THK’s Top 10 Easy, Healthy Recipes of 2015
~ From another whole year of easy, nutritious, scrumptious recipes, we’ve collected our top healthy recipes of 2015 – as chosen by you! ~
As another year comes to a close, it’s time again for two of our favorite things …
Telling YOU, our wonderful readers, how much we appreciate you! (Muchly, much, muchly!)
… and looking back on all of our recipes from this year, to see which of our new “babies” were your favorites!
Just like any proud mamas, it’s practically impossible for us to look at all of our new recipes and pick favorites, so we always just let the numbers do the choosing for us. Based purely on which recipes were most frequently viewed by readers, we’ve calculated our 10 most popular healthy, easy recipes of the year.
Interestingly, our round-ups of Comfort Food Recipes, Easy DIY Gourmet Seasonings, and Easy DIY Gifts for Cooks were all hugely popular and easily made it into the Top 10 this year … but we’re talking strictly recipes today, so here are the Top 10 Recipes of 2015 (drumroll, please) …
1) Crock Pot Chicken Caesar Sandwiches
Gretchen was convinced she could make a quick, easy Chicken Caesar Sandwich recipe that DIDN’T involve a bottle of Caesar salad dressing. And she succeeded! These sandwiches are so simple to make, absolutely delicious … and so much healthier, too! It’s easy to see why they were the runaway favorite recipe we posted in 2015!
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Both of our families agree – this sloppy joe recipe is absolutely the best ever! It’s so much better (and healthier!) than the canned stuff. Plus, it’s really easy for hectic weeknights, and you can even make it ahead!
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3) Healthy Chicken Salad with Grapes, Apples and Tarragon-Yogurt Dressing
We love versatile recipes, and clearly our readers do, too! This chicken salad is completely at home as a picnic salad or brown bag sandwich … but it also dresses right up for a ladies’ tea. We’ve even got great ideas for serving this as an appetizer (hello, schwanky endive spears!). In addition to juicy grapes, crisp apples, and crunchy pecans, it features a you’d-never-guess-it’s-healthy dressing … and a not-to-be-missed secret ingredient!
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4) Christmas Salad with Citrus-Champagne Vinaigrette
It’s rare for a recipe from so late in the year to make it into our Top 10 – those recipes just haven’t had as much time yet to become popular. But our Christmas Salad is truly an exception. Even though we just posted this gorgeous salad recipe two short weeks ago, it vaulted to #4 at lightning speed … and for good reason! Highlighted with juicy oranges, crunchy pistachios, tangy pomegranates, and creamy goat cheese, this is the perfect holiday salad! You can even arrange it in the shape of a festive Christmas wreath! (Hint hint … bookmark this recipe now for next year’s holiday parties!)
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5) Creamy Crock Pot Chicken Stew with Potatoes, Carrots and Tomatoes
This chicken stew has been a regular feature on Shelley’s table for years. From its humble beginnings as a classic beef stew, this recipe gradually evolved into a much healthier (THK-worthy!), but equally delicious chicken version. It’s extra-easy with pantry staples and your slow cooker!
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A long-time favorite with Gretchen’s family, our readers fell head-over-heels in love with this, too! It’s a quick, fun, nutritious option for family pizza night, and also a perfect appetizer for parties!
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7) Easy Crock Pot Chicken Burrito Bowls
We originally published this recipe as part of the cookbook, “Where Slow Food and Whole Food Meet,” featuring easy, healthy recipes from top bloggers. (Psssst … if you haven’t gotten your copy of the cookbook yet, just subscribe to our newsletter and we’ll send you a free download!) These burrito bowls will be your new go-to for a Mexican feast on even the busiest nights! Plus, this slow cooker recipe is perfect for parties, tailgating, potlucks, and make-your-own burrito bars!
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8) 4-Ingredient (No Butter!) Chocolate Fudge with Coconut
This incredibly easy fudge recipe takes just 5 minutes to prep! Bonus: there’s no butter, and this recipe skips the loads of extra sugar and sweetened condensed milk you typically see in traditional fudge recipes! Yet it’s still deeply, richly, darkly chocolatey … you’ll never miss those naughty ingredients at all!
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9) Crock Pot Southwestern Corn Chowder with Chicken and Green Chiles
This slow cooker soup is a yummy, kicky spin on a comfort food classic. Loaded with sweet corn, plus southwestern flair from green chiles, salsa, and black beans – delicious and not too spicy. And so simple – you just mix everything together right in your slow cooker!
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10) Asian Salmon Burgers with Avocado and Hoisin Sauce (Gluten-Free Option, Too!)
These super-fast, heart-healthy burgers are incredibly delicious, and a perfect make-ahead weeknight dinner. Bursting with Asian flavors, they’re topped with hoisin sauce and rich, creamy avocado!
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As hard as it is for us to pick favorites, every year we each choose one more recipe that we kinda think should have been in the Top 10 (teehee – our little way of getting 12 of our babies into a post that’s supposed to feature just 10)!
Gretchen’s Pick: Easy, Cheesy 5-Ingredient Pizza Pasta Bake
This pasta bake is perfect for those crazy-busy weeknights where dinner needs to come together in a flash! It requires no pre-boiling (or even a separate bowl to mix in!) and is ready in no time! Bonus – it’s the perfect dish to share with family, friends, new moms … everyone!
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Shelley’s Pick: Baked Hummus Dip with Easy Tabouli Topping
This gorgeous dip combines two of Shelley’s Mediterranean favorites – a warm, creamy hummus layer is topped with a fresh, cool tabouli. It’s such a quick and simple appetizer to whip up for parties, and it wins raves every time!
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Happy, happy New Year, THK friends! We’ve had such fun sharing easy, healthy, delicious inspiration with you this year … and are so thankful that you’re here with us, every step of the way!
Update: More Top Healthy Recipes
As the years go by, we’ll pop back to update this post, since we thought you might like to be able to check out some of our other most popular recipes from various years. Lots and lots of easy, healthy recipes you’ve just gotta try next! Enjoy!
- Top Easy, Healthy Recipes of 2023
- Top Easy, Healthy Recipes of 2022
- Top Easy, Healthy Recipes of 2021
- Top Easy, Healthy Recipes of 2020
- Top Easy, Healthy Recipes of 2019
- Top Easy, Healthy Recipes of 2018
- Top Easy, Healthy Recipes of 2017
- Top Easy, Healthy Recipes of 2016
- Top Easy, Healthy Recipes of 2014
- Top Easy, Healthy Recipes of 2013
Ooh that Christmas salad is calling my name!
Yup – I can hear it calling … “Christina … Christina … make me for your holiday celebration next year!” 😀 Seriously though – it truly is delicious, and even we were amazed at how fast it skyrocketed in popularity in such a short time! I guess you’re not alone in hearing it calling to you! Thanks bunches for stopping by! ~Shelley
Totally great roundup!
Thanks so much, Fabiola! It was such a fun year – it’s definitely a hoot to take a moment and celebrate the highlights! ~Shelley
These all sound so great, I think the “Gretchen’s Pick: Easy, Cheesy 5-Ingredient Pizza Pasta Bake” is my favorite though! I love that it’s only 5 ingredients so it’s perfect for my busy schedule!
Oh Megan, if you have super-busy nights like we do, that’s definitely a great recipe for you! Ridiculously easy, and always a hit! We try to make sure all our recipes here at THK are easy, or at least have make-ahead tips and tricks … but some of them are just so stinkin’ easy that they are like the very easiest of easy, and that Pasta Bake is definitely one of those! Can’t wait for you to try it! 😀 ~Shelley
OMG…. THK is going to get me fat! Lol your pictures are fabulous. Can’t wait to try all of your healthy easy recipes. T
Hahaha, Terry! Just the opposite! We’re totally here to help you get HEALTHY, not FAT! 😀 But that’s really sweet of you – thank you so much for the wonderful compliment on our photos! Gretchen has always done a really great job with our photography! I know I’ve said it before, but we’re delighted you found us, and so happy to have you along on our adventure! Welcome, welcome! ~Shelley
And yes, I love all of the Top 10 Easy Recipes of 2015!!
But I also very much enjoyed the Easy Honey-Glazed Salmon and the Stovetop Vegetarian Chili with Red Peppers, Corn and Black Beans!!
Great job THK!!
Mmmmmmmm … those are some good picks for top recipes, too! We all love that Honey-Glazed Salmon, and the Vegetarian Chili was a hit from the very first time I made it! It’s so much fun to hear from you and find out what some of your faves of the year were! Thanks so much for sharing! 😀 ~Shelley