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30 Minutes or Less

Spicy Cucumber Margaritas

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two spicy cucumber margaritas with spicy salt rim on the side

These spicy cucumber margaritas are tangy, smoky, and perfectly sweet! This refreshing cocktail features a spicy rim along with fresh muddled cucumbers. Shake together a batch of these healthier homemade margaritas for your next dinner party or summer barbecue!

two spicy cucumber margaritas with spicy salt rim on the side

What You Need To Make Spicy Cucumber Margaritas

Lime Zest – The lime zest in the spicy rim is my very own secret ingredient. It adds a touch of brightness that will have people asking, “what is that?!” Just a teaspoon of fresh lime zest brings these drinks together. They’re ideally salty, sweet, and savory!

Agave – This natural sweetener makes these margaritas that much more healthy. I personally like the taste of agave better than simple syrup. Agave is darker in both color and flavor. Though if you’re looking for an even healthier cocktail – use honey instead!

Cucumber – This crisp, fresh vegetable is 96% water! Therefore, I like to look at this cocktail as a way to hydrate while I dehydrate. Ok ok gigs up. I can’t confidently say these margaritas are actually healthy just because they contain a vegetable. But I can say the cucumber perfectly balances out the spice. There’s just something about the combination of the two that is *chef’s kiss* perfect!

Make It A Mocktail

  • Use 2 ounces of tonic or sparkling water in place of the tequila. Also, use orange juice instead of triple sec for a virgin spicy cucumber margarita!

Tips For Making Spicy Cucumber Margaritas

  • The longer you shake these margaritas, the spicier they’ll be! Tossing the sliced jalapeños in your cocktail shaker will encourage them to release their spicy oils. So the longer they have to release those oils, the spicier your drinks will be.
  • For a skinny margarita, use orange juice instead of triple sec. The use of agave falls under the “skinny” label. Though if you want to make this a true skinny spicy cucumber margarita (wow that’s a mouthful) make sure you use fresh-squeezed orange juice instead of triple sec.
  • If you don’t like a salty rim, use sugar instead! Replace the salt with the same amount of sugar. Enjoy a slightly sweeter, yet still spicy and delicious cocktail.
Spicy Cucumber Margaritas
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Spicy Cucumber Margaritas

5 from 1 vote
Recipe by Samantha Russo Course: DrinksCuisine: MexicanDifficulty: Easy
Servings

2

servings
Prep time

5

minutes
Total time

5

minutes

These spicy cucumber margaritas are tangy, smoky, and perfectly sweet! This refreshing cocktail features a spicy rim along with fresh muddled cucumbers. Shake together a batch of these healthier homemade margaritas for your next dinner party or summer barbecue!

Ingredients

  • For the spicy rim:

  • 3 tablespoons salt

  • 1 tablespoon chili powder

  • 1 teaspoon lime zest

  • 4 ounces tequila

  • 2 ounces lime juice

  • 1 ounce triple sec, see Notes

  • 1 tablespoon agave, see Notes

  • 1 cup cucumber, sliced

  • 3-4 jalapeño slices

Directions

  • Mix together all spicy rim ingredients together on a small plate. Then run a lime wedge along the rim of both glasses before dipping in the salt mixture. Set glasses aside.
  • Place the tequila, lime juice, triple sec, agave, and cucumber in a cocktail shaker. Muddle together, squashing the cucumbers in the process.
  • Fill the shaker with ice, add in jalapeño slices. Then secure with lid and shake for about 1 minute.
  • Fill both glasses with ice, then pour over ice.

Recipe Video

Notes

  • Triple Sec: For a lower calorie drink, you can sub the triple sec for 1 ounce of fresh-squeezed orange juice instead!
  • Agave: Simple syrup or honey would both work in place of the agave in this recipe.

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Drinks

Arnold Palmer Drink Recipe (Iced Tea Lemonade)

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lemonade being poured into a glass of an arnold palmer drink with lemon slices on the side

This arnold palmer recipe is the only one you’ll ever need! A simple lemonade meets a home-brewed iced tea for a beverage that is perfectly light and refreshing. Enjoy an arnold palmer on a hot summer day as a slightly sweet and cooling drink!

lemonade being poured into a glass of an arnold palmer drink with lemon slices on the side

Ask me what my favorite non-alcoholic beverage is and I’ll say an arnold palmer every time. I look forward to every summer when the only thing that will refresh and cool me off is one of these half ice tea, half lemonade drinks. While this arnold palmer recipe isn’t limited to just the summertime, it’s just something I’ve associated with very hot days over the years. Let me tell you, the combination of fresh brewed iced tea and a homemade lemonade simply hits different when it’s a billion degrees outside.

The funny thing is, for the longest time I thought of this drink like it was one of those things I could only order while out to eat. But what I didn’t realize for all those years is how freaking EASY it is to make at home. The lemonade for this arnold palmer recipe consists of just three ingredients (one being water) and the iced tea consists of just two ingredients (again, one being water)! I’m talking like stupid easy, ladies and gentleman. And because it’s me who created the recipe – this drink is refined sugar-free, too.

What You Need To Make This Arnold Palmer Drink Recipe

Lemons – Lots and lots of lemons! If you have a lemon juicer, go ahead and whip that baby out for this recipe. In the end, you’ll need an entire cup of lemon juice. Which may sound like a lot, but will actually only end up being about 6 to 8 juicy lemons. My trick for super juicy lemons is to roll them between my palm and the counter before slicing them in half. By rolling them, you’ll soften up the inside making it easier to squeeze as much lemon juice out of them as possible.

Honey – This natural sweetener is the only sweetener you’ll need for this arnold palmer drink recipe! I love honey for its high dose of antioxidants and strong anti-bacterial properties. It’s also perfectly sweet and makes a delicious addition to this refreshing beverage. If you don’t have honey, you can use either maple syrup or simple syrup instead.

Black Tea Bags – Any black tea bags will work! I’ve also used green tea instead of black tea and had great results. Brew your own tea by adding the tea bags to water and leaving it to steep in the fridge for at least 8 hours, or preferably overnight. Homemade iced tea couldn’t be easier to make, and is essential to this simple arnold palmer drink recipe!

Adjust This Recipe To Your Diet

  • Make it Vegan: Substitute maple syrup for the honey to make this a vegan arnold palmer drink recipe.
Arnold Palmer Drink Recipe (Iced Tea Lemonade)
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Arnold Palmer Drink Recipe (Iced Tea Lemonade)

5 from 3 votes
Recipe by Samantha Course: Better Than Takeout, Made Healthy
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

30

minutes
Cooking time

40

minutes
Calories

300

kcal
Total time

1

hour 

10

minutes

This arnold palmer recipe is the only one you’ll ever need! A simple lemonade meets a home-brewed iced tea for a beverage that is perfectly light and refreshing. Enjoy an arnold palmer on a hot summer day as a slightly sweet and cooling drink!

Ingredients

  • For the lemonade:

  • 1 cup lemon juice (about 6-7 lemons)

  • 1/2 cup honey, see Notes

  • 2 cups cold water

  • For the iced tea:

  • 4 black tea bags

  • 4 cups cold water

Directions

  • Make the iced tea by placing the tea bags in 4 cups of water then transfer to the fridge to steep for 8-12 hours.
  • Make the lemonade by adding all lemonade ingredients to a large jar or pitcher and stirring until honey dissolves completely.
  • Fill a cup with ice and fill halfway with iced tea, then the rest of the way with lemonade.

Recipe Video

Notes

  • Honey: Feel free to use maple syrup or simple syrup in place of the honey in this recipe!

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30 Minutes or Less

Strawberry Spinach Salad

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overhead image of strawberry spinach salad on a plate with a fork

This strawberry spinach salad is both light and satisfying! Sweet strawberries, hearty farro, fresh mint, and healthy spinach are tossed together in a simple honey balsamic vinaigrette. Enjoy this strawberry spinach salad as a quick and nutritious lunch or serve it alongside your favorite protein for a well-rounded lunch!

overhead image of strawberry spinach salad on a plate with a fork

I am SO here for strawberry season! I’ve challenged myself to eat as many strawberries in as many different ways as possible before this delicious season is over. And as someone who loves a good sweet and savory combo, I will forever be pro-fruit in salads. There’s also just something about a strawberry and balsamic combo that is SO incredibly perfect. Also, as someone who loves and needs more quick and easy salad options in her life – this strawberry spinach salad checks all my boxes!

What You Need To Make Strawberry Spinach Salad

Farro – Farro is a grain that’s full of fiber, iron, protein, and magnesium. I know, it’s the total package. If you’ve never had farro before, I highly recommend you give it a try. It tastes like a heartier brown rice. Though it has more than twice the amount of protein as rice! Follow the instructions on the package for how to cook the farro. The method is typically similar to pasta or rice. You’ll boil it in water for about 10-15 minutes, then strain it and let it cool for this recipe.

Spinach – Spinach is another major superfood in this recipe! Along with protein, iron, vitamins, and minerals – spinach is chock-full of antioxidants. The antioxidants found in spinach have been shown to reduce the risk of common diseases and even cancer. Yup, Popeye was seriously on to something with the whole spinach thing…

Walnuts – Here we go again with another superfood! Walnuts are also rich in antioxidants, are an incredible source of heart healthy omega-3s and have also been studied and found to reduce the risk of some cancers. Not only are they good for you, but walnuts give this salad a delightful crunch. I’m telling you, this strawberry spinach salad is the most well-rounded salad in both flavor and nutrition!

Adjust This Recipe To Your Diet

  • Add Protein: Feel free to add a flakey salmon filet or your favorite grilled/roasted chicken to increase the protein in this strawberry spinach salad recipe.
  • Make it Vegan: You can easily make this salad vegan by using maple syrup in place of the honey.
  • Use a Different Grain: Swap the farro for your favorite grain if you’d like! Cooked brown rice, quinoa, or even barley would taste great in this recipe.
  • Add Dairy: Sprinkle some crumbled feta over the top of your strawberry spinach salad.
Strawberry Spinach Salad
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Strawberry Spinach Salad

0 from 0 votes
Recipe by Samantha Russo Course: MainCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

10

minutes
Cooking time

10

minutes
Total time

20

minutes

This strawberry spinach salad is both light and satisfying! Sweet strawberries, hearty farro, fresh mint, and healthy spinach are tossed together in a simple honey balsamic vinaigrette. Enjoy this strawberry spinach salad as a quick and nutritious lunch or serve it alongside your favorite protein for a well-rounded lunch!

Ingredients

  • For the salad:

  • 1 cup farro

  • 1-2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced

  • 3 cups spinach, sliced

  • 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped

  • 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, sliced

  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

  • For the honey balsamic dressing:

  • 3 tablespoons olive oil

  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

  • 1 tablespoon honey

  • 1 teaspoon dijon mustard

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

  • Cook farro according to package instructions then set aside to cool completely.
  • Toss all salad ingredients together in a bowl, including cooked and cooled farro.
  • Whisk together salad dressing ingredients in a small bowl, then drizzle over salad and toss again to coat.

Recipe Video

Notes

  • If you don’t have strawberries, fresh blueberries or sliced apples would taste great in their place!

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30 Minutes or Less

Paleo Chicken Nuggets + Healthy Honey Mustard (GF/DF)

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Paleo Chicken Nuggets Recipe

These paleo chicken nuggets are incredibly crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Impressively simple to make, this recipe is the healthier answer to your fast food craving. And don’t forget the healthy honey mustard – it’s just four ingredients and the PERFECT companion to these paleo chicken nuggets!

Paleo chicken nuggets are finally here! I’ve actually been making this recipe for months, fine-tuning it every time. I’m a firm believer in chicken nuggets always having a place in our lives. They’re not just to enjoy throughout childhood, but adulthood too …and eventually senior-hood.

I also have a secret for how to eat these paleo chicken nuggets that makes them just a little more grown-up. I make a double batch at the beginning of the week, and throw them in all my salads as a crispy, delicious protein! Now I will say, if you plan on doing the same, to reheat these chicken nuggets I highlyyyy recommend warming them up in the oven as apposed to the microwave. The microwave makes these a little soggy, whereas the oven keeps the outside layer nice and crunchy. To do this, set your oven to 400° Fahrenheit and heat your paleo chicken nuggets on a baking sheet for 5-10 minutes or until they’re warm throughout.

And of course, you can enjoy these nuggets anyway you’d like! Another favorite method of mine is serving them with my air fryer sweet potato fries. I also included a BONUS healthy honey mustard recipe for you guys below. Paleo chicken nuggets, air fryer sweet potato fries, and healthy honey mustard is a killer combo. It honestly tastes like you ordered fast food for dinner, but is WAY HEALTHIER.

What You Need To Make Paleo Chicken Nuggets and Healthy Honey Mustard

Almond Flour – If you don’t already have a bag of almond flour in your cabinet, I highly recommend you go out and buy one. I use almond flour in a TON of my recipes, and not just the paleo ones. It’s a great gluten-free and paleo flour substitute, and that’s exactly how we use it in these paleo chicken nuggets.

Tapioca Starch – Another item I highly recommend you pick up next time you’re at the grocery store. Tapioca starch is a great item to have if you intend to cook more paleo recipes. It can act as a substitute to corn starch and since almond flour alone can be kind of dense, tapioca starch really helps to lighten up the crispy coating.

Dijon Mustard – Well, obviously! Dijon is my personal favorites of all the mustards. In my eyes, it’s a more mature yellow mustard. I wouldn’t recommend subbing a different kind of mustard for the dijon in this recipe. Dijon adds a little spice, helping this healthy honey mustard tasting almost identical to your regular ole’ honey mustard.

Paleo Chicken Nuggets + Healthy Honey Mustard (GF/DF)
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Paleo Chicken Nuggets + Healthy Honey Mustard (GF/DF)

0 from 0 votes
Recipe by Samantha Russo Course: MainCuisine: American
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

10

minutes
Cooking time

10

minutes
Total time

20

minutes

These paleo chicken nuggets are incredibly crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Impressively simple to make, this recipe is the healthier answer to your fast food craving. And don’t forget the healthy honey mustard – it’s just four ingredients and the PERFECT companion to these paleo chicken nuggets!

Ingredients

  • For the chicken nuggets:

  • 1 1/2 Pounds Chicken Breast, see Notes

  • 1 Egg

  • 1 Cup Almond Flour

  • 1/4 Cup Tapioca Starch

  • 1 Teaspoon Paprika

  • 1/2 Teaspoon Garlic Powder

  • 1/2 Teaspoon Onion Powder

  • 1/2 Teaspoon Black Pepper

  • 2 Teaspoons Salt, divided

  • For the healthy honey mustard:

  • 1/4 Cup Dijon Mustard, see Notes

  • 1/4 Cup Honey

  • 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

  • 1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice, see Notes

Directions

  • Cut chicken into bite-sized chunks and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of salt.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and set aside.
  • In a separate bowl, mix together the almond flour, tapioca starch, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and remaining 1 teaspoon of salt.Paleo Chicken Nuggets Process Photo 3
  • Using one hand, place each piece of chicken into the egg, then with the other hand, dredge chicken in the flour mixture.Paleo Chicken Nuggets Process Photo 4
  • To fry: Heat 1/4 cup of oil in a pan over medium/high heat. Working in batches, as to not overcrowd the pan, fry each chicken nugget for 2-3 minutes per side or until cooked through.
    OR
    To bake: Preheat your oven to 425° Fahrenheit, place nuggets on a greased baking sheet and bake for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through.Paleo Chicken Nuggets Process Photo 5
  • For the healthy honey mustard:
  • Add all honey mustard ingredients to a bowl and whisk until combined.Healthy Honey Mustard Process Photo

Notes

  • Chicken Breast: You’ll be cutting the chicken into bite-sized chunks in the first step of this recipe. I usually cut mine between 2-3 inches big. However, you can definitely cut your chicken into whatever shape/sized you’d like, just take that into consideration when you’re frying or baking your nuggets.
  • Dijon Mustard: I would not recommend subbing any other type of mustard, dijon works BEST in this recipe.
  • Lemon Juice: You can use apple cider vinegar or white vinegar instead of lemon juice, if you’d like.

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Appetizers

Crispy Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings (GF/DF)

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Air Fryer Chicken Wings

These air fryer buffalo chicken wings are incredibly crispy and EXPLODING with flavor. This recipe features both air-fried and oven-baked options, along with a dairy-free buffalo sauce. With just a few simple steps, you’ll have healthier restaurant-quality buffalo chicken wings.

Air Fryer Chicken Wings

I love restaurant buffalo chicken wings, but restaurant buffalo chicken wings don’t love me. Can anyone relate?? Time and time again I’d order buffalo chicken wings while out to dinner and end up with a massive stomach ache. I think it was a bad combination of them being deep-fried, then smothered in a spicy dairy-filled sauce. So what did I do? I stopped ordering/eating buffalo chicken wings. But, man did I miss them!

Then I got my hands on an air fryer and ran through all of the possible recipes I could create using it …and that’s when it happened. Air fryer buffalo chicken wings, I thought! YES. Once I set my mind on a new recipe, it’s gotta happen. Lucky for me, I nailed these wings on my first try. The air fryer truly makes the entire process SO easy. So finally, for the first time in a very VERY long time, I was able to enjoy my buffalo chicken wings sans stomach ache!

What You Need To Make Crispy Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings

Chicken Wings -There are two kinds of chicken wings, a drumette and a flat. They’re both cut from the wing of a chicken, but yield a different shape and slightly different tastes. A drumette will taste a bit more mild and is made up of mostly white meat, whereas a flat is entirely dark meat and has more flavor. If you ask me, you need both on a plate of chicken wings. But I know some people prefer one kind over the other. Use whichever cut you’d like in this recipe!

Non-Dairy Butter – Any and all non-dairy butters will work in this recipe. I prefer Miyoko’s Cultured Vegan Butter, it is just all-around a superior non-dairy butter in my opinion. And if you’re not dairy-free, go ahead and use regular butter instead.

Hot Sauce – Most people and recipes will tell you that Frank’s RedHot is the only way to go with buffalo sauce. But I’d argue that any hot sauce will work. I used Cholula Original hot sauce in my buffalo sauce and it came out incredibly tasty! The only recommendation I’d make when picking a hot sauce, is to go for something a bit thicker in consistency. This will contribute to a thick buffalo sauce that clings to your wings.

Honey – This is my secret ingredient, it really does take these air fryer buffalo chicken wings to the next level. All that spice needs something to balance it out, and honey does the trick. Trust me, it’ll just be that ingredient in there that has people saying, WOW this is soooo good.

Adjust This Recipe To Your Dietary Needs

  • Make it Vegan: Use cauliflower instead of chicken wings! Chop a head of cauliflower into florets, keep the recipe the same except reduce the cook time to 15-20 minutes. You can also substitute maple syrup for the honey in the buffalo sauce.
  • Make it Paleo: Use ghee instead of non-dairy butter and your favorite paleo hot sauce.
  • Add Dairy: Feel free to use regular butter instead of non-dairy butter in this recipe!
Crispy Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings (GF/DF)
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Crispy Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings (GF/DF)

0 from 0 votes
Recipe by Samantha Russo Course: AppetizersCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

5

minutes
Cooking time

30

minutes
Total time

35

minutes

These air fryer buffalo chicken wings are incredibly crispy and EXPLODING with flavor. This recipe features both air-fried and oven-baked options, along with a dairy-free buffalo sauce. With just a few simple steps, you’ll have healthier restaurant-quality buffalo chicken wings.

Ingredients

  • For the wings:

  • 2 Pounds Chicken Wings

  • 1/2 Teaspoon Salt

  • For the buffalo sauce:

  • 1/4 Cup Non-Dairy Butter, melted

  • 1/2 Cup Hot Sauce, see NOTES

  • 2 Tablespoons Honey

Directions

  • Preheat your air fryer. Pat chicken wings dry with a paper towel, then sprinkle evenly with salt.Air Fryer Chicken Wings Process Photo 1
  • Transfer wings to air fryer and cook for 25 minutes at 380° Fahrenheit. Pause after 12 minutes and flip each chicken wing before cooking the remaining time.Air Fryer Chicken Wings Process Photo 2
  • While wings cook, add all buffalo sauce ingredients to a bowl and whisk to combine.Air Fryer Chicken Wings Process Photo 3
  • Flip wings again, increase temperature to 400° Fahrenheit and cook for 4 more minutes.
  • Remove wings from air fryer, transfer to a bowl with the buffalo sauce and toss to evenly coat.Air Fryer Chicken Wings Process Photo 4
  • Oven-baked option:
  • Preheat your oven to 425° Fahrenheit. Pat chicken wings dry with a paper towel, then sprinkle evenly with salt.
  • Place a wire cooling rack on top of a baking sheet and transfer chicken wings to the wire rack, skin side up and about 1-inch apart.
  • Bake wings for 1 hour, flipping every 20 minutes to ensure all sides get crispy.
  • While wings bake, add all buffalo sauce ingredients to a bowl and whisk to combine.
  • Remove wings from the oven, transfer to a bowl with the buffalo sauce and toss to evenly coat.

Notes

  • Hot Sauce: Any red hot sauce will do, Frank’s and Cholula work best!

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