From appetizers to desserts, here are plenty of healthy Christmas recipes everyone can appreciate.
30 Recipes for a Healthy Christmas Dinner
Updated on Oct. 06, 2024
Slow-Cooker Beef Stew
When there’s a chill in the air, nothing beats this beef stew. Seasoned with thyme and dry mustard, the hearty slow-cooker beef stew is chock-full of tender carrots, potatoes and meat. —Earnestine Wilson, Waco, Texas
1/30
2/30
Italian Artichoke-Green Bean Casserole
Total Time
50 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
My mother and I made a few small changes to a recipe we found in a cookbook to create this comforting side dish. We increased the vegetable count and tossed in some seasonings to take the flavor up a notch. It's definitely not your average green bean casserole. —Denise Klibert, Shreveport, Louisiana
Nutrition Facts:
3/4 cup: 207 calories, 10g fat (2g saturated fat), 7mg cholesterol, 616mg sodium, 22g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 2g fiber), 8g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 fat, 1 starch, 1 vegetable.
3/30
Stuffed Mini Peppers
Total Time
30 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
There's plenty of both crunch and cream in these party appetizers. Fresh chives help them really stand out. —Jean McKenzie, Vancouver, Washington
Nutrition Facts:
1 stuffed pepper half: 48 calories, 4g fat (2g saturated fat), 14mg cholesterol, 68mg sodium, 1g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.
4/30
Roasted Herbed Squash with Goat Cheese
Total Time
55 min
Servings
10 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Cooking is a hobby I'm so happy to share with my toddler. She (and all our Christmas Eve party guests) heartily approved of this new potluck favorite. Any type of winter squash works here. —Lindsay Oberhausen, Lexington, Kentucky
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 251 calories, 8g fat (3g saturated fat), 21mg cholesterol, 715mg sodium, 43g carbohydrate (10g sugars, 10g fiber), 7g protein.
5/30
Savory Pork Roast
Total Time
1 hour 25 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I love this herbed roast so much that I make it as often as I can. It's wonderful for special occasions, particularly when served with sweet potatoes and corn muffins. —Edie DeSpain, Logan, Utah
Nutrition Facts:
4 ounces cooked pork: 188 calories, 7g fat (3g saturated fat), 75mg cholesterol, 240mg sodium, 0 carbohydrate (0 sugars, 0 fiber), 29g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 4 lean meat.
6/30
Cranberry-Pecan Wheat Berry Salad
Total Time
1 hour 30 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I love to experiment with different grains and wanted to give wheat berries a try. My whole family goes nuts for this salad, especially my mom. —Kristen Heigl, Staten Island, New York
Nutrition Facts:
3/4 cup: 298 calories, 15g fat (1g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 261mg sodium, 39g carbohydrate (17g sugars, 6g fiber), 5g protein.
7/30
Appetizer Wreath
Total Time
35 min
Servings
16 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I have lots of fun with this festive appetizer wreath. I often place a bowl of stuffed olives in the center. —Shirley Privratsky, Dickinson, North Dakota
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 125 calories, 9g fat (5g saturated fat), 21mg cholesterol, 166mg sodium, 7g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 0 fiber), 3g protein.
8/30
Feta Bruschetta
Total Time
30 min
Servings
10 appetizers
From the Recipe Creator:
You won't believe the compliments you'll receive when you greet guests with these warm appetizers. Every crispy bite offers the savory tastes of feta cheese, tomatoes, basil and garlic. They're terrific for holiday parties or most any gathering. —Stacey Rinehart, Eugene, Oregon
Nutrition Facts:
1 each: 296 calories, 14g fat (5g saturated fat), 18mg cholesterol, 547mg sodium, 35g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 3g fiber), 8g protein.
9/30
Italian Meatball Kabobs
Total Time
40 min
Servings
12 kabobs
From the Recipe Creator:
When the temperatures are high, and so is your craving for Italian fare, turn to these deliciously different kabobs. A green salad and rustic bread are all you'll need to complete this summer meal. —Marie Rizzio, Interlochen, Michigan
Nutrition Facts:
1 kabob: 325 calories, 22g fat (6g saturated fat), 97mg cholesterol, 315mg sodium, 10g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 2g fiber), 21g protein.
10/30
Christmas Cheese Balls
Total Time
25 min
Servings
3 cheese balls (6 cups)
From the Recipe Creator:
Christmas at our house just wouldn't be complete without these rich cheese balls. Friends and family ask for them every year-and I can make three gifts from just one recipe. —Margie Cadwell, Eastman, Georgia
Nutrition Facts:
2 tablespoons: 125 calories, 12g fat (6g saturated fat), 29mg cholesterol, 165mg sodium, 2g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 0 fiber), 4g protein.
11/30
Seven-Layer Mediterranean Dip
Total Time
15 min
Servings
2-1/2 cups
From the Recipe Creator:
I like traditional seven-layer Mexican dip, but I love Mediterranean ingredients even more. When I made this mashup, my husband wolfed it down. And he won’t even touch hummus or Greek olives on their own! —Bee Engelhart, Bloomfield Township, Michigan
12/30
Spicy Shrimp & Crab Cocktail
Total Time
25 min
Servings
12 servings (about 9 cups)
From the Recipe Creator:
This seafood starter is so good that it makes me love a food I usually don't—radishes! This recipe also calls for spicy V8, but Zing Zang Bloody Mary Mix works just as well. Serve the cocktail straight up, with tortilla chips or on a bed of butter lettuce. —Heidi Knaak, Liberty, Missouri
Nutrition Facts:
3/4 cup: 162 calories, 6g fat (1g saturated fat), 91mg cholesterol, 604mg sodium, 11g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 3g fiber), 17g protein.
13/30
Garden Veggie Lasagna
Total Time
1 hour 25 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Stroll the farmers market and you'll find veggies and cheeses you might not know what to do with. Why not pull them together in one harmonious bunch and make this go-to lasagna when you crave a twist on an Italian favorite? —Samantha Neal, Morgantown, West Virginia
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 423 calories, 26g fat (12g saturated fat), 73mg cholesterol, 777mg sodium, 32g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 5g fiber), 19g protein.
14/30
Spiced Acorn Squash
Total Time
3 hours 45 min
Servings
4 squash halves
From the Recipe Creator:
Working full time, I found I didn't always have time to cook the meals my family loved, so I re-created many of those dishes in the slow cooker. This treatment for squash is one of our favorites. —Carol Greco, Centereach, New York
Nutrition Facts:
1 squash half: 433 calories, 12g fat (7g saturated fat), 31mg cholesterol, 142mg sodium, 86g carbohydrate (63g sugars, 5g fiber), 3g protein.
15/30
White Chicken Chili
Total Time
40 min
Servings
10 servings (2-1/2 quarts)
From the Recipe Creator:
Folks will enjoy a change from traditional chili when they dip their spoons into this flavorful blend of tender chicken, white beans and just the right amount of zip. This is our favorite white chicken chili recipe. —Taste Recipes Test Kitchen
Nutrition Facts:
1 cup: 214 calories, 7g fat (3g saturated fat), 35mg cholesterol, 596mg sodium, 20g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 7g fiber), 18g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 lean meat, 1-1/2 starch, 1 fat.
16/30
Herb-Buttered Baby Carrots
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
4 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
The herb butter can be used for everything from vegetables to roast chicken, turkey, game hens—let your imagination be your guide.—Sandra Corey, Caldwell, Idaho
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 143 calories, 12g fat (7g saturated fat), 31mg cholesterol, 180mg sodium, 10g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 2g fiber), 1g protein.
17/30
Parmesan Baked Potatoes
Total Time
45 min
Servings
8 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
It always amazed me that this simple recipe could make potatoes taste so good. Mom liked to make them for Easter because they were more special than ordinary baked potatoes. —Ruth Seitz, Columbus Junction, Iowa
Nutrition Facts:
2 halves: 165 calories, 9g fat (6g saturated fat), 24mg cholesterol, 128mg sodium, 18g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 2g fiber), 3g protein.
18/30
The South in a Pot Soup
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
8 servings (2-1/2 quarts)
From the Recipe Creator:
With black-eyed peas, sweet potatoes, ground beef and comforting spices, this soup has every wonderful memory from my childhood simmered together in one tasty pot. —Stephanie Rabbitt-Schapp, Cincinnati, OH
Nutrition Facts:
1-1/4 cups: 267 calories, 9g fat (3g saturated fat), 55mg cholesterol, 544mg sodium, 23g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 5g fiber), 22g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 lean meat, 1 starch, 1 vegetable, 1/2 fat.
19/30
Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes
Total Time
30 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I couldn’t shake my mashed potato habit—until I tried mashed cauliflower with a similar consistency. I started making my own, and my family loves it. —Meredith Howard, Franklin, Kentucky
Nutrition Facts:
2/3 cup: 154 calories, 11g fat (7g saturated fat), 33mg cholesterol, 290mg sodium, 8g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 3g fiber), 8g protein.
20/30
Minted Beet Salad
Total Time
35 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
We have neighbors who share vegetables from their garden, and every year my husband and I look forward to their beets. My interest in Mediterranean food inspired this beet salad recipe—the vinegar and oil dressing with fresh mint tones down the sweetness of the beets, and the kalamata olives add a salty touch. —Barbara Estabrook, Appleton, Wisconsin
Nutrition Facts:
1/2 cup: 123 calories, 6g fat (1g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 406mg sodium, 16g carbohydrate (12g sugars, 3g fiber), 3g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 vegetable, 1 fat.
21/30
Brussels Sprouts with Garlic & Goat Cheese
Total Time
40 min
Servings
16 servings (2/3 cup each)
From the Recipe Creator:
I wanted to up my veggie game, so I smothered Brussels sprouts with garlic and goat cheese. It's really a side dish, but I love to eat it for lunch! —Brenda Williams, Santa Maria, California
Nutrition Facts:
2/3 cup: 81 calories, 5g fat (1g saturated fat), 6mg cholesterol, 205mg sodium, 8g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 3g fiber), 4g protein. Diabetic exchanges: 1 vegetable, 1 fat.
22/30
Orange Pomegranate Salad with Honey
Total Time
15 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I discovered this fragrant salad in a cooking class. If you can, try to find orange flower water (also called orange blossom water), which perks up the orange segments. But orange juice adds a nice zip, too! —Carol Richardson Marty, Lynwood, Washington
Nutrition Facts:
2/3 cup: 62 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 2mg sodium, 15g carbohydrate (14g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 fruit.
23/30
Honey Pecan Triangles
Total Time
1 hour 5 min
Servings
4 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
After stirring up batches of these tasty bar cookies for many years, I know to include plenty on cookie trays. They have all the goodness of pecan pie and are so easy to serve to a crowd. —Debbie Fogel, East Berne, New York
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece: 159 calories, 12g fat (4g saturated fat), 18mg cholesterol, 44mg sodium, 13g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 1g fiber), 1g protein.
24/30
Cranberry and Roasted Beet Salad
Total Time
1 hour
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
I created this as a healthy, tasty side dish to complement Christmas dinner. This enticing substitute for cranberry relish is excellent with turkey. Even the children loved it! Serve the beet blend alone or on a bed of salad greens. —Brianna St. Clair, Worland, Wyoming
Nutrition Facts:
2/3 cup: 212 calories, 11g fat (4g saturated fat), 24mg cholesterol, 278mg sodium, 25g carbohydrate (19g sugars, 5g fiber), 6g protein. Diabetic exchanges: 2 fat, 1 starch, 1 vegetable.
25/30
Honey-Garlic Brussels Sprouts
Total Time
25 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
At a holiday dinner recently, I had the best Brussels sprouts ever! They were seasoned to perfection and lightly sweetened. I've tried to re-create the dish, and this comes very close. It has just the right amount of garlic and sweetness. —Robin Haas, Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts
Nutrition Facts:
2/3 cup: 100 calories, 3g fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 357mg sodium, 18g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 5g fiber), 5g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 vegetable, 1/2 starch, 1/2 fat.
26/30
Deviled Eggs
Total Time
25 min
Servings
2 dozen
From the Recipe Creator:
Herbs lend amazing flavor to these deviled eggs, which truly are the best you can make! The recipe includes tasty variations that feature bacon, chipotle peppers and crab.—Jesse & Anne Foust, Bluefield, West Virginia
Nutrition Facts:
1 stuffed egg half: 73 calories, 6g fat (1g saturated fat), 108mg cholesterol, 81mg sodium, 0 carbohydrate (0 sugars, 0 fiber), 3g protein.
27/30
Green Beans in Red Pepper Sauce
Total Time
30 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
For easy veggies, I make a simple sauce of sweet red peppers, almonds and parsley. We also like this sauce with zucchini or roasted cauliflower. —Elisabeth Larsen, Pleasant Grove, Utah
Nutrition Facts:
3/4 cup: 95 calories, 7g fat (1g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 276mg sodium, 8g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 3g fiber), 2g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 vegetable, 1 fat.
28/30
Wild Rice Bread with Sunflower Seeds
Total Time
1 hour 10 min
Servings
2 loaves (16 slices each)
From the Recipe Creator:
I loved skipping the boring school cafeteria meals and going to my grandma’s house for lunch. She spent most of her life in northeastern Minnesota, which is reflected in this bread's ingredients. Now my family uses this for our holiday stuffing. —Crystal Schlueter, Northglenn, Colorado
Nutrition Facts:
1 piece (calculated without wheat germ): 142 calories, 4g fat (1g saturated fat), 4mg cholesterol, 205mg sodium, 23g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 2g fiber), 4g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 starch, 1/2 fat.
29/30
Gouda Mixed Potato Mash
Total Time
35 min
Servings
12 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Everything's better with cheese, right? This cheesy two-potato mash is no exception. If you cube the cheese, you’ll discover delicious pockets of melted cheese throughout the dish. —Shelby Goddard, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Nutrition Facts:
2/3 cup: 178 calories, 3g fat (2g saturated fat), 12mg cholesterol, 189mg sodium, 33g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 3g fiber), 6g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 1/2 fat.
30/30
Pomegranate-Glazed Green Beans
Total Time
35 min
Servings
6 servings
From the Recipe Creator:
Green beans are a popular vegetable in our house. They get a nice zing from this slightly tangy glaze featuring fruit juices, vinegar, maple syrup and seasonings.—Geraldine Saucier, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 134 calories, 6g fat (4g saturated fat), 15mg cholesterol, 251mg sodium, 21g carbohydrate (14g sugars, 4g fiber), 2g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 starch, 1 vegetable, 1 fat.
