20 of Our Most Popular Recipes of All Time

Article posted in: Diet & Nutrition
popular recipes

Daunted by the volume of tasty recipes to choose from on The Leaf? Start with these 20. They’re delicious, healthy and you could call them “the people’s choice.” They’re our most raved about, popular recipes of all time. Once you taste them, you’ll find out why.

The 30 Most Popular Dessert Recipes of All Time

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Here are 20 of the most popular recipes featured on The Leaf:

1. Easy 3-Step Banana Pudding >

Easy 3-Step Banana Pudding

It’s healthy. It’s sweet. It’s easy. What could be bad? This dreamy, creamy banana pudding is a decadent dessert that tastes anything but diet-friendly. Bonus: It makes such a large portion, you can save half for tomorrow!

2. 3-Ingredient Peanut Butter Cups >

peanut butter cups

No surprise that this is one of our all-time favorites. It tastes just like candy and takes no time to make! Just melt some chocolate in the microwave, pour into muffin cups and freeze. Top each one with crunchy peanut butter mixed with warm coconut oil and pop back into the freezer to harden. Enjoy your favorite peanut butter candy made diet-friendly!

3. Chicken and Broccoli Stir-Fry >

popular recipes

Soy sauce, fresh ginger and hoisin sauce make a delectable coating for stir-fried chicken. Throw in crispy broccoli, onions and bright red bell peppers for a fiber-filled Flex meal. Served over brown rice, it’s better than takeout!

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4. Creamy Pasta Salad >

pasta salad

Don’t let anyone tell you that pasta salad is just for summer picnics. This is a year-round filling crowd-pleaser filled with broccoli florets, red and orange bell peppers, cherry tomatoes and cooked turkey bacon nestled in your favorite pasta. Enjoy one of our most popular recipes dressed in a nonfat Greek yogurt and light mayonnaise mixture, flavored with garlic powder, parsley, lemon juice and pepper.

5. Black Forest Milkshake >

popular recipes

Chocolate and cherries are best friends in this creamy milkshake. This blender recipe starts with a chocolate Nutrisystem shake to which you add a cup of frozen cherries, unsweetened almond milk and the secret ingredient; spinach! Yes, it’s a secret green shake that’s packed with protein, fiber and antioxidants.

6. Peach Cobbler >

peach cobbler

Fresh peaches are sweetened with stevia and spiced with nutmeg, all nestled within a whole wheat crust. The flavor of sweet and sour peaches shines in this popular recipe and complements the light, buttery crust made with whole wheat flour, eggs, light butter, nonfat milk, vanilla extract and cinnamon.

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7. Skinny Chocolate Donuts >

popular recipes

Donuts on a diet? It’s unheard of! Crispy on the outside, soft and doughy on the inside. Drizzled with a sweet chocolate glaze, these diet-friendly treats are sure to be your go-to dessert. Just grab a donut pan and make a simple batter of whole wheat flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, egg, stevia, nonfat milk, butter, Greek yogurt and vanilla. Bake for about 10 minutes, top with a homemade glaze and enjoy your diet-friendly donuts.

8. 3-Ingredient Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bombs >

popular recipes

These are your secret weapon against that mid-afternoon slump. The three ingredients are a chocolate Nutrisystem shake, a scoop of peanut butter and some cream cheese. Combine them in a blender, pop them into the freezer to set, then roll them into balls. Freeze the rest for healthy snacks all week long.

9. Sweet Strawberry Cheesecake Pudding >

popular recipes

Made with real strawberries and real cheese, this cheesecake pudding is definitely the real deal. And it’s so easy to make! Pop the ingredients—fat free cottage cheese, low fat cream cheese, sliced strawberries, vanilla extract and liquid stevia—into a food processor or blender and there you have it! Top with some extra strawberries if you’d like to add a SmartCarb.

10. Blueberry Cheesecake Donuts >

popular recipes

Who enjoys pastries on a diet? You do! These are just as delicious as the ones you buy at the bakery. However, they’re way lower in calories and much, much healthier. Whole wheat pastry flour adds some fiber, while skim milk, nonfat plain Greek yogurt and light butter shave some calories. A stevia sweetener replaces regular sugar for a healthy take on popular donut recipes.

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11. Skinny Cheese Steak Sandwich >

popular recipes

This mouthwatering version of the iconic Philly cheesesteak sandwich is only 292 calories per serving. Despite being short on calories, it’s definitely not short on flavor. Our healthy recipe pairs thinly sliced flank steak with sautéed onions, mushrooms and bell peppers, all stuffed inside a six-inch sub roll. We season it all with garlic powder and Worcestershire sauce and top with a slice of reduced fat provolone.

12. No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola Bars >

Homemade No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

Did we have you at “no-bake”? Thought so! It’s easy enough to buy ready-made granola bars. However, many are high in calories and packed with unhealthy ingredients. But not these! All it takes to make a healthy, homemade granola bar is peanut butter, honey, rolled oats and semi-sweet chocolate chips. Four simple ingredients that are probably already in your kitchen!

13. 5-Star Skinny Chicken Nuggets >

chicken nuggets

Don’t you love it when you can enjoy healthy versions of your favorite foods while losing weight? These spiced, skinny chicken nuggets have plenty of flavor and crispy mouth feel without the heavy breading. They’re packed with low calorie flavor from garlic powder, paprika, cayenne and black pepper. A little time in a hot oven and you’ll be enjoying a childhood favorite made healthy.

14. Avocado Chicken Salad Sandwich >

avocado chicken salad sandwich

Next time you’re at the grocery store, grab a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken to make meal prep a breeze. You can use it to make a variety of dishes, including our delicious chicken salad. Most popular recipes featuring chicken salad call for mayonnaise. However, our healthy version replaces it with fresh avocado. Serve it on a whole wheat sandwich thin with a squeeze of lime that truly makes this chicken salad special.

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15. Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Mug Cake >

chocolate peanut butter mug cake

Mug cakes are among some of the most popular recipes. And for good reason! They’re so delicious and so easy to make. Add powdered peanut butter, whole wheat pastry flour, baking powder, stevia, mashed ripe banana, unsweetened almond milk and chocolate chips to a microwave-safe mug. Pop it in the microwave for a few minutes and voila! Instant dessert.

16. BBQ Chicken Sandwich >

popular recipes

Enjoy the family barbecue while staying on your diet! A great Flex lunch or dinner, this barbecue chicken sandwich starts with 12 ounces of boneless chicken breast that’s poached, shredded and tossed with barbecue sauce. It’s layered on a whole wheat hamburger bun and topped with a quickie coleslaw made with only a few ingredients.

17. Skinny Pumpkin Latte >

pumpkin spice

This recipe offers all the warm, spicy comfort of your favorite autumn drink with none of the guilt. That’s thanks to skim milk, stevia and nonfat whipped cream. Real pumpkin puree and pumpkin spices supply the fall flavors you’ve been waiting for all year.

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18. 4-Ingredient Pumpkin Brownies >

chocolate pumpkin brownies

You could take these seasonal brownies to a party or cookie swap and no one would know that they’re diet-friendly. Four simple ingredients come together to create decadent, chocolatey bite with the flavors of autumn harvest. Pumpkin puree, banana, peanut butter and cocoa powder are a magical combination that results in this top recipe.

19. Blueberry Burst Energy Balls >

popular recipes

This flavorful pick-me-up couldn’t be easier to make. Just grab your food processor and grind up cashews, rolled oats, sweet pitted dates and antioxidant-rich blueberries. Roll the mixture into balls and enjoy as healthy snacks throughout your busy week.

20. Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps >

lettuce wraps

Shredded buffalo chicken is nestled into crispy lettuce leaves and drizzled with a homemade, skinny blue cheese dressing. Your Instant Pot can help make preparing the chicken a cinch. Just throw in chicken breasts, chicken broth, chopped onions and buffalo sauce. 10 minutes later and you’re ready to shred the chicken. After shredding, add it back to the pot for five minutes and it’s good to go. Drizzle on the dressing made with blue cheese crumbles, nonfat Greek yogurt, lemon, garlic powder, salt and pepper. For the lettuce wraps, use bibb or iceberg leaves and top with chopped carrots, celery and scallions.

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