8 Healthier Versions of Your Favorite Restaurant Meals
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.
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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. The mango sauce adds a tangy tropical flair. Did we mention it's ready in just 30 minutes?
Theirs:
- 1,220 calories
- 76 g fat
Ours:
- 414 calories
- Â 20 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, cheese, 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:
- 389 calories
- 17 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
Fiesta Lime Chicken
Inspired by Applebee's, this chicken breast dinner recipe is full of flavor, yet we've reduced its calories by about 1,000. Plus, requiring only 20 minutes of prep time, this is an easy healthy recipe.
Theirs:
- 1,430 calories
- 85 g fat
Ours:
- 378 calories
- 14 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.
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