This part two of 12 Days of Easy, Healthy Dinners for Christmas Crazy plan is your secret weapon for minimizing meal time stress during the busiest time of the year! With a little planning now, you can cross “dinner stress” off your list and make space for all the things that truly matter this season!
12 Days of Easy, Healthy Dinner Recipes
As we all know, December is the busiest, most wonderful time of the year! With so much happening, meal planning can quickly become the last thing on your mind. So we’ve got a solution – The 12 Days of Easy Healthy Dinners for Christmas Crazy!
Last year we created Volume 1 and you guys loved it so much that we published a Volume 2 this December!! Last week we shared Week 1 and today we’ve got an equally yummy and easy Week 2 for you! For Volume 2 we broke the posts into two weeks – 6 days each – but if you look at the printable PDF below, you’ll get to see both weeks at once!
Think of this as your advent calendar for meal planning, but instead of chocolates or trinkets, each “door” reveals a delicious, stress-free dinner idea. These recipes are designed to save your sanity during the busiest month of the year, so you can spend less time cooking and more time enjoying the holiday season.
How to Use This Plan
Unlike the typical Confessions week-long meal plan, this list is designed to work with your unique December schedule. It’s not about sticking to a rigid lineup of meals but giving you flexible, sanity-saving options to plug in wherever they fit best during the holiday madness.
Browse the Recipes: Start by looking through the list of 12 easy dinner ideas. Each recipe is quick to prepare, packed with flavor, uses similar ingredients and proteins, and all are perfect for keeping your family happy during this hectic month. Note: this post lists Week 1 – the first 6 meals – but you can find both weeks on the printable PDF!
Print + Organize: Download the printable PDF to keep this meal plan at your fingertips. If you need a calendar, you can print this weekly calendar or this monthly calendar – these are just simple canva templates! First, write down your activities and engagements for the rest of the month, then plan your meals. Print or save recipes.
Make Adjustments: Mix and match recipes to fit your needs. Swap sides to suit your preferences, double recipes for leftovers, or skip a day entirely if you’re eating out or attending a holiday gathering.
Enjoy the Season: The beauty of this plan is that it clears headspace for the things that matter most. With meals planned, you’ll spend less time worrying about dinner and more time soaking up the magic of the holidays!
More Tips for an Easy December
Have Easy Sides on Hand:
- Freezer Brown Rice: Cook a big batch, freeze, and heat when you need an easy carb.
- Bagged Salad or Arugula: Toss with olive oil, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt for a fresh and easy side.
- Freezer Veggies: Freezer veggies are great for busy seasons. Just, steam, roast, or sauté—whatever works best for your meal.
- Pasta: Gluten-free or regular, it’s the perfect partner for saucy dishes.
- Baked Sweet Potatoes: bake or air fryer a few potatoes at the beginning of the week for another easy to grab side.
Plan Quick Breakfasts:
- Greek Yogurt & Berries: Add a drizzle of honey or a sprinkle of your favorite granola for crunch.
- One Pan Baked Oatmeal: This is so quick! Either make ahead for the week, or it can even be made on a weekday if you’re short on weekend prep time!
- Cottage Cheese Egg Bites: High protein meals are going to keep us going during the craziness. These are easily customized with mix-ins for everyone’s preferences.
Add in simple lunches:
- Taco Salad: Mix and match your toppings for your perfect taco salad combo!
- Chicken Salad with Grapes: Serve over some greens for more fiber, or multi grain crackers are great on the go!
- Loaded Sweet Potatoes: Top baked sweet potatoes with leftovers from your dinners.
12 Days of Easy Healthy Dinners + Groceries
Groceries:
- 1 lb chicken breasts thinly sliced
- ¼ cup gluten free flour you can sub whatever flour you have on hand
- garlic powder to taste
- salt to taste
- black pepper to taste
- 2 tsp butter, vegan butter, or ghee
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 1 lemon juice of
- ⅔ cup chicken broth
- ¼ cup dry white wine
- 2 slices Mozzarella cheese thinly sliced
- Fresh parsley for garnish, optional
- Capers for garnish, optional
Groceries:
- 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil WW sub cooking spray
- 1 yellow onion chopped
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken thighs, breasts, or tenderloins
- 2 Tbsp salt free taco seasoning
- 2 cups salsa verde
- 4-6 cups low sodium chicken broth I would start with 4 and add extra if you like a brothier soup
- 1 cup white beans, drained (black beans would be yummy if you prefer that) (not following 21df? Use the whole can!)
- 1 cup frozen corn or sub more beans
- 3 cups frozen cauliflower rice
- 2 Tbsp lime juice juice from one lime
- 2 cups chopped kale if you buy the bagged, pre-chopped kale, pick out the tough stems (can sub zucchini)
- 1/2 cup cilantro leaves and stems, finely chopped (optional but omggggg)
- salt, optional
- Optional toppings: corn tortillas made into tortilla strips, chopped avocado, plain Greek yogurt, shredded cheddar or pepper jack cheese, and green onions.
Groceries:
For the Salmon Bites
- 1 pound wild caught salmon
- 1 tsp Fresh ginger
- 1 lime juice from half, or more to taste
- 5 Tbsp Coconut aminos
- 3 Tbsp Honey
- 1 tbsp Coconut or avocado oil or oil spray
- Salt sprinkle
- garlic powder sprinkle
- Sesame seeds optional garnish
For the Spicy Mayo
- ¼ cup mayo
- 1 Tbsp sriracha
- 1 tsp lime juice
- Water to thin optional
For Bowls
- 2 cups Cooked Brown rice
- 1 cup Mini persian Cucumbers
- 1 cup Shredded carrots
- 2 cups Cauliflower rice
- 2/3 cup Avocado sliced
- Cilantro optional garnish
Groceries:
- 2 pounds steak ribeye, NY Strip, or filet mignon cut into bite-sized pieces -I prefer NY strip or filet.
- 1 ½- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp of black pepper optional
- ½ tablespoon avocado oil
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 2 T finely chopped fresh parsley optional, but yum
Groceries:
- 1 pound thinly sliced chicken breasts
- 2 extra large egg whites or sub whole egg
- 1 cup gluten free breadcrumbs you can use seasoned or unseasoned and season yourself with salt, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- Olive or avocado oil spray
Groceries:
- 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs cut into 1 inch pieces, can sub chicken breasts
- avocado oil cooking spray
- salt to taste
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 1 Tbsp fresh ginger minced
- 2 Tbsp bourbon or sub apple juice
- 1 1/2 Tbsp brown sugar or coconut sugar or sub maple syrup
- 2 Tbsp maple syrup
- 2 Tbsp naturally sweetened ketchup
- 1 tsp rice vinegar or apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/3 cup coconut aminos or tamari can sub soy sauce if not gluten free
- 1 Tbsp cornstarch can sub arrowroot for grain free
- 2 Tbsp green onions sliced, for garnish
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