45 Healthy Comfort Food Recipes
This post may contain affiliate links from which I will earn a commission. Learn more in our disclosure.
Now you don’t have to sacrifice your health to enjoy delectable, heart (and belly) warming foods. With these Healthy Comfort Foods, you can satisfy your taste buds and feel great too!
Plus, they’re all gluten-free and mostly low-carb.
Comfort Foods make us feel good when we eat them. It’s the way they taste, the way they feel in our mouths, and sometimes it’s the memories they bring back from our childhood. They can be main dishes, sides, beverages, and yes, of course, desserts.
The problem, of course, is that so many comfort foods, while they might seem “comforting”–they wreak havoc on our blood sugar, and our guts…and inevitably on our health.
With that in mind, I’ve created a roundup of healthy comfort foods, in the hopes that they will be a help to you, regardless of where you are on your healthy eating journey.
All are gluten-free and are also dairy-free and egg-free or have easy substitutions. And if you are eating low-carb you should be able to substitute for most of them as well to meet your needs.
I hope that these healthy comfort foods are a help to you.
Enter your email and I'll send it straight to your inbox. Plus, you'll get healthy living updates too.
45 Healthy Comfort Foods
Gluten-free Chicken Nuggets
Instead of takeout, make these delicious baked chicken nuggets in your own home. They freeze well and taste amazing.
Breadcrumb-Free Meatballs
Gluten-Free Fried Chicken
Delectable gluten-free fried chicken made in a cast iron skillet!
Chicken Brussels Sprout Skillet
This Chicken Brussels Sprout Dinner is the perfect blend of chicken breast, Brussels sprouts, butternut squash, and bacon!
Butternut Squash and Lentil Soup
Nothing says comfort like the smoothness of squash and lentils in this warm delicious Butternut Squash Lentil Soup.
Baked Garlic Cauliflower Mash with Cheese Crust
Substitute dairy-free cheese for a vegan option. This looks like the perfect side for any meal.
Grain-Free Zucchini Lasagna
If you LOVE lasagna, but you’ve gone grain-free, this is the perfect solution.
Dairy and egg-free options included.
Crock-Pot Mississippi Pot Roast (paleo & whole30)
Pot Roast with a fun twist of pepperoncini–how fun and delicious!
Pakistani Kima Beef Curry w/ vegan and AIP options
This is hands down our favorite recipe of all time. Kid-friendly too!
Gluten-free Vegan Mac & Cheese
Everyone loves mac and cheese! And even more when it’s healthier!
Use low-carb elbows or cauliflower florets for a low-carb dish.
Baked Pumpkin Sage Macaroni and “Cheese”
What a fun twist on mac and cheese! Pumpkin and–sage?
Use low-carb elbows to make this dish low-carb.
Healthy Chili Mac
Again, use low-carb pasta to make this dish low-carb.
Healthy Mushroom Soup
This is so easy and delicious–and comforting.
Nutrient Dense Meatloaf
All kinds of veggies hidden in this meatloaf make for a power-packed comfort food.
Use an egg substitute for an egg-free option.
Egg Roll in a Bowl – low carb, paleo, AIP
This dish is one of our family’s all time favorites–the great taste of egg rolls without the fuss and carbs of the wrappers.
Homemade Chicken Zucchini Noodle Soup
A fantastic grain-free literal twist (of zoodles) on the traditional chicken noodle soup.
Copycat Chick-Fil-A® Chicken Nuggets (gluten-free w/ grain-free option)
Use oil instead of the egg for an egg-free option.
Homemade Hot Chocolate – Dairy and Sugar-free
Hot chocolate is so warm on chilly days.
This dairy-free hot chocolate is perfect on its own or topped with whipped coconut cream and chocolate shavings.
Dairy-free Sugar-free Whipped Cream
Whipped cream isn’t just good ON dessert. It IS dessert.
And this Dairy-free Sugar-free Whipped Cream is the bomb.
Healthy Drop Biscuits
I haven’t tried this but using almond flour (follow the directions in this Pumpkin Snickerdoodle post) could make these low-carb.
Quick Low-Carb Buns
These will be tough to make egg-free since they are made with coconut flour.
Edible Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
Healthy Dark Chocolate-Covered Peanut Butter Balls
What a delectable treat!
Use a low-carb sweetener if needed for your diet.
Chocolate Almond Chip Ice Cream – dairy free, low carb, AIP
This is a dairy-free, low-carb remake of one of my childhood favorites.
Healthy Chocolate Cupcakes with Cream Filling
From what I have read, cassava flour works pretty well with egg-free substitutes so these just might work egg-free if you need that. Use a low-carb sweetener if needed.
“Almond Joy” Bars—Low-Carb and Vegan
We keep these No-Bake Almond Joy Bars on hand almost all the time in our home.
Cinnamon-Glazed Pumpkin Doughnuts
These Pumpkin Doughnuts are loaded with nourishing pumpkin goodness and look amazing!
Low-Carb Cauliflower “Potato” Salad – vegan & paleo
This “faux” tato salad is sooo good it fools even enthusiastic potato salad lovers!
Flourless Peanut Butter Blossoms
Use a low-carb sweetener and low-carb chocolate to reduce the carbs in these. Use any nut or seed butter to avoid peanut butter if needed.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Chia Pudding ~ low carb & dairy free
How about the great flavor of Reese’s in a bowl–healthy enough for breakfast.
Filling enough to carry you ’til lunch.
Grain-Free Granola
If you love granola, but have gone grain-free, this is for you!
Use a low-carb sweetener if needed.
Blender Cheese Sauce – 5 Ingredients (GAPS)
Not your traditional nacho sauce. Here is a great sauce healthified, and it’s even GAPS legal!
Super Refreshing Sugar-free Lemonade
No need to load yourself up with sugar or use drink mixes filled with artificial sweeteners.
This sugar-free lemonade is thirst-quenching and delicious all year round.
Blender Lemonade
Another great lemonade option, this Whole Lemon Lemonade requires no peeling or squeezing and has all the nutritious goodness of the whole lemon.
Healthy Dark Chocolate Bark
Try this healthful goodness of real food ingredients that is dairy-free, refined sugar-free, vegan, and paleo too.
Sugar-free Kettle Corn
So yummy, we took some to a youth group gathering at church and one of the students asked where we’d bought it!
“Dorito®” Popcorn – dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan
Popcorn can’t be low-carb, but this seasoning is GREAT on veggies, kale chips, and more.
Easy Creamy Keto Mashed Potatoes (vegan option)
This recipe is dairy-free, paleo-friendly, and loaded with delicious garlic flavor and a vegan twist of “cheesy nutty” nutritional yeast.
Easy Baked Sweet Potato Wedges with Chipotle Cashew Dip
These can’t be low-carb, but the dip would be great with any kind of low-carb dipper, in moderation (since cashews are higher in carbs).
Cinnamon Crumb Coffee Cake
Every time I bake this cake, I make 4 batches because I know it will be gone in a flash. It’s that good!
Dairy-Free Cheese Sauce with Baked Baby Potato Wedge Fries
What’s more comforting than potatoes with cheese? Knowing that your potatoes with cheese are healthified–that’s what.
Teff Waffles or Pancakes with Caramelized Bananas
Almond Flour might work as a low-carb sub for these (but you will have to cut the fat in half), but skip the bananas of course.
Purple Sweet Potato Tater Tots
A childhood favorite made healthier–and made purple!
Try these with cauliflower or daikon for a low carb option.
Shepherd’s Pie with Roasted Veggies (grain & dairy free, vegan option)
A traditional comfort food filled with added veggies and redone in a lower carb version.
Which of these healthy comfort foods is your favorite?
What is YOUR favorite comfort food?
Thanks for including my cookies!
Now these are what you call COMFORT food! Awesome post, Adrienne!
I would like to try some of these recipes, probably during the holidays so I can have enough time to make them. By the way, I got really intrigued with that Edible Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough you shared. I’m wondering if you can suggest another alternative for walnuts because I’m not a big fan of it.
Thanks, Emily!
I would try pecans – can you have those? Or more chocolate chips :).
Ohhhhhh, pecans!!! That would be a better choice because I like them. Thank you so much for the tip Adrienne. 🙂
So many of these look delicious but the “doritos” popcorn and pumpkin glazed donuts both sound amazing right now! One of my other comfort food convert recipes is beef stroganoff – made with bone broth, cashew sour cream, lots of cremini mushrooms, and served over gluten free noodles, white rice, and/or cabbage or zucchini noodles or cauliflower rice. So yummy and hits the comfort food spot!
That sound amazing!!!!
I would like your most requested recipe; however, you don’t post it….only talk about it. What’s up with that?
Hello Deborah – Sorry not sure what happened there. Here’s the link – it’s in the post as well. https://wholenewmom.com/pakistani-kima/
I saw your updated version of this Kima Beef recipe and wanted to look at the original recipe to compare. But the web site you posted it on is gone. Can you send me the recipe or post the old one on your site?
Thank you so very much!!!!!
Hi Teresa,
Sorry but I don’t have that any longer. Perhaps you can find copy of the cookbook in a library?
Great recipes! I especially want to try that Pakistani Kima! Looks like something I would absolutely love. Thanks so much for sharing on Allergy-Free Wednesday! Hope you’ll come back this coming Wednesday with another great recipe!
Great post Adrienne, and great comfort food! Hope you have a wonderful week end and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
Just took a peek and wow… can’t wait to make it!
I’m a new subscriber and I made your “most requested recipe” today and Oh, My! It is wonderful!!!!! I will be making this one often…thank you so much!
You’re welcome! I’m so glad – hope to see you around again!
You’ve got me hooked too. I’m also heading over to Balanced Platter.
I’m heading to the Blanced Platter now. I love comfort foods!
Hi Lisa! Hope you are doing well!