Sticking to your New Year's resolutions throughout the year isn't always easy, especially if your goal is to eat healthier. Hey, we get it! You start off in January with plenty of smoothies and salads on repeat, then life gets busy, things happen, and sometimes we're faced with indulging in a big, juicy cheeseburger—and that's okay! The key is to keep a few healthy dinner ideas in your weekday repertoire from time to time. Take it from Ree Drummond, who started a weight loss journey that led to a new way of eating. "Feeling good is really all that matters," she says about her progress.
So, what makes for a healthy dinner? The answer can be different depending on the person. Some might opt for a low-calorie meal, while others prefer a menu packed with lean protein or even a vegetarian dinner. The important thing to remember is that the nutritious dinner ideas you'll find here are still every bit as satisfying as the more indulgent recipes you know and love—they're just tweaked a bit to ensure you and your family are getting the fuel needed to power through the week ahead. These ideas really run the gamut, like a simple salmon recipe and a fun twist on pizza night involving a new crust made with a creative cauliflower recipe. There are also healthy ground beef recipes, grilled chicken dinners, and easy nourishing soups for every night of the week.
Looking for more ways to eat lighter this year? Try our healthy lunch recipes and healthy breakfasts that your family will actually enjoy!
1
Air Fryer Salmon
Don't let a busy work week stop you from eating healthy. This recipe for making salmon in the air fryer only takes 10 minutes. Serve it up with a quick side salad and rice or brown rice depending on your preferences.
Get the Air Fryer Salmon recipe.
2
Cauliflower Crust Pizza
Have fun with your dinner by making a healthier twist on pizza tonight! This crust is made with cauliflower so it's lower in carbs, but just as delicious.
Get the Cauliflower Crust Pizza recipe.
3
Chickpea Salad
Fresh veggies shine bright in this colorful salad. The chickpeas are a good source of protein, but if you're looking for more, you can serve it up with grilled chicken or fish.
Get the Chickpea Salad recipe.
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4
Coconut Chicken Curry
Healthy and comforting? Yes, please! The warm flavors of curry meet creamy coconut broth in this easy chicken dinner.
Get the Coconut Chicken Curry recipe.
5
Baked Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are highly nutritious and packed with fiber so they're perfect for a healthy side dish. But you can also make them a meal in itself by topping them with your favorite chili.
Get the Baked Sweet Potatoes recipe.
6
Harvest Bowl
This is the type of grain bowl we love to eat—one that's filled to the brim with lots of tasty mix-ins. Here, you'll find chicken, veggies, wild rice, along with apples and nuts.
Get the Harvest Bowl recipe.
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7
Cauliflower Steak
These veggie "steaks" are a fun way to add something healthy to the dinner table. Lemon-pepper seasoning gives them a bright kick, but you can also top them with a drizzle of pesto!
Get the Cauliflower Steak recipe.
8
Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup
Something as creamy and flavorful as this butternut squash soup feels utterly indulgent, but it's surprisingly healthy, too! Swapping heavy cream for coconut milk even makes it vegan-friendly!
Get the Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup recipe.
9
Buffalo Chicken Meatballs
Add these lean ground chicken meatballs to your list of healthy game day foods. The buffalo sauce is packed with spicy flavor and the cool cucumber salad makes it a feast for the senses.
Get Ree's Buffalo Chicken Meatballs recipe.
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10
Veggie Burger
You won't believe how good this veggie and grain-packed patty is for dinner. We're not saying you have to give up meat, but we are saying you should give this a try!
Get the Veggie Burger recipe.
11
Stuffed Zucchini
The filling for these zucchini boats is made with ground sausage so it's hearty enough to keep you fueled up during the week. Plus, it's a great way to use up a surplus of zucchini!
Get the Stuffed Zucchini recipe.
12
Cauliflower Fried Rice
Here's another way to turn cauliflower into a weeknight dinner: make it into fried rice! The riced cauliflower is a lower carb alternative that's so simple to make!
Get Ree's Cauliflower Fried Rice recipe.
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13
Easy Taco Salad
Here's a fun twist on taco Tuesday: make it a taco salad instead! The big bowl of greens is loaded with ground beef and your favorite taco toppings for a healthier take on tacos.
Get the Easy Taco Salad recipe.
14
Slow Cooker Turkey Chili
Not all healthy recipes need to be salads! This slow cooker chili made with lean ground turkey is cozy, comforting and perfect for a healthy winter recipe.
Get the Slow Cooker Turkey Chili recipe.
15
Greek Salad with Chicken
Add a hearty protein, like grilled chicken, to this classic Greek salad and it becomes a meal in itself. It's refreshing, filling, and just dang good.
Get Ree's Greek Salad with Chicken recipe.
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16
Spicy Shrimp Stir Fry with Zucchini Noodles
If you've never tried zucchini noodles before, prepare to be amazed! The spiralized zucchini looks just like noodles and it makes the perfect low-carb base for this shrimp stir fry.
Get Ree's Spicy Shrimp Stir Fry with Zucchini Noodles recipe.
17
Baked Salmon
You can't go wrong with baked salmon. Serve it up with cauliflower rice, leafy greens, or your favorite vegetable side dish.
Get the Baked Salmon recipe.
18
Homemade Chicken Burgers
Ground chicken gets a bad rap for being bland, but that's not the case with these homemade chicken burgers! They're packed with sour cream for moisture and topped with buffalo sauce for plenty of flavor.
Get the Homemade Chicken Burgers recipe.
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19
Turkey Swedish Meatballs with Cauliflower Mash
With just two simple swaps, you'll have a lightened up meal in no time. First, the meatballs are made with lean ground turkey, then the potatoes are subbed out for low-carb cauliflower.
Get Ree's Turkey Swedish Meatballs with Cauliflower Mash recipe.
20
Grilled Chicken with Zucchini Noodles
You can find pre-cut zucchini noodles in many grocery stores these days, but you can also make your own by shaving zucchini with a vegetable peeler into ribbons.
Get Ree's Grilled Chicken with Zucchini Noodles recipe.
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
As an expert and enthusiast, I have access to a wide range of information on various topics. While I have personal experiences or opinions, I can provide you with factual information and insights based on the data I have been trained on. Now, let's dive into the concepts mentioned in this article.
New Year's Resolutions
New Year's resolutions are personal goals or commitments that individuals make at the beginning of a new year to improve themselves or their lives in some way. They are often related to health, fitness, personal development, or lifestyle changes. Many people set resolutions to eat healthier, exercise more, quit smoking, learn a new skill, or achieve specific goals. However, sticking to these resolutions throughout the year can be challenging for some individuals.
Healthy Dinner Ideas
This article provides a variety of healthy dinner ideas. These ideas include recipes that are lower in calories, packed with lean protein, vegetarian-friendly, and incorporate nutritious ingredients. Here are some examples mentioned in the article:
- Air Fryer Salmon: This recipe allows you to make salmon in the air fryer, which takes only 10 minutes. It can be served with a side salad and rice or brown rice.
- Cauliflower Crust Pizza: A healthier twist on pizza, this recipe uses a cauliflower crust that is lower in carbs but still delicious.
- Chickpea Salad: This colorful salad features fresh veggies and chickpeas as a good source of protein. It can be served with grilled chicken or fish for additional protein.
- Coconut Chicken Curry: A healthy and comforting option, this recipe combines the warm flavors of curry with a creamy coconut broth.
- Baked Sweet Potatoes: Sweet potatoes are highly nutritious and packed with fiber, making them a great healthy side dish. They can also be topped with chili to make a complete meal.
- Harvest Bowl: This grain bowl is filled with tasty mix-ins like chicken, veggies, wild rice, apples, and nuts.
- Cauliflower Steak: These veggie "steaks" are a fun and healthy addition to the dinner table. They can be seasoned with lemon-pepper or topped with pesto.
- Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup: Creamy and flavorful, this soup is surprisingly healthy. It can be made vegan-friendly by using coconut milk instead of heavy cream.
- Buffalo Chicken Meatballs: Made with lean ground chicken, these meatballs are packed with spicy flavor. They can be served with a cool cucumber salad.
- Veggie Burger: This veggie and grain-packed patty is a delicious alternative to meat burgers.
- Stuffed Zucchini: Zucchini boats filled with ground sausage make for a hearty and nutritious meal [[11]].
- Cauliflower Fried Rice: This recipe uses riced cauliflower as a lower-carb alternative to traditional fried rice [[12]].
- Easy Taco Salad: A healthier take on tacos, this salad is loaded with ground beef and various toppings [[13]].
- Slow Cooker Turkey Chili: Made with lean ground turkey, this chili is cozy, comforting, and perfect for a healthy winter recipe [[14]].
- Greek Salad with Chicken: Adding grilled chicken to a classic Greek salad makes it a filling and refreshing meal [[15]].
- Spicy Shrimp Stir Fry with Zucchini Noodles: This recipe uses spiralized zucchini noodles as a low-carb base for a flavorful shrimp stir fry [[16]].
- Baked Salmon: Baked salmon is a versatile and healthy option that can be served with various side dishes [[17]].
- Homemade Chicken Burgers: These chicken burgers are packed with sour cream for moisture and topped with buffalo sauce for flavor [[18]].
- Turkey Swedish Meatballs with Cauliflower Mash: Lean ground turkey is used to make these meatballs, and the potatoes are substituted with low-carb cauliflower [[19]].
- Grilled Chicken with Zucchini Noodles: Zucchini noodles can be used as a low-carb alternative to pasta, and grilled chicken can be added for a complete meal [[20]].
These are just a few examples of the healthy dinner ideas mentioned in the article. Each recipe offers a different combination of ingredients and flavors to cater to various preferences and dietary needs.
Remember, it's important to consult with a healthcare professional or registered dietitian for personalized dietary advice and to ensure that any dietary changes align with your specific needs and goals.
