6 Healthy Comfort Food Recipes

There’s nothing better than a comfort-food recipe that has been hacked to be a healthier, more powerful version of its former self. Each of these dishes cuts back on the butter, cream, and fat, and replaces them with good-for-you alternatives.

The results: cold-weather favorites that will help fuel your muscle growth and trim your waistline. These recipes are proof that you can have your favorite dishes and eat them, too. So get ready to whip up these classics and dig in!

1 Budget Sweet-Potato Lasagna

Replacing pasta sheets composed of refined white flour with thin slices of sweet potato is what makes this dish a standout. Instead of delving into the nutritional zero, you’ll be filling yourself with complex carbs to help power through your workout. Not only are these iron-containing tubers rich in vitamins D, C, and B6, but they’re also budget-friendly. It’s a win for your wallet and your waistline.

Budget Sweet Potato Lasagna Meal Prep
WATCH THE Video – 01:01

• 1-1/2 lb. lean ground turkey
• 2 cups (400 g) sweet potato (1/2 cup per lasagna, thinly sliced)
• 1 egg white
• 1/2 cup low-fat cottage cheese
• 1/2 cup reduced-fat mozzarella
• 2 vine tomatoes
• 15 oz organic tomato sauce (no salt)
• 1/3 cup mushrooms
• 1/3 cup red onions
• 1 tbsp garlic paste
• 1/2 cup chopped cilantro (use as desired)
• Seasonings: 1 tbsp Italian seasoning, sea salt, pepper

1. Set oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Slice sweet potato using a mandolin or a sharp knife. Separately chop up tomatoes, onions, and mushrooms.
3. Mix cottage cheese with egg white. Set aside.
4. Sauté red onions with garlic paste. Then add meat, tomatoes, cilantro, mushrooms, tomato sauce, and Italian seasoning.
5. Build lasagna. Add sweet potato slices, meat sauce, and cottage cheese. Repeat. Top with mozzarella.
6. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes.

Budget Sweet Potato Lasagna PDF (28.4 KB)

2 Chicken And Broccoli Casserole

Ditch the cream of chicken soup, butter, and mayonnaise, and try this heart-healthy take on a family classic! It’s good for your muscles and easy on your taste buds.

Chicken & Broccoli Casserole in Jars for Meal Prep
WATCH THE Video – 01:01

• 15 oz cooked chicken breast
• 1-1/2 cup 2% Greek yogurt
• 1 cup chicken broth (Add more if you find it too dry, but be careful not to make it “soupy”)
• 1 cup reduced-fat mozzarella
• 2 cups cooked quinoa & brown rice mix
• 2 cups raw broccoli, chopped
• 1/4 cup red onion
• 1/2 cup crushed amaranth flakes, wheat breadcrumbs, or panko crumbs
• 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
• Sea salt & pepper to taste

1. Set oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Cook chicken breasts in a nonstick skillet with no seasoning, or boil the chicken breasts in water. Tear the chicken into pieces and set aside.
3. In a bowl, mix chicken, broccoli, brown rice, red onions, Greek yogurt, chicken broth, mozzarella, and Italian seasoning.
4. Evenly divide among the jars or place it all in a large casserole dish.
5. Top with wheat breadcrumbs or amaranth flakes.
6. Bake for 25 minutes.

Chicken And Broccoli Casserole PDF (28.3 KB)

3 Spicy Vegan Freekeh Chili

This is one cold-weather dish that proves meatless chili isn’t just for vegans. With a hearty dose of protein, this bowl of veggie goodness shows that you can build muscle and lose weight on a vegan diet. It’s all about consuming the right portions and macronutrient ratios to support your fitness goals.

Amazing Vegan Freekeh Chili (Stuffed Bell Peppers)
WATCH THE Video – 06:07

• 2 cups cooked freekeh or quinoa
• 1 can (15oz) tomato sauce (no salt added)
• 2 vine tomatoes
• 2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth, divided
• 1 can (15oz) dark red kidney beans
• 1 can (15oz) black beans
• 1-3/4 cup frozen corn
• 1 cup red onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 cup cilantro, chopped
• 1 tbsp coconut oil
• 1 tbsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp coriander
• 1 tsp chipotle chili pepper
• 1 tsp gumbo file (or 1 tsp cumin)

1. Cook freekeh according to the directions, but use half low-sodium vegetable broth (1 cup) and half water (1 cup) to add extra flavor.
2. Chop up your vegetables (cilantro, red onion, tomatoes, bell pepper, garlic) and set aside.
3. Set a nonstick skillet on medium-high heat and spray with coconut oil. Toss in red onions and garlic. Sauté until the red onions become brown and translucent.
4. Add tomato sauce, cooked freekeh, 1 cup vegetable broth, bell pepper, tomatoes, and the seasonings (paprika, coriander, chipotle chili pepper, gumbo file). Stir well with a spatula.
5. Add beans, corn, cilantro, and 1 cup vegetable broth. Reduce the heat and cook on medium heat for 8-10 minutes.

Spicy Vegan Freekeh Chili PDF (28.7 KB)

4 Chipotle Chili Turkey Cheese Fries

Move over, disco fries! Who needs all that grease, gravy, and artery-clogging cheese when you can have this version of a healthy cheat? Dig into this pile of guilt-free spuds that are topped with all the fixings.

• 2 red potatoes (approximately 1-3/4 cups or 340 g)
• 5 oz extra-lean turkey (measured raw)
• 1/4 cup reduced-fat mozzarella cheese
• 1 tbsp garlic paste
• Green onion
• Chipotle chili seasoning
• Sea salt
• Spray coconut oil

1. Set oven to 405 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Slice red potatoes into wedges, or use a mandolin slicer to make fries.
3. Dry the fries on a paper towel, then place them in a large bowl. Spray the fries with coconut oil and season with sea salt and chipotle chili seasoning.
4. Spread the fries on a baking sheet with parchment paper or on a baking rack. Bake for 13 minutes.
5. Remove from the oven and flip the pieces over. If you’re impatient like me, you can just shake the pan to cause them to flip. Season with a bit more chipotle chili seasoning and a pinch of sea salt. Bake for another 10-13 minutes. Be careful not to let them burn.
6. Remove the fries from the oven and allow them to cool on a baking rack so they do not become soft or soggy.
7. In a nonstick skillet, cook ground turkey with garlic paste.
8. Place the fries in a cast iron skillet or oven-safe dish. Sprinkle with cooked turkey and shredded mozzarella. Bake in the oven for about 3 minutes. Remove the fries from the oven and sprinkle with chopped green onions.
9. Eat with a fork and enjoy!

Chipotle Chili Turkey Cheese Fries PDF (29.9 KB)

5 Crispy Parmesan Fish Sticks

Bypass the heavily processed, freezer-frosted childhood favorite for this healthy, cheese-dusted alternative. You can have your omega-3s and enjoy them, too. Pair with a yogurt-based dipping sauce and a wedge of lemon for a classic touch.

Healthy Comfort Food Crispy Fish Sticks
WATCH THE Video – 01:01

• 1-1/2 lb. halibut (or firm white fish like cod or tilapia)
• 1/2 cup gluten-free panko breadcrumbs
• 2 tbsp coconut flour
• 1/2 cup amaranth flakes (or whole-grain flakes, no sugar)
• 1/4 cup grated/shredded parmesan (reduced-fat)
• 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 egg
• 1 egg white

• 1/2 cup 2% Greek yogurt
• 1/4 cup red onion chopped (or 1 tbsp onion powder)
• 1/2 tsp coriander
• Juice from 1/2 lemon
• Sea salt & pepper to taste

1. Set oven to 405 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Cut fish into long pieces so they resemble slender fillets. You can remove the skin of the fish as well. If you have a thinner piece of white fish, it may be harder for it to stay together without the skin. If you use a fish like catfish, I highly recommend removing the skin before baking.
3. Mix panko, amaranth flakes, parmesan, Italian seasoning, and cayenne together in a bowl.
4. Beat eggs in another bowl.
5. Dip fish in the egg mixture, then dip into the breadcrumbs. Place the pieces on a baking sheet or rack.
6. Bake for 15 minutes.
7. Mix all of the ingredients together for the dipping sauce and season with sea salt and pepper to taste.

Crispy Parmesan Fish Sticks PDF (29.1 KB)

6 White Turkey Mac and Cheese

Take your love of mac and cheese to the next level with this variation that can be incorporated into even the cleanest of meal plans. A dose of Greek yogurt helps bring the calorie count down and protein levels up, while favorite additions like goat cheese, mozzarella, and turkey help give the dish a hearty feel. Yum!

Hi-Protein Mac & Cheese Comfort Food Recipe
WATCH THE Video – 01:01

• 4 slices turkey bacon (nitrate-free, uncured, natural)
• 4-1/2 oz Ancient Harvest gluten-free quinoa macaroni (or use whole-wheat macaroni)
• 1-3/4 cup 2% Greek yogurt, divided
• 2 oz goat cheese
• 1/2 cup reduced fat mozzarella
• 1 tbsp garlic paste
• Fresh chives
• Sea salt & pepper to taste

1. Boil quinoa pasta and set aside.
2. Slice bacon into pieces and cook in a nonstick skillet with garlic paste on medium-high heat.
3. Reduce heat to medium and add one cup of Greek yogurt along with the goat cheese, chives, and mozzarella.
4. Cook until the sauce is an even consistency.
5. Let the sauce thicken, then remove from heat.
6. Add macaroni and the rest of the Greek yogurt. Mix.

White Turkey Mac and Cheese PDF (27.5 KB)

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