Healthy winter recipes

As we approach the colder winter months, we might find ourselves looking for more comforting dishes, like pies, roasts, stews and bakes to nourish us during the shorter days. Try our favourite healthy winter meals below, then discover our quick healthy recipes, healthy lunches and plant-based recipes.

For more recipe inspiration, check out our keto, high-protein and gut-friendly recipe collections.

Best healthy and comforting winter recipes

Healthy one-pan chicken and rice

A chicken dish with a difference – chicken is marinated in soy, hoisin, honey and garlic before being cooked with brown rice.

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Chicken stroganoff

This healthy spin on chicken stroganoff is high in protein, low in salt and fat, making it a brilliant option for a warming and nutritious midweek dinner.

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Mediterranean chicken traybake

So good we put it on our cover – this simple chicken traybake sprinkled with olives, feta and oregano is packed with protein and made all the more nutritious with fresh veg.

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Healthy gnocchi

Golden baked gnocchi, hazelnut pesto and vibrant veg such as butternut squash and kale come together in this hearty vegetarian dinner recipe.

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Balsamic lentils with pork fillet

Balsamic brings tartness to our vibrant pork dish. This well-balanced meal is high in protein but low in calories and salt.

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Healthy salmon pasta

Make this healthy salmon pasta by Nadine Brown if you’re looking for a comforting, creamy seafood dinner that’s also high in protein.

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An absolute classic made even more wonderful with the addition of dried chilli flakes and rosemary. It’s a real crowd-pleaser.

Fry shredded chicken in miso and gochujang, then add to this nutritious broth for a healthy, gut-friendly meal.

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Healthy slow cooker chicken curry

Packed with aromatic spices like cumin, coriander and mild chilli, this slow cooker curry packs a punch in the flavour department and is gluten-free, too.

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Healthy pizza

This healthy caponata pizza makes for an ideal family meal – it’s loaded up with veg and full of the good stuff.

Brazilian-style fish stew

Moqueca Baiana, a traditional Brazilian fish stew, is typically made with rich, red dendê palm oil. Here, we have gone with the lighter Moqueca Capixaba, which is just as delicious but uses extra-virgin olive oil instead.

Chilli con carne cottage pie

Make cottage pie so much more exciting with paprika, chilli and cumin. This low-calorie, high-fibre midweek dinner is topped with mashed sweet potatoes.

Healthy sausage traybake

Charred corn on the cob, succulent sausages, smoked paprika spice rub, roasted tatties and nutty chickpeas make for a deliciously colourful traybake.

Healthy fish pie

Make your next fish pie more nutritious and colourful with cooked beetroot wedges and fresh herbs. Packed with haddock, salmon, prawns and butter beans, it’s a high-protein option, too.

Lasagne and white bean soup

This hearty soup combines the flavours of lasagne (tomatoes, pasta, fresh herbs and parmesan), with cannellini beans and plenty of curly kale for texture.

Healthy meatballs

Flavour homemade lamb meatballs with dried apricots and fresh mint, then serve with herb-flecked bulgur wheat for a healthy midweek dinner.

Cauliflower fried rice with crispy baked tofu

Serve golden tofu with cauliflower fried rice and plenty of sweet chilli sauce for a low-calorie, veg-heavy, meat-free midweek dinner.

Tracey Raye is the health editor for olive and BBC Good Food. Tracey, MSc, is a registered nutritionist, holding a master’s degree in personalised nutrition. She is passionate about harnessing the power of all things health and well-being in a way that enhances, rather than limits, our lives. She covers our nourishing recipes and collections, oversees our health strategy and stays adrift of the latest health and lifestyle trends in order to bring you the tools and inspiration you need to find what health means for you.