Dinner Tonight: 100 Simple, Healthy Recipes for Every Night of the Week

by Alex Snodgrass

New York Times bestselling author of The Comfortable Kitchen and queen of healthy weeknight dinners Alex Snodgrass shares delicious dinners that will bring everyone to the table.

Known for her “cleaned up” weeknight comfort food, Alex Snodgrass knows how important it is for healthy food to be accessible both in flavor and in preparation. When you get to the end of a long day in a long week, you just want to whip up a low-fuss, delicious meal that makes up for the stresses of the day. With Dinner Tonight, Alex provides dinners that make eating healthy a breeze, and not another hill to climb.

Alex’s recipes prove that you don’t have to be an expert or spend hours in the kitchen to eat and live well. With meals that are flexible for a variety of different diets—paleo, Whole30, and more, always clearly marked for ease—Alex’s food is perfect for people who are on the “food freedom” stage of their health journey. She provides all kinds of meals from soups and salads to pasta, seafood, poultry, and beef, along with desserts and convenient condiments, with recipes

Seared Tuna with White Bean and Arugula SaladChicken Pot Pie Chowder2AM Kimchi NoodlesOne-Pan Coconut-Lime Chicken and RiceChipotle Turkey-Stuffed Poblano PeppersRoasted Vegetable Pita with Herby TahiniNo-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter SquaresStrawberry Short-CrispiesDinner Tonight means delicious food is within anyone’s grasp—no matter how busy they are. 

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Nonfiction, Food and Drink, Adult

256 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 26, 2023

Reviews

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

am i rating a cookbook? u bet ur @cooks.and.bookss ass i am (iykyk)

i got this from the library (yes, you can do that with cookbooks!!!)

and after trying several recipes, i'm going to be buying this book

here's a breakdown of the recipes i've tried so far:

absolute bangers:
• lemongrass pork lettuce cups (pg. 148) // dalton's response to his first bite of this was: food network, get this bitch a tv show



• sour cream enchiladas (pg. 107) // i've tried several different recipes for this dish over the years and this one def has the most flavor out of my experience



• coconut lime chicken & rice (pg. 98) // yes, this is technically chicken and rice, but give it a chance!! i threw in a couple of peppers from our garden for a little color (wow yes i am the homiest homemaker there ever was)



recipes that were pretty good and that i'll keep around:
• italian wedding soup (pg. 49) // i'm gonna like this for a winter soup bc it doesn't require a block of cream cheese or a cup of heavy cream

mid:
• cashew chicken
• chicken piccata meatballs
• aromatic shrimp and noodle soup
• sheet pan mini bbq-cheddar meatloaves with sweet potatoes and brussels sprouts

overall side note from me: alex uses way cleaner ingredients than i do so i do cut corners! if she's using coconut aminos, i'm going ahead with my soy sauce. if she's using arrowroot starch, i'm reaching for my corn starch. and everything still has come out great for me!

((sorry i cursed in this review))

[Jeanette Durkin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is full of delicious sounding recipes! They use pretty basic ingredients, and the recipes are easy to follow. I love that there are pictures of all of the recipes! I know for sure that I'll be trying many of them!

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loving this cookbook. My sister and sister in law have it and I’ve already gifted to a friend, everyone loves it. Standouts so far have been tomato basil tortellini and sausage soup, sheet pan mini bbq cheddar meatloaves with sweet potatoes and Brussels and the creamy cajun fish.

[Britt Clarke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of dinners from here on weekly rotation! And many more I’m excited to try!

[Shelby]

curried chili, p. 53
curry chicken skillet with sweet potatoes, p. 104

[Kiersten Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely OBSESSED with the Defined Dish! The recipes in this book were fairly simple, flavorful and on the healthier side. My toddler even enjoyed them! I brought this book after our mealtrain ended after having my second baby, it inspired me to get back into the groove of cooking.

[Elizabeth Edwards · Rating 3 out of 5]

well, i am gonna review this ...well i am unable to read it ...i am trying to get with Amazon help folks, the kindle help folks and not having any help. i don't mean that the folks are mean or whatever, not the case ...but this book (kindle copy, that i purchased. i had a credit, i spent $16.09, i wish for a refund because i can not read it.) not this is not toward the author, i know nothing of Alex Snodgrass ...never heard of the author but i feel it is unfair that i am paying for a book i can't read. i have noticed in the past when buying a KINDLE copy of a COOKBOOK they don't play nice ...in that whatever it going on ...the kindle --- copy doesn't work for the kindle FIRE ...so i click the book cover like normal ...but i get a black screen, then a grey screen and the kindle copy closes ...and i am returned to my kindle screen (where is shows the kindle catalog, i guess you could call it? not sure of the right term there?!?) but it never opens ...never seen a page, a title page ...NOTHING!!! so i was told that they would have 7 to 5 business days to work it out ...i dislike when they send you a link to review the Amazon employee ...why i say that ...doesn't seem fair you are reviewing something that is not finished ...the book is not in kindle library ... i am still waiting. i am frustrated. now they said they resent a new copy or updated ...etc., but i have re-shut-down my kindle multiple times and nothing ...the so called update ...did nothing. DON'T BUY THIS KINDLE COOKBOOK ...i will continue to bug the Amazon help folks. this needs to be fixed. if you can not read a book ...doesn't seem right that you are paying for it. right? i think so. sad face.

i will continue to update my progress on this book ...
no help from Amazon only help from Beth ... me myself and i ... i have found that Amazon kindle folks never give me help ...it is always me myself and i ... you can't get help from them ... Audible same way. rely on yourself always. we will see. i will be in touch.
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so i am not 1 who enjoys complaining ...for from that ...but i have noticed in my later years (45 ...in May this year 2024 i will reach the age of 46) so i have noticed that you have to get a bit frustrated or help for out ...not that i mean be rude ...but you have be a bit pushy or whatnot to get any help ...and sometimes after vocalizing your say ... you don't always get the final results you hope for ...so you have to do it yourself. i did get an email ...so Daniel did come through, but i had already figured it out myself ...how to get this book to load and download and so on ... so for me ...it is working now but i don't get why COOKBOOK don't do well with kindles ...you would think a FIRE kindle would work easier ...etc. these are recipes that are not easy ...you will have to search with some larger grocery stores ... if you live in the rural areas ... you will have fun like myself ..but these recipes are fun and unique if like me are hoping for and looking for new recipes etc. which i am always looking for new to me recipes. so awesome. glad for that.

[Miss Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice blend of various ethnic cuisines and with hearty, healthy ingredients!

Grilled Chicken Salad with Chili-Lime dressing
Thai-Inspired Steak Salad
Creamy Italian Chopped Salad
Sweet Potato Fry Salad with Lemon-Tahini Dressing
Green Chile Chicken and Rice Soup*
Simple Black Bean Soup
Italian Lentil Soup
Green Curry Chicken Soup*
One-Pot Green Curry Veggie Noodles
Creamy Dijon Penne with Kielbasa
Sour Cream Chicken Enchiladas
Saucy Gochujang Chicken Stir-Fry
Slow Cooker Beer-Braised Chicken Tacos
Cashew Chicken Stir-Fry
Slow Cooker or Pressure Cooker Creamy Enchilada Chicken
Jerk-Inspired Chicken Tacos
Chicken Piccata Meatballs
Ginger and Peanut Butter Ground Turkey Stir-Fry*
Cajun Sausage and Rice Skillet
Simple Skillet Beef Shawarma
Lemongrass Pork Lettuce Cup
Philly Cheesesteak-Stuffed Mushrooms
Chili Oil Pork and Cabbage Stir-Fry
Sheet Pan Mini BBQ-Cheddar Meatloaf with Sweet Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts
Tikka Masala-Inspired Lentils
Cady's Carrot Cake GF
Strawberry Short-Crispies GF

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a bunch of recipes on the Defined Dish blog and have the other 2 of Alex’s cookbooks. I checked this one out of the library because I hardly use one of her cookbooks. So far this one has been a hit! All the recipes have taken me an hour or less to make, which was one of the gripes I had with her previous cookbook (some recipes seemed a bit complicated or took way too long for a work night to make). I ended up ordering the book because it had a bunch of recipes I liked or wanted to try that I didn’t get a chance to while the book was due back at the library! I’ve been try to cut back on soy and dairy and I found all her recipes either have the modifications or don’t need them at all, which I found refreshing. I’ve been trying to eat in more and this cookbook was perfect!

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was totally unfamiliar with Snodgrass' blog and the Defined Dish concept when I picked up this book. I read a review of it, and it sounded promising. The dishes are healthy-ish, but don't have any nutrition information. And about half are quicker cooking weeknight dinners. The highlights for me are the salads - she has some really colorful, fun ideas. And there are two sheetpan recipes that we have been eating on repeat - the chicken sausages and cheddar bbq mini-meatloaves. Both are easy, so good and don't taste healthier.

There are pictures for almost every recipe in here. While I'm not sure I'd buy it, it was worth checking out of the library to get some good weeknight recipes. I will probably check out her other books.

[Pauline · Rating 5 out of 5]

You read a whole cookbook? Yes, I did! I’ve been a fan of Alex Snodgrass and her recipes for several years now. . They have become my favorite and go-to recipes. Two of my daughters and I went to a meet and greet with Alex in San Francisco where she signed this new book. After literally reading every recipe, I’ve started cooking through the book. If you want good, healthy, food that is mostly dairy free (which I need) or Gluten free (which friends need) get this book!! You will never regret it!

[Kayla Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, I am rating a cookbook and I'll tell you why. I've followed Alex Snodgrass for ages and have loved all the recipes I've tried from her Instagram (especially when I was just learning to cook and eating Paleo back before I got married). Anywho! Have heard great things about her cookbooks and my husband got this one for me for Christmas, have tried 3 recipes so far and they're all 10/10!! So simple and delicious and I love that she focuses on cooking REAL whole foods. Bonus, my kids also love them! Hurrah! I have already added The Comfortable Kitchen (her other cookbook) to my wishlist!

[Britt K · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve made at least a dozen recipes from this cookbook and loved every single one. I originally borrowed it from the library, but I enjoyed it so much that I had to get my own copy. The recipes make substitutions easy, which is great since I don’t need gluten-free options or always have the specific ingredients. Alex’s blog is also my go-to for meal inspiration!

A few of my favorites:
pg 201 tikka masala-inspired lentils
pg 126 chicken piccata meatballs (my kids fav)
pg 57 green chile chicken and rice soup

[Laura Cason · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy Alex Snodgrass’s latest cookbook. I disagree with the reviews that say her recipes have ingredients that aren’t accessible. Alex mentions substitutes for nearly every ingredient and also provides gluten, dairy and grain free modifications.

What I love most about Alex’s recipes in general is my kids actually eat most of everything and nothing really requires a ton a prep/cooking. Even her more “complicated” recipes. Give it a try!

[Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is a contradiction. The introduction encourages you to use bottled ingredients and do whatever you can to save time. But every single recipe is at least 12 ingredients long, and some call for ingredients that I will not find at the local grocers. The recipes are interesting and I'd love to try some, but they would work better on a quiet weekend when I have nothing else to do but enjoy myself in the kitchen putting together these detailed recipes.

[Laura S]

wouldn't recommend anyone buy this book (i got it from the library). recipes are complicated and have far too many ingredients. you don't need to make your own mayo or buy sugar free bbq (unless you have actual health issues/restrictions). makes cooking healthily feel inaccessible and follows too many made up food "rules".
that being said, i will be simplifying a few of the recipes and trying them for lunch prep. i'll update if any of them are worth mentioning.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think out of the 30+ cookbooks I’ve read, this is the one where I could see myself making nearly every single recipe. Relatively easy but still creative! I meal planned and grocery shopped based on just the salad and pasta sections for this week because so many things sounded amazing. Genuinely would recommend this above all others!

[Madison Kent · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has a ton of great options for those looking for reasonable, healthy, dietary need-flexible recipes. Tons of paleo, GF, grain-free, and vegetarian options without sacrificing diverse flavors. I tried the goat cheese pasta tonight and it was fantastic!

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reminds me of the recipes I used to see in Cooking Light, in a good way. Will circle back to the one-pan coconut-lime chicken and rice, lazy lasagna, ginger and peanut stir fry, gochujang beef bowls, portobello tacos, and most of the salad section.

[Ashby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner from The Defined Dish! Lots of healthy recipes that seem totally do-able on a busy weeknight.

[Nora Hockaday · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great cookbook!

[Samantha Dowd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buy this cookbook! I’ve made about 10 recipes this month alone - all amazing. I’ve convinced my family to buy the cookbook, gifted it to friends & family. My favorite cookbook I own. Hands down.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

She did it again 🤩😍!

[Ann Marie Sosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love all her cookbooks. Alex hits another home run here. Her recipes are creative, innovative, healthy and delicious. Love her exotic twists, too. Highly recommend.

[Karen Hogg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sour cream chicken enchiladas were delish!!

[Penny Jansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've really been inspired by these delicious and fairly easy to prepare meals. I've also been introduced to some ingredients that I've never used before.

[Dorothy Greco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of terrific recipes, nice photos, and Whole 30/Gf options.

[M. E. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm sorry, I will never be this healthy.

[Challis]

Great collection of recipes - definitely putting this on the cookbook wish list. Too many tabs on the library checkout I want to try!

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this. Another winner that I use regularly! Healthy and delicious and mostly easy!