I've Been Eating Cookies All Week & Forgot How To Make A Real Meal—These Recipes Are Saving Me
Look, I am only human. I get through the holidays (as well as that weird, blobby week between Christmas and New Year's) with
as much grace and civility as I can muster. But that does not, I repeat, does not translate to cooking and eating like the civilized person I am the rest of the year. This is all to say, my meals become way more cookie-based and my memory gets fuzzy on the last time I had a fresh vegetable. Especially as resolutions are made (and maybe a family hike is on the schedule), I like to set myself up for success for whatever the new year throws at me, which includes keeping a few of these easy and healthy "reset" dinners in the ol' rotation.
"Healthy"means so many things to just as many people, whether you're low-carb, no-carb, no-gluten, or just a garden variety vegan. But generally I think we can all agree that having as many colors on your plate (and not just in Christmas sprinkles-form) is always a good idea. Lucky for all of us, there's infinite ways to make vegetables taste amazing, whether you roast them up in a sheet-pan dinner (like our garlicky shrimp and veggies or miso chicken and sweet potatoes), spiralize them into cacio e pepe sweet potato noodles, or rice them into cauliflower fried rice. The easiest way to sneak in more vegetables? Add a bit of decadence. Healthy eating should be manageable and delicious, so feel free to keep a bit of richness in your life, whether it's a bit of cheese (for our chickpea broccoli alfredo skillet), or any of your favorite sauces (such as tzatziki in our low-carb turkey gyro bowl).
When in doubt, soup is always pretty life-giving and so easy to throw together in one pot after the dish-heavy holidays. Make a pot of something brothy and heart-warming (like our chicken tortilla soup) or hearty and grounding (like our vegan white bean chili) and you'll be feeling ready for anything in the new year (and have plenty of leftovers to boot).
Baked Salmon
This baked salmon is the best way to feed a crowd. There's no skillet cooking at all—everything is oven-baked in foil, making prep and cleanup a breeze. We believe it might just be the best baked salmon recipe...ever, and it goes super well with roasted potatoes and Brussels sprouts.
Get the Baked Salmon recipe.
Chicken Tortilla Soup
Chicken tortilla soup isn’t a plain chicken soup—chili powder, fire-roasted tomatoes, and jalapeño all pack heaps of flavor and depth into this classic comfort food. And don't skip the toppings! They're the best part.
Get the Chicken Tortilla Soup recipe.
Chickpea Broccoli Alfredo Skillet
Budget-friendly one-pan dinners are always in season, especially when they use ingredients you probably already have around the kitchen. Butter-toasted chickpeas and seared broccoli are tossed in a rich Alfredo-style sauce made from heavy cream, shallots, garlic, and Parmesan to create this 35-minute skillet dinner. A pinch of lemon zest and crushed red pepper flakes add much-needed brightness and heat to cut through the rich Alfredo sauce.
Get the Chickpea Broccoli Alfredo Skillet recipe.
Antipasto Chickpea Salad
This versatile chickpea salad is a great side but can easily be a full meal on its own! Adding a spoonful of Dijon mustard to your red wine vinaigrette makes it creamier in both taste and body—consider it your secret weapon in making a classic dressing just that much better.
Get the Antipasto Chickpea Salad recipe.
Rainbow Collard Green Wrap
Just about every color of the rainbow can be found in these simple collard green wraps. They’re a quick and easy no-cook dinner or a nutritious and satisfying snack any time of day. Colorful bunches of shredded purple cabbage, carrots, yellow bell peppers, sliced avocado, alfalfa sprouts, and crimson red sauerkraut are rolled into big collard green leaves like a burrito.
Get the Rainbow Collard Green Wrap recipe.
Sheet-Pan Miso Chicken & Sweet Potatoes
Bone-in chicken thighs, sweet potatoes, and shallots get smothered with miso-chili sauce and baked until the sweet potatoes are tender and caramelized and the chicken is juicy and golden brown. The whole thing is topped with a sprinkle of chopped cilantro, then served with a little extra chili crisp to make sure this really packs a punch.
Get the Sheet-Pan Miso Chicken & Sweet Potatoes recipe.
Vegan White Bean Chili
Chili is equally delicious with ground beef, ground turkey, or with no meat at all. Chili can be tomato-forward or a creamy white chili. And, whether you’re full-time vegan or just love a plant-based moment, vegan chili is where it’s at. This flavor-packed vegan white bean chili has so much goodness going on and all of the fresh, crunchy toppings too.
Get the Vegan White Bean Chili recipe.
Cauliflower Fried Rice
Fried rice is a classic and comforting recipe that everyone loves…except maybe those who are trying to eat less rice. Whether you’re skipping carbs, trying to eat more vegetables, or are just looking for a lighter side dish so you can eat more orange chicken (relatable!), this cauliflower fried rice is for you.
Get the Cauliflower Fried Rice recipe.
Sheet-Pan Garlicky Shrimp & Veggies
This recipe combines well-seasoned shrimp with red bell peppers, broccoli, and onions for a quick and easy dinner ready in a little more than 30 minutes. Not only is it so simple to throw together, it's extremely versatile: swap out the veggies for your favorites, add even more, or switch up the seasonings.
Get the Sheet-Pan Garlicky Shrimp & Veggies recipe.
Crispy Chili-Lime Chickpea Salad
Think salads are boring? Not this spicy, creamy, and crunchy satisfying chickpea salad that's like if cowboy caviar took a trip to Baja California. Crispy baked chickpeas are the star, tossed with lime juice and chili powder for a spicy little bite of intrigue. Juicy tomatoes and lightly roasted corn bulk everything out and add a touch of sweetness, while creamy avocado makes its way into a green goddess-style dressing with cilantro, lime, jalapeño, and Greek yogurt.
Get the Crispy Chili-Lime Chickpea Salad recipe.
Niçoise Salad
According to food historians, the first Niçoise salad (from Nice, on France’s southeastern coast) contained only tomatoes, olive oil, and anchovies. Over the years, ingredients have been added and subtracted, so feel free to do the same and go with your favorites!
Get the Niçoise Salad recipe.
Low-Carb Turkey Gyro Bowls
With tender spiced meat, crunchy fresh veggies, tzatziki, and chewy pita, it's not hard to see why Greek gyros are so globally beloved. Inspired by these popular grab-and-go sandwiches, we created this healthy but hearty bowl that's perfect for meal-prepping.
Get the Low-Carb Turkey Gyro Bowls recipe.
Halal Cart-Style Cauliflower Bowl
Turns out, incredible halal chicken-inspired flavors seamlessly translate to a plant-based version using cauliflower as the star ingredient. Spiced cauliflower joins forces with a bright and fresh tomato salad, crunchy toppings, and a homemade vegan halal cart-style white sauce.
Get the Halal Cart-Style Cauliflower Bowls recipe.
Cacio E Pepe Sweet Potato Noodles
Looking to convert a spiralized veggie skeptic? Make them these cacio e pepe sweet potato noodles. Tossed in buttery black pepper sauce and showered with Parmesan and Pecorino, these are so delicious that no one will even think about asking for “regular” pasta.
Get the Cacio E Pepe Sweet Potato Noodles recipe.
BBQ Protein Bowls
With BBQ chicken, corn, an easy slaw, rice, and pickles, these grain bowls are the protein-packed dinnertime pick-me-up you need. Once you prep the rice ahead of time, these bowls will only take 15 minutes to cook and assemble, meaning they're also meal prep gold.
Get the BBQ Protein Bowls recipe.
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