These Healthy Sweet Potato Cookies are soft and fluffy! They’re naturally sweetened, made with real food ingredients and absolutely delicious.

*Originally posted 3/2016. Updated 10/2025*

Hi friends!

These Healthy Sweet Potato Cookies have now been a go-to of mine since 2016. I love them for a quick snack and they came in super handy during the newborn phase when I often needed to eat quickly and with one hand.

They’re very forgiving, and you can easily change up the mix-ins to make them more kid-friendly or to suit your tastebuds.

I find myself making these cookies year round, but they’re especially perfect for a Fall snack or dessert. If you’re looking to do some additional Fall baking or whip up a treat over Thanksgiving, here are some ideas:

• Baked Pumpkin Donuts
• Easy Pumpkin Bread
• Gluten-Free Pumpkin Bean Bread
• Gluten-Free Sweet Potato Brownies
• Cranberry Sweet Potato Muffins
• 20+ Baked Sweet Potato Recipes

Why You’ll Love These Sweet Potato Cookies

These would make a great sweet potato breakfast cookie. They’re low in added sugar and high in protein and fiber—a great way to start your day. They’d also be great for a snack, and if you throw in some chocolate chips, they could even pass as dessert to curb a sweet tooth.

Eating these for breakfast works out well for me because I can eat them quickly while I’m trying to feed three kids. Plus, I can make a batch on Sunday and eat them all week! Food prep for the win.

Ingredients for Sweet Potato Cookies

To make these cookies, you’ll just need a few simple ingredients:

• Sweet potato – I cook mine in the microwave for 5-6 minutes and let cool a few minutes before scooping out of the skin and mashing with a fork
• Nut or seed butter – I use peanut butter but you could use almond butter or sunflower seed butter to make them nut-free
• Eggs
• Cinnamon and vanilla -for flavor
• Maple Syrup – You could sub sugar if you prefer
• Seeds – Chia or hemp seeds work great in this recipe
• Pepitas – An easy way to add a boost of nutrients
• Dried fruit – works well with raisins or Craisins, or you can swap in chocolate chips
• Flour- To make these gluten-free, use oat flour or a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend. You can also use AP or white whole wheat flour

How To Make Sweet Potato Cookies (Step-by-Step)

Once you see how easy it is to make these cookies, you’ll be adding them to your weekly meal prep in no time!

• Cook your sweet potato in the microwave, remove the skin and mash.
• Combine the mashed sweet potato, nut butter and eggs and stir until well combined.
• Add the vanilla, cinnamon, maple syrup, seeds and pepitas and mix well.
• Stir in the flour and baking soda until just mixed, then scoop onto cookie sheets and bake!

Make-Ahead and Meal Prep

Storage and Freezing Instructions

Store these cookies in an airtight container on the counter for 3-4 days. You can also freeze the cookies once cooled on a cookie tray, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag and pull them out as needed to defrost.

In addition, you can make this dough ahead of time and store in the fridge until ready to bake, or scoop into balls and freeze until ready to bake.

How To Sweeten Sweet Potato Cookies

I love this recipe because it’s very lightly sweetened compared to most cookies and uses maple syrup. If you don’t want to use maple syrup, you could swap regular sugar, brown sugar, coconut sugar or even honey.

Sweet Potato Cookie Baking Tips

My best tip for getting the perfect sweet potato cookies is to not over mix. Mix everything really well before you add the flour so you only need to stir enough to just combine it at the end.

And don’t overbake these cookies! If you want them to spread a little more you can lightly flatten with a fork before baking but these cookies are meant to be light and fluffy!

Sweet Potato Oatmeal Cookies

If you’d like an added boost of fiber, feel free to add some rolled oats into the mix! You could start with 1/2 cup and increase if you like the added texture they provide.

Gluten-Free Sweet Potato Cookies

If you make this recipe as written, the cookies will be naturally gluten-free as long as you’re using certified gluten-free oats. Be sure to also check your Craisins to make sure they’re gluten-free as they sometimes have additional ingredients to sweeten them

You can also use a 1:1 Gluten-free flour blend. I like King Arthur Measure for Measure.

Vegan Sweet Potato Cookies

To make these cookies vegan, swap the eggs for flax eggs. Here’s how to make flax eggs.

Sweet Potato Chocolate Chip Cookies

To make these cookies a little more dessert-like, try swapping the dried fruit for chocolate chips.

Sweet Potato Cookies vs Pumpkin Cookies

In a recipe like this, you can easily swap pumpkin puree for mashed sweet potato and there won’t be much of a difference. In general, both pumpkin and sweet potato cookies will be light and fluffy vs dense and chewy. If you’re looking for a chewy pumpkin cookie recipe try these Chewy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Sweet Potato Cookie Flavor Variations

No added sugar sweet potato cookies

To make these cookies free of added sugar, you could try swapping mashed banana or baby food prunes (pureed) to add some sweetness naturally.

Nut-free sweet potato cookies

I use peanut butter but you can make them nut-free with sunflower seed butter. Just know that they will likely turn green when baked due to a reaction with the baking soda. Perfectly safe to eat!

Other mix-ins

For a Fall twist, try adding chopped pecans and a maple glaze. For a more tropical twist, swap raisins for dried pineapple and add some shredded coconut!

Easy Sweet Potato Cookies Recipe

Healthy Sweet Potato Cookies Recipe

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4.7 from 14 reviews

No protein powder required for these Healthy Sweet Potato Cookies! They’re gluten-free, made with real food ingredients and packed with protein and fiber. Enjoy them for breakfast or an afternoon snack!

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Total Time: 15 minutes
• Yield: 8-12 cookies

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup cooked, mashed sweet potato
• 1/2 cup nut butter (i use peanut butter but almond butter or sunflower seed butter would be great)
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 2–3 Tbsp maple syrup (depending on desired level of sweetness)
• 2 Tbsp chia seeds
• 1/2 cup pepitas (shelled pumpkin seeds)
• 1/4 cup Craisins or raisins
• 1/4 cup oat flour (white whole wheat flour also works)
• 1 tsp baking soda

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Instructions

1. Combine sweet potato, peanut butter and eggs in a large bowl and mix well.
2. Add vanilla, cinnamon, maple syrup, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds and Craisins and stir to combine.
3. Add oat flour and baking soda and stir.
4. Scoop onto cookie sheet lined with parchment paper (8-12 cookies).
5. Bake at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

These are fluffy and delicious.  I used white chia seeds, in case you noticed they’re not black in the photos.

Healthy Sweet Potato Cookies FAQs

Can I use canned sweet potato puree instead of fresh homemade in this recipe?

Yes! Canned sweet potato puree will work just fine in this recipe.

Can I replace the sweet potato for pumpkin? Can I make pumpkin cookies instead of sweet potato cookies? Can you use canned pumpkin puree?

Yes! I get this question frequently and you can definitely replace the sweet potato with pumpkin if you’d like to! I almost always have a can of pumpkin in the pantry so I do this often.

Can I freeze sweet potato cookies?

Yes, these cookies freeze well! Just let them cool completely and then wrap in plastic wrap and tranfer to a freezer-safe bag. Let them thaw on the counter when ready to eat!

Could I make these with butternut squash?

Yes, canned squash can also be substituted for the sweet potato. I’ve even tried it with homemade roasted squash that I roast and puree until smooth.

And if you’re not craving sweet potato but have bananas to use, try these Banana Lentil Muffins instead!

Can I make gluten-free sweet potato cookies?

These cookies are gluten-free since they use oat flour (be sure to use certified gluten-free if needed). However, you can also make them with regular wheat flour if you have that on hand and don’t need them to be gluten-free.

How to reheat sweet potato cookies?

These cookies are great at room temperature but you can also pop them in the microwave for 10-15 seconds to warm them back up!

How do I make vegan sweet potato cookies without eggs?

Just replace the two eggs in this recipe with flax eggs.

Can I add oats to make sweet potato oatmeal cookies?

Yes, I would start with 1/2 cup of rolled oats and increase up to 1 cup if you like the texture.

How do I store sweet potato cookies to keep them soft?

Once cooled, store these cookies in an airtight container to help them stay soft and perfectly moist without drying out.

Other Sweet Potato Recipes That Are Delish!

Need more ideas? Try these:

Sweet Potato Waffles

These Sweet Potato Waffles are kid-friendly and perfect for breakfast, pre-workout fuel or an afternoon snack. Add some peanut butter in the middle for a fun waffle sandwich!

Grab the recipe!

Sweet Potato White Bean Bars

These Sweet Potato White Bean Bars are perfect for breakfast or snack time. They’re kid-friendly, nut-free and full of fiber! 

Grab the recipe!

Gluten-Free Sweet Potato Brownies

These Gluten-Free Sweet Potato Brownies are flourless, sweetened with dates and full of chocolate flavor. They taste so good you’ll never believe they’re a healthy dessert!

Grab the recipe!

Sweet Potato Banana Muffins

These gluten-free Sweet Potato Banana Bites have just four main ingredients and make a great snack for both kids and adults! 

Grab the recipe!

20+ Baked Sweet Potato Dessert Recipes

If you’re in the mood to bake with sweet potatoes, you’ll definitely find something that catches your eye in this round-up!

Click for recipe ideas!

35+ Sweet Potato Dinner Recipes

Need sweet potato dinner recipes? Here are 35+ recipes by category including slow cooker, with chicken or beef, vegetarian and more!

Grab the recipe!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

These Quick and Easy Vegetable Recipes are simple, healthy and kid-friendly as well! They’re perfect dinner side dishes and a great way to add some extra veggies to your day. 

*Originally published 8/2017. Updated 7/2025*

These easy vegetable recipes are a great way to add more vegetables to your diet. They’re kid-friendly, affordable and quick to make – a great way to help serve nutritious meals to busy families.

Hi friends!

I originally wrote this post shortly after my second child started eating solid foods. While I did a fairly good job making and serving my oldest a variety of vegetables, it’s a whole different game trying to start feeding a baby with a wild toddler running around.

When I noticed I was falling into the habit of giving her more fruit than veggies, I decided I needed to step up my game. I made an effort to be more proactive about prepping vegetables to have on hand to give her for meals and snacks.

Why You’ll Love These Quick and Easy Vegetable Recipes

• Flexible – these ideas are so easy that you often don’t need specific ingredient quantities
• Kid-friendly – plenty of ways to help introduce different vegetables to kids
• Affordable – vegetables are an inexpensive way to add lots of nutrients to your plate
• Perfect for meal prep – many of them can be made ahead of time and reheated

How To Make Vegetables More Interesting

One of the easiest ways to make vegetables more interesting is to add variety. That can mean changing the preparation method – raw, steamed, roasted, sauteed, etc and can also mean adding different spices and seasoning to change up the flavors. Spices like paprika, cumin, curry powder and oregano are great ways to change up the flavor profile without making foods too spicy for little mouths.

What vegetables are best for picky eaters?

All of them! One of the best things you can do for more selective eaters is to offer a wide variety and offer them repeatedly, even when they’re not getting eaten. Exposure matters and even getting kids to touch, smell or lick things on their plate can be a huge exposure win!

Our Favorite Easy Vegetable Recipes

So, here are 9 quick and easy ways to add veggies to your table. I buy fresh veggies weekly, but my freezer is also packed with frozen veggies and my pantry usually has a few cans of vegetables as well.

Most Americans don’t eat nearly enough vegetables and my motto is “the easier the better” so these simple “recipes” will help add some vegetables to your familys’ plates and hopefully you’ll find some new favorites!

What Vegetables Side Dish Recipes Are Good For Last Minute Dinners?

Most of these are ready in just 20 minutes or so in the oven or on the stove if you need to cook them right before eating. But they can also be made ahead of time and reheated which makes them perfect for dinner in a hurry.

They don’t really require recipes so I’ve just provided a short description/instructions for each one:

Easy Roasted Vegetables – Ginger Soy Green Beans

If you’re not a fan of just plain steamed green beans, try these with fresh green beans! I simply cut the ends off, toss in a little oil and roast at 400 degrees F on a foil-lined baking sheet for about 12 minutes, stirring once.

Then drizzle with a little sweet thai chili sauce, some soy sauce and a bit of fresh ginger (or ginger paste) and mix well.

Mom tip – If you don’t have thai chili sauce, you can use maple syrup or soy sauce.

Vegetables with Butter – Paprika Carrots

I just peel some fresh carrots and thinly slice them, then toss with a little melted butter and sprinkle with paprika and roast on a foil-lined baking sheet at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes or until desired softness is reached, stirring occasionally.

You could also use baby carrots for this – it’d be an easy way to keep all the slices similar sized. I slice mine pretty thin both so they cook quickly and are easy for the baby to eat but you could make them thicker and cook them longer. Also- don’t like butter? Just drizzle with oil instead.

If you have carrots to use up, here are 20 Easy Carrot Recipes to try. My favorite are these Easy Maple Glazed Carrots.

Oven Baked Vegetables – Broccoli Tots

Steam a bag of broccoli in the microwave. Drain excess water and add to food processor. Pulse until well chopped.  Add an egg, 3/4 cup breadcrumbs, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, 1/2 – 1 tsp garlic powder and 1/2 cup shredded cheese and process until combined. Form into tot shape, squeezing tightly.

Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake at 400 degrees F for 20 minutes, flipping once. Serve with ketchup. Make sure you sprinkle the seasonings around the whole food processor bowl when adding instead of just dumping all in one spot or you may get ALL the garlic powder in one tot like my husband was lucky enough to taste!

Want more broccoli recipes? Try my favorite Cheesy Broccoli or one of these 20+ Easy Broccoli Recipes.

Skillet Vegetables – Balsamic Mushrooms

Thinly slice mushrooms and cook over low heat on the stovetop with a little oil until soft. Add a little balsamic vinegar, mix well and serve.

Mom tip – Mushrooms are the perfect vegetable for even the littlest kids to practice slicing. Give them a plastic knife and let them help you cut the mushrooms before sauteeing. Check out my Ultimate Guide For Teaching Kids To Cook for more tips!

Lightly Sweetened Vegetables – Maple Cinnamon Squash

Cut squash in half and remove seeds. I used acorn squash but most kinds would be fine. Cut into slices – I sliced mine into rings and then cut them in half. Place on a foil-lined baking sheet, brush both sides with maple syrup and sprinkle with cinnamon. Roast at 400 degrees F for 20 min or until soft, flipping once.

Simple Sauteed Vegetables – Pesto Zoodles

Spiralize zucchini into noodles. Saute over medium-high heat for 2-3 minutes. Add pesto and stir to combine.

Mom tip – a spiralizer instantly makes any vegetable more fun! If you don’t like zucchini, try spiralizing sweet potatoes, carrots, squash and more. Just keep in mine you will need to saute them longer than 3 minutes.

Oven Roasted Vegetables – Curried Sweet Potatoes

Slice and dice a sweet potato. Place on a foil-lined baking sheet. Drizzle with oil (I usually use olive oil but coconut oil would be good for this flavor combo too!) and stir to coat. Sprinkle with curry powder, stir and roast at 425 degrees F for about 20 minutes, stirring a couple of times.

Smashed Vegetables – Parmesan Smashed Potatoes

Look for the smallest little round potatoes you can find. Place on a foil-lined baking sheet, drizzle with oil and toss to coat. Roast at 425 for 20 minutes. Using the bottom of a glass, smash each potato.

Sprinkle with salt and pepper and parmesan cheese. Optional – add rosemary to the mix. Also optional- stick back under the broiler once smashed to get them crispier!

Sauteed Vegetables – Peas with Pancetta

Saute diced pancetta and garlic in a pan. Steam peas in the microwave. Add peas to the pan, stir to combine and serve.

Mom tip – Bacon would also work if you don’t have pancetta! Let’s be honest, bacon makes almost any vegetable taste better!

Easy Vegetable Recipes As Side Dishes FAQs

What vegetables are easiest to cook?

Frozen vegetables are a great option if you’re looking for vegetables that are easy to cook. You don’t need to peel or chop them and they pretty much just need to be heated up in the microwave or on the stove!

Similarly, canned vegetables are an easy option as well. Just open the can, drain if needed and then heat them up if you want to or serve them room temperature. Canned and frozen vegetables are also perfectly prepped to be added to things like soups and casseroles.

Here are some more quick and easy vegetable recipes for lunch/dinner.

What is the fastest vegetable to cook? What is the best way to cook vegetables quickly?

The smaller the vegetable pieces, the quicker they cook so if you do need things to cook quickly, dicing them into small pieces will help! You can also look for precut vegetables at the grocery store to save time.

Cooking frozen vegetables in the microwave is an easy way to cook vegetables quickly. You can then add seasonings, butter, salt etc or add a sauce on top for an easy side dish.

Harder vegetables like potatoes and carrots can take longer to cook than vegetables like peas, corn, peppers, beans etc.

Here are some quick-cooking tips for vegetables.

How to store these vegetable recipes?

These vegetable recipes can be stored in glass Pyrex containers in the fridge. To reheat them you can use the microwave, a saute pan or an air fryer.

What veggies are best for meal prepping? Can you meal prep vegetables for the week?

You guys know I love meal prep. I have a whole course called Mastering Food Prep. Vegetables are something I prep every single week. Some of my favorites are chopping, washing and drying lettuce for salads and prepping a veggie snack tray with carrots, cucumbers, peppers, cherry tomatoes, etc. I also always roast a few vegetables like sweet potatoes, potatoes, green beans etc to use as dinner side dishes.

Here are more tips for How To Meal Prep Veggies for Easy Meals and How To Meal Prep Specific Veggies.

What are some autumn and winter vegetable recipes? What are some spring and summer vegetable recipes?

Fall and winter veggies include things like brussels sprouts, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, beets, carrots, kale and other leafy greens. Spring and summer vegetables include things like asparagus, snap peas, corn, squash and zucchini.

Quick and Easy Vegetable Meal Prep Tips

• Roasted vegetables like green beans, sweet potatoes and carrots hold up well in the fridge. Roast a big batch and reheat to serve with dinners all week.
• Raw vegetables can be prepped ahead of time to snack on – think carrots, peppers, celery, broccoli – or you can simply do your chopping ahead of time and store in the fridge until ready to cook.
• You’re much more likely to eat vegetables if you have them already prepped and ready to go so spending a little time prepping can lead to a much higher vegetable intake later in the week.

How To Freeze Vegetables

• There are lots of vegetables that freeze well so in the summer especially, you can stock up on vegetables and freeze them for later.
• Try chopping vegetables like bell peppers, leeks, corn and green beans and freezing them raw. When you need them, you can pull them out and add saute, add to stir-fry, put in soups and casseroles etc.
• To help preserve them even further, you can blanch them in boiling water for a minute or two. This helps preserve nutrients and prevent any changes while frozen. Here’s how to blanch vegetables for freezing.
• Leafy greens like spinach can also be frozen and later added to smoothies, soups, and more.

Best Kid-Friendly Vegetable Side Dish Recipes:

Looking for more veggie side dishes? Try these:

• 10 Kid-Friendly Vegetable Recipes
• 25+ Kid-Friendly Vegetable Recipes
• Healthy Veggie Nuggets
• Kid-Friendly Vegetable Side Dishes

These quick and easy vegetable recipes are great for families who want to serve healthy and nutritious meals. They’re kid-friendly, affordable and the perfect addition to your dinner plate.

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

This recipe for Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs is an easy, kid-friendly weeknight dinner. Let the crockpot do all the work and serve with rice and steamed veggies for a balanced meal.

*Originally published 4/2016. Updated 7/2025*

This budget-friendly chicken recipe is the perfect healthy meal for busy families. Using a crockpot makes it super quick and easy to get this simple dinner on the table.

Hi friends!

I first shared these Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs almost 8 years ago and they’re still one of my go-to crockpot meals. When I first made this recipe, it got the seal of approval from hubby and son and then I made it for my parents and my mom asked for the recipe because my dad loved it so much. I passed it on to several friends before I even put it on the blog and continue to share it regularly. My daughter loves it because carrots and sweet potatoes are her favorite.

Why You’ll Love Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs

• Budget-friendly because it uses chicken thighs and other pantry staples
• Freezer-friendly – This recipe freezes well!
• Perfect for food prep – Prep multiple batches in ziploc bags and freeze some for later.
• Easy to customize- Feel free to swap the carrots for other vegetables like sweet potatoes.

This recipe is super easy and affordable – no fancy ingredients required!

Need a slow cooker?? I love this basic Crockpot 8qt with auto warm setting. I also have this Instant Electric Round Dutch Oven which is great because you can brown/sear things right in the pot before switching to slow cooking. And finally, if you have an Instant Pot, you can grab a glass lid to turn it into a slow cooker. (aff links)

Can you freeze this honey garlic chicken thighs crockpot recipe?

This has become my go-to recipe to deliver to new moms or friends who have had surgery, have a sick kid etc. You can easily throw everything in a ziploc bag and deliver it and then they can either dump it in the crockpot to make it immediately or stick it in the freezer for later.

Should I use boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts?

This recipe uses chicken thighs. You could make it with chicken breasts. I encourage you to try it at least once with thighs. They do so well in the slow cooker, never drying out like chicken breasts are sometimes prone to do.

Could I use boneless breast tenders?

I wouldn’t recommend tenders for this recipe. Because they’re cooking for a while in the slow cooker, thinner/smaller cuts like tenders would likely end up overcooked and rubbery.

How To Prep Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs for the slow cooker

If you want to prep this ahead of time, just put all of the ingredients in a Ziploc bag.

From there, you can freeze and when you’re ready to use, thaw the night before and throw in the crockpot before work. Or stick the bag in the fridge overnight, dump it into the crockpot in the morning and turn it on.

Mom hack: This is one of my favorite recipes for freezer food prep sessions. Triple the recipe but prep in 3 large Ziploc bags. Lay the bags flat to freeze so they take up less space and cook as needed!

How To Make Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs

Here’s the recipe:

Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs Recipe

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This recipe for Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs is an easy, kid-friendly weeknight dinner. Let the crockpot do all the work and serve with rice and steamed veggies for a balanced meal.

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 6 hours
• Total Time: 6 hours 5 minutes
• Yield: Serves 6

Ingredients

• 1 large sweet potato, chopped
• 2–3 large carrots, peeled and chopped
• 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 Tbsp fresh ginger (i use the paste)
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 2–3 Tbsp honey or maple syrup
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1 cup chicken broth

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Instructions

1. Chop the sweet potato and carrots to roughly the same size pieces and place in the bottom of the slow cooker.
2. Add chicken thighs.
3. In a small bowl, whisk together remaining ingredients.
4. Pour over chicken and cook in a slow cooker on low for about 6 hours.

Pretty simple right? If you aren’t a fan of carrots or sweet potatoes you could probably swap in another veggie, just be aware that some veggies get a bit mushy in the slow cooker. I like carrots and sweet potatoes because they hold their shape well.

Meal Prep Ideas:

• Serve with steamed broccoli and rice for an easy, balanced meal.
• Ladle over noodles that were prepped ahead of time.
• To transform leftovers, chop the chicken and veggies smaller and use to make fried rice.
• Prep double and freeze half for later.

Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs FAQs

Can you make honey garlic chicken thighs in the instant pot? Can you stack chicken thighs in the instant pot?

Yes! You can easily make this recipe in the Instant pot. Just combine all the ingredients in the Instant pot and cook in manual mode for about 15 minutes. The size, thickness and type of chicken used will determine cooking time but you should be able to shred them easily with a fork.

You can stack chicken thighs 2 high in the instant pot but if you have more than that I would cook in two batches.

Or try this recipe for Instant Pot Honey Ginger Chicken.

What type of chicken thighs should I use for instant pot chicken thighs?

I prefer boneless, skinless chicken thighs. You could try bone-in if you wanted to but I tend to prefer boneless/skinless for slow cooker and instant pot recipes and bone-in chicken with skin when cooking in cast iron on the stove or in the oven.

What setting do you cook chicken on in an Instant pot?

I use manual mode. It allows you to set the timer for the exact number of minutes you want to cook something for!

Can I put raw chicken in the slow cooker?

Yes! Slow cookers are designed to cook meat at a low temperature over a period of several hours. In most cases, chicken will cook in the slow cooker on low heat in 4-6 hours but you can leave it in there longer.

You’ll know it’s done if you check the temperature with a thermometer or when you can shred it easily with a fork.

Do you have to brown chicken before putting in slow cooker?

No, you do not have to brown chicken before slow cooking. You can! Browning is an easy way to add extra flavor but it can be an extra step and if your slow cooker doesn’t come with a browning option it often means dirtying another pan.

While it’s important in some recipes, I don’t find it to be a necessary step in this recipe.

Is chicken breast or thigh better for slow cooker?

Both work fine. I most often by chicken breasts so I cook with those most frequently and they work just fine. Chicken thighs have darker meat that’s a bit fattier and in many cases this is an asset in slow cooking.

The fat helps keep the chicken moist as it cooks low and slow and for this reason chicken thighs are great for slow cooking.

Is it better to cook chicken on high or low in the slow cooker?

I choose to cook most things in the slow cooker over low heat. Crockpot recipes are designed for cuts of meat the do well when cooked low and slow whereas other cuts of meat do better cooking quickly over high heat like on a grill.

What makes the honey garlic sauce in this chicken recipe?

The sauce is a mix of ginger, garlic, honey, ketchup, soy sauce and chicken broth.

Is this honey garlic chicken thighs recipe super garlicky?

It uses 4 cloves are garlic but you could easily cut back to 2 cloves if you prefer a milder flavor.

This budget-friendly recipe for honey garlic chicken thighs is sure to be a hit! It’s kid-friendly, affordable, made with simple ingredients and freezes well! Perfect for busy families.

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

If you have a picky eater and are looking to expand their world by introducing them to some new foods and flavors, here’s a list of 75 new foods to try!

*Originally published 9/23. Updated 6/25*

Hi friends!

Over the summer I decided it was time to get my kids excited again about trying new healthy foods at home. But not just healthy foods. We started a chart for each of them and wrote down and celebrated everything new that they tried – even things like desserts and types of candy.

The goal was not to get them to try specific foods, it was just to get them excited about trying new things in general and to find some new and exciting ingredients to cook with! Their list included everything from pound cake and candy to fruits and vegetables to multigrain chips. If they hadn’t tried it before and were willing to take a bite, it went on the list!

I also had them record their response – a smiley face for like it, a check mark for just ok, and an x for no thank you.

New Foods To Try With Kids

It was fun to watch their excitement grow as their list grew, and since there are 3 of them, there was often a little friendly competition to see who could try the most things to add to their lists.

When I shared this on Instagram, I had a lot of people interested in a list of new foods for their kids to try. Something they could use as a starting point to get ideas for introducing new foods to their kids. So I made one!

There are no set rules about the best ways to try new foods. Pick a day and try a whole bunch at once, or set a goal to try one new ingredient a week!

How Can I Introduce My Kids To New Foods

One of the best ways to get kids interested in trying new foods is to let them pick! Watch cooking shows, take them to the grocery store, flip through cookbooks and let them choose things that look interesting or yummy to them. Then do some research together to figure out the best way to use the ingredients.

Another option is to pick one thing and try it multiple ways. Say you’re going to try broccoli – make some roasted, some steamed, some sauteed, and some raw with dip and let them try all of them and rate their favorites!

Foods To Expand Your Palate

If the bigger list seems overwhelming and you’re specifically looking to expose a kiddo to a certain type of food to broaden their horizons, here are some categories you could start with:

10 New Vegetables To Try

If you’re looking to start with vegetables, here are 10 new vegetables to try. These extend beyond what seem to be the typical first veggies for kids- carrots, corn, sweet potato, peas, etc.

Romaine Lettuce

• A good source of Vitamin A and Vitamin K and it’s super crunchy.
• For a lot of kids, romaine can be a good gateway lettuce into salads.
• Cut into larger chunks and encourage them to pick them up with their fingers and dip in salad dressing!

Snap Peas

• Provide some Vitamin C and fiber.
• These can be fun for kids to explore. Have them crunch into them whole, or peel them open, count the peas inside, taste the peas etc!

Butternut Squash

• High in Vitamin A and C and magnesium.
• Yellow and orange veggies have been shown to be particularly effective at protecting against heart disease.
• Cube it and make this Roasted Butternut Squash with Cinnamon.
• Puree and use in these Chocolate Squash Muffins.
• Or try adding it to Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese.

Red Bell Peppers

• A great source of Vitamin C and Vitamin A and they have some fiber.
• They’re naturally a bit sweet and be eaten both raw and cooked.
• Try serving them raw with a dressing or dip for dipping, adding finely diced bell peppers as a pizza topping.
• Roast them to make a sauce like this Red Pesto For Babies and Toddlers.
• Or make a grilled cheese sandwich with roasted red peppers!

Pumpkin

• Contains antioxidants and is a good source of Vitamin A and has some fiber!
• Pumpkin is most commonly found canned in grocery stores and can be used in a variety of ways.
• Add it to baked goods like this Pumpkin Bread or Maple Pumpkin Bars for breakfast.
• Mix it into breakfast favorites like Pumpkin Pancakes or Easy Pumpkin Oatmeal.
• Or try it in more savory recipes like Pumpkin Pizza Rolls.
• It mixes well into sauces for things like Pumpkin Mac and Cheese, or One Pot Pumpkin Pasta.

Cabbage

• Has some fiber and is a good source of Vitamin K and Vitamin C.
• Kids might like it because it’s crunchy!
• You can turn it into a slaw and add it to tacos.
• Try it raw in this Kid-Friendly Chopped Cabbage Salad.
• Or cook or roast it in things like Roasted Cabbage Wedges, Fried Cabbage with Apples & Bacon or One Pot Cabbage Lasagna.

Jicama

• Great source of vitamin C and high in fiber.
• High in inulin which is a prebiotic fiber that can be used by the healthy bacteria in your gut!
• Here’s a little more about it and some jicama recipe ideas.
• An easy way to try it is to peel and cut into sticks and use them for scooping up your favorite dip, guacamole, hummus etc!
• Or try Jicama Fries in the oven or air fryer.

Cauliflower

• High in fiber, Vitamin C and folate. Also a source of choline!
• Doesn’t have a super strong flavor so you can mix it with things kids enjoy like cheese in these Cheesy Cauliflower Nuggets.
• Add it to a Toddler Smoothie with Hidden Veggies or oatmeal like this Chocolate Peanut Butter Cauliflower Oatmeal.
• Try Cauliflower Pizza Crust.
• Combine with eggs in these Cauliflower Cheese Egg Muffins.

Mushrooms

• Technically a fungus but is often considered a vegetable. Good source of Vitamin D and potassium!
• If your kids have tried them cooked and don’t love them, slice them up and let them try them raw.
• They mix well into pasta, especially if you chop them up small. Try this One Pot Creamy Mushroom Orzo or this Vegan Cream of Mushroom Pasta.
• Chop them up finely and mix with ground beef or turkey next time you’re making taco meat or mix some in next time you make burgers!
• Saute in butter with a little garlic powder and salt as a side dish for chicken or steak.

Broccoli

• High in fiber, Vitamin C, Vitamin K, iron and potassium.
• Let the kids cut apart the tiny trees and sprinkle water on the trees before eating them.
• Serve raw with dip or steamed with cheese sauce for dipping.
• Grate into “broccoli sprinkles” and add to pizza.
• Roast it to make this Easy Crispy Broccoli.
• Try this Broccoli Cauliflower Cheese Soup.
• Add to Pizza Rolls.
• Try broccoli slaw instead of regular broccoli. Add it to noodle-based dishes like this Instant Pot Peanut Noodles.

11 New Fruits To Try

A lot of kids start with fruits like strawberries, blueberries, grapes, bananas, peaches and pears but there are so many other great fruit options out there that provide important nutrients and taste great as well!

Mango

• A good source of Vitamin C and contains Vitamin A and folate. They’re also a good source of both soluble and unsoluble fiber.
• A fun kitchen activity for kids is learning how to cut a mango. Cut some up and eat it plain or try it in some mango salsa!
• Learn how to select a ripe mango and make some Mango Chia Jam.
• If they don’t like fresh mango, try dried mango strips.
• Need more ideas? Here are 50 Healthy Mango Recipes for Kids

Plantains

• They look like bananas but are typically cooked before serving. They’re green when unripe and turn yellowish/black as they ripen.
• Green plantains are starchy and similar to potatoes. As they ripen they get sweeter.
• They’re a source of resistant startch which acts as a prebiotic to feed your good gut bacteria.
• They contain fiber, Vitamin C, Vitamin B6 and magnesium.
• Try making plantain chips (or buying some at the store to try!)
• You can also make plantain pancakes, sticky sweet fried plantains or oven baked plantains.

Kiwi

• They come in two colors so be sure to try them both – green and yellow gold! Learn more about the differences here.
• A good source of Vitamin C and fiber. Most of the fiber is in the skin – yes you can eat it!
• Also a good source of Vitamin E and prebiotics.
• Try them raw. They’re great to pack in lunch boxes! Or make these Easy Kiwi Pops.
• Change things up and try this roasted salmon with kiwi salsa.

Cantaloupe

• Has a high water content so can aid hydration.
• Good sources of Vitamin C, Vitamin A and potassium.
• Kids love using a melon baller to scoop out balls of cantaloupe to eat!
• Try adding it to a cantaloupe smoothie.
• You can make grilled cantaloupe!
• It pairs well with prosciutto to make a melon prosciutto salad with mozzarella.

Fresh Cherries

• There are several different varieties. Bing and Rainier are great for eating fresh as a snack.
• Good sources of vitamin C.
• Buy a $5 cherry pitter and let the kids go to town pitting the cherries before they snack on them.
• Try them in these Cherry Oat Bars.
• Make a Cherry Limeade or add them to a Cherry Smoothie Bowl.
• You can also add them to muffins, oatmeal etc. similar to the way you add other berries. Try this Easy Berry Cherry Baked Oatmeal.

Fresh Cranberries

• Good sources of Vitamin C. High in antioxidants, especially phenols and anthocyanins. Many consider them a superfruit.
• You can also try them dried but keep in mind dried cranberries often have added sugar.
• This Fresh Cranberry Sauce is great on oatmeal, waffles etc as a change from regular jelly.
• Add a little tartness to sweet muffins like these Fresh Cranberry Muffins.
• For savory options try this Cranberry Chicken Recipe or this Cheesy Turkey and Cranberry Monkey Bread.

Pineapple

• Rich in Vitamin C, manganese and other antioxidants.
• Contains digestive enzymes that might aid in the digestion of meat.
• We love using frozen pineapple in our favorite Strawberry Smoothie or make Pineapple Orange Banana Popsicles.
• Recreate the famous Pineapple Dole Whip.
• Canned pineapple is a great option for lunchboxes.
• Use canned crushed pineapple to add sweetness to meatballs like these Carrot Pineapple Turkey Meatballs.

Apricots

• Rich in Vitamin A and beta-carotene – they’re good for your eyes!
• Cut them up fresh and make a yogurt parfait. Or try them grilled with yogurt or ice cream!
• Try dried apricots in a trail mix or these Apricot Bliss Balls.
• Use them like peaches to make an apricot crisp.
• Or try a stone fruit slaw to serve on tacos, over chicken etc.

Dates

• High in fiber and antioxidants like flavonoids.
• Try them sliced to remove the pit and stuffed with peanut butter or cream cheese.
• Cut them up into bite-sized pieces for toddlers to eat similar to raisins.
• Use them to naturally sweeten baked goods like these Gluten-Free Sweet Potato Brownies and Zucchini Oat Bars.
• Try my Go-To Energy Balls for an easy snack. Or one of these Kid-Friendly Energy Balls recipes.
• Make a frozen treat like this Date-Sweetened Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream.

Avocado

• High in fiber and good fats like monounsaturated fats.
• They also contain Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin B6 and more.
• Get out the potato masher and let the kids make guacamole to try with chips!
• Try one of these 10 Ways To Serve Avocados To Kids.
• Add some to an egg sandwich or make avocado toast with their favorite toppings.
• Add some to your next cheese quesadilla to turn it into an avocado quesadilla.
• If you don’t love the taste, cube and freeze it to add to smoothies for the health benefits.

Plums

• Good source of Vitamin C, A and K.
• Add them to your next batch of applesauce to make Plum & Apple Compote.
• Slice and eat them like a nectarine.
• Try Easy Stewed Plums.
• Make a Plum Crisp.

10 New Protein Sources To Try

Most people think of meat when they think of protein, but if your kiddos aren’t crazy about meat there are a lot of other protein sources out there to try. And if they do like meat like chicken, remember there are other meat options out there like steak, pork, sausage etc to try as well! Here are some ideas for new protein sources to try:

Edamame

• Whole, immature soybeans that grow in pods. You can buy them in pods or pre-shelled.
• Good source of Vitamin K and folate.
• Try dried edamame for a crunchy, salty snack kids might love!
• Grab a steamable bag in the freezer section and serve with butter and salt.
• Or mix them into a stirfry like this Beef and Broccoli Edamame Stirfry or soup.
• Turn it into a dip like this Creamy Edamame Dip or this Cilantro Lime Edamame dip similar to guacamole.
• Mix into a crunch salad like this Cashew Crunch Edamame Salad or try Edamame Falafel.

Hemp Hearts

• Packed with healthy fats and protein. Just 3 Tablespoons of hemp hearts has 15 grams of healthy fats and almost 10 grams of protein.
• Also a good source of iron, Vitamin B6 and folate.
• Learn more about them and other healthy seeds in my Super Seeds guide.
• These are super easy to mix into any muffins, bars or pancakes you make. Just add a few Tablespoons. Try them in these Banana Flax Muffins or these Energy Balls.
• Add them to smoothies, sprinkle on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, etc. They’re barely noticeable and pack a big nutrient punch.
• You can also mix them into oatmeal, overnight oats or chia pudding like this High Protein Carrot Cake Chia Pudding.

White Beans

• Great source of protein and fiber. Also provide folate, magnesium and Vitamin B6.
• These are perfect for mixing into baked goods like my Sweet Potato White Bean Bars.
• If your kids like quesadillas, try these White Bean Quesadillas.
• You can puree them with broth and add to soups to thicken them.
• Or use them to make a dip like this Whipped Avocado White Bean Dip.
• Try them in a pasta and white bean salad.
• Add them to your next bowl of pasta with marinara sauce or pesto.

Lentils

• Great source of protein and fiber. Packed with B vitamins, and iron.
• Learn how to cook lentils on the stove. I make a whole bag and portion them to freeze so I have them to easily pull out and use.
• Try them blended into muffins like these Lentil Banana Muffins or make Roasted Lentils to add to trail mix.
• Mix them in with ground meat next time you make taco meat or spaghetti sauce like this Red Lentil Bolognese.
• Red lentils especially tend to fall apart and blend nicely into sauces and soups. Here are 15 Red Lentil Recipes.
• Try this One Pot Pasta with Cheesy Lentil Sauce.

Tofu

• Tofu is condensed soy milk pressed to different firmnesses.
• High in protein and a good non-dairy source of calcium.
• Try making this Crispy Baked Tofu with their favorite dipping sauce or these Crispy Tofu Nuggets.
• Use crumbled tofu in a kid-friendly soup like this Taco Soup.
• Blend silken tofu into this Silken Tofu Berry Smoothie.

Green Peas

• A half cup of green peas contains 4 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber.
• Also a good source of Vitamin A and Vitamin K.
• Keep it simple and throw some frozen peas into the pasta water for the last few minutes the next time you make mac and cheese.
• Try these Pea Fritters.
• Learn how to cook frozen green peas so they’re not mushy and add some butter and salt!
• Try them roasted for a crunchy snack like these Roasted Parmesan Peas.
• Bake them into these Chocolate Pea cookies.
• Pair them with pasta in this Ravioli with Peas and Pancetta.

Salmon

• Great source of protein and omega- 3 fatty acids. Also high in selenium and Vitamin B12.
• Smoked salmon can be a good starting point. My kids love Honey Smoked Fish Salmon.
• Try this easy Oven Baked Salmon with a honey mustard glaze.
• Make these 5 min Air Fryer Salmon Bites.
• Instead of chicken nuggets, try these Crispy Baked Salmon Nuggets.

Quinoa

• Naturally gluten-free and high in fiber, it’s also a good source of protein, B vitamins and magnesium.
• If your kids like rice, try mixing in some quinoa with it next time!
• You can add quinoa to pancakes like this or these Quinoa Breakfast Cookies.
• Mix some into your next batch of tacos or chicken quinoa enchiladas.
• Try a twist on pizza with these Cheesy Quinoa Pizza Bites.
• Try these Quinoa Krispies on yogurt

Steak

• Good source of B vitamins, iron and niacin.
• Try these Air Fryer Steak Bites.
• Use small pieces of steak in things your kids already like such as tacos, steak quesadillas, wraps, etc.
• Serve it with something familiar like fries in this recipe for Steak Frites.
• Kabobs are fun for kids to make and eat. Try these Soy Ginger Beef Kabobs.

Jerky

• Can be high in sodium so not the best option for everyday but fine occasionally.
• A great shelf-stable protein option that can be good for school snacks, sports bags etc.
• We like Chomps and Country Archer.
• Try different types of meat and different flavor options to find one you like.

Try New Foods FAQs

What are some unique grains to cook for dinner?

If you’re looking for new grains to try, here are some to consider:

• Quinoa
• Sorghum
• Millet
• Buckwheat
• Teff
• Amaranth
• Farro
• Wild Rice

Experiment with substituting these into your favorite dishes in place of rice and pasta and also try them on their own so you can really taste the texture and consistency. Here are more details about how to cook whole grains and what to use them for.

What are some international foods I can cook at home and try?

There are lots of great unique ingredients to cook with. Some easy ones to start with are things like miso paste, gochujang and harissa.

How do I use miso paste and gochujang in recipes?

Miso is a fermented soy bean paste that is popular in many Asian recipes. It’s known for adding a salty, umami flavor and miso soup is one of the most common ways to try it. Learn more about miso here. Gochujang is often used in Korean food and is a spicy paste made of red chili peppers, fermented soy beans, rice and salt. Here’s an easy gochujang sauce.

What plant-based ingredients are trending right now?

Some plant-based foods trending right now include plant protein – especially from things like peas and fava beans and protein-rich milk alternatives like almond milk with soy protein and flax milk with pea protein. Date syrup and monk fruit are gaining popularity in sweeteners and plant-based butters and cheeses are also expanding.

What foods can help me expand my cooking skills?

Anything that requires you to learn a new preparation method, a new way to peel, cook or serve something will help you expand your cooking skills. Things like jackfruit, jicama, mango and other options in the produce section can be a good place to start.

What are some new herbs and spices I could try?

If you haven’t tried some of the more common staple spices like basil, rosemary and thyme those can be a good place to start. To expand even further, try things like turmeric, star anise, za’atar, saffron and cardamom.

What are some good high-protein foods I’ve probably never tried?

Tofu, edamame and tempeh are some plant-based proteins you may not have tried. There are also tons of different varieties of fish as well as lots of different kinds of beans and peas.

What are some common superfoods I could try?

Here are 16 Superfoods That Are Worthy of the Title that you could start with – everything from green tea to leafy greens.

What are some good beginner-friendly adventurous foods?

Some that come to mind are things like curry, pad thai and injera. A great option is to research some local restaurants that serve foods from different cultures and start there. You can sample a variety of different dishes all in one place. Then if you like one, try to recreate something similar at home!

Try Something New For Dinner

If this post was helpful, share it with a friend! Set a goal together to try at least one new food each week and use it in a taste test or recipe!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Love turkey and pineapple recipes? These Carrot Pineapple Turkey Meatballs are easy to make and packed with vegetables. Prep them ahead of time and eat warm or cold for a quick lunch or dinner.

*Originally published 4/2019. Updated 4/2025*

Hi friends!

I’m excited to share these turkey meatballs with pineapple today. Many of you requested easy ground turkey recipes and I immediately knew I wanted to make meatballs. They’re one of my favorite easy protein sources because they can be eaten warm or cold and it’s so easy to play around with the flavor combos. 

Easy Pineapple Turkey Meatballs For Dinner

For today’s version, I simply added some carrots to the food processor and processed them into tiny pieces (almost like carrot rice) so I could mix them into the turkey. Then I added some red pepper for extra veggies, green onions for flavor and some diced pineapple to help keep them moist. 

By chopping the veggies extra small and adding the sweet element of pineapple, these turkey meatballs are kid-friendly and can be a great way to add veggies to dinner.

Why Pineapple and Turkey Works

Ground turkey and pineapple may seem like an unlikely combination but it really works! The mixture of the two helps make the perfect sweet and savory turkey meatballs

By saving the juice from the canned pineapple, you can easily make a quick glaze that’s slightly sweet like a teriyaki glaze but with much less added sugar. If you use fresh pineapple for the meatballs, you could sub orange juice for the glaze. 

Ingredients for Turkey and Carrot Meatballs

To make these carrot pineapple turkey meatballs you just need a few basic ingredients, nothing fancy! Some of the things you’ll need:

• Ground turkey – you could also sub ground chicken or even ground beef if you wanted to
• Vegetables- bell peppers and carrots. Feel free to swap in something like diced mushrooms if you prefer.
• Diced Pineapple – you’ll need to lightly chop the pineapple a bit further but I don’t like to use crushed pineapple because it’s harder to reserve the juice

You’ll combine these ingredients with more traditional ingredients like panko breadcrumbs, garlic, egg and seasonings.

To make the glaze you’ll need:

• Pineapple juice – reserved from the pineapple in the meatballs
• Maple syrup – to sweeten
• Soy sauce (or tamari) and rice vinegar – for flavor. If you don’t have rice vinegar you could sup red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar
• Ginger- fresh is best
• Cornstarch – to help thicken

How To Make Turkey Meatballs with Pineapple

Making these carrot pineapple turkey meatballs takes just a few simple steps:

• Combine the meatball ingredients and form into meatballs.
• Bake in the oven.
• While the meatballs, combine the ingredients for the glaze, heat it up and let it reduce to thicken.
• Gently toss the meatballs in the glaze and serve.

What To Serve with Pineapple Turkey Meatballs

These carrot pineapple turkey meatballs are fairly versatile and can be served in a variety of ways:

• Serve in a bowl with rice and roasted veggies.
• Serve on a Hawaiian-style bun or roll to make Hawaiin Turkey Meatball Sliders.
• Eat them cold straight out of the fridge.
• Add to lettuce wraps with grated veggies
• Serve with an Asian cucumber salad or sauteed green beans or bok choy

Healthy Turkey Meatballs with Pineapple Recipe

Here’s how you make them:

Carrot Pineapple Turkey Meatballs

Print Recipe

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5 from 3 reviews

This Carrot Pineapple Turkey Meatballs recipe is easy to make and packed with vegetables, plus a pineapple glaze for extra flavor. Prep them ahead of time and eat warm or cold for a quick lunch or dinner.

• Author: Lindsay
• Prep Time: 5 min
• Cook Time: 20 min
• Total Time: 25 min
• Yield: 20 meatballs

Ingredients

For the meatballs:

• 1 pound ground turkey
• 1 cup finely chopped carrots (i used the food processor)
• 1/2 cup diced red pepper
• 8 oz diced pineapple (in 100% juice, drain and reserve juice)
• 1/4 cup green onion, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1 egg
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp salt 

For the glaze*:

• 1/4 cup pineapple juice (or orange juice)
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1–2 Tbsp maple syrup
• 2 Tbsp rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar)
• 1–2 tsp fresh ginger (or ginger paste)
• sriracha to taste, optional
• 1 Tbsp cornstarch + 1 Tbsp water

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Instructions

1. In a large bowl, combine turkey, carrots, peppers, pineapple, green onion, panko, egg and seasonings. (I chop the diced pineapple a little bit further into smaller pieces before adding)
2. Mix well and form into meatballs of desired size. This should make 20-24 larger meatballs or approximately 36 smaller meatballs.
3. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake at 400 degrees. Cook time will vary based on size of meatballs but should be 15-20 minutes. Flip meatballs once after 9 minutes.  Check to make sure internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.
4. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine pineapple juice, soy sauce, maple syrup, vinegar, ginger and sriracha and bring to a boil.
5. Reduce heat, mix cornstarch with water and add to sauce. Stir for 3-4 minutes until thickened. Taste and add more maple syrup, sriracha or ginger if needed.
6. Remove from heat. Once meatballs are done, brush with glaze and serve.

Notes

If you’re using fresh pineapple, you can sub orange juice for pineapple juice in the glaze.

You can also substitute a storebought teriyaki sauce or marinade for the glaze

These carrot pineapple turkey meatballs are so easy and flavorful. I added sriracha to half my glaze after glazing some without it for the kids. And I served with roasted broccoli and rice. 

Turkey Meatballs with Pineapple FAQs

How do I cook carrot pineapple turkey meatballs in the air fryer?

To make these meatballs in the air fryer, cook at 400 degrees for 10 minutes, flipping halfway through. Check temperature using a meat thermometer and add more time if needed to reach 165 degrees F.

How do I make lean and green turkey meatballs with pineapple?

To add a green component to these carrot pineapple turkey meatballs, you could add 4 oz of chopped frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed to remove excess moisture. Or if you’re looking for another meatball recipe try these Mediterranean Meatballs.

Can I freeze turkey meatballs?

Yes, to freeze these meatballs cool completely and then transfer to an airtight storage container or freezer-safe bag.

What are some other healthy ground turkey and pineapple recipes?

If you love this combo, try one of these recipes:

• Pineapple Turkey Tacos
• Easy Pineapple Turkey Burgers
• Curry Pineapple Turkey Rice Bowls

Are these Hawaiian-style turkey meatballs?

This is not a traditional Hawaiian recipe but the inclusion of pineapple may remind people of other Hawaiin-inspired recipes.

Can you make pineapple chicken meatballs?

Yes, you could easily substitute ground chicken in this recipe.

Can you only make turkey meatballs with canned pineapple or could I use fresh?

If you want to use fresh pineapple in this recipe, you can, just be sure to chop it small and then you could substitute orange juice in the glaze.

Easy Ground Turkey Recipes

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

These Homemade Whole Wheat Tortillas are made with just 4 ingredients. They’re so easy to make and taste way better than store-bought! Perfect for healthy lunches and dinners.

**Posted 7/2013. Updated 3/2025*

Hi Friends!

Today I want to teach you guys how to make a Homemade Whole Wheat Tortilla! Whole-grain tortillas have been on my to-make list for quite a while now. If you’ve been reading my blog for any length of time, you know that I’m semi-obsessed with tortillas because they’re perfect for pretty much any meal. Throw some scrambled eggs and cheese inside for a breakfast quesadilla, add peanut butter and sliced bananas for a snack or turn them into tacos for lunch or dinner. 

Are homemade tortillas healthier than store-bought tortillas?

Even though I do my best to buy brands that are 100% whole wheat and low in sodium, it’s rare that I can find a brand with an ingredient list that satisfies me. Often born of necessity, many store-bought varieties have preservatives and higher sodium levels to help give them a longer shelf life.

If you have the time to make your own, you just need a few simple ingredients and they keep for several days in the fridge.

And for the weeks you don’t have time to make your own? Here are the Best Healthy Store-Bought Tortillas.

Whole wheat tortillas versus white flour tortillas

The biggest benefit of choosing whole wheat tortillas is that they tend to be a bit higher in fiber and other nutrients since whole grains are being used. White tortillas are made with refined white flour which means many of the nutrients have been removed.

When I make homemade tortillas I use white whole-wheat flour which is a little lighter than whole-wheat flour but you can also feel free to experiment with things like sprouted wheat flour or some alternatives to wheat flour like chickpea or cassava flour.

How to make whole wheat tortillas without a tortilla press?

Although I’m sure having a tortilla press comes in handy if you make tortillas often, it’s one kitchen gadget that I don’t have. This is the one I would get though. (aff link)

If you don’t have one, there are several things you can use to press the dough flat including:

• A glass pie tin
• A heavy flat-bottomed skillet (if the bottom isn’t totally smooth you can put a large ziploc bag on top of the dough and then press down with the pan
• A dinner plate
• A heavy book

Whole Wheat Tortilla Recipe

Until now. And guess what? They are SUPER easy to make and only require 4 ingredients! Win!

Homemade Whole Wheat Tortillas

Print Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 21 reviews

With only 4 ingredients, these tortillas do away with the store brand mystery ingredient list. Roll them up and enjoy with breakfast, lunch, or dinner!

• Author: Lindsay
• Prep Time: 30 min
• Cook Time: 20 min
• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 8

Ingredients

• 2 cups white whole wheat flour
• 3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2/3 c warm water

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Instructions

1. In a bowl, mix together the flour, oil and salt.
2. Slowly add the warm water while stirring until a rough dough comes together. Add a little extra water if needed.
3. Turn the dough onto the counter and knead for about two minutes.
4. Return to bowl and let rest for 20 minutes.
5. Divide dough into 8 equal balls.
6. Roll each ball into a circle (you want them to be pretty thin)
7. Heat a pan over medium high heat and grease lightly.
8. Drop one dough circle into the pan and let cook until bubbles form- about 1 minute.
9. Flip over and cook another minute, pressing down with a spatula if needed. Repeat with remaining dough.
10. Use immediately, store in an airtight container in the fridge or freeze.

Whole Wheat Flour Tortillas FAQS

What is the best type of flour for making whole wheat tortillas?

My favorite flour to use is white whole wheat flour. I find it’s lighter and not quite as dense as whole wheat flour. Here’s an article that describes the difference between whole wheat and white whole wheat flour.

Can you make whole wheat tortillas without oil?

If you don’t want to use oil, you could try substituting butter or shortening. Here’s a specific recipe for homemade flour tortillas made with butter.

How do you make soft and pliable whole wheat tortillas?

I’ve found the key to making soft and pliable tortillas is to not make them too thin. If you press them out too thin, they will dry out and crack or crisp up too much while baking.

You also need to store them in a sealed bag or container so they don’t dry out!

How do I prevent whole wheat tortillas from being too dry?

If you find your tortillas are too dry, you likely need to add more water. You could try increasing the water in this recipe to 3/4 cup.

What is the best way to store whole wheat tortillas to keep them fresh?

Let the tortillas cool completely and then store in a ziploc bag in the fridge.

How long do homemade whole wheat tortillas last?

Your tortillas should be fine in the fridge for about 5 days if stored properly

Can I freeze whole wheat tortillas for later use?

Yes! Cool completely and then stack and store in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months. To thaw, simply transfer to the refrigerator.

What are some creative ways to use whole wheat tortillas?

There are tons of things you can make with these homemade tortillas! They’re perfect for:

• Wraps
• Tacos
• Quesadillas
• Easy Layered Taco Bake
• Extra Crispy Bar Style Tortilla Pizza
• Baked flour tortilla chips
• Baked Ranch Taquitos
• Breakfast Enchilada Casserole

Here are 25 things to make when you’ve got tortillas on hand.

How to make vegan whole wheat tortillas?

This tortilla recipe is naturally vegan since the ingredients don’t contain any animal products.

Can I make gluten-free by using alternative flours?

If you need your tortillas to be gluten-free I would look for a recipe that is specifically designed using an alternative flour. Here are some ideas:

• High Protein Lentil Wrap Tortillas
• Gluten-Free Flour Tortillas
• Chickpea Tortillas
• Almond Flour Tortillas

Let’s chat: Do you make your own tortillas? Flour or corn?

If you’re a corn tortilla person check out my Homemade Corn Tortillas recipe here. 

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

These Mediterranean Meatballs are easy to make and full of flavor. Made with ground turkey, spinach, feta and spices, they are versatile and protein-packed – perfect for lunch or dinner!

Hi friend!

I’m excited to share these Mediterranean Turkey Meatballs with you today. If you’ve been around a while, you know we love meatballs. They’re easy to make, taste good hot or cold and can often be eaten with or without sauce.

For a while, they were my favorite post-workout snack! Here are some of my favorites:

• Cheesy BBQ Meatballs
• Turkey Sweet Potato Meatballs
• Crockpot Meatballs
• Crescent Wrapped Beef Zucchini Meatballs
• Carrot Pineapple Turkey Meatballs

Mediterranean Turkey Meatballs

So what’s so good about these Mediterranean Turkey Meatballs? They’re versatile and protein-packed, perfect for Mediterranean-inspired meals.

They’re packed with spinach and feta plus lots of spices to add flavor. Using ground turkey makes them a source of lean protein and they pair well with pasta, rice, salads and more.

Mediterranean Meatball Variations

If you’re not a fan of ground turkey, you could easily use another ground meat like beef, chicken or lamb. Want recipes specific to those types of meat? Try:

• Beef Mediterranean Meatballs with Tzatziki
• Moroccan Lamb Meatballs
• Mediterranean Chicken Meatballs

What to serve with Mediterranean meatballs?

I like to serve these meatballs in a bowl with lots of other Mediterranean goodness. Think things like:

• Rice, couscous or orzo
• Lettuce mix
• Naan
• Tzatziki sauce
• Chopped olives
• Veggie mix – a combination of onion, tomato, red peppers, cucumbers and feta works really well with the flavors of the meatballs

If you don’t have a store-bought tzatziki you like, try this homemade version: Tzatziki Sauce Recipe. Or try this Spicy Red Feta Dip instead.

Ingredients for Mediterranean Meatballs

These meatballs don’t require any fancy ingredients. A few of the things you’ll need:

• Ground turkey – I go for 93/7 or 85/15 so they don’t dry out too much
• Egg
• Panko breadcrumbs – regular or gluten-free to help bind the meatballs together
• Spinach – I use half an 8oz box of frozen spinach, thawed and then squeezed to remove moisture
• Feta – crumbled feta adds tons of flavor
• Fresh parsley – feel free to add some mint or dill as well if you’d like

How To Make Easy Mediterranean Meatballs

To make these meatballs you just need one bowl!

Be sure to squeeze the excess moisture out of the frozen spinach once you thaw it. I also like to give the spinach a rough chop, even though it’s already chopped just to make the pieces a little smaller.

Once you’ve done that, combine all of the ingredients in a bowl. Use your hands to mix everything together so that it’s well combined.

Then use your hands or a cookie scoop to form into meatballs of your desired size. I prefer smaller meatballs so I typically make 20-24 per batch.

Then bake, flipping after about 9 minutes.

Mediterranean Meatballs Recipe

Mediterranean Meatballs

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These Mediterranean Meatballs are easy to make and full of flavor. Made with ground turkey, spinach, feta and spices, they are versatile and protein-packed – perfect for lunch or dinner!

• Author: Lindsay
• Yield: serves 4

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground turkey (i use 85/15 or 93/7)
• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup panko breadcrumbs (gluten-free if needed)
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 2 Tbsp minced fresh parsley
• 1/3 cup crumbled feta
• 4 oz chopped frozen spinach (thawed and squeezed to remove excess water)*
• Bowl additions: rice, pita, tzatziki sauce, chopped veggie mixture, lettuce, etc

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Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.
2. Use your hands to mix well and combine.
3. Form into 20-24 meatballs of desired size.
4. Bake at 400 degrees F for 14-15 minutes, flipping after 9 minutes.
5. Serve in a bowl with rice, lettuce, mixture of chopped tomatoes, cucumber, onion, red pepper and feta, tzatziki sauce and naan.

Notes

*After squeezing spinach to remove moisture, I roughly chop it a few more times to get smaller pieces.

Mediterranean Meatballs FAQs

What can I add for more herby Mediterranean meatballs?

This recipe calls for fresh parsley but if you wanted to add even more fresh herbs, you could try some chopped mint leaves or dill. You could also add dried oregano or a little cinnamon.

Are these healthy Mediterranean meatballs?

Yes! These meatballs are a great source of lean protein. They’re low-carb, can be made gluten-free and make a great addition to most diets.

Can these Mediterranean diet meatballs be gluten-free?

Yes. To make these meatballs gluten-free, simply use gluten-free panko breadcrumbs. I use Kikkoman.

Do you have to make these Mediterranean meatballs with feta?

I personally think the feta plays a big part in this recipe. It’s so flavorful and really gives the meatballs a Mediterranean spin. However, if you don’t like feta, you could leave it out. I would suggest adding 1 tsp oregano to ramp up the flavor instead.

Can you make Mediterranean meatballs in the air fryer?

Yes. Grease the air fry grates and cook at 400 for about 5 minutes, flipping half way through.

How to add spicy Mediterranean meatballs?

To make these meatballs spicy, try adding 1/2 teaspoon to 1 tsp of cayenne pepper or some dried chili flakes.

Can you serve Mediterranean meatballs with couscous?

Yes! Couscous pairs well with these meatballs as a source of carbohydrates. If you don’t like couscous, try rice (white or brown), orzo or even something like farro or wheatberries.

Can you pair Mediterranean meatballs with tomato sauce?

These meatballs are so versatile that you could easily pair them with tomato sauce and serve them on your next spaghetti night. If you want them to lean more Italian, just leave out the feta and pair them with tomato sauce and pasta.

Mediterranean Turkey Meatballs with Tzatziki

Need more Mediterranean recipes?

Try one of these:

• Greek Hummus Plate
• Greek Quinoa Salad with Feta
• Greek Chicken Recipe
• Layered Greek Dip

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

These healthy meal prep lunch ideas are perfect for lunch at work or home. Make them ahead of time and enjoy all week long.

*Originally published 2/23. Updated 10/24.*

Hi friends!

Lots of you have been asking for healthy meal prep lunch ideas lately so ask and you shall receive! Last week when I launched my Mastering Food Prep course, I shared a lot about my flexible food prep method for lunches. I’m a big fan of prepping 1-2 proteins, 1-2 bases and 2-3 sauces and then mixing and matching throughout the week to make different lunches. You can find an example of 4 quick and easy meal prep ideas for work in this post.

Weekly Meal Prep Lunch Ideas

While some people enjoy packing a different lunch every day, other people are looking for one recipe they can prep ahead of time and enjoy for lunch all week long. If you want to add some variety to these ideas you can make swaps like using rice as a base instead of lettuce, putting meat in a pita one day instead of on a salad, or making half the batch vegetarian and half with meat.

If you’re looking specifically for cold lunches, check out these Easy Meal Prep Cold Lunches for Work! And here are some Breakfast Meal Prep Ideas.

Best Work Lunch Meal Prep FAQs

What proteins are good for meal prep?

Some of my favorite proteins to meal prep are chicken, steak and ground turkey. Hard boiled eggs also hold up well all week and things like beans and lentils are great for meal prep because they continue to absorb the flavors of the things around them throughout the week.

How long does meal prep last in the fridge?

Most things are good in the fridge for about 4 days. You can make larger batches and freeze half to help avoid things spoiling in the fridge and then they’re ready to just pull out and thaw mid-week or whenever you need them.

How often should you meal prep?

Meal prep is a great addition to your weekly routine. If trying to prep everything for the work week all at once overwhelms you, break it up and do some on Sunday and then a smaller prep session on Wednesday to help you finish out the week.

Can you meal prep all of your meals for the week?

Most people don’t find it effective to prep every single thing you’re going to eat all week ahead of time. Instead, focus on your trouble spots. Pick 1-2 recipes the prep ahead of time and use those to make packing your lunch each day quick and easy. This frees up more time for you to focus on cooking dinner or making a healthy breakfast to start the day!

Easy Healthy Meal Prep Lunch Ideas

Here we go! Remember if you don’t like a specific protein, in most cases, you can easily swap it for another type of meal or a vegetarian protein source to fit your needs.

Meal Prep Lunch Ideas with Chicken

Chicken recipes are by far the most popular request from readers. Chicken easily absorbs the flavors of sauces and marinades and they only deepen throughout the week.

Simple Chicken Marinade for Meal Prep

Prep a batch of this chicken pair it with a quinoa salad, put it in a pita or serve it with veggies.

Grab the recipe!

Marinated Chicken and Noodles

Flavorful marinated chicken. Serve it over noodles with your favorite veggies!

Grab the recipe!

Rotisserie Chicken Cobb Salad

Serve a rotisserie chicken for dinner on Sunday and then use the leftovers to enjoy this salad for lunch during the week.

Grab the recipe!

Spicy Chicken and Sweet Potatoes

Pair it with green veggies for a complete meal. Easy to swap broccolini for asparagus or brussels sprouts or a salad!

Grab the recipe!

Easy Healthy Lunch Ideas For Work – Meal Prep Chicken

If you’re looking for easy lunch ideas for work, chicken is a great option. It tastes great hot or cold so there are plenty of options that can be prepped and packed ahead of time.

Cheesy Broccoli Chicken and Rice Bowls

If you’re not a fan of broccoli, you could easily swap carrots, green beans or asparagus!

Grab the recipe!

Sheet Pan Chicken Shawarma Bowls

Sheet pan makes for easy prep and cleanup and this chicken is packed with flavor.

Grab the recipe!

Chicken Protein Bowl

A chicken protein bowl made with quinoa and packed with roasted vegetables, chicken, toasted almonds and topped with a maple dijon dressing. Perfect for meal prep.

Grab the recipe!

Creamy Chicken Enchiladas

This recipe is perfect for making a double batch, freezing one pan and enjoying the other for lunches all week.

Grab a recipe!

Cold Lunches Meal Prep Ideas – Lunch Bowl Meal Prep

Lots of work place lunch rooms don’t have a microwave so I always get lots of requests for meals that can be eaten cold. These lunch bowl recipes are perfect for meal prep!

Summer Roll Noodle Bowls

All the flavors of your favorite spring roll/summer roll without the fuss of a wrapper!

Grab the recipe!

Kale and White Bean Salad

This Kale and White Bean Salad is packed with nutrients and the flavor just gets better as it sits in the fridge. The perfect meal prep lunch recipe.

Grab the recipe!

Steak Cobb Salad

This Steak Cobb Salad Recipe is packed with protein and nutrients, easy to assemble and makes a great lunch or dinner option as the weather gets warmer.

Grab the recipe!

Roasted Vegetable Pasta Salad

This Roasted Vegetable Pasta Salad is a simple, healthy side dish recipe. Choose your favorite veggies, then add some bacon, goat cheese and an easy balsamic dressing.

Grab the recipe!

Pesto Chicken Quinoa Bowls

These Pesto Chicken Quinoa Bowls are full of flavor and perfect for a quick lunch or dinner. Pesto-marinated chicken with buttery quinoa and roasted veggies are the perfect match!

Grab the recipe!

Vegetarian Meal Prep Lunch Ideas

If you’re not a fan of chicken you might like these vegetarian meal prep lunch ideas. Swap in your favorite vegetarian protein option like beans, lentils, quinoa etc!

Vegan Red Lentil Curry

This Vegan Red Lentil Curry recipe is the perfect vegetarian lunch. It’s spicy, flavorful and packed with veggies.

Grab the recipe!

Easy White Bean Panzanella Salad

A great way to turn your favorite summer veggies into lunch!

Grab the recipe!

Spicy Peanut Tofu Bowls

You’ll love this peanut sauce, tastes great on a variety of proteins.

Grab the recipe!

Edamame Quinoa Salad

This one packs a protein punch! Try swapping quinoa for wild rice to change things up!

Grab the recipe!

Classic Chickpea Chicken Salad

A vegetarian twist on classic chicken salad.

Grab the recipe!

Cheap Easy Lunch Meal Prep – Affordable Meal Prep Ideas

While packing your lunch does tend to be cheaper than eating out every day, it can still get expensive. But with a little planning and some budget-friendly ingredients, packing your lunch can save you a ton of money each week! Here are some affordable meal prep ideas.

Sweet Potato Black Bean Skillet

Made with just one skillet and budget-friendly ingredients like beans and sweet potatoes, this recipe is easy to make and perfect for meal prep! Make a batch and enjoy all week long.

Grab the recipe!

Rice & Bean Freezer Burritos

Made with cheap ingredients but loaded with flavor, it’s easy to make a big batch of these all at once and pull them out of the freezer for a quick lunch!

Grab the recipe!

Spicy Ramen Noodles

Almost as cheap as the store-bought packets and much healthier. Just add hot water for a quick lunch!

Grab the recipe!

Moroccan Instant Pot Lentils

Packed with protein, fiber and veggies this makes the perfect lunch option at a budget-friendly price! Pair with rice, couscous or your favorite grain.

Grab the recipe!

Easy Lunch Meal Prep – Seafood

Seafood for lunch is often overlooked but there are lots of great recipe options that can be prepped ahead of time from cakes to salads to bowls.

Tuna Quinoa Cakes

These Tuna Quinoa Cakes are a great way to add some extra protein to your day. Eat them plain, put them on a bun, or use them to top your salad for a healthy lunch!

Grab the recipe!

Grilled Salmon Cobb Salad

Packed with flavor and protein, along with heart-healthy omegas!

Grab the recipe!

Garlic Butter Shrimp

Make a big batch of these shrimp and pair with pasta, rice or salad for quick, healthy meal prep lunches.

Grab the recipe!

Spicy Tuna Roll Bowls

Transform a can of tuna into something flavorful and exciting for lunch.

Grab the recipe!

Meal Prep Lunch – Soups

Soup is the perfect meal prep lunch idea. It’s easy to make a big batch or even a double batch and freeze some for later.

Sweet Potato Chicken Chili {Instant Pot or Slow Cooker}

This Sweet Potato Chicken Chili can be made in the Instant Pot or slow cooker for an easy, healthy dinner. And the leftovers make the perfect packable lunch. 

Grab the recipe!

White Chicken Chili

This Easy White Chicken Chili is the perfect lunch soup and a nice change from traditional tomato-based chili.

Grab the recipe!

Grab & Go Vegetarian Minestrone in a Jar

Prep several jars ahead of time and enjoy all week long.

Grab the recipe!

Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup

Light and fresh enough to eat in the summer but also cozy enough for winter.

Grab the recipe!

Lunch Meal Prep Ideas with Ground Meat

Lunch meal prep options with ground meat are endless. Pair with noodles, salads, rice and more for enough combinations that you’ll never get bored.

Potsticker Noodle Bowls

A fun twist on potstickers that’s both light and filling. Great to make for dinner and make extras to enjoy for lunch.

Grab the recipe!

Burger Bowl with Special Sauce

Tired of burgers? Try these burger bowls for lunch. Don’t skip the sauce.

Grab the recipe!

Egg Roll in a Bowl

All the goodness of an egg roll with no wrapper to get soggy during the week! Reheats perfectly for lunch.

Grab the recipe!

Greek Chicken Meatballs

These meatballs would be great in a rice bowl, in a pita or just on their own dipped in sauce.

Grab the recipe!

BBQ Meatloaf Meal Prep Bowls

An easy lunch idea with cajun mashed sweet potatoes, steamed green beans and mini BBQ meatloaves.

Grab the recipe!

Quick Easy Beginner Lunch Meal Prep Ideas

Have a few minutes to actually make lunch at lunchtime? Here are 4 quick ideas that come together in 5 minutes or less!

Ham and Egg Wrap with Herbs

A quick lunch idea that’s easy to make and full of flavor.

Grab the recipe!

Buffalo Chicken Quesadillas

Need a light lunch? Make these quesadillas as a quick lunch option.

Grab the recipe!

Thai Green Curry Chicken Salad

You can whip this up quickly for lunch on the day of or prep it ahead of time. Eat on bread or scoop with veggie slices or crackers.

Grab the recipe!

Italian Sub Salad with Cold Cuts

Cheap, quick and easy to make but still packed with protein and veggies

Grab the recipe!

Protein-Packed Meal Prep Lunch Ideas

If you’re looking for high-protein lunch options, there are plenty of good ones out there! Look for lean proteins plus added protein and fiber from beans, lentils, etc!

Easy Salmon Meal Prep Bowls

This combination of salmon and quinoa gives you lots of protein and the veggies help add fiber to keep you full even longer!

Grab the recipe

Chicken Salad Wrap

Use a whole wheat or other high-protein tortilla option to add even more protein to this wrap!

Grab the recipe!

Beef and Lentil Stew

Perfect for the colder months. Adding lentils to your beef stew adds even more protein and fiber.

Grab the recipe!

High Protein Mac and Cheese

Want even more protein? Add some leftover chicken or steak to your mac and cheese before packing it for lunch! And be sure to use a high protein pasta.

Grab the recipe!

Beef Meal Prep Lunch Ideas

If you love beef there are plenty of options for beef meal prep lunch ideas! Don’t forget that leftover dinner makes great lunches!

Steak Fajita Bowls with Cilantro Lime Cauli Rice

If you don’t like cauliflower rice, you can easily sub regular rice. Or try swapping beef for chicken.

Grab the recipe!

Korean Beef Bowls

This beef would also be great in lettuce wraps or spring rolls!

Grab the recipe!

Steak Salad with Berries, Avocado and Goddess Dressing

Grill some steak on the weekend and enjoy leftovers on salad all week long.

Grab the recipe!

Quick Beef and Zucchini Skillet

This dinner recipe makes great leftovers for lunch. Great way to use up summer zucchini.

Grab the recipe!

Easy School Lunch Ideas Meal Prep

If you’re looking specifically for school lunch ideas, I have a whole guide called Easy Packed Lunches For Kids. I pack all my kids’ lunches the night before so many of the ideas in there can be prepped ahead of time. And they’re not just for kids! Some of the ideas would qualify as easy lunch for work ideas!

Did you see anything healthy meal prep lunch ideas that caught your eye? I hope you found some new ideas to try. Pin this post for later to remind you.

Healthy Make-Ahead Lunch Ideas

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Learn how to cook dried green lentils in this step-by-step tutorial. You can cook a whole bag at once and freeze for future use!

*Originally published 9/23. Updated 10/24*

Hi friends!

This is a post that has been several years coming! Pretty much ever since I posted my recipe for Lentil Banana Muffins back in 2011, I’ve been getting questions about how to cook lentils. I finally got my act together to write out the process for you so that anyone can learn!

Cooking with Lentils for Beginners

How To Cook Dry Green Lentils

This post is specifically about how to cook green (or brown) lentils. This is the kind I use most often and always have in my pantry. They are high in fiber and potassium and they’re full of antioxidants. They hold their shape when cooked and can easily be combined with ground meat in things like tacos, sloppy joes and pasta sauce.

Beyond our favorite banana muffins, I also use them in Lentil Sloppy Joes and Pesto Lentil Balls. You can also learn How To Make Roasted Lentils or How To Sprout Lentils.

Need more ideas? Here are 20+ Healthy Green Lentil Recipes.

Baking with Lentils

Did you know lentils and beans are one of my favorite things to add to baked goods? I’ve been making these Lentil Banana Muffins for 10+ years and my kids still ask for them weekly. You blend the cooked lentils right into the batter with a food processor and it’s such an easy way to add protein and fiber to your baked goods.

You could also try my Apple Cinnamon Lentil Muffins or these Chocolate Lentil Bars.

Red Lentils vs Green Lentils

How To Cook Red Lentils // Red Lentils Cook Time

Red lentils are another great option. I love to use them in my Vegan Red Lentil Curry. However, they cook differently than green and brown lentils. Red lentils cook in only 5 minutes and tend to lose their shape. They’re best used for baking and in soups and stews where they can help thicken the broth. I often add some to my Curried Sweet Potato Soup. Or try them in my Red Lentil Pancakes!

Here are 15+ Red Lentil Recipes for you to try!

How Long Do Green Lentils Take To Cook // Green Lentil Cook Time

The great thing about lentils is that they cook super quickly. Once the water is boiling they just need to simmer for 12-15 minutes! This means if you don’t have any on hand in the freezer, you can easily cook some up while preparing other meal components and add them to a 20-minute meal.

Learn How To Cook Lentils Quickly on the Stove Top

How To Cook Lentils Perfectly Every Time {Lentil to Water Ratio}

• Add lentils to a pot.
• Add water. Lentils tend to triple in size once cooked so I recommend about 4 cups water per 1 cup dried lentils.
• Cover the pot and bring water to a boil. Once it boils, reduce to a simmer and let cook for 12-15 minutes. Exact cooking time will depend on your desired degree of doneness. I prefer mine on the firm side so 12 minutes works well for me but you can continue to simmer them until they’re as soft as you want.
• Drain the excess water. There will be water left. Lentils do not absorb all the water you put in like when cooking rice. Rinse lentils with cold water to stop the cooking process.
• Let cool completely before freezing (if desired).

How To Freeze Lentils // How Do You Freeze Cooked Lentils?

When I cook lentils, I tend to cook a whole bag at once and freeze most of them. Since I most often use them for baking and most of my recipes call for 1 cup, I freeze in once cup portions but if you plan to use for meals you could freeze in 2-3 cup portions.

Simply let the lentils cool completely, then scoop into storage bags, remove excess air and freeze flat.

When you’re ready to use them, transfer a bag to the fridge overnight, or put frozen lentils in a bowl and microwave to defrost.

Lentils for Meal Prep

Freezing lentils is great for meal prep as well! By cooking a whole bag at a time and freezing them, you can easily pull them out and add them to bowls, soups, casseroles and more as an easy vegetarian source of protein.

Try them in one of these recipes:

• Mediterranean Lentil Salad
• Grain-Free Lentil Bowls
• Sunshine Lentil Bowls

How To Cook Lentils

How To Cook Lentils

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Learn how to cook dried green lentils on the stove top in this step-by-step tutorial. You can cook a whole bag at once and freeze the extras for later.

• Author: Lindsay

Ingredients

1 bag dried green or brown lentils

8 cups water (approximately 4 cups per 1 cup dried lentis)

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Instructions

1. Place lentils in a large pot.
2. Add water.
3. Cover and bring to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer.
4. Simmer for 12-15 minutes or until lentils reach desired tenderness.
5. Drain excess water and rinse with cold water to stop cooking.
6. If freezing, let cool completely and portion into storage bags to freeze.

See how easy it is?! I can’t wait for you to make some because they’re such a versatile plant protein option.

How To Cook Lentils FAQs

Do you soak lentils before cooking? How long do you soak lentils for cooking?

In my opinion, lentils do not need to be soaked before cooking, but it certainly won’t hurt and could possibly aid in digestion. Since they are smaller than other beans and legumes they don’t require hours and hours of soaking. If you’re going to soak them first I would aim for no more than 4 hours. Red lentils do not need to be soaked before cooking.

Do you have any tricks for how to soak lentils quickly?

If you’re pressed for time, boil some water and pour over lentils. Let sit for 20 minutes, then drain and cook.

Should you rinse lentils before cooking?

Yes. It’s a good idea to rinse lentils before cooking. Because they are so small, the way they are harvested makes it more likely that little rocks and other pieces of dust and debris might be mixed in with your lentils when you bring them home.

So give them a quick rinse in the colander and pick through to remove any rocks or debris you might see.

Do lentils expand when cooked?

Yes! Lentils will expand to about 3 times their original size while cooking. So one cup of dry lentils yields about 3 cups of cooked lentils. Because of this, it’s important to use a large pot if you’re cooking a whole bag at once and make sure they’re covered with plenty of water.

Why are my lentils mushy?

If your lentils are mushy, you probably cooked them too long. It’s always a good idea to taste them a few minutes a few minutes before the suggested cooking time is up to see if they’re at your desired level of tenderness.

You may prefer them cooked slightly less than the directions on the bag. You can also rinse them in cold water after cooking to help stop the cooking process.

Should all the water be absorbed when cooking lentils?

No. You want to fill a large pot with plenty of water before cooking so that the lentils have room to expand, but there will still be water left in the pot to drain away when the lentils are done cooking.

How do you know when lentils are done?

To me this is a matter of preference. The easiest way to tell is to taste a few. Are they soft enough to chew? Some people prefer them a bit firm and others like them very soft.

How do you cook lentils so they don’t fall apart?

Green/brown lentils hold their shape fairly well unlike red lentils. If you’re worried about them falling apart, start checking on them way before the cooking time indicated on the bag. In my experience, the cooking time on the bag of lentils is way too long and leads to mushy lentils.

Should you stir lentils while cooking?

No, you do not need to stir the lentils while they are cooking.

Do you cook lentils covered or uncovered?

Lentils should be cooked with the cover on.

How to store cooked lentils? How long will cooked lentils last in the fridge?

Lentils can be stored in the fridge for 5-7 days. Alternatively, you can sort them into 1 or 2 cup portions and freeze them until they are needed.

How to season lentils

Lentils pair well with many basic seasonings that you likely already have on hand like paprika, garlic and onion powder, salt and pepper. You could also try adding cumin, chili powder and other spices you enjoy. Here’s a simple recipe for Seasoned Brown Lentils.

Different Kinds of Lentils (and varying lentil cooking time)

Different colors and types of lentils require different cooking times.

• Red/orange/yellow split lentils – cook in just 5 minutes or so and tend to lose their shape. They’re best in soups, stews etc.
• Black lentils – cook similarly to green/brown lentils. They may take just a bit longer, closer to 20 minutes. Here’s how to cook black lentils.
• French lentils – also cook similarly to green/brown lentils in about 15 minutes. Here’s an Easy French Lentils tutorial.

How To Cook Lentils Without A Stove

Can you cook lentils in the oven?

Yes, you can cook lentils in the oven. They should take 45-60 minutes and are basically being braised. Here’s a recipe for Oven Braised Lentils.

Can you cook lentils in the slow cooker?

To cook lentils in the crockpot, combine 4 cups water with 1 cup lentils (or double). Cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-8 hours. Drain and season as desired.

Or try on of these crockpot lentil recipes:

• Slow Cooker Lentils
• Crockpot Lentil Soup
• Crockpot Squash and Lentil Soup

How to cook lentils in the pressure cooker?

The Instant pot is a great option for cooking lentils as well, especially if you want to cook a large quantity at once. Here’s a great tutorial for How To Cook Lentils in the Instant Pot.

How to cook lentils in the microwave?

Yes. Place green lentils in a deep microwave-safe container and set a lid on top (not sealed). Microwave 10 minutes, stirring halfway through. Check for doneness and add another 1-2 minutes if needed.

How To Cook Lentils in Soup

Lentils are also a great option for soup because they can cook right in the broth. Simply add a cup to your favorite soup and let them simmer. Need a recipe? Try these:

• Lentil Soup from Recipe Tin Eats
• Best Lentil Soup from Cookie + Kate
• Lentil Soup Recipe from Alton Brown

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

This spicy Greek yogurt chicken marinade is so moist and flavorful. Prep it ahead of time and then throw it on a sheet pan in the oven or toss it on the grill for a quick, healthy dinner.

*Originally published May 2019. Updated Sept 2024*

Hi friends!

Today I’m sharing a recipe for Spicy Yogurt Marinated Chicken! If it’s been a while since you marinated anything, you may be surprised just how much flavor it can add. This is one of those recipes that’s perfect for food prep because you can just toss everything into a Ziploc bag and then move it to the grill for an easy dinner.

I used chicken thighs when I made it but you could also use chicken breasts. When I want a sheet pan meal, I cooked them in the oven with some green beans on one pan and roast some sweet potato slices on another.

In the summer months, this recipe is perfect for grilling. Put the chicken on the grill with some quick veggie kabobs and boom! Dinner is served. 

How To Make Greek Chicken Marinade with Yogurt

To make this marinade, just grab a large Ziploc bag. You could also use a bowl or Tupperware container if you prefer.

Combine the yogurt, spices, lime juice and garlic in the bag, then place the chicken in yogurt mixture. Seal tightly and mix until well combined and coated.

Let marinate in the fridge for at least 2 hours, up to 24 hours then cook as desired!

Greek Chicken with Tzatziki

Someone asked me if you could substitute tzatziki sauce for the Greek yogurt in this marinade and I think you could! I would leave out the lime juice and give it a try.

How To Cook Greek Yogurt Chicken Marinade

There are tons of ways to cook this chicken!

• On the grill – remove from the marinade and grill.
• In the oven – place on a baking sheet with some veggies and bake!
• In the air fryer – place in the air fryer at 400 for 10-15 minutes depending on the thickness
• On the stove top – cook in a cast iron skillet on the stove.

If you’re using a sheet pan, you may want to use some foil for a divider. The chicken is juicy and will release some liquid. I covered half my pan with foil to contain the chicken and then tossed my green beans on the other half of the pan.

If you’re not a fan of roasting two pans in the oven at once, toss a few sweet potatoes in the microwave while the chicken and beans are cooking in the oven!

Marinated Greek Chicken Thighs Recipe

Here’s how you make it:

Greek Yogurt Chicken Marinde Recipe

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This Spicy Greek Yogurt Chicken Marinade is so moist and flavorful. Prep it ahead of time and then throw it on a sheet pan in the oven or toss it on the grill for a quick, healthy dinner.

• Author: Lindsay
• Prep Time: 5 min
• Cook Time: 20 min
• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: serves 4-6

Ingredients

1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs (or breasts)
3/4 cup plain greek yogurt (regular works too)
1 tsp paprika
2 tsp cumin
1 Tbsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp dried oregano
4 cloves garlic, minced
juice from one lime
pinch of salt and pepper

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Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in a large Ziploc bag.
2. Close tightly and use your hands to mix everything around and make sure the chicken is well coated.
3. Marinate in the fridge at least 2 hours. (24 hours is best!)
4. Remove the chicken and cook as desired, discarding the remaining marinade. I cooked mine on a sheet pan with green beans at 400 for 15-25 minutes. Time will vary depending on the thickness of your chicken. Check internal temperature until it reaches 165. You may need to remove the green beans before your chicken is done!

Notes

To cook the sweet potatoes, thinly slice, spray with oil, season as desired and bake at 400 or 425 for 20-25 min flipping once.

This Greek Yogurt Chicken Marinade is so easy and full of spice. You can dial back the cayenne if you don’t want it as spicy. You could also try a different combo of spices. Add some turmeric, swap the lime juice for lemon juice, try chili powder instead of cumin etc!

Greek Yogurt Chicken Marinade FAQs

Can you marinate meat in Greek yogurt? Is it safe to marinate chicken in yogurt?

Yes! Yogurt makes a great marinade. Yogurt is acidic, which you want in a marinade. Some marinades use lemon, citrus, vinegar etc but in this case yogurt adds acid as well.

Is Greek yogurt good for marinating? What are the benefits of a yogurt marinade?

Marinating in yogurt adds acid which helps tenderize the meat and make it nice and juicy when you cook it instead of dry and rubbery.

Is marinating chicken healthy?

Yes! Marinating is a super easy way to infuse flavor into the chicken before cooking it.

Is Greek yogurt or regular yogurt better for marinade?

It doesn’t matter. Either works great!

How long should you marinate chicken? How long can you keep yogurt-marinated chicken in the fridge?

Most Greek Yogurt Chicken Marinades are suggested for 4-24 hours. Marinating any longer than 24 hours can cause the meat to start to break down, resulting in a less desirable texture.

How long do you cook marinated chicken?

This will depend on your cooking method. Be sure to cook chicken to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F in the thickest part of the meat and the juices run clear.

Do you rinse off yogurt marinade? When baking do you leave it in all the marinade?

You do not need to rinse off the marinade before cooking but you can discard any marinade left in the bag after you remove the chicken.

Is there a substitute for Greek yogurt? I wonder if sour cream could be subbed for Greek yogurt in the marinade?

Yes, if you don’t have Greek yogurt, sour cream makes a great substitute. You could also use buttermilk or tzatziki sauce!

What are some of the best Greek chicken recipes?

If you don’t care about yogurt and are just looking for some Greek-inspired chicken recipes, try one of these:

• Easy Greek Chicken and Potatoes
• Greek Chicken Marinade
• Greek Lemon Chicken
• Greek Chicken Recipe (with the best marinade)

Greek chicken thigh marinade/Greek chicken thigh recipes

Have chicken thighs to use up? Here are some great recipes to try:

• Oven Baked Greek Chicken Thighs
• Mediterranean Grilled Chicken Thighs with Dill Yogurt Sauce
• Grilled Chicken Thighs with Greek Marinade

Greek Yogurt Chicken

Healthy Chicken Marinades

Looking for other chicken marinades? Try these:

Easy Chicken Marinade (only 4 ingredients!)

For this easy chicken marinade, combine oil, red wine vinegar, honey and garlic for perfectly juicy chicken every time. Cook it any way you want – on the grill, in the air fryer or in the oven!

Grab the recipe!

Simple Chicken Marinade for Meal Prep

This simple chicken marinade for meal prep will quickly become a favorite. Easy and flavorful, perfect for batch-cooking chicken to enjoy all week long.

Grab the recipe!

Honey Bourbon Chicken (Marinade and Glaze)

This Honey Bourbon Chicken Marinade is packed with flavor! Let it sit overnight, then turn the marinade into a sauce while you cook the chicken. 

Grab the recipe!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–