57 Contest-Winning Dinners That Are Also Healthy
57 Contest-Winning Dinners That Are Also Healthy
Read Time: 29 mins
57 Contest-Winning Dinners That Are Also Healthy
Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 2 vegetable, 1-1/2 fat
cups: 235 calories, 9g fat (1g saturated fat), 138mg cholesterol, 727mg sodium, 14g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 4g fiber), 22g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 2 vegetable, 1-1/2 fat. 3/57 Zippy Turkey Zoodles 1 Review Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Zippy Turkey Zoodles Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 45 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Eating healthy doesn’t mean sacrificing flavor—and these spiced-up zoodles prove it. If you don’t have a spiralizer, simply slice the zucchini julienne-style. —Elizabeth Bramkamp, Gig Harbor, Washington Nutrition Facts: 1-3/4 cups: 332 calories, 14g fat (3g saturated
Diabetic Exchanges: 3 medium-fat meat, 2 vegetable, 1 starch, 1 fat
fat), 75mg cholesterol, 500mg sodium, 26g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 6g fiber), 29g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 medium-fat meat, 2 vegetable, 1 starch, 1 fat. 4/57 Asparagus Spinach Salad with Chicken 2 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved DAN ROBERTS FOR TASTE OF HOME Total Time 30 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: We love all the fresh fruits and vegetables that are available in the summer. This salad is one of our favorite because it packs in so much great produce, plus it’s quick and easy on a warm summer day. —Joan Hallford, North Richland
Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 2 vegetable, 2 fat
Hills, Texas Nutrition Facts: 2 cups: 267 calories, 13g fat (3g saturated fat), 66mg cholesterol, 151mg sodium, 14g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 3g fiber), 24g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 2 vegetable, 2 fat. 5/57 Roasted Butternut Squash Tacos 4 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Roasted Butternut Squash Tacos Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 40 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Spicy butternut squash makes such a great base for these vegetarian tacos. I’m always looking for quick and nutritious weeknight dinners for my family. These fit the bill and are
so delicious!
so delicious! —Elisabeth Larsen, Pleasant Grove, Utah Nutrition Facts: 2 tacos: 353 calories, 13g fat (3g saturated fat), 13mg cholesterol, 322mg sodium, 54g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 13g fiber), 11g protein. 6/57 Mushroom Bacon Turkey Burgers Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Mushroom Bacon Turkey Burgers Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: If you ask me, a good burger needs mushrooms on top, but they tend to slide around and fall off. I decided to put mushrooms right into the patties—problem solved! —Melissa Obernesser, Utica, New York Nutrition
Diabetic Exchanges: 4 lean meat, 2 starch, 2 fat
Facts: 1 burger: 389 calories, 17g fat (4g saturated fat), 95mg cholesterol, 727mg sodium, 30g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 4g fiber), 32g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 4 lean meat, 2 starch, 2 fat. 7/57 Pork Tenderloin with Mango Relish Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Pork Tenderloin with Mango Relish Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Colorful mango relish is a refreshing counterpoint to the “heat” in the meat rub I use to pep up a number of pork dishes. These roasted tenderloins are sure to turn out nice
Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1/2 starch
and juicy. —Gloria Bradley, Naperville, Illinois Nutrition Facts: 3 ounces cooked pork with 1/3 cup relish: 171 calories, 4g fat (1g saturated fat), 63mg cholesterol, 245mg sodium, 9g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 2g fiber), 23g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1/2 starch. 8/57 Maple-Dijon Chicken 5 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Maple-Dijon Chicken Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Eating dinner as a family every night is really important to us, and this recipe is one that we all love. It’s our favorite skillet chicken
Diabetic exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1 starch, 1/2 fat
dish. —Courtney Stultz, Weir, Kansas Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 221 calories, 6g fat (4g saturated fat), 63mg cholesterol, 684mg sodium, 13g carbohydrate (10g sugars, 1g fiber), 23g protein. Diabetic exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1 starch, 1/2 fat. 9/57 Steak Pinwheels 14 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved CHRISTINE MA/TASTE OF HOME Total Time 30 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I wow family and friends with this impressive-looking dish that’s as easy to make as it is delicious. Even those who don’t like spinach seem to like this dish! —Mary Ann Marino, West Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Nutrition Facts:
My family loves this soup, and I’m happy to make it since it’s so simple!
2 each: 320 calories, 16g fat (8g saturated fat), 96mg cholesterol, 271mg sodium, 4g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 2g fiber), 37g protein. 10/57 Slow-Cooked Mexican Beef Soup 9 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Slow-Cooked Mexican Beef Soup Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 6 hours 15 min Servings 6 servings (2 quarts) Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My family loves this soup, and I’m happy to make it since it’s so simple! You can serve with cornbread instead of corn chips to make it an even more filling meal. —Angela Lively, Conroe, Texas Nutrition Facts: 1-1/3
Diabetic Exchanges: 2 lean meat, 1-1/2 starch
cups: 218 calories, 6g fat (2g saturated fat), 47mg cholesterol, 602mg sodium, 24g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 3g fiber), 19g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 lean meat, 1-1/2 starch. Filled to the brim with flavorful ingredients, these easy healthy soup recipes will keep you on track. 11/57 Artichoke Chicken 33 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Artichoke Chicken Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 55 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Rosemary, mushrooms and artichokes combine to give chicken a wonderful savory flavor. I’ve served this dish for a large group by doubling the recipe.
It’s always a big hit with everyone—especially my family!
It’s always a big hit with everyone—especially my family! —Ruth Stenson, Santa Ana, California Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 235 calories, 11g fat (4g saturated fat), 70mg cholesterol, 773mg sodium, 8g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 3g fiber), 24g protein. 12/57 One-Pot Chili Mac 28 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 40 min Servings 6 servings (2 quarts) Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This hearty entree is low in fat, but full of flavor. I love that you can cook the dried pasta right in the chili. One less pot to wash! This also reheats in the microwave perfectly.
Diabetic Exchanges: 3 starch, 2 lean meat, 1 vegetable
—Dawn Forsberg, Saint Joseph, Missouri Nutrition Facts: 1-1/3 cups: 384 calories, 10g fat (2g saturated fat), 64mg cholesterol, 598mg sodium, 47g carbohydrate (10g sugars, 8g fiber), 25g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 starch, 2 lean meat, 1 vegetable. 13/57 Easy Crab Cakes 61 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Easy Crab Cakes Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Ready-to-go crabmeat makes these delicate patties easier than other crab cake recipes. You can also form the crab mixture into four thick patties instead of eight crab cakes. —Charlene
Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 2 fat, 1 starch
Spelock, Apollo, Pennsylvania Nutrition Facts: 2 crab cakes: 239 calories, 11g fat (3g saturated fat), 141mg cholesterol, 657mg sodium, 13g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 1g fiber), 21g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 2 fat, 1 starch. 14/57 Fiery Stuffed Poblanos 11 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 10 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I love Southwest-inspired cuisine, but the dishes are often unhealthy. As a dietitian, I try to come up with nutritious twists on recipes, which is how my stuffed peppers dish was born. —Amber Massey,
Diabetic Exchanges: 2 vegetable, 1 starch, 1 lean meat, 1 fat
Argyle, Texas Nutrition Facts: 1 stuffed pepper: 223 calories, 5g fat (2g saturated fat), 15mg cholesterol, 579mg sodium, 32g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 7g fiber), 11g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 vegetable, 1 starch, 1 lean meat, 1 fat. 15/57 Chicken with Mushroom Sauce 57 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Contest-Winning Chicken with Mushroom Sauce Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: It looks impressive, but this mouthwatering chicken and mushroom sauce comes together in no time. I think its flavor rivals that of many full-fat entrees found
in fancy restaurants
in fancy restaurants. —Jennifer Pemberton, Muncie, Indiana Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 225 calories, 9g fat (3g saturated fat), 71mg cholesterol, 541mg sodium, 8g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 1g fiber), 26g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1-1/2 fat, 1 vegetable. 16/57 Spinach Turkey Meatballs 16 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Spinach Turkey Meatballs Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Our children call these “Gramby Meatballs” because the recipe came from my dear mother-in-law. It’s a great way to make spinach palatable. I usually make a triple
💡 Frequently Asked Questions
Mushroom Burgers 43 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Mushroom Burgers Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Ready to turn over a new burger?
Answer coming soon. We are working on detailed responses to this common question.
⭐ Expert Tips
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Include seasonal or trendy variations to keep your meals exciting.
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Highlight prep shortcuts or time-saving techniques for busy cooks.
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Consider dietary restrictions and include substitution suggestions.
✅ Key Takeaways
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These dinner ideas are perfect for impressing guests or enjoying special occasions.
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Choose recipes that match your skill level and available kitchen tools.
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Presentation and taste both contribute to a memorable dining experience.
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