Here are more than 60 quick and healthy recipes from AOC's archives - everything from appetizers & snacks to soups, to main dishes, pantry basics, and even desserts. You will definitely find your next favorite healthy recipe here!
I had so much fun compiling this list of quick healthy recipes that have been published on An Oregon Cottage through the years.
Even though they're my recipes, it was a case of, "oh that is SO good - I have to get that on the menu again" for many of them. Others are already staples I make weekly which is why they made it onto the blog in the first place.
The food I make in our home - and then share here - is real food that's been tested and approved. You can be sure that the recipes are good and have been made many times.
Even the special cakes and (slightly) more involved meals (French Beef Stew, I'm looking at you) that grace the pages of the site are winners, even though they are made less frequently.
The bulk of our weekly menus, though, are made up of the quick healthy recipes on this list - homemade salads and dressings, easy main dishes, and the occasional dessert.
Pro Tip: I also round out our regular menus with slow cooker/Instant Pot meals, which because of the time to cook or come to pressure didn't make this list. I consider them easy, though, since many are dump and go kind of meals. Take a look at those recipes here if you'd like.
What Makes These Recipes Healthy?
I understand that there are different levels of "healthy" depending on what type of diet you ascribe to. I have written about what it means to eat healthy to me often. For the purpose of this list, a healthy recipe is:
- Made up of real, whole foods.
- Full of vegetables when appropriate (obviously not nuts or most desserts!).
- Overall balance of healthy fats, carbs, and proteins. However, many work with vegetarian, keto, paleo, and other diets, and most are easily adapted.
- Provide a wide range of vitamins and nutrients.
- Foods that I eat to help maintain my real food weight loss.
What makes the recipes quick?
One thing I hear over and over is that time is a major roadblock to eating healthy.
I get it - really. And there are definitely days that find us eating something picked up quickly because of schedules.
But this list is to encourage you to see that there are many homemade options that you can fit into your lifestyle.
If the goal is to eat healthy, home cooked foods most of the time, I'm here to say "you can do it!"
These recipes can be made in anywhere from 5 minutes to 40 - and most of the hands-on time is about 15 minutes. Promise.
How to Use this List
To make this list of recipes easier to look through, the recipes have been separated into categories (salads, mains, etc.) and then into time to cook under each.
So you'll find 10-15 minute recipes, 20-30 minutes, and even a few 30-40 minute recipes if the recipe requires little hands-on time.
Simply scroll to the recipe category you're looking for, check the time you have, and find a recipe to make today.
I hope you enjoy this and find a number of quick healthy recipes to add to your menus!
Quick Healthy Recipes
Appetizers & Snacks
10 minutes:
The Best Chunky Guacamole Recipe. Well, that pretty much tells you what I think of this, right?
Quick Pickled Bean/Asparagus Roll-Up Appetizer. This literally has been my go-to appetizer for years.
White Bean Dried Tomato Dip. I created this for my daughter and it's still one of her most requested. A great way to use your homemade dried tomatoes in oil.
Chocolate Chip Almond Granola Bites (+More Variations). One of these, tea, and maybe a few nuts has made for a great real-food weight loss snack for me.
15-20 minutes:
Easy & Healthy Spiced Nuts (No Sugar). All the spice and flavor without added sugar.
Amazing Curried Deviled Eggs. I like to serve these on a bed of lettuce for a salad as well as for appetizers.
Easy Homemade Onion Dip (SO Much Better Than a Mix!). To.Die.For. Trust me.
Healthy Glazed Maple-Sweetened Chili Pecans (or Walnuts). For those times when you would like a little sweetener on your nuts.
Quick & Easy Roasted Corn Salsa (From Frozen Corn). What a fun way to use frozen corn!
30 minutes:
Delicious Game Day Sriracha Honey Nut Mix. Mixing Sriracha and honey is just about perfection.
Soups & Stews
15-20 minutes:
Homemade Tomato Soup (You'll Never Go Back to Canned...). My kids favorite along with grilled cheese. A classic.
Rustic Italian Sausage Soup. Quick, one dish meal that everyone will enjoy.
30-40 minutes:
Spicy Beef, Tomato, and Corn Stew. Simple, yet still evoked high praise from Brian.
Amazing Cauliflower Cheese Soup (my favorite!). I could eat this weekly.
Quick Corn & Sausage Chowder. Brian could probably eat this one weekly.
Savory Tomato Seafood Stew. All the best seafood in a tomato-broth base - what's not to love?
Fast & Easy Curried Red Lentil Soup. Seriously fast with quick cooking red lentils.
Sides
15-20 minutes:
The Best Garlic Green Beans (Skillet or Grilled). This simple recipe is a revelation.
Garden Fresh Salsa Cruda & Pico De Gallo. The number one thing I make all summer long with our tomatoes and peppers.
Grilled Potato Planks. A fun and easy way to grill your potatoes alongside your burgers.
Simple Corn, Pepper, & Onion Sauté. Everybody's favorite side dish.
30-40 minutes:
Zucchini, Corn, & Tomato Sauté with Feta. Crisp cooked zucchini means even Brian will enjoy it.
Easy Grilled Vegetables. Clean out the fridge time never tasted so good.
Spicy (or not!) Turmeric Roasted Cauliflower. Add all the health benefits of turmeric to your cauliflower.
Lemon-Garlic Baked Grated Carrots (Think you don't like cooked carrots? I challenge you to try these!).
Roasted Cabbage Wedges with Onion-Dijon Sauce (Not one of the most popular recipes on the site for nothing!).
Salads
5-10 minutes:
Tuscan White Bean Salad. Great for potlucks!
Roasted Beet Salad with Goat Cheese. My favorite way to use up frozen, roasted beets.
Simple, Seasonal Heirloom Tomato & Feta Salad.
Orange Almond Salad. A winter go-to salad.
Healthy Homemade Salad Dressings. All so quick and easy - never buy store bought again!
Kale Cranberry Salad with Feta & Maple Pecans. Who knew kale could taste this good?
15-20 minutes:
Shaved Cabbage Salad with Creamy Feta Vinaigrette. "Shaved Cabbage" is just a fancy way of saying coleslaw. This dressing is to die for.
Tex-Mex Salad with Ranch Style Beans. A long-time lunch favorite of mine.
Spicy Asian Slaw. The spice is adjustable of course!
Spicy Chicken Noodle Salad. Another one that doesn't have to be spicy (but you can tell what we like, right?)
Healthy Sesame Kale Salad. Uses a massage technique to make it one of the best kale salads you've had.
Easy Thai Grilled Beef Salad. All the flavors of Thai beef salad without the wait marinating - you infuse ground beef with the flavor and grill patties. Sweet and simple main dish salad!
Pantry Basics
10-15 minutes:
The Ultimate No-Bake Chewy Granola Bar. Did you know you could make your own granola bars in 10 minutes? (There's also a baked version if you have a bit more time)
Homemade Spicy Peanut Sauce. For chicken, rice bowls, spring rolls, or just dipping vegetables in. The spice is pretty subtle.
Homemade Pesto Made with Sunflower Seeds. What started out as a cheap alternative ended up being our family's favorite way to make pesto.
Homemade Chocolate Syrup. For milk, ice cream, peppermint mochas, and homemade cappuccinos - it's a basic in our house.
20 minutes:
Perfectly Salted DIY Roasted Almonds. Other nuts work, too, with this method. I use them in this granola and as one of my tips and tricks for real food weight loss.
Homemade Ketchup Sweetened with Honey. Starting with a can of tomato paste, everyone can make their own ketchup in minutes.
Main Dishes
10-15 minutes:
Chicken-Lime Lettuce Wraps. Quick "back pocket" recipe using chopped cooked chicken I keep in the freezer.
20-30 minutes:
Lemon Vegetable Fish Foil Packets. Easy prep, easy clean up and delicious.
Garlic Shrimp & Green Bean Pasta. A true one pot meal.
Sriracha Beef & Vegetable Rice Bowls. Any kind of meat will work, too.
Mediterranean Chicken Pesto Pasta. One of our family's go-to long time favorites.
Soy-Sriracha Marinated Chicken. Just three ingredients, yet guest still ask - what's in this chicken?
Baked White Fish with Parmesan Herb Crust. For guests or not, possible the perfect way to eat fish.
One Pot Italian Pasta with Sausage and Spinach. Another true one-dish dinner, this all cooks in one pot - the noodles, too.
Greek Salmon & Vegetable Frittata with Creamy Feta Sauce. Why not add a delicious sauce to a simple frittata?
Greek Style Grilled Beef Lettuce Wraps. A fun way to eat grilled beef patties - no one will miss the bunds!
Salmon Patties with Flax (Gluten Free). Up the nutrition while ditching the gluten.
Greek Style Shrimp and Orzo. Another one-dish dinner with the addition of lots of vegetables.
Lots of Quick & Easy Rotisserie Cooked Chicken Recipes for last-minute meals.
Desserts
10-15 minutes:
Dark Chocolate Coconut Clusters. Yep, who needs expensive candy shops?
Refreshing Whipped Cream & Berry Parfaits. So many memories eating in our backyard eating berries and cream...
Healthy No Bake Fudge Oatmeal Bars. Snack, desserts, whenever.
Quick & Easy Frozen Yogurt. Just 3 ingredients!
30-40 minutes:
Whole Wheat Skillet Blackberry Cobbler. With just a 10 minute prep, it's a great way to use fresh berries.
Healthy Chocolate Covered Pecans Coated with Homemade Maple Sweetened Chocolate. Snack, dessert, and even gift-worthy. You can also make them with a good quality dark chocolate, too.
As you can see quick healthy recipes are a backbone of our family's menu, so you can expect lots more recipes like this on AOC. Be sure to sign up below to never miss a recipe AND to gain access to the Subscriber Library with lots of freebies like the Low Sugar Dessert eCookbook and the Seasonal Dinner Menus eBook!
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