31 Healthy January Dinner Recipes to Make All Month Long
A new year calls for a new menu. After all that holiday grub (and bubbly), we're craving better-for-you food that actually tastes good. With a little forethought, you can eat healthier this month without resorting to a nightly salad, because honestly, that sounds miserable. These 31 January dinner recipes will help you plan ahead for a nutritious, low-lift meal every evening. The ingredients are pretty darn clean (think vegetables, lean proteins and minimally processed foods), but these dishes will still leave you satisfied and impressed—not deprived.
65 Clean-Eating Dinner Recipes (That Taste Dirty)
January 1: Warm Sesame Noodle Salad
Emily Morgan
Kick off 2024 with a 20-minute, takeout-inspired dish that's as easy to prepare as it is to devour. The sauce is made almost entirely from pantry staples. While the recipe calls for gluten-free pasta, you could easily substitute any long noodle (we're partial to thick udon).
January 2: Vegan Slow Cooker Detox Coconut Soup
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
In our book, all the best dinners come together with just the push of a button, and this Crockpot gem fits the bill. This photogenic beauty is vegan, dairy free, gluten free and piled high with fresh herbs. Need we say more?
January 3: Plantain Subs with Quick Pickles
Chris Terry/Nadiya's Everyday Baking
Crispy double-baked tostones + quick-pickled veggies + spicy mayo + pillowy soft baguette = the most unexpected vegetarian sammy you'll ever have. Top the sammies with runny eggs for more protein.
January 4: Overstuffed Sweet Potatoes with Chipotle-Lime Yogurt
Teri Lyn Fisher/Eat Like You Give a Fork
As comforting as sweet potato fries, but ten times as wholesome. Roast the spuds in advance and use canned black beans to save time. You can even shred a store-bought rotisserie chicken for a protein-packed topping, if you feel so inclined.
January 5: Kale Salad with Persimmons, Crispy Chickpeas and Fried Shallots
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
It's crisp, tart, savory, sweet and basically the polar opposite of a sad salad. Sweet, rich persimmons are just the match for crunchy chickpeas, crisp greens and savory shallots.
January 6: Tandoori-Inspired Roast Cauliflower Bowls with Tahini
Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Heath Goldman
A swoon-worthy meal if we've ever seen one. This vegetarian take on tandoori chicken (meaning chicken cooked in a tandoor, a type of clay oven) stars a spiced yogurt marinade that's so good, you just might want to straight-up drink it.
January 7: Instant Pot Vegan Pho
Nisha Vora/The Vegan Instant Pot Cookbook
When we say "hug in a bowl," this is what we mean. Treat yourself to a mix of noodles, ginger, mushrooms, bean sprouts, tofu and a mélange of herbs, all swimming in soothing vegetable broth.
January 8: Alison Roman’s Swordfish with Crushed Olives and Oregano
Michael Graydon and Nikole Herriott/Nothing Fancy
Even self-proclaimed seafood haters will ooh and ahh after one bite of this briny masterpiece. In case you've never tried it, swordfish is a lot like chicken…only a million times tastier (and just as easy to prepare).
January 9: Low-Carb Zucchini Enchiladas
Photo: Mark Weinberg/Styling: Erin McDowell
These enchiladas have all the gooey, cheesy goodness of the O.G., minus some of the carbs, since the recipe calls using thin-sliced zucchini in place of tortillas. Did we mention they reheat and freeze like a charm?
January 10: Purple Salad
Peden + Munk/More Is More
This monochromatic salad is begging for a shoutout on your Instagram story. Made with purple sweet potatoes, radicchio, blood oranges and purple basil, the meal is finished with a punchy, umami-laced dressing, starring fish sauce.
January 11: Restorative Miso Noodle Soup
Maria Siriano/The Probiotic Kitchen
The kind you get as a sushi appetizer is certainly comforting, but it's not exactly hearty. Here, soba noodles, meaty mushrooms and fresh greens put the soup firmly in entree territory. (Though we wouldn't blame you for serving white rice and sashimi on the side anyway.)
January 12: Ginger Pork Chops
Jeni Afuso/Make It Japanese
This main is proof that you don't need fancy ingredients to craft a memorable marinade. The key is making the most of a well-stocked pantry. Here, staples like soy sauce, mirin and sugar do most of the heavy lifting. Plate the pork with a grain and a crunchy vegetable side, like cabbage slaw.
January 13: Lightened-Up Fettuccine with Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Our favorite cruciferous veggie proves that it can tackle just about any recipe, including a mean Alfredo sauce. (Don't worry, the dish still calls for plenty of Parmesan cheese, so your picky kids will still ask for seconds.)
January 14: Soy Sauce-Simmered Kabocha
Jeni Afuso/Make It Japanese
Be warned, butternut diehards: This four-ingredient gem may convert you to Team Kabocha for good. The squash is simmered nimono style, a Japanese technique that’s essentially a gentle braise. Serve it with rice, dressed greens, bread and yogurt sauce—the options are endless.
January 15: Whole30 Chicken Meatballs and Cauliflower Rice with Coconut-Herb Sauce
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
We're not even on the Whole30 diet, but we still can't get enough of these tender meatballs and creamy, dairy-free sauce. Props to you, coconut milk. As for the cauli rice, it's a stellar option for low-carb or keto dieters.
January 16: Leftovers Frittata
Katherine Gillen
Whether it's wilted greens you forgot about in the crisper, last night's sweet potatoes or the final remnants of a container of feta, this frittata can accommodate all your fridge's odds and ends. Use your trusty cast iron skillet to ensure a crisp exterior and fluffy center.
January 17: Chicken and Snap Pea Stir Fry
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
High in protein, low in carbs, cals and cook time—what's not to like? Feel free to use up any veggies that are hiding in your pantry or fridge, like broccoli, carrots, spinach or baby corn.
January 18: Garlicky Spinach and Chickpea Soup with Lemon and Pecorino Romano
Caitlin Bensel/The Mediterranean Dish
Leave it to your pantry to pull off your new favorite winter soup. A flurry of warm spices (cumin! coriander! sweet paprika!) makes the North African-inspired broth positively irresistible, while the chickpeas ensure that you're satiated after one (or two...) bowls.
January 19: Creamy Vegan Lentil and Roasted Vegetable Bake
Nisha Vora
Cauliflower, butternut squash, sweet potato, lentils and herbs unite in a pool of garlicky cashew cream sauce to make a vegan miracle. Want it to be gluten-free? Nix the panko breadcrumbs and double down on the pine nuts.
January 20: Veggie-Loaded Stuffed Bell Peppers
Alexandra Stafford
Tell ground beef to sit this one out—traditional stuffed peppers are long overdue for an update, and this one's vegetarian-friendly. (We're talking quinoa, zucchini, corn, tomatoes and a generous dose of Monterey Jack cheese.)
January 21: White Turkey Chili with Avocado
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Feed a crowd of eight in one hour with the help of canned corn and beans, pantry seasonings and quick-cooking ground turkey. Set up a topping bar of diced avocado, cheddar cheese, sour cream and lime juice for your guests to serve themselves.
January 22: Shrimp and Pasta Stew
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
It's your pantry's time to shine. Plus, aren't your usual weeknight pasta and shrimp dishes (read: shrimp scampi...and nothing else) getting old anyway? Give this wintry soul-soother, which features tender kale and a tomatoey seafood broth, a go instead.
January 23: Carrot, Fennel and Miso Soup
Aran Goyoaga
Come for the umami-laced soup, stay for the crunchy pepita-pine nut topping. Leftover cooked winter squash or sweet potatoes would also work wonders in this soup, as would a swirl of yogurt or sour cream on top.
January 24: Mark Bittman’s Cauliflower “Polenta” with Mushrooms
Jim Henkens/How to Cook Everything Fast, Revised Edition
Does it get cozier than this? We think not. The "polenta" is so luscious and creamy that you won't believe how healthy it actually is. This polenta alternative, starring puréed cauliflower, is low carb, gluten free and surprisingly high in protein.
January 25: Instant Pot Coconut Salmon with Fresh Herbs and Lime
Christopher Testani/Instant Family Meals
This dinner doubles as a work of art, if we do say so ourselves. Serving this salmon is sort of like putting a painting on your dinner table instead of a wall. The fish is steam poached in coconut milk, which keeps it moist and flavorful for the long haul.
January 26: Five-Minute Bean Salad
Heidi Swanson/Super Natural Simple
It's the ideal recipe for using up all those canned white beans you've been hoarding in the cupboard. We're betting a sprinkle of crumbled feta cheese on top or a bed of greens underneath wouldn't hurt. Just don't skip the fresh oregano or lemon zest—they brighten every bite.
January 27: Creamy Lentil-Stuffed Butternut Squash
Nisha Vora/Rainbow Plant Life
Hearty and, dare we say it, meaty—despite being vegan. The herb- and wine-kissed lentils are delicious on their own, but we think the butternut-tahini sauce on top just might steal the show.
January 28: Sheet Pan Miso-Glazed Fish with Broccoli and Coconut Rice
Mandalyn Renicker/The Huckle and Goose Cookbook
Reason #582 to love sheet pan dinners: Fewer dirty dishes means more time to catch up on your Netflix queue. Any flaky fish you enjoy will do here, like salmon, cod, sea bass or halibut. The savory miso glaze is super adaptable.
January 29: Falafel Salad with Spicy Yogurt Sauce
Erin McDowell
If you're going to eat a plateful of vegetables, you should at least make every bite worthwhile. Enter this falafel-crowned mix of lettuce, radicchio, cucumber, tomatoes and red onion, which is made even more indulgent with a hefty drizzle of sriracha yogurt sauce.
January 30: Cauliflower Chili
Lauren Volo/Cauliflower Power
It's a vegetarian comfort as is, but you can easily give it a protein boost by adding ground turkey or chicken, if you'd like. Might we suggest bookmarking this crowd-pleaser ahead of the Super Bowl?
January 31: Broccoli Margherita Pizza
Con Poulos/Week Light
Delivery pizza? We don't know her. If you're wondering why you don't see any broccoli on top of this better-for-you pie, that's because it's hidden in the cheesy, four-ingredient crust. Take that, picky kids.
