Food and Recipes Healthy and Light Our 47 Healthiest Recipes of All Time By Lisa Cericola Lisa Cericola Lisa is the Deputy Editor at Southern Living and joined the team in 2015. She works with the Southern Living Test Kitchen to create recipes for the site and print magazine, edits the magazine's food section, and writes digital food stories as well. Previously, she was the features editor at Food Network Magazine and has more than 15 years of experience writing, editing, and managing photo shoots for print and digital lifestyle brands. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on January 31, 2019 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Alison Miksch Yes, you can eat healthy and have plenty of fun too. Choose from dozens of quick and easy dinner recipes and don't forget dessert—we have plenty of healthy options for sweets as well. 01 of 47 Peanut-Broccoli Stir-fry Jennifer Davick Recipe: Peanut-Broccoli Stir-fry Tofu and brown rice make this quick stir-fry healthy; peanut butter, lime juice, and a dash of soy sauce make it full of flavor. 02 of 47 Sweet Potato and Edamame Hash Recipe: Sweet Potato and Edamame Hash Here's a healthy new spin on a classic Southern breakfast. Enjoy this protein-packed hash on its own or add a poached egg. 03 of 47 Sesame Chicken Tacos Brian Woodcock Recipe: Sesame Chicken Tacos Tender chicken thighs are tossed in a spicy-sweet mixture of honey, chile paste, sesame oil, and garlic then folded into soft tortillas for a delicious dinner that's still low in calories. 04 of 47 Chicken-Broccoli Mac and Cheese with Bacon Iain Bagwell Recipe: Chicken-Broccoli Mac and Cheese with Bacon This might not sound like healthy dinner, but trust us on this one. Made with low-fat milk, sharp Cheddar, and a hint of turmeric (to enhance the orange color), it's a lightened-up indulgence. 05 of 47 Chicken Salad in Lettuce Cups Cooking Light Recipes: Chicken Salad in Lettuce Cups We swapped out some of the mayonnaise in this salad for fat-free Greek yogurt. Dried cherries, walnuts, green onions, and celery make the one of our favorite chicken salads. 06 of 47 Cornbread Crab Cakes Recipe: Cornbread Crab Cakes Enjoy a guilt-free serving of these hearty crab cakes with a rich dollop of cilantro-jalapeño sour cream. Add fresh greens to your plate for extra goodness. 07 of 47 Healthy Turkey Lasagna Hector M Sanchez Recipe: Healthy Turkey Lasagna This crowd-pleasing lasagna doesn't taste lightened up even though it is made with ground turkey, low-fat dairy, and packed with vegetables. 08 of 47 Shrimp and Grits Jennifer Davick Recipe: Shrimp and Grits Parmesan cheese gives these creamy grits loads of flavor without the added fat and calories of butter and cream. The shrimp are cooked simply with chicken stock, olive oil, and two cups of healthy spinach. 09 of 47 Turnip Greens Stew Recipe: Turnip Greens Stew Get a healthy serving of greens and beans in this delicious and easy-to-prepare stew. 10 of 47 Crispy Oven-fried Drumsticks Southern Living Recipe: Crispy Oven-fried Drumsticks These drumsticks are coated in crushed cornflakes and Parmesan cheese and then baked in the oven for a satisfying crunch without deep-frying. 11 of 47 Chicken and White Bean Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette Greg DuPree Recipe: Chicken and White Bean Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette A shredded rotisserie chicken, canned beans, and steam-in-bag snow peas make this healthy and filling salad come together quickly on a busy weeknight. 12 of 47 Skillet Steak and Wilted Kale Hector Sanchez Recipe: Skillet Steak and Wilted Kale Here's a healthy way to enjoy steak for dinner. This warm salad of sliced beef, kale, and sautéed onions is a tasty low-carb option. 13 of 47 Chicken Paillard with Citrus Salad and Couscous Alison Miksch Recipe: Chicken Paillard with Citrus Salad and Couscous A bright and sunny vinaigrette made with lemons, limes, and oranges gives this chicken salad sunny flavor. 14 of 47 Spice-Rubbed Pork with Roasted Butternut Salad Hector Sanchez Recipe: Spice-Rubbed Pork with Roasted Butternut Salad Use any store-bought spice rub on this grilled pork that you like, but be sure to pair it with this tangy-sweet fall salad. 15 of 47 Heirloom Tomato and Chicken Toss Greg DuPree Recipe: Heirloom Tomato and Chicken Toss Wait until summer to make this salad, then buy the best tomatoes you can find. This simple chicken salad is a delicious and easy way to show them off. 16 of 47 Dixie Chicken Salad with Grapes, Honey, Almonds, and Broccoli Hector Sanchez Recipe: Dixie Chicken Salad with Grapes, Honey, Almonds, and Broccoli Each bite of this salad is a delicious mix of flavors and textures from crispy oven-fried chicken, to juicy grapes, to crunchy broccoli florets and almonds. 17 of 47 Soulful Chicken Soup Iain Bagwell Recipe: Soulful Chicken Soup Made with the usual chicken noodle soup suspects—chicken, carrots, onion, and celery—plus leeks and celery root, this soup is a bowl of comforting goodness. 18 of 47 Pork, Mango, and Tomato Salad Iain Bagwell Recipe: Pork, Mango, and Tomato Salad Grilled pork tenderloin is paired with chopped mango, tomatoes, cucumber, and romaine lettuce in this colorful and delicious salad. 19 of 47 Tomato and Red Pepper Soup Hector Sanchez Recipe: Tomato and Red Pepper Soup Made with canned tomatoes, roasted red peppers, and a small amount of cream, this is a robust take on tomato soup. 20 of 47 Tex-Mex Chicken Chili with Lime Jennifer Davick Recipe: Tex-Mex Chicken Chili with Lime This richly spiced chicken chili is so flavorful you won't need to drown it in cheese, sour cream, and other fattening toppings. (Although a small dollop of our Lime Cream won't hurt.) 21 of 47 Pork Tenderloin Wraps with Grilled Corn Salsa Recipe: Pork Tenderloin Wraps with Grilled Corn Salsa Grilled corn and pork are a great combo on their own, and especially when sprinkled with cilantro and wrapped in warm flour tortillas. 22 of 47 Slow-Cooker Chicken Cacciatore with Spaghetti Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Slow-Cooker Chicken Cacciatore with Spaghetti Serve this vegetable-packed chicken stew over whole-wheat pasta or farro for a serving of whole grains. 23 of 47 Pan-Seared Trout with Italian-Style Salsa Photo: Ralph Anderson; Styling: Buffy Hargett Recipe: Pan-Seared Trout with Italian-Style Salsa This delicious Mediterranean-inspired fish dinner only requires a short list of ingredients and less than 20 minutes to take—and it's good for you too! 24 of 47 Grilled Shrimp and Green Bean Salad Southern Living Recipe: Grilled Shrimp and Green Bean Salad Leave the bacon off this shrimp salad and you've got a complete, summery meal in a bowl. 25 of 47 Squash Frittata Hector Sanchez Recipe: Squash Frittata Eggs make a filling—and protein packed—dinner when you're short on time. This tasty frittata is also filled with potatoes and zucchini. 26 of 47 Lemony Green Bean Pasta Salad Recipe: Lemony Green Bean Pasta Salad Is it a salad or pasta? Either way, you'll love this light and fresh recipe made with tender green beans, peppery arugula, and bright lemon zest. 27 of 47 Farmers' Market Pasta Salad Hector Sanchez Recipe: Farmers' Market Pasta Salad When it's prime time at the farmers' market, make this simple pasta brimming with fresh herbs, colorful vegetables, and shredded smoked chicken. 28 of 47 Chicken, Farro, and Vegetable Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette Hector Sanchez Recipe: Chicken, Farro, and Vegetable Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette Enjoy a delicious and complete meal in a single bowl with this hearty mix of smoky grilled chicken thighs and vegetables and whole grain farro topped off with a tangy dressing. 29 of 47 Grilled Chicken-Vegetable Kabobs JENNIFER DAVICK Recipe: Grilled Chicken-Vegetable Kabobs A pepper jelly marinade gives these simple chicken skewers sweet and spicy flavor without adding extra fat. 30 of 47 Big-Batch Veggie Chili Recipe: Big-Batch Veggie Chili Packed with vegetables and two kinds of beans, this meatless chili serves 12 to 15 people. It's great for a crowd, but it also freezes well. 31 of 47 Chicken with Potatoes and Carrots Alison Miksch Recipe: Chicken with Potatoes and Carrots This comforting, wholesome chicken dinner cooks on a single sheet pan with just a little bit of olive oil and fresh herbs. 32 of 47 Turkey Tortellini Soup with Greens Greg DuPree Recipe: Turkey Tortellini Soup with Greens If you don't have homemade stock, use sodium-free stock in this comforting soup to keep the salt low. 33 of 47 Southwest Chicken Tortillas Greg DuPree Recipe: Southwest Chicken Tortillas Use low-fat mayonnaise or plain Greek yogurt in the spicy sauce to make this dish even lighter. 34 of 47 Tex-Mex Turkey Burgers Hector Sanchez Recipe: Tex-Mex Turkey Burgers Made with lean ground turkey, these burgers are served on tostada shells, but you can also use whole wheat buns. 35 of 47 Slow Cooker Turkey Chili with Quinoa Hector Sanchez Recipe: Slow Cooker Turkey Chili with Quinoa Quinoa is a smart addition to this simple-to-prepare turkey chili. You probably won't notice this tiny whole grain, but it is packed with nutrients. 36 of 47 Italian Turkey Meatloaf Alison Miksch Recipe: Italian Turkey Meatloaf This old-fashioned comfort food gets a modern makeover with lean ground turkey and mushrooms, which make the meatloaf more savory and tender. 37 of 47 Grilled Chicken Cutlets with Strawberry Salsa Greg DuPree Recipe: Grilled Chicken Cutlets with Strawberry Salsa This colorful, tangy salsa made with strawberries, radishes, and avocadoes, perks up plain chicken. 38 of 47 Chicken Stir-Fry Greg Dupree Recipe: Chicken Stir-Fry This recipe calls for a bag of frozen vegetables but you can substitute any fresh vegetables you'd like. 39 of 47 Peach-Rhubarb Crisp SL Van Chaplin Recipe: Peach-Rhubarb Crisp This homey dessert is made with frozen fruit, whole grain oats, and much less butter than traditional crisp recipes. Top with low-fat ice cream or Greek yogurt. 40 of 47 Banana Pudding Southern Living Recipe: Banana Pudding We kept the creamy, dreamy goodness of banana pudding while lowering the fat and calories. 41 of 47 Beet-Poppy Seed Muffins Greg DuPree Recipe: Beet-Poppy Seed Muffins These not-too-sweet muffins are a fun twist on the usual carrot or zucchini muffins. 42 of 47 Breakfast Cookies Greg DuPree Recipe: Breakfast Cookies Cookies for breakfast? Yes, please. Especially when they are low in fat and rich in whole grains. 43 of 47 Gluten-Free Banana Bread Jennifer Davick Recipe: Gluten-Free Banana Bread Made with gluten-free sorghum and rice flours, this bread bakes up tender and moist. 44 of 47 Festive Fresh Fruit Salad with Mint-Lime Simple Syrup Alison Miksch Recipe: Festive Fresh Fruit Salad with Mint-Lime Simple Syrup Fruit for dessert doesn't have to be boring. This colorful fruit salad is dressed up with a mojito-inspired syrup. 45 of 47 Lemon Cheesecake Bars Jennifer R. Davick Recipe: Lemon Cheesecake Bars Cheesecake isn't usually considered a light dessert, but our test kitchen experts managed to cut back the fat and calories without sacrificing flavor or creamy texture. 46 of 47 Berry and Spice Whole Wheat Muffins Recipe: Berry and Spice Whole Wheat Muffins Packed with fruit and nuts and flavored with warm spices, these muffins make a great on-the-go breakfast. 47 of 47 Tomato-and-Fruit Salad Hector Sanchez Recipe: Tomato-and-Fruit Salad This sweet-meets-savory side dish tastes as good as it looks. We love the colorful combination of fruit in the recipe, but you can mix and match any of the ingredients to make your own custom salad. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit