One of the healthiest diets in the world is also the most delicious. Here are all the best Mediterranean diet recipes to get you cooking!
Mediterranean Bowl
Try thisMediterranean Bowl, bursting with colorful veggies! It’s a simple “meal in a bowl” that stars spiced roasted vegetables, seasoned with an irresistible mix of cumin, coriander, garlic and a hint of cinnamon. Add to that quinoa or couscous, fresh cucumber and tomato, and top it all off with a creamy lemon tahini sauce.
7 Ingredient Lentil Soup
Lentils are common in Mediterranean diet recipes: they're loaded with plant-based protein. This soup is ideal for easy dinners: it's only 7 ingredients, plant-based, perfect for meal prep, and extraordinarily delicious. If you’re looking for easy, healthy budget-friendly Mediterranean diet meals: this one's a game changer.
Easy Lemon Salmon
The salmon is roasted right on top of actual lemon slices and butter, which bakes into a sauce that you can spoon over the tender fish. Seasoned with a little dill and garlic powder, you can broil the top to get it lightly crisp after baking. It’s so simple and one of our new favorite ways to cook up this tasty fish!
Falafel Salad
Here’s an irresistible Mediterranean diet recipe: thisFalafel Salad! Make a batch of this easybaked falafel, then layer them with crunchy veggies and top with a creamy, zingy tahini dressing. Or, use purchased frozen falafel or even repurpose take-out leftovers! This one is a massive hit with our family: and works for weeknights or dinner parties.
Easy Shrimp and Rice Skillet
Here’s a Mediterranean Diet recipe with your name on it! Juicy shrimp sit atop a bed of fluffy rice flavored with garlic, dill and spinach. Give it a good sprinkling of feta cheese and a few spritzes of lemon juice, and it’s truly a revelation. We’re always in need of a good 30-minute weeknight meal, and this one hits the spot in so many ways.
Baked Tilapia with Lemon
Here’s a Mediterranean diet recipe with a total wow factor: thisBaked Tilapia with Tomatoes & Feta! The tender, flaky fish is covered in a lemon garlic sauce, cozied up with burst cherry tomatoes, Mediterranean seasonings and gooey bits of feta cheese. Each bite is savory with just the right pop of brightness. It’s ready in just over 30 minutes and great for impressing on weeknights or dinner parties.
Mediterranean Tuna Salad
Here’s a healthy lunch or dinner idea to spice up your routine: Mediterranean tuna salad! This spin adds crispyMediterranean-styleveggies and swaps out the classic mayonnaise for olive oil and vinegar. The flavor is so fresh and delicious, you may give up the mayo version altogether. Eat with crusty bread, gluten-free crackers, or make it into lettuce wraps.
Moroccan Chickpea Stew
This Moroccan stew recipe is one of our top Mediterranean diet recipes we refer to people who want to eat more plants. Why? It’s ultra flavorful, with a blend of Moroccan spices that’s truly irresistible! It’s full of nutrient rich vegetables: sweet potatoes,chickpeas, tomatoes and spinach.
Quick Hummus Bowls
Hello and welcome to the best quick Mediterranean diet recipe idea: theHummus Bowl! At it’s base, this simple concept requires no cooking at all: layer a dollop of hummus with crunchy veggies and greens. To make it more filling, add cooked rice (leftoveror from a pre-cooked rice packet). It takes just 5 minutes to make thisMediterranean-style mealthat’s bursting with creamy, tangy, crunchy, fresh, and savory flavors.
Greek Chicken
Here’s a recipe that’s a total winner every night of the week:Greek chicken. We’re suckers for colorful one pot recipes, and thisMediterranean diet mealhas charisma in spades. Bake the chicken with tomatoes, olives, garlic, lemon, and feta cheese, and it comes out with beautiful bold flavors.
Eggplant Rollatini
Here’s a delightful Italian eggplant dish that makes dinnertime more special:Eggplant Rollatini! It’s like a combination ofeggplant Parmesanandlasagna roll ups. Tender strips of eggplant are wrapped around a creamy three-cheese filling, then baked in homemade tomato sauce and more cheese.
Sauteed Shrimp
Shrimp is a lean protein that's low calorie and perfect for the Mediterranean diet. The tender, juicy savory flavor is so remarkable, you won’t be able to stop taking bites. Here’s our top seasoning blend and exactly how to make sauteed shrimp in just 10 minutes.
Loaded Hummus Dip
Here’s a Meditteranean diet recipe that’s ideal for snacks or entertaining:Hummus Dip! This one even doubles as a tasty snack or a light dinner with a few other filling appetizers. Spread hummus on a platter or in a bowl, then top with cool cucumber, tomatoes, olives, artichokes and feta cheese.
Easy Veggie Wrap
In need of lunch ideas? Try this easyveggie wrap recipe! Veggie wraps can be bland and boring, but this one is anything but. Fill a tortilla with savory chickpea salad, colorful veggies, and a tasty spread, and you’ve got a lunch that will make everyone jealous! Here’s how to build a veggie wrap that’s full of flavor.
Pesto Chicken
Here’s a great way to use it to make a Mediterranean dinner recipe:Pesto Chicken! Combinebasil pestowith a bit of cream and it makes a stunning fresh sauce for juicy chicken breasts! It’s a quick trick that makes an everyday dinner into something special, perfect for entertaining or just an easy weeknight meal.
The word salad doesn’t even really come close to describing the taste treat that is the traditional French Nicoise salad.Hard boiled eggs, green beans, Kalamata olives, tomatoes, tuna, and tangy potatoes sit on crunchy lettuce with a zestylemon vinaigrettethat makes you want to keep eating it for days. It’s filling enough to be a main dish, and it’s got the best carefree vibe.
Quinoa Stuffed Peppers
Here's a favorite Mediterranean diet recipe that makes for a tasty vegetarian dinner recipe. Roast those multi-colored bell peppers until they're tender, then stuff them with the flavors of the Mediterranean. The quinoa filling features shallot and garlic, pistachios, parsley, paprika, oregano and lemon. Sprinkle that with a healthy handful of feta cheese, and you've got dinner.
Spanish Paella
This traditional Spanish rice dish is actually easy to make at home: we promise! You don't even need a fancy pan: a large skillet will do. Smoked paprika adds an earthy flair to the rice, which is topped with veggies, artichokes and shrimp. It's a stunning recipe for entertaining, but easy enough for a weeknight.
Also try: Easy Vegetarian Paella
Easy Kale Soup
This kale soup is one of our favorite Mediterranean recipes, and it's done in only 30 minutes! Hearty Tuscan kale, white beans and tomatoes float in a tangy broth flavored with oregano and fennel. It’s like a combination of all your favorite soup recipes in one bowl: comforting and full of boldMediterranean-style flavors.
Mediterranean Couscous Bowls
These Mediterranean diet couscous bowls recipe is a common repeat in our dinner recipes repertoire. Why? In just 25 minutes, you have a fresh bowl of delicious vegetables that’s smothered in atangy lemon tahini sauce. This one is a truly tasty way to eat your veggies. If you'd like, substitute couscous for awhole grainlikequinoaorbrown rice. It would also be tasty with Greek salad dressing.
Grilled Chicken
You know it’s easy to make grilled chicken breast that tastes dry and bland? Here’s how to make grilled chicken so it comes out juicy and perfectly seasoned every time!We’ve figured out the trick to an ultra-moist piece of chicken that melts in your mouth: and it takes just 2 minutes to do.
Healthy Pizza with Arugula
Is pizza a Mediterranean diet recipe? When it's this healthy pizza, it is! It starts with ourEasy Thin Crust pizza dough. Then it's slathered with our tangy, garlickyEasy Pizza Sauce. Top that with caramelized peppers and onions, fresh arugula, and a handful of grated Parmesan cheese. It's SO flavorful and turns out with only ⅓ the calories of a typical delivery pizza!
Simple Red Lentil Soup
Lentils are one of nature’s wonders: they’re full of protein, shelf stable for years, inexpensive, and make for some of the most satisfying filling meals. Try this simpleRed Lentil Soup! It’s deliciously hearty, featuring aromatic vegetables, lemon and a hint of smoked paprika.
Spinach Tortellini Soup
This hearty tortellini soup has a lightly sweet depth that makes you want the bowl to be never-ending. Doughy pillows of tortellini float in a tangy, tomato broth seasoned with Italian herbs and Parmesan cheese. It’s loaded up with nutrient-dense spinach and tender vegetables like carrot and fennel, which add nuance and crunch. Sprinkle with Pecorino Romano cheese and it’s a total triumph.
Honey Garlic Salmon
Looking for delicious salmon recipes? When it comes to flavor and simplicity, thisHoney Garlic Salmonrecipe delivers. The salmon is pan fried for a brown, seared exterior, then baked in the oven until it’s perfectly tender. Drench it all in this stickyhoney garlic sauce, a sweet savory glaze that adds layers of complexity.
Quick Shrimp Stir Fry
Here’s a go-to in the fast and easy dinner category:shrimp stir fry! It’s quick to put together and the umami-packed stir fry sauce is full of irresistible flavor. It’s our favoriteEasy Stir Fry Saucethat works with any type of stir fry. This recipe fits the Mediterranean diet by piling on colorful vegetables with protein-packed seafood.
This white bean shakshuka recipe is a tasty Mediterranean diet recipe that works for brunch or dinner! Shakshuka is a dish of eggs poached in a tomato sauce that originates from Middle Eastern and Mediterranean regions. This one features white beans and bell peppers, and is sprinkled with feta cheese. It's so tasty, and comes together in just over 30 minutes.
This Mediterranean veggie sandwich was inspired by our recent trip toItaly. While in Pisa, we went to a sweet little sandwich shop and had a sandwich like this. The bread is spread withbasil pestoandKalamata olive spread, and then it’s filled with grilled eggplant, juicy ripe tomatoes, and fresh mozzarella. It’s pretty darn delicious, if we do say so ourselves.
Chicken Piccata
Here’s a classic dish that impresses every time:chicken piccata! Tender, golden-brown chicken cutlets are bathed in a vibrant lemon-butter sauce with pops of briny capers. Don’t be intimidated by its fancy name; this chicken piccata recipe is surprisingly simple to make at home!
Shrimp Fra Diavolo
Looking for easy Mediterranean dinner recipes? TryShrimp Fra Diavolo! This Italian-style dish stars tender shrimp that swim in a garlicky, spicy tomato sauce. “Fra diavolo” translates to “brother devil” in Italian, alluding to the intense heat of this dish. But make it homemade and you can customize the spiciness to your taste!
Garbanzo Bean Salad
Thisgarbanzo bean salad is the ideal Mediterranean diet recipe, and it's so quick and tasty! It’s perfect for lunches or as a side dish, packed with protein and filled with zingy, herby and fresh flavors.
Quinoa Tabbouleh
There’s something about the combination of herbaceous parsley, bright lemon and crunchy tomatoes and cucumber that makes magic. Traditional tabbouleh is made with bulgur wheat, a quick cookingwhole grain. But seeing as quinoa is the grain of the moment…why not try it with quinoa? Turns outQuinoa Tabboulehworks perfectly, making a delicious gluten free spin on this classic Lebanese and Greek salad.
Easy Grilled Tilapia
If you’re looking for a healthy seafood recipe that fits into the Mediterranean diet: here’s the one! The flaky fish is bursting with savory, smoky flavor from the grill. Top it with sweet and tender blistered cherry tomatoes, and it looks simply stunning.
Greek Salad
There's nothing that says Mediterranean diet more than a great Greek salad! The combination of tomatoes, cucumbers, red onion, Kalamata olives, and salty feta is pure perfection.
Cozy White Bean Soup
Try thiswhite bean soup, full of humble ingredients and huge flavor! Tender white beans float in the cozy broth with soft potatoes and leafy kale. Lemon zest lends brightness and tarragon brings an herby nuance. It’s made of 100% vegetables and tastes hearty and satisfying.
Pesto Salmon
Ready for the perfect Mediterranean sauce to add life to baked salmon? Try thispesto salmon! Bright green pesto goes hand in hand with tender baked fish to make a stunning dinner. Because really: what isn’t better with a little pesto on top? The savory, garlicky sauce makes the flaky fish pop: you’ll already be taking your second bite before finishing the first.
Pasta e Ceci (Italian Chickpea Soup)
This pasta and chickpea soup is full of big Mediterranean flavors: intense vibrant tomato, leafy Tuscan kale, and a creamy broth made with Parmesan rind. Swimming in it all are the chickpeas and pasta of the soup’s title, making it hearty and filling.
Easy Lentil Salad
Here’s a top-notch lentil recipe to add to your arsenal, and man is it tasty. This fresh and healthy lentil salad isMediterranean-style, mixed with fresh veggies and feta cheese. It’s a tasty way to add protein to a vegetarian meal as a side dish, or bring to work as a lunch throughout the week.
Easy Mahi Mahi
Got a fillet of mahi mahi? Try this easymahi mahi recipe! It’s simply pan-fried with lemon, garlic and herbs until it’s tender and juicy. This popular fish makes a splash with simple preparations like this one: it’s got a short ingredient list and is quick to whip up as a tasty main dish. Add a sauce if you’d like, and experience the magic of pure, simple mahi mahi.
Easy Grain Bowl
Bowl meals are popular because they're one of the easiest ways to turn random ingredients into ahealthy dinner! A good grain bowl has to be well-seasoned, and play up contrasts in color, texture and flavor. This one features Mediterranean vegetables, quinoa and a zingy tahini sauce.
Couscous Salad
Here’s a salad that’s about as delightful as they come: this fresh and herbyCouscous Salad! It’s an ideal way to useIsraeli couscous, those delightfully chewy pasta spheres. Throw it together with fresh dill and mint, garlic, lemon and a pile of vegetables, then sprinkle with salty feta. Take a bite and it’s irresistibly fresh and savory: we couldn’t stop eating it! This deli-style Israeli couscous salad works for lunch or picnics, or as a colorful side for fish, chicken or the grill.
Pan Seared Scallops
Scallops have a beautiful, mild sweet flavor that’s easy to love: and there’s nothing better than that perfect seared crispy outside. It takes a little know how to get that golden brown crust without under cooking or overcooking them. But once you know a few secrets…they're simple and take only 5 minutes to cook.
Easy Baked Shrimp
Thisbaked shrimp issoeasy and the shrimp come out juicy and perfectly seasoned with Mediterranean flavors like garlic and herbs. Move over, all other shrimp recipes! This one is the perfect healthy, fast and easy dinner.
Asparagus Risotto
Creamy, savory, crunchy, and zingy: this asparagus risotto is trulysublime. Roast up some asparagus with lemon at the same time that you’re stirring up a creamy risotto on the stovetop. Then throw the tender bright green asparagus into the risotto, right along with the lemon.
Barley Salad with Lemon
Here’s a uniquegrain saladthat you won’t be able to resist: tryBarley Salad! Whole grain barley isn’t often the star in a salad; typically trendier grains likequinoaandfarrorein supreme. But its chewy texture and nutty flavor are the perfect contrast to crunchy veggies, garlic, herbs, and lemon olive oil dressing.
Best Chickpea Burgers
These chickpea burgers full of whole foods are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a hint of nuance from smoked paprika. Style them however you like: we like to paint them with BBQ sauce and top with shiitake bacon and spicy mayo.
Fried Tilapia
When it comes to easy and healthy weeknight meals, fish is ideal: it cooks quickly and it’s full of protein and omega 3s. So why not try another way to make it taste amazing: thisPan Fried Tilapia! Coat the white fish fillets in seasonings and flour and pan fry them in a bit of olive oil. The tilapia comes out savory and tender with a light crispy coating: in minutes! Spritz with lemon wedges and it’s the perfecteasy dinner ideawith a few simple sides.
Go-To Quinoa Salad
Here’s a workhorse Mediterranean diet salad that’s fresh, delicious and ultra versatile: this deli-styleQuinoa Salad! There are loads of ways to make a salad with this fluffy grain and after experimenting for years, we’ve foundthe one. This recipe is delightfully refreshing, a jumble of crunchy, colorful veggies, fluffy quinoa grains, and a zingy Dijon mustard vinaigrette. It's great as a lunch or dinner side dish!
Marinated Shrimp Skewers
Try these go-toMarinated Shrimp Skewers! The flavors are bold, savory, and penetrate the tender, juicy flesh in a way that a simple seasoning can’t. Throw together a few pantry ingredients, no chopping required. Even better, this marinade is versatile and works with any cooking method:grilled,sautéed,bakedand more.
Tuna Cakes
Need mealtime inspiration? Here’s an easy healthy Mediterranean diet dinner that is always a massive hit in our house:Tuna Patties! Also known as tuna cakes, these unassuming burgers made of canned tuna might sound humble. Butau contraire: they’re so savory on the inside and golden crispy on the outside, you won’t be able to resist another bite! This recipe is spiced with Old Bay, parsley and Dijon mustard, and it’s a total treat.