The holidays are all about gathering around the table for incredible food, and this collection of my healthy Christmas recipes proves you can celebrate the season while feeling your absolute best.
Thoughtfully crafted to be lighter and more nourishing than a traditional heavy Christmas menu, these dishes spotlight vibrant seasonal produce and wholesome, real-food ingredients.
Best of all, you never have to compromise on taste; every single recipe, from cozy morning bakes to show-stopping mains and festive cookies, is bursting with rich, bold, and crave-worthy flavor.
Grab your apron and get ready to host your most delicious, vibrant, and feel-good holiday feast yet!
Cozy Breakfast & Brunch
There is nothing quite like waking up on Christmas morning to the warm, spiced aroma of fresh baking wafting from the kitchen.
Whether you are hosting a lively family brunch or unwrapping gifts in your pajamas, these wholesome morning treats bring all the holiday magic without the sugar crash.
From gingerbread-spiced muffins to decadent cardamom pear pancakes, you will find plenty of cozy ways to start the celebration.
Get ready to spread some holiday cheer with these healthy oat flour cranberry gingerbread muffins! A moist delicious muffin loaded with fresh cranberries and crystallized ginger. No added oil or refined sugar. Just simple wholesome ingredients like oat flour, molasses, butternut squash, and maple syrup.
These gluten-free orange muffins taste like they came straight out of the oven of your favorite bakery. Full of orange flavor, intensified with a sweet orange glaze these moist muffins taste like a burst of morning sunshine. Â
Perfectly spiced buckwheat sweet potato pancakes with warm cardamom pears will set your morning on fire. Gluten-free and vegan! This is possibly the most decadent, and yet uber healthy, way to start your day.
A super easy and healthy pumpkin muffin recipe loaded with good for you spices, like turmeric, clove, and ginger and sweetened with maple syrup. The perfect healthy fall treat!
For the creamiest, dreamiest eggs, look no further. This hybrid of a poached egg and hard-boiled has a soft, custard-like center. This recipe shows you how to make the perfect jammy eggs and how to use this wonderful ingredient.
This skillet sweet potato, brussels sprouts, and spicy veggie sausage hash is a healthy, filling, hearty meal. Perfect for breakfast or lunch. Top with an egg and avocado, and an extra sprinkle of cayenne pepper for a kick!
This Christmas Fruit Salad is a festive holiday side dish or light dessert. Fresh and healthy fruit topped with a dairy-free eggnog sauce. Perfect for a holiday party, an intimate dinner party, or any holiday family gathering.Â
A creamy healthy smoothie that tastes like a gingerbread cookie! No fruit added, so this smoothie is low in sugar and high in protein. Perfect start to your day.
Every great holiday gathering starts with an irresistible spread of nibbles to enjoy around the Christmas tree.
These crowd-pleasing appetizers and homemade condiments range from retro party classics given a fresh makeover to elegant seafood bites that feel truly special.
Set out an epic grazing board alongside a few warm finger foods, and let the festivities begin!
The easiest clams casino recipe using only 5 ingredients and one sheet pan. The perfect elegant appetizer to serve at a party or a quick light meal for a busy weeknight.
Yukon gold CRISPY potatoes smashed thin and oven roasted, dusted with parmesan and drizzled with truffle oil for the most crave-able side dish or party appetizer.
This freshened-up version of a retro classic is sure to be a hit at your next party. The best ever shrimp dip, using fresh shrimp and a few simple wholesome ingredients. This old-school favorite is ready for a comeback!Â
Pan-fried to golden perfection these shrimp cakes are crisp on the outside with tender pieces of tiny shrimp on the inside. Trust me, these shrimp fritters will disappear fast at any party, just don't forget the spicy mayo dipping sauce!
Fresh calamari rings are lightly sauteed in a tomato sauce bursting with flavor from shallot, chilis, capers, and pickled peppers, all topped with an herby crunchy panko topping.
These juicy air fryer turkey meatballs are a family favorite, healthy, quick and easy, and super versatile. Made with lean ground turkey and a touch of parmesan and fresh herbs, they’re packed with flavor yet simple to prepare, making them perfect for busy weeknights or easy meal prep.
A  winter salad fit for a celebration.  This radicchio salad recipe is the perfect balance of crunchy, bitter, red radicchio leaves and a touch of sweetness from pomegranate dates and honey. Â
This festive (gluten-free) Roasted Acorn Squash Salad with warm Buckwheat, Five-Spice Roasted Acorn Squash, Feta Cheese, and Pomegranate Seeds is full of healthy seasonal ingredients and a sweet tangy maple dijon dressing. |Abraskitchen.com
The perfect hearty warm salad, creamy and sweet butternut squash, paired with tender kale, nutty farro, sweet dried cherries, and rich pecans, tossed with the BEST sweet and tangy balsamic vinaigrette.
This winter escarole citrus salad is officially the star salad of the season! Featuring a variety of bright citrus like grapefruit, tangerine, and blood orange, fennel, radish, and creamy avocado. Lightly dressed with a robust and rich extra virgin olive oil Meyer lemon vinaigrette.
When it comes to the main event, you want a dish that feels celebratory and special without keeping you chained to the stove all day.
Whether your family tradition calls for a juicy herb-roasted turkey, an elegant seafood centerpiece, or a vibrant plant-based entree, these healthy mains deliver big holiday flavor.
Grab your favorite platter and get ready for the “oohs” and “aahs” at the dinner table!
Succulent juicy, tender meat beneath golden brown crispy skin, this orange and rosemary oven-roasted turkey breast is the perfect alternative to a whole turkey when preparing a meal for a smaller group. Â
Salmon filet is wrapped in buttery, golden brown, flaky, puff pastry, stuffed with creamy spinach, mixture. As beautiful as it is delicious and will become a go-to recipe any time you have a special occasion to celebrate. Â
Air Fryer filet mignon is the perfect elevated meal for a date night or special occasion, and easy enough to whip up on a busy weeknight. Ready in under 15 minutes!  This delicious filet mignon is topped with homemade compound butter for a tender, meaty flavor bomb.Â
Tuscan Style Steak is a simple masterpiece that anyone can make in less than 30 minutes. Â Straight from the hills of Lucca, Italy, this Tuscan steak recipe is designed to be the star of the show whether you're celebrating a special occasion or indulging in a delightful dinner at home.Â
Whole roasted cauliflower on a bed of creamy goat cheese labneh and drizzled with sage salsa verde that gets into every nook and cranny and infuses the cauliflower with so much flavor! You are going to love this recipe!
Delicata squash perfectly roasted and stuffed with coconut creamed kale and hearty mushrooms. A delicious side dish or main entree, a healthy easy way to eat your veggies!
Next level comfort food, slowly simmered lentils and leeks topped with fragrant rosemary mashed cauliflower. Vegan, gluten-free, and totally delicious!
This French onion meatloaf takes everything you love about classic French onion soup—the caramelized onions, the toasty cheese, the deep savory flavor—and tucks it into the coziest meatloaf you’ve ever made.
When you need a quick and easy recipe to impress, look no further than this Creamy Tarragon Chicken. Tender chicken breast is bathed in a cream sauce made with fragrant tarragon for a little taste of French cooking at home.  Â
A healthy creative and flavorful recipe for baked halibut. Halibut perfectly baked in one pan on a bed of harissa spiced chickpeas and carrots and topped with pickled onions and fresh herbs.
Let’s be honest: the side dishes are often the true stars of the Christmas dinner table!
We have taken all the classic holiday comfort foods—from creamed greens and stuffing to mashed potatoes and roasted Brussels sprouts—and given them a wholesome, flavor-packed upgrade.
These veggie-forward sides are so delicious, your guests might just ask for seconds before touching the main course.
These oven-roasted bacon parmesan brussels sprouts are smashed prior to roasting to optimize the crisp potential while maintaining a super tender creamy center. The perfect holiday Brussels sprout recipe that you will make over and over again!
My mom's treasured stuffing recipe is finally here! A savory stuffing packed with butternut squash, fresh herbs, and so much flavor it is downright delicious? This Butternut Squash Stuffing checks every box and just might be your new favorite holiday side dish.
Look no further friends, I have THE BEST sourdough stuffing recipe for you. Filled with fresh herbs, wild mushrooms, and fennel. Delicious, easy, vegetarian, and can be made in advance.Â
Tender roasted green beans, and earthy mushrooms topped with a vegan creamy onion sauce. A healthier, vegan, take on a traditional green bean casserole.Â
Creamy herbed mashed parsnips and potatoes made quick and easy in the instant pot. The perfect decadent side dish for your holiday table or an easy side dish any night of the week.
Supremely creamy kale and spinach is the ultimate comfort food side dish, with a healthy twist. This recipe is inspired by chef Daniel Boulud's super green "creamed" spinach.
Mouthwatering herb roasted honeynut squash with a miso tahini sauce. Perfect for a quick weeknight meal, or a festive holiday side dish. Gluten-free, vegan, paleo.
This spiced apple chutney has been adapted from an old family recipe. This is a smaller batch and makes about 2 cups or 8 servings, you can easily double or triple the batch.
Between busy shopping trips, tree trimming, and chilly December nights, a steaming pot of soup is the ultimate winter gift to yourself.
This collection features everything from elegant Nordic and New England seafood chowders for Christmas Eve to hearty stews that transform leftover holiday turkey into a brand-new meal.
Ladle up a bowl, grab a cozy blanket, and warm up from the inside out.
Hearty creamy potato soup with bacon and green chilis. The perfect bowl of soup to serve for a holiday open house. Comforting, and supremely delicious with a hint of earthy spice from the green chilis. This potato soup will quickly become a family favorite for holidays, parties, and just cozy Friday nights next to a fire.
Creamy, rich and comforting, this nourishing maple curry butternut squash soup will be your new favorite go-to fall and winter soup recipe! It requires only six simple wholesome ingredients, perfect for the holidays or just a simple healthy weekday dinner.
Fiskisupa (aka Icelandic Fish Soup) is a rich, creamy soup with tender pieces of perfectly cooked fish, leeks, and potatoes. Inspired by my travels to Iceland.
A rich and creamy wild salmon chowder with fresh dill. Tender flakes of salmon swimming in a creamy rich broth, with potatoes, lots of fresh dill, and savory veggies. This hearty, healthy, and superbly delicious chowder is the ultimate comfort food.Â
Curl up with a bowl of ground lamb and butternut squash stew, a hearty one-pot dish packed with warming shawarma spices, protein-rich lamb, and an abundance of nourishing veggies
This cozy bowl of goodness is the ultimate winter comfort food—packed with tender meatballs, vibrant veggies, and a rich, flavorful broth. Plus, it’s completely gluten-free.
Silky-smooth and full or warming goodness, this Instant Pot Kabocha Squash Soup is the perfect meal for the crisp days ahead. Apple, onion, rosemary and squash come together in a soup that is done in under thirty minutes and BONUS, full of plant-powered nutrition!
No holiday season is complete without a festive platter of cookies for Santa, neighborhood cookie swaps, and cozy afternoon nibbling by the tree.
These healthier holiday bakes—from cherished family heirlooms to warmly spiced molasses and cut-out sugar cookies—use wholesome flours and mindful ingredients without sacrificing that classic bakery-style texture.
Cue the Christmas music and preheat the oven, because these treats prove you can enjoy every sweet holiday tradition while feeling your best!
The BEST almond flour sugar cookies, soft and chewy inside, crispy on the outside. These are cut-out cookies that will hold any shape! Â Gluten Free, Grain Free, Healthy Holiday Cookies!
Soft and chewy almond flour ginger orange molasses cookies. These festive holiday cookies have the perfect bite of ginger with bright sweet orange. They are grain-free and gluten-free and made with simple wholesome ingredients.Â
These gluten free almond flour molasses cookies bake up with big crinkles, crisp edges, and a buttery, plush center—just like a classic bakery-style molasses cookie. Soft, deeply spiced, and addictively chewy, they deliver the rich texture and flavor most gluten free molasses cookies miss.
Chewy, cake-like, and addictively delicious, these almond flour pumpkin chocolate chip cookies are gluten-free, low in sugar, and full of wholesome ingredients.Â
Gluten-Free Almond Flour Cardamom Coffee Biscotti marries the bold flavors of chocolate and coffee with warm and slightly spicy notes of cardamom. This simple biscotti recipe uses almond flour for a grain-free, gluten-free version of the traditional biscotti recipe. Crunchy, sweet, and perfect for dunking into a hot cup of coffee.
This almond flour biscotti recipe is a gluten-free take on the classic traditional Italian cookie and a perfect companion to your morning coffee or cup of tea.
Create gorgeous Hungarian Kiffles using this recipe that has been passed down for generations, a family classic. Hungarian Kiffle cookies are a delicate cookie made with a cream cheese pastry dough and filled with apricot jam, lekvar (prune filling), or homemade nut or poppy filling.
Every memorable Christmas feast deserves a show-stopping finale, and these wholesome holiday desserts deliver pure decadence without the heavy post-meal slump.
From warm, bubbling fruit crisps and spiced maple cakes to molten chocolate lava cakes and chocolate-drizzled roasted pears, each treat is crafted with nourishing, gluten-free ingredients.
They are effortless enough for a cozy winter night in yet elegant enough to impress everyone gathered around your holiday table!
Looking for a delicious pumpkin pie without the hassle of making a crust? This is it! Crustless pumpkin pie is a revelation, easy enough for non-bakers, perfect for gluten-free guests, and so insanely delicious no one will miss the crust.
Creamy pumpkin mousse layered with spicy gingerbread cookies and whipped coconut cream. No-bake pumpkin pie in a jar. Refined sugar-free, vegan, gluten-free, and paleo and so delicious you will want to make a triple batch and then keep it all for yourself!
Ooey gooey sweet goodness, this apple pear crisp is insanely delicious, so easy to make, and the perfect introduction to fall. Gluten Free. Healthy. Yummy.
Earl Grey Roasted Pears with Warm Chocolate Sauce and a coconut cream drizzle is an insanely delicious, quick and easy, healthy dessert. Perfect for the holidays. Paleo, gluten-free, and vegan.
An Almond Flour Sweet Potato Cake that is richly flavored with maple syrup and nutty brown butter with hints of ginger and bright orange layered between thick maple cream cheese frosting. Gluten-free and refined sugar-free
Rich and creamy chocolate avocado pudding, 4 simple wholesome ingredients and 2 minutes to make! You won’t believe how easy and decadent this healthy recipe is, kid-friendly and adult approved.
Nothing says holiday like gingerbread spiced truffles! These are easy to make and ideal for gifting or sharing. Made with chocolate, cashews, dates, and spices.Â
Try this Pumpkin Date Bark with Dark Chocolate for a sweet treat made with real food ingredients and a seasonal twist. A fun take on the viral "date bark" sensation, giving you all the cozy fall vibes in every bite!
Raise a glass to the season with a lineup of merry cocktails, sparkling mocktails, and velvety warm drinks!
Whether you are clinking glasses of spiced apple cider sparklers at a party or curling up by the fire with a mug of adaptogenic hot chocolate, these functional, festive beverages bring cheer in every sip.
Best of all, they are crafted with nourishing ingredients that help you feel your best all winter long.
Curl up with a warm mug of this perfectly sweet and spicy mulled cranberry apple cider. One sip and you will see why this should be the official beverage of the season.
A rich and creamy homemade vegan hot chocolate recipe. Dark chocolate paired with citrus notes of earl grey tea and a sprinkle of an herbal adaptogen powder for that extra ooey-gooey feeling. You HAVE to try this recipe!
A refreshing mocktail or cocktail, perfect for the holiday, with only 3 simple ingredients! Added bonus, one special ingredient is a supportie immune tonic!
This easy recipe for Vegan Turmeric Eggnog reinvents a holiday classic with functional healthy ingredients and a special anti-inflammatory spice twist.
Ring in the holidays with a refreshing and delicious low alcohol cocktail. A twist on a traditional Americana Cocktail using kombucha for a little extra gut health love. The perfect light, tasty, fresh cocktail for a holiday party!
Abra is a licensed nutritionist, seasoned home cook, and forever flavor-chaser. She’s spent more than two decades exploring the connection between food and health—and just as long obsessing over what makes something truly delicious. Abra’s Kitchen is where those two loves meet, with recipes that celebrate vegetables, follow the seasons, and make you excited to cook.
Affiliate Disclosure: Abra’s Kitchen (Nutritious America LLC) is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
