Why you NEED The Skinnytaste Cookbook

I own a LOT of cookbooks but I felt the need to review The Skinnytaste Cookbook for you. Your family will thank you!

We have a serious cookbook problem in our house. We love the idea of making wonderful food from scratch so we buy the latest Italian, Vietnamese, Thai, or even celebrity chef cookbook. We drool over the photos and read them like novels.

And then they gather dust.

It’s not to say we don’t cook or that we don’t use any cookbooks. But most of the time our cooking is utilitarian. It’s a quick fix for a weeknight dinner. And more than likely, I’ll turn to the internet desperately googling the few ingredients we have on hand to see if I can find a way to call it dinner.

As you might have guessed, I’m not a meal planner either.

In all seriousness, The Skinnytaste Cookbook has changed all that. I’ve tried a few recipes from the Skinnytaste blog and thought they were quite good. And on a whim, I added the Skinnytaste Meal Planner to my Amazon wishlist at Christmas.

Well, the meal planner was received but I didn’t read the fine print. It was a blank book for me to actually write down my planned meals. So it wouldn’t feel like a complete waste of a gift, I decided to go ahead and order myself The Skinnytaste Cookbook and I haven’t stopped talking about it since.

I have so many cookbooks that are impractical – recipes are overly complex, ingredients are difficult to find, or it would take a half day of cooking to accomplish anything. Even worse, the recipes aren’t even tested! Haven’t you ever followed a recipe to the letter only to wonder where it all went so wrong?

What I love the most about Skinnytaste is that these recipes work. Everything turns out exactly like it’s supposed to. It actually looks like the picture! And the recipes use a lot of the same ingredients so it’s easy to whip something up even if I haven’t planned ahead.

Oh, but the best part! The tagline of the book is “light on calories, big on flavor” and that’s exactly what the recipes deliver. If this is what low calorie tastes like, I don’t want more calories.

I’ve raved so much about this cookbook that my dad bought it, my neighbor bought it, and now you’re going to buy it. Right after I show you the proof.

I’ve taken pictures over the past few months showing you some of my favorite recipes. Although you can find some of the recipes online, most of them are exclusive to this cookbook and I’d rather put my money in author Gina Homolka’s pocket than someone else who simply posted their “interpretation” of the recipe.

Get ready to drool as I recount recipes I’ve made by section.

Sunny Mornings

Naked Eggs Benedict 

My son loved this, spinach and all!

Banana Oat Muffins

This is a regular staple in my house and they freeze really well!

Guiltless Chocolate Chip Pancakes

I don’t like chocolate chips in my pancakes but definitely a kid favorite!

Corny Banana-Blueberry Pancakes

This is more of my kind of breakfast!

Skinnylicious Soups & Chilis

Too-Good-To-Be-True Baked Potato Soup

Slow-Cooker Chicken Enchilada Soup

Rustic Italian Gnocchi Soup

Slow-Cooker White Bean Chicken Chili Verde

Wouldn’t you know that I didn’t get a single picture of any of these but I highly recommend the Chicken Enchilada Soup? It was one of the first recipes I made!

Sandwiches on the Lighter Side

Buffalo Chicken Melts

Pear and Brie Grilled Cheese

No pictures here either but who doesn’t like a sandwich with brie on it?

Skinny Bites

Lemony Herb Hummus

Cheesy “Fried” Mozzerella Bites

I wasn’t crazy about the hummus but I was so proud of my mozzerella bites. We still have some in the freezer!

Fabulous Main-Dish Salads

BLT Salad with Avocado

It’s amazing how little dressing you need when you use the natural juices from foods like tomatoes.

Coconut Chicken Salad with Vegetable Fried Brown Rice

This technically wasn’t a salad but the coconut chicken is from a salad recipe. I paired it instead with the Vegetable Fried Brown Rice listed further down.

Perfect Poultry

Buttermilk Oven “Fried” Chicken

This wasn’t a family favorite but maybe it’s because the recipe uses drumsticks and I’m more of a white meat kind of girl.

So-Addicted Chicken Enchiladas

In a word, AMAZING. I actually made my own enchilada sauce for this. So good!

Skinny Chicken Parmesan

I’ve made this one over and over and my husband still can’t get over that it’s baked, not fried.

Orecchiette with Sausage, Baby Kale, and Bell Pepper

I don’t like bell pepper so I simply substitute grape tomatoes and we all love it!

Chicken Pasta Caprese

Chicken, basil, tomatoes, and mozzerella. What’s not to love?

Lean Meat Dishes

Mongolian Beef and Broccoli

Better than a restaurant. No, I’m serious. Served over brown basmati rice.

Skinny Salisbury Steak with Mushroom Gravy

I probably liked this one more than the boys. They still crave their beef (this recipe used turkey).

Fabulous Fish

Sweet ’N’ Spicy Sriracha-Glazed Salmon

Hands down, one of our family favorites. And I don’t really even like salmon all that much!

Kiss My (Shrimp and) Grits

I’m not a fan of shrimp but my husband is. I cooked both shrimp and scallops. He took the shrimp and I took the scallops!

Mahi Mahi Fish Tacos with Spicy Avocado Cream

This was a recent meal and we absolutely loved it. I substituted cod for mahi mahi and thought it worked perfectly.

Meatless Mains

Crustless Swiss Chard Pie

My son ate swiss chard. I think that’s endorsement enough.

Butternut Squash Lasagna Rolls

This one was a lot of work but I enjoyed it (more than anyone else).

Skinny Broccoli Mac and Cheese

Yes, it’s kid-approved.

Chickpea and Potato Curry

Spicy but definitely adjustable to your family’s taste.

Veggie-Licious Sides

My House Salad, Made with Love

I never knew I could love a simple salad so much.

Vegetable Fried Brown Rice

In case you missed it, it’s pictured with my Coconut Chicken. Make sure you have cold leftover brown rice on hand!

Roasted Winter Beets and Red Potatoes

Not a favorite of mine but my dinner guests loved it!

Shredded Brussel Sprouts with Prosciutto

I do not like brussel sprouts. Until now. This dish is A-MAZING.

Confetti Slaw

A perfect accompaniment for any spicy meat dish (especially tacos).

Skinny Sweet Tooth

Baked Bananas Foster a La Mode

Thank GOD I don’t have a sweet tooth so I haven’t tried many dessert recipes. On the weekends, if we just need something sweet, I’ve popped this in the oven and it doesn’t the trick.

So what do you think? Are you sold yet? I’m actually impressed as I went through the cookbook to see what recipes I’ve made. I don’t think I’ve ever used a cookbook so much! Let me know if you have any questions because clearly, I’m an expert in this area!

This post contains some affiliate links which means if you click on a link and buy something, I might make commission. But that’s not why I wrote this.