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Today, I’m sharing my favorite healthy recipes to make and love in the year ahead. These are our true go-to favorites — everything from breakfast and lunch to cozy dinners and a few better-for-you desserts. They’re the kinds of recipes that leave you feeling good while still being completely satisfying. Simple, flavorful, made with real ingredients, and most importantly, actually delicious.
Happy New Year! You guys, I’m so excited for what’s ahead. I’m feeling incredibly inspired and more ready than ever to continue creating and sharing the very best recipes, menus, dinner tables, and moments with you.
Every January, I love to begin the year by leaning into my most nourishing, real-food recipes. You know how I cook — I live by the rule that we never skip the pasta, pizza, or that holiday cookie. But after a couple of months filled with festive baking and comfort dishes, it always feels really good to reset with meals that truly nourish our bodies.
That said, nourishing does not mean boring or restrictive. These recipes can still be cozy, cheesy, and comforting. I have some really delicious new recipes coming this month that I know you’ll be excited about. And just so you know, I’ll still be cooking with butter (I use raw, organic, grass-fed, salted butter), and there will absolutely be cheese. If digestion is an issue, try using raw cheese — but always do what works best for you. I don’t believe in cutting things out completely, just finding balance.
Like I do every year, I wanted to start by sharing past recipes we already love to help kick off 2026 in the best way possible.
Whether you’re looking for fresh inspiration or dependable staples you’ll come back to again and again, these are the healthy recipes I’m loving right now.
And I’d love to know —
Are there any recipes you’re especially excited to see this year?
I always love hearing from you guys!
Mornings
Chocolate Chunk Greek Yogurt Banana Bread
Made in one bowl, each slice has pockets of melted chocolate and sweet-salty butter…so DELICIOUS!
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Harissa Eggs in Whipped Goat Cheese
Eggs in harissa sauce snuggled into a bed of creamy whipped goat cheese with avocado relish, so delish!
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Double Chocolate Muffins
Simple ingredients and easy to make, each fluffy muffin is filled with extra fudgy chocolate…better than the bakery!
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Cinnamon Crunch Swirled Coffee Cake
Cinnamon Crunch Yogurt Coffee Cake: Vanilla yogurt coffee cake swirled with a layer of espresso CRUNCH, creating a yummy ooey gooey center!
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Blender Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins
Everyone's favorite easy, no guilt, healthy, and just SO DELICIOUS muffins!
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Maple Banana Bread with Cinnamon Butter
Made in one bowl, quick to mix, warming, and SO DELICIOUS…the perfect bread to bake this weekend!
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Chocolate Chunk Coconut Banana Bread
One bowl, pantry staple ingredients, super quick to mix up, healthy…ish, and SO DELICIOUS! With over-ripe bananas, good honey, and your favorite chocolate bar this is sure to become your favorite banana bread. Perfect for breakfast, as an afternoon snack, or a late night dessert.
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Fiery Golden Mango Tonic
Fiery and delicious and guaranteed to give your immune system a healthy boost!
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Vanilla Chai Hot Chocolate
Simple to make, not too sweet, and warmingly delicious…soon to become a cozy winter staple!
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Turkish Eggs with Chile Butter and Whipped Feta
Salty, a touch spicy, creamy, and full of fresh herbs. Add toasted bagels or bread for dipping and you'll have a mouth-watering breakfast (or dinner) that takes only minutes to prepare, is healthy, and delicious!
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Blueberry Muffin Bread
This whole-grain, high-protein bread is special, thanks to ribbons of blueberry jam and clusters of cinnamon crunch!
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Big Salads/Soups
Roasted Sweet Potato Salad with Tahini Dressing
A wonderfully big and nourishing hearty winter salad with so much flavor and color!
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Fall Harvest Apple Orzo Salad
A cozy mix of kale, Brussels sprouts, apples, pomegranates, nuts, Manchego, and warm crispy prosciutto!
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Crockpot Hearty Chicken and Rice Soup
Warming, hearty, full of flavor, and simple to make. Add parmesan and bread on the side…delicious!
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Salsa Verde Tortilla Soup
Made with a variety of vegetables, seasonings, chunky red salsa, smoky salsa verde, and plenty of toppings!
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Creamy Lentil Sun-dried Tomato Soup
A deliciously wonderful cozy bowl of soup, serve with warm crusty bread – perfect soup for freezing!
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Sesame Peanut Chicken Katsu Ramen
Each bowl is filled with noodles and crispy sesame Katsu chicken. Then topped with our favorite toppings!
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Creamy Tuscan White Bean Lemon Soup
My family’s favorite quick and easy Italian-style soup…such a yummy comforting winter soup!
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Creamy Thai Red Curry Chicken Noodle Soup
Classic chicken noodle, reimagined with Thai red curry + pumpkin. Cozy meets bold flavor!
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Lemony Pesto Chicken Noodle Soup
Hearty, full of protein, vegetables, and nutrient-packed herbs. So delicious…the coziest bowl for cold winter nights!
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Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Chili
Perfect for game day, family dinners, and all the nights in between. Super Bowl ready, so easy, and so delicious!
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Easy Chipotle Cheddar Beef Chili
My family's favorite quick and easy chili recipe – perfect for cold fall and winter nights – delicious, hearty chili!
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Chicken Tzatziki Salad
This vibrant salad is hearty enough to be called a meal. It's delicious and full of color – great any night!
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Lemon Parmesan Sesame Salad
This is best served with steak dinners, plates of pasta, BBQs, and anything else that needs a good green salad!
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Harvest Brie and Cheddar Apple Kale Salad
Perfect seasonal salad with creamy cheeses and a balance of savory, sweet, and salty fall flavors!
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Parmesan Tahini Kale Salad with Breadcrumbs and Crunchy Chickpeas
A simple salad, but one that will leave you craving it weekly!
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Sesame Ginger Orange Chicken Salad…with crispy fried wontons
A no-cook, fast, colorful, and delicious mix of savory, sweet, and salty!
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Chicken Cobb Salad with Avocado Ranch
Colorful, flavorful, really simple…and it doubles as the prettiest centerpiece for any dinner table!
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Sweet Potato Kale Salad with Creamy Honey Mustard Dressing
So much happening for a simple-to-prepare salad…fun to make, exciting to eat!
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Creamy White Bean Lemon Pesto Orzo Soup
Kind of like creamy risotto, kind of like soup, wholesome and comforting…20 mins and so DELICIOUS!
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Lighter Creamy Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Cozy, creamy, secretly full of vegetables, made simply in one pot, healthier, and totally delicious!
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Fall Harvest Honeycrisp Apple and Feta Salad
Kale Caesar Salad with Sweet Potatoes and Crispy Chickpeas
The perfect wintry salad to kick-start clean eating in 2020!
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Roasted Cauliflower Salad with Creamy Honey Mustard Vinaigrette.
Cauliflower and chickpeas, roasted with olive oil, smoky chipotle, paprika, and garlic until lightly charred, crisp, and delicious. All tossed together with a simple honey mustard vinaigrette.
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Spicy Miso Braised Beef Ramen
This simple, warming Spicy Miso Braised Beef Ramen is just the right bowl to warm up with…it’s a little spicy and the flavor is spot-on!
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Crockpot Spicy Chicken Tortilla Soup
Throw everything in and let it cook…a deliciously easy dinner to warm up to on the coldest of days!
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Healthier Slow Cooker Creamy Tortellini Vegetable Soup.
The perfect easy fall dinner…great for nights when you're craving Italian, but want something warming and healthy too.
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Weeknight Thai Chicken Meatball Khao Soi.
This northern Thai inspired noodle soup is the simplest weeknight dinner…hearty, cozy, quick, and healthy too!
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Coconut Sweet Potato Lentil Soup with Rice
When you’re in need of warming comfort food, but you also want healthy, this Coconut Sweet Potato Lentil Soup with Rice is just the soup to make. All made in just ONE pot (or in your instant pot), in less than an hour. It’s cozy, a little spicy, and filled with vegetables. The perfect healthy bowl of soup!
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30 Minute Thai Peanut Chicken Ramen
All made in one pot, using healthy, pantry staple, ingredients. It’s creamy, spicy, filled with veggies, lean chicken, and ramen noodles. Perfect for a cold night in, after a long busy day!
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Dinner Time
Crockpot Thai Basil Beef
Saucy, flavorful beef slow-cooked with Thai basil chili sauce and served over coconut sesame rice!
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Artichoke Pesto and Burrata Pizza with Lemony Arugula.
Homemade pizza dough topped with basil pesto, olives, spinach, and artichokes, baked until the crust is golden and perfect. Top it with fresh burrata cheese and a simple herby, lemony arugula. Every last bite of this pizza is delicious and super fresh.
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Red Wine-Braised Short Ribs
Slow-cooked short ribs with red wine, herbs, and all the cozy flavors of the season. Elegant enough for Christmas, easy enough for weeknights!
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30 Minute Spicy Coconut Butter Chicken
Quickly made on the stove, all in one skillet. Finish off with steamed rice and naan for a warm cozy meal!
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Sheet Pan Sesame Feta Chicken and Sweet Potatoes
Simple to prep and just right for spring—colorful, fresh, and satisfying without being heavy!
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Sheet Pan Steak Gyros with Feta Tzatziki Sauce
Serve with homemade fries for a quick, fun, delicious, and different weeknight meal that's sure to please!
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35 Minute Chili Honey Garlic Salmon Bowls
Easy, crispy salmon tossed in a spicy-sweet honey garlic sauce with asparagus and broccoli. DELISH!
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Crockpot Salsa Verde Chicken Tortilla Bowl
Slow-cooked chicken mixed in red salsa, salsa verde, and hot sauce, then served over rice bowls – DELISH!
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Crockpot Honey Garlic Chicken and Broccoli
A new go-to family dinner. Easy, slow-cooked chicken tossed in a spicy-sweet and tangy honey garlic sauce, YUM!
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25 Minute Tzatziki Gyro Rice Bowls
A street food-inspired quick, fun, delicious, and different weeknight meal…complete with homemade fries!
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20 Minute Honey Garlic Chicken Udon Noodles
The biggest bowl of comfort food, yet they're full of healthy mixed vegetables and chicken!
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Pot Roast Gyros
These gyros are simple – nothing fancy, but such delicious flavors…a quick, fun, delicious, and different weeknight meal!
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Garlic Butter Baked Salmon In Lemony Parmesan Cream
Perfect for when you’re craving something a little fancier, but need something quick and easy to prepare!
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20 Minute Honey Garlic Chicken
A simple sauce, but wow, the flavors are delicious…a fun take-out-style dinner great any night of the week!
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3 Cheese Lemon Basil Pizza
This pizza has just the right amount of spring citrus, spice, basil, and cheese! Every last bite is delicious!
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Crockpot Chipotle Pineapple Pot Roast Bowls
Pot roast and pineapple over rice + avocado salsa + spicy, tangy, creamy bang bang sauce. YUM!
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Crockpot Thai Yellow Curry Chicken with Garlic Rice
An almost effortless crockpot dinner full of delicious Thai flavors that everyone will enjoy!
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20 Minute Miso Ginger Beef and Broccoli
The easiest skillet dinner, less than 30 minutes from start to finish…easy, fun, and still delicious!
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Baked Lemon Rosemary Chicken Meatballs and Creamy Orzo
All made in one pan without even boiling water…simply mix, bake, eat, and enjoy!
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30 Minute Thai Basil Beef Noodles
Saucy, salty, and just the right amount of spice. Finish with toasted garlicky sesame seeds…so delish!
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Crispy Carnitas Tacos with Roasted Jalapeño Lime Avocado
These tacos come together easily. They're slightly spicy, so cheesy, and so yummy!
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Sheet Pan Korean Popcorn Chicken
A slightly healthier, much easier take on Korean-style fried chicken. Perfect dinner for the entire family!
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Crockpot Chipotle Honey Pot Roast Tacos
Made in the crockpot or the oven, these tacos are simple to make, saucy, spicy, cheesy, and so yummy!
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Sheet Pan Chili Orange Chicken and Broccoli
The easiest sheet pan dinner. Add a side of rice for a main, or serve it as an appetizer!
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Sun-dried Tomato Pesto Turkey Sandwich
A delicious dinner-style sandwich…great for playoff games and the upcoming Super Bowl!
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Red Wine Braised Pot Roast
A classic, warming, easy, and delicious one-pot meal that's great for weeknights and entertaining, too!
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Crockpot Creamy Coconut Chicken Tikka Masala
Serve over bowls of rice and you'll have the perfect bowl of warming, delicious comfort food!
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One Pan Lemon Pepper Yogurt Chicken and Rice
Marinated chicken and rice made in one pan, even the rice…simply mix, bake, eat, and enjoy!
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Havarti Avocado Sandwich with Spicy Mayo
Lunch, dinner, or your next picnic, this tasty vegetable cheese sandwich has just what you need!
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Sheet Pan Spicy Ginger Sesame Beef and Broccoli
Add a side of rice and spicy sauce and you’ve got all you need, the easiest sheet pan dinner!
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Sheet Pan Honey Garlic Chicken and Feta Potatoes
Spicy, sweet, tangy honey garlic chicken roasted with baby potatoes, asparagus, and feta!
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20 Minute Thai Basil Beef Rolls
Spicy, sweet, tangy, and salty…enjoy as an appetizer or serve alongside steamed rice for a quick dinner!
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One Pan Chipotle Honey Chicken and Rice
All made in one pan, even the dry rice goes in…simply mix, bake, eat, and enjoy!
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20 Minute Garlic Butter Cashew Chicken
Restaurant-style cashew chicken made healthier, quicker, and with a few tweaks to make it unique and delicious!
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Sheet Pan Honey Buffalo Chicken with Broccoli
The easiest sheet pan dinner…simply add a side of rice or home fries and you've got a meal!
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30 Minute Garlic Butter Chicken Pad Thai
An easy weeknight dinner that's better than any takeout…sure to become a family staple!
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Baked Crunchy Hot Honey Chicken
Simple cornflake-crusted chicken baked up on a sheet pan until crispy and delicious – loved by everyone!
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Simple Coconut Chicken Curry
This chicken curry with yummy Indian-inspired flavors has a sweet sesame mango topping. It's easy to make and ready in 30 mins – so delicious!
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Spicy Chipotle Honey Salmon Bowls
Colorful and fresh, these bowls may seem involved but they're actually simple to make and full of so much flavor!
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Greek Chicken Tzatziki Bowls
Greek Chicken Tzatziki Bowls: Street food inspired oven-roasted chicken, served bowl style with all the extras. Add pitas and fries to make a complete meal!
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Skillet Chicken Fajitas with Creamy Jalapeño Verde Sauce.
Fresh, colorful, and tastes even better…it's that sauce, different but so delicious!
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Simple Thai Yellow Chicken Curry with Spicy Garlic Butter
Full of Thai flavors and so quick to make…a new weeknight family favorite!
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Red’s Favorite Spicy Tuna Poke Bowl
Each bowl is colorful and full of so much flavor…a great family dinner, any night of the week!
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One Skillet Lemon Butter Dijon Chicken and Orzo with Feta Sauce
The perfect all-in-one winter dinner…quick, easy, colorful, and delicious!
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Instant Pot Chicken and Spinach Ramen
Make this on nights when you want something cozy like ramen, but need something healthier too!
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Healthier Homemade One Pot Hamburger Helper
Swapping out the boxed stuff and making this childhood special…but homemade and healthier!
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Sheet Pan Sticky Ginger Sesame Chicken and Crispy Brussels Sprouts
Sticky chicken made quicker than any take-out meal…and is so much healthier too!
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30 Minute Chicken Braised in Coconut Milk with Sweet Potatoes and Rice.
A fusion of Thai and Indian flavors. The perfect bowl of warming comfort food!
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Roasted Garlic Butter Chicken with Lemon Olive Dressing.
A flavorful update to the classic roasted chicken. Plus an easy weeknight meal that's also great for guests!
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Sheet Pan Blackened Salmon and Potato Bowl with Avocado Goddess Sauce
Baby potatoes roasted alongside blackened salmon and served bowl style with steamed brown rice, feta cheese, and the most deliciously addicting avocado goddess sauce. This dish is quick, easy, extra colorful, super flavorful, and so delicious.
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Thai Black Pepper Chicken and Garlic Noodles
The fast Thai chicken noodle bowl that looks like takeout, but tastes so much better…and is healthier too!
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One Skillet Greek Meatballs and Lemon Butter Orzo with Whipped Feta
Pan-seared Greek seasoned chicken meatballs, cooked together with lemon butter orzo pasta, for a complete dinner made in just one skillet.
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Better Than Takeout Garlic Butter Shrimp Pad Thai.
Perfect for busy weeknights when you’re looking for something with a little more flavor, but still quick, healthy-ish, and DELICIOUS.
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One Pot Stove-Top Mac and Cheese
Simple, delicious, and made all in one pot in just 30 minutes…the perfect recipe for sneaking in vegetables!
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Desserts
Samoa Cookie Bars
Each cookie bar is sweet, coconutty, swirled with caramel, chocolatey, and so DELICIOUS…perfect for gifting!
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Brown Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
Just like mom's oatmeal cookies, but updated to be gluten-free and made without refined sugar!
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Chocolate Dipped Sesame Oatmeal Bars
Sweet and salty with just the right amount of CRUNCH, everyone loves these easy, wholesome chocolate bars!
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Iced Grapefruit Yogurt Cake
Sweetened with honey and made with almond flour, this easy-to-make, gluten-free winter cake melts in your mouth!
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Healthier Buckeye Brownies
Sweet, salty, heavy on the peanut butter, extra chocolatey, gluten-free, butter-free, and so delish!
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Chocolate Chip Espresso Yogurt Cake
One bowl, simple to make, a wonderful cake to enjoy anytime. Much better than the bakery!
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Frozen Chocolate Banana Yogurt Clusters
Easy to make, only 7 ingredients, and no baking…like a mini ice cream bar, but much healthier!
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Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars
Made delicious with wholesome ingredients like oats, maple syrup, natural peanut butter, and dark chocolate!
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Homemade Vegan Peanut Butter Twix Bars
Easy to make, no processed sugars, gluten-free, and every bite is sweet, nutty, chocolatey, and so DELICIOUS!
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Salted Tahini Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
These delicious cookies are easy to make, healthier, made with simple ingredients, and gluten-free too!
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5 Minute Chocolate Chunk Banana Bread Mug Cake
One bowl, pantry staple ingredients, super quick to mix up, healthy, and SO DELICIOUS!
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Baked Hot Chocolate Doughnuts
These easy baked doughnuts are best enjoyed with a sweet mug of hot chocolate. The perfect way to warm up this winter.
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Healthier Homemade Nutter Butter Cookies…Dunked in Chocolate.
Easy to make, uses just 7 ingredients, has no processed sugars, and can even be made vegan.
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5 Minute Molten Chocolate Mug Cake
Enjoy this personal-sized cake warm, right out of the microwave, with a scoop of ice cream.
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Fudgy Avocado Brownies with Chocolate Fudge Frosting.
Made using ripe avocados for richness, sweetened simply with maple syrup, and studded with dark chocolate chunks. Add a rich fudge frosting for the best ever "healthy" brownie.
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Healthier Dark Chocolate Chunk Oatmeal Cookie Bars
Make your weekend even sweeter with these simple Oatmeal Cookie Bars…requires no chilling and made with pantry staples in only 30 mins!
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Homemade Vegan Twix Bars
These homemade vegan Twix bars are easy to make, have no processed sugars, and are even gluten-free!
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Monster Crunchies
These treats are so easy to make with only a handful of ingredients and zero baking…there's nothing not to love!
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Lastly, if you make any of my favorite healthy recipes of 2026, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love hearing from you guys and always do my best to respond to every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
This post was originally published on January 1, 2026
Every time I tried to scroll through this the site would crash or bring me back to the top because of all the ads. Please fix this.
Hi Ida,
Very sorry to hear this! Thanks for the feedback. Happy New Year!
Would love to see some more balance in your recipes instead of extremely high calories, tons of butter & cheese with most recipes! Your old recipes were not so excessive. It is hard to modify when so much of the recipe contains multiples of dairy!
Thanks for sharing this suggestion, Dorothy! I will take this into consideration when creating new recipes:)
Happy New Year!
Thank you for changing the formatting of pictures with description and link to recipe – so much easier to read! I made the Thai yellow chicken curry this week (with a few tweaks) and my husband declared it is one of his favorite meals!
Thanks so much, Nancy! Love to hear the curry was enjoyed and I appreciate your feedback regarding the formatting!
Happy New Year!