Day 1: Pressure-Cooker Tequila Salsa Chicken
I had this dish at a local Mexican restaurant when celebrating a friend's birthday. I fell in love with the spicy, smoky flavor from the tequila and decided to try Instant Pot salsa chicken at home. Boy, was it a success! It's also great stuffed into flour tortillas or for making nachos. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho
Goes Great With: Salsa Corn
Day 2: Vegetarian Skillet Lasagna
This flavorful weeknight vegetarian skillet lasagna is sure to please any meat lover at your dinner table. Serve with a mixed green salad to complement the meal. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Goes Great With: Grilled Broccoli
Day 3: Slow-Cooker Mongolian Beef
This slow-cooker Mongolian beef uses inexpensive ingredients to offer big flavor in a small amount of time. It's easier than getting takeout! Set your Crock-Pot on high for two to three hours to whip it up even quicker. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Goes Great With: Grilled Zucchini with Onions
Day 4: Easy Pad Thai
Skip the take-out restaurant and give this pad thai recipe a try if you need an easy and quick meal. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Goes Great With: Indian Ginger Potatoes
Day 5: Jamaican Jerk Pork Chops
These sweet, spicy chops can be thrown together in minutes, but definitely don't taste like it. Serve it with a side of jasmine rice and you'll feel like you're on a tropical vacation. —Allison Ulrich, Frisco, Texas
Goes Great With: Air-Fryer Cumin Carrots
Day 6: Grilled Chicken Chopped Salad
Layered desserts always grab my family’s attention, but salads? Not so much. I wondered if I could get everyone on board by presenting a healthy salad in an eye-catching way. I’m happy to say that it worked. —Christine Hadden, Whitman, Massachusetts
Goes Great With: Air-Fryer Garlic-Herb Pattypan Squash
Day 7: Grilled Onion & Skirt Steak Tacos
I grew up watching my grandmother and mother in the kitchen. My grandparents came from Mexico, and this steak marinated in beer and lime juice honors their passion for cooking. —Adan Franco, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Goes Great With: Roasted Fennel and Peppers
Day 8: One-Pan Sweet Chili Shrimp and Veggies
This one-pan shrimp and veggies recipe has everything I'm looking for in a weeknight family dinner: quick, flavorful, nutritious and all three of my kids will eat it! My oldest son loves shrimp and I thought it would work well as a sheet-pan supper. —Elisabeth Larsen, Pleasant Grove, Utah
Goes Great With: Raw Cauliflower Tabbouleh
Day 9: Southwest Sweet Potato Skillet
One of the first things my husband made for me was a variation of this chicken sweet potato skillet. Over the years, it has become a family favorite. Top with cheese, sour cream, avocado, lettuce or anything else your family likes. —MacKenzie Wright, San Antonio, Texas
Goes Great With:Broccoli Cauliflower Combo
Day 10: Curry Coconut Chicken
My husband and I love this slow-cooker coconut curry chicken! It’s a breeze to prepare and it tastes just like a meal you’d have at your favorite Indian or Thai restaurant. —Andi Kauffman, Beavercreek, Oregon
Goes Great With: Asian-Style Green Beans
Day 11: Mediterranean Meatzza
Pizza night has never been the same at our house since we started making our low-carb pizza with a meat crust. It's protein-packed, filling and topped with fresh Mediterranean ingredients. — Shauna Havey, Roy, Utah
Goes Great With: Fried Asparagus
Day 12: Slow-Cooked Ropa Vieja
I traveled to Cuba a few years ago and had some of the best food imaginable. This dish stuck out, and when I returned home I began to experiment with making ropa vieja in the slow cooker. I hope you enjoy the flavors of Cuba as much as I do. —Joshua Boyer, Traverse City, Michigan
Goes Great With: Roasted Asparagus
Day 13: Balsamic-Glazed Fig & Pork Tenderloin
I have a huge fig tree that produces an abundance of figs. One year I tried drying some and developed this sweet and smoky recipe as a result. Now it's a regular at family gatherings. —Greg Fontenot, The Woodlands, Texas
Goes Great With: Sauteed Tarragon Radishes
Day 14: Pressure-Cooker Chickpea and Potato Curry
I make chana masala, the classic Indian dish, in my slow cooker. Browning the onion, ginger and garlic first really makes the sauce amazing. —Anjana Devasahayam, San Antonio, Texas
Goes Great With: Syrian Green Beans with Fresh Herbs
Day 15: Air-Fryer Cod
This air-fryer cod recipe will convert even the biggest fish skeptic. It's healthy and delicious—no breading needed! —Kim Russell, North Wales, Pennsylvania
Goes Great With: Squash Ribbons
Day 16: Moroccan Lamb Lettuce Wraps
I am a huge fan of both Moroccan lamb and lettuce wraps. This combination—with the creamy and crunchy cucumber—makes a tasty slow-cooked dish. The wine and chili powder add extra flavor elements to the sauce mixture, too. —Arlene Erlbach, Morton Grove, Illinois
Goes Great With: Sweet-Sour Red Cabbage
Day 17: Chicken with Peach-Avocado Salsa
This super fresh dinner is pure summer—juicy peaches, creamy avocado, grilled chicken and a kick of hot sauce and lime. To get it on the table even quicker, make the salsa ahead. —Shannon Roum, Cudahy, Wisconsin
Goes Great With: Pressure-Cooker Sicilian Steamed Leeks
Day 18: Vegetarian Skillet Enchiladas
Whether it's meatless Monday or your family eats vegetarian every day, everyone will be satisfied with these unconventional vegetarian skillet enchiladas. Garnish with the optional toppings or other favorites like tortilla chips and extra shredded cheese. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Goes Great With: Confetti Jicama Salad
Day 19: Steak Fajitas
Zesty salsa and tender strips of steak make these traditional fajitas extra special. —Rebecca Baird, Salt Lake City, Utah
Goes Great With: Three-Pepper Coleslaw
Day 20: Kimchi Cauliflower Fried Rice
This healthier take on kimchi fried rice is one of my favorite recipes because it's customizable. If there's a vegetarian in the family, leave out the bacon and add your favorite veggies. —Stefanie Schaldenbrand, Los Angeles, California
Goes Great With: Zesty Sugar Snap Peas
Day 21: Lemony Shrimp and Arugula Orzo
What I love about this lemon shrimp orzo is that it's so tasty and it can be eaten hot or cold. It tastes great with chicken, too. —Aleni Salcedo, East Elmhurst, New York
Goes Great With: Mediterranean Cauliflower
Day 22: Pressure-Cooker Mexican Stuffed Peppers
These pressure-cooker stuffed peppers get a southwestern twist! The filling also makes a delicious meat loaf that we like cold as a sandwich with cheddar cheese, mayo and salsa. —Traci Wynne, Denver, Pennsylvania
Goes Great With: Spicy Gazpacho Salad
Day 23: Curried Sweet Potato Pineapple Chicken
This chicken and sweet potato dish is a delicious combination of sweet and savory flavors. I like to add a bit more spice. Make sure to keep the sweet potato chunks large so they keep their integrity over the long cooking time. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho
Goes Great With: Beets in Orange Sauce
Day 24: Cilantro Lime Shrimp
A quick garlicky lime marinade works magic on these juicy shrimp. They come off the grill with huge flavors perfect for your next cookout. —Melissa Rodriguez, Van Nuys, California
Goes Great With: Zucchini in Dill Cream Sauce
Day 25: Garlic-Grilled Chicken with Pesto Zucchini Ribbons
The first time I substituted zucchini noodles for regular pasta, it was because I was trying to reduce carbohydrates and calories. Now I make them because we love the flavor and texture they bring to dishes. This dish is just as delicious if you substitute shrimp for the chicken. —Suzanne Banfield, Basking Ridge, New Jersey
Goes Great With: Old Bay Cauliflower
Day 26: Ultimate Grilled Pork Chops
A little brining and a special dry rub go a long way to making the perfect pork chop. Once you've mastered the techniques, you'll be enjoying them all summer long. —Matthew Hass, Franklin, Wisconsin
Goes Great With: Maple-Ginger Glazed Carrots
Day 27: Chinese Cashew Chicken Pizza
I make this quick weeknight chicken pizza when I'm craving takeout. I like using shortcuts like premade pizza crust and rotisserie chicken to cut down on my time in the kitchen. —Joseph A. Sciascia, San Mateo, California
Goes Great With: Flamboyant Flamenco Summer Salad
Day 28: Comforting Tuna Patties
My grandmother and mother made these tuna patties on Fridays during Lent. I'm not the biggest fan of tuna, but it's perfect in this dish. These patties are even good cold the next day, if there are any leftovers. —Ann Marie Eberhart, Gig Harbor, Washington
Goes Great With: Oven-Baked Asparagus
Day 29: Vegetable, Steak and Eggs
Low-carb doesn't have to be skimpy with this lighter take on steak and eggs. I love cooking with squash, but feel free to toss in any vegetable combination you like. —Robert Deskin, Plantation, Florida
Goes Great With: Baked Baby Potatoes with Olive Pesto
Day 30: Grilled Chicken and Mango Skewers
This tantalizing recipe was inspired by charbroiled chicken skewers I ate while strolling along Calle Ocho in Miami on Sunday afternoons. I like to garnish mine with sesame seeds. —Wolfgang Hanau, West Palm Beach, Florida
Goes Great With: Mediterranean Brown Rice Salad
Day 31: Garlic & Herb Artichoke Salmon
If you’re new to cooking fish (or even if you’re a pro), this no-fail salmon recipe is a must-make. It’s easy enough for everyday, but also wows at dinner parties. —Margee Berry, White Salmon, Washington
Goes Great With: Roasted Asparagus With Thyme
The post Your Low-Calorie Meal Plan for August appeared first on Taste of Home.
Caroline Stanko