Today I am doing things a bit different. Even better perhaps.
We are going to talk about five of my favorite healthy comfort food recipes for the cold winter days that lie ahead of us. It will be sooner rather than later that the bitter cold smacks me right in the face and I have to be ready. I have to. Because in all seriousness, as a mom to a 3, 4, and 5 year old I have no other choice than to always and I mean always be ready. I have to be ready to jump at whatever comes my way and never get stuck in the sand. My youngest literally comes in to our room at 5:45am with a basket full of toys saying, “Mommy, time to get up and play!” She will not back down until I get up and for some reason I don’t even mind because it’s so darn cute. Good thing I’m a morning person. ☕️
Time to talk food. Nutritious and good-tasting food changes as the seasons change. Therefore I thought I needed to make a post to provide you with a list of some good hearty meals that are still good for you when we tend to be less active during the winter months. After all it’s hard to go for a walk after work past 6:00pm when it’s already pitch black. So, I hope you will stick around to check out some of these great recipes I truly enjoy!
#5 Cozy Cast Iron Skillet Chicken
Skillet meals are one of my favorites. I love the versatility of cast iron and being able start your meal on the stovetop and then transfer it to the oven if necessary in the same piece of cookware. Genius!!
This dish is a fun spinoff from chicken parmesan. It combines rotisserie chicken, artichoke hearts and whole peeled tomatoes with foccacia bread and fresh mozzarella cheese to add some substance. It can serve up to six people and would be great served alongside a great Caesar salad. Per serving this Skillet Chicken has 277 Calories, 8 grams of fat, 22 grams of carbohydrates, and 31 grams of protein.
If you have 45 minutes to get dinner on the table then this meal is for you. Cut that time down even more by using frozen artichoke hearts rather than cutting up fresh artichokes.
#4 Cheesy Shrimp and Spaghetti Casserole
Who doesn’t love a good casserole waiting for you to eat up at the end of the day?? Shrimp and pasta have a special thing going and in this recipe I add fresh herbs and salsa to season it up even more. In my mind when it comes to shrimp, the spicier the better.
A secret behind this recipe is that it tastes even better the next day. That’s right! The creamy goodness comes out even more the next day so you’re in luck because two days in a row of this casserole is just the best!
In this casserole, there are 228 Calories per 1 1/4 cups. In those 228 Calories fits 11 grams of fat, 9 grams of carbohydrate, and 25 grams of protein.
#3 Just Fabulous White Adobo Chicken Chili
Now this recipe really caught my eye after making it. That is because it definitely has more of a kick to it than expected, and I love that! The broth is spicy and yet addicting. Just plan to have a nice big ‘ol glass of ice water next to you! You are going to love this! And if you haven’t already, you should probably check out this post to learn how this soup inspired me to start eating beans. Crazy food blogging gig!
Time to take a peek at this soup a little closer. Great Northern beans are packed with fiber and protein and really make this soup what it is. For each 1 1/4 cups serving, there is 550 Calories. The Calories divide out among the macronutrients like this: 7 grams of fat, 69 grams of carbohydrate with 17 grams of those being attributed to fiber (wowza!), and 50 grams of protein. Nearly half of the protein per serving is plant-based protein.
#2 Healthier Homemade Runzas
Welcome to one of my all time favorite foods…the beloved runza. It’s a Nebraska thing. My non-Nebraska native friends always seem to be curious about the famous runza. It’s kinda obvious but they either love ’em or hate ’em. And by hate ’em, I mean they actually like the runza but don’t know what all the hype is about. Well you’re in luck because now you can make this healthier homemade version all in the comfort of your own home and decide for yourself! Is it a new favorite?? Let me know!!
In each runza, there are 253 Calories, 5.5 grams of fat, 41 grams of carbohydrate, and 7 grams of protein. Those numbers look pretty good when compared to the Original Runza Sandwich at the Runza Restaurant. That sandwich has 530 Calories, 20 grams of fat, 67 grams of carbohydrate, and 20 grams of protein. You choose which one you want to eat.
Aside from letting the dough rise, these bad boys take 25 minutes to prep, 35 minutes to cook, and 1 hour to get on your supper/dinner table! Easy weeknight meal? Yes, yes you are.
#1 Best Hamburger Soup with Quinoa
That brings us to my #1 favorite healthy comfort food recipe, this best hamburger soup with quinoa. It’s my number one because it was a staple growing up, then as I graduated college I began making it on my own, and now I continue to make it for my own family during the fall and winter months. It’s just pure bliss. Even when my husband acts like he doesn’t want it, he tastes it and loves it all over again. It is just that good. Oh and there’s more…
In two cups of this hamburger soup, there are just 263 Calories, 11 grams of fat, 26 grams of carbohydrate, and 16 grams of protein. That is something to smile about.
This recipe takes a bit longer to prepare. After all the ingredients have been combined on the stove, it needs to simmer for an hour. Therefore, this recipe is great to make on a Sunday evening because will have extra to either freeze or keep for the week and those busy nights you know you won’t have time to cook supper. Double win!
So now you know…
my five favorite healthy comfort food recipes!
But then again, there are likely to be more coming in the future so make sure you keep in touch.
Megs
