Healthy Fall Comfort Food Recipes

Comfort food just makes us feel, well, comfortable. A filling meal that is flavorful and rich is exactly what everyone needs after a hard day at work. Comfort food can also be filled with bad fats and carbs that can leave us feeling bloated and uncomfortable. Instead take a look at these five healthy fall comfort food recipes that are super delicious. Your stomach and abs will be thanking you for these meals. 

1. Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

Cut your carbs down by ditching the noodles and using cauliflower as a noodle option instead. Choose lighter cheese to keep this recipe healthy and don’t overdo it on the serving. Here is what you need. 

• 2 medium heads cauliflower, cut into florets
• ½ cup unsalted butter
• ½ cup flour
• 3 cup milk
• 1 tsp hot sauce
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp mustard powder
• Black pepper
• 3 cup shredded cheddar 
• 2 cups mozzarella 
• Chives for garnish 

Instructions: 

1. In large pot boil water and blanch cauliflower until tender, about 5-7 minutes. 
2. In a large saucepan, melt better. Sprinkle flour over butter and cook until gold. Pour in milk and whisk until combined. Season with mustard powder, hot sauce, salt, and pepper. Simmer until mixture thickens. 
3. Turn heat off and stir in cheese until completely melted. Add in cauliflower and stir until coated in cheese.
4. Serve hot and garnish with chives. 

2. Ground Turkey Bolognese – Healthy Fall Comfort Food Recipes

This lighter version of Bolognese is what dreams are made of. Make your soul and stomach happy with this delicious meal. From the store you need the following.

• 1lb angel hair pasta
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large onion chopped
• 1 large carrot chopped
• 1 celery stalk chopped
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 1lb ground turkey
• Kosher salt
• Ground black pepper
• 1 28oz can crushed tomatoes
• ½ cup dry red or white wine
• ¼ cup fresh parsley chopped
• 2 tsp oregano
• Parmesan for garnish

Instructions: 

1. In a large pot boil salted water and cook pasta according to package. Drain pasta and return to pot. 
2. In a large skillet over medium heat, heat oil. Add onion, carrot, celery, and garlic and cook until tender. Add ground turkey and cook until no longer pink. Season with salt and pepper. 
3. Add crushed tomatoes, wine, parsley, and dried oregano. 
4. Let simmer until thick, 10-15 minutes. 
5. Toss with cooked pasta. 
6. Garnish with Parmesan and parsley
7. Serve 

3. Pizza Zucchini Boats 

Pizza is delicious but the added fats and carbs sometimes aren’t worth it. With these amazing pizza boats, you don’t have to give up much for a delicious meal. Here are your ingredients. 

• 4 large zucchinis halved 
• 1 jar marinara sauce
• 2 cup shredded mozzarella
• 1 cup mini pepperoni
• Chopped basil for garnish 

Instructions: 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Score zucchini and scoop out inside into a large bowl. 
2. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add zucchini and sauté until tender, then pour in marinara.
3. Place hollowed zucchini on large baking sheet. Spoon sauce, then top with mozzarella and mini pepperoni., Bake until zucchini is tender, and cheese is golden, about 15 minutes. 
4. Garnish with basil and serve. 

4. Crock Pot Stuffed Peppers – Healthy Fall Comfort Food Recipes

Make your evening easer with this healthy and easy crock pot meal. Prepare your peppers and let your crock pot do the rest of the work. Here are your ingredients. 

• 1lb ground turkey
• 1 15oz can black beans drained 
• 1 15oz can diced fire roasted tomatoes drained 
• 2 cup shredded Monterey jack cheese 
• 1 cup cooked white rice
• 1 cup frozen corn
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp chili powder
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp oregano
• Kosher salt
• Ground black pepper
• 4 bell peppers tops and seeds removed 
• 1 tbsp chopped cilantro for garnish 
• Sour cream 

Instructions: 

1. In a large bowl, combine turkey with beans, tomatoes, 1 cup of cheese, rice, corn, cumin, chili powder, garlic powder, and oregano. Stir until incorporated. Season with salt and pepper. 
2. Stuff peppers with turkey mixture and place them in crock pit, open side up. Cover and cook on high for 3 hours. 
3. When peppers are tender, top them with remaining cheese and cook on low for 5-10 minutes. 
4. Garnish with cilantro and sour cream. Serve. 

5. Cauliflower Shepherd’s Pie

This low carb version of shepherd’s pie is delicious and hearty, you won’t even realize how healthy it is. You will need the follow ingredients.

• 1 medium head cauliflower, cut into florets
• 3 oz cream cheese soft
• ¼ cup milk
• Kosher salt
• Black pepper
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large onion chopped
• 2 carrots peeled and chopped
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1lb ground turkey
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 1 cup frozen corn
• 2 tbsp flour
• 2/3 cup chicken broth
• 1 tbsp chopped parsley for garnish 

Instructions: 

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Make mashed cauliflower by adding cauliflower to a boiling pot of water and cooking for 10 minutes. Drain well, pressing cauliflower with paper towels to remove water. 
2. Add cauliflower back into pot and mash with potato masher until smooth and no chunks remain. 
3. Stir in cream cheese and milk, season with salt and pepper. 
4. To make turkey mixture, combine meat in a large skillet with oil. Add onions, carrot, and garlic and cook until soft. 
5. Stir in frozen peas and corn and cook until warm. Season with salt and pepper. 
6. Add flour to meat mixture and mix thoroughly. Add chicken broth and bring to a simmer, letting mixture thicken. 
7. Add an even layer of cauliflower mash to the meat mixture and place in the oven for 20 minutes. Cauliflower should be golden, and you can broil if desired. 
8. Garnish with parsley and serve. 

Comfort food doesn’t need to be filled with bad fats and carbs to taste delicious. Try these healthier options instead and we promise you will fall in love. 

This article originally appeared on TalkAboutWellBeing.com.