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20+ Easy High-Protein Dinner Recipes for Weight Loss
If you’re looking for some easy dinners that can help you meet your nutrition goals, we’ve compiled a list of delicious options. Each meal is designed to be lower in calories and high in protein and/or fiber to help support healthy weight loss. In fact, each dish contains at least 15 grams of protein per serving to help you feel full and satisfied for longer. These simple recipes like Spaghetti with Mushrooms, Spinach & Ricotta or Sheet Pan Balsamic Chicken & Asparagus are great additions to your menu any night of the week.
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Creamy Chicken & Zucchini Casserole
Photographer: Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Hannah Grennwood.
This creamy chicken-and-zucchini casserole is a cozy dish that delivers all the flavors of cacio e pepe with a twist! Instead of pasta, tender chopped zucchini and juicy chicken pieces are folded into a peppery, cheesy sauce, bringing on all the savory flavors that fans of the classic Roman dish love. It’s a simple, crowd-pleasing meal that’s just as satisfying as a traditional creamy pasta dish.
Spaghetti with Mushrooms, Spinach & Ricotta
Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Styling: Josh Hoggle.
This five-ingredient spaghetti is a cozy dish that is both comforting and effortless. Earthy mushrooms, spinach and garlic flavor the pasta alongside whole-milk ricotta that creates a creamy sauce. You can elevate the flavor even more by using wild mushrooms for a deeper savory flavor and finishing with a squeeze of lemon to brighten everything up.
Honey-Mustard Salmon Bites
Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Amanda Holstein, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong
These honey-mustard salmon bites are a perfect balance of sweet, tangy and savory flavors. To make them a main dish, serve over brown rice to soak up the extra sauce.
Sheet-Pan Salmon with Bok Choy & Rice
Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Styling: Josh Hoggle.
This five-ingredient salmon dinner comes together with minimal prep and maximum flavor. Tender salmon fillets roast alongside crisp-tender bok choy, soaking up the savory miso glaze as they cook. A bed of rice catches all the delicious flavors, turning into the perfect base for this fuss-free dinner.
Loaded Chicken & Broccoli Salad
Photographer: Hannah Hufham, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley
This loaded chicken and broccoli salad is a protein-packed powerhouse that doesn’t skimp on the classic “loaded” flavors you love. With tender, juicy chicken and crisp, fresh broccoli as the base, this salad delivers a satisfying bite in every forkful. A creamy dressing ties everything together, while mix-ins like crispy bacon, shredded cheese and scallions add layers of flavor. It’s the perfect salad for a high-protein dinner that keeps you full and energized.
Creamy White Chili with Cream Cheese
Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Annie Probst, Prop Stylist: Breanna Ghazali
This rich yet healthy white chicken chili recipe comes together in a flash thanks to quick-cooking chicken thighs and canned white beans.
Sheet-Pan Balsamic Chicken & Asparagus
Ali Redmond
This chicken and asparagus recipe is a simple one-pan meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights. Chicken cutlets are coated in a tangy-sweet balsamic glaze, roasting right alongside tender asparagus for an easy, well-balanced dinner. If you don’t have chicken cutlets on hand, you can easily make your own by slicing two 8-ounce chicken breasts in half horizontally. The thin cut ensures quicker, more even cooking, so everything on the sheet pan finishes at the same time—perfect for a fuss-free, delicious dinner!
Sweet Potato–Black Bean Stuffed Peppers
Heami Lee, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christine Keeley
These delicious sweet potato–stuffed peppers are an easy anti-inflammatory meal, thanks to the combination of sweet potatoes, black beans and bell peppers, which are all packed with fiber and antioxidants. This vegetarian dinner calls for microwaveable brown rice for ease, but you can also use leftover brown rice if you have it on hand.
High-Protein Cheeseburger Salad
Photographer: Hannah Hufham, Food Stylist: Marianne Williams , Prop Stylist: Keoshia McGhee
This cheeseburger salad is a fun twist on a classic burger. It features a crisp base of chopped iceberg lettuce, thinly sliced red onion, pickles and juicy cherry tomatoes. A melty cheeseburger patty is served warm on top, along with a tangy ketchup-mayo-pickle sauce that ties all the flavors together. Optional sesame seeds add a hint of crunch and nod to the traditional burger bun.
Ground Beef & Sweet Potato Skillet
Photographer: Jake Sternquist, Food Stylist: Sammy Mila, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco
This ground beef and sweet potato skillet is a fast, hearty meal made with just five simple ingredients (not counting oil, salt and pepper) for a flavorful one-pan dinner. The sweet potatoes cook until tender, soaking up the savory flavors from the beef and veggies. With no complicated prep or cleanup, it’s a satisfying and stress-free option for any night of the week.
Ginger-Dill Salmon with Cucumber & Avocado Salad
Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist Christina Daley
This ginger-dill salmon with cucumber and avocado salad is a light, refreshing meal that doesn’t skimp on flavor. Tender, flaky salmon is infused with the unusual combination of warm ginger and fresh dill, making it the perfect complement to the cool, creamy salad.
Tuna Poke
Poke (pronounced poke-ay), a Hawaiian word meaning “to chop” or “to cut,” refers to a traditional Hawaiian salad of diced raw fish in a simple, soy-based sauce with punchy seasonings like toasted sesame and chopped scallion greens. These tuna poke bowls feature seasoned brown rice and fresh veggies for a healthy, satisfying meal packed with protein and fiber.
Grilled Zucchini & Halloumi Pitas
Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
This grilled halloumi pita is summer-ready with tender-crisp zucchini, fresh tomatoes and smoky halloumi cheese. You can prepare this sandwich inside using a grill pan, or outside using a gas grill. You can grill halloumi cheese just like you would any other protein (it doesn’t melt); letting it cook undisturbed makes it release from the grill pan easily.
Creamy Pesto Shrimp with Gnocchi & Peas
Photographer: Greg DuPree, Prop stylist: Shell Royster, Food stylist: Emily Hall
This speedy dinner recipe combines shrimp with pillowy gnocchi, pesto and peas in a creamy sauce. Feel free to substitute the peas with other veggies such as broccoli or asparagus. Sprinkle in some crushed red pepper for a bit of heat, or garnish with grated Parmesan cheese to enhance the savory flavor.
Grilled Salmon & Vegetables with Charred Lemon-Garlic Vinaigrette
Jacob Fob
This grilled salmon recipe with vegetables and a charred lemon-garlic vinaigrette captures the flavor of summer with smoky flavor from the grill. Asparagus and zucchini are quick and easy to cook, and nicely complement the salmon.
One-Pot White Bean, Spinach & Sun-Dried Tomato Orzo with Lemon & Feta
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
This one-pot pasta dish with white beans, spinach and sun-dried tomatoes is lively and vibrant and leaves you with an easy cleanup. Toasting the orzo before adding the broth adds another layer of flavor. Another dark leafy green like chopped kale or Swiss chard can stand in for the spinach, but may take longer to wilt in the pan. If you use a sturdier green, add it to the pan during the last 5 minutes of cooking time.
Arugula, Chicken & Melon Salad with Sumac Dressing
Sweet and savory find harmony in this salad dotted with ripe melon and tossed in a lemony dressing. Melon balls are so adorable but making them leaves some fruit behind—whir up those leftovers into a smoothie.
Pan-Seared Steak with Crispy Herbs & Escarole
This easy dinner takes just 20 minutes to prepare, meaning that seared steak can be a weeknight meal. Cooking herbs in the pan with the steak releases their aroma, infusing it into the meat while creating a crispy garnish. After the steaks and herbs are pan-seared, the escarole is cooked in the same skillet, so this healthy dinner requires minimal cleanup too.
Rainbow Grain Bowl with Cashew Sauce
This vibrant bowl is packed with nutrients to keep you full for hours. Look for precooked lentils in the refrigerated section of the produce department.
Lemon-Tahini Couscous with Chicken & Vegetables
When you want pasta in no time, couscous is your best friend! The tiny pasta balls cook up in minutes, and absorb all the water so you don’t have to fuss with draining. Tossed with sautéed vegetables plus leftover chicken, it’s a fast and tasty meal in a bowl that’s perfect as an easy dinner recipe.
Broccolini, Chicken Sausage & Orzo Skillet
This quick skillet meal is perfect for busy evenings. The sausage and orzo simmer together in chicken broth, resulting in a creamy, risotto-like dish in under 30 minutes.
Chili-Lime Chicken Bowls
Skip takeout and whip up these equally delicious and easy-to-make burrito bowls at home. They’re great for a fast and easy dinner.
