Healthy Thai Peanut Salad with Grilled Flank Steak

This vibrant Healthy Thai Peanut Salad with Grilled Flank Steak is a protein-packed dish bursting with bold, fresh flavors. Topped with a creamy homemade Thai peanut dressing, it’s the perfect balance of healthy and satisfying! Perfect for lunch or dinner!

Love the rich, nutty flavors of Pad Thai (Thai peanut noodles)? You’re in for a treat! Skip the pasta and give this Healthy Thai Peanut Salad with Grilled Flank Steak a try—it’s a fresh, feel-good twist on a classic favorite.

I can’t stand thinking up a healthy dinner idea every day! It’s exhausting. Cade isn’t much help either (sorry, Cade), and even brainstorming quick dinner recipes can feel like a chore. Throw in the “healthy” factor, and I’m already over it. That’s exactly why I came up with this Healthy Thai Peanut Salad with Grilled Flank Steak. It’s the result of a little rule I’ve been testing out over the past year.

When we started getting more and more requests for healthy dinner recipes, especially quick ones, I knew we needed to rethink things. Not just for adults, but for busy families juggling everything life throws at them.

So one day, as Cade and I were hashing this out, a light bulb went off: instead of stressing about brand-new recipes, why not start with dishes we already love and simply swap out the unhealthy ingredients for better, feel-good options? And guess what? It worked! This salad is proof that healthy can be delicious, simple, and totally doable! Even on a busy weeknight.

How to Make Your Favorite Recipe Healthy

Our new rule is simple: start with a favorite recipe, add more fruits and veggies, and swap out sugars and processed ingredients for healthier alternatives.

It’s easier than you’d think! For example, we took a classic lasagna recipe and made a few clever changes. We used thinly sliced zucchini instead of pasta and cottage cheese instead of ricotta. The result? A dish so good that no one even noticed the swaps. It all bakes together perfectly, and the zucchini melts right in, making it an effortless upgrade.

Who says healthy eating can’t be sneaky and delicious?

Ingredients Needed For Healthy Thai Peanut Salad with Grilled Flank Steak

Salad Ingredients:

• Flank Steak
• Mixed Greens
• Spinach
• Red Bell Pepper
• Orange Bell Pepper
• Red Cabbage
• Avocados
• Carrot
• Cucumber
• Jalapeño
• Sesame Seeds
• Cilantro
• Dry Roasted, Salted Peanuts
• Green Onions

Sauce and Dressing Ingredients:

• Creamy Peanut Butter
• Sriracha
• Fresh Lime Juice
• Toasted Sesame Oil
• Warm Water
• Rice Vinegar
• Fresh Ginger, grated
• Garlic
• Soy Sauce
• Honey

High-Protein Viral Cottage Cheese Beef & Sweet Potato Bowl

Get ready to fuel up with this High-Protein Cottage Cheese Beef & Sweet Potato Bowl! Packed with lean ground beef, creamy cottage cheese, and roasted sweet potatoes, this protein bowl delivers a perfect balance of savory and sweet in every bite.

With 40 grams of protein per serving, it’s the ultimate comfort food meets clean eating — perfect for meal prep, post-workout refuels, or a quick weeknight dinner that actually keeps you full. Topped with avocado and pickled red onions is my favorite way to eat it!

I kept hearing about these viral sweet potato bowls all over TikTok and other social media channels, and you know I had to jump on the train and create one my family would love. The components all seemed so odd to eat together, but let me tell you, it works! The flavors and textures all together in one bowl are like a party in your mouth.

Here’s the nutritional breakdown on the Oh Sweet Basil version of the viral Cottage Cheese Sweet Potato Beef Bowl: 36g carbohydrates, 40g protein, 32g fat, and 11g fiber.

Ingredients for a Sweet Potato Bowl

Keep in mind that this protein bowl is highly customizable, but this version is my absolute favorite. I’ll include a section below with ideas for creating your own customized bowl. Here are all the ingredients you’ll need for this high protein meal:

• Sweet Potatoes: Peeled and cut into similar sized cubes.
• Olive Oil: Helps roast and caramelize the sweet potatoes to give them crispy texture.
• Smoked Paprika: Adds bold smoky flavor.
• Kosher Salt: Adds flavor.
• Lean Ground Beef: I recommend going with 93/7 or 90/10 if you can find it.
• Kinder’s Carne Asada Seasoning: We are huge fans of Kinder’s seasonings, but if you don’t have it on hand, taco seasoning will work just great. We have found Kinder’s seasonings at Walmart, Kroger stores, Costco and on Amazon.
• Water: Used to keep the meat juicy and flavorful.
• Cottage Cheese: I use low fat cottage cheese and it tastes great!
  • PRO TIP: If the texture of cottage cheese is a hang up for you, give it a pulse in the blender before adding it to the bowl! Then you get all the protein and creaminess without the curds.
• Avocados: Adds creaminess and healthy fat.
• Cilantro: Adds fresh herbaceous flavor.
• Black Pepper: Adds flavor and a little heat.
• Read more

15 Minute Pesto Pasta [+ Video]

Pesto pasta is a fresh, flavor-packed dish made with al dente penne, homemade basil pesto, and a touch of garlic and parmesan. It’s quick to whip up, full of bright, herby goodness, and perfect for tossing together on a busy night. All you need is a few simple ingredients and 15 minutes – yes, really!

This pesto pasta is fresh, flavorful, and ridiculously easy to throw together. The homemade basil pesto is rich with garlic, parmesan, and pine nuts, and it clings perfectly to every bite of penne. We’ve been making it since our basil started taking over the garden, and it’s still a favorite. Tossed, stirred, and devoured in minutes – this dish never lets us down.

Fresh basil has a way of sneaking into just about everything we make during the warmer months. Whether it’s tucked into a cheesy pasta or layered into something heartier, the flavor is always a hit around our table. When the mood calls for something extra cozy, we’ll go for our 20-Minute Cheesy Pesto Pasta – it’s like this dish’s rich, melty cousin. Or if we’re feeling that casual backyard dinner vibe, a slice of Pesto Pepperoni and Sausage Grilled Pizza totally hits the spot. And if you haven’t tried our Creamy Chicken Pesto Lasagna, you’re seriously missing out!

Ingredients for Pesto Pasta

This pesto pasta is proof that simple really can be spectacular. Just grab a few fresh staples, give them a whirl in the food processor, and boom – pasta night perfection.

• Penne Pasta: The perfect pasta shape to catch all that gorgeous pesto sauce in every nook and cranny. Spaghetti or rotini work well too!
• Pine Nuts: Lightly toasted for that buttery, nutty flavor that makes pesto sing. If you don’t have these in the pantry, walnuts or almonds are a good backup.
• Garlic: Adds a bold, savory depth to the pesto. We’re using fresh cloves for that extra zing!
• Sweet Basil: The star of the show. Use fresh basil leaves, packed tightly for the best flavor. No dried stuff here!
• Olive Oil: Helps everything blend smoothly and adds that classic richness. Stick with extra virgin for the best taste.
• Parmesan Cheese: Freshly grated is best – trust us. Adds saltiness and a creamy texture to the pesto.
• Sea Salt and Fresh Black Pepper: Just a pinch or two to bring everything into balance.

The measurements needed for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.

Oven Braised Korean Beef Short Ribs [+Video]

Craving a hearty dish that’s bursting with umami and melt-in-your-mouth texture? These Oven Braised Korean Beef Short Ribs are the ultimate comfort food, slow-cooked to perfection in a rich, savory-sweet marinade. Featuring bone-in beef short ribs that are first seared to a golden crust, then braised low and slow in the oven with a bold blend of soy sauce, sesame oil, Gochujang, lime, garlic, rice wine vinegar, and brown sugar – this dish is the perfect balance of sweet, salty, and spicy.

You loved our traditional oven braised short ribs recipe, so we decided to give them some Korean flair with those sweet and savory flavors everyone loves about Korean cuisine!

Perfect for make-ahead meals, holiday dinners, or when you just want some tender short ribs, these fall-off-the-bone beef short ribs will become a beloved favorite in your recipe rotation. They practically cook themselves!

Ingredients for Korean Braised Short Ribs Recipe

The key ingredient in this recipe, besides the short ribs themselves, is gochujang. It is a backbone of Korean cooking and has the most incredible flavor! It makes the ribs a little sweet and a little spicy and a whole lot delicious! Here is a list of everything you’ll need:

• Short Ribs
• For Pan Searing: Flour, Kosher Salt, Black Pepper and Olive Oil
• For the Braising Liquid: Rice Wine Vinegar, Limes (juice and zest), Gochujang,  Soy Sauce, Brown Sugar, Sesame Oil, Beef Bouillon and Water
• Aromatics: Green Onions, Garlic and Ginger
• Garnishes: Green Onions, Chili Peppers, Cilantro and Sesame Seeds

For all the details and measurements for each ingredient, continue to scroll down to the end of the post.

What is Gochujang?

Gochujang is a red chili paste that also contains glutinous rice, fermented soybeans, salt, and occasionally sweeteners. It’s thick and sticky and can be quite spicy and very concentrated and pungent in flavor.

• Is Gochujang spicy? I am a big wimp when it comes to spiciness, so I usually get a pretty mild variety. The heat can vary depending on what brand you buy, so check the label for the heat indicator. We like this one.
• Where do you buy gochujang? You can find gochujang at any grocery store. It will be in the Asian food section near the soy sauce and

Pineapple Jalapeño Turkey Burgers

Add some tropical flavor and a spicy kick to your next burger with this delicious and saucy pineapple jalapeño turkey burgers. Perfect for summer cookouts or anytime you’re in the mood for a unique and tasty twist on a classic dish.

We had a bunch of family in town a couple weeks back and I was trying to think up something quick and easy to have for dinner. Instantly BBQ came to mind because you can just throw it all on the grill and sides are always easy. I’m not a huge hamburger fan so I changed things up and made them sweet, spicy and saucy.

I loved the juiciness that the Mar A Lago turkey burgers recipe had because of the fruit in it so I threw pineapple into this one. The preserves give it a little heat and sweetness which even our youngest loved. The burgers stay really moist and when you bite into them you get a little sweet and tang from the sauce.

Ingredients for Pineapple Jalapeño Turkey Burgers

These burgers are sweet and tangy and I crave them all summer long! Here is everything you will need:

Burgers

• Ground Turkey: don’t go too lean or the burgers will be crumbly and dry
• Salt and Pepper: adds flavor to the meat
• Hamburger Buns: We prefer brioche for the best flavor and texture.
• Toppings: Havarti Cheese, Lettuce, Tomato Slices and Red Onion Slices

Sauce

• Pineapple Jalapeño Preserves: We love Kelly’s brand, but any brand you can find should work great.
• Spices: Cinnamon, Nutmeg and Ginger
• Lemon Juice: adds acidity to the sauce
• Soy Sauce: adds flavor

The measurements and details for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.

How to Make Pineapple Jalapeño Turkey Burgers

We have found that chilling the turkey burger patties after they are formed makes all the difference, so be sure to plan that into your prep time. Here are the steps:

1. Form the Patties: Divide the ground turkey into 4 equal balls and form into patties and cover both sides in salt and pepper.
2. Refrigerate: Place the patties in a plate, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for an hour.
3. Make Sauce: While the turkey patties are chilling, make the sauce by adding all the ingredients to a small bowl and whisking everything until well combined.
4. Grill: Heat the grill to medium-high heat, and grill the patties for 6-8 minutes on each side. Only flip them once and don’t press them.
5. Stir: Add all the ingredients for the sauce to a sauce pan and whisk together
6. Assemble: Top each patty with a slice of Havarti cheese and close the lid for a minute or tw