23 Easy High-Protein Dinners for Busy Weeknights

When it comes to dinner, many of us like to make sure protein is front and center. Protein helps keep you full, supports energy, and makes meals feel satisfying, especially after a long day. Every recipe in this roundup is built around hearty meat and fish as the main ingredient, so you know you’re getting a solid dose of protein with every bite. These flavorful dinners prove high-protein meals can be both simple and incredibly satisfying.

Dutch Oven Chicken Breast

I love making chicken breast in the Dutch oven, as it cooks the meat evenly and quickly. This Dutch oven chicken breast recipe is simple and satisfying on a cold night. Add vegetables for a complete meal.

Go to the recipe: Dutch Oven Chicken Breast

Crispy Almond Crusted Chicken Breast

Almond-crusted chicken breast is moist and flavorful! The crisp, nutty crust is inspired by Panda Express almond chicken and is beyond easy to make at home. Add your favorite sauce and a green vegetable.

Go to the recipe: Almond-Crusted Chicken Breast

Air Fryer Tilapia

The air fryer is a lifesaver when it comes to making meals in under 30 minutes. I love using it to make this air fryer tilapia. The nifty kitchen device keeps the fish tender and flakey on the inside and creates a crisp crust on the outside for a tasty meal.

Get the recipe: Air Fryer Tilapia

Grilled Salmon

Take your skills to the grill and learn how to make a quick and easy meal with this grilled salmon. The grill is one of the best cooking tools for cooking up a meal fast and loaded with flavor. Try it for yourself with this grilled salmon recipe.

Get the recipe: Grilled Salmon

Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken

These air fryer popcorn chicken bites are super addicting. The popcorn chicken bites are a great alternative to chicken nuggets and excellent to add to salads and rice bowls. I love to keep extra in my freezer so I can have a quick and easy dinner whenever I want.

Get the recipe: Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken

Cowboy Casserole

Bookmark this cowboy casserole for a weeknight when you need to get dinner on the table fast. The casserole combines ground beef, corn, cheese, and tater tots to make a meal the whole family will love.

Get the recipe: Cowboy Casserole

King Ranch Chicken Casserole

This King Ranch chicken casserole is a total crowd-pleaser. Loaded with cheese and Tex-Mex flavor, it’s comfort food at its finest.

Go to the recipe: King Ranch Chicken Casserole

Swedish Meatballs

Sitting down to a bowl of warm Swedish meatballs is an excellent way to end the day. The meatball recipe combines ground beef and pork to make the protein extra flavorful. If you have any extras, save them for the next day and put them on a sub for a great meatball sandwich.

Get the recipe: Swedish Meatballs

Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes

If you have one kid asking for Philly cheesesteaks and another requesting sloppy Joes, make them both happy with these Philly cheesesteak sloppy Joes. The mashup combines the sloppy Joe filling with peppers, cheese, and a sweet and savory sauce. It’s a mashup dish that will make everyone happy.

Get the recipe: Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes

Air Fryer Chicken Breasts

If you’re not using the air fryer to cook chicken yet, you really need to! In under an hour, you can easily have this chicken dish hot and ready on the table for your family. A delicious marinade adds extra flavor for the air fryer chicken breast.

Go to the recipe: Air Fryer Chicken Breast

Easy Baked Chicken Breasts

In less than 20 minutes, you’ll have perfectly browned, tender, and juicy chicken breasts ready to pair with any side dish you can think of. I keep this recipe handy for when I don’t have much time to prepare a wholesome dinner, and it never disappoints.

Go to the recipe: Easy Baked Chicken Breast

Baked Cheesy Chicken with Mushrooms

Take chicken breasts and lightly brown them on the stovetop. Then, place them in a pan and top them with loads of cheese, sauce, and mushrooms for the ultimate comfort food dinner. You will adore these baked cheesy chicken with mushrooms!

Go to the recipe: Baked Cheesy Chicken with Mushrooms

Homemade Chicken Alfredo

Here’s another take on chicken Alfredo, this one made with pan-fried chicken breasts that are sliced and folded into a creamy, garlicky sauce. Add fettuccine or your favorite pasta shape for a complete meal.

Go to the recipe: Chicken Alfredo

California Grilled Chicken

For a light yet satisfying meal, grill chicken breasts, then top them with fresh tomatoes, avocado, and creamy fresh mozzarella cheese. It’s drizzled with a balsamic vinegar reduction for a bit of sweetness. Serve this with a green salad!

Go to the recipe: California Grilled Chicken

Creamy Lemon Pasta with Chicken

Parmesan-crusted chicken breast is folded into a lemony pasta sauce that’s poured over linguine or fettuccine to make a truly special dish. The Parmesan and crisp lemon make for a flavorful burst in every bite.

Go to the recipe: Creamy Lemon Pasta with Chicken

Beef Enchiladas

Gathering all the enchilada fixings in itself can take more than 30 minutes. Skip that process altogether and make these beef enchiladas instead. The dish packs everything into a 13×9 baking dish for easy and quick prep and clean-up.

Get the recipe: Beef Enchiladas

Broiled Chicken Recipe

Having a simple recipe like this broiled chicken in your back pocket is always a good idea. Not only is the dish simple and quick to make, it is versatile and tasty on its own. You can add the chicken to salads or bowls or eat it on its own for a simple and crave worthy quick meal.

Get the recipe: Broiled Chicken

Turkey Casserole

The next time you have leftover turkey in your house, turn it into a new meal with this turkey casserole. The turkey casserole combines juicy turkey with cheese and noodles to make a brand-new meal out of leftovers.

Get the recipe: Turkey Casserole

Air Fryer Boneless Chicken Thighs

The next time you plan to make chicken thighs, use this recipe to cook them in the air fryer. Not only does the air fryer speed up the process, but it also creates a tender piece of chicken that is perfectly crisp on the outside.

Get the recipe: Air Fryer Chicken Thighs

Air Fryer Meatballs

These air fryer meatballs always come in handy when you don’t know what to make for dinner. They are delicious, quick, and an easy protein to add to a bowl of spaghetti.

Get the recipe: Air Fryer Meatballs

Sheet Pan Quesadillas

Making individual quesadillas for dinner will have you standing by your stove for hours on end. Make the process quick and easy by making them on a sheet pan with this sheet pan quesadilla recipe. The sheet pan cuts the time in half and still creates a meal that is cheesy and super crisp.

Get the recipe: Sheet Pan Quesadilla

Air Fryer Bone-In Pork Chops

When I crave hearty protein for dinner, this air fryer bone-in pork chop is always my go-to. The air fryer cooks up the hunk of meat in no time flat and cooks it perfectly through. It’s a hearty meal I can easily have on the table in under 30 minutes.

Get the recipe: Air Fryer Bone-In Pork Chop

Air Fryer Chicken-Fried Steak

This air fryer chicken-fried steak recipe takes everything you know about classic chicken fried steak and throws it out the window. The air fryer removes the unnecessary oil and bakes the steak so it is perfectly crisp. Don’t forget to serve the protein with the homemade gravy!

Get the recipe: Air Fryer Chicken-Fried Steak