Healthy Whole-Grain Recipes

Healthy eating is a whole lot easier when you're full and fueled. These wholesome recipes are packed with whole-grain goodness (from oats, farro, wheat berries and more) to keep you going strong.

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Photo By: Tara Donne

Photo By: Tara Donne ©Tara Donne

Kasha Salad with Hazelnuts and Feta

Kasha is a form of buckwheat that has been toasted. Although "wheat" is in its name, buckwheat is actually gluten-free and more closely related to rhubarb. It's particularly high in vitamins and minerals.

Get the Recipe: Kasha Salad with Hazelnuts and Feta

Whole-Grain Herbed Garlic Bread

Top whole-grain bread with creamy roasted garlic, fresh herbs and grated Parmesan for a savory treat that pairs especially well with Italian food.

Get the Recipe: Whole-Grain Herbed Garlic Bread

Corn-and-Oat Risotto

Oats don't always have to be sweet; they're great in savory dishes as well. Risotto, a comforting Italian dish usually made with Arborio rice, can also be made with steel-cut oats for a homey and heart-healthy version. Try it for dinner with grilled shrimp or blackened catfish.

Get the Recipe: Corn-and-Oat Risotto

Cajun Spelt

Spelt is a member of the wheat family and can be used interchangeably with wheat berries, although spelt is slightly milder in flavor. We love pairing spelt's plump and tender kernels with Cajun flavors.

Get the Recipe: Cajun Spelt

Herbed Farro Pilaf

Farro is mixed with broken spaghetti to create a side dish that's full of flavor and texture; choose whole-wheat pasta for added fiber.

Get the Recipe: Herbed Farro Pilaf

Chewy Oatmeal Cookies

A little bit of apple butter adds moisture, flavor and sweetness to these cakey, oatmeal-packed cookies — it acts as a butter substitute too.

Get the Recipe: Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Wheat Berry Salad

Bright in both color and flavor, Ellie's Wheat Berry Salad is perfect for a packed lunch.

Get the Recipe: Wheat Berry Salad

Whole-Grain Pumpkin Scones

Whole-wheat pastry flour is the key ingredient in these spice-scented, high-fiber scones. It's milled from a softer wheat than is used in regular whole-wheat flour, which results in tender, lighter baked goods.

Get the Recipe: Whole-Grain Pumpkin Scones

Whole-Grain Salami and Mozzarella Pizza

The thinly sliced salami on this fiber-packed pizza gives the same salty-fatty satisfaction as chunkier pizza toppers without the extra calories and fat.

Get the Recipe: Whole-Grain Salami and Mozzarella Pizza

Barley Pilaf

Barley can be found in two forms: hulled and pearled. Pearling removes almost a third of the grain, making it quicker cooking and reducing some nutrients. Hulled barley takes longer to cook but has a higher nutrient content and a pleasant, toothsome chewiness. This pilaf recipe is a simple way to enjoy hulled barley.

Get the Recipe: Barley Pilaf

Banana-Walnut Bran Muffins

Reduced-fat sour cream is the secret to these whole-grain muffins. Not only does the sour cream cut calories, but its tanginess also complements the nutty flavor of the bran flakes.

Get the Recipe: Banana-Walnut Bran Muffins

Triple-Herb Freekeh

Freekeh ("free-kuh") is a toasted and cracked wheat similar to bulgur. An excellent source of fiber and protein, it has a nutty, slightly smoky flavor and a pleasantly chewy texture. If you can't find it in your grocery store, cooked brown rice is a great substitute.

Get the Recipe: Triple-Herb Freekeh

Roasted Zucchini Flatbread with Hummus, Arugula, Goat Cheese and Almonds

Whole-grain pitas serve as the base for this rustic pizza, which is loaded with tangy goat cheese and peppery arugula. Toast your pita on the grill for an added smoky flavor.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Zucchini Flatbread with Hummus, Arugula, Goat Cheese, and Almonds

Quinoa with Shiitakes and Snow Peas

Toss quinoa with shiitake mushrooms, snow peas, scallions and soy sauce for a nutrient-packed, Asian-flavored, easy side dish.

Get the Recipe: Quinoa With Shiitakes and Snow Peas

Whole-Grain Caramel-Apple Oven Pancake

You can't go wrong with this high-fiber dish. It's sweet, tender and quicker to make than individual pancakes. Dust with confectioners' sugar before serving, or try it with a drizzle of maple syrup.

Get the Recipe: Whole-Grain Caramel Apple Oven Pancake

Fig-and-Walnut Energy Bars

Ellie's sweetly spiced energy bars are jam-packed with fiber from oats, whole-wheat flour and bran cereal.

Get the Recipe: Fig-and-Walnut Energy Bars

Mock Risotto

This risotto is just as creamy as the traditional risotto you're used to, but it's made a bit healthier with brown rice instead of white.

Get the Recipe: Mock Risotto

Baked Orange Chicken and Brown Rice

This high-protein, whole-grain dish is easy to throw together. Chicken thighs are a great choice because they're budget-friendly and stay moist while baking with the rice.

Get the Recipe: Baked Orange Chicken and Brown Rice

Whole-Grain Waffles

These light, crispy-on-the-outside waffles are made with oats and whole-wheat pastry flour. Try them with maple syrup, yogurt or your favorite fruit.

Get the Recipe: Whole-Grain Waffles

Mediterranean Farro Salad

Farro, an Italian whole grain similar in texture to barley or wheat berries, lends its hearty bite to Giada's chilled Mediterranean pasta-like salad.

Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Farro Salad

Whole-Grain Chocolate Chip Cookies

We used old-fashioned rolled oats to lend these whole-grain cookies their chewy yet crispy texture. Using applesauce in place of oil reduces some of the calories and adds an extra hint of sweetness.

Get the Recipe: Whole-Grain Chocolate Chip Cookies

Whole-Grain Mushroom and Kimchi Brown Rice

Did you know that kimchi, a spicy fermented Korean condiment, is a probiotic like yogurt? It's a great ingredient to include in a healthy pantry. A little goes a long way, as in this very flavorful rice dish.

Get the Recipe: Whole-Grain Mushroom and Kimchi Brown Rice

Healthy Farro Fried "Rice"

Farro is an Italian variety of wheat with grains that turn tender and toothsome with cooking. It's often added to soups and risotto but works as a terrific substitute for rice in this easy stir-fry.

Get the Recipe: Healthy Farro Fried "Rice"

Kamut Marinara

Khorasan wheat (also known by the brand name Kamut) has long, plump golden grains that are larger than those of other wheat varieties. Its chewiness and buttery flavor make it substantial and satisfying. The grains work perfectly in a simple marinara sauce with a sprinkle of Parmesan.

Get the Recipe: Khorasan Wheat Marinara

Whole-Grain Greek Meatloaf

This Mediterranean-inspired meatloaf uses spices and a toasted onion paste to add tons of fragrance and flavor. And it's high in fiber, thanks to the bulgur wheat kernels.

Get the Recipe: Whole-Grain Greek Meatloaf

Whole-Wheat Apple Pancakes

With equal parts whole-wheat and all-purpose flour, Ellie's pancakes boast the benefits of whole wheat without losing their fluffiness.

Get the Recipe: Whole-Wheat Apple Pancakes

Whole-Grain Breakfast Porridge

A rice cooker makes a comforting bowl of this four-grain porridge so easy to enjoy.

Get the Recipe: Whole-Grain Breakfast Porridge

Herbed Quinoa

Giada's simple quinoa dish boasts a bright olive-oil dressing with fresh herbs, lemon and pepper.

Get the Recipe: Herbed Quinoa

Chicken and Dumpling Soup with Quinoa

This soup is loaded with fiber, thanks to the quinoa and the whole-wheat dumplings.

Get the Recipe: Chicken and Dumpling Soup with Quinoa

Barley with Bacon, Peas and Dill

Hulled barley, which is less processed, is chewier and takes a bit longer to cook than pearl barley. But the result here is a comforting side dish packed with so much fiber, you won't feel guilty indulging in the crisp strips of bacon.

Get the Recipe: Barley with Bacon, Peas and Dill

Chili Bean-and-Bulgur Cakes

Chili meets falafel in these flavor-packed, fiber-filled cakes. Bulgur is red wheat that has been parboiled, dried and either cracked or left whole. It has a nutty flavor and is a good source of plant protein.

Get the Recipe: Chili Bean-and-Bulgur Cakes

Toasted Millet Tabbouleh

Millet is one of the most delicate of grains and can be prepared in three very distinct ways: popped; toasted and simmered into a fluffy pilaf (as in this recipe); or left untoasted and made into a creamy porridge. It's a great source of plant protein and is gluten-free. We love using it here as the base for tabbouleh in place of the more traditional bulgur wheat.

Get the Recipe: Toasted Millet Tabbouleh

Sicilian-Style Cauliflower with Whole-Wheat Pasta

You can amp up the healthy benefits of any pasta dish by substituting whole-wheat pasta for regular white pasta; this pasta dish builds upon the heartiness of the whole-wheat penne with a savory and slightly sweet cauliflower sauce.

Get the Recipe: Sicilian-Style Cauliflower with Whole Wheat Pasta

Quinoa Salad with Apricots, Basil and Pistachios

This easy-to-make salad is packed with fiber (thanks to the quinoa) and has a sweet, nutty flavor. Top with crumbled goat cheese for a bit of creaminess in every bite.

Get the Recipe: Quinoa Salad with Apricots, Basil and Pistachios

Coconut-Curry Wheat Berries and Rice

Wheat berries are one of the chewiest of all whole grains — soaking them overnight helps to soften them. They combine nicely with fluffy basmati rice in this Indian-inspired side dish.

Get the Recipe: Coconut-Curry Wheat Berries and Rice

Mexican Green Quinoa

Quinoa has Peruvian origins and was named the "mother grain" by the ancient Incas. The grain (which is actually part of the same family as spinach) is high in protein and has a large, nutrient-rich germ. Serve this simple but delicious dish alongside grilled chicken or enchiladas.

Get the Recipe: Mexican Green Quinoa