Low-Calorie Family-Friendly Meals
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  1. Kids
  2. Low-Calorie Family-Friendly Meals

Low-Calorie Family-Friendly Meals

Bring lightened versions (under 350 calories!) of your family's favorites to the dinner table with these simple, satisfying recipes.

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April 27, 2010
1 of 29 Photo: Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Catherine Crowell Steele; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke

Cheesy Chicken Cutlets with Ham and Jam

Cheesy Chicken Cutlets with Ham and Jam Recipe
This recipe is a play on chicken cordon bleu that's far easier to prepare. Instead of stuffing chicken breasts with ham and cheese, we broil cutlets until done and simply top them with ham, cheese, and a touch of jam.
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2 of 29 Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Shredded Chicken Tortilla Soup

Shredded Chicken Tortilla Soup Recipe
Top this lightened-up (but no less delicious!) version of Chicken Tortilla Soup with homemade tortilla strips, avocado, cilantro, and lime wedges.
3 of 29 Photo: Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Catherine Crowell Steele; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine

Mongolian Beef and Vegetables

Mongolian Beef and Vegetables Recipe
This takeout favorite is typically laden with beef and coated with a sticky-sweet sauce. Our makeover makes crisp-tender snow peas, broccoli, and carrots the star, with seared flank steak as the supporting player.
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4 of 29 Photo: Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Catherine Crowell Steele; Prop Styling: Kay E Clarke

Shortcut Risotto with Brussels Sprouts

Shortcut Risotto with Brussels Sprouts Recipe
Our simple technique yields classic risotto texture in a fraction of the time. Precooked brown rice simmers with a flour-thickened mixture of milk and chicken stock, boosted with a touch of cream cheese for extra richness.
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5 of 29 Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas 

Quinoa-Crusted Chicken Nuggets

Quinoa-Crusted Chicken Nuggets Recipe
These crispy nuggets are worth nibbling—and a great way to use leftover quinoa. Rice flour keeps these nuggets gluten-free, but you can use whole-wheat or all-purpose instead.
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6 of 29 Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Mary Clayton Carl

Sweet-Spicy Chicken and Vegetable Stir-Fry

Sweet-Spicy Chicken and Vegetable Stir-Fry Recipe
This colorful chicken and veggie stir-fry features a sweet-spicy sauce and a topping of dry-roasted peanuts, which add delicious crunch.
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7 of 29 Photo: Lee Harrelson; Styling: Jan Gautro

Quick Chicken-Corn Chowder

Quick Chicken-Corn Chowder Recipe
This 5-star corn chowder can be on your table in less than 30 minutes for dinner tonight thanks to convience items like rotisserie chicken and frozen corn.
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8 of 29 Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Jan Gautro

Three-Cheese Chicken Penne Florentine

Three-Cheese Chicken Penne Florentine Recipe
Your kids will be too busy enjoying the cheesy noodles to notice this recipe is packed with fresh produce and protein. It's a one-dish meal you'll feel good about serving .
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9 of 29 Photo: Johnny Autry; Styling: Cindy Barr

Cheesy Meat Loaf Minis

Cheesy Meat Loaf Minis Recipe
We add white cheddar cheese to this comfort-food favorite making it seem more indulgent than it actually is at less than 300 calories per serving.
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10 of 29 Photo: Lee Harrelson; Styling: Jan Gautro

Superfast Salisbury Steak

Superfast Salisbury Steak Recipe
Bored with burgers? For a lean and tasty ground beef alternative, this dish will bring cheers to the table and can be made in less than 25 minutes.
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11 of 29 Photo: Justin Walker; Styling: Carla Gonzalez-Hart

Weeknight Lemon Chicken Skillet Dinner

Weeknight Lemon Chicken Skillet Dinner Recipe
It doesn't get much easier, or more satisfying: a complete dinner in one pan in half an hour. Lemon brightens this cozy weeknight meal.
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12 of 29 Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Ginny Branch 

Louisiana-Style Chicken Soup

Louisiana-Style Chicken Soup Recipe
OK, so technically we can't call this a gumbo because there is no roux. But it certainly tastes like a gumbo, right down to the Cajun trinity of onion, celery, and green bell pepper. Serve with a crusty baguette for mopping up every last delicious drop.
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13 of 29 Photo: Raymond Hom; Styling: Pamela Duncan Silver

Crispy Fish with Lemon-Dill Sauce

Crispy Fish with Lemon-Dill Sauce Recipe
By oven-frying these panko-covered fillets, you can get the flavor of crispy fried fish for far fewer calories. Save money on your meal by using budget-friendly tilapia.
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14 of 29 Photo: Johnny Autry; Styling: Mary Clayton Carl

Chicken Enchiladas

Chicken Enchiladas Recipe

Chicken Enchiladas are the ultimate in family-favorite dishes.

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15 of 29 Photo: Lee Harrelson

Shrimp Pad Thai

Shrimp Pad Thai Recipe
This lightened Pad Thai is packed with vibrant ingredients like crushed red pepper, sliced green onions, and dry-roasted peanuts to add great flavor.
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16 of 29 Photo: Lee Harrelson

Beef, Cheese, and Noodle Bake

Beef, Cheese, and Noodle Bake Recipe
The right casserole gives you the opportunity to sneak extra veggies into meals your kids already like. With the added nutrients and loads of calcium, this recipe is a homerun hit for your team!
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17 of 29 Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Creamy Broccoli-Cheese Soup

Creamy Broccoli-Cheese Soup Recipe
We like our version extra chunky, so we only puree about a third of the broccoli mixture in step 3. For a thinner, smoother consistency, add more soup to the blender.
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18 of 29 Becky Luigart-Stayner

Spring Risotto

Spring Risotto Recipe
Fava beans must be shelled twice. First they're removed from their pods, then blanched, cooled slightly, and pinched to remove the outer skins. Fresh beans taste the best, but canned fava beans will also work when fresh are out of season. Look for sun-dried tomato paste with the other tomato products in the supermarket.
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19 of 29 Photo: Oxmoor House

Garlic Turkey-Broccoli Stir-Fry

Garlic Turkey-Broccoli Stir-Fry Recipe
Your family will love this delicious turkey and broccoli stir fry, and you will love that it's under 300 calories.
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20 of 29 Becky Luigart-Stayner; Cindy Barr; Leigh Ann Ross

Alabama Pulled Pork Sandwiches with White Barbecue Sauce

Alabama Pulled Pork Sandwiches with White Barbecue Sauce Recipe
Biscuits take the place of bulky buns–making these Southern sandwiches easy for little hands to hold. Short on time? Use whole-wheat refrigerated rolls or biscuits in place of the homemade option.
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21 of 29 Photo: Karry Hosford

Shepherd's Pie

Shepherd's Pie Recipe
Fast and easy, this classic dish is perfect for busy weeknight meals. Kidney beans adds a healthy dose of fiber, and using prepared mashed potatoes and salsa saves on prep time and clean-up.
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22 of 29 Randy Mayor; Katie Stoddard

Quick Pizza Margherita

Quick Pizza Margherita Recipe

Make a thin and crispy pizza in under 30 minutes with refrigerated pizza dough, plum tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil.

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23 of 29 Becky Luigart-Stayner

Sloppy Joes

Sloppy Joes Recipe
Sloppy Joes are a classic family favorite and, at 202 calories per serving, this version is sure to become a regular in your household. Skip the store-bought sauce and make these Joes from scratch to reduce the sodium content often found in canned sauces.
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24 of 29 Becky Luigart-Stayner; Cindy Manning Barr

Skillet Stuffed Peppers

Skillet Stuffed Peppers Recipe
Shepherd's pie gets a Tex-Mex makeover when you serve it in bell peppers and add taco seasoning. And why stop there? Add a side dish, such as black beans or guacamole, for a full-on Mexican meal!
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25 of 29 Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Melanie J. Clarke

Three-Cheese Veggie Pizza

Three-Cheese Veggie Pizza Recipe
Make cooking a family affair. Chop fresh vegetables, measure the cheese, and then let the kids go wild piling their picks atop a prepared pizza crust. In this case, more is healthier!
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26 of 29 Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Cindy Barr

Grilled Turkey and Ham Sandwiches

Grilled Turkey and Ham Sandwiches Recipe
Sandwiches are a simple dinner solution any time of year. Pair with a fresh fruit salad on warmer nights or a comforting bowl of soup when the weather cools.
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27 of 29 Becky Luigart-Stayner

Marinara Sauce Over Rotini

Marinara Sauce Over Rotini Recipe
The key to smart meal planning is versatile recipes. Of course, this marinara sauce is perfect with pasta, but it also works well over grilled chicken breasts.
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28 of 29 Randy Mayor; Melanie J. Clarke

Pork Chops with Country Gravy and Mashed Potatoes

Pork Chops with Country Gravy and Mashed Potatoes Recipe
Country cookin' never looked so light! Because you're using quick-to-fix refrigerated potatoes, there's plenty of time to whip up the secret behind this meal: the savory gravy.
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29 of 29 Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Cindy Barr

Chicken with Southwestern Salsa

Chicken with Southwestern Salsa Recipe
Spice up your chicken tonight with a flavorful homemade salsa. If your family loves salads, simply slice the chicken into strips and serve it (with the salsa) over a bed of fresh greens.

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