High-Protein Recipes: 20 Delicious Meals to Keep You Full

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The Protein 411

Protein helps to maintain lean muscle, grow and repair all cells in your body, and regulate your appetite, according to Erin Palinski-Wade, RD, CDE, the author of Belly Fat Diet for Dummies. On average, active women need about half a gram of protein per pound of body weight every day (so an active 140-pound woman would need 70 grams of protein). One way to meet this goal is to include a source of protein at every meal. A high-protein meal would have 25 percent of its calories coming from protein.

Plant-Based Protein: Beans, legumes, nuts, seeds, quinoa, amaranth

Animal Protein: Eggs, low-fat dairy, white meat poultry, lean beef, pork loin, fish

Gourmandelle

Lentils and Amaranth Patties

Amaranth is a gluten-free ancient grain. And as Palinski-Wade suggests, it's a great source of protein. Mix with lentils, like in this recipe, for the perfect protein-packed lunch.

Get the recipe: Gourmandelle

Persnickety Plates

Zucchini Boat Turkey Tacos

Take advice from Persnickety Plates and make tacos without the tortillas. Switch out the sour cream for plain, nonfat Greek yogurt to up the protein.

Get the recipe: Persnickety Plates

Sally's Baking Addiction

Cinnamon-Sugar Roasted Chickpeas

Chickpeas are great mixed into salads, stews, and curries. Try them as a snack with this cinnamon-sugar version from Sally's Baking Addiction.

Get the recipe: Sally's Baking Addiction

Veggie Inspired Journey

Black Bean Soup

Black beans pack a whopping 39 grams of protein per cup. Try this black bean soup from Veggie Inspired Journey for a meal that's filling and super simple to make.

Get the recipe: Veggie Inspired Journey

The Skinny Fork

Cottage Cheese Bowl

Palinski-Wade suggests adding raw almonds or cottage cheese to each snack to help you reach your protein requirements every day. For a kick, add sriracha like The Skinny Fork does.

Get the recipe: The Skinny Fork

The Lemon Bowl

Pumpkin Pie Yogurt

This pumpkin spiced Greek yogurt from The Lemon Bowl packs 19 grams of protein for under 200 calories.

Get the recipe: The Lemon Bowl

The Cooking Jar

Honey-Garlic Salmon

Salmon is full of good-for-you omega-3s—and with 21 grams of protein per three-ounce serving. The Cooking Jar made a honey-garlic sauce for salmon with only four ingredients.

Get the recipe: The Cooking Jar

The Garden Grazer

Black Bean Lentil Salad with Cumin-Lime Dressing

This salad is chock-full of protein from the lentils and black beans. The Garden Grazer's homemade cumin-lime dressing makes this salad taste fantastic whether you serve it hot or eat it cold the next day.

Get the recipe: The Garden Grazer

Primavera Kitchen

Sweet Potato, Kale, and Shrimp Skillet

This gluten-free recipe from Primavera Kitchen uses sweet potato, kale, and shrimp to make a quick weekday meal. Even better: It only uses one pan!

Get the recipe: Primavera Kitchen

Amy's Healthy Baking

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Energy Bites

Energy bites are a portable and easy way to get protein into your snacks. Pop a few post-workout—like these pumpkin and chocolate chip ones from Amy's Healthy Baking.

Get the recipe: Amy's Healthy Baking

Southern Plate

Beef and Vegetable Skillet

This recipe is perfect for all your leftover veggies. Christy Jordan from Southern Plate uses lean ground beef to make a complete meal.

Get the recipe: Southern Plate

Live Well Bake Often

Quinoa Pizza Bites

Quinoa, the kale of the grain world, can be reinvented in every form. Live Well Bake Often proves it by using it as the base for her pizza bites.

Get the recipe: Live Well Bake Often

Damn Delicious

Greek Yogurt Egg Salad Sandwich

Egg salad gets a healthy makeover with this recipe from Damn Delicious. Eggs and Greek yogurt are both great sources of protein, meaning this sandwich will keep you full even longer.

Get the recipe: Damn Delicious

Flavor Mosaic

Chicken Broccoli Cheese Quinoa Casserole

Chicken and quinoa are the stars of this twist on a classic casserole.

Get the recipe: Flavor Mosaic

Tastes Better from Scratch

Oatmeal Protein Pancakes

Brunch just got even better. Cottage cheese and whole-grain oats make Tastes Better from Scratch's pancakes healthier. They may become your Saturday morning staple.

Get the recipe: Tastes Better from Scratch

Simply Quinoa

Quinoa Mac and Cheese

Mac and cheese isn't usually a go-to dish when you're trying to eat healthy—or high protein, for that matter. But this recipe uses quinoa and butternut squash for a healthy spin on the comfort classic.

Get the recipe: Simply Quinoa

Dashing Dish

Cookie Dough Greek Yogurt

Satisfy your sweet tooth and eat a protein-packed snack with this recipe from Dashing Dish. Bonus: No risk of salmonella!

Get the recipe: Dashing Dish

Delish D'Lites

Peach and Mustard Glazed Pork Chops

Pork can get a bad rep—we're looking at you bacon—when in fact it is an excellent source of protein. Choose a lean cut, like a pork loin chop, and add a fresh glaze like this recipe from Delish D'Lites.

Get the recipe: Delish D'Lites

Averie Cooks

Edamame Feta Salad

Edamame may look like a veggie, but the soybean is actually a protein powerhouse. This fresh salad from Averie Cooks combines fresh vegetables, feta, and edamame for a lunch that's healthy yet big on flavor.

Get the recipe: Averie Cooks

Cooking Classy

Sun-Dried Tomato Basil Hummus

Chickpeas are an excellent source of protein and are a perfect snack when smashed into hummus. This tomato basil hummus from Cooking Classy would taste great with pita chips or fresh veggies.

Get the recipe: Cooking Classy