MyPlate-Inspired Quick and Easy Recipes

Cooking Light is working with the Partnership for a Healthier America and USDA’s MyPlate to give anyone looking for healthier options access to thousands of recipes that will help them create healthy, tasty plates. For more information about creating a healthy plate, visit ChooseMyPlate.gov.

Ready in just 20 minutes, this tuna dish is the perfect way to incorporate more seafood into your weekly diet without much effort needed. Serve with quick-cooking rice and steamed baby bok choy to round out the meal.

Blindfolded eggs are a short-order cook’s version of poached eggs. The Garlic-Cheddar Grits in this recipe make a divine bed for the perfectly cooked eggs.

A three-minute dip into a pungent cilantro-lime marinade is all that's needed to deliver big flavor to chicken breasts. Serve with saffron rice.

This macaroni and cheese meal is sure to gather rave reviews from kids and adults alike. This family-friendly one-dish meal gets its richness from sharp cheddar cheese, which mellows the heat from the hot sauce.

Small rice-shaped pasta, orzo cooks quickly and soaks up flavor from the vinaigrette. Double the vinaigrette and spoon some over the top of the fish, if you like.

A tangy sauce enlivens simple grilled chicken breasts and a hint of sugar balances out the flavors.

The red curry paste in this ethnic dish is a blend of clarified butter, curry powder, vinegar, and other seasonings. Use either Indian or Asian curry paste; it comes in mild and hot versions and can be modified to suit your preference.

This tuna recipe takes on an Asian flair with a coating of sesame seeds and a sauce of wasabi paste, soy sauce, and fresh ginger.

Our succulent lamb chops are a hearty source of protein and pair perfectly with this side of sautéed Braeburn apple slices.

These fresh-flavored mango shrimp skewers are ready to enjoy in just 25 minutes and are a great option for entertaining when the weather is warm.

Wild striped bass is plentiful along the East Coast, but might be hard to find if you live inland. Look for farmed bass, which is a hybrid of striped bass and white bass, and will work as a great substitute in this dish.

Lots of veggies and herbs pack our flavorful salad. It’s quick and easy to  prepare and also tastes great with grilled chicken or lamb.

You only need 20 minutes and a really hot pan to create these delicious seared filets. Tip: a great sear on the steaks depends on the heat of the pan and not moving the meat too much while it’s cooking.

This recipe is easy to make in just three simple steps. Enjoy with a small side salad or breadsticks for a meal everyone in the family will enjoy.

This dish is the perfect way to incorporate more fish and veggies into your healthy lifestyle. Ready in just 30 minutes, it's easy to make and bursting with rich flavors.

Combine citrusy grilled shrimp with arugula, avocado, and jicama to make a Mexican-inspired main dish salad.

Take a walk on the culinary wild side with this adventurous pizza. Thinly sliced Fuji apples, goat cheese, toasted pecans, baby arugula, and fresh thyme meld together in a tantalizing blend of flavors for a unique dinner pizza.

Based on the classic Korean barbecue dish bulgogi, this recipe offers savory-sweet-garlicky beef wrapped in lettuce leave with rice and kimchi.

Streamline your stir-frying process by prepping all ingredients before you start cooking. For a whole-grain base, use brown rice.

Serve with a simple side salad of mixed baby greens and cherry tomatoes.

If you want a sweeter sauce, use honey mustard instead of Dijon.

Your friends will never believe how simple this beautiful dish actually is.

Try these fun rice balls for an engaging and nutritious lunchbox main course.

Whole tenderloin is seared and sliced for these quick pork tacos. Serve with lime wedges.

Make-ahead prep tip: Double the pesto portion of the recipe, and freeze half for a future pita pizza dinner.

Canned beans that are already seasoned help bring these tacos together in a flash.

Lamb top round comes from the leg; it's a flavorful, boneless cut that's still tender enough for quick cooking.

Baking the pizzas directly on the oven rack gives you a crisp crust in less time. You can substitute shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese for fresh.

Crushed red pepper gives this barbecue chicken quesadilla a punch of heat. Crisp in a hot skillet with cooking spray instead of butter to save 7g sat fat.

We love the thin crust of this pizza, which cooks up fast and as crisp as a cracker.