This easy Chilaquiles Verdes recipe is perfect for a quick breakfast, lunch or dinner. Homemade salsa verde is easy to make and adds ton of flavor!

Hi friend!

Excited to share this recipe for chilaquiles verdes with you guys today. I’ve just recently discovered them as the perfect way to use my homemade salsa verde – a favorite recipe that I’ve been making for years.

I like to add avocado to make mine a little creamier and it’s so easy to make! Plus, if you have some extra after making your chilaquiles, it works great for tossing with chopped cabbage and making a slaw for these Spicy Shrimp Tacos.

And if shrimp tacos are not your thing, maybe you’ll like one of these recipes:

• Baked Ranch Chicken Taquitos (you could mix extra salsa verde with the ranch)
• Mexican Street Corn Dip – try adding some of this as a topping to your chilaquiles
• Ultimate Hot Taco Layer Dip

Chilaquiles Verdes Ingredients

Most of the ingredients you’ll need for this recipe are to make the homemade salsa verde. The rest are toppings. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Tomatillos
• Onion – white or yellow will work
• Jalapeno or serrano pepper – depends how spicy you want it to be
• Lime juice, cilantro, salt and garlic – for flavor
• Avocado – I like to add this to make the salsa a bit creamier
• Chips – you can make your own with corn tortillas or look for thick cut store-bought chips
• Toppings – There are so many options! Common toppings include cotija cheese, sour cream, red onion, fried eggs, chicken, pico de gallo and more

How To Make Chilaquiles Verdes

To make these chilaquiles verdes just follow a few simple steps:

• Roast the tomatillos, onion, pepper and garlic.
• Combine in a food processor with lime juice, cilantro, salt and avocado and blend until smooth.
• If you’re going to make your own chips, you can fry them but I prefer to bake them – just cut into triangles, spray with oil and bake.
• In a large skillet, warm the salsa verde. Add chips and toss gently to coat.
• Add your toppings and serve!

How to Make High Protein Chilaquiles Verdes

To increase the protein content of this dish, top with fried or scrambled eggs. Or grab some leftover chicken and mix it with the salsa verde before tossing with the chips. Chicken sausage also works well if you don’t have leftover chicken and you could even try leftover steak!

Chilaquiles Verdes Recipe

Here’s the exact recipe I use:

Chilaquiles Verdes

Print Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

This easy Chilaquiles Verdes recipe is perfect for a quick breakfast, lunch or dinner. Homemade salsa verde is easy to make and adds ton of flavor!

• Author: Lindsay
• Yield: serves 3-4

Ingredients

For the salsa verde

• 1.5 pounds tomatillos (husks removed)
• 1/2 medium white or yellow onion
• 2–3 cloves garlic (peeled)
• 1 jalapeno or serrano pepper (depending how spicy you want it)
• juice from one lime
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 cup cilantro leaves
• 1 medium avocado

For the chilaquiles

• 12 corn tortillas (or approx 10 oz thick storebought tortilla chips)
• 1 batch salsa verde
• Toppings of choice – minced cilantro, diced red onion, cotija cheese, sour cream, fried eggs, leftover cooked chicken etc

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

1. Make the salsa verde.
2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
3. Quarter tomatillos and onion and place on a baking sheet with garlic and pepper (halved and top removed).
4. Roast for 20 minutes.
5. Transfer tomatillo mixture to a food processor with cilantro, lime juice, salt and avocado and blend until relatively smooth.
6. If making your own chips, cut tortillas into 6 wedges, spread on 1-2 baking sheets, spray with oil and sprinkle with salt.
7. Bake at 400 degrees for 10-15 minutes until lightly brown and crispy.
8. Heat 2 cups of the salsa verde in a large skillet.
9. Add chips and toss gently to coat – adding more salsa if needed.
10. Add desired toppings and serve!

Chilaquiles Verdes FAQs

How to make gluten-free chilaquiles verdes?

This recipe is naturally gluten-free as long as you use corn chips or corn tortillas that are noted as being gluten-free!

How to make vegan chilaquiles verdes?

To make this recipe vega, swap the queso fresco for your favorite plant-based cheese. Try this Smoky 3 Ingredient Vegan cheese, and use plant-based sour cream as well.

Best tortillas for homemade chilaquiles verdes?

If you’re making your own tortilla chips to use in this recipe, I recommend using corn tortillas and turning them into chips. They will hold up better than flour tortilla chips.

How to store chilaquiles verdes?

This recipe does not keep well once made. If you’re not planning to eat it all in one sitting, I recommend storing the chips and salsa verde separately. Keep the salsa in the fridge until you’re ready for another batch and then grab your chips and toppings and assemble.

How to make spicy chilaquiles verdes?

To make this dish spicier, use a serrano pepper when making the salsa verde and then top with jalapenos for additional spice!

How to make chilaquiles rojos?

Although I prefer this recipe with green salsa, you can make it with red. Try this chilaquiles rojos recipe.

How to make the crispiest chilaquiles verdes?

To get your chips the crispiest, frying them in oil at home will be your best option. But if you’re not interested in that, baking them or buying thick cut store bought chips will work just fine. Mix your salsa and chips and serve immediately to minimize the chances of things getting too soggy.

Chilaquiles Verdes

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

This Crockpot Meatball Soup with Tortellini is the perfect dinner for a cold night. Using frozen meatballs and pantry staples makes it quick and easy.

Hi friends!

I’ve got a new crockpot recipe to share with you guys today. It’s been cold here and I’ve been craving soup and at the end of the week I often find myself turning to the freezer to see what I have on hand to use up.

I always try to keep a stock of frozen meatballs (Simek’s are my favorite) and last week I pulled some out to make this soup.

If you’re looking for homemade meatball recipes, try:

• Cheesy BBQ Meatballs
• Apple Cheddar Meatballs
• Paleo Turkey Sweet Potato Meatballs
• Carrot Pineapple Turkey Meatballs

Although this recipe does require a little chopping, it’s nothing major and it still comes together fairly quickly with the slow cooker doing most of the work for you. If you want to make it even easier, you can sub in your favorite frozen veggies.

Ingredients for Crockpot Meatball Soup with Tortellini

Many of the ingredients in this soup are pantry and freezer staples. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Garlic and onion – for flavor!
• Peppers and carrots- feel free to sub in your favorite veggies
• Great northern beans – for some added fiber!
• Diced and crushed tomatoes – if you have leftover crushed tomatoes, freeze them for another recipe!
• Beef broth – I prefer this because it has a bit richer flavor for this recipe but you could use chicken or vegetable broth as well.
• Frozen meatballs – Grab whatever brand you like but the smaller the better for ease of eating in this soup
• Baby spinach – just an easy way to add another veggie but feel free to skip this if you want
• Tortellini – I like this soup with tortellini but you can easily make it without tortellini or use whatever pasta you have on hand.

How To Make Crockpot Turkey Meatball Soup

To make this soup just follow a few simple steps:

• Combine most of the ingredients in the slow cooker and let it cook on low 6- 8 hours. Save some of the broth, the baby spinach and the pasta to add at the end.
• Cook the tortellini separately or add for the last 30 minutes of cooking.
• Stir in the spinach just before serving.

How to make crockpot meatball soup thicker or thinner

For a thicker broth, mix in a can of cream of mushroom soup or a cornstarch slurry. To make the soup thinner, add extra beef broth!

Crockpot Meatball Soup Variations

Mexican Meatball Soup

Swap the white bean for black beans, add some diced green chilis and swap the Italian seasoning for cumin and chili powder. Top with avocado and shredded cheese!

Crockpot Wedding Soup with Frozen Meatballs

Swap the tortellini for a smaller pasta like acini de pepe or orzo and leave out the diced tomatoes and crushed tomatoes. Or try a recipe like this Slow Cooker Italian Wedding Soup.

French Onion Soup Meatballs Crockpot

For a twist on French onion soup, brown the onions until caramelized, swap the Italian seasoning for a packet of French onion soup mix and melt some gruyere cheese on top before serving.

Slow Cooker Meatball Soup Recipe

Here’s the recipe I use:

Crockpot Meatball Soup with Tortellini

Print Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

This Crockpot Meatball Soup with Tortellini is the perfect dinner for a cold night. Using frozen meatballs and pantry staples makes it quick and easy.

• Author: Lindsay

Ingredients

• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup diced onion
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 1–2 cups diced carrots
• 1 (15 oz) can great northern beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 (15 oz can diced tomatoes, drained
• 14 oz crushed tomatoes
• 1– 2 quarts beef broth **
• 1 pound frozen meatballs (small or mini-sized)
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tsp Italian seasoning
• 8 oz fresh baby spinach
• 2 Tbsp fresh parsley
• parmesan cheese to garnish
• 12 oz tortellini (or your favorite pasta)

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

1. Combine garlic, onion, peppers, carrots, beans, diced and crushed tomatoes, 1 quart beef broth, meatballs, salt and Italian season in a slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours.
2. Option 1: Cook tortellini separately and portion into bowls. Then serve soup over tortellini
3. Option 2: Add tortellini for last 30 minutes in the slow cooker. (Tortellini may absorb some of the broth when stored so I advise cooking separately if you’re planning to have leftovers)
4. Stir in baby spinach and fresh parsley 5 min before serving to allow spinach to wilt. Add extra beef broth if you want your soup more liquidy! Garnish with parmesan and serve.

Notes

**Depending how you like your soup, you may want to add 2-4 more cups of beef broth. I prefer a little less broth so I start with 1 quart and add more if needed.

Crockpot Meatball Soup FAQs

Can I use homemade meatballs?

Sure! If you have them on hand or feel like making them, you could brown them and let them cook right in the crockpot or add ones you’ve previously made and frozen.

Do I have to add tortellini? Can I make gluten-free crockpot meatball soup?

Nope. I made this soup for my parents and forgot to tell them to add the tortellini and they both said it was great as is. You can also easily use a different type or shape of pasta.

To make this recipe gluten-free, use gluten-free tortellini or other gluten-free pasta, or leave out the pasta completely!

How to store crockpot meatball soup? Can you freeze slow cooker meatball tortellini soup?

Let cool and store in a glass container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Or portion into containers (like Souper Cubes – aff link) and freeze for later. If you’re planning to freeze, make the soup to freeze and cook the pasta when ready to serve.

How to reheat crockpot meatball soup with tortellini?

You can reheat this soup either in the microwave or on the stovetop. If the soup thickens after cooling or the pasta absorbs some of the liquid, feel free to add more broth when reheating.

Can I make vegetarian crockpot meatball soup?

Feel free to use store-bought plant-based meatballs, or make your own with a recipe like Vegan Meatball Soup. You could also swap the meatballs for mushrooms!

What if I’m looking for a recipe for crockpot swedish meatballs with cream of mushroom soup?

If you’re looking for a creamy meatball dish, you could definitely give this recipe a Swedish twist. Try replacing the diced and crushed tomatoes with two cans of cream of mushroom soup. You could also skip the Italian seasoning and add some Worchestershire sauce and a little nutmeg.

To keep things super simple, just throw frozen meatballs in the crockpot with cream of mushroom soup and serve over noodles.

If you need a specific recipe, try:

• Crockpot Swedish Meatballs
• Easy Slow Cooker Swedish Meatballs

Crockpot Meatball Soup with Tortellini

Want more soup recipes? Try:

• White Chicken Chili
• Crockpot Chicken Taco Soup
• Crockpot Potato Soup

Or if you want more pasta ideas, try this Creamy Tomato Chicken Pasta!

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–

These Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies with Oatmeal are bursting with delicious mix-ins and are guaranteed to please a crowd.

*Published 12/2022. Updated 10/2024*

Hi friends!

I’m adding a classic cookie recipe to your arsenal today – Chocolate Chip Walnut Oatmeal Cookies. Everyone has a favorite chocolate chip cookie – a tried and true staple that never fails. For me, that’s these Chewy Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies. But it’s also good to have a few more go-to recipes, usually some with fun mix-ins!

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies

That’s where this recipe comes in! It’s a classic chewy chocolate chip cookie recipe with hints of cinnamon and lots of chopped walnuts, chocolate chips and oats mixed in.

If you, like me, do not actually love walnuts, you could swap in pecans like I often do! You could even use slivered almonds or chopped peanuts.

You could also swap chocolate chips for raisins for a different spin.

What makes these the best chocolate chip walnut cookies?

This recipe has the perfect ratio of mix-ins to cookie dough. The oats add some texture to basic cookie dough while the chocolate chips add the perfect amount of sweetness. But it’s the walnuts that make this cookie really shine. The understated walnut flavor really shines through in these cookies and they offer the perfect balance of crunch from the walnuts and chewiness from the dough.

Chocolate Walnut Cookies

In developing this recipe, my emphasis was on the walnuts and making them the star of the show. If you’d like a bigger focus to be on the chocolate, there are a few things you could do. Leave out the oats and:

• Use dark chocolate – It has a richer, slightly stronger flavor which will make it stand out more.
• Use chocolate chunks – Instead of using chocolate chips, grab a bar of your favorite dark chocolate and chop it up into larger chunks. They’ll take up more space in the cookies and make their presence known!
• Add cocoa powder – Add 1/3 cup cocoa powder to your dough when you add the dry ingredients for a chocolate walnut cookie everyone will love!

Chocolate Oat Walnut Cookies

If you love the idea of oats and walnuts together but also want a chocolate cookie, feel free to follow this recipe as it’s written but add 1/3 cup cocoa powder when you mix in the dry ingredients.

Why add Oatmeal to Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies?

As a Registered Dietitian, oats are one of my favorite additions to muffins, cookies and other baked goods. They’re a whole grain and a great source of fiber. They also mix seamlessly into most doughs and batters and are an easy way to add some nutrient density to a recipe.

They also add a nice texture and are a great source of vitamins and minerals.

Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies with Oatmeal

Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies Recipe Ingredients

Let’s talk about the ingredients:

• Butter – softened to room temperature, not melted!
• Brown sugar – helps make them chewy
• White sugar
• Eggs – we use one egg + one egg yolk for a chewier cookie
• Vanilla and cinnamon- for flavor
• Flour – I use white whole wheat flour but AP flour is fine. You can also use a 1:1 gluten-free baking blend
• Baking soda
• Oats – I use rolled oats
• Walnuts – chopped to the desired size. I chop mine fairly small
• Chocolate chips

How To Make Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies

To make these cookies, just follow a few simple steps. Don’t skip chilling the dough. It makes a big difference and helps concentrate the flavors as well as keeps the cookies from spreading too much while baking to help them stay nice and chewy!

To make these cookies:

• Cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy.
• Add eggs and vanilla.
• Mix in dry ingredients until just combined. Don’t overmix.
• Gently stir in the walnuts and chocolate chips.
• Chill the dough.
• Bake and enjoy!

Tips for perfect oatmeal cookies:

• Press down lightly with a fork to help them spread a little bit while baking.
• Chill the dough to keep them from spreading too much.
• For picture-perfect cookies, add a few extra chopped walnuts and chocolate chips to the top of your scoops before baking!

Chocolate Chip Walnut Oatmeal Cookie Recipe

Here are all the details:

Oatmeal Walnut Chocolate Chip Cookies

Print Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

These Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies are bursting with delicious mix-ins and are guaranteed to please a crowd. 

• Author: Lindsay
• Yield: makes 2 dozen cookies

Ingredients

• 8 Tbsp butter, softened to room temperature
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1 egg + 1 egg yolk
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1.5 cups flour
• 3/4 cup rolled oats
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips
• 3/4 cup chopped walnuts

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

1. With a mixer, beat softened butter and sugars for one minute until light and fluffy.
2. Add egg, egg yolk and vanilla and mix well.
3. Add cinnamon, flour, baking soda and oats and mix until just combined.
4. Add walnuts and chocolate chips and mix again.
5. Chill dough at least 30 minutes in the fridge.
6. Scoop onto greased or lined cookie sheets and flatten lightly with a fork. Add extra walnuts and chocolate chips to the top if desired.
7. Bake at 350 for 11-12 minutes.

Notes

You can use any kind of nuts you prefer, or leave the nuts out completely.

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookie Recipe FAQs

How to store chocolate oat walnut cookies?

Let these cookies cool completely, then store in an airtight container on the counter.

Can you freeze this oatmeal chocolate chip walnut cookie recipe?

Yes! This dough would freeze great. Once the dough is mixed, scoop onto cookie sheets and flatten slightly. Then instead of chilling, place tray in the freezer for an hour or two, then transfer the cookie dough balls to a Ziploc bag.

Simply bake from frozen when ready to eat. They may require an extra minute or two of baking time.

Can I add walnuts to any oatmeal chocolate chip cookie recipe?

Yes! Walnuts make a great addition to cookies, even when the original recipe doesn’t call for them. Feel free to chop some up and add them to your favorite oatmeal chocolate chip cookie recipe for a boost of heart-healthy fats! Try these Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies!

Could I add other nuts to this oatmeal chocolate chip walnut cookie recipe?

Sure! You could chop up and throw in some pecans if you wanted. Oatmeals and pecans are similar in hardness so they would work well together in a cookie.

You could also add some chopped peanuts or slivered almonds.

Need more chocolate chip cookie recipes?

Chewy Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

These Chewy Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies are easy to make and you’d never guess they’re gluten-free!

Grab the recipe!

Date Sweetened Chocolate Chip Cookies

These Date Sweetened Chocolate Chip Cookies are naturally sweetened with dates and made with just a few simple ingredients! They’re perfect for dessert or an afternoon snack!

Grab the recipe!

Peanut Butter Hemp Seed Cookies

These Peanut Butter Hemp Cookies are made with just six ingredients and make a perfect protein-packed snack or dessert. Plus they’re kid-friendly!

Grab the recipe!

Walnut Chocolate Chip Cookies

This recipe uses vanilla instant pudding mix as the secret ingredient!

Grab the recipe!

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookies

These soft and chewy oatmeal cookies are loaded with chocolate chips and walnuts.

Grab the recipe

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

This apple crisp without oats is the perfect fall dessert! Delicious cinnamon apples with a buttery crumble topping.

Hi friends!

If you’re on the hunt for a new fall dessert recipe, this is it! I’ve always been a bigger fan of apple crisp than apple pie. Who needs that bottom crust when the crumble topping pairs so well with warm apples?

This dessert is so easy to throw together and tastes great warm or cold but I’d highly recommend it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or yogurt on top.

No Oats Apple Crisp

This specific recipe uses no oats. As a dietitian, I’m a big fan of oats. They’re a whole grain, a great source of fiber, etc. I use them often in recipes like:

• Lentil Banana Muffins
• Easy Freezer Prep Oatmeal Cups
• Zucchini Oat Bars
• White Bean Muffins

However, I’ve noticed in a lot of recipes for crisps and crumbles, I don’t always love the texture that oats add to the recipe. I often find them to be kinda dry and just not my favorite.

So I started thinking about these Pumpkin Pie Bars, which I love, and how they have a delicious topping that doesn’t require any oats. I figured I would try something similar for an apple crisp and it turned out great!

No Oats Apple Crisp Quick Easy Recipe

Filling Ingredients

To make the filling for this crisp you just need a few simple ingredients:

• Apples – Honeycrisp are my favorite!
• Lemon Juice – Adds a little tartness to balance out the sugar
• Brown sugar – For sweetness
• Vanilla and cinnamon – For flavor

No Oats Apple Crisp Topping Ingredients

The topping couldn’t be simpler!

• Butter – Cold cubed butter is important!
• Flour – Wheat flour or a GF blend like King Arthur Measure for Measure work great
• Brown Sugar
• Cinnamon

How to make apple crisp without oats

This recipe requires just a few simple steps:

• Dice the apples.
• Toss in a mixture of cinnamon, sugar, vanilla and lemon juice.
• Pour the apples in a pan.
• Mix flour, sugar, cinnamon and cubed butter in a bowl. Use a pastry blender or two knives until butter resembles pea-sized balls.
• Pour the topping over top of the apples and bake!

Apple Crisp Without Oats Recipe

Here’s the exact recipe:

Apple Crisp Without Oats

Print Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 1 review

This apple crisp without oats is the perfect fall dessert! Delicious cinnamon apples with a buttery crumble topping. 

• Author: Lindsay
• Yield: serves 6

Ingredients

• 5–6 cups diced apples – Honeycrisp works best! (approx 5 apples)
• Juice from half a lemon
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 –2 Tbsp brown sugar – depending how sweet your apples are
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 8 Tbsp unsalted butter, cold and cubed
• 3/4 cup flour
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp salt

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. In a bowl, combine your apples (they should be diced fairly small) with lemon juice, vanilla, brown sugar and cinnamon and stir to combine.
3. Pour apples into a 9×9 pan.
4. In another bowl, combine flour, sugar, cinnamon and salt with cold, cubed butter.
5. Use a pastry blender or two knives to cut butter into small pea-sized crumbles.
6. Pour flour mixture over the top of the apples.
7. Bake for 30 minutes.

No Oats Apple Crisp FAQs

How do I store this apple crisp without oats?

You can leave it out on the counter for a day or so, covered with foil or plastic wrap. After that I would transfer to a container and store in the fridge. Just warm it up in the microwave when you’re ready to eat!

Could you use the filling part of this recipe as apple pie filling?

Sure! Try thinly slicing the apples instead of dicing them and then grab a store-bought pie crust to put it in! You could even use the same crumble recipe on top of your pie.

Is this considered an apple crunch recipe?

It could be! The buttery topping does have a little crunch to it after baking. You could even extend the baking time to see if that makes it a bit crunchier – or add some chopped pecans or walnuts to the topping mixture!

What if I want an apple oatmeal crumble recipe instead?

If you’re looking for a similar recipe that does use oats, try one of these:

• Old Fashioned Apple Crisp
• Easy Apple Crisp With Oat Topping
• Skillet Apple Crisp with Oatmeal Crumble
• Easy Apple Crisp Recipe

What are some other ways to use all of these apples I have?

Apple Cider Donuts Recipe

One of my favorite things to do in the fall is make homemade donuts. We love these Baked Pumpkin Donuts but here are some using apples.

Traditionally, apple cider donuts use apple cider not apples, but this recipe for Cinnamon and Sugar Baked Apple Donuts uses applesauce (which you could make with some of your apples) AND grated apples. Here’s another recipe for baked apple donuts.

If you want to try making your own apple cider, try this Easy Apple Cider Recipe.

OR make our favorite apple donuts, which involve coring an apple, slicing and adding toppings! Or try these Apple Graham Cracker Snack Nachos.

Apple Smoothies Recipe

Tossing an apple into your smoothie every day could be a fun way to change things up this fall! Try one of these:

• Apple Smoothie
• Perfect Apple Smoothie
• Green Apple Smoothie

Dump Cake Apple Recipe

My Pumpkin Pie Bars use cake mix as a base and there are similar recipes using apples! Check out:

• Easy Apple Dump Cake
• 3 Ingredient Apple Dump Cake

Recipe For Apple Cookies

Apples also make a great addition to cookies! I’ve got a fun recipe for Apple Pecan Snack Cookies using coconut flour. Or you could try these Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Cookies or these Caramel Apple Cookies.

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

These chocolate chip pumpkin bars pack an extra nutritional punch thanks to the addition of quinoa! Kid-friendly and easy to make, they’ll quickly become a favorite Fall recipe!

Hi friends!

This is another Fall recipe I shared last year over on Instagram and as I made my first batch this year, I realized they should live here as well.

Easy Pumpkin recipes

I am a huge proponent of using pumpkin all year round. Some of my favorite recipes include:

• Easy Pumpkin Bread
• Pumpkin Pie Bars
• Pumpkin Gingerbread Muffins
• Pumpkin Energy Balls

You can find all my recipes using pumpkin here. Or check out this post with 30 Healthy Pumpkin Recipes or 20+ Pumpkin Desserts (that are not pumpkin pie).

Ingredients for Healthy Pumpkin Bars

I wanted to make these bars a little healthier than traditional dessert pumpkin bars. Here are the ingredients you need:

• Quinoa – cooked and cooled. Doesn’t change the taste but adds some protein and fiber
• Pumpkin – packed with nutrients. Look for canned 100% pure pumpkin
• Egg – for structure
• Maple syrup – I like to use maple syrup in pumpkin recipes to amplify the Fall flavors
• Oil – I use a neutral oil like avocado oil
• Vanilla extract – for flavor!
• Flour– I use white whole wheat flour but have also made them with King Arthur Measure for Measure GF flour
• Baking soda and cinnamon
• Chocolate chips– I consider these non-optional But you could leave them out or swap in some raisins if you wanted to.

Pumpkin Bars Recipe

The most time-consuming part of this recipe is making the quinoa. Rinse and cook your quinoa according to package directions, then let it cool for a bit before baking.

Once that’s done, just mix all the wet ingredients in a bowl, add the dry ingredients and spoon into an 8×8 pan to bake.

Pumpkin Bars Cream Cheese Icing

If you’re looking for a sweeter treat, these would be great with some cream cheese icing but I most frequently make them without icing.

If you’re looking specifically for a recipe with frosting, try these Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting.

Recipe for Pumpkin Bars

Here’s the exact recipe:

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bars with Quinoa

Print Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 1 review

These chocolate chip pumpkin bars pack an extra nutritional punch thanks to the addition of quinoa! Kid-friendly and easy to make, they’ll quickly become a favorite Fall recipe!

• Author: Lindsay
• Yield: 8×8 pan

Ingredients

• 1 cup cooked quinoa, cooled
• 3/4 cup canned pumpkin
• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup maple syrup
• 1/3 cup oil (I use avocado oil)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. In a bowl, combine quinoa, pumpkin, egg, maple syrup, oil and vanilla. 
3. Add flour, baking soda and cinnamon and stir until just combined.
4. Stir in chocolate chips.
5. Spread into an 8×8 pan lined with parchment paper. 
6. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until set.

Notes

You could substitute pumpkin pie spice for some of the cinnamon or add some ginger in if you want to!

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bars FAQs

What about oatmeal pumpkin bars?

If you’re looking for an oat-based bar, these Gluten-Free Pumpkin Yogurt Bars use oat flour. You might also like these Maple Pumpkin Oatmeal Breakfast Bars.

Are these gluten-free pumpkin bars?

You can easily make these gluten-free by using a 1:1 GF flour blend. I like King Arthur Measure for Measure (aff link). Or try this Gluten Free Pumpkin Bean Bread.

Do you have more pumpkin bars recipes?

Looking for other pumpkin bars to try? Here are a few:

• Pumpkin Bars
• Peanut Butter Pumpkin Bars
• Pumpkin Bars with Brown Sugar Frosting

Can you make these protein pumpkin bars?

You could easily add a scoop of protein to these bars and the quinoa adds some extra protein but they’re not specifically made to be protein bars. Try these Healthy Pumpkin Protein Bars or these Copycat Pumpkin Perfect Bars.

How do I store Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bars to keep them fresh?

Once cooled, these can be stored in a Ziploc bag or airtight container on the counter for up to 3 days. Then they should be transferred to the fridge to prevent molding.

Can I freeze these pumpkin bars for later?

Yes! Let them cool completely, cut into bars and store in a freezer-safe Ziploc bag. To thaw, just pull them out and put them on the counter.

What can I substitute for eggs in this recipe? Are there vegan-friendly options for this recipe?

You should be able to substitute a flax egg for the egg in this recipe, which would make the bars vegan.

Can I make these pumpkin bars without oil?

You could try substituting mashed banana or peanut butter for some or all of the oil.

How can I make these chocolate chip pumpkin bars less sweet without losing flavor?

These bars are fairly low in added sugar already, but you could try substituting applesauce or mashed banana for some or all of the sugar.

Are there any alternatives to maple syrup I can use in these Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bars?

You could substitute white sugar or honey for maple syrup in these bars.

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

If you’re looking for some new sandwich ideas for lunch boxes, here are 10 ideas for you! These sandwiches and sandwich alternatives are fun for kids and easy to make!

Hi friends!

Now that school is back in session, I promised to share some more lunch ideas with you! I pack lunches for my first and third grader every day and love sharing!

If you’re in a lunch packing rut and looking for new ideas, be sure to check out:

• This post: Easy Lunch Ideas For Kids – a roundup of some real-life lunches I packed my son in 1st grade
• This post: Cold Lunch Ideas – a roundup of lunches I packed my 1st and 3rd grader
• This post: High Protein Kids Lunch Ideas – where I share some high protein options with a breakdown of exactly how much protein they have
• This ebook: A Month of Easy Packed Lunches For Kids

Today we’re talking specifically about sandwich ideas for lunch boxes. This is a highly requested topic and people are always looking for new ideas.

I think one of the most important things to remember is that a sandwich doesn’t have to be just two pieces of bread with peanut butter and jelly in the middle! Don’t get me wrong, there are tons of great things you can put in a sandwich to help introduce new foods to your kids but you can also expand to some sandwich alternatives.

Sandwich alternatives are similar to sandwiches but use things like:

• Tortillas
• Slider buns
• Pancakes
• Mini bagels

and more to create things that have the feel of a sandwich but might be a little different or exciting for kids to eat!

10 Sandwich Ideas for Lunch Boxes

#1 – Cold Lunch Ideas – Turkey, cheese & avocado sandwich

• Turkey or ham + cheese + mashed avocado on bread
• Pretzels
• Grapes
• Carrots

#2 – Meal Prep Lunch Ideas – Pancake Sandwiches

• Pancakes make a great sandwich bun! Try adding some cream cheese and sliced berries in between.
• Yogurt
• Made Good Granola Minis
• Blackberries

#3- Vegetarian Lunch Ideas – Peanut Butter Apple Wraps

• Try a tortilla to make a wrap! Spread peanut butter on a tortilla, top with thinly sliced apple sticks and chocolate chips and roll it up.
• Cottage cheese
• Goldfish
• Strawberries

#4 Lunch Meal Prep Ideas – Pulled Chicken Sliders

• Slider buns are the perfect size for lunch boxes! Try mixing shredded chicken or pork and some bbq sauce to make sliders.
• Baked beans
• Apple
• Snickers bar

#5 Sandwich ideas for lunch – Smoked Salmon Mini Bagel

• Mini bagels are also a great size for lunch boxes. They actually have a decent amount of protein so sometimes I put them in plain or with cottage cheese but you can also add smoked salmon or some turkey!
• Wheat thins
• Peppers
• Clementines

#6 – Cold Lunch Ideas For Kids – Chopped Italian Sub

• Novelty is fun for kids. My oldest loves this chopped Italian sandwich. I chop turkey, pepperoni, salami, cheese and banana peppers, plus some lettuce and put it on a sub bun or hot dog bun.
• Ants on a log
• Canned peaches
• Doritos

#7 – Toddler Lunch Ideas – PBJ Squares

• Sometimes a big sandwich can seem overwhelming to kids, especially younger kids or those who have to eat quickly. Try making the sandwich and then cutting into bite-sized little squares to make it easier to eat!
• Granola bar
• Hard-boiled egg
• Fruit salad

#8 – Bento Box Lunch Ideas – Banana Sushi

• This is modeled after the look of sushi slices but is so easy to make. Add peanut butter or sunflower seed butter to a tortilla and wrap it around a banana. Then slice into pieces. You can pack it with the slices pressed together to help keep the banana from turning brown.
• Cheese
• Kix cereal
• Kids Go Macro bar.

#9 – Easy Lunch Ideas For Kids – Chicken Nugget Parmesan Sliders

• Pull out those slider buns again to make this twist on chicken parmesan. Microwave the nuggets, then add 2 to each bun, top with a little marinara sauce and cheese and microwave to melt the cheese.
• Animal crackers
• Applesauce
• Yogurt tube

#10 – Protein Lunch Ideas – Egg Sandwich

• Don’t forget about breakfast for lunch! A simple egg and cheese sandwich can be great in a lunchbox. Or jazz it up by adding some bacon.
• Sausage
• Grapes
• Cucumbers

What’s your favorite lunch sandwich?

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Looking for elementary school birthday gifts for the next party your child gets invited to? Here are some of our go-to gifts!

Hi friends!

School is back in session and for us that tends to mean a fair number of birthday party invites. Now that my kids are in elementary school and we’ve been to a few years of parties, I wanted to round up a list of some of our go-to present ideas.

I know the amount of money spent on gifts varies by family so I’ve tried to include a varitey of price points. Some gifts are up to $30 – maybe something you would gift a close friend, while others are under $10 and a great choice for a school classmate you may not know all that well. Most are around $15 – $20.

I’ve tried to provide a link for each option but remember that there are tons of different brands out there and that often things go on sale throughout the year. If you find a gift you like and are able to, stocking up on a couple of them when they go on sale can be a great option!

Or if you see an idea you like, but it’s too expensive, try searching for a different brand!

This is not meant to be an all-inclusive list…just 25 or so of our favorite ideas to get those gift-giving creative juices flowing.

If you need more gift guides, check out:

• Kids Gift Ideas {ages 4-7}
• Small Business Gift Guide
• Gift Ideas for Babies & New Moms {Baby’s First Year}
• Toddler Gift Ideas {Ages 1-3}
• Kitchen Tools For Kids
• Best Toys for Multiple Ages

So here we go! The links below are affiliate links which means if you purchase using them I make a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support!

Arts and Crafts Birthday Gifts

• Watercolor Paints
• Perler Beads
• Paint by Sticker
• Friendship Bracelet Kit
• Rainbow Loom
• Glitter Pens + cute notebook
• Puffy Paint + a plain t shirt/canvas bag
• Tie Dye Kit + plain white shirt/bag/pillowcase

Games & Books Birthday Gifts

• A puzzle – we like 300-500 piece options like this one!
• Qwixx
• Sleeping Queens (or another card game) + Card holder
• Outfoxed
• Pokemon Deluxe Book + cards
• Book Light + chapter book (This list has ideas!)
• Pop – It Pro Game – or any other pop-it!

Imagination & Active Birthday Gifts

• Boogie Board
• Marble Run
• Razor Scooter
• Stomp Rocket
• Outdoor Explorers Kit – or just some binoculars/magnifying glass and/or bug catcher
• Remote Control Car – we love this Hover 1 Tornado car
• Reusable Water Balloons
• Melissa and Doug vet set
• Princess Dressup Reuseable Stickers
• Small Lego set – we love these 3 in 1 Lego sets

Other Birthday Ideas

• A gift card to local businesses – ice cream, mini golf, arcade, art studio, etc.
• Squishmallow – tons of different size and character options
• Notebook + markers + water bottle stickers. Buy this pack and include a few in each gift for the year!
• Pencil pouch with their initial on it

Share your favorite birthday gifts to give in the comments below!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Looking for healthy crackers for kids? Here are some of the healthiest crackers for both kids and adults! Plus crackers I like as a Registered Dietitian.

Hi friends!

All you have to do is walk down the cracker aisle to make it clear that there are endless options out there for this crunchy snack. Today I’m going to share some of my favorites! If you’ve missed any of our “best of store-bought posts” you can find them here:

• Healthy Amazon Snacks
• Best Trader Joe’s Snacks
• Best Healthy Walmart Snacks
• Healthy Snacks At Costco For The Whole Family
• Best ALDI Healthy Snacks
• Best Healthy Snacks at Target

Types of snacks:

• Best Healthy Gluten-Free Snacks
• High Protein Snack Ideas
• Healthy Fruit Snacks
• Healthy Store-Bought Tortillas
• Best Boxed Mac and Cheese
• Best Frozen Waffles
• Best Low-Sugar Yogurts
• Lower Sugar Cereal For Kids
• Healthy Store-Bought Granola Bars for Kids
• Individually Wrapped Snack Ideas
• Peanut & Tree Nut Free Packaged Snacks

Are Crackers Healthy?

As a Registered Dietitian, I get asked a lot “are crackers healthy?” I’m here to tell you they CAN be! Some of the benefits of crackers can include:

• They can provide a serving of whole grains
• They can help kids (and adults) eat other nutritious foods like peanut butter, turkey, chicken salad, bean dip, cheese and more!
• They can provide carbs that can be used for energy.
• They can be a source of protein and fiber.

Many cracker options made with nuts, seeds and whole grains can be part of a substantial meal or snack.

What about the less healthy crackers?

But guess what? Along with some of the more substantial crackers, there are also a lot of crackers out there that don’t provide a whole lot of nutritional value. They’re low in protein and fiber, they’re not made with whole grains or nuts and seeds, and yet I believe they can still be part of a balanced diet! There are a lot of factors at play when I comes to picking the best crackers for you and your family. Let’s consider a few:

• Maybe you’d like to buy a cracker like Simple Mills Almond Flour Crackers but the price is too high and you can’t afford them regularly.
• Maybe there’s a nut allergy or a school nut restriction that you have to work with so you can’t have some of the nut-based crackers that tend to be higher in protein and fiber.
• Maybe your kids are too young to eat some of the crunchier crackers without them being a choking hazard.
• Maybe you buy less nutrient-dense options because they’re the ones your kids eat and they help your kids eat other more nutrient-dense foods.
• And maybe you believe all foods fit and you buy crackers because your kids enjoy eating them. You focus on feeding them a well-balanced diet and recognize that some foods are eaten for enjoyment, not nutrients!

If any of those apply to you, don’t feel bad about the crackers you’re feeding your family! I’m a Registered Dietitian with three kids and if you looked in my pantry on any given day you would see

• Simple Mills
• RW Garcia Sweet Potato Crackers
• Wheat Thins
• Goldfish
• Graham crackers

Here’s a video recap of some crackers I like and some crackers I have on hand in my pantry on any given day!

Which are the healthiest crackers for snacks?

If you are looking for a nutrient-dense cracker option to try, here are some guidelines:

• Look for crackers made with whole grains, oats, brown rice, nuts and seeds.
• Look for crackers with at least 2-3 grams of fiber.
• Watch the sodium levels. Lower is better since most people consume a large amount of sodium each day. Aim for 150mg or less per serving.
• Aim for low added sugar.
• Don’t be tricked by the words on the box. Often whole wheat or multigrain options are minimally different than the original versions when it comes to crackers. Check the label!

Healthy Crackers For Snacks

Here are some of my favorite options:

Simple Mills Almond Flour Crackers

• 3 grams protein
• 2 grams fiber
• 230 mg sodium (this is a bit high)
• Available at Costco!
• Ingredients in the sea salt version: Nut and Seed Flour Blend (Almonds, Sunflower Seeds, Flax Seeds), Tapioca, Cassava, Organic Sunflower Oil, Sea Salt, Organic Onion, Organic Garlic, Rosemary Extract (For Freshness)
• They also have a seed flour cracker line.

RW Garcia Sweet Potato Crackers

• 2 grams protein
• 1 gram fiber
• 50 mg sodium
• Ingredients: stone ground yellow corn, sweet potato, sunflower or corn oil, flax seeds, black sesame seeds, chia seeds, sea salt
• Available at Costco!
• They have other flavors like beet, lentil turmeric and kale

Triscuit Thin Crisps (or regular)

• 3 grams protein
• 4 grams fiber
• 170 mg sodium
• Ingredients: Whole grain wheat, canola oil, sea salt.
• Regular Triscuits are fine! They’re just thicker and crunchier and can be harder for kids to eat!

Mary’s Gone Crackers

• 4 grams protein
• 3 grams fiber
• 180 mg sodium
• Ingredients: Organic whole grain brown rice, organic whole grain quinoa, organic brown flax seeds, organic brown sesame seeds, filtered water, sea salt, organic wheat-free tamari (water, organic whole soybeans, salt, organic vinegar). Contains soy.
• They also have a line of Super Seed Crackers

Annie’s White Cheddar Bunnies

• 3 grams protein
• 2 grams fiber (the white cheddar bunnies have more fiber than regular)
• 150 mg sodium
• Ingredients: Organic Wheat Flour, Organic Expeller-Pressed Sunflower Oil, Organic Cheddar Cheese (pasteurized organic milk, cheese cultures, salt, non-animal enzymes), Organic Dried Cheddar Cheese (organic cultured milk, salt, non-animal enzymes), Organic Whey, Salt, Organic Nonfat Dry Milk, Organic Yeast, Leavening (monocalcium phosphate, baking soda), Organic Paprika, Organic Onion Powder, Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Celery Seed, Non-Animal Enzymes.

Crunchmaster

• 3 grams protein
• 2 grams fiber
• 150 mg sodium
• Ingredients: Brown Rice Flour, Sesame Seeds, Potato Starch, Flax Seeds, Olive Oil, Amaranth Seeds, Quinoa, Salt, Tamari Soy Sauce Powder (Tamari Soy Sauce [Soybeans, Salt], Maltodextrin, Salt).
• One of the few crackers made with olive oil vs other oils

What’s in the more “kid-friendly” crackers

Let’s take a look at a few of the more popular crackers that kids tend to like, such as Ritz, Wheat Thins and Goldfish. Sometimes we choose crackers for nutrients like protein, fiber, etc. Sometimes we choose crackers as a source of carbs to give us energy because they’re a good vehicle for other nutrient-dense foods or just because they’re fun to eat! A few things to point out.

Ritz

Don’t be fooled by marketing. Don’t grab the baked with whole wheat ritz option because you think they’re so much better than the original. If you compare the labels, the original on top, you can see they both only have 1 gram of protein and fiber and the same first ingredient (unbleached enriched flour). The baked with whole wheat just adds a little whole grain wheat flour but the effect is negligible. They both also contain high fructose corn syrup.

This is a similar issue in Club crackers – the multigrain Club crackers might sound healthy because of the word multigrain but they have 2g added sugar, no fiber and less than one gram of protein.

Wheat Thins

I give my kids wheat thins. I like that they have 2 grams protein and 3 grams fiber and that the first ingredient is whole grain wheat flour. They also help my kids eat things like guacamole, turkey and cheese, etc – things they wouldn’t generally eat plain. Wheat Thins also have 4 grams of added sugar. While that’s not ideal for crackers, it can still fit into a balanced diet, especially if you pair them with more nutrient-dense foods that are low in added sugar.

Goldfish

A good reminder that eating is for both nutrition and enjoyment. Goldfish have a little protein, not a lot of fiber, they’re a little high in sodium but guess what? They’re also fun to eat! And kids love them. While they’re not adding a lot of nutritional value, they’re still fine to eat occasionally for fun!

I hope this was helpful! Your main takeaway should be that crackers can serve a variety of purposes. Sometimes it’s about nutrition and sometimes it’s about fun! Finding a balance is key!

Enjoy!
–Lindsay–

Thanks to Horizon Organic for sponsoring this post.

Hi friends!

Popping in today to share a super-easy way you can make a difference in the lives of some amazing kids! One of the best decisions I made when I was in college was becoming a mentor in our local chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. In case you’re not familiar, BBBS has been providing children facing adversity with mentoring relationships that change lives for the better since 1904. There are currently over 150,000 Big and Little matches nationwide.

I was matched with my Little for 2 years in college and loved every minute. This organization has such a special place in my heart and I truly believe that something as simple as taking some time out of your day once a month to hang out with a kiddo going through a rough time can make SUCH a difference. My Little and I had all sorts of fun when we were partnered up. We played mini golf, did art projects, ate pizza, went shopping and more. It was fun for me and so important for her!

Currently, one of my favorite companies, Horizon Organic, is supporting BBBS with a fun little campaign called the #HorizonConfiDANCE. They recognize that every child has unlimited potential and want to help inspire them to grow, dream big and be confident. You can help by sharing your own #HorizonConfiDANCE! For every dance shared on Instagram or Facebook by September 30^th, Horizon Organic will give $5 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, up to $200k. Just use #HorizonConfiDANCE

Here’s our dance to give you some inspiration!

If your family is anything like mine, I’ll bet you and the kiddos have crazy little dance party at LEAST once a week, if not on the daily…like we do around here. This is such a simple way you can make a difference. Just snap a quick video of your next dance party and share it with the hashtag! Then refuel with a snack like we do!

Need some fuel to power your next dance party? String cheese is one of our go-to snacks! You’ll find 7 grams of protein in both the mozzarella and Colby cheese sticks from Horizon Organic. Plus, they’re super portable!

I toss them in our lunchbox for a picnic at the park or grab a couple for a quick snack after a swimming lesson or tae kwon do class. Or pair one with an apple to add some carbs and peanut butter healthy fats for a perfectly balanced snack!

If your kiddos like milk, Horizon Organic also offers single-serve, shelf-stable milk boxes. Stock your pantry and grab them when you need a quick snack that offers 8 grams of protein along with calcium, Vitamins D and B2. They’re also great for adding to lunch boxes!

We love Horizon Organic because it’s USDA certified organic, which means no added hormones and no antibiotics. Their products help power kids with a source of protein, vitamins and calcium without artificial colors or flavors because they believe “real” is what matters.

I would LOVE to see you and your kiddos do a little dance to benefit others. Be sure to tag me when you share!!

Enjoy!

–Lindsay–