20 High-Protein Dinners Perfect for Spring (2024)

These dinners are just what you’d want on a beautiful spring evening. Nutritious ingredients like broccoli, carrots and collard greens give these dishes a seasonal flair you’re sure to love. Plus, these meals are packed with at least 15 grams of protein per serving to support healthy digestion and muscle recovery and help you feel satisfied all evening. Recipes like our highly-rated Pea Soup and creamy Spinach & Artichoke Dip Pasta are ones you’ll want to make them all season long.

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Pea Soup

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This simple pea soup recipe makes an elegant start to a spring meal. It's also a great way to use frozen vegetables when the produce section is looking bleak.

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Chicken & Spinach Skillet Pasta with Lemon & Parmesan

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This one-pan chicken pasta combines lean chicken breast and sautéed spinach for a one-bowl meal that's garlicky, lemony and best served with a little Parm on top. I call it "Mom's Skillet Pasta," and she called it "Devon's Favorite Pasta." Either way, it's a quick and easy weeknight dinner we created together and scribbled on a little recipe card more than a decade ago, and it remains in my weekly dinner rotation to this day. It's a simple dinner the whole family will love.

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Spinach & Artichoke Dip Pasta

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If you've ever wanted to make a meal out of warm spinach and artichoke dip, this creamy pasta is for you. And here's what's almost as good as the flavor of this comforting dish: the fact that this healthy dinner takes just 20 minutes to prepare.

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Garlic Butter-Roasted Salmon with Potatoes & Asparagus

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This one-pan salmon and potatoes recipe makes a healthy and satisfying weeknight dinner. Melted garlic butter coats the salmon and vegetables, adding depth of flavor and richness to the dish.

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Collards & Portobello Grilled Cheese

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Meaty portobello mushrooms and sautéed collards turn this easy grilled cheese recipe into a healthy meal. If you don't have Dijonnaise on hand, make your own by stirring 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard into 3 tablespoons mayonnaise.

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Loaded Broccoli & Chicken Casserole

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This delightfully creamy broccoli and chicken casserole is a satisfying dinner that is sure to please a crowd. To keep prep simple, look for bags of pre-cut broccoli florets. If you like a little spice, swap out the Monterey Jack cheese for pepper Jack instead.

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Vegan Lentil Stew

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This comforting vegan lentil stew is incredibly satisfying thanks to hearty lentils and sweet potato. The leeks provide a savory allium note while the tomato paste, miso and cumin add bold flavor.

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Creamy Garlic Skillet Chicken with Spinach

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Quick-cooking chicken cutlets are coated in a garlic cream sauce, while spinach adds a boost of color and nutrition in this easy, one-skillet recipe.

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Honey-Garlic Chicken Thighs with Carrots and Broccoli

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This sweet and savory baked honey-garlic chicken thigh recipe comes with a side of veggies that cook on the same sheet pan as the chicken for the perfect weeknight dinner.

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One-Pot Garlicky Shrimp & Broccoli

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Shrimp and broccoli cook quickly in this easy, one-pot recipe, making it perfect for busy weeknights. Serve this healthy shrimp recipe over whole grains or rice.

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Skillet Lemon Chicken & Potatoes with Kale

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This easy one-pan skillet-roasted lemon chicken is perfect for weeknight dinners. Juicy chicken thighs are cooked in the same pan as baby potatoes and kale for a satisfying meal with the added bonus of minimal cleanup.

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Agrodolce Zucchini & Chicken Pasta

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Replacing some of the pasta with spiralized zucchini allows for a totally twirlable dish with all the pleasure of noodles. The light lemony sauce and savory shredded chicken are comfort food at its finest, and a sweet-and-sour topping provides crunch, chew, herbal brightness and a palate awakener.

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Mushroom-Ricotta Tartines

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Enjoy the art of presentation with a tartine—a sandwich that's a feast for the eyes and taste buds, served open-faced. Here, we slather a thick slice of good crusty whole-wheat bread with a creamy pesto-ricotta spread and top it with golden-brown sautéed mushrooms. Any tender, quick-cooking mushroom would work for this recipe. Oyster mushrooms, chanterelles and shiitake mushrooms would all be delicious. Enjoy it as is or take it to the next level by adding a poached or fried egg on top.

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Teriyaki Chicken Skillet Casserole with Broccoli

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Whip up this quick and easy teriyaki chicken casserole in just one skillet—it’s the perfect go-to recipe for hectic weeknights that’s sure to satisfy a crowd. It’s ideal for making use of any leftover chicken and rice you have on hand. If you’re short on leftovers, a rotisserie chicken paired with a package of microwaveable brown rice is a good substitute.

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Easy Tofu Curry

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Baking the tofu for this protein-packed tofu curry adds texture and helps the tofu hold its shape once added to the sauce. The curry itself is smooth and creamy, with warmth from the spices and some kick from Madras curry powder and jalapeño. If you want to dial down the spice level, swap out the Madras curry powder for regular curry powder. Tearing the tofu by hand helps the curry sauce cling onto all the craggy bits, but if desired, you could cut the tofu into 1-inch cubes instead.

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Sheet-Pan Lemon-Pepper Chicken with Broccoli & Tomatoes

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This sheet-pan lemon-pepper chicken with broccoli and tomatoes offers a blend of vitamin-rich vegetables, a healthy dose of fiber, and lean protein to fill your plate. Lemon pepper seasons the dish, adding brightness and spice.

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Shrimp Paella

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Paella is a Spanish seafood and rice dish, prized for the crispy bits of rice that come from letting the rice sizzle in the pan, and the deep yellow color from saffron. We cheat the color with less expensive ground turmeric and speed the process with precooked brown rice.Make sure to spread the rice mixture in an even layer so the bottom can crisp. The shrimp take less than 5 minutes to cook. Rinse well under cold running water until completely thawed, and then pat dry before adding to the pan. Serve with simply steamed asparagus to round out the meal.

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Creamy One-Pot Orecchiette with Sausage & Peas

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This easy one-pot pasta recipe earns the title "creamy" thanks to the addition of sour cream and Parmesan, which combine to create a savory cheese sauce that clings to the orecchiette, peas and sausage. The best part about this recipe is that it only requires one vessel to cook everything—pasta included. By using the exact amount of liquid you need to cook the pasta, the starch that usually gets drained off with your pasta water stays in the pot, adding even more creaminess. If you like spicy but not too spicy, use a mix of sweet and hot Italian sausages.

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Chile-Lime Veggie Noodles

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We love the bright flavor that lime and chile-garlic sauce give to this quick and easy veggie-and-noodle stir-fry. Multicolored peppers make this recipe festive, while the addition of eggs makes it a satisfying vegetarian supper.

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Buttermilk Fried Tofu with Smoky Collard Greens

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Dipping tofu in buttermilk makes the coating stick for a crispy pan-fried tofu, reminiscent of fried chicken. Spicing up the collards with paprika coats them with smoky flavor while keeping this dish vegetarian. And this quick, easy and healthy dinner comes together in just 25 minutes, so it's great for busy weeknights.

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20 High-Protein Dinners Perfect for Spring (2024)

FAQs

What should I eat on spring day? ›

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Mar 22, 2024

What is a high-protein meal for night? ›

About 3 ounces of chicken, salmon, 90-percent lean ground beef, or 1 cup of cooked beans or lentils will help you reach a 20-gram protein mark. Some appropriate high-protein snacks include: 1 cup of 1 percent milk fat cottage cheese. one slice of bread with peanut butter and a glass of 1 percent milk.

What are 5 high protein foods? ›

You can increase the amount of protein you eat by eating high protein foods, such as lean meat, poultry, seafood, dairy products, or eggs, at each meal. You can also eat plant-based protein sources such as beans, legumes, nuts, and seeds.

What are the top 20 protein foods? ›

Complete List of High Protein Foods
  • Whole wheat flour (unenriched): 15 g.
  • Eggs (no oil or fat added): 12 g.
  • Cottage cheese (low fat, low sodium): 12 g.
  • Edamame (cooked): 12 g.
  • Greek yogurt (whole milk, plain, about one-third cup): 9 g.
  • Lentils (dried): 9 g.
  • Chickpeas (canned, no fat): 8 g.
  • Tofu (soybean curd): 7 g.
May 19, 2023

What meat has the highest protein? ›

You may be surprised to hear that chicken breast has the most protein in it compared to all types of meat. It has an impressive 30.9g of protein per 100g/3.5 ounces. But beware of buying chicken that has been pumped with water.

How can I get 30g of protein per meal? ›

30 grams of protein cheat sheet:
  1. 1 1/2 cups Greek yogurt.
  2. 1 cup tempeh.
  3. 5 oz shrimp (about 10 large shrimp)
  4. 1 cup cottage cheese.
  5. 4 oz chicken (about half of a chicken breast)
  6. 5 oz grass-fed steak (slightly larger than a deck of cards)
  7. 1 1/2 cups tofu.
  8. 2 cups black beans.
May 19, 2023

What is the most popular food in spring? ›

Well, foods such as seasonal vegetables (asparagus, artichokes, radishes, peas, spinach) and meats like lamb are associated with spring dining but we've decided to explore the delicious foods and drinks with spring in their names that are a perfect choice for menus this time of year.

What meats to eat in spring? ›

What Are The Best Meats For Spring?
  • Beef. Beef is a great source of protein and other important nutrients that are vital for your health. ...
  • Pork. Pork is a versatile meat that can be cooked into a variety of dishes. ...
  • Chicken. ...
  • Lamb.
Feb 27, 2023

What meat protein is best before bed? ›

Food protein sources for before bed
  • Eggs.
  • Low fat dairy (milk, cottage cheese, yogurt)
  • Chicken breast.
  • Tuna.
  • Lean red meat.
  • Tofu.
  • Edamame.

What is the best protein before bed for sleep? ›

Most research supports that casein is the best protein to take at night, due to its more sustained release of amino acids, maintaining protein bioavailability throughout the night.

How late should I eat protein before bed? ›

The simple answer is yes: consuming protein about 30 minutes before bed has been shown to increase muscle protein synthesis overnight. However, the amount of protein you eat or drink and whether resistance exercise is done that same night both play a role in how effective consuming protein before bed actually is.

How to get 150g of protein a day? ›

An Easy Way To Get 150+ Grams Of Protein
  1. 3 Eggs - 18 grams.
  2. 50 g of Egg Whites - 5 grams.
  3. 1 cup of Fairlife 2% Milk - 13 grams.
  4. 4 oz Ground Turkey - 20 grams.
  5. 1 ½ cups of Cottage Cheese - 16 grams.
  6. 2 Scoops of Protein Supplement - 31 grams.
  7. 3 Tbsps of Peanut Butter - 10 grams.
  8. 1 Packet of Safe Catch Tuna - 23 grams.

How to get 40g of protein per meal? ›

High Protein Meals With 40g Of Protein22 Jan
  1. Grilled Chicken with Quinoa and Roasted Vegetables. Ingredients: • 170g grilled chicken breast. • 185g cooked quinoa. ...
  2. Turkey and Black Bean Burrito Bowls. Ingredients: • ...
  3. Salmon and Quinoa Salad. Ingredients: • 170g baked or grilled salmon fillet.

How to get 100g of protein a day? ›

100 grams of protein for omnivores
  1. Greek yogurt (15 grams of protein)
  2. Beef sausage (14 grams)
  3. 1 ounce of mixed nuts (5 grams)
  4. Two eggs (12 grams)
  5. Snack cheese (5 grams)
  6. Four slices (2 ounces) of deli ham (10 grams)
  7. Two slices of rye bread (10 grams)
  8. ½ cup of rolled oats (5 grams)
Apr 6, 2024

How to get 200 g of protein a day? ›

A combination of 2 cups of cooked quinoa, 8oz grilled chicken breast, 400 grams of cottage cheese, 4 boiled eggs, and 400 ml of Greek yogurt has approximately 200 grams of protein, 130 grams of carbs, and 1600 calories. That's an amazing amount of delicious and filling food for just 1600 calories!

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