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

24 Anti-Inflammatory Recipes You Can Feel Great About Eating (5)

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

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

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

24 Anti-Inflammatory Recipes You Can Feel Great About Eating (9)

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 (11)

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 (13)

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 (17)

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 (19)

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

24 Anti-Inflammatory Recipes You Can Feel Great About Eating (29)

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

24 Anti-Inflammatory Recipes You Can Feel Great About Eating (31)

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 (33)

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

24 Anti-Inflammatory Recipes You Can Feel Great About Eating (35)

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 (37)

"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 (39)

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

24 Anti-Inflammatory Recipes You Can Feel Great About Eating (41)

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's a good anti-inflammatory meal? ›

Anti-inflammatory foods

green leafy vegetables, such as spinach, kale, and collards. nuts like almonds and walnuts. fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, tuna, and sardines. fruits such as strawberries, blueberries, cherries, and oranges.

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

3 Best Anti-Inflammatory Drinks
  • Green and White Teas. Perfect for warming you up when it's cold out, both green and white teas have anti-inflammatory effects on the body. ...
  • Turmeric Milk. ...
  • Tart Cherry Juice. ...
  • Find Your Nutrition Doctor in NYC.
Nov 15, 2023

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? ›

Berries, fatty fish, nuts, leafy greens, oatmeal, and olive oil can all be part of an anti-inflammatory diet. But it's best to include a variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. What meat is anti-inflammatory? The Mediterranean diet includes anti-inflammatory omega-3 rich fatty fish.

What is the #1 anti-inflammatory fruit? ›

Berries. From strawberries and blackberries to cranberries and blueberries, these gemlike fruits are particularly potent in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity.

Is peanut butter anti-inflammatory? ›

Are peanuts inflammatory? The short answer is no, and in fact, peanuts and some peanut products like peanut butter have been shown to be anti-inflammatory. Inflammation in the body is a mechanism thought to be at the center of the majority of chronic diseases.

Can you eat pasta on an anti-inflammatory diet? ›

Pasta, potatoes, tortillas, rice and bread can all be helpful additions to an anti-inflammatory diet that also includes healthy fats, lean protein, fruits and vegetables and other foods that promote balance and variety.

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.

How do you flush inflammation out of your body? ›

You can reduce chronic inflammation by making lifestyle changes, Tolbert says.
  1. Eat anti-inflammatory foods. ...
  2. Quit smoking. ...
  3. Limit or avoid alcohol. ...
  4. Avoid inflammatory foods. ...
  5. Practice stress management techniques. ...
  6. Maintain a healthy weight. ...
  7. Exercise regularly. ...
  8. Practice good sleep hygiene.

What are the 10 worst foods for inflammation? ›

Here are the top ten worst offending foods that can trigger or cause inflammation:
  1. Refined Sugar. No surprises that sugar is at the top of the list. ...
  2. Vegetable Oil. ...
  3. Dairy Products. ...
  4. Wheat, Rye, and Barley. ...
  5. Fried Foods. ...
  6. Refined Flour. ...
  7. Red Meat. ...
  8. Processed Corn.
Dec 9, 2023

What can I drink before bed to reduce inflammation? ›

Chamomile tea

It has multiple health benefits, including relieving cold symptoms, reducing inflammation, and improving skin health. The tea is made by infusing chamomile flowers in hot water ( 14 ). Some research suggests that chamomile may improve sleep quality.

What is the number one food to fight inflammation? ›

1. Avocados. Avocados are often sought after for their creamy texture and satiating taste. But they are also powerhouses when it comes to fighting inflammation.

What is the #1 herb for inflammation? ›

Rosemary, or Rosmarinus officinalis L., makes the list of one of the 14 herbs and spices dietitians recommend you eat, and also happens to be the No. 1 herb to help decrease inflammation.

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

Vitamins and Supplements to Fight Inflammation
  • Curcumin. 5/12. ...
  • Vitamin E. 6/12. ...
  • Garlic. 7/12. ...
  • Ginger. 8/12. ...
  • Omega-3 Fatty Acids. 9/12. ...
  • Resveratrol. 10/12. ...
  • SAM-e. 11/12. ...
  • Zinc. 12/12. Your whole body needs this micronutrient, which can help ward off inflammation.
Dec 4, 2022

What reduces inflammation fast? ›

Healthy eating tips to help reduce inflammation
  • Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. ...
  • Choose high-fiber carbohydrates. ...
  • Eat more fiber. ...
  • Choose plant-based and leaner animal protein sources. ...
  • Be conscious of your fat sources. ...
  • Reduce the omega-6 to omega-3 ratio in the diet. ...
  • Reduce your sugar intake. ...
  • Limit or avoid alcohol.
Nov 16, 2023

What are the 7 most inflammatory foods? ›

The following seven foods, which are common in Western diets, are some of the top inflammatory foods to avoid.
  1. Refined grains. ...
  2. Refined sugar. ...
  3. Sodium. ...
  4. Red and processed meat. ...
  5. Trans fats. ...
  6. Ultra-processed foods. ...
  7. Alcoholic beverages.
Nov 1, 2023

What is the best anti-inflammatory? ›

What is the strongest anti-inflammatory over the counter? Naproxen (Aleve) is the strongest NSAID available without a prescription. Pain relief lasts longer, so you do not have to take it as often as ibuprofen (Advil).

What is an anti-inflammatory breakfast? ›

The 6 Best Breakfasts for Fighting Inflammation
  • Smoothies.
  • Breakfast Salads.
  • Berries and Yogurt.
  • Avocado Toast.
  • Whole Grains and Nuts.
  • Eggs and Greens.
Aug 22, 2023

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