24 Anti-Inflammatory Recipes You Can Feel Great About Eating (2024)

24 Anti-Inflammatory Recipes You Can Feel Great About Eating (1)

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

24 Anti-Inflammatory Recipes You Can Feel Great About Eating (3)

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

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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

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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

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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

24 Anti-Inflammatory Recipes You Can Feel Great About Eating (7)

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

24 Anti-Inflammatory Recipes You Can Feel Great About Eating (8)

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

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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

24 Anti-Inflammatory Recipes You Can Feel Great About Eating (10)

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

24 Anti-Inflammatory Recipes You Can Feel Great About Eating (11)

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

24 Anti-Inflammatory Recipes You Can Feel Great About Eating (18)

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

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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.

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18

Cilantro-Lime Shrimp Wraps

24 Anti-Inflammatory Recipes You Can Feel Great About Eating (20)

"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

24 Anti-Inflammatory Recipes You Can Feel Great About Eating (21)

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.

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20

Garlicky Lemon Mahi Mahi

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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.

24 Anti-Inflammatory Recipes You Can Feel Great About Eating (2024)

FAQs

What is the most anti-inflammatory food you can eat? ›

Top 8 Anti-Inflammatory Foods You Should Eat
  1. Dark, leafy greens. Save. Vegetables like kale, spinach, and swiss chard pack a high antioxidant punch. ...
  2. Colorful fruits. Save. ...
  3. Ginger and turmeric. Save. ...
  4. Nuts. Save. ...
  5. Green Tea. Save. ...
  6. Chia seeds and flaxseeds. Save. ...
  7. Fatty fish. Save. ...
  8. Beans. Save.

What is the best anti-inflammatory dinner? ›

21 Anti-Inflammatory Recipes That Are Worth Trying
  • Greek Chicken Topped With Tomato, Olive, and Feta. ...
  • 5-Ingredient Green Curry. ...
  • Spaghetti Squash With Asparagus, Ricotta, Lemon, and Thyme. ...
  • One-Pan Salmon With Wild Rice and Broccoli. ...
  • Farro Risotto With Butternut Squash and Kale. ...
  • Easy Salmon Cakes.
Mar 25, 2024

What is the #1 best drink to reduce inflammation? ›

What is the #1 best drink to reduce inflammation?
  • baking soda and water.
  • parsley and ginger green juice.
  • lemon and turmeric tonic.
  • bone broth.
  • functional food smoothie.
  • matcha tea.
  • greens and berry smoothie.

What is the strongest natural anti-inflammatory? ›

  1. Omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids , which are abundant in fatty fish such as salmon or tuna, are among the most potent anti-inflammatory supplements. ...
  2. Curcumin. ...
  3. S-adenosylmethionine. ...
  4. Zinc. ...
  5. Green tea. ...
  6. Frankincense. ...
  7. Capsaicin. ...
  8. Cat's claw.

What foods flush out inflammation? ›

To fight inflammation, go for whole, unprocessed foods with no added sugar: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes (beans, lentils), fish, poultry, nuts, seeds, a little bit of low-fat dairy, and olive oil. "To these, many people add herbs and spices like cinnamon, ginger, and turmeric.

What is the #1 most inflammatory food? ›

The five types of foods that cause inflammation include: Red meat and processed meats, including bacon, hot dogs, lunch meats and cured meats. Refined grains, including white bread, white rice, pasta and breakfast cereals. Snack foods, including chips, cookies, crackers and pastries.

Which pasta is anti-inflammatory? ›

Wholegrain Pasta: A Healthier Alternative

Numerous studies confirm that these nutritional attributes make wholegrain pasta a healthier alternative to traditional refined pasta and contribute to its anti-inflammatory properties.

Is peanut butter anti-inflammatory? ›

Tree nuts and peanuts lower risk factors of cardiometabolic disease, including blood lipids, blood pressure and insulin resistance, among others. Given their strong antioxidant/anti-inflammatory potential, it is plausible that nuts may also exert a favorable effect on inflammation and oxidative stress.

What meat is anti-inflammatory? ›

In fact, pasture-raised chickens, pigs, lambs, and cows have higher levels of anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids and lower levels of pro-inflammatory omega-6 fatty acids than corn-fed animals. Research even shows less disease among people who opt for meat from grass-fed animals over conventional.

Can drinking lots of water reduce inflammation? ›

Health experts recommend that a diet rich in anti-oxidants as well as staying hydrated with enough water are great ways to reduce inflammation in the body. Water is specifically recommended because it can flush toxins and other irritants out of the body.

What can I drink before bed to reduce inflammation? ›

Rich in anthocyanins that can calm inflamed tissues, tart cherry juice is the go-to fruit juice that people love to drink after a workout or just before sleeping. As its antioxidants can help improve recovery time after a workout, it can also reduce muscle soreness and inflammation.

What is the fastest way to flush inflammation? ›

The Fastest Ways to Reduce Inflammation
  1. Find the Cause of the Chronic Inflammation.
  2. Consult with a Health Professional.
  3. Reduce Stressors.
  4. Get Enough Sleep.
  5. Support Your Gut.
  6. Eat More Colorful Plant-Based Foods.
  7. Stay Hydrated.
  8. Spice Up Your Meals.
Sep 22, 2023

What is the #1 best vitamin for chronic inflammation? ›

Best vitamins and supplements for chronic inflammation
  • Omega-3 Fatty Acids. ...
  • Curcumin (Turmeric) ...
  • Green Tea Extract. ...
  • Ginger. ...
  • Boswellia (Indian Frankincense) ...
  • Vitamin D. ...
  • Probiotics.
Mar 18, 2024

What is Chinese medicine for inflammation? ›

Frankincense Resin (Ru Xiang) This TCM classic not only alleviates acute or chronic pain + trauma to the body, but it can also treat inflammatory diseases. Interestingly enough, this hardened, gum-like material comes from the trunk of the Boswellia carteri tree, which is native to India + Africa.

What is the strongest anti-inflammatory fruit? ›

The 7 Best Fruits for Fighting Inflammation
  • Cherries.
  • Strawberries.
  • Watermelon.
  • Apples.
  • Pineapple.
  • Avocado.
  • Blueberries.
Aug 7, 2023

What are the 7 most inflammatory foods? ›

These 7 high-inflammatory foods can sap your energy and raise your risk for cancer, diabetes, and heart disease
  1. Char-grilled meat. ...
  2. Processed meat products. ...
  3. Alcohol. ...
  4. Deep-fried foods. ...
  5. Sugary foods and drinks. ...
  6. Ultra-processed foods. ...
  7. Highly refined carbs.

Are any foods actually anti-inflammatory? ›

Examples of anti-inflammatory foods:

High-fiber whole grains. Legumes. Monounsaturated fats (avocados, olive oil, nuts, nut butters, seeds) Polyunsaturated omega-3 fats (walnuts, flaxseeds, chia seeds, and aquatic foods including salmon, herring, sardines, mackerel)

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