Lighter Recipe Roundup

Eating lighter options doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice on flavor. Check out this huge list of breakfasts, main dishes, sides, and even desserts to keep your New Year’s resolutions in check.

It’s that time of year again. When the gyms are packed and you struggle to find lighter meals and snacks that don’t bore you. While this blog isn’t specifically geared towards healthy recipes, I do post a decent amount of lighter, healthier, or whatever you want to call them recipes. Some recipes I feel comfortable stamping with the label of “healthy” while others take a lighter twist on a normally not-so-healthy splurge. Good for the body and soul!

What is your favorite lightened up recipe?

One year ago: Blueberry-Flax Buttermilk Pancakes

Two years ago: Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos

Three years ago: Carrot Cake Oatmeal

APPETIZERS & SIDES

• Asparagus & Wild Rice Casserole
• Baked Falafels
• Baked Zucchini Fries with Balsamic Aioli
• Farro, Cranberry and Goat Cheese Salad
• Healthier Buffalo Cauliflower Dip
• Healthier Elote
• Homemade Veggie Chips
• Homemade Whole Wheat Pita Bread
• Lighter Pizza Dip
• Nutty Edamame Dip
• Orange-Vanilla Greek Yogurt Fruit Dip
• Peanut Butter Greek Yogurt Fruit Dip
• Quinoa Pilaf with Pine Nuts
• Roasted Garlic Kale Hummus (pictured)
• Roasted Root Vegetables
• Spiralized Zucchini Pesto Caprese Salad
• Veggie Cups with Green Goddess Dip & Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
• White Bean and Pumpkin Hummus with Spiced Pita Chips

MAIN DISHES

• Asian Fried Quinoa
• Bacon-Cheddar Cauliflower Chowder
• Baked Chicken Fajitas
• Baked Mozzarella Chicken Rolls
• Baked Quinoa Chicken Parmesan
• Beet & Goat Cheese Pizza with Cauliflower Crust
• Blackened Chicken with Cilantro Lime Quinoa and Avocado Cream Sauce
• Butternut Squash Lasagna
• Caramelized Chicken with Jalapeno Cream
• Cashew Chicken Lettuce Wraps
• Cauliflower Pizza Crust
• Cheesy Vegetable Enchiladas
• Chicken and Spinach Enchiladas
• Chicken Gyros with Tzatziki Sauce
• Chicken-Quinoa Burgers with an Avocado-Yogurt Sauce
• Chicken Salad with Grapes, Apple, and Pecans
• Chili-Lime Roasted Butternut Salad
• Crispy Peanut Tofu & Cauliflower Fried Rice
• Crock Pot Balsamic Chicken
• Eggplant Manicotti with Creamy Pesto Filling
• Eggplant Parmesan with Parsley Orzo
• Eggplant Veggie Burgers
• Greek Yogurt Gnocchi with Spicy Pesto
• Greek Yogurt Pizza Dough
• Grilled Chicken Gyro Salad with Pita Croutons
• Healthy Vegetarian Taco Salad
• Homemade Olive Garden Salad and Dressing
• Lentil Taco Skillet
• Lighter Avocado Alfredo Pasta with Spicy Chicken
• Lighter Cajun Chicken Alfredo
• Lighter Fettucine Alfredo
• Lighter Chicken Bellagio (pictured)
• Lighter Chicken Parmesan
• Lighter Roasted Garlic & Hemp Seed Fettuccine Alfredo
• Mini Greek-Style Meatloaves
• Oven-Fried Avocado Tacos with Cilantro Lime Creme
• Oven-Fried Parmesan-Panko Crusted Tilapia
• Pasta with Butternut Sauce, Spicy Sausage and Baby Spinach
• Pecan-Crusted Chicken with Roasted Broccoli
• Pizza Quinoa Casserole
• Purple Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Lighter Goat Cheese Alfredo
• Quinoa Turkey Meatballs
• Roasted Pear, Parmesan & Spiced Pecan Salad
• Roasted Sweet Potato Salad with Candied Walnuts and Sage Vinaigrette
• Roasted Veggie Bowl with Lemon Tahini Dressing
• Sausage Stuffed Zucchini Boats
• Skillet Greek Yogurt Chicken
• Skinny Creamy Italian Chicken Skillet
• Skirt Steak with Kale Chimichurri Sauce
• Smoky Sweet Potato Burgers with Roasted Garlic Avocado Cream
• Southwestern Oven-Fried Chicken Salad with Avocado Dressing
• Spaghetti with Roasted Butternut and Brussels & Greek Yogurt Cream Sauce
• Spicy Black Bean Burgers
• Spicy Edamame Burgers
• Spicy Thai Noodles with Tofu
• Spinach and Feta Chicken Rollatini
• Spinach Pizza Dough
• Spiralized Beet Noodles with Feta Cream Sauce
• Strawberry, Rhubarb & Pear Salad
• Veggie Lasagna
• Whole Wheat Thin Crust Pizza Dough
• Winter Wheat Berry Power Salad

BREAKFAST

• Baked Banana Almond Pancakes
• Baked Banana-Pecan Oatmeal
• Baked Blueberry Almond Pancakes
• Baked Oatmeal with Blackberries and Bananas
• Berry Spinach Smoothie
• Berry Medley Smoothie
• Black Cherry Vanilla Almond Smoothie
• Blueberry Kale Smoothie
• Blueberry Pomegranate Smoothie
• Breakfast Crème Brulee
• Carrot Cake Breakfast Cookies
• Cherry Vanilla Almond Overnight Oatmeal
• Cinnamon Apple Quinoa Parfaits (pictured)
• Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie
• Greek Yogurt Everything Bagels
• Greek Yogurt Hollandaise Sauce
• Green Monster Spinach Smoothie
• Healthier Dark Chocolate Chunk Banana Muffins
• Homemade Whole Grain Pancake Mix
• Individual Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal
• Kale Quiche
• Maple, Walnut, and Flaxseed Pancake Doughnuts
• Meyer Lemon Blueberry Baked Oatmeal
• Nutella Swirl Whole Wheat Banana Muffins
• Open-Faced Ricotta, Arugula, and Egg Sandwiches
• Orange Strawberry Banana Smoothie
• Spiced Pear Smoothie
• Strawberry Almond Scottish Oatmeal
• Strawberry-Banana Colada Smoothie
• Strawberry, Mango, and Yogurt Smoothie
• Whole Wheat Blueberry Cottage Cheese Pancakes
• Whole Wheat Scone for One

DESSERTS

• Berry Frozen Yogurt Bars
• Flourless Black Bean Brownies
• Healthier Buckeyes
• Healthier Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Healthier Cookie Dough Fondue
• Healthier Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
• Healthy Inside-Out Peanut Butter Cups
• Healthier Vegan Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
• “I Can’t Believe It’s Healthier” Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies (pictured)
• Key Lime Greek Yogurt Pie
• Mango Frozen Greek Yogurt
• More Fudge Less Pudge Brownies
• Peach Greek Yogurt Pie
• Peanut Butter Cup Mousse Parfaits
• Peanut Butter & Jelly Parfait
• Raw Cookie Dough Bites
• Raw Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Bites
• Raw S’mores Cookie Dough Bites
• Skinny Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirl Cupcakes
• S’mores Lasagna for One