15 Best Healthy Comfort Food Recipes To Make You Cozy
These are your favorite comfort food recipes made healthy!
When I first began my healthy personal chef business in 2005, I quickly realized my clients craved comfort foods all year long. This was especially true for the people who were trying to eat healthy and lose weight.
I ditched the fancy meals I learned in cooking school and began developing healthy comfort food recipes by making some smart swaps.
Now I’m sharing these delicious comfort food recipes with you!
And these are easy recipes! You don’t need any special equipment—not even an air-fryer, instant pot, or slower-cooker.
Healthy Comfort Food Recipes
These are my favorite healthy comfort foods, and I hope they will soon be yours too!
1. Turkey Meatloaf
Meatloaf is hands down one of America’s favorite comfort foods, and I have a turkey version you’ll definitely want to try! It uses oats instead of bread crumbs, so it’s also gluten-free.
This turkey meatloaf recipe was one of my first big successes at my personal chef business. It is so good, it remained one of the most requested main dishes during the 14 years I operated the business.
Serve it with my low-fat mashed potatoes or sweet potatoes and no one will complain about eating a healthy diet.
Turkey Meatloaf Recipe
2. Low-Fat Mashed Potatoes
This is one of the all-time-classic comfort foods, especially when paired as a side dish with meatloaf!
Potatoes sometimes get a bad rap. They are not unhealthy by themselves. In fact, they are high in potassium, fiber, and vitamin C, all things your body needs. What makes them bad for you is what we choose to do to them, like frying them into crispy fries or mashing them with butter or fatty oils.
This recipe takes the extra calories and added fat out of traditional mashed potatoes with a few healthy swaps.
Low-Fat Mashed Potatoes Recipe
3. Marinara Sauce
Italian cuisine is near and dear to my heart, and this Italian marinara sauce recipe has been my Number 1 recipe on Pinterest since the Chef Denise blog’s beginning.
“This Marinara is outstanding and so easy! We could not stop eating it! This will def be my go-to recipe!
Thank you SO much for sharing!”
Follow Chef Denise on Pinterest!
You can use canned tomatoes or fresh tomatoes for this scratch recipe; I’ve included both preparations.
In general, tomato sauces are pretty healthy recipes, and this one certainly is. If you’re looking for typical comfort food, you’ll probably want to use your marinara sauce over a bowl of pasta. But it’s also tasty on spaghetti squash, zucchini noodles, and even chicken breasts.
Marinara Sauce Recipe
4. Turkey Meatballs
In addition to traditional Campania dishes and Napoletana foods, my Italian nonna made the best meatballs in the world—no exaggeration.
So, I took her beef meatball recipe and gave it a healthier twist using ground turkey. Because turkey is a leaner meat, these meatballs have less fat, less cholesterol, and less calories than the original beef meatballs—but they still taste amazing!
And they are still a family favorite! In fact, they are the most moist and delicious turkey meatballs I’ve ever had!
See what you think.
Turkey Meatball Recipe
5. Croque Monsieur
One of my favorite traditional French foods, croque monsieur, is also one of my favorite comfort food dinners! Actually, I love it for breakfast and lunch too! Who can resist the ultimate gooey ham and cheese sandwich?
If you’re visiting the City of Light, it’s one of the must-eat foods of Paris. If you come home and want to make your own version of this sandwich with fewer calories, use this recipe! If you have no idea what I’m talking about, check this out anyway:
Croque Monsieur Recipe
Read next: What’s the Difference Between Croque Monsieur and Croque Madame?
6. Ricotta Oatmeal
Oatmeal on the breakfast meal plan is a great idea when trying to live a healthy lifestyle. And this oatmeal recipe is head and shoulders above what’s on the box—because it adds ricotta for extra protein. I prefer adding ricotta to protein powder because it makes the oatmeal super creamy.
I make a big batch of this recipe at least once a week. It reheats and freezes well. You can top it with just about anything, and there’s a second recipe included for those who prefer a sweet oatmeal.
Ricotta Oatmeal Recipe
7. Turkey Chili
Make chilly evenings “chili evenings!” This is another highly requested comfort food recipe from my personal chef days. Truly, my turkey chili is a hearty meal in a bowl! But it has far fewer calories than the famous Texan dish.
This turkey chili recipe incorporates black beans and my secret ingredient, low-fat (or fat free) refried beans. It makes the chili instantly thick so it can be made in just 30 minutes! This is one of the easiest weeknight comfort meals to make that the whole family will love!
Turkey Chili Recipe
8. Maple-Pecan French Toast Casserole
French Food Fact: French toast is not a typical French breakfast. The French call it pain perdu and it’s usually served for dessert. But since you’re probably not in France at the moment, you can wake up to the smell of maple syrup and toasty nuts with this recipe!
This is the perfect make-ahead breakfast casserole, particularly for special occasions or when you have guests. Just reheat it in the morning and you’ll have a warm, cozy breakfast in minutes.
Maple-Pecan French Toast Casserole Recipe
9. Chicken Parm Panini
Italian Food Fact: Chicken parmesan is not a traditional Italian dish, but eggplant parmesan is. Although Americans think of chicken parmigiana as a typical Italian food, it was actually invented in the U.S.!
Let’s face it, parmigiano reggiano is the king of Italian cheeses and makes anything taste better. Sure, you can spend hours making chicken parm and then put it on a roll for a sandwich. Or, you can follow this easy recipe that uses leftover chicken, and you’ll have a tasty panini perfect for busy weeknights.
Chicken Parm Panini Recipe
10. Turkey Bolognese
This is another one of my Nonna’s authentic Italian recipes adapted into a turkey version. Can it really be just as yummy? I served it to my nonna’s son and he thought so!
In addition to this recipe tasting amazing, it can be prepared in just 30 minutes! That alone is comforting!
If you visit Bologna, you will find that the city’s legendary ragù does not sit on top of spaghetti. That is not a traditional Bolognese dish. The people of Bologna use their Bolognese sauce on tagliatelle and lasagna. But in your home, you can serve it on top of any pasta. Another dinner idea: Pile it on rolls for Italian Sloppy Joes.
Turkey Bolognese Recipe
11. Quiche Lorraine
You will probably never see a crustless quiche in the best cafes in Paris, but I promise you, this is a delicious recipe nonetheless. The crust is replaced with a tasty alternative that’s much better for you than the traditional butter and flour version.
I rationalize that without the crust, I get to keep the cheese and the bacon—YUM! Hopefully that rationalization works for you too. The best part? Quiche Lorraine makes a comforting dish for breakfast, lunch, or dinner!
Quiche Lorraine Recipe
12. Pasta Pugliese
If you’ve visited Puglia, Italy, you probably ate something similar to this orecchiette pasta recipe during your stay. Orecchiette means “little ears,” and it’s the perfect shape of pasta to hold small pieces of sausage.
I developed this dish during the early days of COVID when all I wanted to eat was comfort foods. The recipe combines turkey sausage, spinach, and tomatoes to make a healthy Pugliese-inspired meal.
If you’re looking for healthy dinner ideas, look no further! My entire family loves this recipe, and I bet yours will too!
Pasta Pugliese Recipe
13. Banana Bread Pudding
When I think of comfort-food desserts, bread pudding is at the top of my list. And when I started making bread pudding about 20 years ago, I made the most fattening recipe ever!
When I became a healthy chef, I had to develop healthy dessert recipes in addition to healthy meals. I created this low-cal banana bread pudding, and no one knew the difference. I have to admit, however, that I do prefer it with a scoop of ice cream on top!
Banana Bread Pudding Recipe
14. Flourless PB&J Cookies
Some comfort foods harken back to our favorite foods from childhood. If your childhood was filled with PB&J, you’ll love these guilt-free cookies! I make a big batch so that I can freeze some. Separate them with wax paper so that you can take out a few at a time.
Flourless PB&J Cookies Recipe
Healthy Comfort Food Splurge
Is there any American food more popular than BBQ? My husband and I have driven across the U.S. many times, and each time we are surprised how many different American BBQ types there are: Tennessee, Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kansas City—and that’s not all!
Unfortunately, it’s really hard to make pork ribs healthy since the meat itself is high in fat. But if you’re looking for the ultimate comfort food and can splurge a little, this barbecue ribs recipe is one of my most popular recipes on Pinterest! Literally thousands of people make it every month!
15. BBQ Ribs
Think BBQ ribs are just for summer grilling? Think again! This low-and-slow recipe makes fall-off-the-bone tender ribs in the oven.
While it is a very simple recipe, it’s not a quick one. But it’s a great way to add some additional heat the house in winter! Allow at least 3½ hours cooking time. Serve it with my slaw, corn and zucchini, or some cauliflower rice.
BBQ Ribs Recipe
