11 “Better Than Fried” Dinner Recipes

The taste you want-without the jiggle.

Let’s face it, fried dinner recipes may be tasty, but they’re nutritional no-no’s. Whether it’s chicken, shrimp, or potatoes, food that’s been fried has a significant negative impact on your body. So what do you do when fried food cravings strike? Make a healthy choice by enjoying one of these 11 “better than fried” dinner recipes.

1. Sweet Potato Fries
If French fries are a staple at your house, give this side dish a try. We swapped out fried white potatoes for baked sweet potatoes, which offer beta carotene, vitamin D, and iron. Serve them with one of our burger recipes, like Turkey Veggie Burger.

2. Juicy Faux Fried Chicken
Enjoy the taste of deep fried food, without padding your waist, by serving this recipe. We took this classic entrée and transformed it into a healthier version with zero trans fats. Prepare this recipe and find out why it’s a fan favorite.

3. Skinny Chicken Nuggets
Chicken nuggets aren’t just a kids’ food. This recipe uses whole ingredients for a taste you’ll enjoy no matter your age. They’re baked, so they won’t grease up your hands or your arteries.

MORE: 20 Skinny Comfort Food Recipes

4. Baked Zucchini Fritters
Don’t fry your fritters when you can bake them. When you’re making healthy dinner recipes, add this side dish to the menu. You get the yumminess you love, without the added jiggle. Enjoy zucchini? Try this Grilled Eggplant & Zucchini Salad, too.

5. Black Bean Mushroom Burger
Burger lovers will dig into this dish, one of our healthy non-fried dinner recipes. It’s a hearty, fiber-filled version of the traditional beef burger. Serve it with baked sweet potato fries.

6. Oven-Baked Zucchini Chips
Baking zucchini slices in a blend of seasonings gives them a mild flavor that pairs well with light entrées or makes a crunchy, healthy snack option.

7. Skinny Chicken Taquitos

Forget the frying and try this baked version of the Mexican classic. It delivers zero trans fats and just 1 gram of saturated fat per serving.

MORE: 7 Comfort Food Entrées Under 290 Calories  

8. Skinny Black Bean Flautas
Baking rolled tacos produces a delicious recipe low in saturated fat. Learn more about why beans are a smart choice in The Top 3 Health Benefits of Beans & Lentils.

9. Slow Cooker Homestyle Potatoes with Garlic and Rosemary
You may have grown up on a fried version of this dish, but it’s time to swap that recipe out for one that treats your body right. This alternative uses extra-virgin olive oil, a healthy fat, and a slow cooker to create one of the non-fried dinner recipes that goes well with many entrées.

10. Turkey Burger with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Feta Cheese
This burger is one of those dinner recipes you’ll come back to again and again. It’s extra juicy and incorporates delicious spices to satisfy your taste buds.

11. Rosemary Fries with Low-Fat Aioli
Rosemary gives this dish a taste that pairs well with so many entrées, including those with fish or chicken. This alternative to fried potatoes can be prepared on the grill or in the oven.

Try one of these non-fried dinner recipes as a substitute for fried foods this week. Let us know what you think!

Discover more clean-eating recipes and healthy lifestyle tips by following us on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter.

Find all our tastiest healthy recipes in a convenient e-book, The Skinny Ms. Recipe Collection. It shares 101 fan-favorite dishes you’ll feel great about serving.

 

Source

[1] PNAS