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    Home » roundup

    10 Protein-Rich Dinners for Leaner, Stronger Muscles

    Modified: Aug 3, 2025 · by Shelby Stover · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    If building lean muscle is your goal, what you eat for dinner matters just as much as your workouts. These dinners are packed with high-quality protein to support strength and a leaner frame, minus the stress! They’re balanced, easy to make, and full of ingredients that help you stay on track. From bold flavors to easy prep, these meals are as practical as they are powerful!

    Slow Cooker Chipotle Chicken

    White bowl with shredded chipotle chicken in it and a slow cooker behind it.
    Image Credit: Fit as a Mama Bear

    The meal prep recipe you didn’t know you needed. This slow cooker chipotle chicken is sweetened with honey, super juicy has just the right amount of heat. Use it for quesadillas, bowls, or a new taco night, it’s a shredded chicken recipe you’ll soon rely on. To learn more: Slow Cooker Chipotle Chicken

    Juicy Hawaiian Chicken Thighs

    close up image of baked hawaiian chicken with vegetables and pineapple on a sheet pan with a wooden spoon
    Photo credit: Fit as a Mama Bear

    Tender, juicy bites of chicken and vegetables coated in a sticky sweet sauce and ready in under 40 minutes. This sheet pan Hawaiian chicken makes for a delicious weeknight dinner. With multiple ways to serve it, these Hawaiian chicken thighs are just as delicious the night of as they are for meal prep.

    Get the recipe: Sheet Pan Hawaiian Chicken 

    Air Fryer Steak Bites

    Close up of air fryer steak bites with parsley on them with soy sauce and more parsley around it.
    Photo credit: Fit as a Mama Bear

    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.

    Beef and Veggie 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

    Thai Crispy Chicken with PB Sauce

    Grey bowl with crispy chicken bites, orange peppers, and rice with lime in the bowl on a wooden cutting board.
    Image Credit: Fit as a Mama Bear.

    Made in just 25 minutes with a crisp texture and peanut butter-based sauce, this gluten-free Thai crispy chicken recipe is perfect for quick, comfort food. With easy pantry staples as the base and breaded with gluten-free breadcrumbs, it’s a chicken recipe that comes together quickly and tastes like pure comfort.

    Get the recipe: Gluten-Free Thai Crispy Chicken

    Comforting Gluten-Free Venison Chili

    Spoonful of chili pulled out of a white bowl of chili.
    Photo Credit: Fit as a Mama Bear

    A protein-loaded, comfort meal perfect for Sunday night dinner. This venison chili (also known as deer chili!) is full of classic flavor. Naturally gluten-free and easy to make, cozy up with a big bowl and warm up from head to toe.

    Get the recipe: Stovetop Venison Chili Recipe

    Savory 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

    Dairy-Free Chicken Pot Pie

    Wooden spoon scooping our dairy-free chicken pot pie from a slow cooker.
    Photo Credit: Fit as a Mama Bear

    Thick, creamy, comfort food made all in just one slow cooker. This dairy-free chicken pot pie has all the traditional pot pie flavors but with a healthy gluten-free twist. And because it’s made in a slow cooker, it’s a great option for chilly, busy weeknights.

    Get the recipe: Chicken Pot Pie In The Slow Cooker

    Easy Teriyaki Chicken Skewers

    Three teriyaki chicken skewers on a bed of rice in a white bowl with limes on it and a bowl of limes beside it
    Image Credit: Fit as a Mama Bear

    Sweetened with honey, these teriyaki chicken skewers make a tasty gluten-free dinner recipe or easy meal prep idea. Easy to make, this chicken dinner uses a homemade teriyaki sauce to give them their classic flavor. To learn more: Teriyaki Chicken Skewers

    Jalapeño Turkey 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

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    I'm Shelby, a Certified Strength & Nutrition Coach who has spent the last 10 years helping women feel more comfortable in their skin though home strength training and healthy food- no diets, no shortcuts

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    DISCLAIMERS As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.The content on Fit as a Mama Bear is provided for educational and informational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult with a qualified health care professional before acting on any information presented here. Statements on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. No products mentioned are intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.