18 Delicious Whole30 Dinner Recipes (2024)

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Designed to be a month-long reboot for your body, the Whole30 meal plan aims to cleanse and renourish your system by detoxing from packaged and processed foods.

It seems easy enough, but Whole30’s off-limits food groups — like dairy, grains, legumes, and processed sugars — can present challenges. That’s why we’ve gathered our favorite Whole30 dinner recipes that showcase all you can eat on the plan.

Think turkey, chicken, beef, pork, seafood, eggs, and tons of veggies. These recipes transform Whole30-approved ingredients into delicious dinners, using clever swaps like coconut oil, coconut amino acids, nut and seed butters, and vegetable “rices.”

If you missed our Whole30 breakfast recipe roundup, here’s a simple refresher of what the program is all about.

You might likeThese Whole30 Essentials Will Have You Thriving (Not Just Surviving)

1. Thai chicken with spicy “peanut” sauce

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A Thai-inspired stir-fry sounds healthy (veggies! meat! dairy-free!), but it can be a minefield of Whole30 no-no’s, like soy sauce, honey, and peanut butter.

This recipe gets around those roadblocks, by subbing in coconut aminos (we buy a bottle of Bragg) for the soy, a mashed date for honey, and sunflower butter for the legumey stuff.

2. Roasted lemon chicken with potatoes and rosemary

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Classic one-dish roasted chicken and potatoes doesn’t need much tweaking to become Whole30 compliant. Translation: It’s a great way to ease yourself into the plan.

Lemon, garlic, and rosemary, a can’t-be-beat combo that evokes the Mediterranean, turns this into a succulent dinner that’ll make you forget you gave up anything.

3. Chicken balance bowl

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This fresh bowl has all our salad favorites — chicken, sweet potato, and avocado — and a sauce so good you’ll want to make extra and keep it in the fridge for tomorrow’s salad.

Just double-check that jar of tahini has no added sugar, so it’s Whole30 compliant. A delicious dinner whipped up in 30 minutes? We’re sold.

4. Mango chicken with coconut cauliflower rice

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This recipe makes two clever swaps: cauliflower “rice” instead of the real grain, and tapioca flour to bread the chicken. Add ginger and trusty coconut aminos to round out this healthier version of a take-out classic. Genius.

5. Jalapeno turkey burger

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Truth: ground turkey can be blah. But not this recipe. Here, the meat is mixed with jalapeños and spices. Cooke them up, then top with guacamole, a poached egg, and salsa. No need for buns, cheese, and ketchup for these flavor bombs.

6. Grilled salmon with mango salsa

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Grilled salmon topped with mango and red pepper salsa is irresistible. There’s no restrictions on healthy fats on the Whole30 meal plan.

7. White fish fillet with braised fennel

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Thin fillets of flounder or sole work well in this dish. A fiber-rich coleslaw, and yummy slices of naturally sweet fennel make this a meal to share. The veggie components of this elegant dinner can be prepared ahead.

Cook the fish last. It will just take minutes.

8. Shrimp and asparagus stir-fry

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This is one of those great 15-minute meals to have in your back pocket at the end of the day. You can use frozen shrimp and asparagus. (Freezer restock alert.)

This brothy stir-fry uses coconut oil, and the shellfish and spears are simply seasoned with lemon, ginger, and garlic.

9. Blackened Cajun mahi mahi

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Shake up your own Cajun rub from your spice rack, or buy a prepared mix, for this blackened steak. Sear it on the stove (we love our cast iron pan), top it with sliced avocado and you’ve got the perfect entrée for an 80s themed dinner party.

10. Skillet beef fajitas

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This sizzling Tex-Mex favorite is packed with veggies and has a spicy kick. Just throw everything in a hot cast-iron pan. And make sure your veggie broth is Whole30-approved.

11. Sweet potato and pineapple beef bowls

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A hearty salad bowl based on spicy ground meat — paired with sweet, juicy fresh pineapple and mango — sings with flavor. It’s gotta be fresh. Canned fruit can have a lot of sugar.

12. Hearty vegetable soup

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This recipe makes six servings, packed with potatoes, ground beef, and chunky tomato sauce. Filling and nutritious, and ready to freeze. Hello, easy weeknight meal.

13. Pork roast with sweet potatoes, apples, and onion

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This Whole30 makeover of the classic pork and apple combo uses fresh fruit for a naturally sweet side to the roasty protein. Diced sweet potato adds satisfying carbs rich in beta-carotene.

14. Lamb, mint chimichurri, and butternut “rice”

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Cauliflower isn’t the only veggie you can morph into rice-like granules. Butternut squash also makes an awesome substitute for the grain. Here it’s made all buttery and wonderful with ghee.

With tender, grilled lamb, drizzled with a fresh, minty chimichurri, this is dinner party-worthy stuff.

15. Tomato basil beef goulash with eggplant

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Hungarian goulash takes a page out of an Italian cookbook in this blogger’s version. Here the dish’s trademark paprika is swapped out for basil and garlic.

Whisking in the cream from the top of a can of coconut milk makes it extra luscious while keeping to the Whole30’s no-dairy rule.

16. Paleo eggs in hell

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Eating Whole30 doesn’t mean having to splurge on pricey meats and seafood. This eggs for dinner one-pan meal turns a modest ingredients into something heavenly, if your idea of heaven is a little spicy.

Leave out the bread the blogger uses to sop up the sauce. Use a spoon!

17. Zucchini noodles with everything pesto and fried eggs

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When spiralized zucchini is lathered in dairy-free pesto and topped with a fried egg, the zoodles are awesomely delicious. One warning: pine nuts can be expensive. It’s fine to sub in walnuts.

18. Slow cooker ratatouille soup

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With a whopping eight kinds of veggies, this may as well be called “the one-stop stew for your daily recommended fiber and vitamin intake” (although “ratatouille soup” gets right to the point).

This recipe makes a large batch that will cover dinner for days. Thank you, freezer.

The Whole30 diet plan opts for fresh, unprocessed foods. These 18 Whole30 dinner recipes showcase all the good things you can eat on the plan, like turkey, chicken, beef, pork, seafood, eggs, and lots of veggies.

With the clever swaps in these recipes, you won’t even miss grains, legumes, and sugar.

18 Delicious Whole30 Dinner Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Can you eat too much on Whole30? ›

There's no counting macros, calories, or anything else on Whole30, and while you're encouraged to eat until you're full, there are no restrictions on how much you can eat. You're also not allowed to weigh yourself or take measurements during the experience to keep the focus on how you feel rather than a size or number.

What is the best meat for Whole30? ›

Ideally, you should buy meat that is organic and beef that is grass-finished, but ultimately, pretty much any non-processed meat is on the table: beef, chicken, turkey, pork, lamb, duck, you name it. Bacon, cold cuts, or other processed meats are no-nos.

What to do after day 30 of Whole30? ›

Here is our recommended Fast Track Reintroduction schedule:
  1. Days 1–30: Original Whole30 elimination.
  2. Day 31 (optional): Reintroduce added sugar all by itself.
  3. Days 32–33: Back to Whole30 elimination.
  4. Day 34: Reintroduce legumes all by itself.
  5. Days 35–36: Back to Whole30 elimination.

What foods are off limits on Whole30? ›

For 30 days, you will cut out all grains, legumes, soy, dairy, alcohol, added sugars, artificial sweeteners, and processed foods containing any of these ingredients; and load up on all sorts of vegetables, fruits, eggs, quality meats and fish, nuts, seeds, and healthy fats.

What is the one bite rule on Whole30? ›

One bite of pizza, one spoonful of ice cream, one sip of beer within the 30-day period and you've broken the 'reset'—and have to start over again on Day 1,” Whole30 instructs.

What is the hardest day of Whole30? ›

Mentally and emotionally, we call Days 10 and 11 “the hardest days.” This is when you are statistically the most likely to quit your Whole30.

Is canned tuna Whole30 compliant? ›

Canned tuna – If you are on a Whole30, just double-check the ingredients. A lot of canned tuna contains soy (look for the “CONTAINS SOY” disclaimer below the ingredients), which is not Whole30 compatible. My Walmart has a store brand that is compatible, as well as I can find it fairly affordably at Winco.

Are pickles OK on Whole30? ›

Yes, both pickles and bananas are allowed on Whole30. Yet if they are a potential trigger food for you (for instance, the sweetness of bananas sets off a craving for other treats or makes you want to binge on the fruit), then you may consider including them on your “don't eat” list.

Why do I feel so bad on Whole30? ›

In the first week or so on the Whole30 diet, your body is adjusting, physically and psychologically, which can lead to needing some major down-time. Around day six is when exhaustion and cravings typically hit their hardest, Hartwig says. That's because your body has been so reliant on using sugar, not fat, for energy.

How much weight can you lose on Whole30 in a month? ›

Whole30 is a great way to reset your eating habits and jump start your weight loss journey. While results will vary from person to person, many people report losing 10-15 pounds in the first month.

Do you actually lose weight on Whole30? ›

Whole30 has gained a reputation as an effective program for weight loss and overall health improvement. Many individuals have reported successful weight loss outcomes while following the Whole30 guidelines.

What fruit is Whole30 compliant? ›

All fruit, including dates, are allowed on your Whole30. They're a great way to add that hint of sweetness to a sauce, or to stuff with almonds and wrap in (compatible) bacon as a fancy-schmancy appetizer. But please, no processed date syrup.

Is monk fruit Whole30 compliant? ›

(Even in regions where it's grown, it's rarely eaten fresh since it ferments and grows rancid quickly after it's harvested.) For those reasons, monk fruit is considered a sweetener and not a true “fruit,” and is not compatible in any form during your 30-day elimination.

Is almond milk allowed on Whole30? ›

It's got only four ingredients: water, organic almonds, organic acacia gum, and sea salt. You've seen this in literally every grocery store, and now you know: Yes, you can drink it while doing Whole30. Silk's unsweetened vanilla carton is fair game, too.

What happens if I cheat on Whole30? ›

Since the Whole30 diet is more of a food challenge than a long-term change, there are some hurdles. The Whole30 diet has strict rules. The overall goal is to restrict your eating. So, if you “cheat” on a day of your challenge, they recommend you start again from day one.

How long does the Whole30 hangover last? ›

As the Whole30 book predicts, the first two weeks of the diet are painful. Days 2 and 3 are called “The Hangover” because your body experiences soreness, headaches and fogginess from sugar and carbohydrate withdrawals. And it doesn't stop after the first few days.

Can you eat too many potatoes on Whole30? ›

It is possible to go overboard on pretty much everything, including tons of foods that have always been allowed on the Whole30. True, for most people, it is probably suboptimal to eat too many potatoes. But then, it's also not great to overuse nut butters, or dried fruits, or red meats, or any number of other foods.

Does Whole30 mess with your metabolism? ›

“[Restrictive diets] can slow your metabolism and are not meant to be a permanent way of eating. Nutrient deficiencies can be a concern, and putting yourself at risk for this is a no-no,” Khorana said. Whole30 is not designed to be a quick weight-loss solution, either.

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