Your Healthy Meal Plan For November

Updated: Dec. 20, 2023

Embrace seasonal favorites with a month-long healthy meal plan, perfect for cozy November nights.

1 / 30

Sausage & Rice Stuffed Pumpkins

My children often request this dish. It also adds a great "wow" factor to a festive buffet table.—Andria Peckham, Lowell, Michigan

Goes Great with: Taste of Fall Salad

2 / 30

Day 2: Turkey Curry with Rice

When I have leftover turkey and a hankering for non-holiday food, I make turkey curry with carrots, cauliflower and mango chutney to spoon over rice. —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada

Goes Great with: Citrus & Roasted Beets Salad

3 / 30

Day 3: Salmon with Horseradish Pistachio Crust

Impress everyone at your table with this elegant but easy salmon that's delicious and nutritious. You can substitute scallions for shallots if you like. —Linda Press Wolfe, Cross River, New York

Goes Great with: Roasted Vegetables with Sage

4 / 30

Spicy Touchdown Chili

For me, football, cool weather and chili just seem to go together. Whether I’m cheering on the local team on a Friday night or enjoying a Saturday afternoon of Oklahoma Sooner football with some friends, I enjoy serving this chili on game day. —Chris Neal, Quapaw, Oklahoma

Goes Great with: Quick Buttermilk Corn Bread

5 / 30

Day 5: Italian Hot Dish

My husband had a poor perception of healthy food until he tried this beefy casserole. The combination of pasta, oregano, mushrooms and green peppers makes it a favorite healthy pasta recipe in our house. —Theresa Smith, Sheboygan, Wisconsin

Goes Great with: Garden-Fresh Rainbow Chard

6 / 30

Day 6: Roasted Butternut Squash Tacos

Spicy butternut squash makes such a great base for these vegetarian tacos. I’m always looking for quick and nutritious weeknight dinners for my family. These fit the bill and are so delicious! —Elisabeth Larsen, Pleasant Grove, Utah

Goes Great with: Cheesy Cauliflower Breadsticks

7 / 30

Pumpkin-Lentil Soup

I was really craving a hot delicious soup—something filling and healthy. I looked around my kitchen for a few ingredients, then created this recipe. Pumpkin adds creamy richness and body. —Amy Blom, Marietta, Georgia

Goes Great with: Crusty Homemade Bread

8 / 30

Maple-Roasted Chicken & Acorn Squash

When I became a new mother, my mom helped me find comforting and simple recipes to have on hand. This terrific roast chicken is a happy discovery. —Sara Eilers, Surprise, Arizona

Goes Great with: Mandarin Pecan Salad

9 / 30

Stuffed Pepper Soup

I was talking about stuffed peppers with the other cooks at the restaurant where I work. We decided to mix similar ingredients for a soup. Customer response was overwhelming! —Krista Muddiman, Meadville, Pennsylvania

Goes Great with: Pumpkin Knot Rolls

10 / 30

Spaghetti Squash & Sausage Easy Meal

My son’s favorite dish uses homegrown spaghetti squash, kielbasa, and pico de gallo or salsa. —Pam Mascarenas, Taylorsville, Utah

Goes Great with: Winter Beet Salad

11 / 30

Day 11: Maple-Glazed Pork Tenderloin

My husband and I think this roasted pork tenderloin tastes like a fancy restaurant dish, but it couldn’t be simpler to make at home. The maple-mustard glaze makes it extra special. It's a modification of a recipe we first tasted at a friend's house. —Colleen Mercier, Salmon Arm, British Columbia.

Goes Great with: Roasted Sweet Potato Salad with Honey Maple Vinaigrette

12 / 30

Turkey Sliders with Sesame Slaw

I'm a fan of sliders, especially if they are Asian inspired. Sweet Hawaiian rolls make these especially tasty. —Gloria Bradley, Naperville, Illinois
13 / 30

Sweet Potato and Turkey Couscous

We always have turkey and sweet potatoes left over after our big Thanksgiving feast. I combine them in this quick, easy and nutritious main dish that satisfies alongside a simple green salad. —Roxanne Chan, Albany, California

Goes Great with: Winter Endive Salad

14 / 30

Garlic-Ginger Turkey Tenderloins

This good-for-you entree can be on your dinner plates quicker than Chinese takeout—and for a lot less money! Ginger and brown sugar flavor the sauce that spices up the turkey as it bakes. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Goes Great with: Smoky Cauliflower

15 / 30

Hoisin Turkey Lettuce Wraps

I'm married to a marathon runner, which means dinners need to be healthy but flavor-packed. These low-carb wraps are quick and easy. He loves the health aspect, I love the taste! —Melissa Pelkey Hass, Waleska, Georgia

Goes Great with: Golden Zucchini Pancakes

16 / 30
17 / 30

Turkey-Stuffed Acorn Squash

We stuff acorn squash with leftovers like turkey, dressing and cranberry sauce. Make as much or as little as you need to use everything up. —Cindy Romberg, Mississauga, Ontario

Goes Great with: Butternut Squash with Whole Grains

18 / 30

Day 18: Apple Cider Pork Chops

These apple cider pork chops are a must for fall family dinners. I serve them with buttered egg noodles to soak up more of that delicious sauce. The recipe is easy to double when company pops in. —Debiana Casterline, Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey

Goes Great with: Creamy Roasted Garlic & Spinach Orzo

19 / 30

Day 19: Turkey White Chili

Growing up in a Pennsylvania Dutch area, I was surrounded by excellent cooks and wonderful foods. I enjoy experimenting with new recipes like this change-of-pace chili. —Kaye Whiteman, Charleston, West Virginia

Goes Great with: Cowboy Corn Bread

20 / 30

Day 20: Italian Turkey Meatballs

What's not to love about moist and tender homemade Italian meatballs? Because they're made with lean turkey, they're lower in saturated fat, too! —Mary Berg, Lake Elmo, Minnesota

Goes Great with: Perfect Winter Salad

21 / 30

Apple-Roasted Pork with Cherry Balsamic Glaze

I added roasted apples, cherries and onions to turn ordinary pork into an impressive dish. There is a short time span between caramelized onions and burned ones, so pay close attention once they start cooking. —Josh Downey, McHenry, Illinois

Goes Great with: Lemony Roasted Fingerlings and Brussels Sprouts

22 / 30

Day 22: Golden Apricot-Glazed Turkey Breast

23 / 30

Day 23: Thanksgiving Lover's Pizza

Got Thanksgiving Day leftovers? Forget ho-hum turkey sandwiches and try this unique take on pizza instead. Get creative with different variations: use whole berry or jelly cranberry sauce; add dollops of mashed potatoes on top; drizzle with turkey gravy; sprinkle with stuffing or dressing; or try unique pizza crust varieties. —Carla Parker, Anderson, South Carolina

Goes Great with: Kale and Fennel Skillet

24 / 30

Apple Squash Soup

I add a little ginger and sage to this creamy butternut squash apple soup. My family loves it when autumn rolls around. —Crystal Ralph-Haughn, Bartlesville, Oklahoma

Goes Great with: Sunflower Seed and Honey Wheat Bread

25 / 30

Day 25: Balsamic Roasted Vegetable Primavera

Roasting makes veggies an irresistible part of this light but filling dinner. —Carly Curtin, Ellicott City, Maryland

Goes Great with: Merry Berry Salad

26 / 30

Garlic Spaghetti Squash with Meat Sauce and Tomato

I have reduced grains and other starches in my diet due to health reasons, so I was looking for filling, comforting meals without pasta or potatoes. When I was tinkering with this spaghetti squash recipe, I discovered something fun to eat! —Becky Ruff, Mc Gregor, Iowa

Goes Great with: French Bread Loaves

27 / 30

Contest-Winning Braised Short Ribs

I've been relying on this braised short ribs recipe ever since I bought my first slow cooker some 19 years ago. The fall-off-the-bone-tender entree is much appreciated on busy days. —Peggy Edwards, Heber City, Utah

Goes Great with: Roasted Cabbage and Onions

28 / 30

Apple-Topped Ham Steak

Sweet apples combine nicely with tangy mustard in this dish to create a luscious topping for skillet-fried ham steak. I especially like to serve this to guests in fall. —Eleanor Chore, Athena, Oregon

Goes Great with: Garlic Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Mustard Sauce

29 / 30

Day 29: Saucy Indian-Style Chicken & Vegetables

This Indian-style dish seems to develop a devoted following. Prepared sauce makes it easy to bring the rich flavors of Indian cuisine to your family. Feel free to use more or less tikka masala sauce according to your personal taste. —Erica Polly, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin

Goes Great with: Roasted Cauliflower with Tahini Yogurt Sauce

30 / 30

Day 30: Chicken Parmesan With Spaghetti Squash

I grow spaghetti squash and herbs in my garden every year, so this recipe is the perfect way to use them up. —Kristina Krummel, Elkins, Arkansas

Goes Great with: Tomato Herb Focaccia