Your Low-Cal Meal Plan for February

Day 1: Chicken & Goat Cheese Skillet

My husband was completely bowled over by this on-a-whim skillet meal. I can’t wait to make it again very soon! —Ericka Barber, Eureka, California

Goes Great With: Ricotta Gnocchi in Tomato Sauce

Day 2: Beef Brisket in Beer

One bite of this super tender brisket and your family will be hooked! The rich gravy is perfect for spooning over a side of creamy mashed potatoes. —Eunice Stoen, Decorah, Iowa

Goes Great With: Cauliflower Mash

Day 3: Taco Turkey Meat Loaf

After buying a supersized package of ground turkey, I made this spicy taco turkey meat loaf using what I had on hand. It’s now become a family favorite! —Holly Battiste, Barrington, New Jersey

Goes Great With: Toasted Mexican Ravioli

Day 4: Pressure-Cooker Wine-Braised Beef Shanks

I adapted this from a slow-cooker recipe to one that takes about 2 hours start to finish, using a pressure cooker. Served over egg noodles or rice, it reminds me of Grandma’s house. —Helen Nelander, Boulder Creek, California

Goes Great With: Marinated Mushrooms & Artichokes

Day 5: 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: Asian Cucumber Salad

Day 6: Beef Tenderloin Roast

This beef tenderloin roast is a simple way to dress up dinner. Prepare the rest of your meal while it bakes in the oven. —Judith LaBrozzi, Canton, Ohio

Goes Great With: Slow-Cooker Marinated Mushrooms

Day 7: Turkey Chili

I’ve taken my mother’s turkey chili recipe and made it thicker and more robust. It’s a favorite, especially in fall and winter. —Celesta Zanger, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

Goes Great With: BLT Twice-Baked Potatoes

Day 8: Sausage-Topped White Pizza

I love cooking, and I learned from Nana and Mom. Pizza is easily one of my favorite dishes to prepare. I switched up this recipe to make it my own. —Tracy Brown, River Edge, New Jersey

Goes Great With: Roasted Buffalo Cauliflower Bites

Day 9: Slow-Cooker Butter Chicken

This slow-cooker butter chicken recipe is similar to the Middle Eastern version I had in Malaysia. I spent several years there eating a variety of Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian food. Butter chicken was one of my favorite dishes while I was there! —Shannon Copley, Upper Arlington, Ohio

Goes Great With: Broccoli Cauliflower Combo

Day 10: Spinach and Shrimp Fra Diavolo

This quick dish is spicy, garlicky, saucy and loaded with delicious shrimp. Plus, with the addition of spinach, you’re also getting a serving of veggies. When you need a perfect low-fat weeknight meal that is easy to pull together, this is it. You can substitute arugula or kale for the spinach if you’d like. —Julie Peterson, Crofton, Maryland

Goes Great With: Proscuitto-Wrapped Asparagus with Raspberry Sauce

Day 11: Southwest Vegetarian Bake

This veggie-packed casserole hits the spot on chilly nights. It’s a healthy canned vegetable recipe that’s great for any time I have a taste for Mexican food with all the fixings. —Patricia Gale, Monticello, Illinois

Goes Great With: One-Bite Tamales

Day 12: Pressure-Cooker Coq au Vin

Don’t be intimidated by the elegant name. The classic French dish is now made easier in one appliance! This Instant Pot coq au vin has all the classic flavors of a rich red wine-mushroom sauce but is so simple to make. My family loves it with whole grain country bread or French bread for dipping into the extra sauce. —Julie Peterson, Crofton, Maryland

Goes Great With: Spiced Garlic Carrots

Day 13: Spinach ‘n’ Broccoli Enchiladas

I like to top this wonderful meatless meal with lettuce and serve it with extra picante sauce. It’s quick, easy, filled with fresh flavor and definitely satisfying! —Lesley Tragesser, Charleston, Missouri

Goes Great With: Pico de Gallo with Chips

Day 14: White Wine Garlic Chicken

This garlic chicken is great over cooked brown rice or your favorite pasta. Don’t forget a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese, too. —Heather Esposito, Rome, New York

Goes Great With: Lemony Shrimp & Mushroom Linguine

Day 15: Basic Meat Loaf

Since I can’t have much salt, I’ve come up with a recipe for easy meatloaf that is really tasty without it. —Lillian Wittler, Wayne, Nebraska

Goes Great With: Mashed Carrots

Day 16: Manchester Stew

While in college, I studied abroad. At the time, I was a vegetarian and was pleasantly surprised at how delicious and diverse vegetarian food in Britain could be. After returning to the States, I re-created my favorite restaurant dish and named it after the University of Manchester. When the enticing aroma fills my kitchen, I feel as if I’m back in England! —Kimberly Hammond, Kingwood, Texas

Goes Great With: Grilled Cheese, Bacon and Oven-Dried Tomato Sandwich

Day 17: Portobello and Chickpea Sheet-Pan Supper

This is a fantastic meatless dinner or an amazing side dish. It works well with a variety of sheet-pan-roasted vegetables. We enjoy using zucchini or summer squash in the summer, and you can also change up the herbs in the dressing. —Elisabeth Larsen, Pleasant Grove, Utah

Goes Great With: Spicy Sausage Rigatoni

Day 18: Pastry-Topped Turkey Casserole

My friends tell me this is the best potpie. Hearty and full-flavored, this meal-in-one never lets on that it’s low fat and full of fiber. —Agnes Ward, Stratford, Ontario

Goes Great With: Savory Roasted Carrots with Mushrooms

Day 19: Makeover Meatless Lasagna

If you’ve never tried tofu before, this is the best recipe to give it a try. It blends in with all the other ingredients, adding protein without the fat and calories of ground beef. —Mary Lou Moeller, Wooster, Ohio

Goes Great With: Calamari Salad

Day 20: Garlicky Chicken Dinner

Flavorful bone-in chicken is enhanced by herbs, lemon and hearty vegetables in this savory meal-in-one entree. —Shannon Norris, Cudahy, Wisconsin

Goes Great With: Potato Wedges with Sweet and Spicy Sauce

Day 21: Spicy Pork and Butternut Squash Ragu

This recipe is a marvelously spicy combo that’s perfect for cooler fall weather and satisfying after a day spent outdoors. —Monica Osterhaus, Paducah, Kentucky

Goes Great With: Hearty Italian Salad

Day 22: Pepper-Stuffed Pork Tenderloin

Spicy stuffing balances the delicate flavor of pork in this dish that looks great on the plate—and tastes even better! —Margaret Allen, Abingdon, Virginia

Goes Great With: Fancy Baked Potatoes

Day 23: Beef Daube Provencal

This dish is perfect on cold winter days, especially after we have been out cutting wood or white-tail hunting. If you are lucky enough to have venison, try it here for melt-in-your-mouth goodness. —Brenda Ryan, Marshall, Missouri

Goes Great With: Herb Roasted Root Vegetables

Day 24: Pressure-Cooker Sauerbraten

One of my all-time favorite German dishes is sauerbraten, but I don’t love that it normally takes five to 10 days to make. Using an electric pressure cooker, I think I’ve captured that same distinctive flavor in less than two hours. —James Schend, Deputy Editor, Taste of Home

Goes Great With: Make-Ahead Sausage Pinwheels

Day 25: Italian Sausage Veggie Skillet

We love Italian sausage sandwiches, but because the bread isn’t diet-friendly for me, I created this recipe to satisfy my craving. If you like some heat, use hot peppers in place of the sweet peppers. —Tina Howells, Salem, Ohio

Goes Great With: Stuffed Shells with Arrabbiata Sauce

Day 26: Easy Poached Salmon

In 46 years of marriage, we had never tasted salmon until a friend told me about poaching it in a low cooker. I tried it and got flaky, moist results with little fuss. I added some soy sauce for extra flavor. — Johnna Johnson, Scottsdale, Arizona

Goes Great With: Lemon Broccoli

Day 27: English Pub Split Pea Soup

This family favorite is the same recipe my grandmother used. Now with the magic of the slow cooker, I can spend 15 minutes putting it together, walk away for five hours, and come back to “soup’s on.” Finish it with more milk if you like your soup a bit thinner. —Judy Batson, Tampa, Florida

Goes Great With: Thyme-Sea Salt Crackers

Day 28: 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: Cheesy Mashed Potato Cups