15 Gut-Healthy Dinners You Can Make in 20 Minutes

a recipe photo of the No-Cook White Bean & Spinach Caprese Salad

Make dinnertime a breeze with these tasty dinners that take just 20 minutes to prepare! These dishes aren’t just flavorful, they can also help you support your gut health. A healthy gut can help promote healthy digestion, support immune health and even reduce pesky symptoms like fatigue and headaches. To meet our gut-healthy parameters, these recipes have at least 6 grams of fiber per serving, and are also made with prebiotics like legumes and potatoes and/or probiotic-rich ingredients like kimchi, miso and yogurt. You’ll want to try options like our No-Cook White Bean & Spinach Caprese Salad or Steak Enchilada Skillet for an easy and delicious dinner. 



01 of 15

No-Cook White Bean & Spinach Caprese Salad

a recipe photo of the No-Cook White Bean & Spinach Caprese Salad

This easy white bean and spinach caprese salad features the classic combination of juicy tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, fragrant basil and tangy balsamic vinegar, but adds tender white beans and fresh baby spinach to the mix. If you can’t find mozzarella pearls, cut or tear a fresh ball of mozzarella into bite-size pieces instead. If you like your salad with a little kick, try swapping out the spinach for arugula.

02 of 15

Vegan Coconut Chickpea Curry

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To make this 20-minute vegan curry even faster, buy precut veggies from the salad bar at the grocery store. To make it a full, satisfying dinner, serve over cooked brown rice. When shopping for simmer sauce, look for one with 400 milligrams of sodium or less and check the ingredient list for cream or fish sauce if you want to keep this vegan.

03 of 15

Steak Enchilada Skillet

Steak enchilada skillet recipe in a white and yellow skillet, with a wooden serving spoon in it

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Melissa Gray, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

This one-skillet dinner is a breeze to pull together, making it perfect for busy weeknights—plus it's easy to build and adjust to taste for picky eaters. Flour tortillas are cooked right in the skillet with everything else. Add them gradually to prevent them from sticking together. For a slightly different flavor and firmer texture, swap out the flour tortillas for corn tortillas.

04 of 15

Seared Scallops with Green Goddess Slaw

Seared Scallops with Green Goddess Slaw
Photographer / Jacob Fox, Food styling / Sue Mitchell, Food Styling / Kelsey Bulat

Avocado, yogurt and buttermilk lend creaminess to the herbaceous dressing coating this salad.

05 of 15

White Bean, Kale & Kielbasa Soup

15-Minute White Bean, Kale & Kielbasa Soup
Brie Passano

This quick soup recipe is done in only 15 minutes thanks to convenience products like frozen chopped onion and precooked kielbasa. You'll have a warming winter soup on the table in no time!

06 of 15

Black Bean Wraps with Greens & Cilantro Vinaigrette

Black Bean Wraps with Greens & Cilantro Vinaigrette
Jason Donnelly

A simple salad tossed with a tangy vinaigrette packs these no-cook wraps with tons of bright cilantro flavor. The mix pairs well with mashed beans and avocado, which hold everything together.

07 of 15

White Bean & Sun-Dried Tomato Gnocchi

White Bean & Sun-Dried Tomato Gnocchi in a skillet

Jacob Fox

Sun-dried tomatoes are the star of this recipe—providing texture and umami. Combined with the spinach, they make this dish a great source of vitamins C and K.

08 of 15

Black Bean-Quinoa Bowl

Overhead view of a white bowl of Black Bean-Quinoa Bowl recipe on a reddish brown tile tabletop

Photography: Carson Downing, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Gabe Greco

This black bean and quinoa bowl has many of the usual hallmarks of a taco salad, minus the fried bowl. We've loaded it up with pico de gallo, fresh cilantro and avocado plus an easy hummus dressing to drizzle on top.

09 of 15

Spinach, Lima Bean & Crispy Pancetta Pasta

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We opt for fresh spinach pasta here—it cooks quickly and adds a pop of color. Cooking lima beans in pancetta drippings infuses them with flavor.

10 of 15

Stuffed Sweet Potato with Hummus Dressing

Stuffed Sweet Potato with Hummus Dressing, low angle on a plate

Ali Redmond

Hearty yet simple to prepare, this stuffed sweet potato with black beans, kale and hummus dressing is a fantastic 5-ingredient lunch for one!

11 of 15

Chopped Salad with Chicken & Creamy Chipotle Dressing

Chopped Salad with Chicken & Creamy Chipotle Dressing
Photography / Jennifer Causey, Styling / Melissa Gray / Kay Clarke

This chopped salad with chicken is smoky and zesty thanks to the creamy chipotle dressing. Cilantro adds a pop of freshness to each bite.

12 of 15

Chickpea & Kale Toast

Chickpea & Kale Toast
Ted & Chelsea Cavanaugh

This healthy and delicious toast combines chickpeas, kale and feta for a savory bite that packs in plenty of fiber and protein.

13 of 15

Anti-Inflammatory Beet & Avocado Wrap

Overhead view of a blue plate of Anti-Inflammatory Beet & Avocado Wrap recipe ready to serve

Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

Packed with fiber and monounsaturated fats, avocados are one of the best foods to eat to fight inflammation. Combined with beets, which contain their own inflammation-fighting phytochemicals, you'll get a lunch that packs a healthy punch. The tahini-lemon mixture adds brightness and a nutty flavor to the wrap.

14 of 15

Black Bean & Slaw Bagel

Black Bean & Slaw Bagel
Ted & Chelsea Cavanaugh

This easy open-face sandwich recipe uses a jalapeño-Cheddar bagel, but a plain bagel would work just as well. Top each bagel half with black beans and fresh slaw for a satisfying bite.

15 of 15

Tabbouleh, Hummus & Pita Plate

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

Medically reviewed by
Jessica Ball, M.S., RD
Jessica Ball
Jessica Ball, M.S., RD, is nutrition editor for EatingWell. She is a registered dietitian with a master's in food, nutrition and sustainability. In addition to EatingWell, her work has appeared in Food & WineReal SimpleParentsBetter Homes and Gardens and MyRecipes.
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