Weight Watchers 5 and Under Order Dinner {light, delicious and perfect for weeknights! }
These Weight Watchers Dinner Orders for Ages 5 and Under prove you can keep points low and flavor high with comfort soups, slow cooker favorites, Asian takeout, and fresh Mexican-style bowls. Mix and match them for a week of simple, satisfying meals that don’t feel like a diet at all.
Table of contents
When you’re tallying up the scores, dinner can be a problem. Everyone is hungry, you are tired, and delivery suddenly seems friendly. When I’m standing in front of the refrigerator, I like to make a list of go-to meals that I know will fit into my plan without having to use a calculator.
This roundup brings together my favorite dinners at 5 or less that still feel like “real” food: slow cooker meals you can throw in and take away, comfort soups, light pastas, and big flavor bowls from all over the map. Choose a category that suits your mood (or what’s in your fridge) and you’ll easily stay on track without having to cook a separate meal for yourself.
Slow Cooker and Instant Pot Dinners
Here are some comforting, hands-off meals that can be cooked slowly while you tackle the rest of the day.
This slow cooker meat sauce transforms lean beef, citrus, garlic, and spices into tender meat almost effortlessly. Serve it in a lettuce wrap, taco, or burrito bowl with all your favorite toppings for a dinner that’s on the lighter side but still tastes like a weekend splurge.
Chicken, beans, tomatoes, and spices cook together into a delicious base that you can spoon over rice, cauliflower rice, or vegetables. Layer out toppings like avocado, salsa, and cilantro and let everyone build their own bowl for an easy family dinner.
This light tortilla soup features chopped chicken, tomatoes, beans, and spices in a flavorful broth. Top it with grilled tortilla strips, a bit of cheese, and fresh lime, and you’ve got yourself a comfort soup night that still hits your point.
These lean turkey meatballs are slow-cooked in a delicious sauce, so they’re tender and flavorful. Serve them with zucchini noodles, spaghetti, spaghetti squash, or stuffed into light little rolls, depending on how many points you want to spend.
Beef machaca cooks with chiles, tomatoes, and spices all day until tender and perfect for tacos, bowls, or lettuce wraps. This is one of those “cook once, eat for days” recipes that make busy weeknights feel so much easier.
The sweet, salty, garlicky sauce clings to tender, slow-cooked chicken, bringing a light flavor to the takeout favorite. Spoon it over steamed vegetables and rice or cauliflower rice for a cozy bowl without being overpowering.
This Mediterranean-style chicken is cooked with tomatoes, olives, herbs, and garlic for bright, savory flavor with minimal prep. Serve it over couscous, orzo, or a large slice of veggies to soak up all the delicious sauce.
Lean beef, potatoes, carrots and peas are simmered in a rich broth for classic beef stew comfort in a lighter package. Throw it in the Instant Pot when you need a quick dinner, or slow cook it during a busy day and come home to a complete meal.
Mexican and Tex-Mex Dinner
These recipes bring all your favorite tacos, bowls, and south-of-the-border flavors, but in an easier way.
These taco bowls start with seasoned meat and beans, then are piled on top of cauliflower rice with salsa, veggies, and your favorite toppings. They’re perfectly packed for meal prep and feel like a full burrito bowl with no highlights.
Smoked chipotle chicken, beans, corn, and veggies come together in a burrito bowl that rivals your favorite fast-casual restaurant. Use cauliflower rice or extra lettuce to lighten things up a bit, and top up the bowl with fresh salsa and lime.
This one-pot recipe cooks chicken, zucchini, beans and corn with Mexican spices and a bit of cheese for a skillet that’s hearty but light. Eat it plain, stuffed into tortillas, or spooned over rice, depending on your mood.
This taco casserole is layered with seasoned lean meats, beans, veggies, and cheese to deliver all the comforting, cheesy goodness in a lighter way. It’s perfect for feeding a crowd and pairs well with a large salad or grilled vegetables.
Asian style dinner
Here are some light stir-fries and takeout-style favorites that cook quickly but still feel special.
Easy Orange Chicken gives you the sweet, tangy, glossy orange juice you crave without the need for frying or mystery ingredients, and it’s all done in one skillet. The chicken browns quickly and is done in the oven with the broccoli roasting right on the side, so dinner is on the table in about 25 minutes.
This chicken stir-fry recipe is the ultimate quick and easy dinner, filled with fresh veggies and tender chicken cubes served with a delicious homemade sauce. Preparation couldn’t be easier!
This beef and cabbage stir-fry is quick, fresh, and packed with savory flavor thanks to a simple homemade sauce. Tender beef, crispy veggies, and 20 minutes of cooking time, this is your favorite weeknight dinner.
This sesame tuna is quick, healthy, and worth a trip to the restaurant! It only requires a handful of ingredients and can be done in 15 minutes. Crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside, it’s perfect with a simple dipping sauce and rice or salad.
Honey Soy Sauce Chicken is a quick, healthy, and delicious dinner made with juicy chicken marinated in soy sauce, honey, garlic, and green onions, then cooked in just 15 minutes. Perfect for busy weeknights or meal prepping!
Seafood and fish dinner
These seafood meals have high protein content and naturally low scores, making people feel fresh and satisfied.
This salmon kale salad with sweet potatoes, avocado, and a simple balsamic dressing is the perfect easy lunch or dinner.
This Garlic Parmesan Grilled Shrimp and Broccoli is a high-protein sheet pan dinner that goes from freezer to table in about 25 minutes. Juicy shrimp, crispy broccoli, and lemony Parmesan garlic sauce make it feel like restaurant food on a busy weeknight.
Easy Salmon Burgers Turn fresh, leftover or canned salmon, Greek yogurt, lemon, and herbs into crispy, juicy burgers that cook on the stove, grill, or air fryer in about 10 minutes. They’re lighter than beef burgers, packed with protein, and can be easily customized with toppings, sauces, or even pre-made frozen patties.
Pan-fried Garlic Lime Tilapia is a quick, delicious recipe made with just a few pantry ingredients. The mild fish soaks up a blend of garlic, lime, and buttery seasonings for an easy weeknight dinner that’s fresh, bright, and not at all bland.
Chicken and turkey classic
These chicken and turkey dinners are simple, familiar, and easy to serve with your favorite sides.
Balsamic Chicken Thighs with Spinach, Mushrooms, and Tomatoes are ready in less than thirty minutes and make for a delicious dinner. And it’s ready in just 20 minutes.
Sautéed Lemon Pepper Chicken is a quick, healthy 30-minute weeknight recipe based on golden grilled chicken and a bright lemon pepper sauce that gives you a delicious, protein-packed dinner in just one skillet!
These Crispy Grilled Chicken Steaks are quick, easy, and a crowd-pleaser. Made with just 5 ingredients, they bake to golden-crisp perfection and can be eaten in a variety of ways, from salads to sandwiches to quick chicken parmesan.
Sloppy Joe made with only three ingredients? Yes please! This easy, weeknight meal uses ground beef, salsa, and BBQ sauce to pack a punch in under 15 minutes. No canning required.
These homemade Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowls feature smoky, bold flavors with a quick, foolproof marinade and all the fixings you crave. Make them with chicken thighs or breasts, add your favorite toppings, and enjoy a healthy, customizable dinner. Better than takeout (and cheaper!).
Vegan and plant-based staples
Plant-based dinners are nutritious, high in fiber, and easy to put in a bowl or plate.
These Vegan Korean Bowls take all your favorite sweet and spicy Korean flavors and pack them into a quick, veggie-packed meal with edamame and meatless crumbles. They’re perfect for weeknight dinners, meal prep, and simple rice or lettuce bowls using simple, everyday ingredients.
The Vegan Shawarma Bowl packs shawarma spiced chickpeas and cauliflower with fresh vegetables, herbs and creamy hummus for a bold plant-based meal. Ready in about 35 minutes, it’s perfect for meal prep and an easy way to bring a taste of the Mediterranean to busy weeknights.
This easy lentil and coconut curry is a delicious meat-free dinner that the whole family will love! It’s rich, delicious, vegan, gluten-free, and you can make it in the instant pot, slow cooker, or on the stovetop. No matter your cooking style, there’s a method that works for you!
How to lower your dinner score without losing flavor
Here are some easy ways to create a satisfying and nutritious dinner while keeping points low.
- Eat more lean protein: Choose chicken breast, turkey, lean beef, fish, tofu or beans as your base so you get a lot of protein for a fraction of the cost.
- Pile on non-starchy vegetables: Bulk up your meals with broccoli, zucchini, peppers, leafy greens, and cabbage so the plate looks filling without adding too many points.
- Use flavor enhancers instead of extra fat: Rely on garlic, onions, citrus, vinegar, herbs and spices to add rich flavor rather than extra oil, cream or cheese.
- Use carbs wisely: Keep portions of rice, pasta, potatoes, and tortillas in moderation, and if you can, swap in cauliflower rice, spaghetti squash, or lettuce wraps.
- Lighten the cream elements: Use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream, light cheese instead of full fat, and stock sauce instead of heavy cream.
- Pay attention to your oil: Measure the oil rather than pouring it straight from the bottle, and use a nonstick pan, bake, grill, or air fryer to reduce the amount without losing texture.
- Taming Ingredients: Cheese, avocado, nuts and condiments are all delicious, but eating them in small amounts can make a big difference in flavor and flavor.
- The Leftovers Project: Make high-protein protein into a bowl, soup, or salad with plenty of veggies for the next day so the small amount of meat can stretch further while keeping the meal satisfying.
