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Eating healthier isn't always easy to do—especially if you're feeding a hungry family! Ree Drummond herself embarked on a weight loss journey that led to a new way of eating, and she quickly realized that it's not just possible, but enjoyable, too! The first step is to arm yourself with these healthy dinner recipes. Here, you'll find tons of quick and easy healthy dinners, plus lightened-up versions of your family's favorite foods. Think: homemade meatballs made with ground turkey, crispy pork chops made in an air fryer, and tacos transformed into a fresh salad.
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
Turkey Meatballs
This lighter alternative to traditional beef or pork meatballs is just as tasty as the original. They're packed with moisture and lots of flavor. Plus, they can be tossed in marinara or served up with a dipping sauce.
Get Ree's Turkey Meatballs recipe.
2
Southwestern Salad
This refreshing salad is chockfull of mix-ins like black beans, cheese, avocado, and veggies. You can also top it off with grilled chicken or shrimp for even more protein.
Get the Southwestern Salad recipe.
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3
Garlic Shrimp
Eating healthy doesn't need to be boring! Just look that this garlicky shrimp for example. It's succulent and saucy and on the table in less than 30 minutes.
Get the Garlic Shrimp recipe.
4
Green Goddess Salmon Grain Bowls
These grain bowls are packed with healthy ingredients, like quinoa, avocado, roasted salmon, and veggies. But it's the herby green goddess dressing that'll have you coming back for seconds.
Get Ree's Green Goddess Salmon Grain Bowls recipe.
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5
BLT Turkey Burgers
Life is all about little indulgences like these lean turkey burgers made with bits of crispy bacon! They're perfectly balanced out by fresh veggies, avocado slices, and sweet potato fries on the side.
Get Ree's BLT Turkey Burgers recipe.
6
Eggplant Lasagna
Swap the noodles for slices of eggplant in this comforting casserole dish. Thanks to the meaty sauce and melty cheese, we promise your family won't miss a thing!
Get the Eggplant Lasagna recipe.
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7
Air Fryer Falafel
Falafel is typically made with chickpeas so it's a great source of protein for vegetarians (but non vegetarians will love it, too!). Making them in the air fryer ensures you get crispy falafel every time without having to deal with a pot of oil.
Get the Air Fryer Falafel recipe.
8
Tabbouleh
This fresh Mediterranean salad is all about the fragrant herbs! It makes for a healthy side dish to just about any course, salmon, chicken, shrimp, or steak.
Get the Tabbouleh recipe.
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9
Feta Meatballs with Zucchini Noodles
This fun twist on spaghetti and meatballs swaps the noodles for spiralized zucchini. They're tossed in lemon zest and lemon juice for plenty of bright flavor.
Get Ree's Feta Meatballs with Zucchini Noodles recipe.
10
Grilled Chicken Marinade
Grilling chicken is an easy way to get a healthy dinner on the table, but if you want to ensure juicy chicken every time, then you'll need a good marinade. This flavorful one includes soy sauce, garlic, brown sugar, lemon juice, mustard, and thyme.
Get the Grilled Chicken Marinade recipe.
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11
Turkey Meatloaf
This comforting childhood classic gets a lightened-up twist with lean ground turkey and sautéed mushrooms. It's super moist and perfect for serving alongside your favorite veggies.
Get the Turkey Meatloaf recipe.
12
Chile-Lime Steak Salad
If your family isn't interested in giving up red meat, you can still enjoy a steak dinner served over a healthy salad. It's refreshing, crisp, and little bit spicy.
Get Ree's Chile-Lime Steak Salad recipe.
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13
BBQ Salmon with Cucumber Salad
Don't let eating healthy stop you from enjoy the sweet and smoky flavors of BBQ. This dish uses flaky salmon as the main protein with a homemade barbecue sauce that doesn't have any unwanted additives.
Get Ree's BBQ Salmon with Cucumber Salad recipe.
14
Ratatouille
One of the best ways to eat healthier is to add some color to your table and this vegetable-based recipe will help you do just that! It has layers of eggplant, zucchini, summer squash, and tomatoes all artful arranged in a casserole dish.
Get the Ratatouille recipe.
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15
Instant Pot Chicken Breast
This quick-cooking chicken recipe will make weeknights a breeze. The lean chicken breast seasoned with lemon pepper, paprika and dried thyme stays nice and juicy thanks to the Instant Pot.
Get the Instant Pot Chicken Breast recipe.
16
Spicy Salmon Rice Bowls
The sweet and spicy sauce for these tasty salmon rice bowls combines soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, honey, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, and a bit of sriracha. So you know it isn't lacking flavor! Serve it with creamy avocado and crunchy cucumbers for even more freshness.
Get Ree's Spicy Salmon Rice Bowls recipe.
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17
Grilled Veggie Skewers
You'll feel like you're eating the rainbow with these colorful vegetable skewers. Serve them alongside your favorite cookout foods or use them as a topper for a hearty salad bowl. Just don't forget the balsamic dressing!
Get the Grilled Veggie Skewers recipe.
18
Panko-Crusted Pork Chops
These oven-baked pork chops have an extra crispy panko breadcrumb crust that tastes delicious alongside the smooth and creamy carrot mash. That's right: even the side dish for this pork recipe is healthy!
Get Ree's Panko-Crusted Pork Chops recipe.
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19
Coconut Shrimp Curry
You only need 20 minutes to whip up this shrimp curry recipe. It uses pantry ingredients like canned coconut milk, honey, and yellow curry powder to impart big, bold flavors.
Get Ree's Coconut Shrimp Curry recipe.
20
Lemon-Herb Chicken Thighs
This chicken recipe has a zesty marinade made with lemon, parsley, basil, and garlic. You can make it the night before to get a head start on your easy dinner.
Get Ree's Lemon-Herb Chicken Thighs recipe.