10 Meals That Make Sticking to New Year Goals Easy

We all start January with the best intentions, but life doesn't exactly slow down just because the calendar changed. These meals focus on simple, effective ingredients that help you feel your best without adding more stress to your plate. Think easy sheet pan dinners or comforting slow cooker meals. Cheers to a fresh start that feels sustainable, manageable, and totally delicious for the whole family!

Slow Cooker Dry Rub Chicken Legs

White plate with dry rub chicken drumsticks on it and green onions on and around the plate and text on top of the image. — Image Credit: Fit as a Mama Bear

A delicious and simple meal that requires minimal effort on your part. These slow cooker chicken legs are made with just a few ingredients and come out with juicy, tender chicken that falls off the bone. Seasoned in a simple dry rub, these chicken drumsticks are the perfect easy weeknight dinner! To learn more: Slow Cooker Chicken Drumsticks

Dairy-Free Beef Casserole

Beef and zucchini casserole topped with zucchinis in a baking dish. — Photo credit: Fit as a Mama Bear

Weeknight dinners just got better with this veggie-packed, high-protein, beef and zucchini casserole. Lean ground beef coated in a rich and creamy tomato sauce spread of zucchini and sweet potato noodles. You can make this dairy-free casserole in advance as well making busy weeknights that much easier. To learn more: Beef and Zucchini Casserole

Air Fryer Steak Bites

Cooked in just 10 minutes these air fryer steak bites come out tender, juicy, and perfectly seasoned! With a blend of cumin and garlic, these steak cubes work just as well as a game-day appetizer as they do as part of a busy weeknight dinner.

Get the recipe: Air Fryer Steak Bites

Easy Hawaiian Chicken Thighs

close up image of baked hawaiian chicken with vegetables and pineapple on a sheet pan with a wooden spoon — Photo credit: Fit as a Mama Bear

Tender, juicy bites of chicken and vegetables coated in a sticky sweet sauce and ready in under 40 minutes. This sheet pan Hawaiian chicken makes for a delicious weeknight dinner. With multiple ways to serve it, these Hawaiian chicken thighs are just as delicious the night of as they are for meal prep.

Get the recipe: Sheet Pan Hawaiian Chicken

Slow Cooker Chipotle Chicken

White bowl with shredded chipotle chicken in it and a slow cooker behind it. — Image Credit: Fit as a Mama Bear

The meal prep recipe you didn’t know you needed. This slow cooker chipotle chicken is sweetened with honey, super juicy has just the right amount of heat. Use it for quesadillas, bowls, or a new taco night, it’s a shredded chicken recipe you’ll soon rely on. To learn more: Slow Cooker Chipotle Chicken

Sheet Pan Baked Sausage

Sausage, green beans, cherry tomatoes, on a sheet pan with sauerkraut beside it. — Image Credit: Fit as a Mama Bear

An easy sheet pan dinner recipe for busy nights! This sausage and green beans come together in just 30 minutes. Juicy sausage bites covered in a quick honey garlic sauce and paired with whole-30 approved vegetables. To learn more: Sheet Pan Sausage and Green Beans

Honey Chicken Thighs

Honey and lemon baked chicken thighs with parsley on top in a baking dish. — Image Credit: Fit as a Mama Bear

Have dinner on the table in just 30 minutes with these ultra-juicy, honey-baked chicken thighs. Naturally dairy-free and gluten-free this busy weeknight dinner comes together with just a handful of ingredients and makes for a burst of sweetness in every bite.

Get the recipe: Honey Baked Chicken Thighs

Sweet Potato Shepherds Pie

Easy to make in advance, this paleo Shepherds pie has a comforting, lean ground beef base topped with rich, mashed sweet potatoes. As a family-friendly meal, it’s a recipe you’ll make over and over again.

Get the recipe: Paleo Shepherds Pie with Sweet Potato

Gluten-Free Salmon Poke Bowl

a bowl of rice with shredded carrots, salmon, and edamame on top of a kitchen towel with chopsticks on the side — Image Credit: Fit as a Mama Bear

Tender bites of glazed salmon paired with bright, crunchy vegetables, and sliced avocados, this gluten-free poke bowl is a tasty lunch! Made with air fryer salmon bites and great for meal prep, this teriyaki poke bowl is packed with flavor and nutrients.

Get the recipe: Gluten-Free Poke Bowl with Air Fryer Salmon

Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup

Chicken noodle soup with carrots in a white mug with lemon and a spoon beside it. — Image Credit: Fit as a Mama Bear

Made from scratch in the slow cooker this gluten-free chicken noodle soup is a comforting blend of ingredients perfect for chilly nights. To learn more: Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup