RECIPES

40 Dinner Ideas That

Don't Need a Recipe
Forget complicated recipes—all you need are a
few minutes and a handful of ingredients.

BY DANA LEIGH SMITH

JANUARY 7, 2021

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L I N K S O N T H I S PA G E . P R I C I N G A N D
AVA I L A B I L I T Y A R E A C C U R AT E A S O F
T H E P I E C E ' S I N I T I A L P U B L I C AT I O N .

When it comes down to it, it can be

challenging to find the time to sit down,
decide on a week's worth of recipes, write
down all the necessary ingredients, hit
up the supermarket, and then go through
the tedious step-by-step process of
making the meal. Thankfully, there's a
better way: Ditch the recipes and
seek out flavorful "freestyle"
dinner ideas that don't need a
recipe. (Yes, it's a thing!)

Enroll and use

your vision plan
the same day.

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All of the healthy meals below are made

with just a handful of ingredients—many
of which you likely already have in your
kitchen—and are self-explanatory to pull
together. Better yet, they all go from the
stove to the kitchen table in under an
hour. Add them to your weekly lineup to
rid the stress from your daily mealtime
grind. And while you're at it, continue
down a path of low-effort healthy eating
by ordering one of these healthiest menu
options from the most popular
restaurant chains.

How to Make Bolognese in a Slow Cooker

And for more, don't miss these 15 Classic

American Desserts That Deserve a
Comeback.

1 Chicken & Veggie Pan

Roast

What You'll Need: Chicken breasts,

dried herbs and spices (garlic powder,
rosemary, ground pepper, oregano, etc),
roasting veggies (we like onions, Brussels
sprouts, and sweet potatoes), and olive
oil

We love sheet pan meals because all you

need to do is put your meat and veggies
on a pan, drizzle with a bit of EVOO,
spice everything to taste, set it, and
forget it. The best part? All of these
ingredients can easily be paired with
some lettuce and some rinsed chickpeas
for the next day's lunch.

We recommend setting the oven to 400

degrees Fahrenheit. You'll have a well-
rounded dinner ready to eat in 30 to 40
minutes.

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2 Pesto Zoodles with

Chicken, Tomatoes &
Pine Nuts

What You'll Need: Zucchini, olive oil,

jarred pesto, grilled or pan-cooked
chicken, grape tomatoes (cut in half),
and pine nuts

Love the taste of pasta dishes, but

looking to cut back on calories? Zoodles,
or zucchini noodles, are the perfect
solution. After you create noodles with
the vitamin C-rich veggie, toss 'em in a
sauté pan with some olive oil and let
them get a bit soft. Then, add in the
pesto, chicken, and tomatoes. After
you've plated your meal, top with pine
nuts. Done and done.

No spiralizer? No problem. A veggie

stripper can also create zoodle-like
strands in seconds.

RELATED: For more simple weekday

meals you're sure to love, check out these
one-pot dinner recipes for weight loss.

3 Berry, Goat Cheese, &

Quinoa Salad

What You'll Need: Berries (we like

blackberries and strawberries), spinach,
chopped pecans, goat cheese, your
favorite vinaigrette dressing

As the quinoa is cooking on the stove,

wash and chop your berries and nuts.
After the quinoa has cooled a bit, add it
to a bed of spinach, along with the nuts,
fruit, goat cheese, and dressing.

We love this lazy dinner recipe because

it's easy to pull together and serves up a
host of antioxidants and a source of
complete protein. Not to mention, it's
100% Instagram-worthy.

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4 Chicken & Veggie

Teriyaki Stir-Fry

What You'll Need: Cubed chicken

breasts, dry Asian seasoning, low-sodium
teriyaki sauce (we like Organicville
Island Teriyaki), frozen Asian-style
veggies, brown rice or black bean noodles
(we like Explore Cuisine Black Bean
Spaghetti)

After you put up a pot of water to boil for

the spaghetti, place the chicken breasts
in a lightly greased skillet and sprinkle it
with some seasoning. Once it starts to
cook a bit, dump in the vegetables and
cover the skillet with a lid. After a few
minutes, add some more seasoning to
the vegetables and a bit of teriyaki sauce,
to taste. Once the meat, veggies, and
your starch of choice are fully cooked, it's
time to plate your protein and veggie-
filled meal.

5 Chicken Fajita Salad

What You'll Need: Cubed chicken

breasts, Mexican seasoning (we like Mrs.
Dash Fiesta Lime Seasoning Blend),
sliced bell peppers, sliced onion, drained
and dried black beans, chopped romaine
lettuce, sliced avocado, low-sodium salsa
(we like Newman's Own Mild)

See ya, Chipotle. Thanks to this quick

and easy recipe, you won't need to waste
your hard-earned cash on pre-made food
again. Throw the chicken and veggies on
a lightly greased skillet, sprinkle it with
Mexican seasoning, and cover with a lid.
Once the meat is cooked and the veggies
are soft, remove from the heat and allow
it to cool. Next, begin to construct your
salad. Start with the greens and then pile
on the avocado and salsa. Last, top it off
with the chicken and veggie mixture.

RELATED: The easy way to make

healthier comfort foods.

6 Grilled Steak with

Roasted Asparagus &
Brown Rice

What You'll Need: 1/2 cup balsamic

vinegar, 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce, 2
tablespoons honey, crushed red pepper,
chopped scallions, sirloin tip side or top
round steak, asparagus, olive oil, salt,
pepper brown rice

1. EASY FAST DINNERS ›

2. EASY DINNER MEALS ›

STOMACH FAT BURNING

3. ›
FOODS

4. EASY DINNER DISHES ›

5. DINNER MEALS FOR TWO ›

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In a shallow bowl, combine the first five

ingredients and place the steak in the
marinade. Let the flavors mingle in the
refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
While the meat is tenderizing, snap off
the ends of the asparagus and toss the
top part into a bowl with some olive oil,
salt, and pepper. Oh, and don't forget to
make the rice. Next, heat your grill to
high and place the meat and asparagus
on the slats and cook until slightly
charred.

7 Caprese Entree Salad

with Whole-Grain Pita

What You'll Need: Spinach, chopped

tomatoes, cubed fresh mozzarella,
balsamic vinegar, olive oil, salt, ground
pepper, shredded basil, toasted whole-
grain pita

If you're a fan of Insalata Caprese apps

from Italian restaurants, you'll be a fan
of this entree-sized bed of greens, too. To
make this stress-free recipe at home, toss
spinach or your favorite green into a
large bowl, and top with ingredients two
through eight. Serve with a toasted
whole-grain pita for a complete and
filling meal.

1. EASY FAST DINNERS ›

2. EASY DINNER MEALS ›

STOMACH FAT
3. ›
BURNING FOODS

4. EASY DINNER DISHES ›

DINNER MEALS FOR

5. ›
TWO
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Skeptical that this dish will be enough to

sate your appetite? Add your favorite
source of protein. Grilled chicken and
steak both make for appetizing additions.
And if you're looking to put a fun twist
on this classic dish, add some sliced fresh
peaches. It may seem like an odd
combination, but we promise you that it
tastes divine.

8 Chicken Israeli Salad

Over Greens

What You'll Need: Cubed chicken

breasts, chickpeas, diced onion, diced
tomato, diced cucumber, diced red bell
pepper, ground pepper, dry parsley, red
wine vinegar, olive oil, your favorite
salad green

This refreshing Middle Eastern salad is

beyond tasty and takes less than 20
minutes to make. Start your culinary
adventure by tossing the chicken on a hot
skillet and seasoning it with your favorite
spices. While it's cooking, drain and rinse
a can of chickpeas and combine them
with the vegetables. Once the chicken is
cooked and cooled, add it to the bean and
vegetable mixture, and sprinkle
everything with pepper, parsley, vinegar,
and oil, and serve over a bed of your
favorite greens.

EASY VEGETABLE
1.
RECIPES ›
EASY DINNER
2.
MEALS ›
EASY DINNER
3.
DISHES ›
SIMPLE VEGETABLE
4.
SOUP ›
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Eat This! Tip:

Use the leftover mixture to make a pita

for the next day's lunch.

9 Turkey Burgers, Sweet

Potato Fries & Roasted
Asparagus

What You'll Need: Pre-formed raw

turkey burgers, dry rosemary, garlic
powder, ground pepper, sliced sweet
potatoes, paprika, asparagus, extra virgin
olive oil, your favorite salad green, sliced
tomato

To make this better-for-you "cookout,"

throw the turkey burgers on a grill pan
and season with rosemary, garlic powder,
and ground pepper—this should all be
happening while your oven is pre-
heating to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Next,
chop the sweet potatoes and snap the
ends off the asparagus. Lay each veggie
on their own bake pan and drizzle both
with some olive oil and pepper, and give
the spuds a dusting of paprika.

Instead of serving your burger on a bun,

enjoy it with some lettuce and tomato—
you know, the stuff you typically find
snuggled up with your burger in between
the bread. Your body doesn't need the
additional carbs when it's already getting
a potent punch of the nutrient from the
taters.

1 0 Veggie Frittata with

Avocado Toast &
Berries

What You'll Need: Eggs, cracked and

whisked, your favorite chopped veggies,
grated parmesan, salt, pepper, Ezekiel
bread, avocado, your favorite fresh
berries

Sometimes brinner is the only thing that

will hit the spot. And for those nights, we
suggest whipping up this simple—yet
flavorful—meal. Here's how to make it:
Grease a 9×9 baking dish and pour in the
veggies and eggs. Add parmesan, salt,
and pepper to taste. Pop it in the oven for
30 minutes, or until cooked all the way
through. In the meantime, wash the
berries, toast the bread, and top each
slice with some mashed avocado. And
speaking of the creamy, delicious fruit,
check out these avocado recipes for
weight loss.

1 1 Veggie Soup & Grilled

Cheese

Eat This, Not That!

What You'll Need: Olive oil, 2 cloves

minced garlic, chopped zucchini, canned
crushed tomatoes, 8 cups low-sodium
chicken stock, dried thyme, ground
pepper, cannellini beans, Ezekiel bread,
your favorite cheese, grass-fed butter

Heat the olive oil in a large pot over

medium heat. Add garlic and cook until
it starts to become fragrant. Add the
zucchini, tomatoes, stock, thyme, and
pepper, and turn the heat down to low.
Simmer for up to 45 minutes, and toss in
the beans right before you turn off the
burner. Round out your meal with an
ooey-gooey grilled cheese sandwich.

Eat This! Tip:

You might have noticed we suggest using

grass-fed butter over conventional
varieties. That's because it's an excellent
source of fatty acids that can support
weight loss. One acid, conjugated linoleic
acid, or CLA, is sold commercially as a
fat-burning supplement.

1 2 Black Bean Quesadillas

& Salad

What You'll Need: Can of black beans,

can of corn kernels, 1/2 small minced red
onion, 1 minced clove garlic, minced
cilantro, shredded Mexican-style cheese,
taco seasoning, corn tortillas, romaine
lettuce, diced tomato, diced avocado,
diced cucumber, lime dressing

To make this family-friendly Tex-Mex

dish, drain the can of beans and the can
of corn and rinse them lightly with water.
Place the beans in a large bowl and mix
in the onion, garlic, cilantro, cheese, and
taco seasoning. Spoon the mixture on
one side of each tortilla and fold over,
sandwich style. Cook over a hot skillet
until the tortilla has browned and the
cheese has melted.