The holiday season is often associated with indulgence, but it's entirely possible to enjoy a delicious and festive Christmas meal without sacrificing your health. This article provides a variety of healthy Christmas food recipes, ranging from appetizers to main courses and desserts, ensuring a balanced and satisfying holiday experience.
Appetizers and Starters
Kick off your Christmas feast with flavorful and nutritious appetizers that won't leave you feeling weighed down.
Mediterranean Layered Dip
Move over, traditional seven-layer Mexican dip! This Mediterranean mashup features hummus, Greek olives, and other healthy ingredients. It's a crowd-pleaser, even for those who don't typically enjoy these ingredients on their own.
Festive Appetizer Wreath
This festive appetizer wreath is not only visually appealing but also offers a delightful combination of flavors and textures. Placing a bowl of stuffed olives in the center adds an extra touch of elegance. Each piece contains approximately 125 calories, 9g fat (5g saturated fat), 21mg cholesterol, 166mg sodium, 7g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 0 fiber), and 3g protein.
Warm Feta, Tomato, and Basil Bites
Greet your guests with these warm and savory appetizers. Every crispy bite offers the tastes of feta cheese, tomatoes, basil, and garlic. They're perfect for holiday parties or any gathering. Each bite contains approximately 296 calories, 14g fat (5g saturated fat), 18mg cholesterol, 547mg sodium, 35g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 3g fiber), and 8g protein.
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Christmas Crudités
Turn veggies and dip into a colorful wreath by placing a creamy herb dip in a bowl in the center and surrounding it with red and green vegetables on a plate.
Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
Hummus is a protein-packed starter that’s perfect for just about any occasion. Serve it with carrot sticks, celery, and bell pepper for a lighter option.
Shrimp Cocktail
This elegant holiday appetizer features shrimp poached in a simmering liquid flavored with lemon juice, peppercorns, bay leaf, and Old Bay seasoning.
Christmas Deviled Eggs
These deviled eggs are a great way to get protein and stay satisfied without ruining your appetite. Plus, they look like cute little Christmas trees! Each stuffed egg half contains approximately 73 calories, 6g fat (1g saturated fat), 108mg cholesterol, 81mg sodium, 0 carbohydrate (0 sugars, 0 fiber), and 3g protein. Herbs lend amazing flavor to these deviled eggs, which truly are the best you can make!
Soups and Salads
Warm up your guests with comforting soups and refreshing salads that incorporate seasonal ingredients and flavors.
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Black-Eyed Pea Soup
This soup combines black-eyed peas, sweet potatoes, ground beef, and comforting spices, creating a flavorful and nostalgic dish. A 1-1/4 cup serving contains approximately 267 calories, 9g fat (3g saturated fat), 55mg cholesterol, 544mg sodium, 23g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 5g fiber), and 22g protein.
White Chicken Chili
Offer a change from traditional chili with this flavorful blend of tender chicken, white beans, and a touch of spice. This is a favorite white chicken chili recipe. One cup contains approximately 214 calories, 7g fat (3g saturated fat), 35mg cholesterol, 596mg sodium, 20g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 7g fiber), and 18g protein.
Beet Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette
Inspired by Mediterranean flavors, this beet salad features a vinegar and oil dressing with fresh mint to balance the sweetness of the beets, while kalamata olives add a salty touch. A 1/2 cup serving contains approximately 123 calories, 6g fat (1g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 406mg sodium, 16g carbohydrate (12g sugars, 3g fiber), and 3g protein.
Tangy Chicory Salad
Dress this chicory salad with sherry vinegar, honey and orange for a taste of sunshine in winter. It's ideal for a Christmas buffet served with ham.
Celeriac, Hazelnut & Truffle Soup
Rustle up this healthy vegan celeriac and hazelnut soup as a starter on Christmas Day. Truffle oil adds a bit of luxury, or leave it out for a simple supper on a winter's night.
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Roasted red pepper soup with crispy croutons
Warm up on colder evenings with this vibrant soup, spiked with fiery chilli powder and harissa. The crispy croutons are optional but add a satisfying crunch.
Turkey Minestrone
A warm and comforting turkey soup recipe to put your Christmas leftovers to good use.
Main Courses
Create a memorable Christmas dinner with these healthy and satisfying main course options.
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.
Herbed Roast Pork
This herbed roast is wonderful for special occasions, particularly when served with sweet potatoes and corn muffins. Four ounces of cooked pork contain approximately 188 calories, 7g fat (3g saturated fat), 75mg cholesterol, 240mg sodium, 0 carbohydrate (0 sugars, 0 fiber), and 29g protein.
Stuffed Turkey Breast
Just because you’re eating healthy doesn’t mean it can’t be special. This show-stopping main course takes lean turkey breast and turns it into a beautiful centerpiece.
Roast Chicken
A roast chicken is surprisingly simple, yet perfectly elegant. Ree says it's "buttery, lemony, herby, and extremely tasty."
Air-Fryer Turkey Breast
Lean white meat turkey is easy to prepare with this recipe that uses a handy air fryer. It'll save you both time and space in the oven.
Baked Salmon
Baked salmon will be an impressive centerpiece on your holiday table, and it only takes 20 minutes to make!
Cauliflower Steak
Serve these vegetable "steaks" as a main course or a side dish. Either way, they showcase just how deeply caramelized and delicious cauliflower can be.
Stuffed Acorn Squash
This dish is cozy, comforting, and healthy at the same time. The seasonal squash is filled with veggies, sausage, and cooked rice (opt for brown rice or even quinoa if you prefer it).
Pot-roast beef with French onion gravy
Silverside and topside are cheaper and leaner cuts of meat, well-suited to slow-cooking. The stock and juices make a great sauce when combined with caramelised onions
Healthy roast turkey crown
Roast a turkey crown if you're catering to fewer people this Christmas. It's also a lighter option if you don't want to overindulge on the big day
Side Dishes
Complement your main course with these healthy and flavorful side dishes.
Green Bean Casserole
This is definitely not your average green bean casserole. The vegetable count has been increased and some seasonings have been tossed in to take the flavor up a notch. A 3/4 cup serving contains approximately 207 calories, 10g fat (2g saturated fat), 7mg cholesterol, 616mg sodium, 22g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 2g fiber), and 8g protein.
Roasted Delicata Squash
Delicata squash is slightly sweet, comforting, and so easy to make.
Brussels Sprouts with Garlic and Goat Cheese
Brussels sprouts are smothered with garlic and goat cheese. A 2/3 cup serving contains approximately 81 calories, 5g fat (1g saturated fat), 6mg cholesterol, 205mg sodium, 8g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 3g fiber), and 4g protein.
Cranberry-Beet Relish
This enticing substitute for cranberry relish is excellent with turkey. Serve the beet blend alone or on a bed of salad greens. A 2/3 cup serving contains approximately 212 calories, 11g fat (4g saturated fat), 24mg cholesterol, 278mg sodium, 25g carbohydrate (19g sugars, 5g fiber), and 6g protein.
Brussels Sprouts with Garlic and Sweetness
These Brussels sprouts are seasoned to perfection and lightly sweetened with just the right amount of garlic. A 2/3 cup serving contains approximately 100 calories, 3g fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 357mg sodium, 18g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 5g fiber), and 5g protein.
Two-Potato Mash
This cheesy two-potato mash includes pockets of melted cheese throughout the dish. A 2/3 cup serving contains approximately 178 calories, 3g fat (2g saturated fat), 12mg cholesterol, 189mg sodium, 33g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 3g fiber), and 6g protein.
Garlic Green Beans
These green beans only need a little bit of oil and butter plus some flavorful garlic to make them shine.
Roasted Cauliflower
Roasted cauliflower can go with any main course this Christmas, whether it's turkey, fish, or even a vegetarian centerpiece.
Air Fryer Potatoes
Skip the pot of oil and make your potatoes in the air fryer instead. They get just as crispy for this easy side.
Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad
It's crunchy, fresh, and perfect for kicking off the holidays.
Butternut Squash Casserole
The powerhouse kale and butternut squash are paired with salty bacon, smoked almonds, and plenty of melty cheese for good measure.
Braised red cabbage with cider & apples
This classic easy side dish of tangy red cabbage is a great accompaniment to cold or hot cooked meats. Serve as part of a big spread or buffet
Parsnip & celeriac bake
Try something different this Christmas, combine parsnips with celeriac, nutmeg, sage and cream then top with crunchy breadcrumbs for an impressive side dish
Chilli-charred brussels sprouts
Spruce up brussels sprouts for Christmas Day with the addition of garlic, lemon and chilli. The result is a flavourful vegan side dish that’s healthy too
Potato rösti
This popular Swiss dish of pan-fried, golden potato patties with onion and sage makes a delicious side dish for two - perfect on its own, or top with a fried egg
Caramelised carrots & onions
The perfect caramelised carrots to accompany any roast - try them alongside your Sunday lunch or Christmas turkey
Roast potatoes with paprika
Make roast potatoes that are tasty and healthy. Smoked paprika adds flavour and we have a top tip for a crispy finish. Ideal for Sunday lunch, or Christmas Day
Healthy stuffing balls
Looking for a veggie stuffing to serve with a special roast dinner? Made with dried apricots and nuts, this healthy option is low-fat yet full of flavour
Hazelnut & mustard carrots
Spruce up your carrots for the Christmas dinner table with a mustard and sherry dressing for extra flavour. Scatter over toasted hazelnuts to serve
Stir-fried festive cabbage
Try this festive red cabbage with cranberry sauce, red wine and orange as a side dish for Christmas dinner. The flavours are as vivid as the colours
Roasted brussels sprouts with bacon & chestnuts
Try a new approach to cooking these traditional winter greens. Bake your sprouts with nuts and bacon lardons - great for a roast with all the trimmings.
Honey-roasted swede with chilli & cumin
This versatile root vegetable can be roasted like a potato - with a drizzle of honey and sprinkling of spice you get a very special side dish