6 high-protein dinners
Dinners with real protein in them, and a real plate of food around that. These are the highest-protein dinners in Cookpath, sorted by the grams a serving.
CThe Cookpath kitchen9 min read · 6 recipes
Seven Spice Cheesesteak
- 25 mintotal
- 76 gprotein
- 1010kcal
- Intermediatelevel
- 4servings
Why it's here: The most protein on this list.
17 ingredients · 6 steps
Top of the list with 76 g of protein a serving, which is what 900 g of ribeye and 280 g of cheddar come to when they are split four ways. It is a cheesesteak sandwich seasoned with cumin, coriander, allspice, cardamom, chipotle, smoked paprika and garlic powder, and it comes in at 1010 kcal. Twenty-five minutes from cold pan to roll.
Brown the sliced steak in a single layer and leave it alone until you see colour underneath, then chop it with the spatula. Salt it in the pan, as the recipe says, so you add only what it needs. Fold in the vegetables, peppers and cheddar, cover with a bowl for a few minutes to melt the cheese, then flip the lot into a roll. One for a weekend with four people at the table.
Bacon Jam Smash Burger
- 45 mintotal
- 74 gprotein
- 1790kcal
- Intermediatelevel
- 2servings
Why it's here: One of the strongest on the list.
20 ingredients · 8 steps
Second on the list at 74 g of protein, and the heaviest dish here at 1790 kcal a serving. Each burger is two thin smashed patties with cheddar, a sticky bacon jam, pickles and a mayo, ketchup and mustard sauce on a toasted brioche bun. A burger that needs its own jar of jam is not a Tuesday-night burger. It takes 45 minutes and makes two.
Make the bacon jam first and cook it until it is thick and sticky. It keeps in a jar in the fridge for up to 5 days, so it can be made ahead. For the patties, get the pan very hot before you smash, because the crust forms in the first minute, and press each ball thin under baking paper so it does not stick to your tool.
Bacon Chicken Cordon Bleu
- 40 mintotal
- 72 gprotein
- 1060kcal
- Intermediatelevel
- 2servings
Why it's here: One of the strongest on the list.
10 ingredients · 6 steps
Chicken breast pounded thin to 5 to 7 mm, rolled around bacon and a stick of Emmental, then coated in flour, egg and breadcrumbs. It gives 72 g of protein and 1060 kcal a serving, takes 40 minutes and feeds two. The bacon and cheese do the seasoning, so the recipe uses no salt at all. It is rated intermediate, mostly for the rolling and breading.
Chill the wrapped rolls for 10 to 15 minutes before breading, so they hold their shape. Then fry in oil over medium heat for 10 to 15 minutes, turning carefully, or bake at 180 °C for 25 to 30 minutes, which uses less oil. Rest the rolls for 3 to 5 minutes before slicing so the melted cheese stays inside. A good pick for a dinner for two that looks fancier than it is.
Baked Sea Bass with Vegetables
- 15 mintotal
- 70 gprotein
- 750kcal
- Beginnerlevel
- 2servings
Why it's here: The fastest one here. 9 g of protein for every 100 kcal, which is very lean.
11 ingredients · 2 steps
The lightest of the high-protein dinners at 750 kcal, and still 70 g of protein a serving. It is 700 g of sea bass baked in one dish with green beans, cherry tomatoes and mushrooms, with garlic, lemon slices and thyme on top. Fifteen minutes in total, beginner level, enough for two. The method is two steps long: heat the oven, then arrange everything and bake.
Pat the fish dry before seasoning so it bakes instead of steaming. The oven goes to 220 °C and everything bakes together for 10 minutes, with the paprika sprinkled over the fish only. Check it at 10 minutes: it should flake easily. Fish cooks fast and there is one baking dish to wash, which suits a night when dinner has to happen quickly.
Beef Pares Mami
- 1 h 10 mintotal
- 70 gprotein
- 930kcal
- Beginnerlevel
- 2servings
Why it's here: A good one to have in the rotation.
19 ingredients · 6 steps
A noodle soup of seared chuck roast simmered in a sweet soy broth with star anise, garlic and ginger, served over egg noodles with bok choy, a boiled egg and fried garlic. A serving gives 70 g of protein and 930 kcal. It takes 70 minutes, but 45 of those are the beef simmering by itself. The effort is in the extras, since the noodles, greens and eggs each get their own pot.
Sear the beef on all sides first, since that builds the depth of the broth. Cook the noodles, bok choy and eggs separately while it simmers, and add the noodles to the bowls rather than the pot so the broth stays clear. Stir while pouring in the cornstarch slurry to avoid clumps. The broth keeps 3 days in the fridge, stored apart from the noodles.
Roast Chicken & Potatoes
- 1 h 35 mintotal
- 66 gprotein
- 920kcal
- Beginnerlevel
- 4servings
Why it's here: A good one to have in the rotation.
12 ingredients · 5 steps
Last on the list at 66 g of protein a serving, which is still a lot of protein for a plain tray of chicken. Pieces of chicken (1360 g in all) and baby potatoes go into one baking dish with lemon, spices, white wine, butter and thyme. It makes four servings at 920 kcal each and takes 95 minutes, though the oven does most of the work.
Marinate for at least 30 minutes, or overnight in the fridge for the deepest flavour. Spread the chicken and potatoes in a single layer so they brown rather than steam. Bake at 190 °C for 30 minutes, then turn the oven up to 200 °C, dot the butter on top and give it 30 more. Check the thickest piece has no pink. Leftovers keep 3 days in the fridge.
Protein is what keeps a dinner from turning into a snack an hour later. The dishes below each give you a large share of your day in one meal, and they do it with ordinary food: chicken, beef and fish.
We list the numbers per serving, and they are worked out from each ingredient, not guessed. If you change the serving size in the app, the amounts and the macros change with it.
High protein does not have to mean plain. The sauces and sides here carry the flavour, so the meat or fish is part of a proper dinner rather than a block of white food next to rice.
If you cook for more than one person, check the serving count on each dish. A recipe for two will not stretch to four without doubling everything, including the time in the pan.
Three things that help
Salting chicken or pork half an hour before cooking seasons it through and keeps it juicier.
A cheap probe takes the guesswork out of chicken and fish, and stops you overcooking the thing you just paid for.
A big handful of greens or a quick salad balances a heavy plate and takes two minutes.
Every dish here is in the app with timers inside the steps, servings you can change and a shopping list that builds itself.
