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30 Minutes or Less

Easy Healthy Taco Salad with Creamy Cilantro-Lime Dressing

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overhead image of a taco salad with chips and beer on the side.

A fresh, fully loaded taco salad complete with a creamy cilantro-lime dressing. Super quick and easy to make, this healthy lunch or dinner will become a fast-favorite!

creamy cilantro lime dressing being poured over a taco salad.

What You’ll Need to Make Taco Salad

Ground Beef – Or really any ground meat will do the trick. I’ve made this recipe with ground turkey in place of the beef, and it was just as tasty! For a vegan/vegetarian taco salad, refer to the “make it vegan” section below.

Taco Seasoning – A packet of taco seasoning will make your life a million times easier! It’s got all that taco flavor, in one convenient packet. It also adds some serious delicious flavor to the seasoned ground beef. I use and love the Siete Mild Taco Seasoning, it’s a total crowd-pleaser!

Lettuce – I used romaine lettuce, but really any lettuce will work! I love a good, crunchy lettuce for added texture, such as romaine, iceberg, green leaf, or butter lettuce.

Tortilla Chips – While optional, a small handful of crushed tortilla chips are what make this salad taste JUST like a taco. I recommend gluten-free Siete Tortilla Chips to keep it extra light and healthy.

Sour Cream – For a dairy-free version, use your favorite dairy-free sour cream to make the cilantro-lime dressing. I used this Forager Dairy-Free Sour Cream and it was delicious! But if not dairy-free, go ahead and use a regular sour cream instead. Or, if you’re in a pinch, plain unsweetened greek yogurt would also work in its place.

Cilantro – Tons of cilantro bring out the fresh flavors in this easy, healthy salad! Feel free to add more or less cilantro based on your preferences. Or, if not a fan of cilantro, you can totally leave it out of this recipe altogether.

overhead close-up image of a taco salad with cilantro-lime dressing on top.

Adjust This Recipe to Your Dietary Needs

Make it Vegan/Vegetarian: For a healthy vegan salad recipe, use cooked lentils, crumbled tofu, or chopped mushrooms in place of the ground beef. Also, take the dairy-free option below for a vegan cilantro-lime dressing.

Make it Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free tortilla chips in your salad, most are already gluten-free, but it’s always good to double check!

Make it Dairy-Free: Replace the sour cream in the dressing with your favorite non-dairy sour cream. I recommend Forager or Kite Hill dairy-free sour cream.

two bowls of taco salad with cialntro-lime dressing on the side.
5 from 1 vote

Easy Healthy Taco Salad with Creamy Cilantro-Lime Dressing

A fresh, fully loaded taco salad complete with a creamy cilantro-lime dressing. Super quick and easy to make, this healthy lunch or dinner will become a fast-favorite!
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon avocado oil
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • pinch of salt
  • 1 packet taco seasoning
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 head romaine lettuce, chopped
  • 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
  • 2 avocados, sliced
  • 1/2 red onion, chopped
  • 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, roughly chopped

For the creamy cilantro-lime dressing:

  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 2 tablespoons lime juice
  • 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, finely chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • pinch of lime zest, optional but recommended

Instructions

  • Heat avocado oil in a large skillet over medium heat, then add in ground beef and a big pinch of salt.
  • Cook until beef is no longer pink, breaking up the meat as it cooks. Then, add in taco seasoning and water, reduce heat to low and simmer until sauce has thickened.
  • While beef cooks, make the cilantro-lime dressing by adding all ingredients to a bowl and whisking together until smooth.
  • Assemble salad with all ingredients, then top with seasoned ground beef and creamy cilantro-lime dressing.

Nutrition

Calories: 300kcal

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30 Minutes or Less

Simple Tomato Salad

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overhead image of tomato salad on a serving platter with olive oil and fresh basil on the side.

Fresh, easy, and totally delicious tomato salad! Made with a handful of simple ingredients, this summer salad comes together in just 5 minutes. Fresh tomatoes, basil, and red onion finished off with a sweet balsamic glaze – YUM!

olive oil being poured over tomato salad.

What You’ll Need to Make Tomato Salad

Tomatoes – Use any variety of tomato you’d like in this recipe! I used heirloom tomatoes, cut into wedges. However, I’ve also made this salad with cherry tomatoes and it was just as incredible.

Fresh Basil – Tomatoes and fresh basil are the perfect pair! Grab a small handful of fresh basil leaves, and stack them on top of each other. Then, gently roll the leaves (like you would a cigar), and run a knife through the basil creating thin basil “ribbons.” Or, if that’s too much work for you, simply grab a handful of basil and gently tear it, then toss into your salad!

Red Onion – Or really any kind of onion! A sweet yellow onion would also taste delicious, it’s totally up to you.

Balsamic – A touch of acidity brings out the fresh flavors in this easy plant-based salad recipe. I LOVE a sweet, yet savory balsamic glaze, but a drizzle of regular balsamic vinegar will also do the trick!

super close-up image of tomato salad with fresh basil on top.

Tips and Tricks

  • Toss your tomato salad together, then refrigerate for at least 15 minutes before serving. This rest time will allow the tomatoes to marinate in all of their delicious flavor. And remember, the longer your salad sits, the more flavorful it’ll be!
  • Have fun with this recipe, and don’t be afraid to make it your own! Add or remove anything you’d like. This salad is super simple, and should remain uncomplicated.
close-up image of tomato salad on a serving platter.

Delicious Additions

Any or all of the following would make delicious additions to your tomato salad!

  • Fresh Cucumber
  • Chickpeas
  • Grilled Chicken
  • Mozzarella Cheese

This side dish is vegan, plant-based, gluten-free, and dairy-free!

overhead image of tomato salad on a serving platter with a fork and spoon.
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Simple Tomato Salad

Fresh, easy, and totally delicious tomato salad! Made with a handful of simple ingredients, this summer salad comes together in just 5 minutes. Fresh tomatoes, basil, and red onion finished off with a sweet balsamic glaze – YUM!
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Servings: 6 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 pound tomatoes (I recommend cherry, grape, and/or heirloom tomatoes), sliced
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil, sliced
  • 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar, or balsamic glaze
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  • Arrange the sliced tomatoes, fresh basil, and red onion on a large platter or in a large bowl.
  • Top with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and black pepper then cover and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes before serving. 

Nutrition

Calories: 300kcal

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30 Minutes or Less

Italian Stuffed Zucchini Boats

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close up image of stuffed zucchini boats in a baking dish with fresh basil on top.

Easy, healthy, and extra delicious Italian stuffed zucchini boats! This low-carb meal comes together in under 30 minutes, with only 5 (!!!) ingredients. The ultimate lazy, yet super healthy dinner recipe.

overhead image of zucchini boats on a plate with white wine on the side.

What You’ll Need to Make Stuffed Zucchini Boats

Zucchini – This summer vegetable is super cheap and easy to find! Start by slicing a zucchini in half, then removing the seeds and some of the flesh from inside. You’ll be left with two zucchini “boats,” ready to be filled with our delicious Italian sausage in sauce.

Italian Sausage – Feel free to use whatever kind of Italian sausage you’d like! Though make sure it’s uncooked and removed from its casings before cooking. As it cooks, break the sausage up with a wooden spoon until no longer pink. Italian sausage is packed with herbs and spices, adding even more flavor to this already super flavorful dish.

Marinara Sauce – I use and love Rao’s marinara sauce for when I don’t feel like making it myself. Rao’s is perfectly tangy, has tons of flavor, with just a hint of sweetness. However, you can totally use your favorite jarred marinara sauce for this recipe. Or, if you have some time to spare, go ahead and throw together a homemade sauce to use instead.

Dried Italian Seasoning – The final step before cooking these zucchini boats is sprinkling them with a little bit of dried Italian seasoning. I love the flavor this packs, but it’s totally optional if you’re not feeling up to it or don’t have any on-hand.

overhead image of zucchini boats in a baking dish.

Tips and Tricks

  • Finish off these Italian stuffed zucchini boats with fresh-grated parmesan cheese! It rounds out the Italian flavors in this dish, and make it that much more delicious. Also, who doesn’t love a little bit of cheese?!
  • You can easily prep-then-freeze this dish ahead of time! To do this, follow each step of the recipe, up to cooking it. Then, cover the baking dish with plastic wrap and aluminum foil, before freezing for up to three months. When ready to eat, simply defrost, then bake as instructed.
  • This is a great, healthy meal to prep for a crowd! Simply double or triple the amounts listed in the recipe below, and you can feed a whole army (ok …maybe not an entire army, but you get the point). I love throwing this quick and easy zucchini recipe together for friends and family, it’s a total crowd-favorite!
close-up image of zucchini boat being cut into with a fork.

Adjust This Recipe to Your Dietary Needs

Make it Gluten-Free: These zucchini boats are already gluten-free! However, to be absolutely certain they don’t contain any traces of gluten, check your sausage and marinara sauce packaging to make sure those ingredient are entirely gluten-free.

Make it Dairy-Free: For a dairy-free version of this recipe, replace the parmesan cheese with nutritional yeast!

Make it Vegan: Replace the sausage with your favorite vegan meat substitute, and cook it with an additional teaspoon of dried Italian seasoning. Then, similar to the dairy-free version, top with nutritional yeast instead of parmesan cheese.

close up image of stuffed zucchini boats in a baking dish with fresh basil on top.
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Italian Stuffed Zucchini Boats

Easy, healthy, and extra delicious Italian stuffed zucchini boats! This low-carb meal comes together in under 30 minutes, with only 5 (!!!) ingredients. The ultimate lazy, yet super healthy dinner recipe.
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 large zucchini, cut in half lengthwise
  • salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 1 tablespoon avocado oil
  • 1 pound sweet or spicy Italian sausage (casings removed)
  • 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning, optional
  • grated parmesan cheese, for serving

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400° Fahrenheit.
  • Using a spoon, scoop out and remove the seeds and a little bit of the flesh from each zucchini half.
  • Sprinkle zucchini with salt and black pepper, then place inside a large baking dish and set aside.
  • Heat avocado oil in a large skillet over medium heat, then add in the Italian sausage and cook until no longer pink. Break up the meat as it cooks, should take about 5 minutes.
  • Add marinara sauce to the skillet, reduce heat to low and simmer sausage in sauce for 2-3 minutes.
  • Spoon the sauce mixture into the cavity of each zucchini half, then evenly sprinkle with Italian seasoning. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until sauce is bubbly and zucchini is tender. Serve warm with parmesan cheese and fresh basil.

Nutrition

Calories: 300kcal

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Dairy-Free

S’mores Rice Crispy Treats

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close-up image of a s'mores rice crispy treat on a baking sheet.

These s’mores rice crispy treats are insanely delicious and super easy to make! They’re loaded with gluten-free cookies, crisp rice cereal, gooey melted marshmallow, and plenty of chocolate chips.

close-up overhead image of s'more rice crispy treats with graham cracker pieces, mini marshmallows, and drizzled chocolate on top.

What You Need To Make S’mores Rice Crispy Treats

Rice Cereal – Classic Rice Krispies cereal is my favorite in this recipe! They’re light and remain super crunchy in these treats. I have to say, I’ve tried a handful of off-brand rice cereals for this recipe and none taste nearly as good as Rice Krispies do. I’m not sure what it is, but most other kinds end up too soft and almost soggy when mixed into these s’mores rice crispy treats.

Graham Crackers – Any graham cracker will work here! I’ve tested this recipe using my homemade vegan and gluten-free graham crackers, and oh man were they delicious. O, for an organic option, I recommend Annie’s Organic Honey Graham Crackers.

Marshmallows – I used regular-sized marshmallows to make my s’mores rice crispy treat. However, you can use a 10-ounce bag of mini marshmallows instead. I also recommend topping your treats with a small handful of mini marshmallows for a super cute look!

s'mores rice crispy treats spread onto an upside down baking sheet.

Adjust This Recipe To Your Dietary Needs

Make it Vegan: Make sure the chocolate, marshmallows, and butter you use are all vegan! I love and recommend Dandies vegan marshmallows and Miyoko’s vegan butter.

Make it Gluten-Free: Replace the graham crackers with gluten-free Simple Mill’s Honey Cinnamon Sweet Thins.

Make it Nut-Free: Use nut-free graham crackers/cookies!

close-up image of a s'mores rice crispy treat on a baking sheet.

Tips For Making S’mores Rice Crispy Treats

  • Move quickly when adding the melted marshmallow mixture into the cereal mixture. The melted marshmallows will immediately start to cool once removed from the heat. And you’ll notice that as soon as they cool, they also begin to seize up and can be quite difficult to work with.
  • Spray a little cooking oil on your hands before handling the treats! I like to sprits a little cooking oil on one hand and then rub them together right before transferring the treats to the baking dish.
  • Similar to your hands, spray a little cooking oil on your knife before slicing! A greased knife will glide through these s’mores rice crispy treats. However, an un-greased knife will almost certainly get stuck and struggle to make it through your treats!
overhead image of s'mores rice crispy treats with milk and rice cereal on the side.
5 from 1 vote

S’mores Rice Crispy Treats (Vegan, Gluten-Free)

These s’mores rice crispy treats are insanely delicious and super easy to make! They’re loaded with gluten-free cookies, crisp rice cereal, gooey melted marshmallow, and plenty of chocolate chips.
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 12 treats

Ingredients

  • 1 (12-ounce) bag marshmallows
  • 6 ounces butter
  • 4 cups rice cereal
  • 1 cup graham crackers, crushed
  • 1/2 cup chocolate chips

Instructions

  • Line a 9×9-inch baking dish with parchment paper, then melt butter and marshmallows in a large saucepan over medium-low heat.
  • Mix together the rice cereal, crushed graham crackers, and chocolate chips in a large bowl.
  • Add melted marshmallows to the cereal mixture, mix well.
  • Transfer treats mixture to your lined baking dish and let sit at room temperature for 1 hour before slicing.

Notes

  • Optional Step: Top finished treats off with an extra sprinkling of crushed graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate. Then place it in the oven on broil for 1 minute or until marshmallows are golden brown and toasty!

    • Nutrition

    Calories: 300kcal

    Other Vegan and Gluten-Free Desserts

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    30 Minutes or Less

    Mom’s BEST Frozen Daiquiri

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    frozen daiquiri with fresh limes on the side.

    Cool and refreshing frozen daiquiri, with a secret ingredient! My Mom’s famous recipe for this best EVER frozen cocktail. Just four ingredients, perfectly sweet, and totally delicious.

    two frozen daiquiris with fresh limes on the side

    The Secret Ingredient: Coconut Rum

    A few weeks ago, my Mom had the genius idea to swap out regular rum in her frozen daiquris for coconut rum. And boy, it made allllll the difference! A hint of coconut in this tropical cocktail left everyone asking “what is that?! that’s DELICIOUS!” It’s sort of like a cross between a classic daiquiri and a piña colada. The coconut is light, not at all overpowering, and simply perfect.

    My Mom – a fan of the finer things in life – uses an exclusive small-batch brand of coconut rum. But let me tell you, I recreated her recipe with this Bacardi Coconut Rum (purchased for $15!) and my frozen daiquiris tasted just as good!

    closeup image of a frozen daiquiri with limes on the side.

    What Else You’ll Need to Make a Frozen Daiquiri

    Lime Juice – Fresh squeezed is best! My Mom insists on using freshly-squeezed juice in all of her cocktails. And I must admit, fresh squeezed lime juice makes a world of a difference in these frozen daiquiris!

    Simple Syrup or Agave – Feel free to use whichever you have on-hand! I used agave nectar because it’s what I had leftover from these Skinny Strawberry Margaritas.

    Ice – This one seems pretty self-explanatory, ha! Though I will say, if you’d like a frozen strawberry daiquri instead, replace the ice with two cups of frozen strawberries.

    Blender – I own and LOVE my Vitamix blender. It’s super powerful, and there truly isn’t anything it can’t blend. However, any blender will work to blend this frozen cocktail. You could even use a Nutribullet for easier cleanup!

    overhead image of a frozen daiquiri with a lime on top.

    Adjust This Recipe to Your Dietary Needs

    Make it Sugar-Free: For a sugar-free option, replace the simple syrup with your favorite sugar-free liquid sweetener.

    Make it a Mocktail: Turn this into a delicious non-alcoholic frozen beverage by using equal parts coconut water in place of the coconut rum!

    frozen daiquiri with fresh limes on the side.
    3 from 3 votes

    Mom’s BEST Frozen Daiquiri

    Cool and refreshing frozen daiquiris, with a secret ingredient! My Mom’s famous recipe for this best EVER frozen cocktail. Just four ingredients, perfectly sweet, and totally delicious.
    Print Pin Rate
    Prep Time: 3 minutes
    Total Time: 3 minutes
    Servings: 2 daiquiris

    Ingredients

    • 4 ounces coconut rum
    • 2 ounces lime juice
    • 1 1/2 ounces simple syrup (or agave)
    • 2 cups ice

    Instructions

    • Add all ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth, serve immediately.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 300kcal

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