Need to up those calories for your fitness goals? Here are high-calorie meals that are rich in nutrients, flavors, and are fun to make.
While consuming more calories is essential, many high-calorie foods like french fries, ice cream and potato chips tend to be unhealthy. So, what is the solution?
High-calorie meals that are nutritious!
Today, I’m sharing 20 High-Calorie Meals that will help you gain weight, and that are good for you too.
1. Vegan Cobb Salad Recipe
Credit: yumveganlunchideas.com
This vegan salad is packed with seitan “chicken”, chickpeas, avocado, and a variety of veggies.
Each serving contains a whopping 104 grams of protein – primarily from the seitan, a vegan substitute made from vital wheat gluten.
If you need to stock up on some, you can get some here.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 1003
- Fats: 38g
- Protein: 104g
- Carbs: 72g
- Fiber: 21g
- Sugar: 16g
2. Cauliflower Mac & Cheese With Chicken Thighs
Credit: easyanddelish.com
This cauliflower mac & cheese dish is a great low-carb alternative with only 7 grams of net carbs per serving.
It’s creamy with nicely seared crispy skin-on chicken thighs and cauliflower for added freshness and nutrition.
Besides being tasty, this dish only takes 30 minutes to make.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 983
- Fats: 88g
- Protein: 41g
- Carbs: 8g
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 2g
3. Salmon Meal Prep With Veggies
Credit: allnutritious.com
The sweetness of the beets and sweet potatoes in this dish is a great match with the meatiness of the salmon.
All you need is 10 minutes of prep, and then you let your oven do the baking.
To keep your food fresh longer, store it in airtight food storage containers. I recommend these ones because they are sustainable.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 806
- Fats: 45g
- Protein: 54g
- Carbs: 53g
- Fiber: 13g
- Sugar: 16g
4. Steak Fajita Salad
Credit: oursaltykitchen.com
This steak fajita salad features an eight-spice rub for the steak, eliminating the need for barbecue sauce.
The veggies are tasty too… That’s because you saute them in steak grease.
Besides being delicious, this salad provides a whopping 40% of your daily fiber needs, per serving and takes only 30 minutes to make!
Per Serving:
- Calories: 726
- Fats: 62g
- Protein: 34g
- Carbs: 20g
- Fiber: 10g
- Sugar: 23g
5. German Hunter Cabbage Stew
Credit: all-thats-jas.com
This hearty cabbage stew is packed with bacon, kielbasa sausage, and ground beef.
It’s also packed with cabbage which is an excellent source of vitamins C and K and contains several antioxidants that may help reduce inflammation.
What I love most about this dish is that it’s a one-pot dish, minimizing clean up at the end.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 742
- Fats: 52g
- Protein: 38g
- Carbs: 32g
- Fiber: 9g
- Sugar: 9g
6. Pecan Chicken Recipe
Credit: oursaltykitchen.com
Juicy, tender chicken breasts coated in crushed pecans, with warm spices are served alongside creamy, buttery cauliflower mash and lightly seasoned, roasted sweet potato wedges.
This dish contains immune-boosting Vitamins A and C, and a good dose of calcium too, making it a well-rounded dish, for a great Sunday night dinner.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 721
- Fats: 52g
- Protein: 44g
- Carbs: 28g
- Fiber: 10g
- Sugar: 8g
7. 30-Minute Pork Fajita Bowls
Credit: easyanddelish.com
These Tex-Mex Pork Fajita Bowls, ready in under 30 minutes feature sauteed pork chop strips along with sauteed green, yellow, and red bell peppers. Served with creamy avocado slices and jalapeno peppers for an added kick.
What I love most about this dish is that it’s a one-skillet dish, making cleanup a breeze.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 700
- Fats: 45g
- Protein: 52g
- Carbs: 27g
- Fiber: 12g
- Sugar: 7g
8. Korean Seitan Sandwich
Credit: yumveganlunchideas.com
Spice lovers, try this Korean Seitan sandwich featuring Seitan “steak” strips with balanced sweet, savory and umami flavors, paired with spicy vegan kimchi.
When buying kimchi, beware: it often contains fish sauce.
So, if you want vegan kimchi, make sure you read the label properly. Or, you can stock up on vegan kimchi here.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 981
- Fats: 40g
- Protein: 41g
- Carbs: 142g
- Fiber: 7g
- Sugar: 22g
9. Thai Red Curry Chicken
Credit: mealpreponfleek.com
This high-protein dish features tender chicken in a creamy sauce with veggies.
Cauliflower rice is a healthy alternative to white rice. You can buy prepackaged cauliflower rice here.
To make your own, simply cut your cauliflower into pieces, and pulse in a food processor. This food processor should do the trick.
Check out more healthy recipes that incorporate pantry foods here.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 646
- Fats: 26g
- Protein: 37g
- Carbs: 42g
- Fiber: 21g
- Sugar: 0g
10. Chicken Meatballs With Quinoa & Curried Cauliflower
Credit: bbcgoodfood.com
This healthy take on meatballs and pasta features spicy meatballs with an Indian twist from the spices.
Made from minced chicken, these meatballs are served with quinoa for added protein.
In fact, one cup of cooked quinoa contains 8.1 grams of protein.
If you’d like to give it a try, you can get some here.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 697
- Fats: 23g
- Protein: 72g
- Carbs: 44g
- Fiber: 9g
- Sugar: 14g
11. Sheet Pan Salmon Burgers
Credit: mealpreponfleek.com
These flavorful salmon burgers are paired with lightly seasoned sweet potato fries, and creamy roasted red pepper aioli, perfect for dipping.
Salmon, high in protein omega-3s for brain and heart health, is also an excellent source of selenium, a powerful antioxidant.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 649
- Fats: 48.4g
- Protein: 30.5g
- Carbs: 22.2g
- Fiber: 4.5g
- Sugar: 0g
12. Parmesan Crusted Pork Chops
Credit: cushyspa.com
This dish has 55 grams of fat and 4.8 grams of net carbs to keep you in ketosis.
These juicy parmesan-crusted pork chops are coated in a delicious blend of Parmesan cheese and crushed pork rinds.
Serve with some low-carb steamed veggies such as cauliflower or broccoli.
This steamer basket is great for steaming the veggies.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 766
- Fats: 55g
- Protein: 63g
- Carbs: 5.1g
- Fiber: 0.3g
- Sugar: 0.2g
13. Sheet Pan Chimichurri Chicken & Veggies
Credit: mealpreponfleek.com
Tender, juicy chicken thighs are accompanied with lightly seasoned potatoes, and green beans – you have your starch, veggies, and protein all prepared in one pan.
The chimichurri sauce elevates the meal bringing savory, tangy, and fragrant flavor with a hint of heat. Simply add more red chili pepper flakes to increase the heat.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 649
- Fats: 44.7g
- Protein: 37.6g
- Carbs: 28.8g
- Fiber: 4.4g
- Sugar: 0g
14. Spring Chicken Paella
Credit: bbcgoodfood.com
This dish features aromatic rice, crispy chicken thighs and fresh peas adding tons of nutrition and freshness.
Infused with herbs such as dill, mint, and parsley, you may have some leftover herbs after making it.
To prevent them from getting rotten, freeze in these reusable freezer bags.
Check out more healthy freezer meals here.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 660
- Fats: 20g
- Protein: 41g
- Carbs: 79g
- Fiber: 10g
- Sugar: 5g
15. High Protein Cauliflower Gratin
Credit: cookforyourlife.org
This high-protein cauliflower gratin is a healthier alternative to mac and cheese.
To make, layer some steamed cauliflower and sauteed shallots in a greased baking dish.
Next, blend some cheese, milk, salt, and nutmeg. Then pour your cheese mixture over your cauliflower, and top with cheese and breadcrumbs.
Finally, bake for about 25 minutes.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 686
- Fats: 51g
- Protein: 25g
- Carbs: 36g
- Fiber: 5g
- Sugar: 9g
16. Mushroom Carnitas Burrito Bowls
Credit: mealpreponfleek.com
Mushrooms are marinated for a flavorful taste using 5 different spices. So, get out your measuring spoons! I like these spoons here because they don’t rust or get stained.
These hearty Burrito bowls feature a variety of veggies, black beans, creamy avocados, olives, and of course, jalapenos for some heat.
Check out more high protein vegetarian recipes like this!
Per Serving:
- Calories: 647
- Fats: 46.3g
- Protein: 19.6g
- Carbs: 44.7g
- Fiber: 13.2g
- Sugar: 0g
17. Spicy Shrimp White Bean Soup
Credit: cookforyourlife.org
This shrimp white bean soup is not only comforting and delicious but also rich in selenium, a powerful antioxidant, and iodine, which you need for thyroid health.
To achieve a smooth texture, blend some of the soup ideally with an immersion blender. If you don’t have one, there’s a pretty good deal on this high-quality one here.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 638
- Fats: 34g
- Protein: 33g
- Carbs: 53g
- Fiber: 7g
- Sugar: 13g
18. Chicken Shawarma Bowls
Credit: oursaltykitchen.com
Craving Mediterranean food? You’re in for a treat with these chicken shawarma bowls!
Tender, juicy, flavorful chicken is drizzled with a creamy, tangy tahini dressing, accompanied with lemon-flavored cauliflower tabouleh, pickled red onions, and kalamata olives.
This meal takes one hour to make- not including the marinating time.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 787
- Fats: 57g
- Protein: 46g
- Carbs: 18g
- Fiber: 6g
- Sugar: 4g
19. Chicken Stew With Kale & Broccoli
Credit: cookforyourlife.org
Try this comforting stew with chicken breast, carrots, and kale, along with cannellini beans.
Packed with protein, vitamins, and minerals, it features Kale and carrots for immune-boosting vitamins A and C.
All it takes is 30 minutes, and you’ll have a stew that is nice and soothing.
You could also make this recipe in a slow cooker!
Per Serving:
- Calories: 649
- Fats: 29g
- Protein: 47g
- Carbs: 56g
- Fiber: 12g
- Sugar: 11g
20. Pesto-Crusted Cod With Puy Lentils
Credit: bbcgoodfood.com
Flaky cod pairs with nutty pesto, red chilies for heat, tomatoes for acidity, and lentils for extra protein.
To create homemade pesto, simply blend basil leaves, garlic cloves, pine nuts, lemon juice, and seasoning in a food processor.
However, for extra convenience, you can just use premade pesto like this one here.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 672
- Fats: 37g
- Protein: 45g
- Carbs: 34g
- Fiber: 11g
- Sugar: 7g
20 High Calorie Meals That Taste Amazing
Need to increase your calorie intake? These High-Calorie Meals taste absolutely awesome and are super quick to make.
Ingredients
- 1. Vegan Cobb Salad Recipe
- 2. Cauliflower Mac & Cheese With Chicken Thighs
- 3. Salmon Meal Prep With Veggies
- 4. Steak Fajita Salad
- 5. German Hunter Cabbage Stew
- 6. Pecan Chicken Recipe
- 7. 30-Minute Pork Fajita Bowls
- 8. Korean Seitan Sandwich
- 9. Thai Red Curry Chicken
- 10. Chicken Meatballs With Quinoa & Curried Cauliflower
- 11. Sheet Pan Salmon Burgers
- 12. Parmesan Crusted Pork Chops
- 13. Sheet Pan Chimichurri Chicken & Veggies
- 14. Spring Chicken Paella
- 15. High Protein Cauliflower Gratin
- 16. Mushroom Carnitas Burrito Bowls
- 17. Spicy Shrimp White Bean Soup
- 18. Chicken Shawarma Bowls
- 19. Chicken Stew With Kale & Broccoli
- 20. Pesto-Crusted Cod With Puy Lentils
Instructions
- Scroll up to get a bunch of easy, yummy, and delicious recipes. Don't be afraid to get creative with the ingredients, you might discover a flavor you didn't know you liked.
- Get your shopping list going and make sure you've got all the ingredients.
- Get cooking and make your next High-Calorie Meal!
Notes
Which one of these recipes was your favorite? Let me know in the comment section or on Pinterest!
alison
Monday 30th of January 2023
this has been amazing, trying to gain more weight and all of these recipes sounds absolutely incredible. cant wait to try them out. thank you so much :)))
Gavin
Saturday 1st of October 2022
Thank you so much! This have been helpful when prepping food for the week! Slowly making me fall in love when cooking. Keep it up!
Karo @ AllNutritious
Sunday 2nd of October 2022
I'm glad, Gavin!
johnny
Tuesday 13th of September 2022
if you click on the link that says ‘recipe’, you’ll get to the website where the full recipe is. There you’ll see how large a portion is exactly. From what I see, it’s a size of what would fit into a regular-sized meal prep box or a regular-sized bowl. So, the portions are pretty normal for one serving. These recipes are designated to be high calorie, so just regular portions you would usually have will do. 🙂 As for my own recipes: 3. Salmon Meal Prep With Veggies – one regular-sized meal prep box 12. Parmesan Crusted Pork Chops – one chop with some salad
Also, for gaining weight – I recommend incorporating some of these foods into your meals: sweet potatoes, legumes, carrots, beets, plenty of fruit, buckwheat, brown rice, corn, wheat, barley, oats, quinoa. Just looks for foods that are high in complex carbs, and obviously don’t forget to add protein and fats. But, carbs are really what’s going to help you gain some weight.
Laura
Sunday 21st of February 2021
Hi, All of your recipes sound fantastic. I need more guidance about portion size. Trying to help my daughter gain weight...and I need to know how much food a serving is. many thanks!
Karo @ AllNutritious
Monday 22nd of February 2021
Hi Laura,
if you click on the link that says 'recipe', you'll get to the website where the full recipe is. There you'll see how large a portion is exactly. From what I see, it's a size of what would fit into a regular-sized meal prep box or a regular-sized bowl. So, the portions are pretty normal for one serving. These recipes are designated to be high calorie, so just regular portions you would usually have will do. :) As for my own recipes: 3. Salmon Meal Prep With Veggies - one regular-sized meal prep box 12. Parmesan Crusted Pork Chops - one chop with some salad
Also, for gaining weight - I recommend incorporating some of these foods into your meals: sweet potatoes, legumes, carrots, beets, plenty of fruit, buckwheat, brown rice, corn, wheat, barley, oats, quinoa. Just looks for foods that are high in complex carbs, and obviously don't forget to add protein and fats. But, carbs are really what's going to help you gain some weight.