We say apple, you think pie—and rightfully so. There’s nothing like a slice of warm apple heaven on a crisp fall day. But to really make the most of your orchard harvest, consider apples in a parfait for breakfast, as a side to a sandwich or even whipped into a sweet smoothie bowl. Apple recipes are just as versatile as apple varieties!
From Fuji and Honeycrisp to Gala and Golden Delicious, these fall fruit all-stars are bountiful in flavor, rich in fiber and perfect additions to your weight loss plan. Embrace apple picking season and celebrate the autumn harvest with these 15 healthy and delicious apple recipes.
Check out these 15 apple recipes to try this season:
1. Healthy Apple Pie >
Calories per Serving: 147
On Nutrisystem, Count As: 1 SmartCarb and 2 Extras
It’s got that flaky, buttery crust you crave. It offers the goodness of apples and hints of cinnamon in every bite, like a proper slice of pie should. This recipe is missing one thing: added sugar. Instead, all that natural sweet flavor comes directly from the source—fresh apples that are peeled, sliced and baked into a healthier dough. Made with whole-wheat pastry flour for added fiber and light butter for less fat, this classic fall dessert is both palate-pleasing and waist-friendly, making it one of our favorite healthy apple recipes.
2. Apple Pie Yogurt Parfait >
Calories per Serving: 186
On Nutrisystem, Count As: 1 SmartCarb and 1 PowerFuel
Cool and creamy Greek yogurt is layered with a warm combo of apples and spices for the perfect parfait to start your day sweet or enjoy as an afternoon treat. For some crunch and extra protein, sprinkle chopped walnuts or sliced almonds on top; then dive in—spoon first.
3. Air Fryer Apple Fritter >
Calories per Serving: 128
On Nutrisystem, Count As: 1 SmartCarb and 1 Extra
What this fritter lacks in presentation it makes up for in taste: Pillowy dough, fresh apples, cinnamon and sugar combine to create a delicious donut-meets-apple-pie confection. Making them in an air fryer eliminates the need for fatty oils, but provides enough heat to get the satisfying crisp on the outside layer. Plus, replacing some of the standard fritter ingredients with healthier substitutes—like fiber-rich whole wheat flour instead of white and non-fat milk instead of its full-fat counterpart—helps these notoriously unhealthy treats find their place in your healthy diet.
4. Fall Spinach Salad with Apple Vinaigrette >
Calories per Serving: 277
On Nutrisystem, Count As: 1 SmartCarb, 1 PowerFuel, 1 Vegetable, 2 Extras
Crunchy apple slices, crisp spinach leaves, vitamin-rich radishes and creamy goat cheese join nutritional forces to create a colorful salad that’s as healthy as it is satisfying. Juicy pomegranate seeds add a burst of tartness and the combination pairs perfectly with tang of homemade apple vinaigrette dressing.
5. Simple Slow Cooker Applesauce >
On Nutrisystem, Count As: 1 SmartCarb
If you’ve got lots of extra apples from your last picking, this is the recipe for you: a dozen of these sweet fruits slow-cook to about 14 servings of good-for-you applesauce. Flavor the apples with cinnamon, nutmeg and a little apple cider vinegar, but be sure to leave the skins on: much of the nutrients reside in the outer layer. Skip the sugar—no need with this delicious recipe—and let the slow cooker works its magic.
6. Grilled Chicken Sandwich with Apple Slaw >
Calories per Serving: 260
On Nutrisystem, Count As: 1 SmartCarb, 1 PowerFuel and 1 Extra
Freshen up the Nutrisystem Grilled Chicken Sandwich with a homemade apple slaw topper. All you have to do is mix together coleslaw mix, match-stick sized apple slices, light mayonnaise and black pepper. Stack the slaw mix between the buns to bring a little crisp and crunch to every sandwich bite.
7. 2-Minute “Baked” Cinnamon Apples >
Calories per Serving: 96
On Nutrisystem, Count As: 1 SmartCarb
The name says it all: two minutes and two ingredients are what you need for this super simple snack. Just slice an apple, sprinkle cinnamon, pop in the microwave and voila—farm-stand taste in no time. For extra sweetness, add stevia or monk fruit. Want to add an Extra? Drizzle a little maple syrup or dollop fat-free whipped cream on top.
8. Creamy Apple Cinnamon Smoothie Bowls >
Calories per Serving: 221
On Nutrisystem, Count As: 1 SmartCarb and 1 PowerFuel
Super popular smoothie bowls get a seasonal twist with this creamy, dreamy recipe! Apples and cinnamon bring the flavors of fall; frozen bananas add potassium and thickness; Vanilla Nutrisystem Shake Mix packs in the protein and fiber, plus 23 vitamins and minerals. With energy-boosting nutrients in every spoonful, this smoothie bowl is the perfect meal to kick-start your day or provide an afternoon power boost.
9. Air Fryer Apple Chips >
Calories per Serving: 98
On Nutrisystem, Count As: 1 SmartCarb
Ready-to-eat apple chips at the supermarket are expensive. DIY versions using a food dehydrator take forever. Enter: the air fryer. In just eight minutes, one medium apple seasoned with cinnamon and nutmeg morphs into sweet, crispy chips that weigh in at less than 100 calories per serving.
10. Instant Pot Apple Cake >
Calories per Serving: 128
On Nutrisystem, Count As: 1 SmartCarb and 1 Extra
The Instant Pot has been called the Swiss Army Knife of kitchen tools for a reason: it’s a modernized pressure cooker, but it also sautés, acts like a slow cooker, steamer, food warmer and yes, dessert baker. Just place a springform pan filled with sliced apples, whole-wheat flour, spices and a handful of other ingredients into the Instant Pot. In one hour, you have an apple cake that’s moist, cinnamon-flavored and satisfyingly delicious.
11. Pumpkin Pie Applesauce >
Calories per Serving: 99
On Nutrisystem, Count As: 1 SmartCarb
I mean, why not? Apple meets pumpkin in this awesome sauce so you can enjoy two quintessential fall flavors in one tasty snack. Just toss apple slices, pumpkin pie filling and a slew of spices—cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg—into a crock pot. Add stevia and vanilla extract for sweetness, then let it stew for about five hours. If you can’t wait that long to sink your spoon into this hearty applesauce, cook it on the stove instead for 30 minutes. If you prefer a smooth texture over chunky, pour it in the blender and puree.
12. Chocolate Caramel Apples >
Calories per Serving: 94
On Nutrisystem, Count As: 1/2 SmartCarb and 2 Extras
Yes, you can have chocolate on your apple and you can certainly drizzle caramel on it, too. But the decadence doesn’t end there: Before the gooey combo hardens, top your fruit with crushed peanuts for some protein-packed crunch. Then sink your teeth into the sinfully delicious treat without an ounce of guilt.
13. Air Fryer Apple Almond Butter S’mores >
Calories per Serving: 127
On Nutrisystem, Count As: ½ SmartCarb and 2 Extras
It looks like s’mores. It’s got graham crackers and gooey marshmallow, like good s’mores should. But with almond butter instead of chocolate and slices of apple in between, this inspired twist on the campfire classic is a little sweet, a little salty and a lot healthy. Plus, there’s no need to stoke any flames for this s’more: Just three minutes in an air fryer and the creative concoction is complete.
14. Air Fryer Baked Apple >
Calories per Serving: 139
On Nutrisystem, Count As: 1/2 SmartCarb, 1/2 PowerFuel and 1 Extra
Sometimes you just need good ole’ comfort food to get you through a rough afternoon. Or maybe you’re needing something sweet at the end of a not-so-sweet day. This baked apple will do the trick. Simply split the fruit in half, scoop out some of the flesh and spoon in a tasty trio of walnuts, raisins and spices mixed with a smidge of butter. Twenty minutes in the air fryer and out pops a soft and sweet treat that can help soothe your soul, and still keep your weight loss on track.
15. Booze-Free Appletini >
On Nutrisystem, Count As: 1 SmartCarb
No matter how slow you sip, many alcoholic drinks serve up lots of calories and sugar, without any nutrients. Not the best combo when you’re trying to lose weight. Enter the mocktail: fun and fancy drinks that are light on calories but big on refreshing flavor. This appletini mixes 100% apple juice with chopped Granny Smith apples, lemon juice and a little Stevia for a tangy take on a happy hour favorite.
For more creative ways to get healthy with your apple recipes, check out our recipe section on The Leaf for the latest updates!
