Tired tonight?
Cook it anyway.
Trust me — you’ll love it.
Healthy, realistic weeknight dinners from a household kitchen. No stress. No perfection. Just good food that works. Recipes by Chef Merin.
10 recipes

Chicken Fajita Skillet
Thin-sliced chicken breast tossed in chili powder and cumin, then cooked with peppers and onion in one skillet and finished with lime. Chef Merin’s protein-and-vegetable fajita plate is house-rated 5/5. Serve without tortillas; optional cooked rice on the side only. Nutrition estimates are for the skillet alone. Fast, colorful, and skillet-clean.
Source: Cook It Anyway · Chef Merin.

Ground Beef Broccoli Skillet
One-pan lean ground beef browned with onion, then finished with broccoli and coconut aminos until the florets are crisp-tender. Serve without rice for a weeknight protein-and-vegetable skillet. Prefer coconut aminos for the house gluten-free path; low-sodium soy sauce is the listed alternate.
Source: Cook It Anyway · Chef Merin.

Pork Chops with Cabbage and Onion
Seared boneless pork chops finish over wilted cabbage and onion with a splash of apple cider vinegar and thyme. This Chef Merin skillet stays under 30 minutes, pairs a lean pork chop with a big vegetable bed, and skips cream sauces. Use bagged shredded cabbage if that cuts prep. Distinct from the pork tenderloin and apples card.
Source: Cook It Anyway · Chef Merin.

Pork Tenderloin with Cabbage and Apples
Pork tenderloin is seared, then roasted with shredded cabbage, apple, and onion, finished with thyme and a lime squeeze. Chef Merin’s skillet-to-oven plate lands near 30 minutes and stays dairy-free and gluten-free as listed. The apple is why this card skips a low-carb tag — distinct from the pork chops and cabbage skillet.
Source: Cook It Anyway · Chef Merin.

Sirloin Strips with Mushrooms and Spinach
Thin sirloin strips seasoned ahead with Montreal steak seasoning and smoked paprika, then seared hot with onion, mushrooms, garlic, and wilted spinach. Chef Merin’s skillet steak-and-greens plate is house-rated 5/5, stays under 30 minutes, dairy-free as listed, and high in protein. Ask the butcher for thin slices against the grain, or use stir-fry strips; check the Montreal blend label for wheat.
Source: Cook It Anyway · Chef Merin.

Turkey Meatballs with Zucchini
Skillet turkey meatballs mixed with egg and grated Parmesan, browned, then simmered with zucchini half-moons in no-sugar-added marinara. Finish with a light sprinkle of shredded Parmesan and mozzarella at the table. Weeknight Italian-American comfort without a pasta pile—protein first, vegetables alongside. Distinct from the cherry-tomato turkey skillet so the two cards stay clear.
Source: Cook It Anyway · Chef Merin.

Turkey Pepper Skillet
Ground turkey browned with chili powder and cumin, then cooked with sliced bell peppers and onion until soft and sweet. Serve as a protein-and-vegetable skillet—no rice or tortillas on the plate. Fast weeknight cooking that stays dairy-free and gluten-free as written.
Source: Cook It Anyway · Chef Merin.

Turkey with Zucchini and Cherry Tomatoes
Ground turkey browned with thyme and garlic powder, then cooked with sliced zucchini and cherry tomatoes until the vegetables soften and the tomatoes burst lightly. Serve with shredded Parmesan at the table. A Mediterranean-leaning weeknight skillet that stays light on carbs—distinct from Turkey Meatballs with Zucchini so shoppers do not confuse the two.
Source: Cook It Anyway · Chef Merin.

Ground Beef Skillet with Green Beans and Mushrooms
One skillet of lean ground beef with green beans and mushrooms—smoked paprika and thyme, no rice or bread. Round 1 lb beef for easy scaling (½ lb for 2). Different from the broccoli skillet. House-rated 4/5.
Source: Cook It Anyway · Chef Merin.

Turkey Cutlets with Cauliflower and Carrots
Quick skillet turkey cutlets with roasted cauliflower and carrots—paprika and oregano, no fryer breading. Whole-food weeknight protein-and-vegetable plate; leftovers work for lunch.
Source: Cook It Anyway · Chef Merin.
Every plate is written for 4 servings. Nothing here is sold. Source recipes by Chef Merin — add dinners to a pack and download one Plan to Eat file.
Recipes are tagged for diabetes-friendly and fatty-liver-friendly by design; other diet tags appear when a recipe already fits. Those tags describe plate patterns, not medical treatment.
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