New year, healthy start. Eating better, though, doesn’t mean you need to enjoy boring meals. These healthy-ish comfort food recipes are the perfect balance between lighter ingredients and comforting meals. You’ll still find a little butter (because butter does make everything better), but you’ll also feel good about what you’re eating. Dinner recipes such as lightning fast spaghetti, air fryer chicken Parmesan, guiltless French fries, oven-fried chicken strips, Italian sausage and pepper soup, apple cider pork roast, and more will help you prepare a healthier meal your entire family will enjoy.
Lightning Fast Healthy Spaghetti
“Sometimes you want food fast, but not fast food. Well, this was the case one Friday evening after a long work week. I was starved for something good, filling, and quick. I went into my kitchen, started looking around, and got busy. Not only did I create one of the best-tasting spaghetti dinners I’ve eaten in a long time, but I made it all from start to finish in under an hour.” – Michelle
Healthy Oven Fried Chicken Strips
“I have to say, this is my favorite recipe, and my family just loves it. They are only 277 calories for the whole recipe.” – Marti
Best Turkey Meatloaf Ever
“My family lives for this meatloaf. They eat it all up every time. Super moist and easy to toss together, it’s a mommy fave.” – Nickole
French Fried Jicama
“Started trying out jicama when I was doing an Around the World culinary quest. I found out I liked it!” – Lynette
Air Fryer Quick Chicken Parmesan
“Made with convenience items like ground chicken, minced garlic in a jar, prepared pizza sauce, and cooked up in an oven-style air fryer, this take on classic Chicken Parmesan is fast, easy, and delicious. Toss a side salad while it’s cooking, and dinner is on the table in less than 25 minutes! Four servings, each 420 calories” – Larry
Slow Cooker Italian Sausage and Pepper Stew
“I love a good sausage and pepper sandwich, so much so, I wanted to try and make a stew with the same hearty flavors and robust color. This is a fabulous slow cooker dinner, served with garlic bread on the side to sop up every last drop! I buy the bag of peppers with one each of red, orange, and yellow for visual impact.” – C.J.
Oven-Roasted Chicken Shawarma
“Shawarma is traditionally a meat preparation on a vertical spit, slow roasted for the day. This is an easier oven version; a bit more practical when feeding the family. The marinade ingredients are indigenous to the Eastern Mediterranean region. Use your shawarma meat on basmati rice with a nice garlic sauce, or make a wrap with a delicious Syrian bread or Naan.” – Brenda
Lemon Butter Pork Chops with Potatoes and Spinach
“I love spinach and wanted to create a recipe that would use the spinach without wilting. We are fond of pork chops, and I thought I could make an easy recipe that would be yummy and memorable.” – Joyce
Chicken Noodle Soup for the Soul
“This classic comfort food always hits the spot when the weather starts to get cold.” – Shannon
Apple Cider Pork Roast With Sauerkraut and Apples
“This pork roast is delicious. A little sweet and savory at the same time. I served it with my homemade applesauce.” – Michelle
Ground Beef Salsa Corn Roll Ups
“Easy, breezy, quick, quick! Just something I made up one night when I wanted to make something quick and had ground beef in the fridge, salsa, and wheat tortillas. Great served with cooked rice.” – Sher
Asian Meatballs With Sesame Rice
“This recipe is extremely easy. Kids can join in too.” – Candace
Sicilian Style Lemon Roast Chicken
“This is a chicken dish that makes a wonderful sauce. You can serve this with pasta, mashed potatoes, or couscous.” – Debbie
Taco Stewp
“I came up with this version when I didn’t have all the ingredients for another recipe. You can only adjust a recipe so much before it becomes a new recipe. You can add another can of broth if this is too thick to make it more of a soup consistency.” – Cindy
Guiltless French Fries
“Who doesn’t love French fries? Who doesn’t love seasoned crispy French fries? This is a great, quick, and easy side dish to make. The hubby loves all things potatoes and can’t get enough of them. If, and I mean if, there are any leftovers, they chop up nicely in a breakfast burrito the next morning or in an omelet.” – Sherry
Healthy Choice Tuna Melt
“I have always loved tuna melts. Lots of mayonnaise, cheese, and high-carb bread. I am dropping a bit of winter weight by eating lighter. So here is my new, healthier version of the tuna melt, for a leaner and lighter new year ahead of us all. You don’t miss a thing here, it’s de-lish!” – Lynda
Baked Egg Rolls With Ground Turkey
“I love egg rolls from Chinese restaurants, but they are so full of fat from being fried. Here is a recipe that will spare you the fat and mess from frying.” – Myra
Farro & Turkey Stuffed Peppers
“I really enjoy stuffed peppers and tomatoes. I usually use ground beef and rice in my filling. But in recent months, I’ve been looking to increase my intake of whole grains and lean protein and choosing more organic ingredients. The farro in this recipe has a nice firm texture like barley, but has a creaminess to it that blends nicely with the grated cheese.” – Tiffany
Italian Slow Cooker Chicken
“Another freezer cooking success! I had it prepped and ready to place in the Crock Pot. I couldn’t believe the great aroma that filled the kitchen. This chicken is so flavorful.” – Sea
Creamy Parmesan Tomato and Spinach Tortellini Soup Recipe
“A creamy tomato soup with cheese tortellini, spinach, and plenty of Parmesan cheese that is pure comfort food on a chilly day!” – Kevin