Warm up on cold winter nights with one of these delicious, nutritious dinner recipes. Not only are these dishes low in calories and high in fiber, but they also boast at least 15 grams of protein per serving to help you feel full and satisfied.
Why is protein important for weight loss? There are several reasons, First, protein helps keep you fuller longer than, say, just eating carbs by themselves. Eating protein with your carbs also helps balance blood sugar so you’re less likely to get blood sugar spikes and the subsequent crash—and that “hangry” feeling.
Protein also helps maintain muscle mass (along with strength training). When you lose weight, it’s not just fat that you’re losing. You’re losing excess water and muscle mass—and muscle mass is exactly what you want to keep.
From our Lemon-Tahini Couscous with Chicken & Vegetables to our Creamy Fettuccine with Brussels Sprouts & Mushrooms, here are 11 healthy, tasty dinners to help you meet your nutritional goals.
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Split Pea Soup with Chorizo
For this easy slow-cooker split pea soup, look for raw smoky, spicy chorizo. If you can’t find raw chorizo, Italian sausage or merguez makes a fine substitute.
Creamy Fettuccine with Brussels Sprouts & Mushrooms
Sliced Brussels sprouts and mushrooms cook quickly and cling to the pasta in this version of pasta primavera. Look for presliced mushrooms to cut prep time. Serve with a tossed salad.
Lemon-Tahini Couscous with Chicken & Vegetables
When you want pasta in no time, couscous is your best friend! The tiny pasta balls cook up in just minutes and absorb all the water so you don’t have to fuss with draining. Tossed with sautéed vegetables plus leftover chicken, it’s a fast and tasty meal in a bowl that’s perfect as an easy dinner recipe.
Garlic-Herb Roast Pork Tenderloin with Parsnip Puree & Kale
Photography / Greg DuPree, Styling / Ali Ramee / Christine Keely
Here we blitz parsnips with milk and butter for a flavorful alternative to mashed potatoes to go with the pork and greens.
Easy Vegetarian Chili
Canned beans and tomatoes make this quick vegetarian chili recipe ready to go in just 30 minutes. Serve over rice or couscous, or with tortilla chips for added crunch, and add extra toppings as you see fit—sliced scallions, chopped fresh cilantro, diced avocado and sliced jalapeños are all tasty choices.
Pistachio-Crusted Chicken with Warm Barley Salad
Barley and pistachios give this healthy chicken recipe a double dose of nutty flavor. For an easy change-up, swap in your favorite whole grain, such as brown rice, farro or quinoa.
Easy Pea & Spinach Carbonara
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.
White Turkey Chili
This healthy white turkey chili recipe is gorgeous, with flecks of green from zucchini, oregano and green chiles. To keep the saturated fat low, we use 1 pound of ground turkey and add whole-grain bulgur to boost the volume and fiber in this chili recipe. After all the ingredients are added to the pot, we like to slowly simmer our chili for close to an hour to develop the best flavor, but if you’re in a hurry, reduce the liquid by half and simmer for 20 to 25 minutes.
Delicata Squash & Tofu Curry
This easy tofu curry, made with pretty delicata squash and hearty greens, cooks up in one skillet. To speed up the prep, use bagged chopped kale. Delicata squash’s thin skin is tender when it’s cooked, so there’s no need to peel—another time saver. Serve with quinoa or brown rice.
Sausage & Peppers Baked Ziti
This healthy baked ziti recipe doesn’t require any chopping and is made on the stovetop, so it is perfect for a busy weeknight dinner. Using whole-wheat pasta adds fiber—opt for penne if whole-wheat ziti is hard to find.
Florentine Lasagna Roll-Ups
Photography / Fred Hardy, Styling / Ruth Blackburn / Audrey Davis
Think portion control with these individual lasagna roll-ups that have that traditional lasagna taste in handy little bundles. Leftovers are great for lunch the next day.
