MyPlate-Inspired Quick and Easy Recipes

Photo: Linda Pugliese

Enjoy our favorite MyPlate-inspired quick and easy recipes, which incorporate a variety of protein, vegetables, and grains for well-rounded and convenient meal options.

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Nutritious Quick and Easy Recipes

Photo: John Autry

View Recipe: Prosciutto, Peach, and Sweet Lettuce Salad

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.

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Double-Sesame Grilled Tuna

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Double-Sesame Grilled Tuna

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.

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Eggs Blindfolded Over Garlic-Cheddar Grits

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Eggs Blindfolded Over Garlic-Cheddar Grits

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.

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Cilantro-Lime Chicken with Avocado Salsa

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe: Cilantro-Lime Chicken with Avocado Salsa

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.

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Bacon Mac

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe: Bacon Mac

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.

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Pan-Grilled Snapper with Orzo Pasta Salad

Photo: Beau Gustafson

View Recipe: Pan-Grilled Snapper with Orzo Pasta Salad

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.

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Grilled Chicken with Mustard-Tarragon Sauce

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe: Grilled Chicken with Mustard-Tarragon Sauce

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

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Tofu with Red Curry Paste, Peas, and Yellow Tomatoes

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Tofu with Red Curry Paste, Peas, and Yellow Tomatoes

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.

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Sesame-Crusted Tuna with Wasabi-Ponzu Sauce

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe: Sesame-Crusted Tuna with Wasabi-Ponzu Sauce

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.

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Lamb Chops with Sautéed Apples

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Lamb Chops with Sautéed Apples

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

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Mango Shrimp Kebabs

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Mango Shrimp Kebabs

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.

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Sautéed Striped Bass with Lemon-Caper Sauce

Photo: John Autry

View recipe: Sautéed Striped Bass with Lemon-Caper Sauce

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.

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Thai Steak Salad

Photo: John Autry

View Recipe: Thai Steak Salad

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.

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Seared Filet with Mixed-Herb Gremolata

Photo: John Autry

View Recipe: Seared Filet with Mixed-Herb Gremolata

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.

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Linguine with Clam Sauce

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Linguine with Clam Sauce

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.

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Halibut à la Provençal over Mixed Greens

Photo: John Autry

View Recipe: Halibut à la Provençal over Mixed Greens

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.

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Lemony Grilled Shrimp Salad

Photo: Mary Britton Senseney/Wonderful Machine

View Recipe: Lemony Grilled Shrimp Salad

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

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Apple, Goat Cheese, and Pecan Pizza

Photo: John Autry

View Recipe: Apple, Goat Cheese, and Pecan Pizza

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.

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Korean Sesame Beef with Lettuce Wraps

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe: Korean Sesame Beef with Lettuce Wraps

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

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Tempeh and Broccolini Stir-Fry

Photo: John Autry

View Recipe: Tempeh and Broccolini Stir-Fry

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

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Grilled Pork with Mango and Rum Sauce

Photo: Iain Bagwell

View Recipe: Grilled Pork with Mango and Rum Sauce

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

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Pork Scaloppine with Mustard Pan Sauce and Baby Carrots

Photo: Brian Woodcock

View Recipe: Pork Scaloppine with Mustard Pan Sauce and Baby Carrots

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

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Quick Broiled Salmon with Vegetables

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Quick Broiled Salmon with Vegetables

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

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Quick Chicken-Sesame Rice Balls

Photo: Grant Cornett

View Recipe: Quick Chicken-Sesame Rice Balls

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

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Pork Tacos with Mango Slaw

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

View Recipe: Pork Tacos with Mango Slaw

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

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Pita Pizzas with Kale Pesto, Tomatoes, and Bacon

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Pita Pizzas with Kale Pesto, Tomatoes, and Bacon

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

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Black Bean Tacos with Feta Slaw

Photo: Jason Wallis

View Recipe: Black Bean Tacos with Feta Slaw

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

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Sticky Korean Lamb Skewers

Photo: Justin Walker

View Recipe: Sticky Korean Lamb Skewers

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

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Quick BBQ Chicken Pizzas

Photo: Jason Wallis

View Recipe: Quick BBQ Chicken Pizzas

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.

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Kickin' BBQ Chicken Quesadilla

Photo: Randy Mayor

View Recipe: Kickin' BBQ Chicken Quesadilla

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.

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Prosciutto-Arugula Pizza

Photo: Linda Pugliese

View Recipe: Prosciutto-Arugula Pizza

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

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MyPlate-Inspired Quick and Easy Recipes

1 of 31

Nutritious Quick and Easy Recipes

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Double-Sesame Grilled Tuna

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Eggs Blindfolded Over Garlic-Cheddar Grits

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Cilantro-Lime Chicken with Avocado Salsa

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Bacon Mac

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Pan-Grilled Snapper with Orzo Pasta Salad

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Grilled Chicken with Mustard-Tarragon Sauce

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Tofu with Red Curry Paste, Peas, and Yellow Tomatoes

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Sesame-Crusted Tuna with Wasabi-Ponzu Sauce

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Lamb Chops with Sautéed Apples

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Mango Shrimp Kebabs

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Sautéed Striped Bass with Lemon-Caper Sauce

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Thai Steak Salad

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Seared Filet with Mixed-Herb Gremolata

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Linguine with Clam Sauce

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Halibut à la Provençal over Mixed Greens

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Lemony Grilled Shrimp Salad

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Apple, Goat Cheese, and Pecan Pizza

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Korean Sesame Beef with Lettuce Wraps

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Tempeh and Broccolini Stir-Fry

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Grilled Pork with Mango and Rum Sauce

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Pork Scaloppine with Mustard Pan Sauce and Baby Carrots

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Quick Broiled Salmon with Vegetables

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Quick Chicken-Sesame Rice Balls

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Pork Tacos with Mango Slaw

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Pita Pizzas with Kale Pesto, Tomatoes, and Bacon

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