31 Healthy Recipes With Honey

Did you know? Each bee makes about 1/12 of a teaspoon of honey in its life. Honey is the sweet nectar of a bee's lifetime work. These healthy honey recipes feature several varietals of honey. Consult your local beekeeper for something unique and different if you want to break away from classic clover or orange blossom honey.

Because the wings get a good bit of char, the type of honey you use isn't as important here (it'll lose its subtler nuances). Though we remove the skin from the wings, you'd never know it—they pick up an irresistible crispy crunch as the glaze cooks under the broiler. Give yourself a better grip when skinning each wing by holding it with a paper towel in one hand and pulling the skin with another paper towel in the other hand.

If you have raw, unheated honey, reach for it first here. Wildflower, which means the bees foraged on everything they could, is also a good choice.

Like wine, honey has distinct characteristics unique to the region, season, and type of nectar it was made from. Varietals range from runny, delicate, almost white acacia to spreadable thick, smoky, dark-as-molasses buckwheat. Use the best honey you have for this easy, versatile dressing. The sweet and tangy taste of the dressing pairs well with the bitter bite of kale and crunch of almonds. It can be drizzled over any salad, but works particularly well with grilled chicken or steak.

This is a dish that impresses, one you want your guests to see and taste. We use honey three ways here: We add it to the brine so the meat absorbs some sweetness, we toss it with the brined shrimp so its sugars allow the shrimp to develop a good char without overcooking, and we drizzle it over the finished dish for depth.

Not all produce needs honeybees for pollination, but their sheer numbers and tenacity make bees powerhouse pollinators. If a plant is not wind-pollinated (like corn), you can probably thank honeybees for the produce. All of the ingredients in this recipe (except salt) depend on bees for pollination. Fresh citrus juice, sweet honey, and tangy mustard combine for a finger-licking-good dressing to pour atop melons and cucumber.

Honey will never expire. The acid content is so high that bacteria can't survive and multiply. The high acidity comes from the super-concentrated sugar solution, with only 1/5 of the original water content. But if you leave your honey unsealed, it will absorb water from the air and create a less acidic environment where bacteria can thrive. Bottom line: If you want to keep any honey good forever, keep a lid on it.

You'll love the intense flavor of this infused honey. Use it in salad dressings or marinades; drizzle over cheese, toast, or ice cream; or package in a cute jar, give as a gift, and make someone very happy.

If you're not familiar with the joy of chewing on a piece of honeycomb, you're in for a real treat with the garnish on this cocktail. Look for comb at specialty and farmers' markets; some honey has it right in the jar. Use your best honey here; the more floral and vibrant it is the better.

These sticky saucy chicken thighs are perfectly paired with any of our grilled zucchini sides. You can also use chicken breasts; just cook them a little longer, about 6 minutes per side.

You may adapt this dessert to your taste by adjusting the blend of berries, the amount of honey, or even the amount of cheese. The idea is luxury in the amount of berries. Fromage blanc is wonderfully subtle; you can sub Greek yogurt, which is tangier.

Slap the verbena leaves lightly between your palms before you garnish to release essential oils. For ease, make the simple syrup a day ahead and mix just before serving. Opt for a floral honey here, like blueberry or orange blossom. The unique qualities of the honey you use will really shine is this refreshing cocktail.

When carrots steam or roast, their natural sweetness really shines. The honey-butter combo we use in this recipe elevates simple sautéed carrots to a whole new flavor level. Try this dressing on any root vegetables you might have, including radishes and turnips. You may be surprised how something so easy can turn almost any vegetables into a delicious side.

Partially cover the pan as the carrots steam so they retain some texture. They will continue to soften as the glaze reduces in the pan.

The sweet-sticky glaze makes this salmon dinner a winner with the kids. The honey-ginger glazes packs a ton of flavor without a long list of ingredients or extra time in the kitchen. With such little preparation, these salmon filets are the perfect weeknight meal that you can easily add into your cooking rotation. Complete the meal with a side of roasted or steamed carrots and a hearty spoonful of brown rice for a well-balanced meal.

Spiced nuts are usually baked; this stovetop version speeds up the process. The smoky-spicy snack will store well in an airtight container for several days.

Finish off an Asian-inspired dinner with a tray of these delicious, easy-to-make cookies.

The tangy flavor of lemon and Greek yogurt combined with sweet honey make a perfect dip to serve with strawberries.

If you’re not in the mood for fish, opt for simply roasted pork tenderloin. Pigs symbolize progress, perhaps because they nose their way forward as they sniff the ground for something good. They also might remind you of a certain money saving device for the spare change you’re likely to collect over the coming year. Intensely floral, faintly bitter orange marmalade is the base for a beautiful sticky glaze that’s brushed on the tenderloin before roasting.

Ditch the greasy fried chicken fingers in favor of these sweet glazed chicken bites. They're the perfect size for popping into your mouth or serving on skewers. This dish is prepared with boneless, skinless chicken thighs but feel free to use chicken breasts if you have them on hand.

If you have leftover pizza or bread dough, put it to delicious use in this simple dinner roll recipe. These honey-brushed rolls are ready in just 11 minutes, so you can let the dough come to room temp while you prepare the rest of your meal. Then, just before dinner time, pop them in for a sticky-sweet treat with your meal. They're best served warm, but they will last a few days in an airtight container.

Quick-broiled chicken kebabs with mango, honey, lime, and a pinch of chili powder makes an ideal tropical-inspired meal when you aren’t up for outdoor grilling. Pair with your favorite whole grain or a simple green salad to complete the meal.

This side is simple and fabulous. The cooking is mostly hands-off, and the prep is easy. Serve the tender butternut squash in large pieces to catch every last bit of the honey-butter drizzle.

Montina grass flour, made from Indian rice grass that is very high in protein, fiber, and iron, flecks this hearty whole-grain gluten-free bread. Honey replaces white sugar as the sweetener, good news for the taste as well as the nutritional information. It lends a fruitiness and delicate floral sweetness to this tasty all-purpose loaf of bread. Make this loaf to impress guests and switch things up from your normal store-bought whole-grain loaf.

This recipe yields slow-cooked barbecue flavor in less than an hour. The sandwiches need to be broiled at the last minute, but the rest of the menu can be made ahead of time.

These cute little cookies will be a hit at your Easter celebration. Wrap them up in a sweet little box as a gift or arrange them on a platter for a light dessert treat.

Beer gives tremendous flavor to this chicken. Opt for an inexpensive, full-flavored domestic beer, like Blue Moon wheat ale.

Both kids and adults will enjoy stretching the honey into taffy, and the longer you stretch the honey, the easier and more pliable the taffy becomes. To avoid a sticky situation, make sure any surface you set the taffy on is thinly coated with cooking spray. You can also wear latex gloves (coated with canola oil) to make the pulling a little easier.

This meal halves easily, but consider roasting all the tomatoes; use leftovers in omelets or sandwiches. The corn cakes can be made a couple of days ahead and stored in an airtight container. Reheat them in the microwave.

Grilling brings out the sweetness in peaches, and the caramelization created by the fruit on the searing hot grates adds a bittersweet bite you'll never forget. You can use apricots or nectarines instead of peaches if you have those. Garnish with mint, if desired.

This simple margarita comes together in no time flat. The cucumber infuses the slush with a cool flavor, which balances the sweet notes from honey at the end of each sip.

The vibrant glaze—which pulls bold flavors from soy sauce, honey, lime juice, fresh ginger, and garlic—would be equally delicious on chicken breasts or pork chops.

Blood oranges are a little bit tart; navels are sweeter—try a mix of the two for a colorful, tasty combo. The acidic, citrus flavor is complemented by the sweetness of the honey, creating a balanced, healthy salad that is simple to prepare. Crunchy texture, added by pistachios and jicama, makes it a satisfying side.

Clove honey, fresh thyme, and grated orange rind give this breakfast dish its zing. Bake biscuits up to a day ahead, and keep in a sealed zip-top plastic bag.