The holiday season is a time for joy, celebration and delicious food! Celebrating the holidays on a budget does not mean sacrificing flavor or tradition. With a little ingenuity, you can create delicious, festive meals that celebrate the spirit of the season without compromising on flavor or nutrition. Let's explore some satisfying MyPlate holiday recipes that respect your wallet and contribute to a memorable feast!
Remember! Incorporating frozen and canned pantry staples can save time and money without compromising taste or quality.
Herb-Roasted Chicken
Roasted chicken is a simple and classic recipe that will never go out of style. Experiment with different seasonings if you would like. Try it with your favorite vegetables on the side for a delicious meal.
Ingredients: whole chicken, olive oil (or canola oil), Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt and pepper (optional).
Oven Roasted Vegetables
This simple and delicious vegetable dish is perfect with your favorite entrée.
Ingredients: fresh vegetables (cut up, such as potatoes, broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, or red peppers), vegetable oil, lemon juice, Italian seasoning, salt and ground black pepper.
Easy Stuffed Pasta Shells
Spinach, a mixture of low-fat cheeses and herbs combine for a delicious filling in these stuffed shells for a ready-to-bake casserole.
Ingredients: pasta shells, frozen chopped spinach, cottage cheese, mozzarella, dried oregano and black pepper.
Simple Stuffed Peppers
These simple stuffed peppers are fun and flavorful. Use yellow, red, green and orange peppers for a colorful dish.
Ingredients: brown rice, black beans, bell peppers, cheddar cheese, tomato, salsa and salt (optional).
Three Sisters Soup
This is a true comfort recipe to warm you up year-round. Make it your own by using any vegetables or beans that you have on hand. Instead of cumin, try 2 to 3 teaspoons of Italian seasoning or 1 tablespoon of curry powder.
Ingredients: carrot, onion, garlic, squash, corn, beans, tomatoes, broth, cumin and black pepper.
Oven-Baked Potato Pancakes
These potato pancakes are easily baked in the oven and offer a healthier version of a traditional recipe.
Ingredients: olive oil, whole wheat (or all purpose) flour, baking powder, russet (or Yukon Gold) potatoes, onion, 1 large egg, applesauce, yogurt and salt.
Sweet Potato Casserole
Cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger combined with vanilla extract are a delicious backdrop for sweet potatoes. Use canned sweet potatoes if you do not have whole sweet potatoes on hand.
Ingredients: sweet potatoes, egg whites, sugar, nonfat evaporated milk, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger.
Sweet Potato and Apple Bake
Enjoy the taste of fall with the combination of sweet potatoes and apples in this delicious side dish. Serve with roasted chicken or turkey and a large green salad.
Ingredients: sweet potatoes, apples, brown sugar, chopped nuts, flour and butter.
Applesauce
Homemade applesauce, an easy treat to make, is a wonderful side dish or dessert option.
Ingredients: apples, water and sugar.
Fruit Salad with Yogurt
This colorful salad combines sliced strawberries, pineapple chunks and blueberries coated in pineapple juice. Serve topped with low-fat yogurt and slivered almonds for a treat that looks as good as it tastes.
Ingredients: strawberries, blueberries, pineapple (chunks and juice), yogurt and almond slivers.
These recipes are available on MyPlate.gov. All recipes use ingredients that can be purchased using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits many ingredients are part of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) food packages.