1,449 light recipes

One-skillet chicken legs and Italian sausage browned and simmered with toasted rice, mushrooms, green peppers, and tomatoes in red wine. A rustic Italian rice dish that feeds eight.

A lighter, golden fruitcake with apricots, golden raisins, candied orange peel, and walnuts in a buttery brandy batter. Baked in decorative molds for a gorgeous holiday centerpiece.

Blue cornmeal pancakes made with egg whites, vanilla, and safflower oil for a lighter stack with a nutty, earthy crunch. Served with honey or molasses.

Greek potato salad with a creamy yogurt-feta dressing, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, oregano, and rosemary. A lighter Mediterranean twist on potato salad with no mayonnaise.

Lettuce cups with ground beef and tofu in a savory chili-garlic, hoisin, and sesame sauce. A lighter take on Chinese lettuce wraps with hidden tofu stretching the beef.

Bay scallops with vermicelli in a fresh tomato-basil sauce, finished with cream and a whisper of nutmeg. A lighter Italian seafood pasta for weeknight dinners.

A lighter eggplant casserole layered with herby tomato sauce, nutty Swiss cheese and a Parmesan-bread crumb topping. No frying, just baked until bubbling. Vegetarian and diabetic-friendly.

Italian turkey sausage patties with lemon zest, bread crumb coating, herbed tomato sauce, and melted mozzarella. A lighter skillet sausage Parmesan in under 45 minutes.

Creamy Southwestern chicken and corn soup made with skim milk, green chiles, and pimentos. A lighter take on cheesy corn chowder that's ready in 40 minutes.

Chocolate and strawberry stuffed French toast: whole-wheat sandwiches filled with ricotta, fresh berries, and chocolate chips, griddled until golden. A lighter twist on weekend brunch indulgence.

Roasted potato and surimi salad: red potatoes roasted hot with garlic, then tossed with imitation crab, hard-boiled eggs, and a dilled mayo-yogurt dressing. A lighter upgrade to classic potato salad.

McCarthy family fish chowder: New England-style haddock chowder with salt pork, potatoes, onion, and milk. Eight ingredients, one pot, feeds six.

No-bake chocolate banana split pie with a chocolate graham cracker crust, frozen yogurt filling, sliced bananas, and whipped topping. A lighter frozen dessert with banana split flavor.

Chicken cacciatore baked in a crushed Roma tomato sauce with white wine, fennel seed, cinnamon, coriander, and red pepper flakes. A lighter, oven-baked Italian hunter's chicken.

Mazetti: a dump-and-go slow cooker casserole with ground beef, egg noodles, tomato soup, corn, and mushrooms. Eight-hour weeknight dinner that feeds a family on autopilot.

Chiles rellenos-style poblano peppers stuffed with shredded chicken and mozzarella, baked under a tangy tomatillo verde sauce. A lighter Mexican main without the traditional egg batter and deep fry.