Personally and without a doubt, my favorite part of the holidays is the food. The indulgent family-style dinners, carb-loaded brunches, holiday cocktails, and never-ending desserts! Truly, nothing makes me happier than a good meal surrounded by the people I love. But partway through the season, I’m feeling ready to get back in touch with the clean-eating habits I’ve ignored throughout the holidays. And admittedly, healthy Christmas recipes are hard to come across. Luckily, you don’t have to sacrifice taste to get your eating back on track. That’s right, we’ve done the hard work of rounding up the best healthy Christmas recipes.
30 Healthy Christmas Recipes for a Festive and Nourishing Holiday
The holidays are a time for celebration, and with that comes rich, indulgent meals that feel festive and fun. But as Christmas winds down, I often find myself craving something lighter, nourishing, and just as satisfying. These healthy Christmas recipes strike the perfect balance—they’re full of flavor, beautifully festive, and leave you feeling energized instead of weighed down. Whether you’re hosting a holiday brunch, a cozy family dinner, or simply looking for fresh ideas to savor this season, these dishes are sure to inspire. Scroll on for my go-to healthy Christmas recipes that help me transition from indulgent holiday moments into a refreshed, New Year’s state of mind.
Strawberry Matcha Smoothie
This strawberry matcha smoothie is the perfect balance of sweet, creamy, and refreshing—your new go-to for an energizing treat. With juicy strawberries, antioxidant-rich matcha, and a hint of honey, it’s a vibrant blend that tastes as good as it makes you feel. Whether you’re starting your day or need an afternoon pick-me-up, this smoothie is a delicious way to fuel up and feel great.
Tropical Pineapple-Ginger Smoothie
Nowadays, a smoothie that’s both yummy and packed with superfoods isn’t too hard to come by. Case in point: this island-vibing recipe. While pineapple, strawberries, and orange juice bring all the flavor, you can also sneak in some avocado for all the healthy fats and super creamy texture.
Chocolate Green Smoothie
After a few days of indulgence, nothing helps me kickstart healthy eating like a greens-filled smoothie. This smoothie is so easy to make, and I bet you have all the ingredients already.
Banana Pumpkin Muffins
There’s little I love more than a recipe that can be made ahead and can be eaten on the go. This is one of my favorite healthy recipes in the Camille Styles repertoire because these muffins are moist, full of flavor, and call for only clean ingredients. I mean really, how many muffins have you met that are both dairy- and gluten-free?
Fig Smoothie
Figs, banana, tahini, and just a handful of other ingredients come together to make this simple smoothie you’ll want to sip on in the new year. It’s subtly sweet, which is a nice change of pace from holiday indulgences.
Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
This shaved Brussels sprout salad is the perfect mix of fresh, crunchy, and flavorful—everything you want in a light yet satisfying dish. Tossed with zesty lemon, Parmesan, and toasted almonds, it’s a bright and balanced upgrade to your typical greens. Whether served as a side or a main, this salad proves that Brussels sprouts can truly shine.
Mediterranean Kale Salad
This Mediterranean kale salad is a vibrant, nutrient-packed dish that’s as delicious as it is satisfying. Loaded with hearty kale, juicy tomatoes, briny olives, and creamy feta, every bite is bursting with fresh flavor. Finished with a tangy lemon vinaigrette, it’s the perfect go-to for a light lunch or a standout side at your next gathering.
Clarksville Kale Crunch Salad
Sometimes, we eat kale salads because we know our body needs them. Other times, we eat kale salads because the dressing and ingredients are so dang good. This is the latter case (though don’t doubt for a second that it’s just about as nutrient-dense as it gets). Kale ranks high on my list of the greens I crave, but when you add a healthy dose of deliciousness in the form of a tahini-mustard vinaigrette, I don’t need much else.
Sunshine Salad
Let’s face it, winter days leave us all in need of a little sunshine, and this colorful salad is guaranteed to add some brightness to your day. This salad is ideal for days when you can’t make it to the grocery store since it’s packed with kitchen staples like cherry tomatoes, carrots, and leafy herbs. Pro tip: Add avocado and extra sunflower seeds if you want the salad to be more of a main dish.
Vegan Butternut Squash Soup
This soup is the ultimate reset. Not only does it fill your bowl with beta-carotene-packed butternut squash and carrots, but it also goes all-in on the anti-inflammatory turmeric (two tablespoons!). The result is a wonderfully satisfying and nourishing soup that—bonus—also tastes amazing. It’s about as healthy as healthy recipes get, and yet it still satisfies like no other.
Pita Tostadas with Butternut Squash, Black Beans, & Avocado
Not sure about you, but I crave Mexican food about once a week (oftentimes, more). The dishes are full of flavor and the colors alone can be satisfying enough. This take on tostadas is genius and uses roasted butternut squash for a delicious and nutrient-packed sauce. Combined with maple syrup, cinnamon, cumin, and any other spices you’d like, the result is butternut squash at its finest. Lime crema, cilantro, toasted pumpkin seeds, and avocado tower the tostada with deliciousness.
Savory Cottage Cheese Bowls
Full disclosure: This recipe does not adhere to the 90s low-carb cottage cheese craze. Instead, it leans on the protein-packed, mild, and creamy cheese to lend a rich texture to your bowl’s other components. When it comes time to customize your edible creation, dream big folks. You can choose to center it around a color (green!) and add avocado, cucumber, broccolini, and asparagus for the freshest-looking bowl you ever did build.
Autumn Grain Bowl With Quick Pickled Veggies
Nothing balances comforting and nutrient-dense quite as perfectly as a grain bowl. They’re super versatile and can be made with any mix of veggies, grains, and add-ins you’d like. This recipe leans on a vibrant medley of beets, sweet potatoes, bell peppers, and kale, with your pick of quinoa, bulgur, or brown rice for the base. When people talk about tasting the rainbow, here’s what they mean.
Roasted Cauliflower Tacos with Cilantro Pesto
Mexican night happens about once a week at my house, and just because we want to be healthy doesn’t mean we have to skip it. These cauliflower tacos are the perfect way to use up your extra vegetables, too.
Salmon Roll Sushi Bowl
I could eat sushi every day of the week. Because I am too intimidated to make a sushi roll, this bowl is the ultimate sushi lover’s dream. Light, flavorful, and full of veggies and protein, this salmon bowl will become your favorite weekday lunch or dinner.
Chicken Burger Lettuce Wraps
When I left for college and had my own kitchen, chicken burgers were one of the first things I attempted to cook. Well, let me tell you, this recipe would have made things a whole lot easier! Simplified yet delicious, these burgers are perfect for either lunch or dinner. I love to top my burger with homemade dill pickles, avocado, and cilantro and eat it in a bowl or wrapped in butter lettuce.
Easy Black Bean Soup
Just thinking about this soup makes me want to cozy up by a fire, watch some football, and chill. This no-stress black bean soup recipe is one of the least intimidating I’ve ever found, and yet, one of the most delicious soups I’ve ever tried. It’s an easy, last-minute dinner must-try.
Cauliflower Tabbouleh
This salad is a major flavor explosion filled with some of my favorite winter additions—pomegranate seeds, pistachios, and fennel. I’m always looking for a good salad to serve as the main course, and this one takes the cake. When it comes to healthy recipes, this one’s got it going on.
Quinoa Cakes with Smashed Avocado Sauce
On their own, under an egg, or in between a hamburger bun, these quinoa cakes are the veggie burger you’ve been looking for. As someone who used to buy frozen veggie burger patties, with this recipe, I am officially converted to a homemade patty girl.
Cauliflower Soup with Crispy Sage Garnish
Growing up, I avoided cauliflower at all costs, and now I can’t seem to get enough of it in any shape or form. This cozy and hearty soup is the perfect twist on traditional cauliflower soup and will be sure to warm your soul this winter.
Hummus, Greens, & Avo Bowl
I’m home for the holidays and really missing my Sweetgreen lunches, so this healthy bowl of hummus and greens is curbing my cravings. Feel free to make it your own with whatever veggies you have in your fridge and enjoy!
Turmeric Chicken Immunity Soup
Gluten-free, flavor-packed, and ready in 20 minutes? Yes, please! I’m always prone to a Christmas cold and this soup tastes like an adult version of the chicken noodle soup my mom would make me when I was sick as a kid.
Herby Kale Rice Bowl
A mix-and-match bowl is one of the easiest ways to make a healthy dinner filling and this herby kale rice bowl is one of my favorites. I love to top it off with a fried egg and avocado, giving me major Hank’s Pesto Rice Bowl vibes. Healthy recipes to the max.
Big Green Immunity-Boosting Vegetable Soup
Nothing sounds better on a cold, cozy night at home than a warm bowl of soup, especially one that takes care of all of your vegetable servings for the day. Full of asparagus, broccoli, spinach, ginger, and more, this healthy recipe also gives you the immunity boost we are all needing right about now.
Zucchini Lasagna With Dairy-Free Mozzarella
Rich in Vitamin C and magnesium and low in carbs, this zucchini-based lasagna is sure to be a dinnertime favorite. And for an added bonus, it keeps great in the fridge for leftovers.
One-Pot Vegetable Chickpea Stew
Few things satisfy as much as a warm bowl of stew on a cold night. In this recipe, it’s all about the veggies. With carrots, potatoes, cauliflower, and chickpeas, it’s hearty and healthy all in one. Plus, it reheats beautifully, so you can enjoy leftovers for days on end. When it comes to healthy recipes, this one’s a star.
Chickpea, Corn, and Avocado Salad With Roasted Poblano Vinaigrette
My favorite part about a chopped salad is that everything’s cut to the same size. That means you can scoop up a taste of each ingredient in a single forkful. Which, in this salad, you’ll definitely want to do. It’s inspired by the Jerez Salad from Fresa’s—Austin people, you know what we’re talking about here. Everyone else, I highly encourage you to give it a try and see for yourself!
Butternut Squash and Ricotta Tart
This recipe is the ultimate intersection between healthy and delicious—not to mention, the presentation is truly gorgeous. Layers of butternut squash, sweet potato, and apple are layered together for a show-stopping vegetarian main. Bonus: It calls for a store-bought pie crust, so despite the impressive end result, it couldn’t be easier.
Kitchari
This “hug in a bowl” kitchari is just that. It’s possibly the most comforting recipe you’ll ever enjoy. It’s made from a combination of lentils and rice cooked in ghee and spices and if that doesn’t sell you, you’ll just have to try it for yourself. The best part? It’s a one-pot wonder that’s easy enough for your busiest nights.
Hot Honey Glazed Salmon With Coconut Crunch
The hot honey on the outside of the salmon gets caramelized under the broiler and gives it the perfect layer of crust. Couple that with coconut crunch and a few sweet potato rounds and you’re golden.
