35 Whole30 Dinner Recipes That Definitely Do Not Taste Like Diet Food
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Re-upping your healthy eating goals this year by starting a Whole30? Well, those 30 days are going to fly by pretty deliciously, because we've rounded up all the best Whole 30-approved dinner recipes that absolutely do not taste like "diet food". We know it might be hard to believe, but these Whole 30 versions of chicken fajitas, sheet-pan dinners, and more will make you actually excited to make dinner after work and with 35 recipes (and counting...), you can make a new one every night. 😉
First things first, what exactly is the Whole 30 all about and what can you eat on it? As the name suggests, the Whole30 diet is intended to last for at least 30 days, making it approximately a month-long routine of ridding your diet of any possible "trigger foods." These foods include things like added sugar of any kind, alcohol (not even for cooking), grains, legumes, dairy, baked goods, junk food, etc. Whole 30 is intended to be a full body "reset" rather than a weight-loss program, so there's no need to count calories or weigh yourself throughout the duration of the diet as you identify any "trigger" foods and slowly reintroduce them.
Food wise, Whole 30 is all about getting back to the basics by eating whole foods and it might even remind you of the similar low-carb paleo and keto diets. You might be surprised that some of your favorites happen to be naturally Whole 30-friendly (looking at you, steak & eggs and surf n' turf foil packs). Pro-tip, for any recipes that mention butter (like, our roast chicken & potatoes) you can easily make the swap to ghee, a clarified butter that'll become your kitchen BFF.
For more tasty ways to complete your Whole 30, check out this handy list of tips, in case you need a refresher on what's allowed and what's not on the diet, as well as our favorite Whole 30 Instant Pot recipes. If you're finding it a bit tricky navigating the grocery store on Whole 30, check out our handy grocery list.
Grilled Steak
Whatever cut of steak you choose, we've got the best primer on how to grill steak. Our all-time favorite for grilling is the ribeye. Thick and beautiful, with the ideal amount of marbling of fat (aka flavor!), it doesn’t even need a marinade.
Get the Grilled Steak recipe.
Garlicky Lemon Mahi Mahi
This easy mahi-mahi recipe comes together in 30 minutes or less. After searing the fish for a few minutes per side, make a super simple lemon butter sauce with garlicky. We like to sauté some asparagus too, but use whatever vegetable you like.
Get the Garlicky Lemon Mahi Mahi recipe.
Cauliflower Rice
We're starting with the basics: Use a food processor or box grater to make this low-carb rice alternative.
Get the Cauliflower Rice recipe.
Za'atar Sheet-Pan Chicken
We’ve made a lot of great sheet-pan dinners, but this za’atar chicken recipe is a new favorite. Bone-in chicken thighs, baby potatoes, broccoli, and red onion are all tossed in a simple olive oil, lemon juice, and za’atar marinade, then roasted to crispy, schmaltzy perfection. And just to kick it up another notch, we’re drizzling it all in a creamy tahini sauce to finish it off.
Get the Za'atar Sheet-Pan Chicken recipe.
Keto Beef Stew
Making beef stew keto-friendly only means a couple simple swaps. Don't worry, it's still just as silky and deeply comforting. We make up for the lack of thickener (no flour on keto!) by ensuring that we really reduce the stew to create something rich and stick-to-your-ribs good.
Get the Keto Beef Stew recipe.
Best-Ever Steak & Eggs
A classic for a reason, this protein-packed breakfast is a sure way to treat yourself in the morning (just be sure to swap in some ghee for the butter). Pair it with crispy hash browns or roasted potatoes to keep you full all morning long, or try out our cabbage hash browns for a low-carb option!
Get the Best-Ever Steak & Eggs recipe.
Brussels Sprouts Hash
Brussels sprouts are the perfect vegetable. They're amazing roasted, go great with mac & cheese, and now they make up the best low-carb hash that you can serve for breakfast or as a side. We keep falling more and more in love.
Get the Brussels Sprouts Hash recipe.
Jalapeño Citrus Salmon
This citrus salmon has tons of flavor from simple ingredients. Here we used oranges and limes, but you can use lemons, grapefruits, or blood oranges if you have them. If you like things a little spicier, leave the seeds in the jalapeño. Be sure to swap in Whole 30-friendly date paste in place of the honey. As the salmon bakes, the juices start to turn into a syrupy sauce thanks to the natural sweetener and creates a perfect glaze over the salmon.
Get the Jalapeño Citrus Salmon recipe.
Slow-Cooker Pork Shoulder
With just a little bit of initial effort you can leave this pork shoulder to cook gently in your slow cooker all day. Then, you'll come home to the most fragrant and tender piece of meat—all with very little effort. The spiced garlicky herb sauce is absolutely heavenly and will make this the best pork of your life. Is there a better gift out there!?
Get the Slow-Cooker Pork Shoulder recipe.
Coconut Zoodle Soup
Meet our new favorite soup. It's rich with coconut milk and packed with chicken, bell peppers, and zoodles. It's a more festive take on the classic chicken noodle soup, and we might just love it more.
Get the Coconut Zoodle Soup recipe.
Chicken Fajitas
We can thank the cuisine of Tex-Mex for the classic fajita. Minimal prep and minimal cook time means these can be on your dining room table FAST. Fiesta time! Just be sure to swap the tortillas for cauliflower rice to make these chicken fajitas totally Whole30 friendly!
Get the Chicken Fajitas recipe.
Grilled Pork Tenderloin
Thanks to a magical combination of brown sugar, cumin, paprika, and lemon zest, this is honestly one of our all-time favorite pork recipes. Round out the meal with some vegetables like grilled asparagus or grilled zucchini to create a dynamite summer meal. Don't skimp on the chimichurri!
Get the Grilled Pork Tenderloin recipe.
Shrimp Stew
Shrimp stew is a Cajun dish from Louisiana. This quick one-pot dinner is flavored with Cajun seasoning, packed with green bell pepper and fennel, and has a garlic-infused tomato broth we can't get enough of!
Get the Shrimp Stew recipe.
Baked Cod
If you're someone who's afraid of cooking seafood at home, cod is the fish for you. It's basically impossible to mess up: It cooks quickly, is hard to overcook (unless you really forget about it), and is easy to flavor however you want. This recipe is a no brainer and will give you sweet, fall apart tender cod on your table in no time.
Get the Baked Cod recipe.
Grilled Flank Steak with Mustardy Potato Salad
This grainy mustard potato salad is a delicious side for steak, pork, or chicken. We especially love it for flank steak, as it cuts through the richness of this coriander-spiced cut.
Get the Grilled Flank Steak with Mustardy Potato Salad recipe.
Surf 'n' Turf Foil Packs
At your next summer grilling gathering, put a few of these bad boys on the coals and take more time to enjoy your company. Once you have the ingredients prepped—all of which can be done the day before and stored in your fridge—it's only a few minutes of assembly and around 15 minutes of hands-off grilling.
Get the Surf 'n' Turf Foil Packs recipe.
Thai Chicken Coconut Soup
Known as Tom Kha Ghai, this coconut soup is one we are always craving. The creamy coconut paired with ginger and lime gives this soup its unique and delicious flavor. This Thai soup is also traditionally topped with a chili oil to give it some heat—if you're not a spice fan, don't worry, the creamy coconut milk helps mellow it out.
Get the Thai Chicken Coconut Soup recipe.
Grilled Halibut
Halibut is a mild fish and a good options for those that don't like overly "fishy" fish. This grilled recipe is easy, fresh, and healthy. The mango salsa on top brings it all together and makes the meal feel tropical.
Get the Grilled Halibut recipe.
Sheet-Pan Harissa Chicken & Sweet Potatoes
This easy-as-can-be weeknight dinner is a complete meal made on one sheet pan. Bonus: If you roast the sweet potatoes as indicated, your gift = creamy centers and crispy edges, enhanced by jammy red onions. Using bone-in thighs pretty much guarantees super-tender chicken, too!
Get the Sheet-Pan Harissa Chicken & Sweet Potatoes recipe.
Fennel Salad With Apples & Radishes
When you're looking for a side dish that tastes extremely fresh even in the depth of winter, look no further than fennel salad. It’s crunchy, slightly sweet, and perfectly light and refreshing, especially if you serve it alongside heavier cold weather comfort foods. Try it paired with roasted chicken or a juicy steak!
Get the Fennel Salad With Apples & Radishes recipe.
