30 Quick & Easy Meat Recipes

Feed your inner carnivore.

New! You can now save recipes. It's free!
peach balsamic grilled chicken
Rachel vanni

Is your inner carnivore calling? Go ahead and answer. We've got your back with these easy, high-protein meat recipes. In all of these recipes, our favorite meats are the star of the meal, like salmon, steak, chicken, and seafood. Whether you cook up our air-fryer blackened tilapia with mango salsa, creamy Tuscan chicken, or baked pork chops, you'll have a protein-packed meal that's beyond satisfying.

Grill + meat = tender, juicy magic. So what better way to eat healthy than having a totally grill-able meal? Foil packs make cooking and cleanup a breeze, which is why we make our Santa Fe chicken foil packs and sausage and peppers foil packs on repeat. That added char and smokiness can improve any cut of meat too. If you need more proof, check out our recipes for peach balsamic grilled chicken, grilled tuna steaks with scallion sauce, and bánh mì kebabs.

It can be tricky to eat healthy, but luckily these deliciously meaty recipes make it so much easier to eat a balanced meal. Recipes like our garlic butter meatballs, stuffed peppers, and Reuben bowls pack not only tons of protein, but also sneak in plenty of vegetables too. Filling and clever? Sign us up.

The only thing these meaty meals are missing now are some killer side dishes. Try all our favorite side dishes for fish, easy sides for pork chops, and side dishes for steak that aren't just potatoes (although we also have plenty of potato side dish recipes we love).

creamy tuscan chicken
Emily hlavac green
1 of 30
Creamy Tuscan Chicken

This dish shouts comfort food, but it's also impressive enough to serve to dinner guests. Be sure to have a crusty baguette on hand, because the sauce is just wonderful. (Not into bread? You can also serve it alongside rice or pasta.)

Get the Creamy Tuscan Chicken recipe.

honey garlic glazed salmon
Ethan calabrese
2 of 30
Honey Garlic Glazed Salmon

This savory-sweet salmon never disappoints. Searing fish might seem intimidating, but once you get the hang of it, it'll be second nature.

Get the Honey Garlic Glazed Salmon recipe.

classic stuffed peppers
Parker feierbach
3 of 30
Classic Stuffed Peppers

We’ve stuffed peppers every way we can think of—and if you don’t believe us, check out our cheesesteak stuffed peppers and chicken Parm stuffed peppers varieties!—but this classic recipe is still our favorite. Here we’re filling them with beefy tomato rice and shredded Monterey Jack cheese, but you can customize them to fit your taste (and whatever you have in your refrigerator).

Get the Classic Stuffed Peppers recipe.

peach balsamic grilled chicken
Rachel vanni
4 of 30
Peach Balsamic Grilled Chicken

Grilling fruit will bring out its juicy sweetness, and while you can always go the sweet route with your grilled peaches, they're just as good paired with this balsamic chicken. The marinade is simple and tangy with a little sweetness to it. Serve it with a simple farro salad for the freshest dinner ever.

Get the Peach Balsamic Grilled Chicken recipe.

classic meatloaf
Parker feierbach
5 of 30
Classic Meatloaf

Meatloaf is an old-school recipe that everyone should know how to make. It might not be the sexiest piece of food, but it is delish—especially in a sandwich the next day OR with a fried egg on top!

Get the Classic Meatloaf recipe.

crispy air fryer pork chops
Parker feierbach
6 of 30
Air Fryer Pork Chops

Most of the time, we don't get very excited over pork chops. Often overdone, they come out dry, sad, and flavorless. Cooking them in an air fryer changes all that. Due to the intense heat circulation that happens, the outside crisps slightly while the inside stays nice and juicy.

Get the Air Fryer Pork Chops recipe.

bánh mì kebabs
Andrew bui
7 of 30
Bánh Mì Kebabs

A classic bánh mì is one of the world's great sandwiches. An ideal way to get that classic bánh mì taste? With these kebabs! Par-cooked carrots and slightly sweet daikon grill up nicely with thick pieces of pork chop, and they're perfectly matched with a straightforward combo of fish sauce, soy sauce, and honey.

Get the Bánh Mì Kebabs recipe.

8 of 30
Santa Fe Chicken Foil Packets

Packed with simple, everyday ingredients, this dish brings together chili-spiced rice, black beans, corn, peppers, and salsa- and cheese-topped chicken for a complete meal, all neatly wrapped up and grilled in an easy foil pack. You can also make it in the oven if you like.

Get the Santa Fe Chicken Foil Packets recipe.

spicy salmon bowl
Parker feierbach
9 of 30
Spicy Salmon Bowl

Grain bowls are magic because all of the components are great on their own, but once they're tossed together, they somehow become even better. This spicy salmon bowl has all of our favorite things, like quick pickles, spicy red onion, and creamy avocado. Want more? Try our buddha bowl next!

Get the Spicy Salmon Bowl recipe.

caprese chicken saltimbocca
Erik bernstein
10 of 30
Caprese Chicken Saltimbocca

For this summery dish, you'll start by crisping up chicken cutlets that are wrapped in prosciutto (this technique comes from the Italian "saltimbocca" dish made with veal, wine, and sage rather than chicken, balsamic, and basil). Next, you'll finish them off in a tangy vinegar sauce, then top the whole thing with mozzarella and tomatoes for a fresh and fast crowd-pleaser.

Get the Caprese Chicken Saltimbocca recipe.

11 of 30
One-Pan Chicken And Quinoa

Here’s a quick and easy dinner that’s high in protein and takes very little effort. We love the Tex-Mex spices here; the chili powder and cayenne add a nice kick that the avocado and sour cream perfectly offset. Of course, feel free to use a little less of either spice if you prefer.

Get the One-Pan Chicken And Quinoa recipe.

coconut curry shrimp  peas
lucy schaeffer
12 of 30
Coconut Curry Shrimp & Peas

This coconut curry shrimp and peas recipe is a quick route to a savory dinner. You'll start by building up flavor with a mixture of onion, fresh ginger, garlic, and serrano chiles. Next, a smattering of spices—garam masala, paprika, and turmeric—infuses the coconut milk. All that's left to do is poach the shrimp directly in the broth and heat the peas and spinach through, and you're ready for dinner.

Get the Coconut Curry Shrimp & Peas recipe.

garlic rosemary pork chops
Ethan Calabrese
13 of 30
Garlic Rosemary Pork Chops

Pork chops have the potential to be juicy, tender, and flavorful—really! This oven-baked method will ensure your pork has a delicious crust and a perfectly cooked interior.

Get the Baked Pork Chops recipe.

air fryer blackened tilapia with mango salsa
Joel Goldberg
14 of 30
Air Fryer Blackened Tilapia with Mango Salsa

This blackened tilapia gets a hint of crunch from the cornmeal in the blackened seasoning. The mix is easy enough to mix ahead of time, so go ahead and make a big batch so it's ready whenever you want to make this easy weeknight seafood dinner.

Get the Air Fryer Blackened Tilapia with Mango Salsa recipe.

reuben bowls
Andrew bui
15 of 30
Reuben Bowls

Not only do these have the standard Reuben flavors, we’ve also added tons of green cabbage and shredded carrot to help bulk out the bowls and keep you feeling satisfied. It makes these bowls especially perfect if you’re trying to eat less carbs too (though we wouldn’t be adverse to adding some croutons made of rye if you’re feeling creative).

Get the Reuben Bowls recipe.

cowboy steak with grilled red onion salad
Erik bernstein
16 of 30
Cowboy Steak With Grilled Red Onion Salad

Unleash your inner Bill Pickett and feed your whole posse with this hearty, flavorful cut of beef. Rib eye is already praised for its fattiness, but leaving the bone in takes it to a new level. As the meat cooks, the rich, deeply beefy flavors of the bone’s marrow seep into the meat, creating an unbeatable steak-eating experience.

Get the Cowboy Steak With Grilled Red Onion Salad recipe.

honey glazed pork chops with mango salsa
Erik bernstein
17 of 30
Honey-Glazed Pork Chops With Mango Salsa

When you cook regularly, weeknight dinners can start to feel a little ho-hum. Perhaps pork chops are part of your regular rotation, but you're sick of pairing them with apples or potatoes. Fear not: This recipe is here to shake things up with a flavor explosion fast.

Get the Honey-Glazed Pork Chops With Mango Salsa recipe.

garlic butter meatballs
Erik bernstein
18 of 30
Garlic Butter Meatballs

These garlic butter meatballs are low-carb, gluten-free, and veggie-packed without skipping out on any of the tastiness. Now this is a low-carb dinner we can feel good about.

Get the Garlic Butter Meatballs recipe.

caribbean cobb salad
Andrew bui
19 of 30
Caribbean Cobb Salad

If you’re in the mood to eat the rainbow, this Caribbean-inspired Cobb salad is the place to start. A bit brighter than the traditional Cobb salad, this version combines fresh mango, creamy coconut dressing, and spiced salmon to create a punchy, spicy, filling meal. Crushed plantain chips and sweet bell pepper add a satisfying crunch too!

Get the Caribbean Cobb Salad recipe.

20 of 30
Brick Chicken

We paired this chicken with a delicious spicy, herby pan sauce made with jalapeño, lime, and cilantro, but you can serve this as is, with a couple squeezes of lemon or even BBQ sauce. The world is your oyster... or chicken! Serve this alongside a leafy green like Swiss chard and creamy mashed potatoes for a hearty and tasty dinner.

Get the Brick Chicken recipe.

garlicky lemon baked tilapia
Parker feierbach
21 of 30
Garlicky Lemon Baked Tilapia

High-protein tilapia has a very mild flavor and is a great way to lure in non-fish eaters. We cook ours in plenty of butter, lemon, and garlic—a combo everyone can enjoy. Baking is quick and easy, plus it eliminates any chance of the fish annoyingly sticking to a skillet or grill. Win-win!

Get the Garlicky Lemon Baked Tilapia recipe.

steak grain bowls
Andrew bui
22 of 30
Steak Grain Bowls

A double-duty chimichurri acts as both a marinade for the steak and a finishing sauce for the bowls. (Just make sure to toss anything that's touched raw meat before serving!) An additional not-too-spicy jalapeño sauce provides a tangy, creamy counterpoint. Hot tip: These sauces can go on anything and everything. If you have extra, use it on some black bean tostadas.

Get the Steak Grain Bowls recipe.

grilled tuna steak with scallion sauce
Andrew bui
23 of 30
Grilled Tuna Steak with Scallion Sauce

Those who say that good things take time have clearly never grilled a tuna steak. Once the grill is preheated (be patient and let it get very hot for best results), tuna steaks take only around 5 minutes to grill!

Get the Grilled Tuna Steak with Scallion Sauce recipe.

cilantro lime shrimp wraps
Rachel vanni
24 of 30
Cilantro-Lime Shrimp Wraps

"Cilantro-lime" is a flavor profile we can never get enough of. Cilantro lime salmon, cilantro lime chicken wings, cilantro lime rice… we’ve done it all. Pretty much anything goes well with a kick from cumin, a little tang from lime juice, and fresh herby zing from cilantro, including these simple, low-carb lettuce wraps featuring quick-cooking shrimp.

Get the Cilantro-Lime Shrimp Wraps recipe.

fish tacos
Parker feierbach
25 of 30
Fish Tacos

This dish's marinade of lime juice, chili powder, and cumin is so fire, you're going to want to use it on all your proteins. (Seriously, steak or chicken marinated in it will also taste bomb.) But the real gem of this recipe is the cabbage slaw. It takes just a few minutes to toss together. and its brightness is the perfect complement to spiced cod.

Get the Fish Tacos recipe.

spinach stuffed chicken breast
Erik bernstein
26 of 30
Spinach-Stuffed Chicken Breast

Hasselback your chicken by cutting shallow slits into the breasts (don't cut all the way through!) and stuff each one with bacon and a creamy spinach and artichoke filling.

Get the Spinach-Stuffed Chicken Breast recipe.

lamb tagine
Parker Feierbach
27 of 30
Moroccan Lamb Tagine

"Tagine" refers to both the pot and the stew like dish that is cooked inside, but don't write off making a tagine if you don't own a tagine pot. We made ours in a Dutch oven, and it comes out perfectly! As long as you have a large pot with a tight-fitting lid, you'll be good to go.

Get the Moroccan Lamb Tagine recipe.

chicken fajitas
Parker feierbach
28 of 30
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!

Get the Chicken Fajitas recipe.

keto pork chops with garlicky cream sauce
Emily hlavac green
29 of 30
Keto Pork Chops with Garlicky Cream Sauce

How can something this creamy and delicious be keto?! These easy pork chops come complete with a mushroom cream sauce that you'll want to pour over everything.

Get the Keto Pork Chops with Garlicky Cream Sauce recipe.

sausage and peppers foil pack
Ethan calabrese
30 of 30
Sausage and Peppers Foil Pack

Pop these sausage and peppers on the grill for a quick meal with easy cleanup. These are great on their own but even better in a bun or alongside pasta. Perfect for a fall weeknight dinner or tailgate party.

Get the Sausage and Peppers Foil Pack recipe.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below