25 high-protein meals (2024)

These dishes feature high-protein vegetables as well as meat and seafood, but if you're after high protein vegetarian meals and high protein vegan meals, we've got plenty right here.

For more high protein ideas try our healthy chicken breast recipes, healthy salmon recipes, steak recipes and healthy mince recipes. For dishes high in calories, check out these high-calorie foods to try.

Wanting to boost your iron levels too? Check out our collection of iron-rich recipes for tasty ideas such as chilli con carne, lentil soup and lamb ragu. If you're looking to make your favourite meals healthier, take a look at our 15 healthy swaps and our anti-inflammatory recipes.

More like this

High protein meals

Healthy turkey stir-fry

Check out this healthy turkey stir-fry featuring sauerkraut, earthy broccoli, mushrooms and zingy ginger for a quick, easy and high-protein dinner.

Healthy salmon pasta

Make this healthy salmon pasta by Nadine Brown if you’re looking for a comforting, creamy seafood dinner that’s also high in protein.

Healthy turkey burgers

These turkey burgers are packed with protein and are low in calories. Served with a mixed salad, coleslaw or sweet potato wedges, they make an exciting yet healthy family dinner for four.

Chorizo, roasted red pepper and pea frittata

Liven up your frittata with chorizo and a kick of chilli, then pop under the grill until puffed and golden. A slice of this makes a great high-protein snack. We have plenty more frittata and omelette recipes if that's what you're after.

Healthy egg-fried rice

When you need something high protein, fast, it doesn’t get quicker than fried rice. We’ve added sweet juicy crab to take it up a notch.

Chicken quinoa salad

This healthy, low-calorie and gluten-free chicken salad is made filling with the addition of protein-packed quinoa and colourful with red onion, mint and lemon zest.

25 high-protein meals (6)

Balsamic lentils with pork fillet

Balsamic offers a tartness to our vibrant pork dish. This well-balanced meal is high in protein but low in calories and salt.

Healthy kebabs

This high-protein kebab made of turkey mince offers fresh, zesty flavours thanks to the addition of lemon and parsley, offering a healthier version of a takeaway favourite that’s perfect for the weekends.

Healthy cod and rice one-pot

This healthy one-pan dish, where juicy hunks of cod are mixed with basil and sweet tomato, is a brilliant high-protein dinner option offering fragrant, rich flavours.

Healthy chicken stir-fry

Check out Nadine Brown’s shredded chicken stir fry for a dish that’s high in protein and bursting with fresh, gingery flavour and red chilli heat.

25 high-protein meals (10)

Chicken stroganoff

Try this chicken stroganoff for a midweek dinner that’s high in protein and full of warming flavours.

Healthy fish cakes

For a high-protein dinner with a kick, whip up these spiced salmon fishcakes and serve with fresh carrot and cucumber ribbons.

25 high-protein meals (12)

Vegetable omelette

Jazz your omelette up with plenty of grated courgette, kale, peas and chilli flakes, then serve alongside cherry tomatoes dressed simply with white wine vinegar for an easy, high-protein vegetarian meal.

Healthy jacket potato

A crispy, fluffy baked potato with a classic niçoise salad filling makes for a satisfying high-protein lunch. It’s low in calories, too.

Sesame-crusted tuna with miso dressing

Coat tuna steaks in sesame seeds and serve on a crunchy sugar snap pea and edamame salad for a quick, protein-packed meal. Why not check out more of our favourite tuna recipes.

Tuna pasta bake

An absolute classic, made even more wonderful with the addition of dried chilli flakes and rosemary. It's a real crowd pleaser!

Healthy one-pan chicken and rice

This protein-rich dish sees chicken marinated in soy, hoisin, honey and garlic before being cooked with brown rice. It’s simple, fuss-free yet full of rich and tempting flavours.

Chicken, giant couscous and harissa broth

Giant couscous adds a springy texture to this wholesome broth, packed with plenty of protein from the chicken, plus spring greens and a kick of harissa.

Chicken pasta salad

Throw together this quick and easy pasta salad using leftover chicken, tomatoes and greens for a protein-heavy lunch or midweek dinner.

Miso and chilli chicken noodle soup

Fry shredded chicken in miso and gochujang and add to this nutritious broth for a healthy, gut-friendly meal.

Thai salmon parcels

Sealing the ingredients in a parcel gently steams the salmon and traps in all the flavour to create a light, fragrant sauce for this high-protein midweek meal.

Jerk chicken skewers with mango salad

Coat protein-rich chicken pieces with jerk seasoning and cook over a hot griddle pan for some midweek heat, ready in 20 minutes.

Orzo, bean and tuna salad

Turn storecupboard staples into this vibrant, nutritious orzo pasta salad with roasted red peppers and black olives.

Paprika chicken thighs with cherry tomatoes, courgette ribbons and mint

Check out these seriously crispy, smoky chicken thighs with easy courgette ribbons and juicy cherry tomatoes. This super easy meal is high in protein, low in calories and ready in less than an hour.

Advertisem*nt

Quinoa and black bean chilli

Try our quick and easy vegan chilli. This quinoa and black bean chilli recipe is high in protein, low calorie and vegan – but still tastes impossibly creamy.

25 high-protein meals (2024)

FAQs

What meal has 25 grams of protein? ›

Egg/Egg Whites: Make an omelette with 1 egg and 3/4 cup egg whites for a total of 26 grams of protein. Lentil Pasta: 4.2oz of lentil pasta will result in 25 grams of protein and a delicious dinner! Greek Yogurt: A breakfast or snack favourite. 1 cup or 250 grams will give you a full 25 grams of protein.

Is 25 grams of protein a day enough? ›

How much protein do you need? Anywhere from 10% to 35% of your calories should come from protein. So if your needs are 2,000 calories, that's 200–700 calories from protein, or 50–175 grams. The recommended dietary allowance to prevent deficiency for an average sedentary adult is 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight.

What meat is highest in protein? ›

Complete List of High Protein Foods
  • Chicken breast (skinless, cooked): 32 g.
  • Turkey breast (skinless, roasted): 30 g.
  • Beef roast (roasted): 28 g.
  • Pork roast (roasted): 27 g.
  • Ground beef (fat content not specified, cooked): 26 g.
  • Salmon (baked or broiled): 25 g.
  • Halibut (cooked, dry heat): 23 g.
  • Tilapia (cooked, dry heat): 26 g.
May 19, 2023

What is the most filling high-protein food? ›

On the satiety index, fish scores higher than all other protein-rich foods, including eggs and beef. Fish had the second highest score of all the foods tested ( 3 ). Another older study compared fish, chicken, and beef protein. The researchers found that fish protein had the strongest effect on satiety ( 25 ).

What are the top 15 protein foods? ›

15 High-Protein Foods that Could Help Support Your Health and Weight-Loss Goals
  • Cheese. ...
  • Related: 28 delicious cheesy recipes. ...
  • Lentils. ...
  • Chickpeas. ...
  • Peanuts. ...
  • Edamame. ...
  • Pumpkin seeds. ...
  • Hemp seeds. Another small-but-mighty protein source, just 3 tbsp of hemp seeds (about 1 ½ ounces) provides 10 grams of plant-based protein.
Aug 28, 2020

What are the top 10 best protein foods? ›

Top 10 Protein Foods
  • Fish.
  • Seafood.
  • Skinless, white-meat poultry.
  • Lean beef (including tenderloin, sirloin, eye of round)
  • Skim or low-fat milk.
  • Skim or low-fat yogurt.
  • Fat-free or low-fat cheese.
  • Eggs.
Mar 6, 2022

What vegetable has the most protein? ›

Among the highest protein vegetables are chickpeas, corn, spinach, artichoke hearts, and edamame. To get all of the amino acids your body needs, aim to eat a variety of foods, such as legumes, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and vegetables throughout the day. U.S. Department of Agriculture.

What is a good protein snack? ›

30 High Protein Snacks That Are Healthy and Portable
  • If you live a busy lifestyle, snacks can be useful when hunger hits and you don't have time to prepare a meal. ...
  • Jerky. ...
  • Trail mix. ...
  • Turkey roll-ups. ...
  • Greek yogurt parfait. ...
  • Veggies and yogurt dip. ...
  • Tuna. ...
  • Hard-boiled eggs.

What meal has 30g of protein? ›

4-5 ounces of meat = a large chicken breast or fish fillet, or a medium-sized steak or chop (also at least 5-10g of fat) Four ounces of meat is about the size of a deck of cards. 1 ½ cups of low-fat cottage cheese or greek yogurt. 5-6 whole eggs. 4 whole eggs and an ounce of cheese (also 25-30g of fat)

How many eggs equal 25 grams of protein? ›

You can get a 25-gram helping of protein from a small portion of meat, four hard-boiled eggs, or a cup of lentils. Check out the graphic for more examples from the plant and animal kingdoms.

What does 30 grams of protein look like? ›

Foods that provide around 30 grams of protein include 3.5 ounces of cooked chicken breast, 4 ounces of cooked salmon, 1 cup of nonfat Greek yogurt, and 5 large whole eggs. The serving size needed to reach 30 grams of protein varies depending on the food.

What are the top 10 protein foods? ›

Top 10 Protein Foods
  • Fish.
  • Seafood.
  • Skinless, white-meat poultry.
  • Lean beef (including tenderloin, sirloin, eye of round)
  • Skim or low-fat milk.
  • Skim or low-fat yogurt.
  • Fat-free or low-fat cheese.
  • Eggs.
Mar 6, 2022

What's the best protein to eat to lose weight? ›

Choose protein sources that are nutrient-rich and lower in saturated fat and calories, such as:
  • Lean meats.
  • Seafood.
  • Beans.
  • Soy.
  • Low-fat dairy.
  • Eggs.
  • Nuts and seeds.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Frankie Dare

Last Updated:

Views: 6141

Rating: 4.2 / 5 (73 voted)

Reviews: 88% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Frankie Dare

Birthday: 2000-01-27

Address: Suite 313 45115 Caridad Freeway, Port Barabaraville, MS 66713

Phone: +3769542039359

Job: Sales Manager

Hobby: Baton twirling, Stand-up comedy, Leather crafting, Rugby, tabletop games, Jigsaw puzzles, Air sports

Introduction: My name is Frankie Dare, I am a funny, beautiful, proud, fair, pleasant, cheerful, enthusiastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.