Eating anti-inflammatory foods definitely doesn't have to mean eating bland or boring foods. Far from it! Whether you're following a special diet or simply want to add more anti-inflammatory recipes to your meal rotation, these fresh and healthy recipes have something for everyone. From salads and soups to and easy one-skillet meals, these dishes couldn't be easier to whip up. By leaning on inflammation-fighting ingredients like tomatoes, fish, olive oil, and leafy greens (and limiting foods like beef, fried foods, and refined carbohydrates), you'll be feeling better and eating fantastically in no time.
But first, let's investigate why we've focused on these ingredients. First up: Tomatoes, one of our favorite nutritional powerhouses. They naturally help fight inflammation and shine in a wide variety of healthy dishes, like burrata salad, grilled tomatoes, and avocado chicken salad.
Meanwhile, salmon and other fatty, Omega-rich fish (like tuna, mackerel, and sardines) also help ease inflammation and are an amazing source of protein. You won't miss the red meat (which is a typically inflammatory food), especially after you try our recipes for grilled honey chipotle foil packets with summer squash, Greek salmon salads, and spicy salmon bowls. Got some canned tuna in the pantry? Try the easiest, yet still impressive anti-inflammation recipe of them all: a Niçoise salad!
Looking for more healthy recipe inspiration? Check out our healthy snacks you can take to work, ways to use ground turkey instead of ground beef, and healthy packed lunch ideas.
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1
Grilled Honey-Chipotle Salmon Foil Packets with Summer Squash
Grilling salmon can be intimidating, but with foil packs, there's no need to stress. Instead, fold your fish and summer squash medley into a tin foil packet, then drizzle it all with the smoky honey-chipotle sauce. Put them on the grill, and in less than 15 minutes, you'll have the easiest dinner, with no mess!
Get the Grilled Honey-Chipotle Salmon Foil Packets with Summer Squash recipe.
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2
Grilled Tomatoes
The char from the grill adds a slight bitterness to this dish, which balances out a tomato’s natural acidity and sweetness. You can season this plate simply with salt, black pepper, and oregano and eat as is, but we love topping it with a flavor-packed tahini-Caesar dressing.
Get the Grilled Tomatoes recipe.
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3
Chicken & Wild Rice Soup
This comforting bowl is sort of like an earthy version of chicken noodle soup. Wild rice brings some subtle floral, smoky flavors, while bone-in chicken thighs provide enough fat and flavor for a rich homemade stock. Topped with crispy chicken skin "croutons," we dare you to find a meal that can ward off the blustery cold like this one.
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4
Spicy Salmon Bowl
All the healthy components of this grain bowl are great on their own—baked salmon, nutty brown rice, quick pickled cucumbers, and spicy mayo—but once they're tossed together, they somehow taste even better.
Get the Spicy Salmon Bowl recipe.
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5
Green Shakshuka
Originating in North Africa and now strongly associated with Israeli cuisine, shakshuka typically involves a sauce of tomatoes and red peppers. Our take on this simmered skillet breakfast, however, takes flavor inspiration from Mexico and spins the color wheel thanks to roasted tomatillos and Swiss chard.
Get the Green Shakshuka recipe.
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6
Coconut Ranch Kale Salad
This salad's vegan coconut ranch dressing is absolutely irresistible. (Seriously, you'll want to dip everything in it.) But the crunchy chickpeas may just be our favorite part. Who needs croutons?
Get the Coconut Ranch Kale Salad recipe.
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7
Niçoise Salad
According to food historians, the first Niçoise salad (from Nice, on France’s southeastern coast) contained only tomatoes, olive oil, and anchovies. Over the years, ingredients have been added and subtracted, so feel free to do the same and go with your favorites!
Get the Niçoise Salad recipe.
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8
Burrata Salad
Think of burrata salad as Caprese salad's fancy cousin. Peak-summer tomatoes are topped with this luscious cheese (think: a shell of mozzarella filled with a soft, creamy filling) and garnished with a shower of peppery basil leaves and savory chives. 😍
Get the Burrata Salad recipe.
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9
Greek Salmon Salad
Whenever we're craving a salad (or just know we should be eating more of them), we want something super fresh and crisp with lots of flavor. Cue this hearty salad, which is easy enough to throw together for lunch but filling enough to satisfy at dinnertime. While the salmon is cooking, chop your veggies—it'll all come together in less than 30 minutes.
Get the Greek Salmon Salad recipe.
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10
Butternut Squash Curry
This take on curry is a one-pot meal that'll scratch your itch for carbs and creamy fare. The butternut squash is toothsome and savory, the kale is earthy and green, and coconut milk wraps everything together in a creamy sauce. The curry's spices—if you’re feeling adventurous, make our homemade curry powder blend—adds a little warm punch to each spoonful.
Get the Butternut Squash Curry recipe.
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11
Balsamic Basil Chicken
After marinating the chicken, everything—including the veggie side—comes together in one pan in less than 30 minutes. Call it another skillet chicken dinner win!
Get the Balsamic Basil Chicken recipe.
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12
Vegan Seared "Scallops" with Succotash
In this summery dish, king trumpet mushrooms mirror the sweet, delicate flavor of sea scallops. Nestled into a colorful and crisp corn and snap pea succotash, this date-night-worthy dinner is sure to impress.
Get the Vegan Seared "Scallops" with Succotash recipe.
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13
Farro Salad
With pecans, Parm, green apples, and leafy arugula, this salad really feels like a full meal—AKA a make-ahead dream. It's got ALL the flavors and textures you desire, delivering hits of sweet, salty, fatty, and fresh flavor in every bite.
Get the Farro Salad recipe.
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14
Zucchini Bolognese
When you cook zucchini low and slow for four hours, something magical happens — it turns into an ultra creamy sauce, perfect for draping over pasta. We like keeping this dish as simple as possible and add only a few basic ingredients like an onion, some Parmesan, and a squeeze of lemon juice, but you’re welcome to add other summer-y vegetables like eggplant or tomatoes.
Get the Zucchini Bolognese recipe.
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15
Avocado Chicken Salad
We love this salad served on top of greens as much as we love it between two slices of sourdough bread. If you can't find a good ripe mango, pineapple would be delicious as well!
Get the Avocado Chicken Salad recipe.
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16
Thai-Inspired Grilled Cauliflower Steak
We found the perfect funky balance of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy in this Thai-inspired sauce, which we use to blanket charred cauliflower steaks.
Get the Thai-Inspired Grilled Cauliflower Steaks recipe.
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17
Sweet Corn Shrimp & Rice Skillet
This light but satisfying dinner starts with a vibrant sauce made with some of our favorite sunny, bright flavors: sweet bell pepper, nutty white miso, and earthy turmeric, along with plenty of garlic and ginger. Topped with garlicky sautéed shrimp, this meal comes complete with protein, carb, and plenty of veg.
Get the .
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18
Cilantro-Lime Shrimp Wraps
"Cilantro-lime" is a flavor profile we can never get enough of. Cilantro lime salmon, cilantro lime chicken wings, cilantro lime rice… we’ve done it all. That's because pretty much anything goes well with a kick from cumin, a little tang from lime juice, and fresh herby zing from cilantro—including these simple, low-carb lettuce wraps featuring quick-cooking shrimp.
Get the Cilantro-Lime Shrimp Wraps recipe.
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19
West African-Inspired Chicken & Peanut Stew
Ground peanuts and root vegetables thicken this flavorful, tomato-y stew, which we enrich with boneless skinless chicken thighs. The result is a creamy, nutty, spicy, earthy meal that will warm you from the inside out.
Get the .
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20
Garlicky Lemon Mahi Mahi
This easy mahi-mahi recipe comes together in 30 minutes or less. After searing the fish for a few minutes on each side, make a super simple lemon butter sauce with garlic. We like to sauté some asparagus, too, but use whatever vegetable you like.
Get the Garlicky Lemon Mahi Mahi recipe.