After a December filled with indulgent dinners and decadent desserts, you might find yourself craving some more balanced meals to start the new year. Balanced should never mean bland, though, and we have just the healthy recipes to prove it. As part of our Shop This List series, chef and cookbook author Laura Vitale stopped by TODAY to share her lightened-up favorites that don't skimp on flavor.
Looking to switch up your regular chicken dinner? Vitale has three different tasty ways to do so. There's her spin on chicken piccata (hint: it's in meatball form), her spiced-up honey chili chicken bowls for those that love that sweet heat and her smart solution to takeout cravings in the form of a DIY chicken burrito bowl. If you're more in the mood for beef, her sirloin and veggie stir-fry is a must-try. Not only does it come together in just 30 minutes, but it's also loaded with broccoli florets, slaw mix and any other greens of your choice.
Ready for a protein-packed January? We’ve made it even easier for you. Shop all the recipes — plus, a few tools you may need — below.
Laura Vitale’s lightened-up favorites
This recipe offers the classic flavors of a chicken piccata in meatball form. The addition of mushrooms really makes the dish feel more elevated, and the sauce is so delicious you’re going to want to eat it with a spoon!
I love this recipe for its balance of sweet, spicy and tangy. It’s truly the perfect bite.
I love how filling, bright and balanced this bowl is, and adding in extra veggies from the freezer is my go-to hack to ensure we get lots of veggies and fiber on our plates. This works especially well in this recipe since all the veggies work so nicely together with the chicken and rice.
This is one of my very favorite takeout dishes but making it at home is quicker, cheaper and just as delicious!
