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Sharing My Favorite Healthy Recipes for 2021 + Healthy January. The new year is almost here, so let’s start it off right with my favorite healthy, balanced, and of course, delicious recipes. I’ve included all of my favorites – everything from breakfast, to lunch, to dinner, to dessert. Each and every one of them is delicious, just a little more balanced and made with plenty of vegetables. I’m excited to start January off with lots of color…and deliciousness too. Which of these recipes are your personal favorites?
Welcome to the final post of 2020. I know everyone is saying the same thing right now, it’s been a rough year and we’re all looking forward to 2021. And yes, I know this year has been hard for so many of you, but I’m really trying to look at the positives the year brought. It just feels weird to end the year with so much negativity, you know?
So I’m starting 2021 with a positive mindset, excitement for the year ahead, and like every other year in HBH history, with a new batch of recipes focused more on health. This will be our 5th Healthy January and it’s become a month I look forward to!! Here’s the thing, I view healthy eating in a bit of a different way than most. I don’t like any kind of diet or diet food. Diets are temporary, why not take little steps to make permanent healthy changes.
So instead of dieting, I really try to focus on using only real food within the recipes I share. That means lots of fruits and vegetables, proteins, and healthy carbs…yup, I’m still doing carbs, but I might switch it up and use more quinoa or spaghetti squash.
I understand we all want to eat healthier after the holidays, but I still want to enjoy warm and cozy foods. Thankfully this can be done…and I have the recipes to prove it! Yes, some of them have butter, many probably have cheese. But each recipe is filled with wholesome ingredients, plenty of vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and good for us proteins too.
My motto is everything in moderation, a little of this, a little of that, and maybe a cookie on Friday night if you need one…which you probably do.
So yes, I strongly believe in eating unprocessed food. But in addition to bright and colorful fruits and vegetables, there are also cozy plates of pasta, soups, sheet pan dinners, and yes, even desserts. Wholesome is the keyword.
And as I often like to say, no boring salads, just really GOOD food.
This month I’ll be sharing the same warm and cozy recipes you love to see from me, but with a healthy spine. They’ll be lots of really good soups, one-pot dinners, slow cooker meals, salads, pizzas, and pasta too. And since you know we can’t go without chocolate, that will be included as well…I think my mom is most excited for those recipes! Lots of deliciousness to come this month!
Question: what recipe would you love to see? Is there a dish you’d love to see made healthier? Let me know and I’ll do my best!
Have a very Happy New Year! No matter what 2021 brings, we’ll find a way to make it great! Already feeling like it’s going to be a good year! No post tomorrow, but we’ll see you Sunday for the first Favorites post of the year. Then back to business as usual on Monday with a new recipe!!
Breakfast…
Eggs in Purgatory with Chile Butter and Feta
Vanilla Chai Lemon Ricotta Muffins
Turkish Eggs with Chile Butter and Whipped Feta
Breakfast Quesadilla with Soft Scrambled Eggs and Avocado Salsa
Immune Boosting Winter Citrus Smoothie
One Bowl Chocolate Chunk Chai Banana Muffins
Sides and Salads…
Greek Chicken Chopped Salad with Lemon Tahini Vinaigrette
Kale Caesar Salad with Sweet Potatoes and Crispy Chickpeas
Winter Pomegranate Salad with Maple Candied Walnuts and Balsamic Fig Vinaigrette
Roasted Bacon Brussels Sprouts with Salted Honey
Super Green Sun-Dried Tomato Herb Salad with Crispy Chickpeas
Roasted Cauliflower Salad with Creamy Honey Mustard Vinaigrette
Harvest Roasted Butternut Squash and Pomegranate Salad
Sweet Potato Parmesan Tater Tots
Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken and Avocado Cobb Salad with Tahini Ranch
Soups and Stews…
Healthier Slow Cooker Creamy Tortellini Vegetable Soup
Slow Cooker Chipotle Chicken Tortilla Soup with Salty Lime Chips
Weeknight Thai Chicken Meatball Khao Soi
Lemony Garlic Chicken and Orzo Soup
Coconut Sweet Potato Lentil Soup with Rice
Persian Herb and Chickpea Stew with Rice
Healthy Slow cooker Turkey and White Bean Chili
30 Minute Thai Peanut Chicken Ramen
Gingery Coconut Sweet Potato and Rice Stew with Chili Oil
Healthy Slow Cooker Chipotle Bean Chili
Easy Lunches and Dinners…
Sesame Chicken Dumplings in Spicy Broth with Garlic Crisps
Sheet Pan Sticky Ginger Sesame Chicken and Crispy Brussels Sprouts
30 Minute Coconut Milk Braised Chicken with Sweet Potatoes and Rice
Chinese Mushroom Dumplings with Sweet Chili Ginger Sesame Sauce
Easiest Coconut Cauliflower Adobo
Sheet Pan Salmon with Citrus Avocado Salsa and Potatoes
Persian Inspired Herb and Beef Stew with Rice
Roasted Garlic Butter Chicken with Lemon Olive Dressing
Crispy Quinoa Burgers Topped with Sweet Potato Fries and Beer Caramelized Onions
Better Than Takeout Garlic Butter Shrimp Pad Thai
30 Minute Saucy Ginger Sesame Noodles with Caramelized Mushrooms
Creamy Golden Rice with Spiced Chickpeas
Crispy Chipotle Chicken Tacos with Cilantro Lime Ranch
Cauliflower Shawarma with Green Tahini and Fried Halloumi
One Pot Creamy Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
One Skillet Greek Meatballs and Lemon Butter Orzo
Saucy Tahini Noodles with Honey’d Sweet Potatoes
Crispy Chicken Tinga Taquitos with Salty Lime Avocado Crema
Sheet Pan Lemon Rosemary Dijon Chicken and Potatoes with Feta Goddess Sauce
Lebanese Chicken with Charred Lemon Cauliflower
25 Minute Thai Black Pepper Chicken and Garlic Noodles
Sheet Pan Blackened Salmon Bowl with Potatoes and Avocado Goddess Sauce
Artichoke Pesto and Burrata Pizza with Lemony Arugula
Indian Coconut Butter Cauliflower
30 Minute Spicy Indian Butter Chicken
Healthy Chipotle Chicken Sweet Potato Skins
Healthier 30 Minute Beer Braised Chicken
Asada Mushroom Tacos with Lime Smashed Avocado
Better Than Takeout 20 Minute Peanut Noodles with Sesame Halloumi
Desserts…
Healthier Homemade Nutter Butter Cookies
5 Minute Molten Chocolate Mug Cake
Healthy…ish Homemade Samoas Cookies
Fudgy Avocado Brownies with Chocolate Fudge Frosting
Healthier Dark Chocolate Chunk Oatmeal Cookie Bars
Chocolate Chunk Coconut Banana Bread
Vegan Triple Chocolate Mousse Cake
5 Ingredient Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Cookies
My Favorite Healthy Recipes for 2021
If you make any of My Favorite Healthy Recipes for 2021, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to also tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
I’d love some more meatless/vegetarian adaptable plant-based meals! I love your blog SO much and your recipes are the best. I am shifting to a plant based whole foods diet and I don’t want to leave your blog behind!!
Thanks so much Faye! Happy New Year! xTieghan
All your recipes and pictures are amazing, the only problem I don’t think I’ll live old enough to make them all.
Thanks so much Claire! Happy New Year! xTieghan
I lovvvvvvve all of these beautiful ideas and can’t wait to make some! However, not before making a traditional iced New Years pretzel to celebrate!! Any chance you would post a recipe? Could I use any cinnamon roll dough you may have already posted to create such a festive & delicious treat? I’ve been scouring the internet to find one but have come up disappointed. Happy New Year Tieghan!❤️?
Hey Gia,
So sorry I do not have a recipe for an iced pretzel, maybe next year! Happy New Year! xTieghan
I love your recipes and eating them. However…I wouldn’t say Healthy is your wheelhouse! Your recipes are fairly high in calories but that does make them delicious!
Hey there,
Thanks so much, but I do have recipes on the healthier side:) Happy New Year! xTieghan
You have truly changed my cooking life, Tieghan. I have become so passionate about cooking because of you. I mean, look at this huge list of recipes, the possibilities are endless! And I’m really excited for more quinoa and spaghetti squash added into the mix. I’ve been subbing spaghetti squash out for pasta sometimes. Why do orzo and white rice have to taste so amazing?! Happy new year to you and your family! Can’t wait to see what you create in 2021.
Take care,
Jenn
Hey Jenn,
Thank you so much for following along and trying so many recipes! This makes me so happy that you have been enjoying them:) Happy New Year! xTieghan
yayyy thanks for this round-up! For healthier recipes, my favorites of yours are the Thai and Indian inspired dishes that are packed with flavor – like your curries and soups. Those also tend to be one pot, which is an added bonus, especially when I can add a few handfuls of kale or arugula to the top to sneak in some extra nutrients.
Thanks so much Sara! Happy New Year! xTieghan
So many amazing choices I don’t know where to start! I’m looking forward to making my way through the list.
Thanks so much Janet! Happy New Year! xTieghan
Love all of your recipes and I’m thankful 2020 brought me to your blog and both of your cookbooks! For some 2021 healthy recipes, I would love to see your take on some one skillet potato hash recipes or different takes on Buddha bowls!
Thank you so much Danielle! Happy New Year! xTieghan
I cannot tell you how many of your recipes I made this year! It really was a highlight of the year for me. I have always loved cooking and this year I found myself cooking a lot more being shut in a bit with my small community. I’m a working mom with 3 young kids and with your recipes I can manage tasty and wholesome weeknight dinners that work for me (vegetarian) and the rest of my family (very not vegetarian). So THANK YOU!! I hope 2021 is a wonderful year for you 🙂
Also – I agree with your approach to health – moderation and wholesome eating. Thanks for making that accessible! I am going to be eating lots and lots of veggies in January!!
Hey Jenna,
Thank you so much for your kind message and reading along today! I hope you love the recipes:) Happy New Year! xTieghan
Just went on a pinstorm! One of my resolutions (or something I will aim for anyhow) is to try one new recipe a week. Can’t wait to try some of these!
Thanks so much Cassie! Happy New Year! xTieghan
LOVE this list!!! I have so many of these recipes on repeat! Thanks for another great year! 🙂
Thank you so much! Happy New Year! xTieghan
These recipes look delicious! I love how healthy eating doesn’t mean plain and boring. I would love to see more easy breakfasts. As delicious as those look, I don’t have the desire to cook that early. Something that could be thrown together with a few ingredients and preferably contain some carbs would be great. Thanks and happy new year!
Thank you so very much Heidi! Happy New Year! xTieghan
So many great recipes here, I’ve made a good number of them! My really love the sweet potato red lentil soup with rice, though I tend to do it for lunch with no rice. Must have made it 10+ times now, and am making it again this week!
This year in Spring when Covid was making itself known, I remember you posting a cute teddy bear cookie, it was somehow like a sign there was hope and happiness to be enjoyed, even in times of great worry.
Thank you for all your great recipes, pictures and posts this year. May you and team HBH go from strength to strength.
Happy new Year! Hope it’s filled with good things. ??? xx
Hey Kelly-Jane,
Thank you so much for your super kind message and reading along today. I am so glad you have been enjoying the recipes! Happy New Year! xTieghan
Thanks for this list, all look great. For the new year, I’d love to see some new healthy breakfast ideas, especially involving vegetables. Thanks!
Thanks so much for your suggestions Lisa! Happy New Year! xTieghan
Another great blog post Tieghan and soooooo many photos of recipes that I am pinning to make in January and February 2021. I am currently following a program which concentrates on pre to menopause, yes I am at that stage in my life 🙂 The program advises to eat lots of proteins for breakfast and lunch and save the carbs for the evening meal as this will help you sleep. For me this does work, however for the winter I am struggling with ideas for lunch, especially when I am working. Please can you create a few interesting lunch options? Also, I am not a dessert person, however I agree that a choccie treat is a definite when you need it. I also love lemon, so please can you suggest/create a few lemon delights as well? Wishing you and your family a peaceful and relaxing New Year and I hope that 2021 is a good year for you. xx
Hey Colleen,
Thanks so much for your kind message and reading along! Love this lunch ideas:) Happy New Year! xTieghan