25 Lightened Up Dinner Recipes

PinSave

This post may contain affiliate links.

This is the time of year when many are trying to get back on track after one too many Christmas cookies, extra helpings of that fabulous warm brie dip at holiday parties, or had one too many cocktails and mugs of eggnog filled with empty calories. But they tasted so good going down.

25 Lightened Up Dinner Recipes pic collage

Here are 25 ideas for lightening things up in January:

Everything is vegan, or vegetarian where noted, and most are gluten-free.

Most are ready in less than 30 minutes and all are easy enough for busy weeknights.

Many make just enough leftovers for lunch the next day.

There’s not one traditional lettuce salad on the list. Who said lightened up and healthy had to involve lettuce anyway.

1. Peanut Noodles with Mixed Vegetables and Peanut Sauce (vegan, GF)

Peanut Noodles with Mixed Vegetables and Peanut Sauce

2.Spicy Baked Black Beans with Mixed Vegetables (vegan, GF)

Spicy Baked Black Beans with Mixed Vegetables

3. Vegetable Lasagna Casserole (vegan, GF)

Vegetable Lasagna Casserole

4. Peanut Sauce Baked Tofu (vegan, GF)

Peanut Sauce Baked Tofu

5. Spinach Artichoke and Roasted Red Pepper Cheesy Squares (vegetarian, with vegan & GF options)

Spinach Artichoke and Roasted Red Pepper Cheesy Squares

6. Raw Pasta Salad with Creamy Lemon & Herb Dressing (vegan, GF)

Raw Pasta Salad with Creamy Lemon & Herb Dressing

7. Cheezy Vegetable Bake (vegan, GF)

Cheezy Vegetable Bake

8. Roasted Carrot and Red Pepper Peanut Soup (vegan, gluten-free, soy-free)

Roasted Carrot and Red Pepper Peanut Soup

9. Apple Glazed Vegetable & Edamame Stir Fry (vegan, GF)

Apple Glazed Vegetable & Edamame Stir Fry

10. Orange Ginger Tempeh and Brown Rice Salad with Orange Balsamic Vinaigrette (vegan, gluten free if GF tempeh is used)

 Orange Ginger Tempeh and Brown Rice Salad with Orange Balsamic Vinaigrette

11. Chipotle Avocado Cucumber Flatbreads (vegetarian, vegan if vegan flatbread is used)

Chipotle Avocado Cucumber Flatbreads

12. Pumpkin Spiced Brown Rice Tempeh and Cranberry Salad (vegan, gluten free if GF tempeh is used)

Pumpkin Spiced Brown Rice Tempeh and Cranberry Salad

13. Salsa Verde Pepperjack Tofu (microwave, vegan, GF)

Salsa Verde Pepperjack Tofu

14. Baked Parsnip Fries with Creamy Balsamic Reduction Dip

Baked Parsnip Fries with Creamy Balsamic Reduction Dip

15. Fresh Vegan Spring Rolls and 2-Minute Peanut Sauce (vegan, GF)

Fresh Vegan Spring Rolls and 2-Minute Peanut Sauce

Fresh Vegan Spring Rolls and 2-Minute Peanut Sauce

16. Mango Basil Personal-Sized Tortilla Pizzas (vegetarian or vegan if vegan cheese and tortillas are used)

Mango Basil Personal-Sized Tortilla Pizzas

17. Creamy Tomato Soup (vegan, GF)

Creamy Tomato Soup

18. Baked Chipotle Sweet Potato and Zucchini Fritters (vegan, GF)

Baked Chipotle Sweet Potato and Zucchini Fritters

19. Barbeque Tofu with Pineapple and Mango (vegan, GF)

Barbeque Tofu with Pineapple and Mango

20. Roasted Cinnamon-Ginger Delicata Squash (vegan, GF)

Roasted Cinnamon-Ginger Delicata Squash

21.Pumpkin and Cheesy Baked Potato Casserole (vegan, GF)

Pumpkin and Cheesy Baked Potato Casserole

22. Caribbean Coconut Rice with Garbanzos & Veggies (vegan, GF)

Caribbean Coconut Rice with Garbanzos & Veggies

23.Vegetable Fried Rice Frittata (vegetarian, GF)

Stacked Vegetable Fried Rice Frittata slices

24. Avocado, Cream Cheese, and Salsa-Stuffed Puff Pastries (use vegan puff pastry and vegan cream cheese to keep vegan)

Stacked Avocado, Cream Cheese, and Salsa-Stuffed Puff Pastries with one sliced open

25. Sweet Potato Red Pepper and Coconut Milk Soup (vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, microwave-friendly)

Two bowls of Sweet Potato Red Pepper and Coconut Milk Soup

Are you eating any differently in January? Making any changes with things in 2013?

If you have favorite recipes that are your go-to weeknight options, I’d love to hear about them. Links welcome.

Thanks for the Glass Dharma Glass Straw $25 Giveaway Entries

About the Author

Welcome to AverieCooks! Here you’ll find fast and easy recipes that taste amazing and are geared for real life. Nothing fussy or complicated, just awesome tasting dishes everyone loves!

Get the latest recipes via email!

Leave a Comment

Please note: I have only made the recipe as written, and cannot give advice or predict what will happen if you change something. If you have a question regarding changing, altering, or making substitutions to the recipe, please check out the FAQ page for more info.

Comments

  1. Averie,
    These cheerful and beautiful photographs are so refreshing for my poor last-day-of-January soul. I am so glad to have found this line-up of healthy light meals. And they are easy. Wow! We will be having the delicata with cinnamon tonight. Sounds delish! Thanks so much for sharing.

  2. Hi Averie,

    I was searching for recipes to use up ripened bananas when I stumbled upon your wonderful website (I am going to make the Blueberry Banana Oat Cakes :) As a college student, I have recently been looking for easy vegetarian lunch ideas other than the usual sandwich as I don’t do well with bread due to past issues of an eating disorder. I just read your 25 Lightened up Entrees and I think I found my answer. Your site is very well layed out and more importantly your recipes seem simple, healthy, tasty and quick. Thank you for sharing your creativity keep it up!

  3. This is exactly what I was looking for as I try to shed my holiday gut- and oh my god I am now dying for spring rolls! I must have these, like, now.

  4. I will be making the peanut noodles for dinner tomorrow! They look incredible. I will also pass this link along, I know so many who will appreciate the easy and light recipes :)

    1. Thanks for passing it along & hope you enjoy the peanut noodles – they come together in no time & the sauce can be used on anything!

  5. Girl, I thought bakers and cooks were totally different breeds. I am SO excited to try ALL of these recipes. As much as I would love to bake all of your treats, I just can’t be trusted with measuring cups. These recipes however, I can do this!!!! YUM!

    1. The funny thing is I don’t always use measuring cups. People say baking is exact and it’s not forgiving. Well, sometimes that’s the case but sometimes at 2am when I just start dumping things into a bowl and melting stuff when I have crazy ideas come into my head, those are my best recipes sometimes! I remake them again and measure so I can blog about it :)