Healthy Dinner Recipes

Happy New Year! The most popular goal in January is to eat healthier, so I’m here to help with over 75 healthy dinner ideas! Eating healthier often isn’t a lack of motivation but a lack of ideas and therefore a lack of planning. These FLAVORFUL, healthy dinner ideas will not only help you maintain your New Year’s resolution but get you excited about dinnertime!

Now just a quick note before we dive in – my recipes are meant to be family friendly and don’t follow any specific dietary plan. In this roundup, I’ve included recipes that don’t need much or any adaptations to make them “healthier” but you can ALWAYS adapt my other recipes not included here. Some simply healthy swaps would be using ground turkey instead of ground beef or Italian sausage (plus 1 TBS beef bouillon), using turkey bacon instead of bacon, using Greek yogurt instead of sour cream or mayonnaise, using evaporated milk instead of heavy cream, or spaghetti squash or zoodles instead of pasta.

Without further ado, I bring you healthy dinner ideas you will LOVE!



 

Chicken Marinades

Serve these healthy, flavorful chicken recipes with a side of veggies or in salads, wraps, sandwiches, rice bowls, etc.

Everything Else!

Cilantro Lime Chicken Taco Salad

I couldn't stop eating this Cilantro Lime Chicken Taco Salad!  Its bursting with tender, juicy chicken and the sweet & tangy Creamy Baja Catalina Dressing is out of this world delicious!  This combo is pure heaven!

Crockpot Salsa Verde Chicken Tortilla Soup

a bowl of slow cooker chicken tortilla soup garnished with sour cream, avocados, cilantro and tortilla strips

Blackened Fish Tacos

Mind blowing Blackened Fish Tacos with a quick marinade and the most flavorful spice rub! These are hands down the BEST FISH TACOS ever! And the sweet and tangy Pineapple Cucumber Slaw and Avocado Crema hit this one out of the park! seriously better than my favorite restaurant!

Buffalo Chicken Salad

top view of Buffalo Chicken Salad in a white bowl with best buffalo chicken, blue cheese, celery, carrots, avocado, red bell peppers and lettuce

Chicken and Broccoli

Egg Drop Soup

top view of a ladle full easy Egg Drop Soup recipe

Crockpot Mexican Chicken

Easy Slow Cooker Shredded Mexican Chicken simmered with Mexican spices, salsa and green chilies for the BEST Mexican chicken perfect for tacos, burritos, tostadas, salads, etc. Couldn’t be any easier!

Chicken Gyros

Cabbage Soup

Chili Lime Chicken Tacos

Chili Lime Chicken Tacos with refreshing sweet and smoky Grilled Pineapple Salsa, oozing Jack cheese and silky Avocado Crema are crowd worthy but easy enough for everyday.

Chinese Chicken Salad

up close top view of crunchy chinese chicken salad with mandarin oranges, napa cabbage, wontons, carrots, snow peas, red bell peppers and sesame ginger dressing

Cajun Honey Mustard Chicken

Chicken Fajitas

easy Skillet Chicken Fajitas - these are the BEST chicken fajitas! the marinade is seriously the best I've ever tried - better than any restaurant! My family LOVES these this filling so much we also use it for filling in burritos, enchiladas and salads!

Turkey Tacos

picking uo a healthy turkey taco with one hand

Greek Chicken Souvlaki

best chicken souvlaki on skeweres

Crockpot Pork Carnitas

these are the BEST Pork Carnitas (Slow Cooker Mexican Pulled Pork) I have ever tried! Super juicy, easy and so much more flavorful than other versions I've tried and the crispy burnt ends are the best! Great for large crowds and for tacos, burritos, or nachos!

Thai Basil Chicken

Chipotle BBQ Chicken Salad

Best Baked Fried Chicken

Cajun Salmon with Mango Salsa

far away side view of cajun salmon in a green bowl with Pineapple, mango avocado salsa

Doner Kebabs

Chicken Stir Fry

Cauliflower Soup

top view of easy cauliflower soup in a white soup pot with a ladle.

Fiesta Lime Chicken

Chili Dijon Pork Tenderloin with Potatoes and Green Beans

Sheet Pan Chili Dijon Pork Tenderloin with Green Beans and Potatoes all baked on ONE PAN! This is the most tender pork I have ever had and the tangy sweet and spicy flavors are out of this world!

Asian BBQ Salmon

sweet and tangy Asian BBQ Salmon dripping with flavor but one of the easiest meals to throw together! Delicious enough for company, easy enough for everyday.

Turkey Taco Stuffed Avocados

Lemon Pepper Chicken and Asparagus

top view of lemon pepper chicken and asparagus in a skillet

Tom Yum Soup

Cajun Chicken Black Bean Bowls

30 Minute Cajun Chicken Bowls bursting with avocados, black beans, sweet potatoes and pineapple!  These are spicy, fresh, healthy and ADDICTING!  

Kung Pao Chicken

top view of kung pao chicken in a white skillet garnished with green onions

Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajitas

top view of shrimp fajitas in oven with rice, black beans, sour cream

Grilled Caprese Chicken Salad

Grilled Caprese Chicken Salad with the most incredible balsamic marinated chicken, fresh tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, grilled asparagus, creamy avocado and crispy bacon all drizzled with Creamy Balsamic Reduction Dressing. Out of this world! #summersalad #springsalad

Miso Chicken Noodle Soup

30 MINUTE Miso Soup recipe bursting with chicken, noodles and vegetables swimming in a steaming hot, savory, salty broth is a meal-in-one all made in ONE POT!

Sheet Pan Italian Chicken Sausage and Peppers

Chicken Tortilla Soup

How to freeze Chicken tortilla soup by letting to cool to before freezing

Tandoori Chicken

top view of authentic tandoori Chicken with Indian rice and roasted tomatoes

Shrimp Tacos with Mango Salsa

Cilantro Lime Shrimp Tacos with Mango Salsa and Avocado lined in a row on a brown cutting board

Chicken Adobo

Chicken Burrito Bowls

Turkey Chili

up close shot of a ladle scooping up turkey chili

Baked Greek Salmon with Dill Sauce

top view of baked salmon fillets with dill sauce for salmon

Caribbean Shrimp Avocado Salad

Al Pastor

top view of a line of tacos al pastor with a hand grabbing one of the tacos

Minestrone Soup

a far away shot of a big scoop of traditional Minestrone Soup Recipe

Yakitori (Baked or Grilled)

Buffalo Chicken Tacos

Buffalo Chicken Tacos are bursting with flavor from the incredible chicken and the Blue Cheese Cilantro Ranch is to die for! Always a crowd pleaser!

Mango Salad with Chili Lime Chicken

top view showing how to make mango salad by adding mangos, lettuce, chicken, cucumbers, red bell peppers and cashews to a salad bowl

Potato Leek Soup

Honey Dijon Glazed Chicken

Sweet, Spicy and Tangy Honey Dijon Glazed Chicken is quick and easy and packed with flavor! The chicken thighs are rubbed in spices, cooked under the broiler for 10 minutes and glazed with the most incredible sauce!

Slow Cooker Fajita Chicken

Slow cooker Fajita Chicken Recipe | Carlsbad Cravings

Jerk Shrimp

Greek Chicken Salad with Tzatziki Dressing

top view of Greek Chicken Salad with yogurt dressing in a white bowl with tomatoes, olives, cucumber, red onions and Greek Chicken

Teriyaki Chicken Tacos with Pineapple Pear Salsa

Teriyaki Chicken Tacos smothered with the BEST easy teriyaki sauce and piled with Grilled Pineapple Pear Salsa will be your new favorite taco! Company worthy but everyday easy!

Turkey or Chicken Wild Rice Soup

Greek Gyro Flatbread Pizza

Chicken Gyro Flatbread Pizzas – these are amazing and SO quick and easy! An explosion of flavors and textures with the most flavorful Greek Chicken and easy Blender Tzatziki! Great for lunch/dinners or for appetizers and entertaining!

Teriyaki Chicken Salad

Teriyaki Chicken Salad - This salad is to live for! Packed with refreshing pineapple, macadamia nuts and coconut all doused with the most AMAZING Pineapple Sesame Dressing and the Sweet Chili Teriyaki Chicken is incredible! But my favorite part is you drizzle the leftover Teriyaki glaze all over the salad! Definitely a keeper!

Lentil Curry

top view of lentil curry in a bowl with white rice and cilantro

Pork Tacos with Corn Salsa

Chicken Shawarma

Tuscan Chicken Skillet

Chipotle Salmon with Mango Salsa

top view of bakes salmon in foil with mango salsa

Moo Goo Gai Pan

Grilled Lemon Basil Chicken Salad

15 Minute Shredded Chicken Tacos

Spicy Korean Chicken

Mahi Mahi Fish Tacos

Vietnamese Noodles

top up close view of Vietnamese noodle with rice noodles, lemongrass chicken, shredded carrots, julienned carrots, bean sprouts and snow peas

Cilantro Lime Shrimp Zucchini Boats

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4 Comments

  1. Suzy says

    So excited when I opened my inbox this morning and saw this email. I am trying to eat healthier and pick less processed items this year so can’t wait to continue following you. Your recipes are my family’s favorite! Cheers!

    • Jen says

      Thanks so much Suzy! My recipes are full of comfort food and healthier fare so it’s nice to have the healthy options all in one place! I definitely have some more healthy recipes coming your way so stay tuned!

  2. MaryAnn Coy says

    In Boston Ground Chicken and Chicken Italian Sausage are now available. Ground chicken isn’t all that flavorful, so it can using kicking up with lot’s of seasonings. A good choice for Taco Burger, or Spaghetti Bolognese or any spicy cuisine dishes, where you wish to lower the fat content. Lot’s of great recipes here, although I have to lower the sodium for medical reasons. All part of living healthier.

    • Jen says

      Thanks so much for the tips MaryAnn! It’s all about elevating those substitutions with seasonings! Wishing you a Happy New Year!