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  4. Our 20 Most Popular Weight Loss-Friendly Dinners of 2021

Our 20 Most Popular Weight Loss-Friendly Dinners of 2021

Leah Goggins headshot
Leah Goggins Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD December 12, 2021
Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD
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Slow-Cooker Mediterranean Chicken & Chickpea Soup

In 2021, we were all about comforting meals that pack in lots of delicious veggies, including everything from  slow-cooked soups to  sheet-pan roasts. These dinners, which are low in calories and high in fiber, were the weight loss dinner recipes people clicked on most this year. Recipes like our Slow-Cooker Chicken & Chickpea Soup and Spinach-Artichoke Pasta are so tasty, you'll want to bring them along for the ride in 2022.

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American Goulash

American Goulash
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American goulash, also known as old-fashioned goulash, is the perfect economical family meal. The pasta cooks right in the sauce, so this satisfying dish can cook in just one pot.

 

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Slow-Cooker Chicken & Chickpea Soup

Slow-Cooker Mediterranean Chicken & Chickpea Soup
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This set-it-and-forget-it slow-cooker recipe simmers away all day so you come home to a warm and healthy dinner the whole family will love. Using bone-in chicken is the key to making rich soup without adding broth.

 

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Spinach & Artichoke Dip Pasta

Spinach & Artichoke Dip Pasta
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If you've ever wanted to make a meal out of warm spinach and artichoke dip, this creamy pasta is for you. And here's what's almost as good as the flavor of this comforting dish: the fact that this healthy dinner takes just 20 minutes to prepare.

 

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Sheet-Pan Salmon with Sweet Potatoes & Broccoli

Sheet-Pan Salmon with Sweet Potatoes & Broccoli
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The vibrant combo of cheese, cilantro, chili, and lime--inspired by Mexican street corn--makes this salmon sheet-pan dinner burst with flavor.

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Sweet Potato & Black Bean Chili

sweet potato and black bean chili
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Make a double batch of this quick vegetarian chili, full of black beans and sweet potatoes, and eat it for lunch the next day or freeze the extras for another night. We love the smoky heat from the ground chipotle, but omit it if you prefer a mild chili. Serve with tortilla chips or cornbread and coleslaw.

 

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Slow-Cooker White Bean, Spinach & Sausage Stew

slow-cooker white bean, spinach & sausage stew
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Reach for this recipe on a chilly morning when you know you'll want a steaming bowl of slow-cooker sausage stew for supper. To make this recipe gluten free, use gluten-free sausage.

 

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Vegan Lentil Soup

Vegan Lentil Soup
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This vegan lentil soup recipe is packed with fresh ingredients and plenty of lentils that deliver a healthy dose of fiber in each bite. This vegan soup is the perfect cold-weather lunch or healthy dinner the whole family will love.

 

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Spinach & Artichoke Casserole with Chicken and Cauliflower Rice

Cheesy Spinach & Artichoke Casserole with Chicken and Cauliflower Rice
Credit: Andrea Mathis
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This high-protein chicken casserole clocks in right around 400 calories to help you end your day feeling satisfied—not starved or overly full.

 

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Hearty Chickpea & Spinach Stew

6351608.jpg
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This satisfying stew comes together in a snap. Mashed chickpeas add body to the broth, and tomato paste adds a savory note without piling on the sodium. To simplify the prep, look for chopped fresh onion and shredded carrot or a soup starter mix in the produce section.

 

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EatingWell's Eggplant Parmesan

EatingWell's Eggplant Parmesan
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Here we bake breaded eggplant for crispy results with fewer calories to boot. This makeover of the classic recipe was originally developed by our Test Kitchen in 1995 and got an update in 2020 for our 30th anniversary issue.

 

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Baked Spinach & Feta Pasta

Baked Spinach & Feta Pasta
Credit: Jason Donnelly
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Feta softens in the oven before it's combined with spinach and pasta, with the pasta cooking right in the baking dish. Enjoy this one-pan dish on its own as a vegetarian main or serve with sautéed chicken breast for a boost of protein.

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Mediterranean Chickpea Quinoa Bowl

Mediterranean Chickpea Quinoa Bowl
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Quinoa and chickpeas pack this vegetarian grain bowl with plenty of plant-based protein. Whip up a batch of these Mediterranean meals and pack in containers with lids to stash in the fridge for easy, healthy grab & go lunches all week long.

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Veggie & Hummus Sandwich

Veggie & Hummus Sandwich
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This mile-high vegetable and hummus sandwich makes the perfect heart-healthy vegetarian lunch to go. Mix it up with different flavors of hummus and different types of vegetables depending on your mood.

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Slow-Cooker Chicken & White Bean Stew

Slow-Cooker Chicken White Bean Stew
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This load-and-go slow-cooker chicken recipe is perfect for a busy weeknight dinner. Serve this Tuscan-inspired dish with crusty bread, a glass of Chianti and a salad.

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Chickpea Curry (Chhole)

chickpea curry (chhole)
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Made with convenient canned beans, this quick and healthy Indian recipe is an authentic chickpea curry that you can make in minutes. If you want an additional vegetable, stir in some roasted cauliflower florets. Serve with brown basmati rice or warm naan.

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Spaghetti & Spinach with Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce

Spaghetti & Spinach with Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce (tk final title)
Credit: Photography / Kelsey Hansen, Styling / Greg Luna
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To achieve flavor quickly in this pasta recipe, we use the oil from sun-dried tomatoes to create the base of the cream sauce. Meanwhile, the residual heat of the pasta wilts the spinach in record time for a fast weeknight dinner.

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Roasted Cauliflower & Potato Curry Soup

Roasted Cauliflower & Potato Curry Soup
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In this healthy cauliflower soup recipe, roasting the cauliflower first adds depth and prevents the florets from turning to mush. A little tomato sauce and coconut milk give the broth a rich, silky texture. Serve with a dollop of sour cream or yogurt, if desired.

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Creamy White Chili with Cream Cheese

creamy-white-chicken-chili-with-cream-cheese
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This rich, yet healthy, white chicken chili comes together in a flash thanks to quick-cooking chicken thighs and canned white beans. Mashing some of the beans acts as a fast thickener when your soups don't have a long time to simmer. Cream cheese adds the final bit of richness and a hint of sweet tang.

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Creamy Chicken, Brussels Sprouts & Mushrooms One-Pot Pasta

Creamy Chicken, Brussels Sprouts & Mushrooms One-Pot Pasta
Credit: Photography / Kelsey Hansen, Styling / Sammy Mila
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You'll only have to dirty one pot in this easy pasta recipe that cooks chicken and vegetables right along with the noodles. Plus, by using the exact amount of water you need to cook the pasta, the starch that usually gets drained off with your pasta water stays in the pot, giving you delectably creamy results.

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One-Pan Chicken Parmesan Pasta

One-Pan Chicken Parmesan Pasta
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This chicken Parmesan pasta uses the one-pot pasta method to cook your noodles, chicken and sauce all in one skillet for a fast and easy dinner with minimal cleanup. Finish the dish under the broiler to achieve a delicious melted cheese crust.

 

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    1 of 20 American Goulash
    2 of 20 Slow-Cooker Chicken & Chickpea Soup
    3 of 20 Spinach & Artichoke Dip Pasta
    4 of 20 Sheet-Pan Salmon with Sweet Potatoes & Broccoli
    5 of 20 Sweet Potato & Black Bean Chili
    6 of 20 Slow-Cooker White Bean, Spinach & Sausage Stew
    7 of 20 Vegan Lentil Soup
    8 of 20 Spinach & Artichoke Casserole with Chicken and Cauliflower Rice
    9 of 20 Hearty Chickpea & Spinach Stew
    10 of 20 EatingWell's Eggplant Parmesan
    11 of 20 Baked Spinach & Feta Pasta
    12 of 20 Mediterranean Chickpea Quinoa Bowl
    13 of 20 Veggie & Hummus Sandwich
    14 of 20 Slow-Cooker Chicken & White Bean Stew
    15 of 20 Chickpea Curry (Chhole)
    16 of 20 Spaghetti & Spinach with Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce
    17 of 20 Roasted Cauliflower & Potato Curry Soup
    18 of 20 Creamy White Chili with Cream Cheese
    19 of 20 Creamy Chicken, Brussels Sprouts & Mushrooms One-Pot Pasta
    20 of 20 One-Pan Chicken Parmesan Pasta

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    Our 20 Most Popular Weight Loss-Friendly Dinners of 2021
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