18 Delicious and Healthy Holiday Dishes to Share

Appetizers, salads, casseroles—whatever you're contributing to a holiday party, of course you want it to be delicious. These recipes bring on the flavor, and they're also packed with nutrients, too, so everyone gets a bit of extra energy to help them power through this busy season.

Even avowed Brussels sprout haters will take a second look at this dish. With sweet carrots and salty capers, plus fresh parsley, it's a party for your mouth. Plus, it's a nutrient powerhouse; just 1 sprout has more than 20% of your daily vitamin C.

Ingredients: Brussels sprouts, carrots, extra-virgin olive oil, butter, cooking spray, capers, flat-leaf parsley, salt, ground black pepper

Calories: 86

Try this recipe: Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Crispy Capers and Carrots

The word "gratin" may conjure up an image of excess butter cream and cheese, but this vegetable-centric dish employs just a little of those indulgent ingredients strategically. Extra-virgin olive oil and walnuts add richness plus healthy fats, too.

Ingredients: Brown rice, eggplant, zucchini, salt, extra-virgin olive oil, cooking spray, onion, garlic cloves, Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, half-and-half, ground black pepper, eggs, French bread, walnuts, parsley

Calories: 354

Try this recipe:Cheesy Brown Rice Gratin with Zucchini and Eggplant

Butternut squash, carrots, turnips—oh my! Roasting in-season roots brings out their natural sugars, so they're caramelized and sweet, then tossed with a tangy Dijon vinaigrette. Plus, you can make this several hours ahead and serve it at room temperature.

Ingredients: Butternut squash, shallots, parsnips, carrots, turnips, olive oil, kosher salt, ground black pepper, white wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, honey, garlic clove, flat-leaf parsley leaves

Calories: 167

Try this recipe:Roasted Root Vegetable Salad

Pack this beautiful, hearty salad in one container and the simple dressing in another to transport the dish. Toss it just before serving.

Dressing Ingredients: Buttermilk, sour cream, white wine vinegar, clove garlic, kosher salt, ground black pepper

Salad Ingredients: Pine nuts, Tuscan kale, olive oil, kosher salt, green apples, English cucumber, dill, flat-leaf parsley, mint, basil

Calories: 281

Try this recipe: Seven-Green Kale Salad with Buttermilk Dressing

Buttermilk, your secret weapon for a mouth-watering mash. A little bit of butter and a few cloves of fresh garlic will make this dish everyone's favorite (don't tell them it has less than 125 calories per serving).

Ingredients: Yukon gold or Yellow Finn potatoes, garlic cloves, salt, 1% low-fat milk, butter, low-fat buttermilk, cooking spray, chives

Calories: 122

Try this recipe: Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes

Vitamin- and mineral-rich sweet potatoes, lightly sweetened with maple syrup and a touch of brown sugar and topped with omega 3-packed walnuts—who says sweet holiday sides can't be good for you?

Ingredients: Sweet potatoes, cooking spray, maple syrup, brown sugar, salt, walnuts, butter

Calories: 175

Try this recipe: Maple-Walnut Sweet Potatoes

All you need is three ingredients to whip up an appetizer everyone will love. Sweet dates, almonds and pungent Gorgonzola team up for a 35-calorie hors d'oeuvre that packs a flavor punch.

Ingredients: Medjool dates, almonds, Gorgonzola

Calories: 35

Try this recipe: Stuffed Medjool Dates

B vitamin and mineral-loaded mushrooms make a delectable, meaty topping that pairs well with peppery arugula and just a touch of pecorino. Top the toasted baguette slices just before serving so they don't get soggy.

Ingredients: Baguette, extra-virgin olive oil, gourmet mushroom mix, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, oregano leaves, kosher salt, black pepper, pecorino cheese, baby arugula

Calories: 133

Try this recipe: Wild Mushroom Bruschetta

Bring this sushi-inspired dish along to a holiday brunch. Salmon and avocado give these appetizers a good dose of healthy fats.

Ingredients: Avocado, wasabi paste, lime juice, white bread, smoked salmon, red onion, chives, sesame seeds, and wasabi sesame seeds

Calories: 239

Try this recipe: Smoked Salmon-Wasabi Tea Sandwiches

Superfood broccoli is loaded with vitamins A and C, and it's a crowd-pleaser with a quick breadcrumb and Parmesan topping. Stress-busting bonus: This whole tasty dish is ready in less than 15 minutes.

Ingredients: Broccoli florets, olive oil, garlic clove, salt, red pepper, dry breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese

Calories: 101

Try this recipe: Broccoli With Parmesan Crumbs

Infection-fighting horseradish and blood sugar-stabilizing cider vinegar give this sauce a kick. Serve it with ham, roast chicken, or pork.

Ingredients: Apple cider, vinegar, lemon juice, sugar, salt, dried allspice, Granny Smith apples, white horseradish

Calories: 212

Try this recipe:Homemade Applesauce

If you like plain leafy salads with standard dressing, this crunchy salad is not for you. Crunchy and slightly bitter endive and radicchio complement sweet, juicy pears, and it's all tied together with a bold bacon vinaigrette (but it still has just 218 calories per serving).

Vinaigrette Ingredients: Bacon, shallot, extra-virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, pepper

Salad Ingredients: Endive, radicchio, pears, Gorgonzola

Calories: 218

Try this recipe:Harvest Salad with Bacon Vinaigrette

Try this recipe: Whole Wheat Pasta with Spicy Tomato Pesto

Sun-dried tomatoes and sliced almonds give this pesto unexpected texture and a boost of flavor. Serve over this vegetable-rich pasta dish with Swiss chard that's the perfect entree to bring to a party.

Ingredients: Boiling water, sun-dried tomatoes, almonds, Parmesan cheese, basil, garlic cloves, salt, red pepper, extra-virgin olive oil

A hearty dish featuring beans, pancetta and a touch of Parmesan—no one will ever suspect it has less than 300 calories per serving, plus 8 grams of filling fiber.

Ingredients: Whole garlic head, pancetta, onion, olive oil, white wine vinegar, butternut squash, organic vegetable broth, dried thyme, salt, ground black pepper, cannellini or other white beans, bay leaf, white bread, Parmesan cheese, olive oil, parsley

Calories: 259

Try this recipe:Roasted Garlic and Butternut Squash Cassoulet

Need a meatless meal for a holiday event? Try a spinach pie made with phyllo—it's festive and delicious, and deceptively easy to make.

Ingredients: Olive oil, onion, spinach, golden raisins, goat cheese, pine nuts, kosher salt, ground black pepper, frozen phyllo dough, cooking spray

Calories: 363

Try this recipe:Spinach Pie with Goat Cheese, Raisins and Pine Nuts

Just 10 minutes of prep time and you've got this crowd-pleasing chili on the stove. It's the perfect addition to a soup party or a casual afternoon gathering.

Ingredients: Olive oil, onion, yellow bell pepper, garlic cloves, black beans, vegetable broth, diced tomatoes, mild green chiles, chili powder, chipotle chile powder, dried oregano, winter squash, salt

Calories: 226

Try this recipe: Black-Bean Chili With Winter Squash

Quiche is the perfect dish for a holiday brunch, and this one is made special (and easy) with a potato crust made from pre-shredded spuds.

Ingredients: Olive oil, potatoes, egg white, all-purpose flour, salt, spinach, onion, water, eggs, part-skim ricotta cheese, ground black pepper, Swiss cheese, Canadian bacon

Calories: 380

Try this recipe: Potato-Crusted Spinach Quiche

Everyone loves banana bread at a brunch party, and this better-for-you option by celebrity chef Gail Simmons features whole-wheat flour and walnuts, plus Greek yogurt for richness.

Ingredients: Whole-wheat flour, baking soda, ground cinnamon, kosher salt, sugar, eggs, vegetable oil, mashed ripe bananas, 2% plain Greek yogurt, vanilla extract, coconut flakes, walnut halves

Calories: 224

Try this recipe: Banana Bread with Coconut and Walnuts