30 High-Protein Meals That Are Hearty And Satisfying

We’re not here to give diet advice. To everything there is a season: Sometimes, that might mean going all in on carbs, a la our pasta, pizza, or potato recipes. Other times, it might mean eating less carbs, like with our gluten-free, low-carb, or keto recipes. Perhaps you want to cut back on meat with our top plant-based, vegetarian, or vegan meals. (For Meatless Monday, perhaps?) Long story short, we’re all about eating what feels good for you. And if at the moment that's a high-protein meal? You’re in the right place.

Meals higher in protein have tons of benefits. They'll help you feel satisfied for longer, keep you energized, and are often packed with good-for-you things like fiber or vitamins. Whether you’re here to achieve fitness goals, are dipping your toe into a special diet, or are just trying to eat a little better, we’ve got a recipe for you. Read on for 30 high-protein meals for ideas.

And we’re not just talking meat here, people! Sure, meat is protein rich, but it’s not the only way to pad out a protein-rich diet. Plant-based proteins like tofu and beans, vegetarian options like eggs, and even some veggies (Brussels, corn, spinach…) are also great sources. Try our BBQ tempeh sandwiches, vegan meatballs, shakshuka, or caramelized tofu lettuce wraps to see just how well some of these protein sources can stand up to meat.

If you’re an omnivore, you’ve got even more choices. Don’t settle for boring, dry chicken breast, pork, or fish—instead, use compelling flavors and cooking methods to amp up the drama and keep these proteins exciting. Case in point, our caramelized beef with rice, steak grain bowls, creamy tuscan chicken, and sheet pan bibimbap.

Want more high-protein inspiration? Check out our top weeknight dinners featuring steak, chicken, and seafood, and our favorite vegetarian dinners too.

This dish shouts comfort food, but it's also impressive enough to serve to dinner guests. Be sure to have a crusty baguette on hand, because the sauce is KILLER. (Not into bread? You can also serve it alongside rice or pasta.)

Get the Creamy Tuscan Chicken recipe.

To make the *perfect* Cobb salad, you MUST use homemade salad dressing. It's so easy to make, there's really no excuse. Just throw some red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, and olive oil into a mason jar and shake it out. Once you've got that, feel free to play around with the toppings you prefer (just use our ratio of protein to cheese to veggies as a guide).

Get the Cobb Salad recipe.

A double-duty chimichurri acts as both a marinade for the steak and a finishing sauce for the bowls. (Just make sure to toss anything that's touched raw meat before serving!) An additional not-too-spicy jalapeño sauce provides a tangy, creamy counterpoint. Hot tip: These sauces can go on anything and everything. If you have extra, use it on some black bean tostadas.

Get the Steak Grain Bowls recipe.

Few comfort foods satisfy like a hearty bowl of spaghetti and meatballs. These chickpea-based meatballs pack tons of flavor, come together quickly, and provide a good amount of protein and fiber.

Get the Vegan Meatballs recipe.

Tuna salad is one of our go-to healthy meals. We love it between two pieces of bread, spread on a cracker, scooped over lettuce, or even right out of the bowl. If you want to step up your tuna game, the easiest way is to splurge on olive oil-packed tuna—you'd be shocked at how much extra flavor it delivers!

Get the Tuna Salad recipe.

This easy weeknight dinner takes practically zero effort but is absolutely delicious and full of protein. The simple glaze is made with things many people already have in their pantry, like honey and soy sauce. Pair it with some broccoli or fried rice and you'll have a delicious dinner on the table in under and hour.

Get the Honey Garlic Chicken recipe.

High-protein tilapia has a very mild flavor and is a great way to lure in non-fish eaters. We cook ours in plenty of butter, lemon, and garlic—a combo everyone can enjoy. Baking is quick and easy, plus it eliminates any chance of the fish annoyingly sticking to a skillet or grill. Win-win!

Get the Garlicky Lemon Baked Tilapia recipe.

When we say you won't miss the tuna, we mean it. This creamy, zingy, crunchy salad will satisfy all your canned fish cravings—trust us, the flavor is SPOT ON—but there's nary a flake of fish in this chickpea-centric dish. We like to keep a can of chickpeas in our pantry at all times, so a easy, lunch sandwich filled with this stuff always only five minutes away.

Get the Chickpea "Tuna" Salad recipe.

The sink is full of dirty dishes, the kitchen counter's a mess, and the crowd of friends in your apartment is getting hangry. Sound familiar? This caramelized beef was conceived as a fix for this very scenario. Rich in flavor and weeknight friendly, this dinner cooks up under 10 minutes. Not feeling beef? Riff on this recipe with ground pork, turkey, chicken, or even tofu.

Get the Caramelized Beef With Rice recipe.

Hasselback your chicken by cutting shallow slits into the breasts (don't cut all the way through!) and stuff each one with bacon and a creamy spinach and artichoke filling.

Get the Spinach-Stuffed Chicken Breast recipe.

In Korean, bibimbap literally means "mixed rice." It usually features white rice crowned with different types of meat and vegetable-based toppings—all individually prepared in a separate cooking vessel. This recipe, however, calls for cooking the toppings on a single sheet tray, which eliminates much of that work.

Get the Sheet Pan Bibimbap recipe.

The grill adds subtle, almost bacon-like smoky flavor to these tempeh steaks, but there's no meat in sight. Add a cool, creamy coleslaw and a toasted buttered bun for the perfect, protein-packed sandwich.

Get the BBQ Tempeh Sandwiches recipe.

When we're craving something hearty and healthy, this chicken chili immediately jumps to mind. White beans make it heartier than your average chicken noodle soup, green chilis and jalapeño add just the right amount of spice, and a dollop of sour cream lends a tangy creaminess that will keep you coming back for more.

Get the White Chicken Chili recipe.

In this recipe, we’ve taken our high-protein salmon patties to France with Dijon mustard. But this versatile dish also lends itself to other international flavors: Want an Asian flavor profile? Leave in the scallions and add some finely chopped garlic and ginger, plus a teaspoon of soy sauce. Or go Middle Eastern and “falafel” them by adding fresh cilantro and a half a teaspoon of cumin.

Get the Salmon Patties recipe.

Crunchy, spicy, creamy, and tart—this "chicken" sammie is total bliss. We replicated the flavor of a spicy fried chicken breast with protein-packed tofu, adding cornmeal to the batter for extra crunch. Don't skip the freezing step; it's what gives the tofu a more meat-like texture.

Get the Spicy Fried “Chicken” Sandwich recipe.

Sweet potato, black beans, pinto beans, and a whole bottle of beer (like Modelo) come together to make a super hearty meatless chili that's full of protein and flavor.

Get the Vegan Chili recipe.

This easy, protein-packed salad comes together quickly and works as a side dish, a great topping for tacos, or an appetizer with tortilla chips. Think of it as the most exciting parts of a vegetarian burrito bowl, unadulterated by rice, and hyped up by a little honey-lime action.

Get the Black Bean And Corn Salad recipe.

These meatballs don't have any bread crumbs and instead bind together with a little help from ricotta, Parmesan, and eggs. This makes them low-carb and full of protein. Fair warning, they're a little bit wet to handle when rolling. If you're having trouble, simply wet your hands with a little water and the meat mixture will be much easier to work with.

Get the Baked Turkey Meatballs recipe.

This vegan recipe is a culinary road trip through some Jamaica, featuring sweet plantains, aromatic rice and beans, and tofu in a jerk marinade. To add a touch of crunch, acidity, and color we top it all off with a simple red cabbage and carrot slaw. Be sure to make extra slaw—you'll want to put it on everything.

Get the Jerk Tofu Grain Bowls recipe.

This dish's marinade of lime juice, chili powder, and cumin is so fire, you're going to want to use it on all your proteins. (Seriously, steak or chicken marinated in it will also taste bomb.) But the real gem of this recipe is the cabbage slaw. It takes just a few minutes to toss together and its brightness is the perfect complement to spiced cod.

Get the Fish Tacos recipe.

The maple rosemary glaze is great on this pork, sure, but it also helps flavor the potatoes. Swap out the spuds for carrots and red onions if you want to keep this dish low-carb.

Get the Roast Pork Tenderloin recipe.

It's kind of amazing how much of a difference brown sugar, garlic powder, and paprika (all ingredients you probably already have in the pantry) can do. Not only does the mixture add a slightly smoky, sweet taste, but it makes your chicken look way prettier. (Naked salt-and-pepper chicken breasts are a very sad sight to behold.)

Get the Easy Easy Baked Chicken Breast recipe.

Originating in North Africa and now strongly associated with Israeli cuisine, shakshuka is a dish of eggs poached in a spiced sauce of tomatoes and red peppers. Ours is only mildly spicy, full of flavor, and has perfectly runny eggs, making it a perfect high-protein breakfast (or breakfast for dinner!).

Get the Shakshuka recipe.

Thanks to a magical combination of brown sugar, cumin, paprika, and lemon zest, this is honestly one of our all-time favorite pork recipes. Round out the dish with some vegetables like grilled asparagus or grilled zucchini for a dynamite summer menu. Don't skimp on the chimichurri!

Get the Grilled Pork Tenderloin recipe.

Trout's delicate flavor is the perfect match for citrus and herbs, which is why we love to fill it with aromatics and roast it whole. Encasing the fish in foil steams the fish, trapping in all that delicious, buttery jus.

Get the Whole Roasted Trout recipe.

The secret to this dish's intense depth of flavor? A good, smoky ham hock. This and the split peas make this soup a protein powerhouse. Serve it with a slice of toasted sourdough, and you're golden.

Get the Split Pea Soup recipe.

Some piccata sauces use only lemon juice, but we opt for whole pieces of the fruit for ultimate citrus flavor. After a simmer in a wine-and-broth jacuzzi, the lemon loses its sharp bitterness and becomes sweet and tender. We dig it drizzled over plant-based, high-protein seitan.

Get the Extra Lemony Seitan Piccata recipe.

The combination of banana and peanut butter is totally iconic—and is really well-suited for a smoothie. After your first sip you're going to wonder if you're eating dessert or drinking a tasty and healthy, high-protein breakfast. (Hint: it's the latter!)

Get the Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie recipe.

Inspired by our caramelized beef with rice, this simple tofu recipe is big on flavor and protein. It'll also win over even the most reluctant of tofu eaters. Sweet, sour, and salty, these lettuce wraps are ripe for improvisation and can be served with all sorts of accompaniments, so get creative with your favorites.

Get the Caramelized Tofu Lettuce Wraps recipe.

This pork loin is jam-packed with a classic (and high-protein!) combo of apple, bacon, rosemary, and pecans, complemented perfectly with a tangy Dijon glaze. Pair it with some mashed potatoes and hearty roasted vegetables for a simple but delicious dinner all year round.

Get the Stuffed Pork Loin recipe.