drops of your favorite hot sauce at the end.

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Spaghetti and spinach with creamy sun-dried tomato sauce

Spaghetti and spinach with sun-dried tomato cream sauce (tk final title)

21 quick and easy dinners for a healthy pregnancy (11)

Credit: Photography / Kelsey Hansen, Styling / Greg Luna

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For a quick flavor to this pasta recipe, we used sun-dried tomato oil to create the base for the creamy sauce. Meanwhile, the residual heat from the pasta wilts the spinach in record time for a quick weeknight dinner.

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Casero testaroli with pesto

Casero testaroli with pesto

21 quick and easy dinners for a healthy pregnancy (12)

Photo credits: Francesca Zani and Johncarlo Zani

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Testaroli is a classic Italian pasta that is cooked in two steps: first it is baked in the oven, and then it is cooked until tender. Here we top it with a fresh basil and parsley pesto.Read more about Testeoli here.

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Pasta with spinach and artichoke sauce with chicken

Pasta with spinach and artichoke sauce with chicken

21 quick and easy dinners for a healthy pregnancy (13)

Photo credit: Jamie Vespa

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If you love spicy spinach artichoke dip, you'll love that we've turned this classic dip into a creamy chicken pasta dish. And almost as good as the taste of this comforting dish is the fact that this hearty dinner only takes 20 minutes to prepare.

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Creamy lemon pasta with prawns for two

Creamy lemon pasta with prawns for two

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21 quick and easy dinners for a healthy pregnancy (14)

Credit: Brie Passano

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This healthy dinner recipe is prepared in record time thanks to the quick preparation shrimp. The lemon juice brightens the sauce while the yogurt adds creaminess. This recipe has been adapted from our popularCreamy lemon pasta with prawnsserve two instead of four.

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Tabbouleh, Hummus and Pita-Teller

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21 quick and easy dinners for a healthy pregnancy (15)

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This Mediterranean-inspired vegan picnic dinner features traditional dishes like tabbouleh, hummus, olives, and fresh fruits and vegetables. It's perfect to pack and go or even serve as an easy and healthy meal at home.

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Peru Abobora Chile

Peru Abobora Chile

21 quick and easy dinners for a healthy pregnancy (16)

Credit: Caitlin Bensel

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Canned pumpkin adds a mild flavor to the bottom and works to thicken this Turkey Pumpkin Chili. Smoked paprika adds flavor with a hint of spice. This chili is thicker, if you want it thinner add a little more water.

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Spicy Chicken Noodles with Peppers and Onions

Spicy Chicken Noodles with Peppers and Onions

21 quick and easy dinners for a healthy pregnancy (17)

Photo credit: Kelsey Hansen

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Inspired by the flavors of fajitas, this hearty chicken noodle is bursting with color and flavor. We use a blend of chili powder, cumin, and chipotle powder to add warmth and flavor.

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Chicken and Vegetable Quesadilla

Chicken and Vegetable Quesadilla

21 quick and easy dinners for a healthy pregnancy (18)

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This easy quesadilla recipe uses canned cooked chicken to save time. You can also use leftover cooked chicken or turkey if you have it. Dice vegetables up to 1 day ahead for even faster prep.

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Chopped Cobb Salad with Chicken

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21 quick and easy dinners for a healthy pregnancy (19)

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This healthy chopped salad is a great way to use up leftover cooked chicken. You can reserve the remaining half of the boiled egg for a snack.

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Dish with ham, mozzarella and melon

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21 quick and easy dinners for a healthy pregnancy (20)

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This perfect picnic lunch for two is ideal for a night out or even a quick romantic dinner at home. Fresh fruit, vegetables and cheese can be perfectly combined with Prosecco to drink. Chocolate covered strawberries for dessert make the meal even more special.

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Sloppy Joes with meat and beans

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21 quick and easy dinners for a healthy pregnancy (21)

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This healthy copycat recipe of the comfort food classic swaps the beans for part of the meat to increase the fiber by 7 grams. We also reduced the sugar and ketchup in this Sloppy Joe recipe revision to remove 12 grams of added sugar.

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Zucchini soup with avocado and chickpeas

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21 quick and easy dinners for a healthy pregnancy (22)

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Flavor a can of soup by adding chickpea protein and seasoning with curry powder. Mix in some Greek yogurt to make it creamy.

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