Fuel your body with healthy and nourishing recipes that will leave you feeling your absolute best! From smoothies to salads, snacks and even dessert, these easy, vibrant, gluten free clean eating recipes are absolutely delicious.
It’s always fun to see traffic shifting from comfort food recipes to fresh and light ones as we inch closer to warmer weather. You can honestly set your watch to it.
That said, if you’re looking for clean, healthy recipes then you’ve come to the right place!
Now, what does “clean eating” mean? There’s no official definition but essentially it’s a focus on eating whole foods that are minimally or unprocessed. Free from gluten, low to no refined sugar, and many free from dairy.
That said, the 40+ recipes below are all of that and more. Fresh, healthy, colorful, satisfying, and veggie-forward. Eating clean is fun and easy when the recipes look and taste like these!
From salads to stir fries, snacks, smoothies, and sheet pan meals, fill your menu with these healthy and nourishing recipes.
Jennifer Aniston Salad
The Jennifer Aniston Salad is fresh, crunchy, and packed with plant-based protein. Enjoy this light, gluten free salad as a healthy lunch or dinner.
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Thai Quinoa Salad with Peanut Dressing
Thai Quinoa Salad with Peanut Dressing is packed with plant based protein. You will love every drop of this healthy, filling, flavorful dish!
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Thai Peanut Chicken Sweet Potato Noodles
Thai Peanut Chicken Sweet Potato Noodles are a healthy, gluten free twist on your favorite Thai takeout order. Easy, colorful, and delicious!
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Best Ever Green Smoothie
The Best-Ever Green Smoothie is made from just 4 ingredients, and is gluten, dairy, and banana free. Healthy, easy, and kid-approved!
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Very-Veggie Spaghetti Squash
Very-Veggie Spaghetti Squash is a healthy meal packed with vegetables accented with pops of salty cheese and kalamata olives. Fresh and filling!
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Senegalese Soup
Senegalese Soup is a healthy, meatless soup recipe that's chock-full of sweet potatoes, chickpeas, warming curry, and coconut milk.
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Chicken Shawarma Bowl
Chicken Shawarma Bowl is PACKED with fresh, bold, Mediterranean flavor! This healthy bowl meal is as much fun to look at, as it is to eat.
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Easy Turkey Chili
High protein + low fat Turkey Chili is easy to make and packed with craveable flavor. Make a batch on the weekend to reheat for healthy, easy lunches all week long
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Sweet Potato Toasts
Sweet Potato Toasts are a healthy, gluten free and grain free breakfast recipe that packs a punch of protein, vitamins, and minerals.
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Vegetable Fajita Tostada Bowls
Vegetable Fajita Tostada Bowls are a mix between vegetable fajitas and crunchy tostadas. Fresh, healthy, filling, and ready in 20 minutes!
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Italian Chickpea Salad
Italian Chickpea Salad is a simple vegetarian salad recipe that's full of fresh and healthy ingredients. Perfect for snacks and lunches!
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Chicken Power Bowls with Crispy Baked Garbanzo Beans
Chicken Power Bowls with Crispy Baked Garbanzo Beans are packed with protein to keep you going for hours! Fresh, healthy, and filling.
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Crock Pot Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
Crock Pot Chicken and Wild Rice Soup is a quick and healthy crock pot recipe that’s perfect for busy nights. Add all the ingredients in the crock pot then push on!
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Sheet Pan Mediterranean Shrimp and Vegetables
Sheet Pan Mediterranean Shrimp and Vegetables is a healthy, low carb, EASY meal that cooks in just 15 minutes!
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Chickpea Vegan Curry
Chickpea Vegan Curry is a meatless main that completely satisfies! Gluten free, vegan, and ready in 30 minutes.
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Black Bean Soup
Easy Black Bean Soup recipe is ready in under 30 minutes! This gluten free and vegan soup is healthy, inexpensive, and packed with protein.
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Spring Bliss Bowls with Pesto Rice
Spring Bliss Bowls with Pesto Rice celebrate fresh spring produce in a tasty, filling bowl. Enjoy as a light and satisfying lunch or dinner!
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The Best Grain Free Granola
The Best Grain Free Granola is naturally sweetened with a drizzle of pure maple syrup, and is full of crispy, crunchy, healthy ingredients.
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Pastina Soup Recipe
Pastina Soup, aka Italian Penicillin, will nourish your body and soul. This brothy, comforting soup recipe is packed with good for you ingredients.
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Berry Chicken Quinoa Salad with Strawberry-Balsamic Vinaigrette
Berry Chicken Quinoa Salad is packed with protein, vegetables, and berries then drizzled with a luscious, homemade Strawberry-Balsamic Vinaigrette.
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Earth Bowl Salads
Earth Bowl Salads with Smokey Candied Walnuts and Basil Vinaigrette combines spicy, sweet, and smokey in one sensational salad!
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Kale and Wild Rice Bowls with Honey-Balsamic Vinaigrette
Kale and Wild Rice Bowls with Honey-Balsamic Vinaigrette are hearty but fresh and full of flavor. This healthy salad recipe really satisfies!
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Shrimp and Asparagus Skillet
Shrimp and Asparagus Skillet is a light and flavorful, low carb dinner recipe that cooks in just 15 minutes. Super easy and so delicious!
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High Protein Overnight Oats
High Protein Overnight Oats is a fresh and filling breakfast or snack recipe with nearly 30g of protein. No protein powder required!
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Chickpea Chicken Salad
Chickpea Chicken Salad will trick your tastebuds in the very best way. This easy chickpea recipe is a filling plant-based, protein-packed lunch option that can be made in minutes.
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Easy Homemade Burrito Bowl
Easy Homemade Burrito Bowl is a simplified version of Chipotle’s Burrito Bowls. Save time and money with this vibrant, fresh, and fabulous recipe!
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Superfood Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
Gluten-free Superfood Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette combines ultra-healthy and flavorful ingredients in a light-yet-filling meal.
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Caramelized Sweet Potato and Kale Fried Wild Rice
Caramelized Sweet Potato and Kale Fried Wild Rice is a healthy and flavorful side dish recipe that's anything but forgettable!
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Roasted Sweet Potato Black Bean Bowls with Chili-Lime Dressing
Roasted Sweet Potato Black Bean Bowls with Chili-Lime Dressing are healthy, plant-based bowls packed with flavor, texture, and staying power!
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Marinated Vegetable Salad
Marinated Vegetable Salad is a healthy, make-ahead salad recipe highlighting crunchy fresh vegetables. Quick, easy, and fresh!
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Baked Oatmeal Cups (GF + Vegan Option)
Baked Oatmeal Cups are nutrient-dense, naturally sweetened, gluten free and easily made vegan, too! The perfect healthy breakfast or snack.
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Wild Rice Harvest Bowls with Fig Balsamic Vinaigrette
Wild Rice Harvest Bowls with Fig Balsamic Vinaigrette are full of healthy, fall-inspired ingredients. As delicious as they are gorgeous!
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Fresh Fruit Salad Recipe for a Crowd
Fresh Fruit Salad Recipe for a Crowd is bursting with sweet and juicy fruits and berries. This big batch recipe is perfect for parties and potlucks.
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CrockPot White Chicken Chili
CrockPot White Chicken Chili is an easy, healthy, and hearty slow cooker chicken chili recipe that’s full of familiar yet craveable flavors.
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Cauliflower Fried Rice
Cauliflower Fried Rice will trick your tastebuds in the best way possible. This 20 minute low-carb recipe tastes like regular fried rice!
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Pasta Fresca
Pasta Fresca is a veggie-packed pasta dish that cooks in less than 15 minutes. This easy dinner recipe is fresh, light, and filling!
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Thai Crunch Salad with Peanut Dressing
Thai Crunch Salad with Peanut Dressing is a light and healthy salad recipe that's packed with craveable flavor and crunch!
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Easy Chicken and Rice Soup
Easy Chicken and Rice Soup is a quick and simple soup recipe that the entire family will love. Nourishing, satisfying comfort food in a bowl!
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Easy Pinto Beans Recipe
This easy pinto beans recipe is the perfect side dish to serve with any Tex-Mex-inspired supper. Thick and creamy, gluten free, low fat, and vegan, too!
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Vegetable Soup
Vegetable Soup is a brothy and nourishing soup that’s full of fresh vegetables and white beans. Try my top tips for adding lots of flavor!
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No-Bake Cranberry Chocolate Almond Energy Bites
No-Bake Cranberry Chocolate Almond Energy Bites are gluten free, energizing snacks that taste like cookie dough! Easy and made in 1 bowl.
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Baked Apple Chips
Baked Apple Chips are a healthy snack recipe that will satisfy your craving for something sweet and crunchy. Slice, bake, and eat!
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Thank you so much for some new tasty ways to eat healthy. So needed some fresh ideas. All the recipes are worth trying.
I’m so glad they look appealing, Deborah! Thank you so much for your feedback!
The nutritional breakdown and serving suggestions included in these recipes are so helpful. They make it easy to plan balanced meals and ensure I’m getting the nutrients I need.
this is the awesome list of healthy food recipes in one places. it’s great articles.
Wowwee, Kristen – great post! Just in time. After a New Year’s Day roadtrip home that involved way too many mint M&Ms (Santa left them in my stocking) and a load of other junk food, I and my gut had had it. Now I’ve been a week on a modified Whole30 plan – no sugar, dairy, gluten, alcohol, corn, limited legumes. I feel so much better, and did almost immediately. I won’t eat like this forever (I too, am a cheese-asaurus), but it has been a good way to jump start health & weight loss & energy in the New Year. Thank you for all the great recipe ideas & beautiful photography.
Thank you for posting so many great recipes. I made the Chicken Tortilla Soup tonight and my family loved it. There have been very few recipes lately that both of my children like and this was one of them. Thank you!
thank you for all of these, great resource! Love the sweet potato toasts, since I love each of these ingredients, even by themselves!
Thanks for this! I see a few of my favourite IGE recipes here, and more that I have been wanting to try but haven’t got around to yet. The crunchy Thai salad is our newest favourite!
What a perfectly timed post. I’ve been teaching for the chocolate everything way too much this week. Ugh! If I could eat all of these this week I would! But as a single lady I’ll have to settle for just choosing two right now. :)
As always I appreciate that you share recipes that are healthy but that I actually want to eat. Thanks so much!
I meant reaching for chocolate although I am a teacher. :)
haha! Love it.
Oh, wow! You posted 5 of my favorite recipes….Thai peanut chicken and sweet potato noodles, Italian chickpea salad, Southwestern chop salad, Burrito bowls and the Wild Rice Harvest Bowls. Making out next weeks menu. Will include some of these again! I love my spiralizer!!!
Please, please, please, stop using the phrase “clean eating”. http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2014/05/08/clean_eating_is_a_bad_label_with_no_real_meaning_for_your_diet_plan.html
Hey BG, the meaning to me, as I mentioned, is eating foods that are minimally or unprocessed, mostly free from added refined sugar, and gluten free (which I eat anyway as I have Celiac Disease.) The recipes I included in this post meet these guidelines and I will keep the post as written.
Well said, Kristin. These recipes look fabulous and I cannot wait to try them! We are having Thai Crunch Salad for dinner tonight.
I hope you love it, Kelly – such a good one! <3
Agreed.
Use of the phrase “clean eating” implies other foods are somehow “dirty” and perpetuates the confusion of what you eat with moral value.
This isn’t about what “clean eating” means to you, it’s about what it means to your readers and being conscious and sensitive to that.
I tried the Thai peanut sweet potato recipe and sweet chili shrimp zucchini zoodles this week after I received a spiralizer for Christmas! Both recipes were delicious!! My Fiancé even liked it and he was super skeptical at first!! Thanks IGE! I have enjoyed every recipe of yours that I have tried. Thanks for this post. My resolution this year is to feel good about myself and like you- not to reach for the sugary foods. This post will help jump start our meals. Stay warm!
Yes!! Love a good spiralizer conversion story. ;) I love your resolution, too – I think we could all work on loving ourselves a little more!
Love this list and have tried many, but hands down my favorite is the kale & wild rice salad…with the warm goat cheese!! Swoooooon?
I’m so with you, Donna – nothing better than warm goat cheese – mmmmm!
Thank you for posting this Kristin! Like you, I always reach for junk when I am tired and stressed. Case in point: last night I ate a row of Oreos for dinner after dealing with my two little boys and painting trim all day (putting my house up for sale in a couple of weeks). Moving forward, I vow to reach for healthy foods too! All of these recipes look fantastic- I can’t wait to try them!
Oh girl – been there, done that!! We can do it!