18 Heart-Healthy Dinner Recipes to Help Lower Cholesterol (2024)

One great way to prioritize your heart health is by keeping your cholesterol in check. High cholesterol can lead to plaque depositing in your arteries, making it harder for your heart to pump blood. Luckily for us, there are several foods that can help lower cholesterol, like salmon, beans, avocados, nuts and garlic. These dinners showcase these heart-healthy ingredients while being lower in sodium and saturated fat to help you meet your nutritional goals. Recipes like Butternut Squash & Black Bean Enchiladas and Slow-Cooker Chicken & White Bean Soup are so tasty that they will become regulars in your rotation.

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Slow-Cooker Chicken & White Bean Stew

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This load-and-go slow-cooker chicken recipe is perfect for a busy weeknight dinner. Serve this Tuscan-inspired dish with crusty bread, a glass of Chianti and a salad.

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Easy Pea & Spinach Carbonara

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Fresh pasta cooks up faster than dried, making it a must-have for fast weeknight dinners like this luscious yet healthy meal. Eggs are the base of the creamy sauce. They don't get fully cooked, so use pasteurized-in-the-shell eggs if you prefer.

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Roasted Salmon with Smoky Chickpeas & Greens

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In this healthy salmon dinner, you'll get a dose of greens and green dressing! Chowing down on 6 or more servings of dark leafy greens a week can help keep your brain in top shape. This dish features the Test Kitchen's current go-to method for doctoring a can of chickpeas: spice them up and roast until crispy.

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Red Lentil & Cauliflower Curry

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This cauliflower curry recipe also features red lentils, which turn yellow when cooked. Curry powder, onions, cumin and other seasonings give this vegetarian dinner tons of flavor. Serve over rice to complete the meal.

Carne Asada Tacos

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These flank-steak soft tacos are so tasty and easy, they should be in everyone's repertoire. Plus they're made with fresh corn tortillas (not fried) and topped with a quick homemade salsa made with avocado, tomato, onion and a bright squeeze of lime.

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Butternut Squash & Black Bean Enchiladas

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A crisp, citrusy slaw contrasts nicely with the enchiladas' creamy squash filling.

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Creamy Fettuccine with Brussels Sprouts & Mushrooms

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Sliced Brussels sprouts and mushrooms cook quickly and cling to the pasta in our fall version of pasta primavera. Look for presliced mushrooms to cut prep time. Serve with a tossed salad.

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Maple-Roasted Chicken Thighs with Sweet Potato Wedges and Brussels Sprouts

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This easy sheet-pan recipe brings together many fall favorites into a hearty dinner.

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Sheet-Pan Chili-Lime Salmon with Potatoes & Peppers

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Busy weeknights beg for something simple like this salmon sheet-pan dinner. Like the name suggests, it's all cooked on one pan. The potatoes get a head start, followed by sweet bell peppers and finally chili-coated salmon fillets. It's a complete meal with easy cleanup!

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Southwestern Three-Bean & Barley Soup

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Serve this zesty bean and barley soup garnished with chopped fresh cilantro and a squeeze of lime, if desired.

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Chicken Chili Verde

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Prepared salsa verde adds tang to this fast weeknight chili recipe and pairs beautifully with the rich caramelized chicken and creamy beans. Don't shy away from the poblano peppers. They offer a mild heat but deliver a depth of flavor you can't find in regular green bell peppers.

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Slow-Cooker Jambalaya

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This hearty jambalaya is bursting with chicken, smoked turkey sausage, and shrimp. It takes just 25 minutes to prep in the morning and then your slow cooker will work its magic and deliver a tasty meal at the end of the day.

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Garlic Roasted Salmon & Brussels Sprouts

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Roasting salmon on top of Brussels sprouts and garlic, flavored with wine and fresh oregano, is simple enough for a weeknight meal yet sophisticated enough to serve to company. Serve with whole-wheat couscous.

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Vegetarian Stuffed Cabbage

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Though traditional stuffed cabbage recipes are made with meat, here Savoy cabbage leaves are stuffed with a combination of rice, mushrooms, onions, garlic and herbs for a healthy vegetarian stuffed cabbage recipe. The stuffed cabbage leaves gently bake in a simple tomato sauce. This easy stuffed cabbage recipe can be made ahead of time and baked just before serving.

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Sheet-Pan Chicken Fajitas

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One sheet pan is all you'll need to whip up these zesty chicken fajitas. They're quick and easy to make and cleanup is even faster!

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Sweet Potato & Black Bean Chili

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Make a double batch of this quick vegetarian chili, full of black beans and sweet potatoes, and eat it for lunch the next day or freeze the extras for another night. We love the smoky heat from the ground chipotle, but omit it if you prefer a mild chili. Serve with tortilla chips or cornbread and coleslaw.

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Lentil Burgers

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Walnuts and fresh marjoram accent these vegan lentil burgers. Substitute oregano for marjoram if you like. Serve with a smear of whole-grain mustard and roasted sweet potato wedges.

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Chicken & Spinach Skillet Pasta with Lemon & Parmesan

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This one-pan pasta that combines lean chicken breast and sautéed spinach for a one-bowl meal is garlicky, lemony and best served with a little Parm on top. I call it "Mom's Skillet Pasta" and she called it "Devon's Favorite Pasta." Either way it's a quick and easy weeknight dinner we created together and scribbled on a little recipe card more than a decade ago, and it remains in my weekly dinner rotation to this day. It's a simple dinner the whole family will love.

18 Heart-Healthy Dinner Recipes to Help Lower Cholesterol (2024)

FAQs

What is the best dinner for high cholesterol? ›

Cholesterol-friendly recipes
  • Indian winter soup. ...
  • Spaghetti with sardines. ...
  • The ultimate makeover: Fish pie. ...
  • Squash & barley salad with balsamic vinaigrette. ...
  • Seeded oatcakes. ...
  • Easy chicken casserole. ...
  • Devilled tofu kebabs. ...
  • Chargrilled turkey with quinoa tabbouleh & tahini dressing. A star rating of 4 out of 5.

What is the single best food to lower cholesterol? ›

The 13 Best Foods to Lower Cholesterol
  1. Oats and Oat Bran. bit245 / Getty Images. ...
  2. Almonds. Javier Zayas Photography / Getty Images. ...
  3. Berries. Westend61 / Getty Images. ...
  4. Walnuts. Arx0nt / Getty Images. ...
  5. Beans. Janine Lamontagne / Getty Images. ...
  6. Avocados. Westend61 / Getty Images. ...
  7. Flaxseeds. ...
  8. Cocoa Products.
Mar 1, 2024

What are heart-healthy foods for high cholesterol? ›

plenty of vegetables, fruit and wholegrains. a variety of healthy protein-rich foods (especially fish and seafood), legumes (such as beans and lentils), nuts and seeds. Smaller amounts of eggs and lean poultry can also be included in a heart-healthy eating pattern.

What can I cook if I have high cholesterol? ›

Prepare fish baked, broiled, grilled or boiled rather than breaded and fried, and without added salt, saturated fat or trans fat. Non-fried fish and shellfish, such as shrimp, crab and lobster, are low in saturated fat and are a healthy alternative to many cuts of meat and poultry.

What pasta is good for high cholesterol? ›

Whole-grain pasta or pasta alternatives like chickpea pasta or lentil pasta can help to lower cholesterol levels.

What is the golden drink that lowers cholesterol? ›

Golden milk, also known as turmeric milk, is a common Indian drink that has recently been gaining popularity in western cultures due to many health claims. It's beautiful bright yellow color is a result of adding turmeric, along with spices such as cinnamon and ginger, to milk.

What are the six super foods that lower cholesterol? ›

Add these foods to lower LDL cholesterol
  • Oats. ...
  • Barley and other whole grains. ...
  • Beans. ...
  • Eggplant and okra. ...
  • Nuts. ...
  • Vegetable oils. ...
  • Apples, grapes, strawberries, citrus fruits. ...
  • Foods fortified with sterols and stanols.
Mar 26, 2024

What foods clear out cholesterol? ›

Oatmeal, oat bran and high-fiber foods

Soluble fiber is also found in such foods as kidney beans, Brussels sprouts, apples and pears. Soluble fiber can reduce the absorption of cholesterol into your bloodstream. Five to 10 grams or more of soluble fiber a day decreases your LDL cholesterol.

What can I drink to flush out my cholesterol? ›

Cholesterol is often high due to excessive saturated and trans fat consumption. There are certain drinks that can help maintain an ideal cholesterol level. Some of the best drinks for cholesterol management include green tea, pomegranate juice, citrus juice, soy milk, plant-based smoothies, and red wine.

What is the cardiac diet menu? ›

The plan should include plenty of lean protein, vegetables, fruits and whole grains. Limit high-fat foods such as red meat, cheese and baked goods. Also limit foods that are high in sodium such as sandwiches, pizza, soup and processed foods. Cut back on foods and drinks with added sugar too.

What foods break down cholesterol in arteries? ›

A healthy diet rich in nutrient-dense foods may help reduce your risk of developing clogged arteries. Adding foods like cruciferous vegetables, fish, berries, olive oil, oats, onions, greens, and beans to your diet may be an effective way to prevent atherosclerosis.

What can I eat out if I have high cholesterol? ›

Limit Meat

If you're choosing between steak and fish on the menu, go with fish, which is high in heart-healthy omega-3s. Better yet, look for foods made from tofu or beans—high in soluble fiber, they can help lower cholesterol levels. “It's all about eating a balance of nutritious foods,” Dr. Steen says.

Are potatoes bad for cholesterol? ›

Potatoes are rich in soluble fibre, which can be consumed by high cholesterol patients without any confusion. Consuming potatoes not only maintains the cholesterol level, but the body also gets many health benefits.

What is the best meat to eat to lower cholesterol? ›

If you have high cholesterol, you should talk with your doctor about what you eat, including meat. There are good, lean choices. For example, you can consider chicken or turkey breasts without skin; pork tenderloin; or beef round, sirloin, or tenderloin. Avoid highly processed meats (bacon, ham, lunchmeat, etc.).

What meat can I eat with high cholesterol? ›

If you have high cholesterol, you should talk with your doctor about what you eat, including meat. There are good, lean choices. For example, you can consider chicken or turkey breasts without skin; pork tenderloin; or beef round, sirloin, or tenderloin. Avoid highly processed meats (bacon, ham, lunchmeat, etc.).

What is the number one breakfast for high cholesterol? ›

1. Oatmeal. A 44-gram serving of steel-cut oaks packs 4 grams of dietary fiber. Oatmeal contains soluble fiber, which attaches to LDL cholesterol in your digestive tract and helps remove it from your body.

What fast food is good for high cholesterol? ›

If you're looking for more cholesterol-friendly menu options, you have a wider selection at some fast food establishments. For instance, instead of burgers and fried chicken, you can select foods such as grilled chicken, fresh sandwiches, low-fat wraps, or healthy ingredients stuffed into a pita pocket.

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