Start off the New Year right with these healthy, hearty and satisfying recipes featuring ingredients that are in season in January! With tons of recipes to choose from you’re sure to find something you can look forward to trying! As always these recipes are all 100% gluten free – many of them are also dairy free, vegan and paleo friendly as well.
Happy New Year!
Congratulations – we’ve made it through the holiday season and on to another year.
I don’t know about you, but now that the Christmas leftovers have run out and the New Years resolutions have begun, it’s time to look forward into the month of January as an opportunity to unwind, reset and eat lots of tasty (and healthy!) food.
In case you need a little inspiration to get you started I’ve complied a quick list of what’s good, healthy and in season this January. Of course, what’s available might vary a bit depending on where you’re at on the globe, but you should still find plenty of healthy and delicious recipes to make you hungry!
Ingredient Spotlight: Winter Squash
Pumpkin isn't just great for enjoying around Halloween! Winter squash (carnival, acorn, butternut and spaghetti squash just to name a few) is versatile, flavourful and nutrient rich making it a fantastic ingredient to work with during the cool winter months.
Once you get the hang of peeling and chopping (which can admittedly be a pain) transform your humble squash into a delicious soup, stew, curry or casserole!
Tip for choosing ripe & ready squash: Winter squash should feel ripe and heavy with its stem fully intact. Tap your squash with your knuckles and listen - if your squash sounds hollow it's ready to go.
Here are a few of my favourite recipes featuring winter squash:
Butternut Squash Peanut Curry
A balanced combination of sweet and savoury flavours make up the foundation of this simple, filling and wholesome Peanut & Kale Butternut Squash Curry. This plant based curry comes together all in one pot in about 30 minutes making it a great weeknight meal you can feel good about eating! Gluten Free + Vegan
Roasted Balsamic Rosemary Chicken & Squash
One pan Roasted Balsamic Rosemary Chicken & Squash - crispy chicken thighs coated in a simple, herby rosemary-mustard marinade and roasted alongside sliced squash and chopped shallots. Easy prep and minimal clean up make for maximum flavour in this healthy and hearty seasonal dinner! | Gluten Free + Paleo
Curried Butternut Squash Soup
Thick, rich and silky smooth, this Curried Butternut Squash Soup is the perfect way to take advantage of this seasonal vegetable! Made with less than 10 ingredients and prepared all in one pot you'll be cozying up with this bowl of comfort in no time at all! | Gluten Free + Paleo + Vegan
Eggs in Squash Rings
Baked eggs in squash rings topped with bits of bacon and thyme make for the perfect easy and healthy breakfast that's sure to impress!
Spiralized Butternut Squash Quiche
Spiralized butternut squash with chopped up kale in a goats cheese quiche with a flaky gluten free crust
Black Bean & Butternut Squash Enchilada Casserole
Enjoy this veggie filled, protein packed Black Bean & Butternut Squash Enchilada Casserole - all your favourite Tex-Mex, enchilada flavours without all of the hassle of filling and rolling individual tortillas. Simply alternate between layers of sauce, filling, cheese and tortillas then bake and enjoy! | Gluten Free + Vegetarian
Sausage Stuffed Acorn Squash
Sausage, apple and rosemary stuffed acorn squash. Only 10 ingredients! Gluten Free + Paleo + Dairy Free Option
Tamari Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
Easy, tamari roasted pumpkin seeds. Salty, crunchy, and ridiculously moreish.
Ingredient Spotlight: Cabbage (+ family!)
What else is in the cabbage family other than...well...cabbage?
- Kale
- Brussels Sprouts
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
Though these veggies are somewhat loosely related, they all stem from the same plant species: Brassica oleracea, a wild mustard plant. I'll spare you all the nitty gritty details of plant species (though can read more about it here if you're interested).
Instead, I'll focus here more on sharing this next handful of delicious recipes featuring some of winters finest and healthiest veggies!
Chicken Pesto Soup
Kale and Chicken Pesto Soup - robust flavours, healthy ingredients and incredibly easy to make! Whole30 + Low Carb
Super Green Kale Pesto Pizza
Super Green Kale Pesto Pizza topped with arugula, sliced radishes, chopped almonds and dollops of mozzarella. Gluten Free + Vegetarian
Thai Peanut Coleslad
Bright and crunchy Thai Peanut Coleslaw - chopped and shredded cabbage, carrots, spring onion, pepper and cilantro dressed in a simply peanut sauce | Gluten Free + Vegan + Paleo Options
Bacon Brussels & Cabbage Salad
Shredded Brussels sprouts and chopped cabbage salad topped crispy bits of bacon and chopped pecans | Gluten Free + Whole30 + Low Carb
Spicy Kale Potato Breakfast Hash
Spicy Kale Potato Breakfast Hash - a bright, medley of veggies and spices making for a delicious, egg-free + Whole30 friendly breakfast skillet that's anything but boring! | Paleo + Vegan
Paleo Vegan Kale Pesto
Simple Paleo & Vegan Kale Pesto made dairy free with nutritional yeast instead of parmesan | 5 minutes + 7 ingredients
One Pan Chicken with Veggies
One pan chicken dinner with lemon, garlic, oregano & paprika seasoned potatoes and brussels sprouts | Grain Free + Whole 30
Sausage Kale Sweet Potato Hash
One skillet sweet potato hash - sausage, onion, bell pepper and kale seasoned with nothing but salt and pepper. Minimal ingredients with maximum flavour! | Gluten Free + Paleo + Whole30
Roasted Chickpea Kale Salad with a Creamy Tahini Dressing
If you like hummus you'll love this Roasted Chickpea Kale Salad - chickpeas are lightly spiced and roasted until crispy and then tossed in a bed of massaged kale and topped with a creamy tahini dressing. This salad takes all of your favourite hummus flavours and combines them into one simple, yet tasty salad.
Roasted Sweet Potato & Chickpea Kale Apple Salad with Bacon
Crispy roasted chickpeas, caramelised sweet potato, salty bacon pieces and crunchy apple all come together to make this tasty and filling fall inspired kale apple salad.
Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad with Apples & Honey Mustard Vinaigrette
Shredded Brussels sprouts, chopped apples and crispy bacon pieces make up this sweet and salty Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad. Just mix together and toss in a super simple honey mustard vinaigrette and enjoy!
Sautéed Brussels Sprouts with Mustard & Hazelnuts
Super easy sautéed Brussels sprouts - flavourful sprouts and chopped hazelnuts sautéed in a simple garlic infused olive oil and tossed in a light mustard dressing. | Paleo + Vegan + Whole30
Roasted Teriyaki Brussels Sprouts
Roasted Teriyaki Brussels Sprouts - Crispy roasted sprouts coated in a sweet and sticky teriyaki sauce and topped with crunchy peanuts and chopped green onions. Gluten Free + Vegan + Paleo Option
Teriyaki Chicken Broccoli Stir Fry
All you need is one pan and about 20 minutes to make this easy and healthy Teriyaki Chicken Broccoli Stir Fry! Thinly sliced chicken and veggies cook in minutes and are coated in a sweet and savoury teriyaki sauce made from scratch.
Broccoli Cheddar Chicken Burgers
Easy to make Broccoli Cheddar Chicken Burgers - made with only six ingredients and mixed together all in one bowl! If you own a food process - make the most out of it by grinding up your own chicken thighs for an even juicier burger! | Gluten Free + Low Carb + Low FODMAP option
Broccoli Cheddar Crustless Quiche
Veggie filled Broccoli and Cheddar Crustless Quiche - without the crust this dish comes together quickly and easily in one bowl with only 7 total ingredients! | Gluten Free + Low Carb + Vegetarian
Roasted Broccoli Salad with Feta and Pine Nuts
One pan, six ingredient Roasted Broccoli Salad - crispy, charred broccoli florets tossed with hot feta and toasted pine nuts. Low Carb + Low FODMAP
Chopped Thai Broccoli Salad
Chopped Thai Broccoli Salad with riced broccoli, carrots, red pepper, spring onion and roasted cashews dressed in a simple almond butter sauce | Paleo + Vegan
Broccoli Leek Soup
Simple yet flavourful Broccoli Leek Soup - only 7 ingredients & 30 minutes needed! | Whole30 + Vegan
Cauliflower Rice & Shrimp Pulao
Easy to make, one pot Shrimp Cauliflower Rice Pulao - this bright and colourful, low carb dish comes together in under 30 minutes with a little prep! Gluten Free + Paleo + Low Carb
Ingredient Spotlight: Citrus
While it's true that many of us can get our hands on citrus fruit pretty much year-round, winter is when many of these fruits are at their ripest and juiciest. And what better time to become mo than in the chilly winter months when an extra dose of Vitamin C is most helpful?
Whether you're looking to zip up your baking with some fresh zest or add a little zing to a main meal - these citrus packed recipes are sure to brighten up your tastebuds!
Lemon Caper Chicken
One Pan Lemon Caper Chicken Breasts - a healthy + easy skillet chicken dinner that's made with less than 10 ingredients in about 20 minutes! Serve this dish with a side a mashed cauliflower to keep it low carb/keto friendly or topped on a plate of rice to soak up all the juices! Gluten Free + Low Carb + Paleo/Whole30 Option
Lemony Feta & Sweet Potato Mash
Quick & easy 7 ingredient Lemony Feta & Sweet Potato Mash - 5 minutes of hands on prep time and ready in 20 minutes or less! Gluten Free + Vegetarian + Low FODMAP Friendly
Lemon Chicken Soup with Cauliflower Rice
Lemon Chicken Soup with Cauliflower Rice| A light & healthy soup with a whole lot of zip. Whole 30 + Gluten Free + One Pot
Paleo Lemon Olive Oil Cake
One bowl paleo lemon olive oil cake | made with grain free flours, no refined sugars, fiery ginger, lemon zest & olive oil. | Gluten Free + Paleo + Dairy Free
Almond Lemon Poppy Seed Loaf
Brighten up your day with this one bowl, grain free Almond Lemon Loaf with Poppy Seeds and an optional lemony drizzle! Made with a blend and almond and coconut flour and naturally sweetened with honey or maple syrup this gluten free lemon cake is a treat you can feel good about eating!
One Pan Lemon Chicken with Asparagus
One Pan Lemon Chicken with braised asparagus in a simple lemon mustard sauce. Gluten Free + Whole 30 + Paleo Option
Paleo Vegan Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins
Paleo Vegan Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins - delicate, lemony poppy seed muffins made with a blend of almond and tapioca flour. Mixed together in one bowl and only 8 ingredients!
Mint Cucumber Lemonade
Minty Cucumber Lemonade made with only a handful of ingredients in a matter or minutes - cool, refreshing and easy to make! Paleo + Vegan + Low FODMAP
Healthy Chinese Lemon Chicken
30 minute Healthy Chinese Lemon Chicken - sticky, crispy chicken pieces coated in a sweet and tangy lemon sauce.
Persian Inspired Zesty Chickpea Soup
Bright, citrusy and made with feel good ingredients that will warm you up from the inside out. While traditional Persian soup usually takes a few hours to cook, this one will only take around 30 minutes – so it won’t be long before you can dig in for yourself!
Boozy Orange Drizzle Cake
This Boozy Orange Drizzle Cake is bright, zesty and bursting with flavour! The cake is moist and tender, brushed with a boozy simple-syrup to lock in moisture and flavour and then finished off with an orange-y icing glaze. Make sure to check out the recipe notes for how to make this cake in loaf pan instead! | Gluten Free + Dairy Free Option
Orange Creamsicle Smoothie
Orange Creamsicle Smoothie (4 ingredients + ice) | No added sugar, dairy free & easy to make. | Paleo + Vegan + Low FODMAP
Chocolate Orange Chia Pudding
Chocolate Orange Chia Pudding | whipped together in a pinch and is perfect for breakfast and dessert alike. | Paleo, Vegan, Low FODMAP
Cranberry Orange Baked Oatmeal
Cranberry Orange Baked Oatmeal: a crowd pleasing, make ahead breakfast that's perfect for any cold winter morning
Herby One Pan Chicken with Oranges
Herby One Pan Chicken with Oranges - chicken thighs and drumsticks marinated in an easy herb and citrus packed marinade and baked in one pan! | Gluten Free + Paleo + Whole30 + Low Carb
Arugula Fennel & Smoked Salmon Salad
Arugula Fennel & Smoked Salmon Salad with radish, cucumber, oranges, and avocado topped in a simple orange vinaigrette | Paleo + Gluten Free
Winter Fruit Salad
Simple Winter Fruit Salad made with seasonal ingredients and tossed in a maple-lime dressing. | Naturally Vegan + Gluten Free + Paleo
What else is in season? Honorary mentions:
- Apples – I’m currently crushing on this Honey Mustard Quinoa Apple Salad with Crispy Shallots
- Potatoes – this Potato & Asparagus Frittata makes for a quick & easy breakfast, brunch or dinner!
- Rhubarb – If you’re in the mood for some baking why not try these crumbly Strawberry Rhubarb Bars?
- Leeks – Cozy up with a warm bowl of Sweet Potato & Leek Soup – it’s filling, nutritious and absolutely delicious!
- Artichoke – This Mushroom & Artichoke Chicken skillet dinner is made all in one pan with a healthy serving of veggies cooked in a luscious white wine sauce.
What are your favourite January recipes?
If you’ve got any favourites that you love to make and enjoy at this time of year – please let me know in the comments below! I love seeing what you make and I always appreciate the inspiration!
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