7 Healthier Versions of Your Favorite Restaurant Meals

Sheena Chihak, RD
·3 min read

Yes, you can enjoy restaurant-quality meals at home that won't break your calorie budget. We studied some popular restaurant menus for recipe inspiration. From there, we swapped in some of our Test Kitchen's top restaurant-inspired recipes that include healthier ingredients and adjusted portion size. You're going to be pleasantly surprised by these healthy restaurant food ideas that taste just as good as your favorite dishes (think creamy Alfredo pasta and saucy BBQ burgers) with a fraction of the calories and fat. Enjoy one of these healthy restaurant meals for dinner tonight.

Bacon-Cheddar-Chipotle Chicken Panini

Piled atop hearty slices of thick whole-grain bread, this healthy chicken sandwich inspired by Panera Bread got its calories cut in half. With 7 g fiber (mostly from the bread) and 32 g of protein (thanks to chicken, cheese, AND bacon), it will still be plenty satisfying.

Theirs:

  • 860 calories

  • 41 g fat

Ours:

  • 407 calories

  • 13 g fat

Asian Lettuce Wraps with Chicken

Our lighter P.F. Chang's restaurant-inspired recipe is packed with chicken and veggies for a delicious appetizer or meal. We also use reduced-sodium broth and soy sauce to keep the lettuce wraps a bit more heart-healthy.

Theirs:

  • 710 calories

  • 27 g fat

Ours:

  • 258 calories

  • 4 g fat

Coconut Shrimp with Mango Sauce

Skipping the deep fryer and swapping thick breading for coconut means a healthy, yet delicious take on a Red Lobster-favorite dish.  Did we mention it's ready in just 30 minutes?

Theirs:

  • 1,220 calories

  • 76 g fat

Ours:

  • 307 calories

  • 10 g fat

Chicken-Mango Salad with Sesame Wontons

Inspired by a Cheesecake Factory dish, this Asian salad recipe slashes calories in half in our version. Crispy wontons, fresh veggies, sweet mango, and grilled chicken are piled high for a healthy dinner recipe.

Theirs:

  • 800 calories

  • 32 g fat

Ours:

  • 370 calories

  • 17 g fat

Bourbon Barbecue Burger

This Red Robin-inspired burger recipe is piled high with onion, veggies, and ample sauciness for a fraction of the calories. Enjoy with some air-fryer veggies for a healthier complete meal.

Theirs:

  • 1,330 calories

  • 74 g fat

Ours:

  • 447 calories

  • 23 g fat

Beef and Bean Burritos

Complete with cilantro-lime rice, these Chipotle-inspired burritos get a healthy twist from leaner beef, canola oil, lots of veggies, a smaller whole-wheat tortilla and, of course, we kept the avocado.

Theirs:

  • 1,155 calories

  • 53 g fat

Ours:

  • 385 calories

  • 17 g fat

Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo

Enjoy a creamy, rich Olive Garden-inspired dish with less than half the calories and fat. Go with just the noodles and sauce for a classic Italian dish at home. You can also add veggies such as asparagus or broccoli to up the nutritional value. Or go with our easy chicken and tomato variation for a hearty boost of protein.

Theirs (with chicken):

  • 1,570 calories

  • 95 g fat

Ours (with chicken):

  • 629 calories

  • 37 g fat

Keep your healthy dinner plans going strong with these amazing 20-minute recipes. Trying to stay on a budget? We've got your healthy meal plan covered with our $3-per-serving recipes.