Best heart Healthy recipes are very essential in our life. Everybody is aware of the fact that healthy food offers numerous advantages when compared to junk and fast foods. This blog post contains the best heart healthy recipes which will definitely help you in fulfilling your dietary needs in a healthy way.
Cooking healthy food doesn’t have to be hard. Try out one of these best heart healthy recipes, and you’ll be feeling great in no time.
Heart-healthy recipes
The British Heart Foundation pick their favourite heart-healthy recipes…
- Mediterranean fish stew with garlic toastsA star rating of 4.8 out of 5.28 ratingsFeed a crowd like a Mediterranean mamma, with this gloriously summery seafood stew
- Chicken & leek pot piesA star rating of 3.8 out of 5.49 ratingsCreamy individual pies topped with fluffy mash – perfect for a relaxed dinner, with your favourite veg
- Tortilla tapasA star rating of 4.4 out of 5.21 ratingsThese bite-sized Spanish omelettes are cooked in the oven, making them low in fat but still delicious
- Sesame flatbreadsA star rating of 4.3 out of 5.17 ratingsPerfect with hummus, these tasty flatbreads upstage pitta – and they’re yeast-free too
- Healthy banana breadA star rating of 4.3 out of 5.163 ratingsHave your cake and eat it with this low-fat, healthy banana loaf – perfect for breakfast and beyond
- Cinnamon rubbed salmon with couscous & harissa yogurtA star rating of 4.7 out of 5.36 ratingsA superhealthy fish supper that’s on the table in under half an hour
- Italian vegetable soupA star rating of 4.6 out of 5.122 ratingsWarm up your week with this good-for-you vegetable soup that’s easy to freeze ahead
- A nice rice puddingA star rating of 4.7 out of 5.7 ratingsTry this recipe for a low-fat rice pudding, which doesn’t skimp on creaminess
- Easy lentil curryA star rating of 4.2 out of 5.99 ratingsOur fast, cheap and healthy vegetarian lentil curry, is comforting and full of flavour. It’s also low in fat and freezable for speedy midweek meals.
- Jewelled cranberry & juniper red cabbageA star rating of 2.4 out of 5.3 ratingsThis dish is simplicity itself. The sweet-sharp fruit flavours add a bit of drama to the earthy flavour of red cabbage – pair it with your roast turkey
- Grilled Mediterranean veg with bean mashA star rating of 4.5 out of 5.23 ratingsGetting tired of roast veg with couscous or pasta? Try mashed beans for a cheap, healthy alternative
- Honey-roasted swede with chilli & cuminA star rating of 5 out of 5.8 ratingsThis versatile root vegetable can be roasted like a potato – with a drizzle of honey and sprinkling of spice you get a very special side dish
- Turkey & parsnip curryA star rating of 4.4 out of 5.18 ratingsThis post-Christmas curry is full of flavour and so easy to make – even better, it’s all cooked in one pan, so there’s very little washing up
- One-pot cabbage & beans with white fishA star rating of 4.6 out of 5.36 ratingsThis cabbage stew is based on a peasant dish from south-west France, called garbure, which is served with everything from duck to fish
- Zesty haddock with crushed potatoes & peasA star rating of 4.8 out of 5.104 ratingsBeing pushed for time doesn’t mean you have to eat unhealthily, as this quick and low-fat fish supper proves
- Spiced pepper pilafsA star rating of 4.3 out of 5.13 ratingsThis colourful vegetarian supper is superhealthy and freezable in individual portions, so you can defrost as many as you need
- Turkey noodle soupA star rating of 4.2 out of 5.13 ratingsHealthy, cheap and quick – this soup is a great way to use up leftover turkey or chicken
- Stir-fried sprouts with green beans, lemon & pine nutsA star rating of 4 out of 5.6 ratingsThis fresh idea for your Christmas sprouts is a good source of both vitamin C and folic acid
Our 15 Best Heart-Healthy Recipes That Don’t Taste Like “Diet Food”
Health-conscious readers picked their favorite online heart-healthy recipes and we’ve chosen the top 15 from their favorites. Whether it’s a dessert, breakfast cookie, chicken recipe, or vegetarian dish, these heart-healthy recipes are full of flavor and fit any occasion.
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Macaroni and Cheese with Cashew Cream
You deserve to upgrade from the basic boxed mac. There’s no mysterious, vibrantly-orange powder or goo here. The sauce for this sneakily-nutritious 25-minute meal is made with soaked raw cashews blended up into a cream. Combine the sauce with two types of real cheese, punchy spices, and a nearly ½ cup of broccoli per person and you have one of our best heart-healthy recipes for picky eaters.
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Sweet Potato, White Bean Hummus, and Israeli Salad
Taste the rainbow with this just-so-happens-to-be-vegan heart-healthy recipe to lower cholesterol. Ideal for a meal prep lunch or light dinner, this sweet potato dish is speedy to prep since you “bake” the vitamin-rich spud in the microwave. Multitask by shaking up the dressing, mashing up the bean blend, and tossing together the herb-laced vegetable topping. “A perfect vegetarian meal,” one BH&G home cook raves. “My husband, who is a big meat eater, loved it too!”
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Seared Salmon with Pistachio Gremolata
Countless cardiologists agree: The Mediterranean diet is among the best lifestyles to prevent cardiovascular disease. And with heart-healthy Mediterranean recipes that taste this incredible, it’s colorful and easy to stick to the program. Carve out 25 minutes and grab one skillet—that’s all you’ll need to sear salmon to perfection. The healthy fat-filled nut and herb topping really helps the flavors pop.
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Spiced Chicken-Lentil Tacos with Quick-Pickled Red Onions
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If your go-to takeout, fast food, or food truck order is Mexican, you’ll definitely want to save this heart-healthy recipe for dinner. Thanks to lentils, a legume that has become one of our favorite superfoods, each two-serving taco recipe delivers an impressive nine grams of fiber. That’s more than one-third of your daily recommended intake! Corn tortillas serve as the perfect vehicle for warmly-spiced, protein-strong chicken, quick-pickled onions, and a citrusy sauce.
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Holiday Slow Cooker Ribollita
No need to wait for a holiday. If you’re looking to clean out your produce drawer, this heart-healthy diet recipe feeds 10 and packs in more than 10 cups of vegetables—plus fiber superstar beans and plenty of flavorful fresh herbs. Cook this classic Tuscan bread and vegetable soup on high for 1 hour or on low for 2 hours, then finish with a mountain of kale and crusty bread to deliver on the ribollita promise.
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Portobello Pot Roast
A high intake of saturated fat, which is found in animal foods like steak, is related to higher cholesterol and to a less healthy heart. So instead of your usual beef, try a mushroom recipe next time you’re in the mood for a hearty dinner. Since this vegan heart-healthy recipe also calls for other vegetables, including potatoes and carrots, each serving is high in fiber—and, as a result, super-satisfying. “This recipe jumped off the page. I made it tonight and it is delicious, and my husband loved it as well,” one five-star reviewer says. “This was my first time using fresh horseradish. Wow, what a wonderful kick it adds.”
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Grilled Pork with Apple and Grape Bowls
Yes, pork can still be on the menu when you’re aiming to eat for cardiovascular health. Lean pork tenderloin actually has less cholesterol per serving than shrimp, beef sirloin, lamb, and even skinless chicken. So for this heart-healthy recipe for dinner, we pair grilled pork tenderloin with grilled apples and onions, high-protein quinoa, and peppery arugula. Finish the grain bowl with an herb-spiked olive oil and mustard vinaigrette.
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Zucchini, Summer Squash, and Chicken Salad
You might be more familiar with mayo-loaded chicken salad, but this heart-healthy recipe, low-sodium-style remix will inspire you to turn over a new leaf. Poached chicken stars atop a bed of squash ribbons, corn, and tomatoes all tossed with a splash of olive oil. “So yummy and fresh! Great summer salad. We ate it as a main dish with bread and dipping oil,” one BH&G fan says.
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Bulgur-Stuffed Acorn Squash
Fiber-rich whole grains play a role in many of our best heart-healthy recipes. In addition to being nutty and delicious, whole grains like red bulgur—the option featured here—are so hearty you won’t even miss the meat. Sweet-tart antioxidant-rich dried tart cherries, meaty-textured roasted squash, and buttery hazelnuts (hello, healthy fat!) team up with the grain to deliver one majorly satisfying vegetarian feast.
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Paleo Sesame Tuna Lettuce Wraps
Normally, tuna salad sandwiches or wraps utilize mayo as the “glue” to hold the seafood blend together. In this heart-healthy diet recipe, however, we substitute a sesame ginger vinaigrette that’s made with heart-smart avocado oil and sesame oil. Fresh cilantro, shredded carrots, slivered almonds, and pineapple cubes offer refreshing tropical flavors—and so much nutrition to the filling for these low-calorie lettuce wraps.
Heart-Healthy Side Dishes That Are High in Flavor and Low in Calories
Heart-healthy side dishes can be delicious. Yes, we’re here to bust the myth: Just because you’re aiming to eat to support your ticker doesn’t mean the food can’t taste good. From colorful roasted veggies to festive spiralized salads, these heart-healthy side dish recipes rate high in flavor and low in cholesterol, sodium, and saturated fat. Plus, each high-fiber side dish clocks in at fewer than 250 calories per serving.
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Chile-Lime Roasted Vegetables
If you’re looking for an alternative way to spice up a heart-healthy dish without using Tajín—a trendy lime and chile seasoning—then you’ll love this heart-healthy side dish recipe. Tajín amps up the flavor for most dishes but it contains a whopping 32% of your daily sodium content per teaspoon. Instead, coat and roast vibrant peppers, turnips, and more produce picks in ground chipotle pepper and fresh lime juice for one hot and healthy side.
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Sweet Potato Spiral Sauté
If you’re crunched for time and in need of more ways to sneak vegetables into your menu, consider this high-fiber side dish. The skinny sweet potato spirals are both fun to eat and speedy to prepare. They taste amazing crisp-tender from the skillet but will definitely win your heart once you try them coated in a surprisingly low-sodium Asian-inspired almond butter dressing.
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Honey-Butter Turnips
Roasted veggies for the win. The high heat cooking method brings out the natural sweetness of the turnips, which we accentuate with naturally sweet honey. Just five simple ingredients result in a heart-healthy side dish that looks elegant and sophisticated.
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Mashed Root Vegetables with Parmesan
Goodbye, boxed spuds. Hello, homemade goodness! This heart-healthy side dish recipe gets to the root of things with vitamin-rich parsnips, rutabaga, carrots and, of course, potatoes. Use fat-free milk to make it ultra-creamy yet low in saturated fat.
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Barely Roasted Purple Vegetables
A bulb of purple garlic makes this quick-cooking (hence “barely” roasted), heart-healthy side dish extra mouthwatering and visually appealing. Carrots, green beans, green onions, and just enough goat cheese play supporting roles.
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Bean, Corn, and Tomato Salad
Here’s one heart-healthy side dish recipe that gets better with time! Well, with 4 to 24 hours at least. That’s how early you can toss it together to allow the herb-infused vinaigrette to infuse the fresh corn, tomatoes, chickpeas, and edamame. The bean and veggie combination delivers a respectable amount of protein and fiber (3 grams each)—for very few calories (86).
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Melty Tiny Tomatoes
This heart-healthy side dish recipe is summer at its finest. Roast garden-fresh tomatoes right on the vine, then enjoy one vitamin-rich starter that’s perfect alone or smashed onto crusty bread. To up the veggie ante even more, toss the juicy, chili powder-spiced tomatoes with zoodles.
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Air-Fried Mediterranean Vegetable Medley
The Mediterranean diet ranks time and time again as among the best diets for your heart. So it makes perfect sense that the ingredients of the cuisine can team up to create one majorly heart-healthy side dish! (Oh yes, it’s majorly tasty as well.) Round up your favorite seasonal vegetables, toss them with olive oil, garlic, oregano, lemon zest, and a pinch of salt, then give them a ride in the air fryer for 10 minutes.
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Fresh Asparagus Ribbon Salad
Sick of dealing with asparagus that has a woody texture? Think thin! To make this heart-healthy side, grab a vegetable peeler and peel ribbons of asparagus to toss with sliced radishes, Bibb lettuce, and a garlicky herb dressing.
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Carla’s Sorghum with Butternut Squash
A mere ¼ cup of sorghum delivers an impressive 12% of your daily iron needs. That hearty starch stars in this heart-healthy side dish alongside vitamin-rich butternut squash, healthy fat-filled pumpkin seeds, and plenty of fresh herbs.