Our 48 Healthy Comfort Food Recipes list is full of flavor and satisfaction of traditional cozy foods without the extra calories or unhealthy ingredients.
Whether you're craving a warm bowl of soup to keep you toasty or good old-fashioned Tex-Mex, we've got you covered! These feel-good dishes will keep you happy and full all season long.
1. Whole Roasted Chicken
This beautiful Whole Roasted Chicken is delicious and one of the best lean proteins for meal prep or feeding a crowd. Our healthy cooking method ensures a juicy bird with loads of flavor to boot. Pair your roasted chicken with a variety of healthy sides like roasted veggies or a fresh side salad, and you have yourself a well-rounded healthy meal for your people.
2. Baked Chicken Teriyaki
When you make this homemade Baked Teriyaki Chicken, you won't want to order takeout ever again! Making your own teriyaki sauce allows you to control the amount of sodium and sugar in this dish, making it a healthier option. Serve this low-fat, lean protein over steamed white or brown rice and with steamed vegetables for a delicious weeknight meal!
3. Ground Turkey Tacos
If you think swapping out ground beef for turkey is a sacrifice on taco night...think again. You can easily cut the calories without cutting out any of the flavors. Let it be known there's nothing second-rate about these Ground Turkey Tacos! You can also load your tacos with healthy toppings like guacamole and salsa fresca. But no taco night is complete without the queso!
4. Navy Bean Soup
If you're looking to pack in your protein and fiber this new year, Navy Bean Soup hits all the marks. An excellent source of plant-based protein and high in fiber (hello, healthy digestion!), this cozy soup is versatile, flavorful, and packed with so many nutrients to help you stay healthy in this new year. If you're missing a carby side, whip up a batch of cornbread or keep it simple with a salad on the side.
5. Dutch Oven Pot Roast
Nothing says comfort food more than Dutch Oven Pot Roast with mashed potatoes. This fork-tender pot roast is the way to go for a balanced meal of lean protein, veggies, and starches packed with savory flavor. Not only is pot roast easy to put together, but it will be a staple in your home, guaranteed.
6. Taco Salad
It doesn't take much to make taco meat taste delicious and this Taco Salad is proof. It's insanely easy to make and 100% satisfying with big taco flavor, more veggies, way less guilt, and absolutely zero fuss. We are talking about a salad so quick, super easy, budget-friendly, healthy for your family, and bursting with taco-y goodness. Top with black bean and corn salsa for added fiber and tastiness!
7. Ground Turkey Stuffed Peppers
These Italian-style Ground Turkey Stuffed Peppers are the total package: protein, carbs, and veggies all in one bite! Full of flavor, comforting, and healthy, it's the perfect weeknight dinner for anyone trying to stick to a low-carb or gluten-free diet. These peppers can be a meal all on their own, but if you miss a side, air fryer zucchini or mozzarella sticks are hits with the kiddos!
8. Pozole
Pozole Rojo, or "red" pozole, is Mexican comfort food at its finest! This classic Mexican soup will 100% cure all your feel-good food cravings with its simple chile-flavored broth, hearty hominy (rich in fiber), and chunky bits of lean, fork-tender pulled pork. Garnish with loads of fresh veggies like lettuce, radish, onions, and avocado, adding loads of extra vitamins and minerals.
9. Chicken Taco Soup
With tasty, sautéed veggies, delicious seasoning, juicy pulled chicken, and a little time in the crockpot, Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Soup is a family favorite guaranteed to satiate all your Tex-Mex cravings! Our taco soup recipe is as simple to make as it is tasty. No need to worry about fancy kitchen gadgets or hard-to-find ingredients. Loaded with lean protein and fiber, this homemade soup is low in sodium and other additives, making it a super healthy dish. Garnish with toppings of your choice, including pico de gallo.
10. Lemon Garlic Salmon
This Lemon Garlic Salmon, full of healthy fats, high-quality protein, and antioxidants, is a delicious way to put a little pep into your weeknight dinner routine! Thanks to five minutes of prep time, the salmon comes packed with flavor, and lemon-garlic oil is positively delicious. Pair with slow cooker green beans or asparagus or even throw in a Texas-sized hunk of garlic bread for a carby treat!
11. Bacon-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin
It's hard to believe that a main dish like Bacon-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin can be this melt-in-your-mouth tender and flavorful and considered a healthy option for dinner. This lean cut of protein doesn't skimp on savoriness, and your guests will ask for seconds--guaranteed. Serve this pork tenderloin with red-skinned mashed potatoes and our oven-roasted zucchini bake!
12. Lemon Pepper Chicken
I firmly believe chicken breast doesn't have to be bland or boring! Crazy juicy and loaded with fresh lemon flavor, this Lemon Pepper Chicken possesses all the zesty goodness your dinnertime rotation has been missing. Using skinless chicken breasts reduces the fat content of this dish, making it a light meal option. Pair this easy, lean protein with Southern collard greens and glazed carrots for a dinner everyone will love!
13. Shredded Chicken Tacos
If you're looking for a weeknight dinner that saves you time and makes everyone happy, Shredded Chicken Tacos is a dish you can count on to do just that! High in protein and loaded with as many veggie toppings as you want, these tacos can be called upon for a healthy(ish) recipe to put in your dinner rotation. Serve 'em up with homemade tortilla chips, queso blanco, and refried black beans. Skipping the tortilla? No prob! Make a bomb taco salad instead!
14. Baked Fish
Move over Luby's Cafeteria LuAnn platter: this breaded and Baked Fish is where it's at now. Get the same comfy, nostalgic vibes from this baked fish dish, served up with tartar sauce and a squeeze of lemon juice for restaurant-style fish at home. Pick your favorite side, such as broccoli and kale salad or homemade fries for a family dinner to have on repeat.
15. Sirloin Steak
Budget-friendly and good for your health? Sign me up! Sirloin Steak is a great dinner staple because it hits the protein mark, is rich in nutrients and amino acids, and will keep you full and satisfied for longer. Our cooking method for this steak ensures quality flavor that will make your mouth water, too! Load up your plate with a wedge salad and crispy potatoes to go with your sirloin.
16. Parmesan-Crusted Pork Chops
Easy and quick to assemble, these Parmesan-Crusted Pork Chops deliver crunch and tastiness that is never dry or dull, like some of the other pork chop recipes out there. And because we bake these chops instead of frying them, your body will thank you, too. Serve alongside a beautiful burrata salad, or double up on comfort food and whip up a batch of twice-baked potatoes.
17. Lemon Pepper Wings
Wings don't have to just be for game day--they can belong among the weeknight greats, too! These baked Lemon Pepper Wings come fully packed with flavor thanks to lemon zest, cracked black pepper, and a touch of buttery goodness. They can be an appetizer, or feel free to serve them as the main dish with roasted potatoes and a fresh spring salad.
18. Shrimp Tacos
Taco night just got an upgrade! Shrimp Tacos might just be one of our family's favorite taco dishes ever. Gluten-free diet friendly and loaded with lots of protein, you can count on shrimp tacos to meet your nutrition needs this new year. Simple ingredients with big flavors to boot. You can't beat that!
19. Blackened Chicken
No more boring chicken dinners with this easy Blackened Chicken Recipe! This simple Louisiana chicken recipe always turns out fantastic, thanks to our Cajun spice blend and a foolproof cooking method for tender, juicy chicken breasts. It takes less than 30 minutes and is absolutely delicious served with Cajun rice, stewed green beans, and house salad.
20. Stovetop Taco Soup
This easy Stovetop Taco Soup is perfect for chilly winter nights that gives cozy vibes, maximum flavor, and minimal prep. This soup is veggie-packed with loads of flavorful ground beef, and you get your fiber fix with kidney beans in the mix!
21. Oven-Baked Chicken Tenders
A healthy dinner that looks and tastes like comfort food is always a win for our family dinners. These Oven-Fried Chicken Tenders bake up golden and crispy like real-deal fried chicken strips. Rest assured--your family will never taste the difference with these tenders. Don't forget your homemade dipping sauces like BBQ, ranch dressing, or country gravy.
22. Honey Garlic Shrimp
Low stress with low fuss is a dinner-prep mentality I think we all can get behind. Honey Garlic Shrimp delivers a bang of flavor for a small amount of effort. In this shrimp dish, you've got fresh garlic, ginger, sweet honey, and chili flakes, all coating the shrimp like a glaze with extra sauce left behind to drizzle over rice, noodles, or veggies.
23. Apple and Bacon Pork Chops
Sweet and savory flavors are the heart of good comfort food, so Apple and Bacon Pork Chops fit right in. And that this pork chop recipe is a skillet dish makes your time in the kitchen minimal, so win-win! Serve up your pork chops with sweet potatoes and Brussels sprouts.
24. Rump Roast Crock-Pot
Nothing beats a Rump Roast loaded with veggies on a cold, wintery night. A Sunday staple around here, this roast in the Crock-Pot is a dish you can count on to be flavorful and healthy. It's got protein, carbs, and veggies all in one! However, homemade yeast rolls or a hunky slice of cornbread won't disappoint anyone.
25. Cabbage and Sausage
Our Cabbage and Sausage skillet warms hearts and bellies in cold-weather season! This sausage and veggie dish is full of sweet and salty flavors and hits the spot for an easy weeknight meal. Baked potatoes or cornbread are perfect pairs for this easy dinner.
26. Chicken Meatballs
These Baked Chicken Meatballs are savory, healthy, and completely satisfying. They're lighter than beef but miss zero flavor. And thanks to a quick mix of fresh ingredients and Parmesan cheese, these meatballs bake up tender and juicy every single time. Top some noodles and marinara off with these little guys or serve with some roasted veggies.
27. Baked Tacos
Baked Tacos are versatile, quick, easy, and easily customizable to everyone's palates! Toppings for your tacos can be as little or as much as you like. We love to serve our tacos with a hefty dollop of sour cream, some fresh, diced tomatoes, and crunchy, shredded lettuce. Guac and queso are also great additions!
28. Chicken Noodle Soup
When it comes to sick season, you better have this comfort food staple on hand! Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup is what we have on rotation during the colder months, especially when we start to feel under the weather. Aside from being locked and loaded with bursting flavor, this soup only requires 10 minutes of prep time! Serve with a grilled cheese sandwich or house salad for a rounded-out meal everyone will love.
29. Baked Chicken Leg Quarters
These Baked Chicken Leg Quarters cook up juicy and tender--and the best part--with a beautiful, crispy, golden skin. With minimal prep work, these chicken leg quarters are perfect for a dinnertime lineup with baby Dutch potatoes and roasted okra.
30. Country-Style Pork Ribs
Country-Style Ribs baked in the oven feed your family at dinnertime without the hefty price tag that typically comes with ribs! This rib recipe doesn't skimp on the big BBQ rib flavor and is easier to make! Ribs and potatoes might as well be best friends, so loaded mashed potato casserole will be a crowd-pleaser. And any BBQ isn't complete without old-fashioned potato salad.
31. Roasted Shrimp
Low in calories, rich in nutrients, and high in protein, Roasted Shrimp is the easy, healthy main dish you need to make this week. Loaded with healthy fats, this foolproof shrimp recipe is on the table in 30 minutes or less and is a family-friendly favorite around here. Serve on the side of Cajun rice and a Red Lobster biscuit.
32. Blackened Shrimp
Southerners know and love Blackened Shrimp and everything that makes this dish hard to put down. This well-seasoned (not burned!), pan-seared shrimp recipe boasts big flavor without the bad ingredients (no frying here). Make it as spicy as you like or not--that's what's great about a versatile dish like this one. We like to serve it with grits and greens!
33. Stuffed Poblano Peppers
These low-carb Stuffed Poblano Peppers check all the comfort food boxes! Hearty and completely satisfying, poblano peppers come loaded with taco-seasoned ground beef, rice, and black beans. The filling is coated in a delicious quick-fix enchilada sauce, and the whole shebang gets topped off with cheese and baked until it's perfectly melty. Keep it extra healthy and protein-packed with shrimp and avocado salad or Mexican bean salad.
34. Crock-Pot Chicken Legs
These Crock-Pot Chicken Legs are a dinner adults and kids can get behind! After a few hours of simple slow cooking, you'll have some tender and juicy drumsticks on your hands. Serve them up with homemade shells and cheese to make the kids really go crazy for this meal!
35. Enchiladas Rojas
Enchiladas Rojas is low-stress and authentic Mexican comfort food at its best. Gluten-free, high protein, and addictively delicious, these enchiladas are great for entertaining or serving up for a weeknight dinner. Pair with Spanish rice and refried beans.
36. Chicken Tinga Tostadas
Chicken Tinga at home is where it's at. And when you load it up on a crunchy tostada? Game over. Shredded chicken in a delicious tomato sauce abounding with flavor is an easy way to knock dinner out of the park. For more ways to put this tinga recipe to good use, try shredded chicken tacos, tacos al carbon, or tacos de barbacoa
37. Air Fryer Shrimp
The perfect alternative to fried shrimp, Air Fryer Shrimp is a healthy dupe for a traditional seafood favorite. This shrimp recipe is guaranteed to deliver a crunchy outside and a plump, juicy inside. Round out this easy meal with yellow rice, broccoli, and cocktail sauce.
38. Baked Chicken Ranchero
Get your Tex-Mex fix at home with this healthy Baked Chicken Ranchero recipe! Keto-friendly, gluten-free, and high in protein, this dish will delight the masses with its booming flavor in the homemade ranchero sauce, juicy chicken breast, and melty cheese. If you're not going low carb, break out the tortillas, rice, and beans!
39. Vegetable Soup
This one-pot Vegetable Soup wonder comes loaded with a wholesome mix of colorful veggies packed into a full-flavored, savory, tomato-based broth. This soup is healthy, comforting, and, best of all, easy. No fancy ingredients--just a straightforward recipe that yields amazing flavor in less than 45 minutes. To increase the protein of this dish, pair with easy pan-seared chicken.
40. Shrimp Fajitas
This Shrimp Fajitas recipe offers you juicy, succulent shrimp topped with fajita veggies and a squeeze of fresh lime juice, all served up on warm flour tortillas, and it takes less than 30 minutes to make. Shrimp fajitas are protein-packed and colorful, which means lots of vitamins and minerals, and the seasoning is a cinch! Top with homemade guac, salsa fresca, cotija cheese, and any other favorite fajita topping you have.
41. Baked and Breaded Pork Chops
Always tender and never dry, Baked + Breaded Porkchops will be your family's new weeknight fave! As much as most of us love fried food, can we all agree that we feel better when we don't eat it? That's where this pork chop recipe rounded out with green bean almondine and mashed potatoes fits right in!
42. Crock-Pot Buffalo Chicken
Craving the mouthwatering flavor of wings with minimal effort? Look no further! This Crock-Pot Buffalo Chicken recipe is here to save the day! The chicken is perfectly cooked and is absolutely drenched in the most delicious buffalo wing sauce you've ever tasted. Shred the buffalo chicken up and mix it into your favorite salad, make a buffalo chicken sandwich and top it with blue cheese, toss it with some pasta, or even enjoy it with celery sticks and ranch dressing to cure your snack time cravings with a low-carb, high protein fix.
43. Pork Tenderloin
We've unlocked the best way to put not dry pork on your plate with our Pork Tenderloin recipe. This pork loin dish is always tender and super easy to make. Serve it up on a weeknight with potatoes and green beans with a homemade roll. Dee-lish!
44. Honey Garlic Chicken
Got 15 minutes? Then have time to whip up this insanely delicious Honey Garlic Chicken. It's a huge favorite around here and incredibly easy to make. Originally designed for bone-in chicken thighs, this recipe can be adapted for chicken breasts or boneless thighs. It's excellent served alongside some steamed rice and broccoli, and the sauce is delicious on veggies as well!
45. Green Enchiladas
Green Enchiladas are quick, easy, and comforting. They are perfect for a weeknight family dinner, yet such a crowd pleaser that these enchiladas are an excellent option for hosting a dinner or contributing to a potluck. You will not regret having this recipe at your disposal.
46. Bacon-Wrapped Chicken
Bacon-Wrapped Chicken is the best of both worlds: the savory richness of bacon and the lean protein of chicken. The bacon adds flavor and a satisfying crunch, while the chicken remains tender and juicy. Bacon-wrapped chicken paired with fresh vegetables or a light salad, this dish can be a balanced and comforting meal that doesn't compromise on taste.
47. Stuffed Chicken Breasts
Simple Stuffed Chicken Breast showcases seasoned chicken breasts filled with a delicious mix of spinach, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, and cheese. The stuffed chickens are then baked to tender, juicy perfection for a dinner that exceeds all expectations! Whip up a cold bow-tie pasta and dreamy garlic bread for your sides!
48. Coulotte Steaks
Tender, with beautiful marbling, Coulotte Steaks are the beefy satisfaction your comfort food cravings have been looking for. These steaks are in the sirloin family, and comes with a punch of juicy, meaty flavor. Serve this cut with a zesty chimichurri and some spring greens for a light comfort food dinner you'll want on repeat.
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