Nutrition & Recipes

20+ Easy High-Protein Dinner Recipes that Aren’t Chicken

Posted by author-avatar
On May 18, 2025
0 comments
20+ Easy High-Protein Dinner Recipes that Aren’t Chicken

Chicken is a go-to source of protein for many, but there are plenty of high-protein alternatives out there. Each of these tasty dinner recipes contains at least 15 grams of protein per serving, with no chicken included. Plus, they’re perfect for busy evenings when you need a quick meal, since they take no more than 30 minutes to prepare. Whether you opt for a plant-based dish like our High-Protein Enchilada Skillet or something with seafood like our Crispy Salmon Rice Bowl, you’ll love these easy protein-packed dinners.

Love any of these recipes? Tap “Save” to add them to MyRecipes, your new, free recipe box for EatingWell.

High-Protein Pasta Salad

Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle


Crunchy cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, roasted red peppers and red onions are all mixed together in a heart-healthy vinaigrette for a dish that is as delicious as it is eye-catching. Chickpea pasta, whole chickpeas and fresh mozzarella pearls add to the dish’s protein.

High-Protein Enchilada Skillet

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer


This enchilada skillet is a one-pan meal packed with plant-based protein. Crumbled tofu soaks up the sauce, while corn tortillas soften into it for a rich, satisfying filling. Black beans add protein and fiber, and a sprinkle of cheese on top adds melty goodness to every bite.

High-Protein White Bean Salad with Feta & Lemon-Garlic Vinaigrette

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen


White beans provide plant-based protein while also adding fiber to keep you full. Creamy feta cheese provides a tangy, salty contrast to the bright vinaigrette. Tossed with fresh herbs and toasted walnuts, this salad is perfect for a light lunch.

Crispy Salmon Rice Bowl

Ali Redmond


Tender pieces of salmon get a sweet and crispy coating thanks to sweet and savory teriyaki glaze in this salmon rice bowl. We love crunchy cucumber and creamy avocado as toppings, but feel free to add whatever toppings you like best for your own spin on this easy meal.

Creamy Pesto Beans

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong


These creamy pesto beans are pulled together in just 30 minutes. The sauce clings to tender white beans, and whatever is left is perfect for sopping up with a warm, crusty baguette. For a heartier meal, serve the beans over whole-grain pasta, letting the sauce coat every bite.

Grilled Zucchini & Halloumi Pitas

Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless


This grilled halloumi pita is loaded 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.

Marry Me White Bean & Spinach Skillet

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey


By swapping in fiber-packed white beans and spinach as the main ingredients, we’ve given Marry Me Chicken a vegetarian spin. You’ll want to sop up every last bit of sauce, so serve this with a nice hunk of crusty whole-grain bread.

Broccoli Melts

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless


Here, we combine crisp-tender broccoli with a layer of melted cheese inside two crispy pieces of bread for a sandwich that’s rich and creamy. These 20-minute cheese melts are the ultimate comfort food.

Salmon-Stuffed Avocados

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Lydia Purcell


Canned salmon is a valuable pantry staple and a practical way to include heart-healthy, omega-3-rich fish in your diet. Here, we combine it with avocados in an easy no-cook meal.

Bhel Puri-Inspired Salad

Ali Redmond


This flavorful salad was inspired by bhel puri, a type of chaat (savory snack) served across India, and features puffed quinoa and lentils for extra protein and fiber.

Piled-High Vegetable Pitas

Fresh, bright flavors come alive in these easy vegetarian pitas. No need to warm the roasted veggies up; this recipe tastes great chilled or at room temperature.

Marry Me Chickpeas

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle, Food Stylist: Renu Dhar


We put a vegetarian spin on Marry Me Chicken, a dish typically consisting of chicken coated in a sun-dried tomato cream sauce, by swapping in fiber-packed chickpeas as the main ingredient. From the creamy chickpeas to the umami-laden sun-dried tomatoes, you’ll want to sop up every last bit of sauce.

Lemongrass-&-Coconut Poached Salmon

Photographer: Rachel Marek, Prop stylist: Holly Dreesman, Food stylist: Gabriel Greco


Poaching salmon in coconut broth infused with aromatic lemongrass and ginger, then serving it over dark leafy greens makes for a cozy and flavorful meal. Serve with a whole grain like brown rice, or over rice noodles for more satisfaction.

Shrimp Lettuce Wraps

Enjoy these shrimp lettuce wraps filled with crisp veggies and juicy shrimp sautéed with garlic and soy sauce. This light and flavorful dish is perfect for a weeknight meal or weekend gathering. Sambal oelek, a spicy chile paste known for its vibrant red color and intense heat, adds an extra kick.

Salmon with Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce

Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Food Stylist:Chelsea Zimmer


A jar of sun-dried tomatoes does double duty for this healthy dinner recipe—the flavorful oil they’re packed in is used to sauté the shallots and the actual tomatoes help to add delicious flavor to the creamy sauce. Served with perfectly cooked salmon, you really can’t go wrong with this easy 20-minute weeknight meal.

Creamy Spinach-Artichoke Salmon

Photographer / Brie Passano Styling / Annie Probst / Holly Raibikis

For this quick and easy dinner for four, the vegetables and sauce come together in one skillet in a matter of minutes while the salmon broils. Plus, salmon is swimming in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids and loaded with vitamins and nutrients like B vitamins and potassium.

Tofu Tacos

These quick vegan tacos, filled with a spicy tofu filling, make a perfect weeknight dinner. To keep them vegan, top them with shredded cabbage, fresh pico de gallo and guacamole. For vegetarians, add crumbled queso fresco.

Salmon with Lemon-Herb Orzo & Broccoli

Jacob Fox

This healthy salmon dish is as balanced as it is delicious. You add broccoli right into the pot along with the pasta during its last minute of cooking to save time here. One less thing to wash, too!

Herby Fish with Wilted Greens & Mushrooms

This healthy dish makes a tasty and easy weeknight meal, featuring tender mushrooms and wilted greens, along with flaky fish. Serve with wild rice or roasted potatoes.

Salmon Caesar Salad

This easy Caesar salad subs creamy Greek yogurt and buttermilk for the traditional egg yolks and olive oil and mixes in mildly bitter radicchio in addition to classic romaine. Using just a small amount of flavorful Parmigiano-Reggiano shaves calories and sodium too.

Vegan Burrito Bowls with Cauliflower Rice

These meal-prep vegan burrito bowls are healthy and flavorful. Make them early in the week for grab-and-go meals when days are busy. We use frozen cauliflower rice, a low-carb substitute for white or brown rice, to cut down on prep time.

Salmon with Roasted Red Pepper Quinoa Salad

This zesty quinoa salad is delicious all on its own, with inspiration from the Mediterranean. Make a double batch for lunches later in the week.

Baked Feta & Tomato Chickpeas

Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell


This simple casserole turns cherry tomatoes, feta cheese and chickpeas into a hearty, protein-rich vegetarian meal. After baking, it creates a savory-sweet tomato–olive oil sauce ideal for slathering on pita bread.

Sheet-Pan Beef & Cabbage Noodles

Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell


Forget the wok and all that stirring! This stir-fry comes together in only 20 minutes on one baking sheet under the broiler. The trick to a perfect sheet-pan stir-fry is making sure your ingredients are spread out well on the pan so everything cooks evenly.

Pistachio-Crusted Halibut

Ali Redmond

A layer of pistachios combined with panko breadcrumbs on top of the halibut fillets provides a delicious crunch and a pop of vitamin B6. We like the firm texture and mild flavor of halibut, but cod, haddock or tilapia can be used in its place.

Newer 11 Best Pantry Staples for Healthy Aging
Back to list
Older Cauliflower Alla Vodka Is So Delicious, I Didn’t Even Miss the Pasta

Related Posts

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *