Healthy Christmas Recipes (2024)

The best list of Healthy Christmas Recipes. From appetizers to sides, snacks, cookies & desserts -there are tons of Healthy Holiday Recipes!

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Christmas is one of our favorite holidays! We love the big meal, all the sides and DESSERT! (There’s nothing better than Christmas cookies!)

Typically on Christmas we eat the ‘real deal’ classic recipes – but we love that so many of you want a healthier Christmas!

We’ve rounded up our best Healthy Christmas Recipes, tips and tricks for you here. From appetizers to sides, desserts + more – you’ll find a recipe no matter what you’re looking for!

We also have a list of Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes!

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Healthy Christmas Desserts

My favorite part about Christmas is dessert! From pie to cookies + more – we’ve rounded up a bunch of the best healthy Christmas baking recipes here. We also have a blog post all about30 Healthy Holiday Desserts if you’re looking for more dessert inspiration!

Healthy Pumpkin Pie Bars are the best healthy pumpkin dessert! Just like classic pumpkin pie, in a bar! Paleo, gluten free and dairy free – these are great for a fun fall treat or the holidays.

Healthy Baked Apples are a delicious, easy dessert! Gluten free, dairy free + made with only 9 ingredients – they’re the perfect nutritious, fun treat!

Healthy Apple Pie Bars arethe best fall dessert. They taste just like apple pie in a bar! Paleo, gluten free and dairy free -a must try.

Healthy Pecan Pie Bars are one of the best pecan pie recipes! Gluten free, paleo and refined sugar free – an easy holiday dessert you’ll love!

Healthy Christmas Recipes (2)

Chocolate Covered Popcorn is a great dessert or snack. This recipe is vegan, gluten free and SO delicious! Low in calories and easily customizable!

Healthy Apple Crispis gluten/dairy free, and sweetened with just maple syrup. Naturally sweet & delicious it’s the perfect healthy dessert!

Healthy Pumpkin Cheesecakes are the perfect gluten free, low fat cheesecake treat! Made with greek yogurt, low in sugar and so delicious!

Healthy Lemon Bars are the perfect healthy lemon dessert. Paleo, gluten free, and made with no sugar- they’re delicious and easy to make!

Healthy Chocolate Truffles are the ultimate paleo and vegan dessert. Made with only 6 ingredients and easy to make – they’re perfect for a healthy treat!

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Healthy Christmas Baking & Cookies

In my opinion, cookies are the best part of Christmas desserts! These healthy Christmas cookies all look amazing, and there is a cookie for everyone – gluten free, dairy free, paleo, keto friendly options are all listed below!

Healthy Anginetti Cookies are the perfect healthy Christmas cookie! Packed with lemon flavor and gluten free, these cookies are a treat everyone will love!

Paleo Gingerbread Biscotti are the perfect crunchy, delicious holiday cookie! Naturally gluten and grain free, they’re a yummy festive treat!

Healthy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies are the best treat! A Gluten Free Cookie Recipe everyone will love. Easy to make and delicious!

Maple Walnut Sugar Cookies are crisp, crumbly and addictive! No eggs, no dairy, no processed ingredients, just healthy gluten free vegan maple sugar cookies.

Paleo Chocolate Peppermint Cookies are a dense and chewy paleo chocolate peppermint cookies to celebrate your holiday season with style!

Honey Cinnamon Cookies are the perfect holiday treat. Made with all healthy ingredients, whole grain and refined sugar-free, these cookies are festive as well as delicious.

Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Blossomsare made by replacing flour with protein powder. Made in just one bowl with simple, good-for-you ingredients, these healthy Hershey’s kiss cookies are ready in no-time.

If you want more desserts check out these:Healthy Holiday Desserts, Healthy Apple Recipes,Healthy Pumpkin Recipes

Healthy Christmas Drinks:

We love holiday drinks. Hot chocolate or eggnog are probably my two favorite Christmas drinks – but I’ve included some fun ideas for you here too!

Healthy Gingerbread Latte is Whole30, paleo, refined sugar free + easy to make! Simply delicious + a much healthier version of Starbucks holiday drink!

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Healthy Peppermint Mocha is the perfect holiday drink! Requiring only 5 ingredients, it’s easy to make, paleo, vegan, and cheaper than Starbucks!

Healthy Hot Chocolate is a classic drink made lighter. So delicious and easy to make with only 3 ingredients!

Red Wine Sangria is a recipe everyone will love! This homemade sangria is easy to make with only a few ingredients. Refreshing and delicious!

Hot Spiced Apple Cider uses apple cider or apple juice for a healthy, spicy and easy drink that’s perfect for Thanksgiving or Christmas. This recipe is naturally paleo with a vegan option.

Healthy Christmas Appetizers:

We try not to fill up on appetizers on Christmas – but here are a few healthy Christmas party food recipes:

Healthy Spinach Artichoke Dipis a healthy appetizer you’ll love! Easy, gluten free & keto. This dip is made with no mayo or cream cheese, only greek yogurt!

Healthy Christmas Recipes (5)

White Bean Hummusis an easy, vegan snack or appetizer. Made without tahini, serve it warm or cold– it’s a low calorie, high protein dip that is so yummy!

Healthy Fruit Dip would be perfect as a centerpiece on a large fruit charcuterie board! Only 4 ingredients and so easy to whip together!

Cranberry Jalapeno Dipcomes together in under 5 minutes and is perfect for parties and gatherings!

Healthy Christmas Breakfast

We usually don’t eat a big breakfast on Christmas because we want to save room for the main meal 🙂 Here are a few festive Christmas Breakfast ideas:

Egg Casserole with Hash Browns is the perfect Christmas morning breakfast. It’s loaded with veggies and protein and tastes amazing!

Sausage Egg Bake is easy to make, paleo, whole30, and so yummy. It’s veggie loaded, perfect for meal prep and delicious!

Breakfast Casserole with Bacon! This cheesy bacon breakfast casserole is great for brunch or meal prep! Delicious and healthy!

Crock Pot Breakfast Casserole is so delicious! This slow cooker egg casserole cooks overnight for a healthy breakfast!

Healthy Gingerbread Loaf is a delicious holiday treat everyone will love. Made with whole wheat flour & simple ingredients – it’s full of holiday flavor!

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Healthy Gingerbread Muffins are a yummy holiday breakfast treat! Naturally gluten free and easy to make – your whole family will love them!

Ham and Cheese Frittata Recipe everyone will love. This keto frittata is easy to make, cheesy and delicious! Perfect for breakfast.

Gingerbread Breakfast Cookies are the perfect nutritious, on-the-go breakfast! Gluten free, dairy free, low in sugar and so yummy!

Healthy Peppermint Mocha Muffins are an easy & delicious treat. Healthy enough to enjoy for breakfast or dessert! Dairy free & quick to make.

Best Sweet Potato Muffins Recipe! Made with simple ingredients, these gluten free sweet potato muffins are healthy and delicious!

Healthy Pumpkin Muffins are a delicious, low sugar fall breakfast. Naturally gluten + dairy free – these muffins are easy to make and so tasty!

Healthy Christmas Meals

I’ve found that different families enjoy totally different things on Christmas. My family usually eats pasta + some sort of meat. I’ve organized these recipes by meat dishes and pasta dishes.

Healthy Christmas Meat Dishes

Slow Cooker Turkey Breast is so easy to put together and what I love most about it is you free up your oven for sides and desserts!

Crockpot Whole Chicken is an easy, filling, paleo/Whole30 Christmas dinner! With only a few minutes of prep, the slow cooker does all the work! It’s delicious! Naturally gluten free and made with only 7 ingredients.

Stuffed Acorn Squash are such a yummy, hearty meal that are great for Christmas!

Slow Roasted Turkey is so tender, with meat that literally falls off the bone and golden, rich golden-brown skin. It’s an easy, hands-off way to prepare turkey, and yields consistently excellent results.

Apricot & Sausage Stuffed Turkey Breast is the perfect substitute if you don’t want to make an entire turkey this year! It’s healthy and delicious!

Prime Rib is juicy, tender and perfectly cookedwithout a lot of fussing. Seasoned to perfection, get ready to slice off your own little (or big) bit of beef heaven and celebrate in style.

Simple Herb and Garlic Roasted Turkey Breast is the perfect way to get delicious roast turkey breast in about one hour without the fuss!

Healthy Christmas Pasta Dishes

We always eat pasta on Christmas Eve & Christmas Day. Here are two of our favorite pasta recipes. I made the bolognese last year and it was a huge hit!

Healthy Bolognese Sauce is a delicious, hearty Christmas dinner. Paleo, Whole30 friendly and loaded with flavor – this hidden veggie bolognese is one you’ll love! We made this last year and everyone loved it!

Healthy Crockpot Tomato Sauce is an easy lighter twist on a classic Italian recipe. The slow cooker does all the work to make a delicious tomato sauce. Serve it with Homemade Ricotta Cavatelli!

Healthy Christmas Sides

Christmas side dishes are what make the meal. We love these Healthy Christmas Side Dishes from green bean casserole to sweet potatoes, salads, and more! We’ve divided up these side dishes by vegetables, potatoes, stuffing, and more.

Holiday Vegetable Side Dishes:

Shaved Brussels Sprout Saladis a delicious healthy dish. Vegan, keto, paleo, and Whole30, these brussels sprouts go great with any meal!

Healthy Mac and Cheese is easy to make and delicious! A low calorie mac and cheese that is creamy, baked and yummy!

Parmesan Brussel Sprouts are the ultimate side dish! These Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Parmesan are so easy to make!

Green Beans Almondine is an easy + delicious side that is perfect with any meal! These green beans are gluten free, grain free, keto, and whole30 friendly.

Healthy Christmas Recipes (7)

Healthy Lemon Parmesan Roasted Asparagus recipe is a quick, easy side. Crisp asparagus is tossed with lemon zest, parmesan cheese + olive oil to make the most delicious, low carb, and gluten free dish.

Pumpkin Soup is a delicious, creamy soup that is so rich and filling! Perfect for the holidays.

Not Your Mama’s Green Bean Casserole has no canned cream of mushroom soup! Instead, it’s made with an easy and flavorful sauce made with fresh mushrooms, nonfat Greek Yogurt, and Parmesan cheese with delicious green beans.

Wild Rice Salad with Orange Maple Vinaigrette is made with wild rice, shredded brussels sprouts, pomegranate arils, thinly sliced shallots, kale, toasted pepitas, and fresh thyme. It’s a fantastic holiday side!

Garlic Turmeric Crispy Parsnip Fries are sprinkled with cheese and herbs- an easy parsnip recipe for the whole family and a quick side to any meal.

Potato Side Dishes:

Sheet Pan Crispy Roasted Potatoes are an easy, delicious dish! Paleo + whole30 friendly, these oven roasted potatoes are perfectly cooked + yummy!

Best Healthy Mashed Potatoes Recipe! These low calorie mashed potatoes are delicious, filling and the perfect healthy holiday side dish!

Maple Sweet Potatoes are made with only 6 ingredients- perfect for serving on holidays, as a simple side, or meal prepping.

Healthy Christmas Recipes (8)

Rosemary Spiralized Potatoes are an easy, healthy side that goes with any meal! Baked until perfectly crispy, whole30/paleo friendly and so delicious!

Healthy Potato Soup is total comfort food! Paleo, Whole30 + vegan, this easy creamy potato soup can be made on the stove, in the slow cooker or instant pot.

Sweet Potato Soup Recipe is vegan, Whole30, paleo and SO yummy! Rich and creamy soup with sweet potatoes.

Dairy Free Garlic Mashed Potatoes are a healthy vegan mashed potato recipe packed with flavor. They are a great plant-based holiday side or cozy everyday dinner side.

Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole is the perfect Christmas side dish! It’s only sweetened with applesauce and sweet potatoes and is paleo, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free & sugar free!

Healthy Stuffing Side Dishes

Low Carb Cauliflower Rice & Sausage Stuffing is sure to please your palate and your guests at your holiday table! This excellent side dish is made on the stove-top and is ready in just 30 minutes!

Butternut Squash and Kale Quinoa Stuffing is a fantastic vegetarian and gluten-free stuffing recipe loaded with tons of veggies and flavors.

Other healthy side dishes:

Wild Rice & Butternut Squash makes a great Christmas side dish because it’s colorful and a little unexpected. Since this dish is vegan and gluten-free, everyone can enjoy it!

Homemade Cranberry Sauce is made with just 3 ingredients! The perfect compliment to your holiday feast. Paleo, Whole30 approved, and vegan.

Honey Balsamic Roasted Acorn Squash makes a tasty, colourful dish for any special Christmas dinner. Takes less than 30 minutes to make. Great for holiday meals!

If you’re looking for more side dish ideas- check out this post for Paleo Side Dishes!

Healthy Christmas Leftover Recipes

We always have SO many leftovers on Christmas. If you’ve cooked a turkey – here are some great recipes to use it up:

Leftover Turkey Soup is a simple, healthy soup you can make in your instant pot, slow cooker, or on the stove! A yummy, easy turkey soup everyone will love!

Turkey Noodle Soup is another great option for leftover turkey. It’s so easy to make!

Leftover Turkey Chili is one of the best leftover turkey recipes! Easy to make, healthy, and loaded with flavor – this is a must try! Make it in your crockpot, instant pot, or on the stove.

Easy Turkey Broth is made from the scraps of leftover turkey and water! Make turkey bone broth in the crockpot or instant pot.. either way, it’s so simple and delicious!

Turkey Pot Pie Soup is the best way to use leftover turkey! Easy to make in the instant pot, slow cooker or on the stove-it’s healthy & tasty!

How can I eat healthy for Christmas?

Let’s be real, Christmas is typically not the day for many to ‘eat healthy’ but there are a few ways you can clean up the day if you’re watching what you eat!

Opt for protein where you can (turkey/chicken are lowest in fat, highest in protein), make sure to have veggies on your plate and enjoy everything in moderation! It’s only one day!

What is the healthiest meal you can make? If I were hosting Christmas, I would make something from every category on this page 🙂 An appetizer, a main dish (Turkey or chicken!), a few sides (go for veggies!), and a few desserts!

Check out these Easy Healthy Dinner Ideas!

Healthy Christmas Tips

What is the best food for Christmas party?

Any of the appetizers listed below are great for a Christmas party. We love to make/serve this bolognese because it’s easy, veggie loaded, and quick to make!

What can you prep day before Christmas?

Every recipe is different but for most recipes you can do half of the steps (chopping/prepping) the day before Christmas. You can make all of your desserts ahead of time. Some side dishes can be prepped the day before Christmas.

What should I take to a Christmas potluck?

The best things to bring to a Christmas potluck are things that reheat well or don’t need refrigeration. My favorite thing to bring to a potluck are these Paleo Sweet Potatoes because they reheat very well. These Healthy Apple Crumble Bars are also good to bring because they don’t need to be refrigerated.

Healthy Christmas Recipes (9)

Healthy Christmas Recipes (10)

Healthy Christmas Recipe: Gingerbread Loaf

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Healthy Gingerbread Loaf is a delicious holiday treat everyone will love. Made with whole wheat flour & simple ingredients – it's full of holiday flavor!

WW Freestyle Points 8

Prep Time : 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time : 45 minutes minutes

Total Time : 55 minutes minutes

Serves : 8 slices

(hover over # to adjust)

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Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare a greased 8×4 loaf pan.

  • In a bowl, mix molasses, maple syrup, applesauce, egg, almond milk + coconut oil until smooth.

  • Add in whole wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda and spices. Mix until combined.

  • Pour batter into greased 8×4 loaf pan. Bake for 40 -45 minutes until a toothpick or cake tester comes out completely clean when inserted in the center of the bread.

  • Allow the bread to cool for 30 minutes before removing from the pan. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator to maintain freshness.

Video

Notes

Substitutions for this healthy gingerbread recipe:

  • Oil: Olive oil or avocado oil can be replaced for the coconut oil.
  • Gluten Free / Flour: I also tried this recipe with Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Oat Flour and it came out great
  • Milk:You can use any kind of milk, dairy or non dairy in this recipe
  • Sweetener: You can substitute honey for maple syrup
  • Glaze:I prefer my gingerbread without a glaze, but you could add one to this! If you want to make a glaze, I recommend the following: 1/4 cup powdered sugar, 1/4 coconut milk powder, 1/4 cup almond milk
  • Muffins: I haven’t tried turning this bread into muffins, but we do have aHealthy Gingerbread Muffins recipe on our site.
  • WW Freestyle Note:Points calculated using blackstrap molasses

Nutrition Facts

Nutrition Facts

Healthy Christmas Recipe: Gingerbread Loaf

Amount Per Serving (1 slice)

Calories 245Calories from Fat 72

% Daily Value*

Fat 8g12%

Saturated Fat 6g38%

Cholesterol 20mg7%

Sodium 172mg7%

Potassium 366mg10%

Carbohydrates 41g14%

Fiber 4g17%

Sugar 17g19%

Protein 5g10%

Vitamin A 39IU1%

Vitamin C 1mg1%

Calcium 91mg9%

Iron 2mg11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet. This is an estimate and can vary pending your ingredients

Tried this recipe?Share it! Make sure to tag @thecleaneatingcouple or use #thecleaneatingcouple!

Healthy Christmas Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the best food to eat on Christmas Day? ›

Traditional American Christmas dinner food
  • Turkey. A turkey is an inexpensive main meal that will feed a lot of people. ...
  • Stuffing. Stuffing (sometimes called dressing) is another common Christmas dinner food. ...
  • Mashed potatoes. ...
  • Gravy. ...
  • Cranberry sauce. ...
  • Christmas ham. ...
  • Beef tenderloin. ...
  • Rack of lamb.
Dec 10, 2021

Is Christmas dinner healthy? ›

A traditional Christmas dinner isn't the worst choice when it comes to your health. Turkey is a lean meat (as long as you avoid basting it in too much butter) and plenty of vegetables with your meal is good.

What to eat after Christmas lunch? ›

Christmas leftovers recipes
  • Next level turkey & ham pie. A star rating of 4.4 out of 5. ...
  • Festive stuffed chicken. ...
  • Best ever Christmas leftovers sandwich. ...
  • Brussels sprout slaw. ...
  • Croissant mincemeat sandwich. ...
  • App onlySalt & pepper roast potatoes. ...
  • Baked camembert pasta alfredo. ...
  • Ham & leek pie with mustard pastry.

What are 3 traditional Christmas foods? ›

These are the top-rated main dish and side dish recipes you need for a perfect traditional Christmas dinner. They cover the savory side of Christmas dinner, from prime rib, baked ham, and roast turkey to scalloped potatoes, green bean casserole, and cranberry sauce.

What is the most eaten meat on Christmas? ›

Top 5 Traditional Meats For Christmas Dinner
  1. Turkey. Let's admit it, a whole turkey is the best and most traditional meat for Christmas dinners. ...
  2. Beef. Beef often comes to mind when choosing Christmas meats and for good reason. ...
  3. Ham and Gammon. What's Christmas without a joint of ham? ...
  4. Pork. ...
  5. Lamb.

What is the saddest Christmas dinner? ›

The Saddest Xmas Dinner Ever / Ingredients:
  1. Turkey flavoured insole.
  2. Ball of grey.
  3. The most measly looking pig in blanket I've ever. seen.
  4. half a carrot (length ways).
  5. Miniature parsnip.
  6. The saddest roasties known to man.
Dec 15, 2022

What is the healthiest meat for Christmas dinner? ›

Turkey is a healthy, low-fat meat which is high in protein and B vitamins. However, to keep the fat in your Christmas dinner to a minimum, opt for the white breast meat and avoid the skin.

Are you not supposed to eat meat on Christmas Eve? ›

For a long time, Christians were supposed to refrain from eating meat until the midnight mass. It's no longer required by religious authorities to not eat meat on Christmas Eve, but the tradition has continued nonetheless.

What are 5 Christmas foods? ›

Candy Cane can be hung as edible decorations.
  • White Christmas, a sweet slice made of copha and mixed fruit.
  • Cold ham and cold turkey.
  • Seafood and salads.
  • Roast chicken, ham and turkey.
  • Stuffing.
  • Christmas cake or Christmas pudding.
  • Custard.
  • Gingerbread in Christmas shapes.

What to make for dinner the week before Christmas? ›

5 Cozy Week-Before-Christmas Recipes
  • Truffled Taleggio and Mushroom Pizza.
  • Baked Sardines in Pepperonata.
  • Cheesy Baked Spaghetti Squash Boats With Salami, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, and Spinach.
  • Spiced Pork Tenderloin with Cherry-Thyme Pan Sauce.
  • Pumpkin Bread.
Dec 19, 2016

What should I eat the night before Christmas Eve? ›

Try a Drummond-inspired menu with Ree's gorgeous prime rib as the main course, or opt for a slow cooker brisket or a big Christmas ham. Then, you can pair it up with one of the many delicious Christmas side dishes, like Brussels sprouts casserole, candied sweet potatoes, skillet dinner rolls, and so much more.

What is a Mexican Christmas dinner? ›

Mexican Christmas food spans enchiladas, pozole, tamales, and plenty of desserts. These are our favorite recipes for flavorful versions of those dishes from Mexican chefs, along with a few festive drinks. Start a tamale making tradition, warm up with pozole this winter, and enjoy enchiladas everyone will love.

What do Italians eat at Christmas? ›

In Southern and Central Italy, baked pasta is a must. In Northern Italy, Lasagne Bolognese and filled pasta like manicotti and ravioli are traditional Christmas fare. Next comes the main event, the meat. Roasted veal, baked chicken, sausages or braised beef are common Natale entrées worth celebrating.

What do Germans eat on Christmas? ›

These delicious holiday recipes represent typical German Christmas food. Treat guests to a traditional German Christmas dinner with classic dishes like roasted goose legs, braised red cabbage. and dumplings, and don't forget the mulled wine and platter of gorgeous, festive cookies.

What do Americans eat on Christmas Day? ›

Roast turkey and ham are popular for Christmas dinner throughout the country, but depending on the region, so are tamales, roast goose with red cabbage, crawfish jambalaya, roast pork or “seven fishes” seafood salad.

What is the traditional meat for Christmas? ›

12 Meats of Christmas
  • Turkey. Perfectly placed as the Christmas centre piece because it goes with just about everything, turkey was brought over to the UK by Native American traders in the 1520s. ...
  • Pigs In Blankets. ...
  • Goose. ...
  • Capon. ...
  • Ham. ...
  • Sausage Meat Stuffing. ...
  • Venison. ...
  • Pheasant.
Dec 5, 2022

What food do Mexicans eat on Christmas? ›

Mexican Christmas food spans enchiladas, pozole, tamales, and plenty of desserts. These are our favorite recipes for flavorful versions of those dishes from Mexican chefs, along with a few festive drinks. Start a tamale making tradition, warm up with pozole this winter, and enjoy enchiladas everyone will love.

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