50+ Easy Whole30 Dinner Recipes
These easy Whole30 dinner recipes will make your healthy month a breeze and downright delicious! They’ll show you how to cook with wholesome ingredients, hearty proteins, healthy fats, and flavorful herbs and spices.
Table of contents
What is Whole30?
In case you missed my list of Whole30 breakfast recipes or Whole30 lunch ideas, let me quickly tell you what Whole30 is all about. It’s a program that’s designed to remove inflammatory foods and identify any foods that might have a negative impact on your individual body. By eliminating this specific list of foods for 30 days, you’ll know which ingredients you may have sensitivities for.
But for many people, finding compliant recipes gets a little tricky. Especially when you find out that added sugars are in so many products! So when it comes time to prep for lunch and dinner, don’t get into a rut. I’ve put together for you a list of foods that are Whole30 approved, as well as easy and delicious recipes to make. Now let’s get started!
Light and Filling Whole30 Salad Recipes
Salads are simply the best for a light and healthy throw-together meal. These Whole30 recipes are surprisingly full of flavor and texture — while still following the guidelines. Side note: be sure to omit any honey or other sweeteners in the dressings!
If you prep some shredded chicken ahead of time, this salad comes together in a snap. Simply toss together spinach, sweet mandarin oranges, avocado, cucumber, green onion, and a fresh vinaigrette (without sweeteners).
All the salmon needs is a quick sear on the stovetop! Then top it on a full bed of spinach, tomatoes, red onion, and avocado. Just omit the honey from the lemon vinaigrette!
Gotta love a classic egg salad for a fresh and easy meal, especially when you wrap it with butter lettuce leaves! But this version adds a tasty spiced twist.
Pulled Pork, Cabbage, And Arugula Salad
Prep a batch of my slow cooker pulled pork (recipe below) and you’ve got endless meals to make, including this cabbage salad! It’s the best combo of cabbage, carrots, arugula, cilantro, sliced almonds, pulled pork, and a tangy citrus lime vinaigrette.
Smoked Salmon and Avocado Salad
It’s always a good idea to keep a package of smoked salmon in your fridge when you’re on Whole30. That way you can easily throw together meals like this salad!
Kale Salad With Apples And Chicken
Whether it’s autumn or not, this kale salad hits the spot for a meal that’s simultaneously sweet and salty. Just omit the honey from the apple cider vinaigrette.
Shrimp, Asparagus, and Avocado Salad
Switch up your salad protein with shrimp! It tastes great when paired with spinach, asparagus, avocado, green onions, and a light vinaigrette for a spring-forward meal.
Need a quick side salad to add to your meal? Here are a few deliciously easy options!
Dinner-Worthy Soup Recipes
There’s nothing like cozying up with a bowl of soup. Don’t worry though, these Whole30 recipes are perfectly filling for a stand-alone meal and are ridiculously rich with flavor!
If sweet potatoes are your jam, you’re going to love this creamy sweet potato soup. It’s the most delicious blend of sweet potatoes, carrots, fresh ginger, and spices.
This is probably the best light and healthy soup ever. But you can also beef it up with extra protein like diced chicken or ground turkey!
If you’re a big zucchini fanatic like I am — this will be your new favorite Whole30 recipe.
The perfect soup for when you’re craving a homey, creamy, and savory soup. Bonus — it’s loaded with good-for-you veggies!
During beet season, grab the best-looking beets to make this ultra-velvety soup! You will be surprised by how flavorful it is.
I’d say this soup is quite healing with a mix of carrots, ginger, onion, and spices. Plus, it’s a delicious contrast of warm, zesty, and sweet!
Poached Chicken And Winter Vegetable Soup
Nothing beats a big pot of chicken and vegetable soup. So here’s your reminder to keep this Whole30 recipe on hand!
Roasted Red Pepper And Tomato Soup
Give your average tomato soup a flavor kick by adding roasted red peppers into the mix! The results are smoky, savory, and so delicious.
It might sound bland, but it’s quite the latter. The onion, garlic, and spices really give this Whole30 soup (that’s also low-carb) some oomph!
Cucumber Melon Gazpacho With Ginger Shrimp
If it’s summer where you are, gazpachos should be at the top of your list. This one is my favorite blend of cucumbers, honeydew, and loads of fresh herbs, and topped with chilled ginger shrimp.
The Best Whole30 Chicken Dinner Recipes
Amp up your protein by adding these delicious Whole30 chicken recipes to your dinner routine. They’re simple, yet loaded with flavor.
I love how quick and easy this is to make with the help of my homemade fajita seasoning. You can eat this on its own or even make lettuce wraps!
Greek marinated chicken roasted with bright veggies is the perfect all-in-one Whole30 recipe. Just make sure to omit the feta cheese!
Whole30 Chicken Broccoli Casserole
This casserole is a favorite around here for Whole30 meal prep! It’s loaded with juicy chicken, broccoli, mushrooms, onion, and my homemade vegan alfredo sauce.
Think of this as a homemade version of juicy rotisserie chicken — in the best way possible! Plus, it’s great for meal prepping. You can enjoy it in different ways throughout the week.
With the roast chicken above (or with easy poached chicken), this creamy chicken salad is a must-make. Just make sure to use a Whole30-approved mayonnaise or my homemade mayonnaise!
Here is everything you need to know about making perfectly juicy chicken breasts in the oven! And if you want to switch up the seasonings, you can make my herb-baked chicken breast.
You can always count on a curry dish for an easy, healthy, and super flavorful Whole30 dinner idea. Just pair it with cauliflower rice!
These are hands down the best-baked chicken thighs ever. They’re perfectly golden and crispy on the outside, with super juicy insides.
Parsnip Noodle Chicken Alfredo
Did you know you can spiralize parsnip into pasta-like noodles? It’s the perfect base to make a chicken alfredo that’s veggie-forward.
Pop open the grill (or use an indoor grill) for these juicy chicken kabobs! They’re doused in a lemon herb marinade, skewered with colorful vegetables, and served with a side of fresh vegan tzatziki sauce.
Mexican Chicken Zucchini Noodles
Zucchini noodles are my favorite Whole30 (and gluten-free) alternative to pasta noodles and can be served in so many ways. Like this Mexican version that’s loaded with pico de gallo, spices, and cilantro! Just omit the queso fresco.
Seared basil-seasoned chicken with blistered kumquats? Now tell me that doesn’t sound good.
Flavorful Pork and Beef Recipes
I’ll show you the many different ways to cook pork and beef, and how to assemble them into crazy good Whole30 recipes.
Meatballs are the best for an easy yet versatile dinner. And these are loaded with pork, fennel, onion, and fresh herbs!
When the Mexican food cravings hit, this juicy and tender carnitas recipe always ticks the box. Bonus — it’s unbelievably easy to make right in a slow cooker!
Skirt Steak with Chimichurri Sauce
On days when you want a more “fancy-ish” dinner, grilled skirt steak always hits the spot. Especially when it’s served with this homemade chimichurri sauce (it’s seriously the best!).
If you’re more of a beef person, swap the carnitas for beef chuck roast! This is perfect for making Mexican style plates or bowls with cilantro lime cauliflower rice, pico de gallo, and guacamole!
Stuffed zucchini boats get a Mexica spin with ground beef, then topped with your favorite taco toppings such as cilantro, salsa, red onion, and avocado!
Nail the best carne asada with this recipe, plus my carne asada marinade.
Apple Sausage Stuffed Butternut Squash
When you’re knee-deep in butternut squash season, I predict this Whole30 dinner will be on repeat. The stuffing is filled with Italian sausage, apples, onion, spinach, dried cranberries, pecans, and fresh herbs.
A classic pulled pork recipe that’s incredibly juicy and tender! Just pop it into the slow cooker, and you’ve got endless pulled pork meals for the week.
Zucchini Noodle Spaghetti Bolognese
Another way to make the most of zucchini noodles is to serve it up as bolognese pasta! And yes — this recipe makes the best homemade bolognese sauce.
If you’re a fan of lamb, here are two delicious dinner ideas!
Easy Whole30 Seafood Recipes
If you’re more of a seafood person, you’re in luck as well. Salmon, shrimp, and many other kinds of seafood are highly recommended for a Whole30 diet. Just make sure you’re not adding in heavy creams and sauces that are not Whole30 compliant.
If you’re looking for a unique salmon dish, don’t skip this salmon salad. Slow-roasted and flaky salmon pieces get tossed with red onion, radishes, celery, fresh herbs, and the best creamy dressing.
Yep, you can use my fajita seasoning to make shrimp fajitas! This dish is great on its own or added to a bowl with other Tex-Mex ingredients.
Did you know that you can turn canned tuna into deliciously savory meatballs? Just don’t forget the vegan tzatziki sauce on the side for dipping!
Add a creamy twist to cooked shrimp! This salad mixes chilled jumbo shrimp with celery, red onion, and the tastiest creamy herb dressing.
Got an air fryer? I’ll show you how to perfectly air-fry salmon with the best seasoning! The results are golden, moist, and utterly tender.
I love to make this classic tuna salad when I’m meal-prepping for the week. You can eat it with a spoon, wrap it in butter leaf lettuce, or make tuna stuffed avocados! And if you’d like a veggie boost — make my broccoli tuna salad that puts broccoli rice to work!
Another fun way to use baked salmon is flaking it to make these salmon patties! Just remember to use Whole30 mayo for both the patties and the lemon dill sauce.
Come grilling season, these shrimp skewers are a no-brainer!
Scallops With Citrus Ginger Sauce
Here’s your reminder to grab a bag of frozen or market-fresh scallops to make this recipe! The citrus ginger sauce is amazing!
This baked salmon is another fan favorite recipe around here when doing a Whole30.
Roasted Branzino With Citrus Pesto
If you ever get your hands on a beautiful branzino, this will be a stunning dinner! Especially with that citrus pesto sauce on top.
Zucchini Pasta With Lemon Garlic And Shrimp
Now, this is the definition of a quick and easy Whole30 recipe! Just pan-sear lemon garlic marinated shrimp, then give it a quick toss with zucchini noodles and fresh parsley.
Vegetable Sides to Round Out your Meal
Whenever you need an accompanying veggie side dish to the proteins above, these Whole30 recipes will give some extra flavor and texture to your meals!
A humble and budget-friendly head of cabbage has so much to give when cooked. The leaves become buttery soft, slightly sweet, and perfectly caramelized. Just make sure to use ghee instead of butter!
And if you want to take sautéed cabbage to the next level, sauté it with bacon, garlic, onion, and stone ground mustard for a deliciously smoky dish.
Balsamic Bacon Brussels Sprouts
Give roasted Brussels sprouts some oomph with bacon bits and the most easy balsamic glaze!
This is the combo you didn’t know you needed. Za’atar spiced roasted cauliflower with sweet dates and toasted pine nuts!
Chimichurri sauce isn’t just meant for steak. It can also be tossed with potatoes for an elevated side dish.
This is my favorite for a super zippy side dish. The spinach leaves become super tender and flavored with lots of garlic.
When it’s tomato season, grab a bunch of cherry tomatoes to blister them with garlic and herbs! They become extra savory and juicy.
Roasted sweet potatoes are always a great meal prep ingredient to have. They can easily be reheated for a quick side dish, or even made into meals like this sweet potato hash!
Don’t forget about bok choy! The leaves are full of nutrients and taste amazing when sautéed with garlic and ginger.
Not only are baked sweet potatoes a delicious side dish on their own, but great for stuffing with your favorite proteins and other veggies!
If you try any of these recipes during your Whole30 journey, leave a comment below (or on the recipe page) and let the community know how you liked it! Want to see how I do Whole30? Watch my Whole30 What I Eat in a Day video!
50+ Easy Whole30 Dinner Recipes
Ingredients
- 4 cups cooked and Shredded Chicken
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 heads broccoli, florets removed
- 10 cremini mushrooms, sliced
- ½ small onion, diced
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 recipe Vegan Alfredo Sauce
- salt and pepper, to taste
- rosemary, for garnish
Instructions
- Make the Vegan Alfredo Sauce and set aside. This can also be made the day before and stored in the fridge.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees fahrenheit.
- Heat the olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the sliced mushrooms and diced onion and stir for 3 minutes. Add the broccoli florets (make sure they’re in bite-sized pieces and not too large) and stir for another 3 minutes or until the broccoli is crisp-tender and bright green.
- Place the shredded chicken in a 9×13-inch casserole dish, covering the bottom. Add the sautéed mushrooms, onions and broccoli in a flat layer on top.
- Stir the chicken broth into the Vegan Alfredo sauce, then pour on top of the broccoli in the casserole dish. Use a spatula if needed to make sure everything is well coated.
- Cook the casserole for 20-25 minutes. The sauce should be bubbling and slightly reduced and thickened. Garnish with fresh rosemary if desired and serve immediately.
Lisa’s Tips
- Note that the Vegan Alfredo Sauce requires you soak cashews before making the sauce, so plan ahead when making it.
- This is a great meal prep recipe! For more meal prep ideas, make sure to watch my Meal Prep Ideas video, Spring Meal Prep and Summer Meal Prep.
Nutrition
Originally posted January 2020, but updated to include new information.
Lisa,
I usually never write reviews, but I had to!
so I have never enjoy cooking and was really hard for me to eat healthy, or use the right ingridients/ spices. When I started to make your recipes there are not only delicious, and easy but you give us so much details on how to cook it. and I have learned soooo much from you. You also made me enjoy cooking and NOW I found this amazing Whole30 meal plan! Not only has the grocery list ready for you, but you can just click the name of the recipe, and takes you to it! So easy to navigate this! I cannot thank you enough for creating all of this! You made my life so much healthier and easy, as a mom is the greatest gift! I would recommend this to anybody who wants to eat healthy and delicious!
Hi Lisa, newish to your site and trying to work my way around, not very good with tech and finding things all over the place. Love, love, love the winter prep with the pulled pork, is there another prep for winter meals or just the one? Great job Barbs x
Hi Barbara – Welcome to the Downshiftology community! You can find all my recipes and sort through things through the recipe category page up in the top navigation. Also, I only have one winter meal prep, but I have a meal prep for all seasons. If you just type in meal prep in the search bar at the very top, they should come up :)
Hi Lisa! Do you think this would freeze well? I’m trying to get into freezer meal prep. Thank you for all the effort you put into sharing your incredible recipes and general knowledge about so many subjects. I really enjoy your site.
Hi Nava- Yes! Some of these recipes are freezer friendly. I will normally always put storage instructions within each recipe towards the bottom :)
Hi Lisa
Can you please do a Whole 30 meal prep? I would like to start but i guess i need a little help.
Thank you
I will definitely keep that in mind! :)
Are the nutritional facts for the entire casserole or for one serving? If one serving, what would you suggest the serving size be?
Hi Julia – All my nutrition facts are for one serving :) And I have noted that there are 6 servings in this recipe so just evenly divide the casserole into 6 slices.
Hi Lisa,
What you have is amazing and I can definitely can use many of your recipes to help my daughter learning to eat healthy. I’m very interested in the Chicken Broccoli Casserole. However, I’m wondering what can you use to substitute for cashews in the sauce. Cooking for my daughter can be a little challenging because she’s allergic to dairy, nuts, and peanuts. I’m trying to get her to eat beans but…..
I’m so glad I found you.
Thank you!
Hi Teresa – unfortunately cashews are necessary in that sauce. But you can find coconut milk-based alfredo sauces online as well. I’m glad you’re enjoying all my recipes!
All Recipes are extremely wonderful. Thanks for your post It will really helpful to me. I learned a lot from this post thanks for your post.
Hi there – Thrilled to hear you learned so much from this post, and the many ways you can make Whole30 delicious :)
Salmon is my all-time favorite and salmon with avocado will make a tastier combination. All the various recipes that you have shared will make it easier for all of us to make it instantly. Thank you for sharing this information with us.
Hi Francesco – I’m so glad you love these recipes and tips!
Such a great list of healthy options for the new year! I’m all about those deviled eggs!
Hi Tisha – These recipes probably will taste like you’re not even on Whole30! :)
I’m always on the hunt for new Whole30 recipes, so this roundup is perfect for me! Thanks so much for sharing :)
Hi Chris – Hope you enjoy these recipes :)
Nothing like a great roundup of easy, healthy dinner ideas! This list looks so great! I’ll definitely be trying a few of these!
Hi Shanika – These dinner recipes will make cooking a breeze, especially if you’re on Whole30!
That chicken in broccoli sauce looks so lovely. It’s easy and doable even for daily meals. :)
Hi Anita – You bet! It’s a great meal prepping recipe :)