Eating high protein meals can be beneficial for building muscle and even burning fat. Here are high protein dinner ideas for a nice meal in the evening that are easy to make and taste delicious.
Do you find yourself raiding the fridge after dinner? If so, high-protein dinners may be the cure.
That’s because of all the macronutrients (fat, carbs, protein), protein is the most filling. So, you’re more likely to feel satisfied and skip the ice cream.
Also, if you hit the gym before dinner, high protein recipes are key to repairing and building muscle.
Today, I’m sharing healthy recipes that are not only nutritious but delicious as well. They’ll also provide you with enough protein.
So, let’s dig right in!
1. Salmon Meal Prep With Veggies
Credit: allnutritious.com
I’m a big fan of salmon, as I’m sure many of you are too. It’s not only delicious but also an easy recipe.
And it’s a powerhouse of nutrition. Not only is it packed with protein, but it also has tons of heart-healthy and brain-boosting omega-3s. So, bring on that salmon!
This salmon meal prep dish is super flavorful. The sweetness of the veggies complements the meatiness of the salmon.
This dish makes not only for a wonderful dinner but a great lunch as well. That’s because it’s packed with not only protein but fiber and fat as well.
So, it’s super filling… You won’t need that mid-afternoon chocolate bar.
To keep your food fresh longer, don’t forget to add a bit of lemon to your meal prep bowls. Also, be sure to store it in airtight food storage containers. I like these food storage containers here because they are sustainable that will leak into your food.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 806
- Fats: 45g
- Protein: 54g
- Carbs: 53g
- Fiber: 13g
- Sugar: 16g
2. The Best Slow Cooker Vegan Chili
Credit: happykitchen.rocks
We all live busy lives, me included. So, after a long day, you just want to plop on the couch… And order takeout.
This vegan chili is better than takeout. It’s hearty, delicious, and super soothing, exactly what you need after a long day of work, so it’s a perfect weeknight meal.
And it’s a really easy meal to make. Just plop your ingredients into your slow cooker in the morning, and away you go.
When you come back, you’ll be welcomed by the aroma of delicious chili. And it’s so satisfying that you definitely won’t miss the meat.
Now, this chili makes 8 really big portions. So, you’ll want to make sure that your slow cooker is big enough to hold everything. This slow cooker here should do the trick.
Check out more high protein low fat recipes here.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 260
- Fats: 1g
- Protein: 12g
- Carbs: 52g
- Fiber: 13g
- Sugar: 4g
3. Low Carb Skillet Chicken Tenders
Credit: easyhealthllc.com
Chicken nuggets are yummy and convenient. But, if you’re on a low carb diet, they’re a no-no.
That’s because of all the carbs from the breading. And as yummy, as chicken nuggets are, they’re not worth kicking you out of ketosis.
This chicken recipe is a tasty option. They’re juicy on the inside and nicely crusted on the outside and have a nice combination of sweet and savory.
And they only contain 3 grams of net carbs per serving. So, you can have a couple and not feel guilty.
To make it a meal, serve with some zucchini fries. Yum! Check out more high protein low carb dinner ideas here.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 240
- Fats: 7g
- Protein: 7g
- Carbs: 3g
- Fiber: 0g
- Sugar: 2g
4. Chickpea Salad With Cucumbers & Tomatoes
Credit: allnutritious.com
Salads are a great way to get more veggies into your diet. But, let’s face it, most salads leave you to feel like you want a little more something… Something like protein.
This salad will not leave you wanting. That’s because it’s packed with a whopping 29 grams of protein – what a great way to increase protein intake.
Most of it comes from the chickpeas. Besides being high in protein, chickpeas also contain a lot of manganese, which you need for healthy bones.
This salad is a delicious blend of chickpeas sauteed in a mixture of tasty spices, refreshing cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, sweet red onions, and fresh parsley tossed in a homemade vinaigrette. Your taste buds will be delighted.
What you’ll like most about this dish is that it takes only 20 minutes to make. So, it’s perfect for those busy weekday nights when you need a healthy meal.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 790
- Fats: 35g
- Protein: 29g
- Carbs: 77g
- Fiber: 20g
- Sugar: 23g
5. Avocado Chicken Wraps
Credit: saltandbaker.com
I’m a big fan of chicken, as I’m sure many of you are too. But after a while, it can it get kind of boring.
If you’re looking to jazz up your chicken dinners, these wraps are for you. Definitely one of the high-protein recipes that’s super easy to make and taste awesome.
These are no ordinary chicken wraps. That’s because they’re packed with tons of spices- 7 different spices, to be exact.
So, they’re spicy, but not hot…perfect for the kiddos. The green onions and grape tomatoes add freshness and color, while the avocados add some creaminess and heart-healthy fat.
To make this dish, you’ll need some shredded chicken. This is definitely one of the delicious recipes
Per Serving:
- Calories: 374
- Fats: 27g
- Protein: 21g
- Carbs: 16g
- Fiber: 11g
- Sugar: 2g
6. Rotisserie Chicken Enchilada Stuffed Peppers
Credit: keytomylime.com
Having dinner parties is a great opportunity to catch up with friends. And eat amazing food while still on a healthy diet.
But having company over doesn’t mean that you need to slave in the kitchen. And these stuffed peppers prove just that.
They look and taste great. They’re packed with tender chicken and topped with ooey, gooey Mexican cheese, and enchilada sauce for a Mexican twist on classic stuffed peppers.
What I love most about them is that you only need 4 ingredients: sweet twister peppers, shredded rotisserie chicken, enchilada sauce, and Mexican shredded cheese. That’s it.
And all you need is ten minutes of prep time, and then you let your oven do the cooking. So, you spend less time in the kitchen and more time mingling with your guests.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 255
- Fats: 10.8g
- Protein: 15.6g
- Carbs: 15.3g
- Fiber: 4.1g
- Sugar: 7.1g
7. Juicy Vegan Lentil Loaf
Credit: mypureplants.com
When the cold weather hits, you just want to sit by the fireplace. And have some good old-fashioned comfort food… like meatloaf.
But what do you do if you’re vegan or on a plant-based diet? Make one of these vegan meals – lentil loaf.
It’s smoky, savory, and has some umami flavor. And it’s super moist…unlike some other vegan loaves.
This is an amazing example of an easy high protein meal that tastes truly special. Definitely, the best thing to serve to your guests and loved ones.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 133
- Fats: 2.2g
- Protein: 5.7g
- Carbs: 24.8g
- Fiber: 4.1g
- Sugar: 3.7g
8. Oven-Baked Lemon Pepper Salmon
Credit: alwaysusebutter.com
Eating healthy doesn’t have to be hard. And this salmon dish proves exactly this.
The salmon is flaky and lightly seasoned…no heavy sauces here. So, the taste of the salmon shines through.
All you need to make it are 3 simple ingredients: salmon, lemon, and lemon pepper.
To make it, put your salmon skin side down in an oven-safe pan like this. Then squeeze some lemon juice over it and add your lemon pepper.
Bake in the oven for 20 minutes and voila…dinner is ready. Serve with rice, or if you’re on a low carb diet, cauliflower rice.
Salmon is an amazing source of healthy fats and has a ton of protein.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 224
- Fats: 10g
- Protein: 30g
- Carbs: 3g
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 1g
9. Keto Teriyaki Chicken With Sesame Seeds
Credit: allnutritious.com
Craving Japanese takeout, but trying to watch your carbs? Then, give this Teriyaki chicken a try.
Traditional Teriyaki chicken is a minefield of carbs. That’s because it contains sugar, and we all know that sugar is pure carbs.
This Teriyaki Chicken is sweet, spicy, savory, and has umami notes. So, it’s just like traditional Teriyaki chicken, but without all the carbs.
The secret to it being low carb is that you use erythritol instead of sugar. Erythritol is an all-natural sweetener that won’t spike your blood sugars.
And unlike some other sweeteners, it doesn’t have a bitter aftertaste. If you need to stock up on some, you can get some here.
Serve with steamed broccoli. This is also a freezer-friendly meal for all the soy sauce lovers out there.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 434
- Fats: 26g
- Protein: 47g
- Carbs: 5.9g
- Fiber: 1.5g
- Sugar: 0.4g
10. Mediterranean Chicken Bake
Credit: lovefoodnourish.com
Looking for a tasty way to get your kids to eat their veggies? This chicken bake is a great option.
It’s is packed with a Mediterranean flair. From the juicy chicken thighs to the eggplant, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, and kalamata olives.
What makes the dish even more family-friendly is that it’s a one-pan dish. So, you don’t have a ton of pots and pans to wash at the end.
The key to the chicken being so tender is that you marinate it. To make the marinade, you’ll need some crushed garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper.
To make crushing the garlic a breeze, you can just use a garlic press like this.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 518
- Fats: 32g
- Protein: 46g
- Carbs: 11g
- Fiber: 3g
- Sugar: 4g
11. Smothered Creamy Chicken Skillet
Credit: diabetesstrong.com
Here’s another chicken dish. You can never have enough chicken, right?
Chicken breasts are a great source of protein. However, because they don’t have much fat, they can taste like cardboard; and no-one likes eating cardboard.
This chicken skillet dish tastes like anything but cardboard. It’s creamy, cheesy, tasty, and comforting.
And the mushrooms, spinach, and sweet bell peppers freshness and color.
Besides being delicious, this dish is pretty nutritious too. One serving provides 75% of your daily Vitamin A needs, so it’s good for your immune system too.
It’s low in net carbs too. So, it’s perfect if you’re on a low carb diet.
This dish is great on its own, but if you like, you can serve it with some zucchini noodles too. Bon appetit! Get a veggie spiralizer for that.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 321
- Fats: 10.7g
- Protein: 36.9g
- Carbs: 7.5g
- Fiber: 2.1g
- Sugar: 3.8g
12. Instant Pot Turkey Chili
Credit: mysequinedlife.com
If you’re watching your fat intake, ground turkey is a great alternative to ground beef. Besides being lower in fat, it has a lower carbon footprint too.
However, ground turkey doesn’t have much fat, so it can taste quite bland. This Instant Pot Turkey Chili is anything but bland. It’s rich, hearty, and bursting with flavor.
You’ll definitely want seconds. And at only 311 calories per serving, you sure can.
To cut down on cooking time, you’ll be using an Instant Pot. If you don’t have one, there’s a great deal on this one right now.
Top with cheddar cheese and serve with some cornbread. Delish! This could be a nice high protein freezer meal too!
Per Serving:
- Calories: 311
- Fats: 11.9g
- Protein: 21.8g
- Carbs: 30.4g
- Fiber: 9.3g
- Sugar: 9.1g
13. Parmesan Crusted Pork Chops
Credit: cushyspa.com
When you’re on a keto diet, it can be hard finding one dish the whole family loves. So, you may end up cooking one meal for yourself and one for everyone else.
These Parmesan Crusted Pork Chops are sure to please everyone. Even picky eaters like kids.
They’re finger-licking good, and they’re extra juicy on the outside. And they are beautifully crusted on the outside.
But the best part is that they only contain 4.8 grams of net carbs. So, they’re sure to fit your macros.
The key to them being low carb is the breading. Instead of breadcrumbs, you use crushed pork rinds and Parmesan cheese.
Besides using pork rinds as breading, they make a great low carb snack when you’re craving something crunchy. If you need to stock up on some, you can get some here.
Serve with steamed broccoli or cauliflower.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 766
- Fats: 55g
- Protein: 63g
- Carbs: 5.1g
- Fiber: 0.3g
- Sugar: 0.2g
14. Healthy Turkey Meatballs
Credit: diabetesstrong.com
Are you having a hard time getting your kids to eat their veggies? Make these meatballs…seriously.
These meatballs are nothing like premade meatballs that you’ll find in the frozen section of your local grocery.
They’re juicy, flavorful, and are loaded with veggies; spinach and green bell pepper to be exact. So, they’re not only high in protein but fiber as well.
They’re also packed with vitamins A and C, which help boost your immune system. So, eat up those meatballs!
The key to them being so flavorful is that you use a ton of spices. So, make sure you have a good set of measuring spoons. I like these ones here because they don’t rust or get stained.
Serve with pasta and pasta sauce.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 183
- Fats: 2.5g
- Protein: 30.7
- Carbs: 12g
- Fiber: 3.1g
- Sugar: 2.9g
15. Zucchini, Pea & Ricotta Slice
Credit: goodiegoodielunchbox.com.au
You are looking for more ways to get your kids (or you) to eat more veggies? This is another great option.
These ain’t your typical ricotta slices. They’re cheesy, creamy, and packed with peas and grated zucchini.
The mint adds extra oomph to the slices.
What I love most about these slices is that you can eat them hot or cold. So, they make the perfect lunchbox combination for the kiddos and you.
They also freeze well. So, you can make an extra batch and pop them in the freezer.
Serve with a side Garden salad.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 284
- Fats: 13.4g
- Protein: 15.1g
- Carbs: 16.5g
- Fiber: 1.3g
- Sugar: 1g
16. Buffalo Chicken Salad
Credit: mysequinedlife.com
When it comes to lunch or dinner prep, chicken salad is so versatile. You can use it with wraps, bread, lettuce, or even just eat it right out of the bowl.
This chicken salad tastes amazing. It has crunchy almonds, crispy lettuce, fiery hot sauce, and creamy blue cheese crumbles- you’ll want to eat it right out of the bowl.
Making it is a breeze since you use pre-cooked chicken. If you don’t have already cooked chicken lying around, just pop into your grocery store and get a rotisserie chicken.
Then, shred your chicken and mix it with the rest of your ingredients. Voila, meal prep is done.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 283
- Fats: 12.5g
- Protein: 36.7g
- Carbs: 4.3g
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 0.5g
17. Chickpea Spinach Curry
Credit: greenbowl2soul.com
When you’ve had a hard day, you just want to chow down on some comfort food. But comfort food is often downright unhealthy and fattening.
This chickpea curry is so filling and comforting. And it’s really healthy too.
That’s because you add spinach. Spinach is a rich source of vitamins A and C and even important minerals like iron and calcium. Who would have thought?
What I love most about this dish is that it contains only 320 calories. So, you can eat a bowl (or two) and still be able to fit into your skinny jeans.
This is a lovely high protein pantry meal!
Per Serving:
- Calories: 320
- Fats: 7g
- Protein: 16g
- Carbs: 50g
- Fiber: 14g
- Sugar: 10g
18. Prosciutto-Wrapped Chicken Breast With Cream Cheese
Credit: diabetesstrong.com
Hosting dinner parties is a nice way to connect with friends.
But sometimes you spend more time cooking. And less time hanging out with your friends.
This prosciutto-wrapped chicken breast is the perfect solution. It’s pretty elegant and tastes wonderful.
The prosciutto adds saltiness and lots of flavor to the chicken breast. Meanwhile, the cream cheese adds creaminess and makes the chicken breast extra juicy…it’s sure to be a hit.
What I love most about this dish is that you only need 5 ingredients: chicken breast, prosciutto, cream cheese, basil leaves, and pepper.
And it takes only 5 minutes of prep time. Then you put it in the oven and let the oven do the baking. Easy, peasy, chicken dinner.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 294
- Fats: 11.5g
- Protein: 38.6g
- Carbs: 2.4g
- Fiber: 0g
- Sugar: 2.4g
19. Keto Sweet Chilli Chicken Rolls
Credit: allnutritious.com
And talking about dinner parties, these chicken rolls are another great option. You can’t go wrong with chicken, right?
These chicken rolls taste as good as they look. They’re sweet, savory, and have a hint of heat.
They’re also low in carbs. So, they’re great for your keto guests too.
To keep them keto, make sure you don’t use a regular sweet chili sauce. Instead, use a low carb sweet chili sauce like this one here.
This is a low carb high protein dinner!
Per Serving:
- Calories: 357
- Fats: 18g
- Protein: 41g
- Carbs: 6g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 2.6g
20. Cast Iron Keto Ranch Chicken Thighs
Credit: easyanddelish.com
Looking for a budget-friendly chicken dinner? Give this a try.
Chicken thighs are a great source of protein. And they’re cheaper than chicken breasts, so they’re good for your wallet.
These chicken thighs are super yummy. You have nicely seasoned, tender chicken thighs with extra crispy skin.
They’re also the perfect weeknight dinner as they take only 25 minutes to make. All you need are 5 ingredients.
So, they’re sure to be part of your regular weekday rotation. Winner, winner, chicken dinner.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 367
- Fats: 29g
- Protein: 24g
- Carbs: 1g
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 1g