According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., which means that focusing on your heart health is essential to living a longer, healthier life. There are various ways to improve your heart health, such as reducing stress, getting more sleep, and exercising. Nutrition also plays a huge role in keeping your heart healthy. People often equate heart-healthy recipes with boring, bland meals but that doesn't have to be the case. There are plenty of recipes that are as delicious as they are beneficial for your ticket!

One important thing to remember is that there's no one "right" way to eat for heart health, according to Rachael Hartley, RD.
So "instead of stressing over individual foods, think about the big picture of your eating pattern." "Think of ways to choose more heart-healthy fats, like olive oil, nuts and seeds, and avocado, eat fatty fish more often, increase intake of whole grains and other high fiber carbohydrate foods, and eat more fruits and veggies," Hartley tells Woman's Day.

These heart-healthy recipes include everything from fish-forward dishes to colorful vegetable combinations to simple salads. And don't worry, most of them look like they took much more time and effort to make than they actually do — you don't have to be a pro in the kitchen to indulge in these heart-friendly meals. And once you've enjoyed all of these heart-healthy recipes, try out some healthy dinner ideas that your whole family will love.

This recipe has chickpeas and sweet peppers which are packed with heart-healthy protein and vitamins. And it can all be cooked on one sheet which means fewer dishes and less fuss.

Get the Sheet Pan Chickpea Chicken recipe.

Salmon is known for being light and heart healthy, but this recipe does not skimp out on big bold flavors.

Get the Oven-Roasted Salmon with Charred Lemon Vinaigrette recipe.

Chicken has fewer saturated fats than red meats, which is why it's a healthier choice of meat for your heart health. These simple chicken kebabs can be thrown on the grill and whipped up in a jiffy.

Get the Chicken Kebabs recipe.

Loaded with lean protein from the shrimp and green veggies from the zoodles, this dish is as tasty as it is healthy.

Get the Shrimp Scampi with Zoodles recipe.

These burritos get plenty of protein from the refried beans and eggs, which will help you feel satisfied till lunch.

Get the Morning Burritos With Salsa Verde recipe.

Salmon is a great part of a healthy diet for a variety of reasons. Not only is it high in protein, vitamins and minerals, but it also has omega-3 fatty acids that are known for being "brain food."

Get the Hot Honey-Roasted Salmon and Radishes recipe.

Ditch white rice for this low-carb veggie option that's tastier than takeout. Plus, it's less than 300 calories.

Get the Cauliflower Fried Rice recipe.

This zesty chicken dish only takes half an hour to make and it's sweet and spicy goodness will quickly make it a family favorite.

Get the Apricot-Glazed Chicken and Corn recipe.

Swap ground beef for fish to make this heart-healthy. Plus, the pineapples give this taco recipe a little something sweet.

Get the Grilled Fish Tacos recipe.

The bacon and potatoes mixture gives this fresh, heart-healthy cod dish additional smoky flavor.

Get the Fish Chowder Sheet Pan Bake recipe.

Packed with good-for-you spices, these turkey patties, topped with a sweet and crunchy apple and cabbage slaw, are a healthy alternative to red meat.

Get the Turkey Burgers and Slaw with Sweet Potato Chips recipe.

SHOP INSTANT-READ THERMOMETERS

Indulge your pizza craving with this delicious and healthy pizza that spotlights grilled eggplant and tomatoes.

Get the Grilled Eggplant Parmesan Pizza recipe.

If you're craving hearty pizza, satisfy your tastebuds with this fresh veggie version.

Get the Grilled Squash Garlic Bread recipe.

The perfectly seasoned salmon and whipped feta that coats the cucumbers will leave your tastebuds singing.

Get the Salmon with Creamy Feta Cucumbers recipe.

Dry white wine and lemon give this nutty pesto-covered farfalle and peas an added kick. Plus, it has 6 g of fiber per serving.

Get the Pasta With Walnut Pesto and Peas recipe.

We all know that tilapia is high in protein and good-for-you vitamins, but when it's coated in this spicy pepper relish, all you'll be thinking about is how tasty it is.

Get the Tilapia with Tomatoes and Pepper Relish recipe.

Ditch the typical processed flour tortilla and use a big collard green leaf for these chicken salad wraps.

Get the Chicken Salad Collard Wrap recipe.

Add turmeric to your traditional butternut squash soup for some heart-healthy benefits. Curcumin, the main antioxidant in turmeric, has anti-inflammatory properties and can reduce oxidation, which may contribute to heart disease.

Get the Butternut Squash and Turmeric Soup recipe.

SHOP SAUCE POTS

Typical chicken gets a boost from Asian-inspired ingredients, like ginger and cilantro. According to a study published in Nutrition, daily ginger consumption was associated with a 13% lower risk of coronary heart disease.

Get the Baked Chicken Cutlets with Pineapple Rice recipe.

Keep it light with this flavorful salad featuring walnuts, celery, and olive oil. According to WebMD, walnuts are one of the best nuts for your heart health, because they can lower cholesterol, reduce oxidative stress, and decrease inflammation.

Get the Pear & Walnut Salad recipe.

This hearty slow cooker dish is packed with hearty-healthy veggies like split peas, tomatoes, and butternut squash.

Get the Slow Cooker Curried Butternut Squash Stew recipe.

SHOP CROCKPOTS

This slow cooker recipe is as much of a time saver as it is a flavor powerhouse. Each serving has 30 g of protein.

Get the Slow Cooker Honey Mustard Pork with Spinach Rice recipe.

Load up a baked sweet potato with tons of heart-healthy ingredients like olive oil, which has been linked to cardiovascular disease prevention.

Get the Sweet Potatoes with Shredded Salad recipe.

Get all of your veggies in one delicious meal. Even better: This dish is naturally flavored with fresh ingredients like olive oil, lemon juice, and maple syrup.

Get the Roasted Vegetable Bowl recipe.

This easy and delicious, heart-healthy fish dish deserves a spot in your regular dinner rotation.

Get the Seared Tilapia with Spiralized Zucchini recipe.

According to Mayo Clinic, it's okay to eat up to seven eggs a week without increasing your risk of heart disease. Eggs have about 185 mg of cholesterol that comes from the yolk, so you can ditch the yolk and make this an egg white frittata if you prefer.

Get the Sweet Potato Kale Frittata recipe.

SHOP CAST IRON SKILLETS

Though this whole wheat pasta with lemon and green beans is light and fresh, each serving is packed with 17 g of protein to keep you full until your next meal.

Get the Spaghetti with Grilled Green Beans and Mushrooms recipe.

SHOP PASTA STRAINERS

According to Medical News Today, a half-cup serving of carrots contains 1.8 g of fiber and 205 mg of potassium, which protect against high blood pressure and heart disease.

Get the Spiced Carrot Fritters recipe.

There's nothing boring about this salad that features fresh mozzarella, grilled pepper, eggplant, and zucchini.

Get the Ratatouille Salad recipe.

A simple couscous salad is a great way to get plenty of vegetables but also feel full and satisfied. This variety features a bunch of fresh summer flavors.

Get the recipe.Fresh Corn, Tomato, Herb, and Israeli Couscous Salad

Swap chicken fingers and French fries for roasted chicken and potatoes.

Get the Roasted Chicken and Garlic Potatoes with Red Pepper Relish recipe.

This tasty meatless main makes it easy to get your fix of veggies, and it's low-sodium and cholesterol-free.

Get the Potsticker Stir-Fry recipe.

SHOP STIR FRY PANS

Ditch the bacon and add peas, asparagus, and olive oil to lighten up classic carbonara.

Get the Potsticker Stir-Fry recipe.

Chicken is a solid component of a heart-healthy diet, but that doesn't mean it has to be boring. This classic lemon-thyme chicken will be a flavorful choice you come back to again and again.

Get the Lemon-Thyme Chicken recipe.

Skip the beef and get your your Taco Tuesday fix with tortilla-coated fish filets.

Get the Crunchy Tortilla Fish Sticks with Purple Cabbage Slaw recipe.

Healthy greens like asparagus, sugar snap peas, leeks, and celery make for a delicious bowl of hearty soup. According to a study published in Journal of Medicinal Food, celery may help lower blood pressure.

Get the Spring Minestrone Soup recipe.

This light and crunchy white fish dish is a great source of vitamin D. According to Science Daily, deficiencies in vitamin D may be a risk factor for heart attacks, congestive heart failure, peripheral arterial disease (PAD), strokes, and other conditions associated with cardiovascular disease, like high blood pressure and diabetes.

Get the Pistachio-Crusted Fish recipe.

Pass up greasy fast food and go homemade with this cornflake-coated chicken recipe that's baked instead of fried.

Get the Zesty Fried Chicken recipe.

SHOP BAKING SHEETS

Eating cheese on toast is as old as time. Add in artichokes, which has been found to decrease LDL cholesterol that can lead to heart disease.

Get the Cheesy Artichoke Toasts recipe.

Some tortillas are made from refined carbs, which are linked to a risk of cardiovascular disease. So lighten up this spiced taco recipe by using lettuce and ground turkey instead of tortillas and ground beef.

Get the Thai Ground Turkey Lettuce Cups recipe.

Thing tangy chicken is sure to leave your tastebuds and your health goals happy.

Get the Roasted Citrus Chicken Salad recipe.

Quinoa is high in protein, contains nine essential amino acids, and is high in fiber, magnesium, vitamin B, iron, potassium, calcium, and more, which means it's an easy way to pack a major health punch into a meal. And these quinoa patties pack the flavor too with garlic and jalapeño.

Get the Chickpea, Spinach, and Quinoa Patties recipe.

Pineapple and ham are the unlikeliest pair, but this delicious recipe is packed with 12 g of protein.

Get the Pineapple and Ham Fried Rice recipe.

SHOP INSTANT POTS

Toss the high-carb pasta aside and try this veggie version instead.

Get the Spaghetti Squash and Chickpea Sauté recipe.

A cream-based soup that's also good for your health? It doesn't get any better than that. This delicious soup is only 311 calories.

Get the Corn and Potato Chowder recipe.

Topped with oven-roasted broccoli, shrimp, and avocado, this quinoa bowl tastes even better thanks to a drizzle of a tomato and scallion vinaigrette.

Get the Shrimp Bowls with Scallion Vinaigrette recipe.

Low-sodium smashed and puréed tomato sauce makes these cheesy ravioli better for you.

Get the Ravioli with No-Cook Tomato Sauce recipe.

This quick and easy chicken dish is a medley of flavors — a little sweet and a tad tangy. Plus, it's packed with 36 g protein per serving.

Get the Chicken Marbella recipe.

Skip the tortillas for lettuce and these easy chicken fajitas become way healthier.

Get the Chicken Fajita Salad with Lime-Cilantro Vinaigrette recipe.

Bet you didn't think steak would make it on this list, did you? According to the American Heart Association, you can have a moderate amount of red meat, as long as it's not everyday.

Get the Grilled Watermelon Salad with Steak and Tomatoes recipe.

Heart-healthy whole wheat pasta excites the taste buds with lemon zest and fresh leeks.

Get the Leek and Lemon Linguine recipe.

Switch out your noodle base for a low-carb squash option the next time you make lasagna.

Get the Lasagna-Stuffed Spaghetti Squash recipe.

SHOP PARCHMENT PAPER

Stuffed to the brim with healthy vegetables, these pita sandwiches are as tasty as it gets.

Get the Spinach, Chickpea, and Chicken Pitas recipe.

Swapping out bread crumbs for sesame seeds makes this chicken dinner a heart-healthy option, according to WebMD.

Get the Sesame Chicken and Chili Lime Slaw recipe.

Freshen up your dinner menu with pan-seared fish and pesto.

Get the Cod with Crispy Green Beans recipe.

Mexican goes meatless with these sweet and smoky vegetarian fajitas.

Get the Pineapple and Black Bean Fajitas recipe.

Go Mediterranean with these easy shrimp foil packets. According to a 2015 study published in Progress in Cardiovascular Disease, a Mediterranean diet that's low in unsaturated fat and polyphenols may work to prevent cardiovascular disease.

Get the Shrimp and Garlicky Tomatoes with Kale Couscous recipe.

SHOP FOIL

Go Greek with this easy, high-protein dinner idea.

Get the Turkey Meatball Gyro recipe.

To make this dish vegan, substitute pieces of zucchini, summer squash, and red onion for the chicken and 2 tablespoons olive oil for the yogurt, tossing all the vegetables in the marinade before grilling. Omit the feta.

Get the Yogurt-Marinated Chicken Kebabs recipe.

According to the American Heart Association, red meat in moderation is okay for your health, so you don't have to feel bad cooking up this delicious 20-minute steak dish if it's the first time you're eating it all week.

Get the Steak and Snow Pea Salad with Oranges and Edamame recipe.

To make strips, angle the carrot on the cutting board and use a vegetable peeler to shave ribbons from top to bottom. Rotate every few peels.

Get the Cumin-Spiced Lamb with Carrot and Radish Salad recipe.

SHOP VEGETABLE PEELERS

You can make this dish ahead of time by forming the patties and freezing them for up to 1 month. Cook from frozen at 425 degrees F until warm and cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes. Plus, salmon contains heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids.

Get the Pesto Salmon Burgers with Asparagus and Tomato Salad recipe.

With hummus, olive oil, and plum tomatoes, these quick chicken pitas are easy and healthy.

Get the Mediterranean Chicken Pitas recipe.

Avocado is packed with monounsaturated fats which, according to a study published in Archives of Medical Research, help reduce heart-disease-causing LDL cholesterol and will help you feel fuller longer. Even better, this dish comes out to less than $2 per serving.

Get the Spiced Chicken Tacos with Avocado and Pomegranate Salsa recipe.

Bok choy is packed with healthy nutrients like potassium, calcium, and magnesium, which naturally work to decrease blood pressure.

Get the Soy-Glazed Salmon and Bok Choy recipe.

Kale contains folate which may boost memory, as well as calcium and potassium which help keep the heart healthy. Greek yogurt provides a significant source of protein (double that of regular yogurt), which curbs appetite and aids weight loss.

Get the Kale and Romaine Chicken Caesar Salad recipe.

Zesty lemon and olive oil add freshness to this high-carb dish.

Get the Corn, Zucchini and Jalapeno Spaghetti with Parmesan Crumbs recipe.

Sweet potatoes are loaded with the antioxidant beta-carotene, which keeps vision sharp and may fight off the common cold.

Get the Sweet Potato, Black Bean and Spinach Quesadilla recipe.

Chicken is a great way to add filling protein to a Caprese salad.

Get the Grilled Chicken Caprese recipe.

Cashews are high in magnesium, a nutrient that's important for bone strength and osteoporosis prevention.

Get the Chili-Orange Shrimp with Broccoli Couscous recipe.

This vibrant update on a classic is packed with butternut squash, sweet potatoes, and loads of nutrients.

Get the Yellow Split Pea, Butternut Squash, and Sweet Potato Stew recipe.

Make this decadent pasta without dirtying a bunch of pans. Plus, it contains 0 mg cholesterol.

Get the One-Pot Spaghetti Marinara recipe.

This hearty fish dinner is super filling and ready in no time.

Get the Seared Salmon with Roasted Cauliflower recipe.

Looking for a healthy burger recipe? This one is super quick and easy to make, plus, with no red meat, it's better option for your heart.

Get the Greek Turkey Burgers recipe.

Ginger helps fight inflammation such as arthritis, muscle soreness, and migraines.

Get the Ginger Dumpling Soup recipe.

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