Reviewed by Dietitian Maria Laura Haddad-Garcia
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Melissa Gray, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
Making a delicious, high-protein meal doesn’t have to take all night. You can enjoy these easy dinners in just 15 minutes or less, and each recipe will provide you with at least 15 grams of protein per serving from sources like seafood, chicken and whole grains. That protein can help you stay full for longer and support healthy bones, digestion and muscle recovery. Recipes like our Chickpea Grain Bowl with Feta & Tomatoes and Chicken Fajita Quesadillas are flavorful and nutritious ways to end the night.
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Chickpea Grain Bowl with Feta & Tomatoes
Photographer: Jake Sternquist, Food Stylist: Shannon Goforth, Prop Stylist: Breanna Ghazali.
This chickpea-farro grain bowl is a hearty dish that’s packed with plant-based protein, fiber and tons of fresh flavor. Farro, a whole grain with a nutty taste and chewy texture, forms the base and pairs perfectly with tender chickpeas and veggies. If you don’t have farro on hand, you can easily swap in quinoa, brown rice or barley.
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No-Cook Black Bean Taco Bowls
Photographer: Jacob Fox, Food Stylist: Sammy Mila, Prop Stylist: Joseph Wanek.
These black bean taco bowls with lime crema are a refreshing no-cook meal that’s perfect for busy days. They feature hearty black beans, veggies and zesty toppings layered over crispy cabbage and lettuce. The lime crema adds a tangy, creamy finish that brings all the flavors together. Enjoy these effortless bowls with the suggested toppings below, or customize them with your own favorites.
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High-Protein Caprese Chickpea Salad
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
This caprese chickpea salad is a fresh, protein- and fiber-packed, plant-based twist on the classic Italian favorite. It combines creamy mozzarella pearls, juicy cherry tomatoes and fragrant fresh basil with hearty chickpeas for a satisfying dish. A simple balsamic vinaigrette ties everything together with a tangy-sweet finish. It’s quick to prepare, colorful and bursting with summery flavor.
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Chicken Fajita Quesadillas
Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Addelyn Evans, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco
These 5-ingredient quesadillas take just 10 minutes to make. Using pre-sliced onions and peppers plus a taco seasoning blend helps keep the ingredient list (and prep time) short. If you like a little heat, use pepper Jack cheese in the filling.
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5-Ingredient Peanutty Soba Noodles
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Melissa Gray, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
Nutty soba noodles team up with peanut butter in this easy vegetarian pasta dish. Chile-garlic sauce adds nice heat, while lime juice and zest brighten the flavor. Enjoy this quick dish warm, or serve it chilled for an easy lunch. We like the firm texture and flavor of soba noodles, but regular whole-wheat pasta will work well too. For a boost of protein, serve with shredded chicken or shrimp or tofu.
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Steak Enchilada Skillet
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Melissa Gray, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
This one-skillet dinner is a breeze to pull together, making it perfect for busy weeknights—plus it’s easy to build and adjust to taste for picky eaters. Flour tortillas are cooked right in the skillet with everything else. Add them gradually to prevent them from sticking together. For a slightly different flavor and firmer texture, swap out the flour tortillas for corn tortillas.
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Anti-Inflammatory Chicken & Beet Salad
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Melissa Gray, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
Tart cherry juice concentrate adds flavor and helps fight inflammation when teamed up with other anti-inflammatory foods like beets and walnuts in this quick salad. Buying packaged cooked beets cuts down on time (and mess!). Look for them in the produce section where other prepared vegetables are sold.
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Braised Lentils & Kale with Fried Eggs
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Melissa Gray, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
These braised lentils are cooked with tender kale and bathed in a fire-roasted tomato broth with an egg on top to pack in the protein. Microwaveable lentils need just a short time in the pan to finish cooking. If you have cooked or canned lentils on hand, you can use them in their place, but you may have to shave a few minutes off the cooking time so they don’t get too soft. We like how the soft, runny yolk coats the dish. If you want a harder yolk, cover the pan and add 2 or 3 minutes to the cooking time.
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15-Minute Pesto Shrimp
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Ana Kelly, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen
This versatile and quick pesto shrimp can be served alongside a hunk of crusty bread, over pasta or rice, or even used as a topping for pizza. Look for shrimp that are free from preservatives, which can alter the texture and add sodium to the dish. We like the brightness and fresh flavor of refrigerated pesto, but a homemade classic basil pesto will make the dish extra special.
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Pork Chops with White Wine & Capers
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Melissa Gray, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
Enjoy a restaurant-worthy dinner without leaving the house with these pork chops with white wine and caper sauce. Boneless pork chops are perfect for busy weeknights—they cook quickly and pair well with just about anything. Got extra capers on hand? They add a briny punch to tomato sauce, lemony seafood dishes or creamy dips mixed with fresh chopped herbs.
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Chicken & Cabbage Salad with Nuoc Cham Dressing
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Melissa Gray, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
Best known as a Vietnamese dipping sauce, nước chấm typically combines sugar, lime juice and fish sauce, striking the perfect balance between sweet, sour and salty. Here it ties together crunchy vegetables, tons of fresh herbs and cooked chicken breast for a refreshing chicken salad. Serve combined with glass noodles or inside a lettuce leaf. For a slightly different take, swap out the cooked chicken for thin slices of grilled steak.
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Spinach Salad with Quinoa, Chicken & Fresh Berries
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickeyt, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
If you’re packing this grain bowl for work, combine the dressing ingredients in a small container. When you’re ready to eat, shake the dressing well, add it to the salad and toss. If you don’t have time to make a homemade dressing, use 3 tablespoons of store-bought olive oil vinaigrette. Keep prep time short by using rotisserie chicken (or leftover chicken) and a pouch of microwavable quinoa.
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5-Ingredient Miso-Glazed Salmon
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Melissa Gray, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
This miso-glazed salmon is quick but jam-packed with flavor thanks to red miso, which has a stronger, more distinct flavor than sweet miso. You can easily double the recipe when serving guests without tacking on additional time. Serve with steamed broccolini and a side of brown rice.
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Honey-Garlic Chicken Tenderloins
Photographer: Jennifer Causey, Food stylist: Ruth Blackburn
It doesn’t get easier than this healthy chicken tenderloins recipe. Tamari, honey and garlic combine to create a sticky-sweet sauce that coats the chicken. Serve these chicken tenders over brown rice with a side of broccoli, or use to top a salad or grain bowl.
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Chicken Tomato Tortilla Soup
Johnny Autry
Transform canned tomato soup by adding chicken, black beans and corn for a filling and quick lunch or dinner. Garnish with your favorite toppings, such as sour cream, avocado and tortilla chips.
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Creamy Spinach Pasta
This might be one of the creamiest light pasta dishes you’ve ever had! The mascarpone cheese adds a richness to the spinach pasta that’s unexpected—especially in a healthy pasta recipe.
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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.
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Sweet & Sour Pork with a Sesame Crust
You’ll recognize the flavors of sesame, soy and white pepper from the beloved restaurant dish that inspired this recipe for sweet and sour (boneless) pork chops. White pepper is more mild and earthy than black pepper, but either will work here.
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BBQ Chicken Tacos with Red Cabbage Slaw
This zippy, creamy slaw is so good you might find yourself making it for other sandwiches. Still, it pairs beautifully with the tangy pulled chicken for an incredibly quick dinner you can make even on your busiest nights. To save even more time, use a preshredded coleslaw blend.
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Lemon Chicken Pasta
In this easy lemon chicken pasta recipe, we love the combination of lemon zest and toasted breadcrumbs. This healthy dinner is made with rotisserie chicken, quick-cooking spiralized zucchini and baby spinach, so you get a complete meal in just 10 minutes.
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Chopped Chicken & Sweet Potato Salad
This easy salad recipe allows for a wonderful use of leftover cooked chicken. Look for escarole in the produce section near the leafy greens; if you can’t find it, you can use romaine instead.
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Lemon-Garlic Pasta with Salmon
Wondering what to do with leftover salmon? This is a delicious and easy way to turn it into another weeknight-friendly, quick dinner. Don’t forget to reserve some pasta water—its starch thickens the lemon-garlic pasta sauce and makes it silky-smooth.
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