Dinner Recipes

Here are some of my favorite recipes for the end of the day. Bonus: these make great leftovers. I often double the pasta recipe to make sure to have lunch for a few days after! These recipes are hearty and filling, perfect for athletes. They are also balanced and nutritious, hitting all the essential protein, carbs, and fats needed for a complete diet. They will leave you neither hungry nor guilty an hour later.
And as always, if you try any of the recipes I post, I'd love to hear what you think! Either tag me in your posts on Insta, or shoot me a message. 

 

Yogurt Fettuccini

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1. Bring a large pot of water to boil (with a pinch of salt and a drizzle of olive oil). Add 1 lb pasta noodles of your choice (I love shells, spirals, fettuccini, bucatini...) and cook until al dente.

2. In a medium mixing bowl, combine:

  • 1 c yogurt
  • 1.5 c grated parmesan
  • 1 egg, mixed
  • 1 teaspoon salt

This is a Quigley family staple. Growing up, my dad made this for my siblings and I in place of mac and cheese, and I've been sharing it with my friends and teammates ever since. Now any time the Bowerman Babes have a potluck, the girls always ask me to make this dish. Even the pickiest eaters love it, and the best part is that it's both decadently creamy AND healthy! 🙌🏼

My dad would add a protein (try grilled chicken or shrimp) in with the noodles during step 4. Serve with a green salad or roasted brussels sprouts on the side. Mmmm getting hungry just writing this out... 😋

P.S. This is one of my go-to meals the night before a workout or race. I've tried it with gluten-free noodles too, and it holds up great! 

3. Add oil to a small sauce pan on low heat, add basil and garlic and cook until fragrant and sizzling (not burnt!)

  • 1/4 c olive oil
  • 1-2 tsp dried basil
  • 3-5 cloves garlic, minced

4. Drain the pasta and return to the pot. Add the oil mixture into the pasta and stir to completely cover. Then mix in yogurt sauce (and protein if using) until combined. Then... dig in!

Turkey Quinoa BurgeR

Burger night! Don't get me wrong, I eat my fair share of red meat (gotta get those iron stores built up!). But I also love this lighter version of a big juicy burger for when I've already hit my red meat quota for the week. Still hits the spot, I promise. Top with your favorites, of course, but I've included mine in case you're curious. 

P.S. The only way to enjoy a burger is with a healthy side of sweet potato fries! 

My favorite toppings:

  • Grilled red onion
  • Brie cheese
  • Fresh greens (I used spring mix)
  • Avocado slices
  • Honey mustard
  • Pretzel bun if you can find one, or just a multigrain bun will do!

Ingredients for patties

  • 1 lb ground turkey
  • 3/4 c cooked quinoa (any color works!)
  • 1 egg
  • 3 cloved garlic, minced
  • 1/4 tsp salt (or more to taste)
  • Dash (or so) of black pepper

Directions: In a mixing bowl, combine the ingredients for the patties. I mix this up with clean hands and when it feels ready, form it into 3-4 equal sized patties. Grilling on a real grill is best, but you can always use a pan on the stove. Cook for about 4-5 minutes on each side, until the outside is nice and browed, and the inside is completely cooked. Toast those buns! Add your patty and toppings.

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Sweet Potato Pizza Crust with chicken sausage and roasted butternut squash

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I LOVE PIZZA. If I could only have one meal for the rest of my life it would 100% be pizza. There are just so many options, so many toppings, and so many crusts you can try out so that you never get bored! Have you seen my older post about zucchini-crusted pizza? I have tried them all- zucchini, cauliflower, whole-wheat, naan, thick thin... And I have to say, sweet potato just might be my favorite. For one, it's WAY easier than the other vegetable options. All you have to do is roast, mash, mix, spread, bake. I originally started with this recipe, but have tweaked it and added some extra ingredients to make it perfect (for me)!

I've included options for toppings, but go wild! Load it with your favorites and send me your pics on Instagram! I'd love to see your creations.

Toppings:

  • Marinara sauce
  • Chicken sausage 
  • Roasted chunks of butternut squash
  • Grilled red onion
  • Grilled green pepper
  • Mozzarella cheese

For the crust: (Makes 1 large pizza)

  • 1 large sweet potato
  • 1 cup rolled oats
  • 1/2 tsp salt, pepper to taste
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 c grated parmesan cheese

Directions for crust: (NOTE: cook your sweet potato ahead of time. Wrap that puppy in tin foil and bake in the oven at 400 for about 30-45min, or until soft. The butternut squash should be roasted ahead of time too.) Preheat oven to 400. In a food processor or blender, pulse the oats until they resemble a course flour. I like mine to have some variance in texture. In a bowl, mash your sweet potato and add the blended oats, egg, seasonings, and parmesan. Mix until everything is well combined. Then take your pizza stone or pan and cover with a thin layer of olive oil. Use a rubber spatula to spread the sweet potato mix onto the pan in a thin and even layer. Bake in the oven for about 30 min until the crust is starting to get browned. While that's going, get all your toppings ready. I browned my chicken sausage on a pan, grilled the onion and pepper, and got out some leftover roasted butternut squash chunks. When the crust is done, cover it with the sauce, then top it with meat and veggies, cover it in cheese, and pop it back in the oven for another 8ish minutes. If you like an extra crispy, browned cheese top, turn your oven on broil for a minute or two at the end. But keep an eye on it! That sucker will burn fast if you walk away! Lastly: slice it up and enjoy!