I’m sharing a collection of easy, high protein dinners that I make when I don’t feel like cooking.
Hello friends! what are you doing I hope you are having a great morning so far. I’m here getting ready for a work trip to San Diego and I’ve had coaching calls all morning this morning.
For today’s post, I wanted to share a collection of dinner options – specifically high protein dinners that I always come back to when I don’t feel like cooking. The pilot goes off quite often, which means I need meals that are nutritious, easy, and realistic after school, basketball scrimmages, and general chaos at the end of the day.
These are the dinners that save me when I don’t want to think, cut a million things, or be in the kitchen all night.
My basics
I keep these on hand almost all the time:
Grilled chicken
ground beef
Frozen wild salmon (always from Butcher shop)
Frozen or roasted vegetables (I’ll roast a large pan once and use them throughout the week)
Easy sauces (I love Kevin’s sauces from Thrive Market)
Noodles without rice and gluten
Salad Kit (a lifesaver when you’re in a pinch)
And now… my top 10 high protein lazy dinners. Please steal them and then help a girl out by sharing your favorites in the comments.
Lazy dinners high in protein
1. Bowl of salmon
I make rice in the Instant Pot (rinse rice, add equal parts rice and water, hand cook for 12 minutes – perfect every time). While the rice is cooking, I air-fry frozen salmon with salt and pepper. I’ll chop up a cucumber, microwave edamame, and snack on seaweed. Top the rice with salmon, edamame, cucumber, seaweed and drizzle with tamari and sriracha.
2. Egg roll in a bowl
The kids go crazy for it, and it makes great leftovers for lunch the next day. Easy, quick and full of protein.
3. Easy tofu + noodle stir fry
The kids love tofu, so I try to include it about once a week. I drain the tofu, wrap it in absorbent paper and put a heavy pan on top for 10-15 minutes. Then I saute it with veggies and toss with cooked noodles and an easy sauce like a homemade peanut butter sauce or Kevin’s sauce.
4. Tacos with ButcherBox barbacoa
ButcherBox barbacoa is elite. It’s fully baked and frozen, so I just heat it up on the stove. I make veggie fajitas (onion, pepper, garlic, cumin) and serve everything with avocado and Coyotas tortillas.
5. Chicken Teriyaki, vegetables & rice
If I have time, I cook chicken in the Instant Pot. Otherwise, shredded rotisserie chicken works great. I saute whatever vegetables I have (onion, pepper, courgettes, carrots, broccoli), cook the rice in the pot and then heat them all together with Kevin’s teriyaki sauce. Antenna.
6. Spanish tortilla with hummus & vegetables
Probably my #1 comfort meal right now, especially after Spain where we could get this every day in the market (best ever). It takes about 30 minutes, but it’s mostly hands-off. I serve it with homemade hummus, sliced vegetables and fruit.
7. Breakfast for dinner
When the pilot leaves, breakfast for dinner is almost guaranteed.
Our visits:
Three ingredient pancakes
Breakfast tacos with salsa
Quiche without crust (I make it earlier in the day and keep it in the fridge)
8. Pizza with chicken crust
Crust:
1 kg of minced chicken
1 teaspoon of oregano
1 teaspoon of garlic powder
½ teaspoon of salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a pan with parchment. Mix the chicken and seasonings together, then flatten into a 12–14 inch (about ¾ – 1 inch thick – basically a giant patty). Bake for 25 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F. Add the marinara and vegetables, cook for another 5 minutes and finish with fresh basil and feta cheese.
9. Shrimp pesto pasta
Saute the shrimp with garlic, salt and pepper while the pasta is cooking. Add the lemon zest to the shrimp, toss with the pasta and store-bought pesto. Serve with a salad kit or grilled vegetables.
10. Burger bowls
We love burger bowls. I cook the burgers earlier in the day and then serve over lettuce with red onion, tomatoes, pickles, fries (Alexia waffle fries are our favorite) and little secret sauce.
For cooking, we use Our place and Cumin– I love having non-toxic cookware that looks good on the stove too.
If you are working on increasing protein, my protein powder is it Truvani. I mix it with Daily Nutritional Support making my daily protein pudding and topping it with berries and hemp seeds.
And if you’re looking for more meal inspiration, Sculpt Society just released the diet – I use it for fresh ideas. You can use GINAJAN if you want to check it out!
So tell me, friends: what’s your favorite easy, high-protein dinner? Please share the products in the comments.
xo
Gina
PS If you’re eating “clean” but still feel stuck, this is something I carefully discuss with clients. You can learn more about 1:1 support here if you’re curious.
