Protein is an integral part of any well-balanced diet, and while most Americans get plenty of it each day, for others, it’s a little more challenging. Some people aren’t big fans of meat; others just get tired of getting all their protein from the same few recipes. Whatever the case, this list of 30 high-protein recipes has plenty of options from which you can choose. Whether you’re a fan of fish or chicken, beans and avocados, or if you prefer to get your protein from cheese and waffles, there’s something here for you.
1. Feta and Spinach Pancakes
Do you need more protein, but you aren’t a huge meat eater? No problem! All you’ll really need is eggs, milk, flour, olive oil, frozen spinach, and feta cheese. With those six ingredients, you can make delicious, high-protein pancakes that are cheesy, filling, and full of flavor. They take about half an hour to make, and each one has more than 30 grams of protein.
2. Peanut Butter and Banana Smoothie
Although most people think of protein as meat, beans, and eggs, high-protein doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy something sweet and a little decadent. This peanut butter banana smoothie is proof of that. Plus, it requires only five ingredients – peanut butter, bananas, milk, honey, and ice – and takes 5 minutes to make. It’s perfect for those rushed, on-the-go mornings when you don’t have a lot of time to cook
3. Savory Cottage Cheese Bowls
Cottage cheese may not be the most exciting way to get your protein, but you can easily jazz it up and give it a lot more flavor. Feel free to add whatever you like to your cottage cheese bowl, but I stick pretty closely to this recipe. The scallions and cucumbers add a delightful herb flavor. The bell peppers, tomatoes, and pistachios add crunch, a slight sweetness, and a little taste of garden freshness. Overall, it’s an excellent combination.
4. Salmon Patties
There’s no denying that salmon patties are good for you and are absolutely overflowing with protein. You can make them even healthier (and tastier) by cooking them in the air fryer. Preparing them this way is effortless and takes less than 30 minutes. Season them just right, throw them in the air fryer, then serve them with homemade aioli dipping sauce.
5. White Chicken Chili
There are few things more delicious in the fall and winter months than a hot, steaming bowl of chili, and this recipe for white chicken chili is a 100% crowd-pleaser. The chicken is juicy and tender; the broth is thick and flavorful, and all the add-ins – northern beans, white corn, chile peppers, etc. – are on point! Each bite of this hearty chili is better than the one that came before it, especially if you top it with shredded cheese, sour cream, and chives.
6. Protein-Packed Mac and Cheese
When you think of macaroni and cheese, you probably think of carbs, but this protein-packed mac and cheese will have you seeing the dish in a whole new light. It takes about 20 minutes to make, and the ingredients list includes rotini pasta, butter, broccoli, cheese, milk, and spinach. It’s supremely creamy and cheesy, and each serving has a whopping 26 grams of protein. There are also 10 grams of fiber. All in all, this is one healthy, homemade comfort food.
7. Greek Chicken Power Bowls
Greek chicken power bowls have a lot going on, but even so, they take only 30 minutes to make. They’re so full of protein, they’ll keep you going all day. The ingredients list is pretty long, but aside from cooking the chickpeas and chicken, it’s mostly just a matter of assembling things. So don’t let it scare you off. Plus, each bowl is packed with all kinds of things that are good for you. Aside from the chicken and chickpeas, there are tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, plenty of herbs and seasonings, and more. These bowls are crisp, cool, and refreshing, and you won’t want to miss out on them.
8. Garlic Shrimp with Quinoa
If you’re looking for a low-calorie, low-fat meal that’s also high in protein, you’ll love garlic shrimp with quinoa. It takes only 30 minutes to pull together four servings. Between the tender, perfectly marinated shrimp and the fluffy quinoa, it’s hard to know what tastes best.
9. Black Bean and Lentil Soup
Practically everything you need to know about the protein content of this soup is right there in the name – black beans and lentils. Those are certainly two ingredients you’ll want to use if you need more protein in your diet. Even better, you can make the soup in one pot in about 45 minutes. Furthermore, it’s meatless and insanely yummy.
10. Spaghetti and Meatballs
Spaghetti is another meal people don’t always think of when looking for high-protein recipes, but if you include several thick, hearty meatballs, you’ll get plenty of protein. When it comes to perfect meatballs, this recipe has you covered. Made from ground beef and pork, eggs, white bread, milk, and tons of herbs, these are spicy, filling, and delectable. The noodles and homemade sauce are delicious, too, but they’re almost an afterthought compared to those scrumptious meatballs.
11. Creamy High Protein Mushroom and Spinach Pasta
This rich, creamy dish is tasty, cheesy, and naturally vegetarian-friendly. Thanks to the mushrooms, spinach, herbs, and chickpeas, it has a clean and earthy taste. It’s also surprisingly filling, despite the lack of meat. That comes from chickpeas and tofu. It’s gluten-free and high in both protein and fiber. However, it’s also carb-heavy, so it may not be the best choice if you’re on a low-carb or keto diet.
12. Cowboy Chili
Cowboy chili is smoky and perfectly spicy. With its lean ground beef, juicy stewed tomatoes, and stick-to-your-ribs pinto beans, this dish is perfect for those long, cold fall and winter nights.
13. Marry Me Chicken
As absurd as the name of this dish is, it’s also perfectly fitting because, after one bite, you’ll be willing to marry whoever made it for you. The chicken is juicy and succulent; the bacon is salty, crunchy, and perfect as bacon always is, and the creamy herb and parmesan cheese sauce is almost good enough to make you cry. Careful making it in mixed company, though; you may have more suitors than you bargained for!
14. Chicken Alfredo
Fettuccine alfredo may not seem like a protein-heavy dish, but when you pile it high with chicken, mushrooms, and buttery sauce, the protein starts to add up quickly. With 35 grams per serving, it’ll definitely be enough to fill you up and keep you that way for quite some time. Plus, it’s incredible!
15. Baked Beans
Baked beans are the perfect side dish. They’re quick and easy to make, and they require fewer than 10 common pantry ingredients. This recipe is especially good for high-protein diets because it includes a pound of ground beef along with the beans.
16. John Wayne Casserole
If there’s one man in Hollywood that knew about getting enough protein, it was John Wayne. As such, I couldn’t finish this list without adding my famous John Wayne casserole to it. With biscuit mix, ground beef, taco seasoning, diced tomatoes, chiles, green peppers, onions, mayo, sour cream, and cheddar cheese, it doesn’t get much heartier or protein-packed. This dish will remind you of a loaded plate of nachos, only with a more old west flair to it. It may leave you with a bit of heartburn if you eat it too late at night, but it’ll never leave you hungry.
17. Avocado Sandwich
By now, you probably know that avocados are a super, miracle food. They’re good for everything, including adding more protein to your diet. This sandwich takes about 5 minutes to whip up and only uses six ingredients. If you can assemble components, you can make this creamy, crunchy treat.
18. Buffalo Chicken Wraps
These buffalo chicken wraps are the stuff, and they take less than an hour to make. The hardest part is cooking the chicken, and that’s basically just warming it in a pan. Each warm tortilla surrounds juicy chunks of buffalo chicken, salty pieces of bacon, fresh tomatoes, and zesty ranch dressing. You’ll get plenty of protein and even more flavor in every bite.
19. Lentil Burgers
Burgers are an easy source of protein, but not everyone loves them. If you’re a non-burger eater craving something hearty, these lentil burgers are the answer. In appearance and texture, they are almost like the real thing. The taste is slightly different, but I think it’s lighter, fresher, and less greasy, so I like them more. All the work goes into seasoning and cooking the patties. After that, slap them on buns and pile them high with all your favorite veggies.
20. Sloppy Joes
I don’t care how much you love Sloppy Joes, you haven’t truly had a great Sloppy Joe until you’ve had a Trisha Yearwood Sloppy Joe. These things are some of the tastiest sandwiches you’ll ever put in your mouth. Perfectly seasoned and containing kidney beans, ground beef, onions, bell peppers, and more, these stop just short of being heavenly.
21. Protein Waffles
Despite what almost anyone might tell you, you don’t have to forego waffles to have a protein-packed breakfast. You’ll just have to make your waffles out of the right ingredients. In this case, that’s cottage cheese, eggs, old-fashioned oats, vanilla extract, and just a dash of salt. They’re sweet and fluffy with perfectly crispy exteriors. Pile them high with cinnamon butter, bacon, eggs, or melted peanut butter for even more protein in every bite.
22. 15 Bean Soup
You can probably already guess that anything that has 15 beans in it will be positively packed with protein. You’d be right. This soup also has ham, onions, plenty of herbs, and a ton of flavor. You can easily enjoy it any time of year, but it’s ideal for fall and winter.
23. Cottage Cheese Toasts
By itself, toast doesn’t have a ton of protein, but it becomes an entirely different story if you pile it high with cottage cheese and fresh veggies. Plus, it’s super easy to make and shouldn’t take you longer than 5 minutes, which is great for busy mornings.
24. Chicken Waldorf Salad
Is there anything better than chunky, creamy chicken salad? Maybe, but not a lot. With walnuts, golden raisins, celery, grapes, apples, lemon juice, and chicken, this recipe for chicken salad is one of my all-time favorites. Once you add in the homemade dressing, it’s over. It doesn’t matter if you slap it between two pieces of the stalest bread you can find. It will still be delicious.
25. Almond Quinoa Energy Bars
Most things with the phrase “energy bars” in the name will have plenty of protein, and these almond quinoa energy bars are no exception. They take about 30 minutes to make (though they’ll need to cool before you eat them) and require only essential ingredients like oats, almonds, honey, quinoa, cinnamon, etc. They’re sweet and just a little salty, chewy, and just a little crunchy. They’re a great midday pick-me-up for practically any occasion.
26. Clam Chowder
Clam chowder has to be really, really good for me to enjoy it. Maybe it’s the bacon, or the chopped onions and potatoes, but for whatever reason, this recipe is good enough for me. It’s full of herby, umami flavor, and a rich, thick broth. Trust me; you’ll crave this New England clam chowder at least once or twice a week after you try it.
27. Chocolate Lentil Protein Muffins
Lentil muffins may not sound super appetizing at first, but honestly, you can’t even taste the lentils beneath the banana, honey, chocolate chips, vanilla, and cocoa powder. These taste like any other fluffy, delicious chocolate muffins you’ll try, but thanks to the lentils, they have a lot more protein than most.
28. Lasagna
People are sometimes surprised when I present lasagna as a high-protein recipe, and I have no idea why. After all, it’s practically one big slab of meat and cheese! If you’re craving a cheesy, meaty lasagna full of sauce, you’ll want to use this recipe. Not only can you have it ready in an hour tops, but it also requires only seven ingredients. Lasagna doesn’t get much easier or quicker than that unless you buy it in the frozen aisle.
29. Lentil Salad
If you’re looking for a protein-heavy meal that you can make in 15 minutes or less without cooking a single thing, check out this recipe for lentil salad. All you’ll have to do is rinse and drain your lentils, then add all your other veggies and herbs. Mix everything up nicely and serve it by itself or with your favorite lean meat.
30. Cheeseburger Meatloaf
You’ve probably had meatloaf a lot in your life, but have you ever tried cheeseburger meatloaf? It has all the same great things you love about meatloaf but also includes lots and lots of shredded cheddar cheese. It tastes phenomenal, and I think it’s a lot prettier than regular meatloaf, as well. And, of course, it’s meatloaf, so there’s no lack of protein. Click on a star to rate it!
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