A collection of the most popular recipes on Healthy Delicious in 2019.
2020. After talking about it for so long, it’s finally here! Which seems pretty unbelievable. I’m honestly not sure where the last few months went… wasn’t it September just a few weeks ago?
I have so many exciting new projects in store for this coming year, and I can’t wait to share more about them. But before we dive in, I always like to take a few minutes to reflect on the past year.
After a few not so great years (I’m looking at you 2016-2018), 2019 was actually really good to me! There were some really low lows and a few major life events that really threw us for a loop, but overall the good definitely outweighed the bad.
The biggest thing that happened in 2019 was that my first cookbook was published! I still have to pinch myself when I think about it, but it’s true. The Healthy Eating One-Pot Cookbook is available on Amazon and at bookstores like Barnes and Noble. It’s filled with some really great recipes that make it so easy to cook healthy weeknight dinners without spending a ton of time or energy in the kitchen.
Speaking of not spending a ton of time and energy in the kitchen, this year I really tried to get out of my kitchen and enjoy life more. I took up hiking, remodeled my kitchen, and went on an AMAZING trip to Italy that literally might have been one of the best weeks of my life. (That trip also ruined me. I haven’t tasted food or wine so good, seen sites quite as beautiful or felt so relaxed and unplugged since I’ve been back home. Italy might be heaven on earth. I can’t wait to go back!)
Because I’ve been spending more time offline, and because I’ve also been doing a ton of freelance work that doesn’t get published here, I only shared 44 new posts on Healthy Delicious in 2019. I knew I hadn’t been sharing as much here, but seeing that number just now was a little bit of a punch in the gut. In years past I’ve shared well over 100 recipes! Granted, there are 100 recipes in my cookbook so it’s not like I haven’t been cooking but still. In 2020 I want to return some focus and attention to this blog and try to rebuild the community that we used to have here.
Still, I shared some pretty awesome healthy recipes here. Below are 10 of my personal favorites. A lot of them are low carb, but others feature pasta or whole grains. Almost all of them are perfect for busy weeknights. And they all taste great.
Did your favorite recipe make the list? If not, leave a comment below and let me know which one it was! You can also find my most popular recipes from 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, and 2010. (OMG that’s an entire DECADE of healthy recipes!)
Best Recipes of 2019
I actually came up with these cranberry oatmeal bars in 2018 when I was writing my book, but I didn’t share them here until 2019. They’re so good, and I’ve made them a few times. The cranberry version is still my favorite, but they’re also great with raspberry or strawberry-rhubarb jam, so you can enjoy them any time of year. I love that they’re healthy enough for breakfast, but tasty enough to pass as dessert.
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This vegetarian chili mac was so good. I swapped out meat for a mixture of beans and corn and ramped up the spiced with fresh jalapeno peppers. I made it in m Instant Pot, so it was super fast and easy!
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This millet salad actually came from a cookbook that I reviewed, but it’s one of the best things I ate this year so I needed to share it one this list. If you’ve never tried millet you really should – it’s a whole grain and super healthy, but reminds me a lot of couscous. It’s fantastic in this salad, which is made in an Instant Pot.
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Cubano Stuffed Pork Loin was THE recipe of the summer. I went crazy for it and a to of other people did, too! It takes all the flavors of a Cubano sandwich – pork, cheese, pickles, and mustard – and incorporated them into a low carb recipe that’s perfect for summer entertaining. I can’t wait until grilling season so I can make this again!
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This dairy-free horchata recipe was also really popular this year. If you’ve ever enjoyed horchata at a Mexican restaurant, you’ll love how easy it is to make at home. In true Healthy Delicious style, my version is naturally sweetened and dairy-free.
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Sometimes we go to Starbucks after the gym on Saturday mornings, and I fell in love with their sous vide egg bites. Obviously I had to learn how to make them at home! There are a ton of recipes out there that use an Instant Pot for these, but my recipe is baked – and they’re delicious.
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I’m pretty obsessed with this recipe for sausage and zucchini in pink sauce. Instead of using zucchini noodles, I cut the squash into big chunks and cook it under the broiler so it gets nice and charred. And the sauce itself is one of my favorite things ever. If you haven’t tried this low carb recipe yet, you should!
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I created this Cajun turkey casserole as a way to use leftover Thanksgiving turkey, but it’s so good that I keep making it with chicken, too! This recipe is made with cauliflower rice and not too much cheese, so it’s much lighter than traditional casseroles.
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This cozy soup is one of my go-to weeknight recipes. miso, lemongrass, and turmeric give it tons of flavor!
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I was all about buttermilk-brined chicken this year! It takes a little bit of planning ahead, but the chicken comes out SO juicy and flavorful. Here, I brought chicken tenders, then breaded and them baked them until they were super crispy. Dunk them in creamy honey mustard sauce – so good!
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