Homemade Recipes for a Clean Diet

Ditch the take-out and packaged goods and enjoy these homemade recipes instead. Ordering out and store-bought foods may make cooking faster but many products are full of hidden sodium, calories and long ingredient lists. With these homemade recipes for a cleaner diet, you’ll find healthy recipes to replace packaged foods from macaroni and cheese and tacos to tortilla chips and carbonara. These recipes will help you eat cleaner and know exactly what you're putting into your body.
Start Slideshow

1 of 27

Mac & Cheese with Collards

Start to finish: 30 mins
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Dark leafy collards add bold flavor and boost the calcium in this healthy skillet mac and cheese recipe with a crispy topping. If you don't have collards, kale, Swiss chard and spinach are delicious substitutes.

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 27

Chipotle Chicken Quinoa Burrito Bowl

Start to finish: 30 mins
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This chipotle-flavored burrito bowl recipe is even better than takeout and just as fast. Loading it with vegetables and using quinoa in place of rice adds nutrition for a healthy dinner.

3 of 27

Tomato Soup

Start to finish: 35 mins
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This simple tomato soup is perfect paired with your favorite grilled cheese sandwich. Make a double batch and freeze the extra for rainy-day emergencies.

Advertisement

4 of 27

Mango Fruit Leather

Start to finish: 5 hrs 30 mins
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This no-sugar-added fruit snack is a healthy treat kids and adults will both love. It's perfect for packing in a lunchbox for school or work or just enjoying as a snack or better-for-you dessert at home.

5 of 27

Broccoli, Chickpea & Pomegranate Salad

Start to finish: 20 mins
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Simple steps give this broccoli salad recipe a more nuanced flavor: soaking the onion tempers its bite and toasting the cumin enhances its aroma. Serve alongside grilled chicken, pork or fish.

6 of 27

Freezer Bean & Cheese Burritos

Start to finish: 25 mins
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This copycat version of store-bought frozen burritos is perfect for meal prepping. Make a big batch to store in the freezer for healthy packable lunches or a quick campsite meal.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 27

Peanut Butter-Oat Energy Balls

Start to finish: 30 mins
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Sweet, sticky dates act as the glue for these no-bake energy balls. Perfect for hikes or during sports, this healthy snack travels well. For the best flavor and texture, use Medjool dates--the largest and most luscious date variety. Look for them in the produce department or near other dried fruits.

8 of 27

Taco Lettuce Wraps

Start to finish: 30 mins
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Don't limit yourself to lettuce for this low-carb, gluten-free taco lettuce wrap recipe--any fresh green sturdy enough to wrap around 1/2 cup of filling works.

9 of 27

Broccoli & Sausage Skillet Pizza

Start to finish: 50 mins
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Using a cast-iron skillet for this healthy pizza recipe gives you deep-dish pizza results with extra-crispy sides, but you can make it free-form too. Stretch the dough into a 12-inch oval and place on a large baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Top and bake at 450 degrees F until the cheese is melted and the crust is crisp, about 20 minutes.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 27

Chile-Lime Tortilla Chips

Start to finish: 30 mins
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

These tortilla chips are baked, not fried, and a squeeze of lime and a sprinkle of chili powder add flavor without tons of calories. Plus with 5 grams less fat per serving than a packaged version, they deliver all the crunch without the guilt.

11 of 27

Sauteed Broccoli & Kale with Toasted Garlic Butter

Start to finish: 45 mins
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

In this easy vegetable side dish, broccoli and kale are drizzled with a butter, garlic and crushed red pepper sauce. Serve this healthy recipe alongside roasted chicken, turkey or ham--or on top of your favorite whole grain, such as quinoa or farro.

12 of 27

Salsa-Black Bean Burgers

Start to finish: 30 mins
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Salsa and some pantry staples give this vegetarian bean burger recipe tons of flavor. We use crushed tortilla chips to bind the burgers together, making them a great vehicle for using up those crumbs that inevitably fall to the bottom of the bag.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 27

Lime & Parmesan Popcorn

Start to finish: 10 mins
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Skip the bag of microwaved popcorn and satisfy a snack craving by making your own flavored popcorn. In this healthy popcorn recipe, we use Parmesan cheese, lime zest and a hint of chili powder, but feel free to use your favorite spices. For the best flavor, opt for olive oil cooking spray to help the toppings stick to the popcorn.

14 of 27

Sweet Potato Carbonara with Spinach & Mushrooms

Start to finish: 40 mins
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Loaded with veggies, this spiralized sweet potato vegetable noodles recipe--our healthy take on a traditional carbonara recipe--achieves superfood status with the addition of spinach and mushrooms. Look for large, straight sweet potatoes to make the longest veggie noodles.

15 of 27

Muffin-Tin Quiches with Smoked Cheddar & Potato

Start to finish: 1 hr
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Potatoes, cheese and greens make this mini quiche recipe delicious and satisfying. Bake up a batch over the weekend and you'll have breakfast available in a hurry for the rest of the week.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 27

Mediterranean Tuna-Spinach Salad

Start to finish: 10 mins
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This tuna salad recipe gets an upgrade with olives, feta and a tahini dressing. Served over baby spinach, this is the perfect easy and light lunch or dinner salad.

17 of 27

Sweet Potato Chips

Start to finish: 3 hrs 30 mins
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Make perfectly crunchy veggie chips at home with this healthy recipe. Use a mandoline to slice the sweet potatoes extra-thin for the optimum crunch!

18 of 27

Garlic Hummus

Start to finish: 10 mins
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This classic hummus recipe couldn't be easier--just toss a few ingredients in the food processor and whir away! Aquafaba (the liquid from a can of chickpeas) makes this healthy dip extra smooth and creamy. Serve with veggie chips, pita chips or crudités.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 27

Green Chile Turkey Burgers

Start to finish: 40 mins
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

These healthy turkey burgers are flavored with the Southwestern triad of chiles verdes, cumin and cilantro. We serve them here on tortillas, but traditionalists can go for a bun.

20 of 27

Mini Pepperoni Pizza

Start to finish: 15 mins
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Make a snack-sized pizza fast and easy with corn tortillas instead of a traditional dough or crust. This snack recipe is so easy, the kids will like helping make it as much as they'll love to eat it.

21 of 27

2-Ingredient Peanut Butter Banana Ice Cream

Start to finish: 5 mins
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Whir up frozen bananas into an “ice cream” without the cream! Peanut butter adds a natural swirl of flavor for a sweet and satisfying dessert with no added sugar.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

22 of 27

Chicken Enchilada-Stuffed Spaghetti Squash

Start to finish: 50 mins
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This healthy 5-ingredient spaghetti squash recipe is a satisfying low-carb alternative to taco night. If you have leftover cooked chicken on hand, skip Step 2 and stir 2 1/2 cups into the filling. Look for an enchilada sauce with less than 300 mg of sodium per serving, such as Hatch brand.

23 of 27

8-Layer Taco Salad

Start to finish: 30 mins
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This gorgeous and colorful 8-layer taco salad recipe is made healthier by using ground turkey in place of beef, adding Greek yogurt and bumping up the amount of vegetables. Serve this salad in a clear glass bowl and you'll have an eye-catching party-worthy dinner or potluck side in just 30 minutes.

24 of 27

Spaghetti with Quick Meat Sauce

Start to finish: 30 mins
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Instead of opening a jar of sauce, try this easy spaghetti with meat sauce on a weeknight. Serve with steamed broccoli and garlic bread. The recipe makes enough for 8 servings. If you're serving only four for dinner, cook 8 ounces of spaghetti and freeze the leftover sauce.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

25 of 27

Homemade Trail Mix

Start to finish: 5 mins
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Try this with portable mix with any combination of dried fruits and nuts.

26 of 27

EatingWell Fish Sticks

Start to finish: 40 mins
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

You can make these homemade fish sticks in about the same amount of time it takes to bake a box of the frozen kind--with a fraction of the fat.

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Up Next

Advertisement