No one told me when I signed up for this whole being a mom business that I would also be responsible for somehow creating nutritious meals every night that my family would actually want to eat. Where was that written in the job description?? Thankfully for me somewhere along this whole being a mom way, I learned to love cooking. So please allow me to help you out with these super easy 10 unique and healthy dinner recipes that your whole family will love and thank you for. You are (and your hungry family) welcome.
HOMEMADE VEGGIE PIZZA
I’ve never met a kid that did not love pizza. However, this unique and healthy dinner recipe contains tons of veggies.
INGREDIENTS
1 cup of low-fat mozzarella cheese shredded
1 zucchini, sliced in long thin pieces (you may pre-roast if you’d like)
1 yellow summer squash, sliced in long thin pieces (you may pre-roast if you’d like)
½ green, yellow or red pepper, sliced thin
A small handful of cherry tomatoes halved
1 Premade Pizza dough from your local market
1 teaspoon olive oil
Dry Italian season
Your favorite low-fat pizza sauce
DIRECTIONS:
Stretch and roll dough at room temperature. Grease sheet pan with extra virgin olive oil. Place dough on a sheet pan (any shape is ok; it doesn’t have to be a circle!).
Brush olive oil around dough edges. Top dough with pizza sauce, then cheese and then sprinkle with Italian seasoning around evenly, and then top with vegetables. Personalize each quadrant of pizza as you and your family wish. Cook at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until cheese is melted and the dough is golden brown. Cut and serve.
PASTA PRIMAVERA
It is a super simple American dish made with penne pasta and tons of roasted vegetables.
INGREDIENTS:
16 oz cooked penne pasta
1 yellow summer squash
1 cup of tomatoes, halved and quartered
1 green, yellow or red pepper, sliced
½ cup broccoli florets
½ cup onion, sliced
½ cup of reserved pasta water
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
Shredded Parmesan
Salt and pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS:
Add vegetables to a large skillet and toss with extra virgin olive oil. Cook at medium-high heat until vegetables are softened. Add reserved pasta water, stir. Add seasonings and cooked pasta. Simmer for 5 minutes and serve. Top with shredded parmesan.
TURKEY MEATLOAF…WITH A VEGGIE SURPRISE
This healthy version of your grandma’s meatloaf has a hidden surprise.
INGREDIENTS:
1-1/2 pounds lean ground turkey
3/4 cup panko bread crumbs
3/4 cup ketchup, divided
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 egg, scrambled
½ cup carrots, finely chopped (or pureed)
½ cup of spinach, finely chopped (or pureed)
½ cup of cauliflower, finely chopped (or pureed)
DIRECTIONS:
Add all ingredients (leave some ketchup aside) to a large bowl and mix. For a loaf shape on a sheet pan or use a loaf pan. Cover top of the loaf with remaining ketchup. Cook at 350 degrees for 45 – 60 minutes or until done.
MAC & CHEESE WITH BROCCOLI
A fun and interesting take on one of our family’s favorite healthy dinner recipes with a vegetable boost!
INGREDIENTS:
16 oz elbow macaroni noodles – cooked to packaged directions
16 oz low-fat Cheddar Cheese
1 1/2 cups of low-fat milk
1 cup of broccoli florets
1 Tablespoon of Flour
1 stick of butter
Salt and Pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS:
Cook pasta to package directions, drain and rinse
In a large pot, melt butter over medium heat
Add flour and stir constantly until the mixture becomes golden brown
Add milk slowly and stir over medium/low heat
Cook mixture until a thin gravy consistency (this is your roux)
Add cheese slowly over low heat, stir until melted
Add broccoli and stir
Salt and pepper to taste
Add noodles slowly and stir
NOT FRIED CHICKEN STRIPS
This is my kid’s all-time favorite any day of the week dish. It’s super easy to make and takes very little time. Plus, every time I make it, I feel like a hero since the kids love it so much!
INGREDIENTS:
3 chicken breasts
½ cup bread crumbs
½ cup panko
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon garlic powder
1 egg, scrambled
salt and pepper to taste
Vegetable oil spray
DIRECTIONS:
Mix bread crumbs, panko and seasonings in a bowl. Slice chicken into ½ thick strips and dip into egg, then crumb mixture. Lay parallel on a sheet pan and lightly spray with vegetable oil spray. Cook at 400 degrees for 15 minutes, flip and continue to cook for 5-7 minutes or until done.
GRILLED STEAK & VEGGIE SALAD
Hands down, my all-time favorite lunchtime meal.
INGREDIENTS:
½ pound flank steak (or any protein of your choosing)
1 ½ cups of romaine lettuce
A handful of cherry tomatoes halved
½ red onion, sliced thin
1 hardboiled egg, chopped
1 zucchini, sliced sideways and grilled
1 portabella mushroom, grilled
Your favorite low-fat vinaigrette dressing
DIRECTIONS:
Mix vegetables in a serving bowl and place grilled steak on top, drizzle with dressing and serve.
TACO LETTUCE WRAPS
Let the family go wild with their own personalized toppings and they won’t even mind the missing tortillas. This is one healthy dinner recipe win!
INGREDIENTS:
1 pound lean ground beef
1 package low-salt taco seasoning
1/3 cup of water
1 head of butter lettuce leaves, separated
Optional Toppings: shredded cheese, diced tomato, avocado
DIRECTIONS:
Cook ground beef in a large skillet until done. Add seasoning and water, stir. Bring a simmer and cook for 3-4 minutes. Spoon meat seasoning into butter lettuce leaves cups. Add it with toppings.
ROASTED CHICKEN, TURNIPS, CARROTS, AND POTATOES
Inspired by The Barefoot Contessa’s recipe, I created this recipe that my family adores. With the addition of carrots and potatoes, I can’t keep my family away from eating it all.
INGREDIENTS:
1 whole chicken with gizzards removed
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1 large carrot, peeled and cut
3 medium potatoes, peeled and cut
7-8 turnips, chopped and quartered
1 lemon
1 bunch of fresh thyme
2 tablespoons of butter
Salt and pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS:
Rinse and pat dry your chicken, stuff with ½ lemon and thyme. Place 2 pads of butter in between chicken skin and meat on each breast. Squeeze ½ lemon juice over the entire chicken. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Place vegetables and broth around the chicken in a roasting pan. Cover lightly with foil and cook at 400 degrees for 45 minutes. Remove foil and cook for 20 minutes or until chicken is golden brown. You may want to baste chicken by cooking with broth from the pan.
SPAGHETTI AND TURKEY MEATBALLS
Every family loves spaghetti, however, this healthy substitution will quickly become a family favorite.
INGREDIENTS:
1 cup of spaghetti pasta, cooked to package directions
1 pound ground turkey
1 egg, scrambled
1 cup of bread crumbs
2 tablespoons of dried parsley
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon of onion powder
Salt and pepper to taste
1 jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce such as Rao’s marinara sauce
DIRECTIONS:
Add meat and seasoning, egg, and bread crumbs to a large bowl and mix. With two hands, grab a small amount of meat mixture and form it into a ball. Continue making meatballs until the meat mixture is gone. Place on a parchment-lined sheet pan at 375 degrees for 10 minutes or until done. Cook pasta, drain, and set aside. Add cooked meatballs to a large saucepan with spaghetti sauce. Stir. Serve.
CHICKEN SLIDERS WITH SWEET POTATO FRIES
Everyone loves hamburgers…that is until they try these chicken sliders that are a delicious healthier version of a classic favorite.
INGREDIENTS:
1 pound ground chicken
½ cup breadcrumbs
1 teaspoon low-fat mayonnaise
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
salt and pepper to taste
Oil or butter for frying
Slider burger buns
Packaged sweet potato fries
Optional toppings: pickles, lettuce, red onion, tomatoes, ketchup, mayonnaise, and mustard
DIRECTIONS:
Cook sweet potato fries to package directions. Cook ground chicken in a large skillet until done and allow to cool to be able to handle. Add cooked ground chicken, breadcrumbs, scrambled egg, mayonnaise, and Italian seasoning to a large bowl. Form into 2 ½ flat patties. I have found that the best way to do this is to create large balls by rolling with two hands and then squishing the ball flat to create a patty. In medium-sized non-stick skillet add oil or butter on medium-high heat. Add chicken patties and fry for 2 minutes on each side until crispy. Remove from skillet and pat excess oil with a paper towel. Toast buns and add chicken patties and toppings. Serve with condiments and cooked sweet potato fries.
I hope you have enjoyed these insatiably delicious 10 unique and healthy dinner recipes. I know we have! Don’t forget to check out Zulily’s kitchen items for all the cookware you need.
