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The Best Healthy Recipes of 2018

It’s time for one of my favorite yearly traditions, the annual list of YOUR Favorite Recipes of 2018. Come end of December, I love donning my nerd goggles, crunching the numbers, and seeing which recipes you loved most. Of the 153 new recipes I posted this year, these 11 rose to the top.

The list is a little more scattered this year than usual, but if I had to write a term paper on my readers’ faves (fear, not—a brief blog intro is all I’ll subject you to), a common thread I see is easy, healthy dinners. These are my very favorite meals to make, and you can plan on many more from me in 2019. We also have a wholesome, make-ahead breakfast and healthy treat thrown in for good measure. Yum and yum.

I’m already hard at work on 2019 recipes. To make sure you don’t miss the latest and greatest, you can sign up to have new recipes emailed to you here. It’s 100% FREE.


Soothing Bedtime Golden Milk - How to make a warm vegan turmeric latte before bed to help you sleep! Easy recipe that’s anti-inflammatory, fights colds, and offers other health benefits too! #goldenmilk #vegan #turmeric #sleep

11. Soothing Bedtime Golden Milk

“This Bedtime Golden Milk is a warm, cozy hug in a mug! Super easy to make and so delicious. Satisfied my late-night sweet tooth and calmed me for bedtime. This is going to be a staple recipe in my house!” —Kayla

Instant Pot Chicken Tikka Masala – a healthy, easy version of authentic Indian chicken tikka masala, made quick in the pressure cooker. Not too spicy, ultra creamy, filled with flavor, and great leftover too! Recipe includes dairy free option. #instantpot #easy #indian #pressurecooker

10. Instant Pot Chicken Tikka Masala

“OMG this was the best tikka masala I’ve ever made! Almost better than my favorite local Indian restaurant’s!” —Lizzy

a plate of slow cooker beef stroganoff

9. Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

“Thank you once again for delivering the perfect recipe! This satisfied my comfort food craving but was also EASY to make for a crowd of visitors in advance.” —Laurel

An easy, healthy Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta with Parmesan. Frozen stir fry veggies make this recipe extra quick with minimal prep. Ready in 30 minutes and a total crowd pleaser! Simple, lightly spicy, and perfect for date night or easy healthy dinners.

8. Garlic Shrimp Pasta

“This recipe was a hit with my family of picky eaters!” —Rachel

A blue bowl with steel cut oats and fresh berries

7. Overnight Steel Cut Oats

“I found this recipe a couple months ago and, honestly, had never heard of overnight oats. Loving oatmeal, ESPECIALLY steel cut oats, I had to try them! They are DELICIOUS!” —Barb

Golden Instant Pot Chicken and Rice. An easy, healthy dinner with moist chicken, fresh veggies, and creamy golden rice. Flavorful, filling, and great leftover too! The pressure cooker makes this simple recipe fast to make and completely hands-free! {gluten free}

6. Instant Pot Chicken and Rice

“We LOVED this recipe. I’m new to the Instant Pot and somehow I managed to not mess it up. One of my faves!” —Laura

Soft and chewy Paleo Coconut Flour Cookies. Low carb, healthy, and packed with protein! Made with coconut flour, peanut butter, chocolate, and NO refined sugar! Great for when you need a healthy dessert. Gluten free, grain free; includes vegan (no eggs) substitution tips. #lowcarb #paleo #healthy #cookies

5. Coconut Flour Cookies

“These are delicious and super easy and fast to whip up! A+++++” —Shanna

plate of crock pot chicken and rice

4. Crockpot Chicken and Rice

“This is my new favorite meal! Husband loved it, kids loved it, and it took me of all of 10 minutes to throw together.  This recipe is definitely going into the rotation.” —Joanne

Easy Baked Salmon in Foil with Garlic, Lemon, and Herbs. One of the best simple, healthy recipes. Turns out perfectly every time!

3. Baked Salmon in Foil

“This is an awesome recipe! I just loved it. It’s not too sweet or too lemony, the lemon and salmon blend perfectly to create an amazing taste.” —Anthony

The BEST Healthy Shrimp Tacos with Cilantro Lime Sauce and Cabbage Slaw. Juicy, spicy, and so quick and easy! Cook on the stove or grill!

2. Shrimp Tacos

“We made these for dinner tonight and they were beyond amazing!” —Elysia

Easy and healthy Whole30 Vegetarian Power Bowl. Low carb, packed with roasted veggies, with a creamy and delicious Whole30 dressing. Top with a soft boiled egg for a filling, high protein vegetarian meal! Dairy free, gluten free, grain free, and Paleo compliant.

1. Whole30 Vegetarian Power Bowls

“This was so flippin’ delicious!!! So flavorful & nourishing. I’m obsessed…can’t wait to make again & again!” —Hilary


THANK YOU as always for your ongoing support of my blog. These recipes never would have come to life without you here to make and share them. Knowing that they are on your table brings me more joy and gratitude than I will ever be able to express.♥

Don’t forget, you can find hundreds more recipes in the Recipe Index. Be sure to check back tomorrow when I share MY favorite recipes from 2018. These are ones that flew under the radar but that you do not want to miss!


A Look Back—Reader Favorites from Prior Years

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Erin Clarke

Hi, I'm Erin Clarke, and I'm fearlessly dedicated to making healthy food that's affordable, easy-to-make, and best of all DELISH. I'm the author and recipe developer here at wellplated.com and of The Well Plated Cookbook. I adore both sweets and veggies, and I am on a mission to save you time and dishes. WELCOME!

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  1. I eat a lot of veggies, it has helped me lose 82 lbs so far only 45 more to go. You food looks great and I would love to have your recipes. Have you made a cook book?

    1. Ruth, I have on that will be coming out in Spring of 2020! Follow along here for updates (and to hear about how to preorder too!). Thanks so much!

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