Give 20%, Get $20
Save 20% | Free Shipping & Returns | "No Return Necessary" Money-Back Guarantee
Save 20% | Free Shipping | 100% Money-Back Guarantee "No Return Necessary" Money-Back Guarantee

10 Easy High-Protein Dinner Recipes That You Need to Try

Dinner is easy for many people

Takeout. Prepackaged microwavables. Anything that involves cooking a bunch of ground beef.

If you’re trying to stick to a sensible meal plan, though, it can get trickier. And especially if you want to still enjoy your last meal of the day.

It’s just too easy to eat too many “empty calories” and too little protein, which not only messes with your macros, but increases the likelihood that you’re going to wind up hungry later at night.

Well, these 10 high-protein dinners are going to help.

As you’ll see, they’re easy to make and high in protein, and they taste great, too.

Enjoy!

Pomegranate Barbecue Pork Sandwiches

high protein pulled pork sandwich dinner Picture courtesy of Floating Kitchen

Sandwiches are a great way to eat a lot of protein, but you can do one better than deli meat. Start by putting a pork roast in your slow cooker, and you’ll have shredded meat that’s perfect for a hefty barbecue sandwich.

And this healthy high-protein dinner is even better with squash on top. Slice it and roast it in the oven for an easy way to add nutrition and flavor.

Serves 8

Ingredients

Pork Sandwiches:

2 1/2 lbs. boneless pork roast

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

1 cup chili sauce

1/4 cup pomegranate juice

2 Tbsp. brown sugar

1/4 tsp. liquid smoke

8 brioche buns

Squash:

1 delicata squash

1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Coleslaw:

1/2 cup mayonnaise

3 Tbsp. white wine vinegar

1 Tbsp. granulated sugar

1/2 tsp. celery seeds

3 cups coleslaw mix

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 574

Protein: 46 grams

Carbs: 58 grams

Fat: 17 grams

   Get the Recipe

Maple Pecan-Crusted Chicken

maple pecan crusted chicken high protein dinner recipe Picture courtesy of Cooking on the Side

If you love baked chicken with a crispy crust on the outside, you’ll need more than bread crumbs. This healthy recipe adds pecans to the panko for an extra crunchy coating.

That also provides more flavor to upgrade your high-protein chicken dinner, especially since it’s dipped in pure maple syrup to get the breading to stick.

Serves 4

Ingredients

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1 1/4 lbs.)

Coase salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

1/4 cup pure maple syrup

2 Tbsp. mayonnaise

1/2 cup panko bread crumbs

1/2 cup finely chopped pecans

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 389

Protein: 36 grams

Carbs: 27 grams

Fat: 16 grams

   Get the Recipe

Braised Lentils & Vegetables

high protein vegan recipe lentils Picture courtesy of Café Johnsonia

Even if you eat meat, you’ll be craving this delicious vegetarian stew throughout the winter. It’s hearty with root veggies and lentils, offering healthy carbs and fiber.

And luckily you don’t need meat to enjoy a high-protein vegan dinner like this one. Serve with crusty bread, and you’ll have a filling meal with over 25 grams of protein.

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 Tbsp. oil

1 large onion, diced

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 stalks celery, thinly sliced

8 oz. baby carrots

1 fennel bulb, cut into 8 wedges

1 1/2 cups French green lentils (or brown lentils), rinsed well and drained

1/2 cup white wine (or water)

3 cups vegetable stock

4 sprigs fresh thyme

1 sprig fresh rosemary

Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 410

Protein: 24 grams

Carbs: 62 grams

Fat: 6 grams

   Get the Recipe

Asparagus Sweet Potato Chicken Skillet

high protein sweet potato chicken skillet Picture courtesy of Primavera Kitchen

To make a low-calorie, high-protein bodybuilding dinner, you can’t go wrong with chicken and sweet potatoes. But you might think you need to cook them separately, or wait for a roast to come out of the oven.

Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces, and you can cook everything in the same pan in under a half hour. Alternatively, you can use this recipe to make a healthy shrimp skillet.

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts

1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 medium sweet potato, peeled and diced

1/2 cup chicken broth (or water)

1/2 lb. asparagus, diagonally cut into 1” pieces

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

1/2 tsp. red chili flakes

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 196

Protein: 29 grams

Carbs: 9 grams

Fat: 5 grams

  Get the Recipe

Slow Cooker Kimchi Stew with Beef

slow cooker high protein dinner Picture courtesy of My Korean Kitchen

Soup can be delicious, but when it’s filling, that’s usually from veggies, pasta, and beans. This easy high-protein dinner recipe is just as comforting, but it’s also low-carb.

Along with beef, which is the bulk of the stew, this includes Korean kimchi for a different take on healthy cabbage soup.

Serves 6

Ingredients

4 cups kimchi, cut into bite-sized pieces

2 1/4 lbs. chuck steak

2 cups water

1 Tbsp. minced garlic

1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

2 Tbsp. rice wine

2 Tbsp. sesame oil

1 Tbsp. soy sauce

1 Tbsp. gochugaru (Korean chili powder)

1 Tbsp. gochujang (Korean chili paste)

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 374

Protein: 45 grams

Carbs: 10 grams

Fat: 14 grams

   Get the Recipe

Viking Chicken

dinner high protein chicken Picture courtesy of The Kitchn

Turn a whole chicken into a family-sized feast. Although historical records can’t tell us how the Vikings cooked, it’s safe to say they would have thrived on a hearty dinner like this.

After all, who doesn’t love a nourishing meal of meat and potatoes? Only this roast chicken is served with a whole lot more. You can switch up the veggies, like sweet potato and asparagus, and add a crisp fruit like apples or pears.

Serves 6

Ingredients

4 lb. whole chicken

1 small lemon (or clementine)

Several sprigs of fresh rosemary

2 large yellow onions

3 apples (or quince)

1 lb. Brussels sprouts

1/2 lb. mushrooms

1/2 lb. carrots

1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

1 Tbsp. butter

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 553

Protein: 42 grams

Carbs: 30 grams

Fat: 31 grams

   Get the Recipe

Healthy Chicken & Biscuits in a Pot

high protein chicken in a pot dinner recipe Picture courtesy of Food and Wine

This is the ultimate chicken pot pie – made in an actual cast-iron pot, if you have one. It’s a rustic pot pie, not a neatly formed pastry, so just roughly chop the veggies and start cooking them on the stove. Then the whole dish gets covered in biscuit dough before it goes in the oven.

This chicken recipe is great for leftovers from a roast. You could also poach chicken to shred, or pick up a rotisserie chicken for the sake of convenience.

Serves 6

Ingredients

6 Tbsp. unsalted butter

2 shallots, thinly sliced

1/2 lb. shiitake mushrooms, destemmed and thinly sliced

1 large carrot, cut into 1/3” chunks

1/2 cup dry white wine

1 1/4 cups + 1 Tbsp. self-rising flour

2 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth

Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

3 cups shredded chicken (about 1 lb.)

1/2 cup frozen baby peas

1 Tbsp. chopped fresh sage

1 Tbsp. chopped fresh thyme

1/2 cup + 2 Tbsp. whole milk

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 402

Protein: 28 grams

Carbs: 34 grams

Fat: 16 grams

   Get the Recipe

Lemon Garlic Chicken Parchment Packets

high protein chicken recipe baked Picture courtesy of Nom Nom Paleo

You don’t even need cookware to make a high-protein dinner for weight loss. Instead of a roasting pan or skillet, you just need parchment paper or aluminum foil, plus an oven-safe plate or tray to put them on.

Get more easy, healthy recipes from the Nom Nom Paleo: Food for Humans cookbook. It has chapters for eggs, seafood, meat, and more nutritious ingredients for a high-protein meal plan.

high protein dinner cookbook

Serves 4

Ingredients

1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 1/2 tsp. dried oregano

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 6 oz. each)

4 summer squash, thinly sliced into coins

1 large shallot, thinly sliced

8 pitted green olives, halved

8 cherry tomatoes, halved

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 425

Protein: 44 grams

Carbs: 19 grams

Fat: 21 grams

  Get the Recipe

Vegetarian Sausage Casserole

vegetarian sausage casserole high protein dinner Picture courtesy of Amuse Your Bouche

The great thing about a casserole is you can make substitutions depending on what you want to eat. To make a high-protein vegetarian dinner, you can still use sausage – just pick up a veggie version made from wheat gluten or soy.

If you’d rather eat meat, using turkey sausage in this recipe equals a similar amount of protein per serving, and this veggie casserole will still be low-fat.

Serves 2

Ingredients

4 vegetarian sausages (or 6 small sausage links)

1/2 Tbsp. oil

1 onion, sliced

2 cloves garlic, minced

8 medium mushrooms, sliced

2 sticks celery, finely diced

2 carrots, finely diced

1 1/2 cups chopped tomatoes

2/3 cup vegetable stock

2 Tbsp. tomato puree

2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar

1 Tbsp. dried oregano

1 tsp. smoked paprika

Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 335

Protein: 26 grams

Carbs: 33 grams

Fat: 12 grams

   Get the Recipe

Pressure Cooker Salmon Steaks

salmon dinner high protein Picture courtesy of cdkitchen

For a quick high-protein dinner, the pressure cooker is your friend in the kitchen. You can cook salmon in under 10 minutes, and the fish comes out tender and flaky every time.

This couldn’t be easier to make, and once you know the method, just switch the seasonings and cooking liquid to match the side dishes.

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 medium onion, sliced in rings

1 3/4 lbs. salmon steaks, approximately 1” thick

1/2 cup dry white wine

1/4 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

1 lemon, sliced

1/2 cup water

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 330

Protein: 43 grams

Carbs: 5 grams

Fat: 12 grams

   Get the Recipe

What did you think of these high-protein dinner recipes? Have anything else to share? Let me know in the comments below!

Want to know how to build muscle and lose fat eating delicious foods like these?

"Dieting" doesn't have to suck. You CAN eat foods you like and have the body you want!

Click Here to Learn How

OVER 100,000 PEOPLE HAVE USED MY COOKBOOK TO GET THE BODY THEY WANT EATING THE FOODS THEY LOVE. WILL YOU BE NEXT?

What if I told you that just about everything magazines and trainers “teach” you about dieting is wrong?

What if you could build muscle and lose fat eating “naughty” foods every week?

What if you didn’t have to suffer through low-carb dieting to get lean? In fact, what if you could eat all the carbs you wanted?

And what if you didn’t have to gorge yourself just to gain muscle and didn’t have to put on pounds and pounds of ugly fat, either?

In short, what if I told you that proper dieting--whether you want to maximize fat loss or muscle growth--is much simpler and more enjoyable than you’ve been led to believe?

Imagine eating delicious, filling meals every day...never feeling starved or stuffed...having great energy levels and workouts...and watching your body respond exactly as you desire, dropping fat or adding muscle each and every week.

And imagine finally understanding how proper dieting really works, never again falling for the BS, tricks, and gimmicks pushed by “gurus” and other shysters.

Well, I have good news.

All these “fantasies” can be a reality...if you know how to do a handful of “little” things correctly.

You see, when you know how to diet properly--and this doesn’t mean learning to eat boiled chicken and raw broccoli six times per day--getting lean and muscular becomes simple, convenient, and dare I say...enjoyable.

And this book will show you the way.

If you enjoyed this article, get weekly updates. It's free.

100% Privacy. We don't rent or share our email lists.

You May Also Like

Our Most Popular Evidence-Based Articles

You don't need supplements to build muscle, lose fat, and get healthy. But the right ones can help.

Take our 60-second quiz now to learn which supplements can help you achieve your fitness goals faster.

Take the Quiz No thanks, I don't want help choosing supplements.

Follow the Diet Plan that Helped Nikita Lose 15 Pounds in 3 Months

"I never thought getting in shape would be this simple! Everything just WORKS when you follow this plan." And if he can do it, why not you?

Take the Quiz No thanks, I don't want to lose weight or build muscle.

Our "No Return Necessary"
Money-Back Guarantee

If you don’t like something of ours, guess what happens next?

No, we don’t request you deliver it to a PO box in the Gobi Desert by carrier pigeon. Nor do we ask you to fill a cursed inkwell with orc’s blood and demon saliva and then use it to complete reams of return forms written in ancient Cyrillic script.

We just . . . wait for it . . . give you your money back. Holy moo cows. And that means you can say "yes" now and decide later.

Free Worldwide Shipping & Returns

Many companies use shipping and handling fees to increase their profit margins, but here at Legion, we hate profits, so our shipping is free!

Okay, so we do dig on profits, but we also go in for happy customers, and free shipping works like gangbusters. So, if you live in the United States, your order ships free regardless of order size, if you live in the UK or Canada, your order ships free when it’s over $99, and if you live elsewhere, your order ships free when it’s over $199.

Also, if you don’t absolutely love our stuff for whatever reason, we don’t request you deliver it to a PO box in the Gobi Desert by carrier pigeon.

We just . . . wait for it . . . give you your money back. No returns. No forms. No nonsense. Holy moo cows.

That means you can say “yes” now and decide later. You really have nothing to lose.

Free Worldwide Shipping & Returns

Many companies use shipping and handling fees to increase their profit margins, but here at Legion, we hate profits, so our shipping is free!

Okay, so we do dig on profits, but we also go in for happy customers, and free shipping works like gangbusters. So, if you live in the UK or Canada, your order ships free when it’s over $99.

Why the restriction on international orders? Unfortunately, shipping abroad is very expensive, and if we didn’t require a minimum order size, we’d lose a lot of money. But! We're also hustling to improve our international logistics and will be passing our savings along to our international customers.

Also, if you don’t absolutely love our stuff for whatever reason, we don’t request you deliver it to a PO box in the Gobi Desert by carrier pigeon.

We just . . . wait for it . . . give you your money back. No returns. No forms. No nonsense. Holy moo cows.

That means you can say “yes” now and decide later. You really have nothing to lose.

Free Worldwide Shipping & Returns

Many companies use shipping and handling fees to increase their profit margins, but here at Legion, we hate profits, so our shipping is free!

Okay, so we do dig on profits, but we also go in for happy customers, and free shipping works like gangbusters. So, if you’re outside the USA, your order ships free when it’s over $199.

Why the restriction on international orders? Unfortunately, shipping abroad is very expensive, and if we didn’t require a minimum order size, we’d lose a lot of money. But! We're also hustling to improve our international logistics and will be passing our savings along to our international customers.

Also, if you don’t absolutely love our stuff for whatever reason, we don’t request you deliver it to a PO box in the Gobi Desert by carrier pigeon.

We just . . . wait for it . . . give you your money back. No returns. No forms. No nonsense. Holy moo cows.

That means you can say “yes” now and decide later. You really have nothing to lose.

Clinically Effective Ingredients & Doses

Many ingredients in supplements don’t have any scientifically validated benefits, and many ingredients that do are often underdosed to the point of irrelevance.

That’s why we only use the choice ingredients and precise doses shown to be effective in peer-reviewed scientific studies.

Clinically Effective Doses

You need more than great ingredients to make great products—you also need proper doses. That’s why we use the precise doses of ingredients shown to be effective in peer-reviewed scientific studies.

Natural Ingredients

“Natural” doesn’t always mean “better,” but in many cases, natural ingredients are superior to artificial ones for various reasons, including purity, safety, and efficacy.

That’s why all of our ingredients in all of our products come from plant and animal sources, including sweeteners, colors, and flavors.

Made in USA with Globally Sourced Ingredients

If you want to ensure the supplements you’re swallowing every day are safe and effective, you want products produced in the USA.

That’s why all of our supplements are made in America in NSF-certified and FDA-inspected facilities that operate in accordance with the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) regulations.

Lab Tested

Did you know that supplements can contain dangerously high levels of toxins like lead, arsenic, and cadmium?

That’s why we test every ingredient of every supplement we produce for heavy metals, microbes, allergens, and other contaminants and ensure they meet the strict purity standards set by the FDA.

Naturally Sweetened & Flavored

While artificial sweeteners may not be as dangerous as some people claim, studies suggest that regular consumption of these chemicals may indeed be harmful to our health.

That’s why all of our supplements are naturally sweetened and flavored and contain no artificial food dyes, fillers, or other unnecessary junk.

Science-Backed Ingredients

Many ingredients in supplements don’t have any scientifically validated benefits. That’s why we only use choice ingredients shown to be effective in peer-reviewed scientific studies.

No Chemical Junk

“Natural” doesn’t always mean “better,” but in many cases, natural ingredients are superior to artificial ones for various reasons, including purity, safety, and efficacy.

That’s why all of our ingredients in all of our products come from plant and animal sources, including sweeteners, colors, and flavors.

Special Offer! Special Offer! Special Offer!

Wait!
Want to save 50% on your order of Legion supplements?

Use code NASM25 at checkout!

Buy one supplement, get one 50% off when you use code LEGION10 at checkout.

No thanks, I don't want to save on my order.

Smiling woman showing a Legion supplement Smiling woman showing a Legion supplement

We Missed You!

Enjoy 20% off your next order with code COMEBACK20.

No thanks, I don't want to save on my order.

Buy now, pay later.


Split your entire online purchase into 4 interest-free payments, over 6 weeks with no impact to your credit.

payment break down 25% today, 25% 2 weeks, 25% 4 weeks, 25% 6 weeks

25%
today

25%
2 weeks

25%
4 weeks

25%
6 weeks

Here's how to Sezzle


Step 1 - shop the store

Shop

Shop and add items to your cart as normal!

Step 2 - checkout at the store

Checkout

Choose Sezzle at Checkout! You’ll be redirected to Sezzle to Sign Up or Log In to complete your order.

Step 3 - Select Sezzle and Sezzleit

Sezzle it

Your order will be shipped out right away* and your payments will be split up over 6 weeks.

*shipping times subject to merchant shipping policy

Download the App


Shop directory. Reschedule payments. Plus more!

Waiver and Release of Liability

In consideration of the services and/or products offered by Legion Athletics, Inc. (“Legion”) including, but not limited to, nutrition plans, exercise routines and coaching, and in addition to the payment of any fee or charge:

I knowingly and voluntarily enter into this waiver and release of liability and hereby waive any and all rights, claims or causes of action of any kind whatsoever arising out of my use of Legion’s services and/or products, and I hereby release and hold harmless Legion and its consultants, officers, contractors, agents, owners and employees from any and all responsibility, liability, cost and expenses, including for injuries, damages or disorders (physical, metabolic, or otherwise), resulting from my use of Legion’s services and/or products.

I understand that fitness activities including, but not limited to, strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular exercise, with or without the use of equipment, are potentially hazardous activities that involve a risk of injury and even death, and I am voluntarily participating in these activities and using equipment and machinery with knowledge of the risks involved. I hereby agree to assume and accept any and all risks of injury or death related to said fitness activities.

I understand Legion’s services and products are not meant to treat or manage any health conditions or circumstances, and I acknowledge that Legion has recommended I obtain a healthcare provider’s approval for my use of Legion’s services and/or products, through regular physical examination(s) and/or consultation. I acknowledge that I have obtained my healthcare provider’s approval or have decided to use Legion’s services and/or products without such approval and hereby assume all responsibility for my use of said services and/or products.

I understand that results from using Legion’s products and/or services are not guaranteed, and I agree to not hold Legion liable for any outcomes or lack thereof.

OUT OF STOCK

Security Check

Please click the checkbox below. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Some popular pre-workouts are all-natural. Some contain the right mix of high-quality ingredients. Some provide clinically effective doses. But only Pulse checks each of these boxes.

Pulse doesn’t just “contain natural ingredients''—every ingredient is naturally sourced from plants and animals. Pulse contains no artificial or synthetic substances of any kind.

Every serving of Pulse contains 15.1 grams of active ingredients that have been shown to be safe and effective in peer-reviewed scientific research.

Every active ingredient in Pulse is backed by published scientific studies that show benefits in healthy humans.

Pulse contains no harsh stimulants that wind you up and burn you out. Instead, it contains a 1:1 ratio of caffeine and L-theanine, which produces a smooth energy rush and comfortable comedown.

We carefully examined 508 pages of scientific research to find out exactly what should and shouldn’t be in a pre-workout supplement.

Every bottle of Pulse is guaranteed to provide exactly what the label claims and nothing else—no heavy metals, microbes, allergens, or other contaminants.

While these types of chemicals may not be as dangerous as some people claim, studies suggest that regular consumption of them may indeed be harmful to our health. And that’s why we don’t put any of them into our products.

Before you buy a sports supplement, you should know that it's clean, safe, and transparent. And that's exactly what Labdoor's third-party testing and certification means.

It's hard to know for sure, but this probably makes Pulse the most-popular all-natural pre-workout supplement in the world.

If you don’t absolutely love this product, just let us know, and we’ll give you a full refund on the spot. No forms or return necessary.

Back

Analyzed for purity and potency in a state-of-the-art ISO 17025 accredited lab by Labdoor, the gold standard of third-party lab testing.

Analyzed for purity and potency in a state-of-the-art ISO 17025 accredited lab, the gold standard of third-party lab testing.

This product doesn’t just “contain natural ingredients”—every ingredient is naturally sourced from plants and animals. This product contains no artificial or synthetic sweeteners or flavors of any kind.

Fact Checked

Our scientific review board of nutritionists, dietitians, molecular biologists, doctors, and other accredited experts is responsible for reviewing every article, podcast, and video we produce to ensure they’re evidence based, accurate, trustworthy, and current.

Thanks to their connections, credentials, and academic experience, this team of MDs, PhDs, and other professionals has access to a wealth of research published in the largest and most prestigious journals in the world.

This allows them to not only review individual studies but also analyze the overall weight of the evidence on any and all topics related to diet, exercise, supplementation, and more.

If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, misleading, out-of-date, or anything less than factual, please let us know in the comments section of the article in question.

Evidence Based

We follow a detailed, rigorous, multi-step process to create content that meets the highest standards of clarity, practicality, and scientific integrity.

First, our research associates provide our editorial team with accurate, up-to-date, proven scientific evidence.

Then, our editorial team uses this research to draft articles and outlines for podcasts and videos.

Finally, our scientific review board reviews the content to ensure all key information and claims are backed by high-quality scientific research and explained simply and precisely.

If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, misleading, out-of-date, or anything less than factual, please let us know in the comments section of the article in question.