Light and Lean Meat Recipes for Weight Management

Some people believe that the only effective way to manage weight is by adopting a vegetarian or vegan diet. However, this misconception overlooks a wide variety of delicious dishes that can aid in weight management. Today, we aim to dispel this myth!

Incorporating lean meat into your diet can introduce mouth-watering flavours, provide essential protein and nutrients, and support your weight management goals.

Below, we have shared some of our favourite lean meat recipes that make weight management both enjoyable and delicious.

Do Lean Meats Help with a Healthy Lifestyle?

Yes, they do, but it's crucial to choose the right ones and consume them in moderation. Lean meats typically contain less saturated fat compared to their fattier counterparts. By opting for lean meats, you can lower your risk of heart disease. Additionally, lean meats are a great source of high-quality protein, which means you can feel full faster with less food, focusing on quality over quantity in your calorie intake.

The contents of our lean meat packs not only help you reduce your meal sizes but also support you in maintaining muscle growth. This is because high-quality protein is excellent at building and repairing muscle tissue, as well as maintaining muscle mass. The variety of choices available, such as chicken breasts, lean mince and lean beef skewers, also means that you’ll get a variety of nutrients from different sources, and variety is always beneficial for a healthy immune system.

Our Favourite Recipes

Air-Fried Meatballs with Onions, Sweet Peppers and Rice

This delicious air-fryer meal offers a flavourful experience for two, packed with protein and versatile enough to serve as a comforting evening meal or a perfect work lunch.

What You Will Need

• Nonstick cooking spray: avoid using oil, as this will decrease the lean nature of the meal
• Our delicious Italian Meatballs with Extra Lean Steak Mince
• 60ml soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper
• 2 red, yellow, or orange sweet peppers, cut into strips
• 1 cup thinly sliced onion wedges
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Sliced spring onions
• Cooked rice

Prep and Cooking Instructions

1. Lightly coat the air-fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray. Preheat the air fryer to 190°C (375°F).
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the soy sauce, grated ginger, minced garlic, and crushed red pepper. Divide the mixture in half, placing one portion into a separate medium bowl.
3. To the medium bowl, add the pepper strips, onion wedges, and olive oil, tossing to coat evenly.
4. Arrange the meatballs in the prepared air-fryer basket, then distribute the pepper mixture around them.
5. Cook in the air fryer for approximately 15 minutes, or until the meatballs reach an internal temperature of 71°C (160°F), turning the meatballs and stirring the pepper mixture halfway through the cooking time.
6. Serve the meatballs and pepper mixture topped with sliced spring onions and accompany it with the cooked rice.

Low-Carb Wholesome Beef Stew

This low-carb beef stew for two is a nutritious meal that perfectly complements weight management goals. With its rich flavours and lean ingredients, you get a delicious meal that's low in calories and carbohydrates.

What You Will Need

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• Our 400g Lean Diced Beef Pack cut into roughly 1-inch pieces. Increase to 800g, or 1.2kg, depending on the number of diners
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 225g mushrooms, quartered
• 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, chopped
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons plain flour
• 1 tablespoon tomato purée
• 120ml dry red wine
• 1 litre low-sodium beef stock
• 1 medium white turnip, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks
• 1 medium carrot, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks

Prep and Cooking Instructions

1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the beef, onion, mushrooms, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until the meat is browned on all sides, approximately 5 to 8 minutes.
2. Stir in the flour and tomato purée, cooking and stirring continuously for 1 minute. Add the red wine and cook for an additional minute, ensuring to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
3. Pour in the beef stock, then add the turnip and carrot. Bring the mixture to a boil. Partially cover the pot and reduce the heat to maintain a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the beef and vegetables are tender and the broth has thickened slightly, about 30 minutes.

You can even prepare in advance by refrigerating the stew for up to 4 days or freeze it for up to 4 months. Thaw, if necessary, and reheat before serving.

Spiced Chicken and Sweet Potato Stew

This one-pot recipe is low in fat and calories; it offers a filling and tasty option for active lifestyles while delivering 3 of your 5-a-day and a rich source of fibre.

What Will You Need

• 3 sweet potatoes, cut into chunks
• 190g bag of spinach
• 1 tablespoon sunflower oil
• Our delicious 8 British Chicken Breast Fillets
• 500ml chicken stock
• Pumpkin seeds, toasted
• 2-3 preserved lemons, deseeded and chopped
• 4 naan breads, warmed

Ingredients for the Spicy Paste

• 2 onions, chopped
• 1 red chilli, chopped
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• Thumb-sized piece of ginger, grated
• 400g can tomatoes
• 2 preserved lemons, deseeded and chopped

Prep and Cooking Instructions

1. Place the sweet potato chunks in a large, deep saucepan and cover with boiling water. Boil over high heat for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, blend all the spice paste ingredients in a food processor until finely chopped. Set the paste aside.
2. Put the spinach in a large colander in the sink. Pour the sweet potatoes and their cooking water over the spinach to drain the potatoes and wilt the spinach. Allow to steam-dry.
3. Return the saucepan to the heat without washing it. Add the sunflower oil, followed by the spice paste. Fry the paste for about 5 minutes until thickened, then add the chicken breasts. Cook for 8-10 minutes until the chicken starts to colour. Pour in the chicken stock, bring to a boil, and then simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Check the chicken is thoroughly cooked by ensuring there are no pink parts when cutting into one of the breasts. Season with black pepper and add the sweet potatoes. Simmer for an additional 5 minutes. Roughly chop the wilted spinach and add to the stew. At this stage, you may let the stew cool and freeze it for up to 3 months if desired.
5. Serve the stew garnished with toasted pumpkin seeds and chopped preserved lemons, accompanied by warmed naan bread.

Premium Lean Meats Available Online

It's essential to consult with a healthcare professional or nutritionist before making significant dietary changes, especially if you're pursuing an active lifestyle as well. As the leading online butchers in the UK, we work hard to curate the best selection of lean meat packs to meet our customer's needs and tastes.

Order the meats you need online today and even customise your own meat box service and start enjoying your lean meals soon with our excellent online delivery.