25 Healthy Comfort Food Recipes

By: Emma Vander Woude, Editor, FaveSouthernRecipes.com

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Don't give up on healthy eating habits just yet! Thanks to this list of 25 Healthy Comfort Food Recipes that we've compiled for you, you can have your favorite comfort foods and eat healthy at the same time. That means you can have your cake and eat it too—or, more accurately, you can have your cornbread and eat it too. With these Southern comfort food recipes, you'll get the same great taste of all of your favorite dishes, just slimmed down a bit.

The healing power of some good old comfort food can never be underestimated, which is exactly why you shouldn’t have to stop eating your favorite foods just because you’re trying to eat healthier. With these healthy dinner recipes, side dishes, and desserts, you’ll be treating your body right, but you’ll feel like you’re back home eating Grandma’s old-fashioned cooking—it’s the best of both worlds!

25 Healthy Comfort Food Recipes

Healthy Dinner Recipes
Healthy Side Dishes
Healthy Desserts

Can't get enough Southern comfort food? Check out our free eCookbook, 9 Easy Southern Recipes: The Ultimate Guide to Southern Cooking and Southern Comfort Food.

Healthy Dinner Recipes

If you're looking for an easy weeknight dinner, this is the place to start. These recipes are all variations on classic Southern comfort food dishes and are sure to please. Feed your family right by making them these healthy meals, and they won't even be able to tell that they are any different from their usual favorites.

1. Lazy Day Chicken Pot Pie

2. Louisiana Shrimp Creole

3. Inside-Out Enchilada Rice Skillet

4. Healthier BBQ Chili Cheese Biscuit Casserole

5. One Pot Lemon Thyme Chicken and Rice

6. Summer Sweet Corn Chowder

7. Carolina Caviar

8. Southern Beans and Greens Soup

9. Lighter Egg Salad Sliders

Healthy Side Dishes

What would a classic Southern meal be without a classic Southern side dish to go with it? Cut some calories by making the lightened-up versions of old favorites, such as cornbread, grits, and collard greens. Both your waistline and your taste buds will be glad you did.

10. Easy Mashed Carrots and Turnips

11. Sensational Summer Squash Casserole

12. The Best Creamy Grits

13. Cajun Greens and Cornbread

14. Lighter Banana Bread

15. Lightened Up Cornbread Muffins

16. Mom's Best Collard Greens

17. Easy Banana Bread with Coconut Oil

18. Lightened-Up Banana Blueberry Muffins

19. Gluten-Free Fig Granola

20. Totally Addictive Cornbread

Healthy Desserts

Believe it or not, classic Southern desserts can also be lightened up and made healthy! Don’t believe us? Just try these buttered rum cakes and sweet potato pies, and you won’t ever want to go back to the higher-calorie versions. Get your comfort food fix with these cravings-busting Southern desserts.