20 Weeks of (different!) Lightened-Up (Healthy!) Dinners.
The happiest of the new years to you!
Since you may be in massive dinner planning mode with the new year, I wanted to share a ton of my favorite meals. These are the meals that we constantly eat for dinner – the ones on permanent rotation. These are what I consider some of my favorite healthier meals – the meals that we go to when salad and chicken are just way too boring. For me, healthy dinners can still include things like moderate amounts of cheese and brown brown and heck, even a little bacon every now and then. If those don’t jive with you, feel free to leave them out, swap them for something else or just use this list as some general inspiration for the new year. I didn’t include anything extra super cheesy… but a little here and there? YES.
For the last few weeks, I’ve been trying to really plan our meals in advance and be prepared ahead of time with LOTS of variety. That’s what keeps us excited. I hope to carry it over into the new year so we don’t end up eating something for dinner that I really prepped at 10AM for photography purposes.
Feel free to share any of your go-to dinner ideas in the comments below. I’m alllll about new and exciting dinners.
1. autumn veg burgers with apple cider slaw
2. mushroom and chicken noodle soup with poached eggs
3. roasted tomato caprese panzanella
4. grilled corn, mushroom + roasted poblano tacos
5. bbq salmon + crispy chickpea salads
6. crockpot turkey quinoa meatballs
7. stuffed peppers in tomato basil sauce
________
2. toasted coconut tilapia with pom salsa
3. chipotle lime chicken skewers with avocado cream
5. lightened up beef enchiladas
6. grilled watermelon caprese salads
7.whole goat cheese roasted chicken
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1. pineapple cashew fried rice
3. roasted tomato, tuna and white bean cups
5. sweet potato quinoa cakes with blackberry salsa
6. tilapia burgers with watermelon salsa
7. zucchini breakfast skillet with poached eggs
________
1. toasted sesame ginger salmon
2. roasted red pepper bean burgers
3. caramelized shallot, spinach and goat cheese pasta
4. springtime veggies skillet lasagna
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2. whole wheat pasta + our favorite crockpot tomato sauce
3. black bean + sweet potato tacos
4. apple bacon stuffed sweet potatoes
5. creamy tomato soup with garlic brown butter croutons
7. thai curry pomegranate chicken
_________
3. mushroom melts with homemade dijon
5. spicy parmesan shrimp skillet
6. red wine risotto with caramelized mushrooms
7. coconut crusted baked chicken fingers with peach honey mustard
2. grilled greek chicken salad
3. whole roasted chipotle lime chicken
5. crockpot springtime minestrone soup
________
1. grilled blueberry chicken skewers with coconut rice
2. whole wheat fontina portobello pizza
3. smoky white bean chicken chili
4. roasted grape stuffed sweet potatoes
5. thai butternut squash lettuce wraps
6. grilled blueberry bbq salmon
7. skillet chicken with peppers and peanuts
_________
1. one pot chicken tortilla soup
2. roasted garlic + veggie tostadas
3. red wine marinated flank steak with caprese salad
4. double bean quesadillas with avocado cream
6. creamy tomato chicken pasta
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2. spinach and artichoke linguine
4. shrimp burgers with chipotle cream + coconut peach salsa
5. cheesy chicken and rice bake
6. brussels sprouts breakfast hash
7. black bean + cornbread panzanella salad
2. buttermilk almond crusted chicken fingers
3. coconut lime tilapia tacos with kiwi salsa
4. thai steak salad with roasted chili mango vinaigrette
5. sweet potato + crispy kale pasta
6. roasted chicken noodle soup
7. buffalo style quinoa sliders with sweet corn + scallions
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1. honey ginger chicken tostadas with pom salsa
3. honey roasted vegetable pasta
4. double bean burgers with avocado cream
5. brown sugar whole roasted chicken
7. chickpea curry with coconut rice
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1. chicken salad with corn and greek yogurt
5. toasted sesame chicken quinoa
7. 20 minute turkey taco nachos
2. layered autumn quinoa salad
4. smoky chicken tacos with goat cheese queso
7. roasted corn caesar salads with greek yogurt dressing
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5. tequila lime chicken + black bean burritos
6. whole wheat shrimp flatbreads
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2. whole wheat roasted red pepper pizza
4. lightened up chicken enchiladas
5. pan crisped salmon with light dijon cream
6. roasted jalapeño cheddar turkey burgers
7. whole wheat chicken lasagna
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2. brown butter garden vegetable pasta
7. broiled shrimp with tomatoes, basil and brie
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1. crab cake sliders with pineapple kiwi salsa
4. chicken enchilada stuffed peppers
5. light sesame chicken skillet
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2. crispy salmon + basil noodles
3. coconut baked shrimp with pineapple peach salsa
6. sweet potato chili cheese rounds
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1. blt salad with corn, feta + avocado
3. crispy honey lime tilapia with blueberry salsa
4. portobello fajitas with fontina queso
5. cheesy black bean stuffed sweet potatoes with poached eggs
6. pecan crusted chicken wraps with strawberry honey mustard
54 Comments on “20 Weeks of (different!) Lightened-Up (Healthy!) Dinners.”
I love all these recipes! Unfortunately, I think I may have made the same thing twice only 1 time in the 1 year that I have been married….I’m always to busy creating new recipes and don’t have enough days in a week to make ones we have already had before. So sad, because some of them my face would like to taste again! All of these look like must-tries though, thank you for the inspiration! :) Happy New Year!
Wow, that’s a lot of reading and I will enjoy every minute of it! Happy New Years to you Jessica!!
OMG! So many amazing recipes! I could spend the entire day pinning them : ) Happy 2014!
Well, this list just saved my life in 2014. Thank you, thank you! :)
This is awesome. One of my new years resolutions is to make a new recipe each week, so this certainly helps. Thanks!!
I’m bookmarking this post for permanent reference…there are so many fantastic ideas here! That toasted sesame ginger salmon is now on tonight’s menu.
Happy New Year, gorgeous!
So many recipes! Lots to choose from & lots of variety — thanks!
Whoaaaaa organization!! This is so fun!
One of my new year resolutions is to master a new home cooked meal – this post will serve as great inspiration!
:-)
Great ideas and it’s nice to see what you make and eat on the regular. And I think being prepared and organized is the key. For budgets (b/c going to the groc store every day b/c I forgot 1 thing ends up to 10 things, replayed over and over every week) and then time mgmt and then as you said, to avoid the 10am photography shoot dinner. Yeah. I hear that!
What a great list of recipes! I am trying to get back on track with meal planning and eating healthy after the holidays and I am totally going to use this for inspiration!
It just doesn’t get any
better than seeing the gorgeous “Mrs. Anita Pelaez” over at her and her
husband “Captain Kutchie’s” place..Some Folks Also Call Him..”The
KutchMan others call him The Kutchmon!”…Most Just Call Him “The Most
Interesting Man In The World”….(Anita and Kutchie Pelaez’s Key West, Key
Lime Pie Factory and Grill)…Just watching the lovely couple baking together all those Yummy
Key Lime Pies at their Key Lime Pie Factory and Grill in Asheville.
…It’s always worth the trip to visit them in they’re Historic Key Lime
Pie Factory and Grill…It should be on everyone’s bucket list for
sure..And The World’s Best Key Lime Pies!..YUM-YUM-YUM…..”Talk About
World Class” What An Understatement!…….AAHHHHH!….The Magic Of The
Lovely..”Mrs. Anita Pelaez” And Her Delicious Key Lime Pies Baked With
Pure Love…Always……40 Years And They’re Still Going Strong….
….May GOD Continue Blessing “Anita And Kutchie Pelaez” and They’re World
Famous Key Lime Pie Factory And Grill Where The Personalities, Ovens And
Smiles Are Always Warm And Inviting. “Kutcharitaville” You’re The Best We Love You!….
…Now You Know Who Is The Hottest!…And Baby Let Me Tell You, Mrs. Anita Is No Act…She’s The Real Thing Baby!…
….Located Near The Biltmore House And Estate…..
….Who Could Ask For Anything More?…Anita’s Key Lime Pie…(Hell Yes!)
….Just Think, Kutchie’s Goody Goody Cheese Burgers, The Original Cheese Burgers In Paradise!
….That Alone Is Quite A Pretty Big Deal If You Ask Me. ….”Hell”,..It’s A Pretty Big Deal Even If You Don’t Ask Me.
Guess my dinner planning is done. Thank you!
I made your toasted gnocchi with scallions and corn last night and it was so delicious! Thank you for making my NYE scrumptious!
What a great round up of recipes! Perfect for a healthy New Year!
SUCH an amazing list! Pinning!
Yay! I’ll definitely be referring to this over the next few weeks :) Happy New Year!
I just made the Reset Button Salad from Shutterbean and Sausage, Kale, and Black Eyed Pea Soup from Bev Cooks. Both healthy and delicious! And bonus! – The beets in the salad turned my hands bright pink so that’s a dream come true.
What a great list! Thanks! ;)
Happy New Year!!!
Happy new year, lovely lady. Those meals are wonderful, and perhaps you included this, but never discount a good ole slice of toast with mashed avocado on top!! YUM
One of my favorites that my mom used to make that is super simple is Sausage, Peppers, Apples and Onions. I always have a package or 2 of Polsa Kielbasa in the freezer for whenever I need something simple, quick and delicious.
I package Polsa Kielbasa or other smoked sausage sliced into rounds
1 large green or red bell pepper (or 1 small one of each color) chopped
1 large onion chopped
2 small red or green apples chopped
In a large skillet over Med heat, brown the sausage. Add the green pepper and saute covered (I like to use a glass lid so I can still see the contents) for a couple minutes adding water to create a bit of steam as needed (shouldn’t need more than 1/4 cup). Add the onion and saute for a couple more minutes. Add the apples and saute until just soft. Remove the lid for the last couple of minutes to let excess moisture evaporate. Serve over brown or white rice with a salad on the side.
I’m bookmarking this post as you have made our dinner planning so easy! Thank you!
THANK YOU! Love the recipes…I am now able to make our meals way more interesting, with ingredients I regularly buy!. I can’t wait to make Thai Crunch Chicken Salad, Homemade Healthy Fish Sticks, Thai Beef Tacos and all the enchiladas!
Such good recipes!
Thanks for sharing, it’s a good way to eat clean and still have food that taste good.
{Teffy’s Perks} X
Well this is absolutely amazing. Thank you Jess!
Hi, just curious what recipe is pictured in the second group of pictures, the one with the green onions on the top? Everything looks amazing!
thai chicken quinoa!
http://www.howsweeteats.com/2013/02/thai-chicken-quinoa-bowl/
I love seeing some of your recipes collected in a list like this. I’ll be making a few of these during my last week of break, since we’re all sweets-ed out in my house!
YES. Thank you!!!
This will be a dinner reference for me from now on, thank youuuu!! Happy 2014!!
Hi Jessica, Thanks for all of the recipes! When is your cookbook coming out?
Happy New Year! Thanks, Kim
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Can you just come and cook these for me? kthanksbye (happy new year! ♥)
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You and your website are amazing and make my meal planning so much easier than it used to be. Thank you! (My husband thanks you too.)
Great list!! Pinning this for the future.
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This year starts with the wide variety of dinner recipes.. Thanks for sharing it.. I don’t have to think for my dinner recipe for the next 20 weeks…
This is like, the best post I have ever come across. Thanks for sharing!
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what’s the recipe for the very first picture in this post? the item in the little white bowls with the white sauce on top. thanks!
I think it is the three bean chili pot pies! I wondered the exact same thing and hunted it down!
http://www.howsweeteats.com/2012/10/three-bean-chili-pot-pies/
So many great recipes! I love it when you can take a solid protein in one meal and roll it into a couple different meals. Happy New Year.
Wowzer! What an epic list. Only got about 10 recipes deep before I started drooling. Have bookmarked a bunch. Thanks!
Thank you for this post Jess! It has been so handy for us and has really livened up our weeknight dinners. This week we are looking forward to trying your Cream Tomato Chicken Bake.. yum!
Holy shiz, this is an amazing list – thank you so much for sharing it! Can’t wait to start trying these :)
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Patti Salmon-It’s Me Again Margaret!
Hey Y’all, Here is a little update for y’all.
Keep eating Captain Kutchie Pelaez’s World Famous Key Lime Pies and those Yummy Yummy For You’re Tummy “Roast Prime Ribs of Beef” and I’ll keep my fingers crossed that you will win yourself a Cool Million Dollars in the Captain’s Monthly Giveaway.
The infamous “Chef Captain Kutchie Pelaez”.! That’s it!! I just got it!…It just popped into my head, right-out of the blue!
I can’t believe that we have all been so stupid for the past 20 or so years about something that was right in front of our noses. Elder, you hit the nail on the head! Can’t you all see it?..Elder called the mystery key lime pie man “The Infamous Captain Kutchie Pelaez”. Can all of you Morons see it now? It’s just Brilliant, just Brilliant Elder. Elder called Kutchie Pelaez…..”The INfamous Captain Kutchie Pelaez”!!!..INFAMOUS! That’s It!!! INFAMOUS, INFAMOUS Means
More than FAMOUS!
Captain Kutchie Pelaez is MORE than FAMOUS, He’s more than famous, he is INFAMOUS! And that’s pretty DAMN SMART if you ask me. HELL, that’s “INSMART”. Captain Kutchie Pelaez is more than FAMOUS, Captain Kutchie Pelaez is MORE THAN SMART!….Pardon all the dots, no they’re not some kind of secret code or anything that I know of.
The One really Big Thing that none of these crazy posts ever comments about are The Million’s of Dollars that the Infamous Captain Kutchie Pelaez gives away to his lucky Prime Rib eaters every month. We usually only hear about his famous cheese burgers in paradise but the man’s Prime Ribs in Swamp Water are the best thing that I have ever put in my mouth! The finest Prime Ribs this side of Heaven, they will melt in your mouth. Our whole family goes over to Kutcharitaville at least twice a week for Captain Kutchie’s amazing Prime Ribs. Also we can enter the contest for the monthly million dollar give away every month. My cousin won a million dollars last year. His wife won a new Jaguar car
two months later. I won a car before Christmas and you talk about nice. It was INNICE!…that means it was more than nice.
Y’all keep eating at Captain Kutchie’s and keep you’re fingers crossed whenever you enjoy Kutchie’s World Famous Roast Prime Ribs of Beef and Key Lime Pie and just maybe, if you’re lucky you might win yourself a cool Million Dollars!
Like Chef Captain Kutchie Pelaez of The World Famous Kutchie’s Key West Kutcharitaville always used too say was “Size really does Matter cuze nobody really want’s a small Burrito! The Captain Kutchie also used too say is we’ve been smoken the Good Stuff since 1976 and for you’d too Keep the Faith Babbie’s!
My husband Stan and me we’re told by Captain Kutchie himself just last month that he had been thinking about wrapping apple wood smoked bacon all around his world famous Prime Ribs before roasting them. All of a sudden Stan blurts out What the Fuck are you attempting too do too the Finest Prime Ribs Ever? After a little while and giving the idea quite a bit of though it started too sound like a Delicious Thought too the both of us and we wished Captain Kutchie good luck with his latest endeavors. Please tell everyone that you guys know and for them too tell everyone that they know to do likewise and for everyone too just get Online and lets see once and for all, just what everyone thinks about Captain Kutchie Pelaez’s Big New Idea’s about His World Famous Prime Ribs of Beef. We are quite sure that Yankee Jack will be chiming in on Kutchie’s New Big Idea.
Chewbacca Bye Bye, Keep the Faith Baby!
Will the Royal Baby win The Kentucky Derby?
Better Yet, Who really Gives a Shit?
That Rep. Jerry Nadler (D) NY, Rag Head llhan Omar (D) Minn, Alex Ocasio-Horetez (D) NY, Ayanna Lesbo Pressley (D) Mass.., Rashida Tlaib (D) Mich., Al Green (D) Tx., Pocahantas Vermont Tribe with Bernie Sanders, Nervous Nancy Cookville Calf., Rachel Madnow (MSNBC), Robert De Negro (NY), Shifty Schiff Cookvill Calf., El Chapo, Bozo O’ Rourke (Who Cares)., Maxine Impeach Waters Cookville Calf., Woopi Goldbrick (ABC)., Joy Blowhard (ABC)., Rainny Hostin (ABC)., Juan Williams (FOX NEWS)., Adoff Hilter (HELL)., Hell-They’re All really some kind of Commie’s ? Impeach Them NOW!!! Oh, I forgot one, The Rev. Al Not-So-Sharpton, very interesting butt Also Very Stupid!
Let’s Send them all to the moon for the next 50 Years!
What would Chef Captain Kutchie Pelaez Say?
Well, He would probably say something like “No Soup For You!!!”. “Come Back 50 years”. Or something like for all those “Politicos” “Stay Away From Those Manholes” and he would say “Don’t Get None On Ya!”.
Anyway, we sure-do still agree with all those “Kutcharitaville and Chef Captain Kutchie Pelaez Reports that everyone has been posting for the last 25 years or however long this internet thing has been going on. Captain Kutchie has been World Famous way longer than this stupid internet for damn sure. You can take that to the bank, Thats’ GOLD Jerry it’s GOLD! Or put it in your pipe and smoke it.
He would also say, All of today’s Anti Trumpers are mad because, they were promised by The Dragon Lady HerSelf “Hillary Clinton” a leading Membership in Hillary’s 666 New World Order!
What makes all these Racist, Commie Leftest Liberal Wannabee everything for nothing AssHoles and they’re Scum Sucking Pig, Fake News Chicken-Shit, Ass Licking Fake Reporters think that they can outsmart our “Lord Christ Jesus”? Hillary, your lord Satan was defeated way back on The Cross and yet, YOU, continue to deceive and recruit all those weak souls that you can fool too follow you back home straight too HELL!
Please don’t hold all this garbage against me and Captain Kutchie but It is what it is.
Bye, Bye, Y’all
Oh, One more thing that I have to share with all you, Hello Nice People, A very long time ago even before I had even got married and way before we had even heard about “Chef Captain Kutchie Pelaez”or “Kutcharitaville” for that matter, That good looking SOB, my husband Stan told me that many years ago he had read an article in “Playboy Magazine” written by “The Infamous Chef Captain Kutchie Pelaez.”In that article “Chef Captain Kutchie Pelaez” was en lighting his readers’ about The Perks of being born in this millinimon, 1. The elixir of the human race “BUTTER”. Always add a good sized dab or two!
2. “PUSSY”. It’s what makes the world go around, get ya some today, it’s soooo GOOD! 3. “EJACULATION”…Now that’s the yummy-yummy sticky stuff better known as baby batter. Share some with the one you love. It’s also the stuff that we are talking about when we say “Don’t get none on ya.”. How’s hat grab you? How do you like them Apples?
And would someone out there, Please tell that “Moron” Tom Steyer the difference between a Democracy and a Republic. Thanks for that. He always wants to give head to head with the president, What? Donald Trump isn’t that kind of guy, perhaps he should get himself a date with good old “Mayor Pete”, I hear that his door swings that way.
I See you later alligators. Thanks for you’re time, it’s been a blast!……Patti
Always remember Chef Captain Kutchie Pelaez’s Homemade “Yummy Yummy” Sauce. It’s Soooo Damn Good!
OK-I-C-U-2 -OK-U-C-ME-2?Hey-I-C-Lester Holt-2!
Oh, Oh, I feel more of those Piegasams coming on! Oh, they feel so damn good Ahhh!
“Any Question’s !!!!!!!!! “
Por que vista? No bueno en el papel!
Roberto jesus vincindinero