Low Calorie Recipes

Low calorie macaroni bake uses skim milk, cottage cheese, and dill in a from-scratch white sauce topped with breadcrumbs and paprika. Creamy comfort food without the guilt.

Lighter honey vanilla cheesecake made with reduced-fat cream cheese, cottage cheese, and fat-free ricotta on a gingersnap crust. Sweetened with honey instead of sugar and baked with steam for a silky, crack-free top.

Pear and anise skillet tart with caramelized sugar, fresh pears arranged spoke-fashion, and a lemon-anise pastry crust baked on top then flipped. A tarte tatin-style dessert with warm licorice notes.

Lexington Avenue seafood salad with shrimp, crab, peas, cucumber, and celery in a horseradish-spiked Thousand Island yogurt dressing. A lighter deli-counter-style seafood salad.

Sautéed Swiss chard with crispy pancetta, shallots, toasted walnuts and fresh thyme. Quick Italian-style greens side dish ready in 25 minutes.

Black tea smoked chicken: Sichuan-and-five-spice-rubbed thighs hot-smoked over rice, black tea, and brown sugar, then tucked into lettuce cups with peanuts, scallion, and a soy-ginger glaze. An impressive, gluten-free-friendly appetizer.

Baked spiced apple rings in cranberry juice with cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and lemon. Slow-baked until transparent and jewel-toned, served hot or cold as a garnish or vegan side dish.

Lean ground turkey simmered in a bold tomato sauce with hot pepper and oregano, stirred into nutty brown rice. A Portuguese-inspired one-pot meal that feeds a crowd.

Calorie-counters who are hungry for flavor will find this a very satisfactory salad dressing. It is only 26 calories per tablespoon.

Citrus wine chicken baked with orange juice, white wine, garlic, and Worcestershire sauce. A low-calorie skinless chicken dinner with a glossy pan sauce.

Crockpot Thai red curry shrimp simmers coconut milk, crushed tomatoes, and red curry paste with cauliflower and sweet peppers, then adds tender shrimp at the very end. An easy, lighter slow cooker curry that's big on flavor.

Low-calorie ginger apple crisp with a cornflake crumb topping and crystallized ginger. Six apples baked bubbly under a crunchy, spiced streusel in 30 minutes.

Pork tenderloin pinwheels stuffed with a dried apricot and whole wheat bread stuffing, broiled and served with a warm apricot nectar sauce with nutmeg.

Root vegetable tagine simmers sweet potatoes, turnips, and carrots in a Moroccan spice blend with preserved lemon, green olives, and fresh herbs. Served over couscous with crisp spice-roasted chickpeas.

No-bake chocolate peanut butter squares with a hidden ingredient: pureed kidney beans for added fiber and protein. Loaded with marshmallows, walnuts, and cinnamon. Gluten-free friendly.

Asparagus with Toasted Pine Nuts and Lemon Vinaigrette recipe