10 High-Protein Dinners for When You’re Too Tired to Cook

These easy high-protein dinner recipes are made exactly for days when you have zero energy and less motivation to cook. They’re quick, low-effort, and packed with the kind of fuel that actually helps you recharge. Think easy sheet pan dinners or crockpot wonders, these are simple real food options to save your day.

Spicy Turkey with Jalapeño Meatballs

Multiple turkey meatballs on parchment paper with a jalapeno, steel tin of sauce, toothpicks, and green onions around them. — Image Credit: Fit as a Mama Bear

Packed with protein and a fiery kick these whole 30 turkey meatballs make a great weeknight dinner! Baked in the oven to juicy perfection these meatballs make a great 30-minute dinner recipe and can even be prepped in advance!

Get the recipe: Spicy Turkey Meatballs

Gluten-Free Honey Mustard Chicken

Black slow cooker with honey mustard chicken thighs topped with parsley and a wooden spoon in it. — Image Credit: Fit as a Mama Bear

An effortless weeknight dinner. This slow cooker honey mustard chicken is cooked to perfection in a sweet and tangy glaze. Perfect for busy days this gluten-free chicken recipe will soon become your favorite, hassle-free family dinner. To learn more: Honey Mustard Chicken

Beef and Zucchini Creamy Casserole

Beef and zucchini casserole topped with zucchinis in a baking dish. — Photo credit: Fit as a Mama Bear

Weeknight dinners just got better with this veggie-packed, high-protein, beef and zucchini casserole. Lean ground beef coated in a rich and creamy tomato sauce spread of zucchini and sweet potato noodles. You can make this dairy-free casserole in advance as well making busy weeknights that much easier. To learn more: Beef and Zucchini Casserole

Air Fryer Steak Bites

Cooked in just 10 minutes these air fryer steak bites come out tender, juicy, and perfectly seasoned! With a blend of cumin and garlic, these steak cubes work just as well as a game-day appetizer as they do as part of a busy weeknight dinner.

Get the recipe: Air Fryer Steak Bites

Honey Garlic Crockpot Chicken

Paleo honey garlic chicken shredded on white rice in a bowl. — Photo credit: Fit as a Mama Bear

Tender, juicy bites of shredded chicken simmered in a paleo honey garlic sauce. This 5 ingredient crockpot chicken makes for the perfect weeknight dinner.

Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

Healthy Crockpot Beef Fajitas

Beef fajitas in tomato sauce with peppers in a black slow cooker. — Photo credit: Fit as a Mama Bear

The perfect recipe to come home to! These slow cooker beef fajitas are delicious no matter how you serve them. Made with homemade, healthy fajita seasoning and simmered all day in a savory blend, these steak fajitas are a recipe you’ll want to keep on hand!

Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Beef Fajitas

Easy Mushroom Salisbury Steak

White plate with salisbury steak on it and a mushroom on top of them. — Photo credit: Fit as a Mama Bear

Deliciously seasoned ground beef patties cooked in the slow cooker and then smothered in a savory mushroom gravy. This gluten-free Salisbury steak recipe makes for a tasty Sunday night dinner. To learn more: Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak

Teriyaki Salmon Poke Bowl

a bowl of rice with shredded carrots, salmon, and edamame on top of a kitchen towel with chopsticks on the side — Image Credit: Fit as a Mama Bear

Tender bites of glazed salmon paired with bright, crunchy vegetables, and sliced avocados, this gluten-free poke bowl is a tasty lunch! Made with air fryer salmon bites and great for meal prep, this teriyaki poke bowl is packed with flavor and nutrients.

Get the recipe: Gluten-Free Poke Bowl with Air Fryer Salmon

Sheet Pan Lemon Garlic Chicken

Roasted chicken, potatoes, and asparagus with lemons on a baking tray on a checkered red linen. — Image Credit: Fit as a Mama Bear

Baked until juicy this gluten-free lemon chicken is made all on one pan for simple clean up! Mixed with a tangy lemon garlic flavor and paired with roasted potatoes and asparagus, this dairy and gluten-free chicken dinner is perfect for busy weeknights. To learn more: Lemon Chicken

Dairy-Free Tuscan Chicken

White bowl with tuscan chicken, rice, leeks and sundried tomato in it with fresh basil beside it. — Photo Credit: Fit as a Mama Bear

A creamy, dairy-free Tuscan chicken recipe made in the slow cooker. Infused with garlic, leek, and basil undertones, this crockpot Tuscan chicken could be right out of Italy. Made with a base of coconut milk and bone broth, this easy weeknight dinner is also paleo and whole30 approved.

Get the recipe: Dairy-Free Tuscan Chicken