There’s something incredibly satisfying about digging into a hearty Paleo dinner after a long day. As soon as I start prepping the ingredients, the aromas begin to tantalize my senses. The fragrance of garlic and herbs sautéing in olive oil, the richness of sizzling meat, and the bright notes of freshly squeezed citrus fill my kitchen with an irresistible bouquet.
When I take that first bite, an explosion of flavors dances across my palate. The robust seasonings, the tender textures, and the vibrant tastes of pristine produce all meld together in perfect harmony. Each recipe showcases the natural goodness of high-quality, unprocessed ingredients, allowing their true flavors to shine through. With every savory mouthful, I’m reminded why I cherish these nourishing Paleo meals – they’re bursting with deliciousness while also fueling my body and soul.
1. Garlic Butter Steak Bites
Bold, beefy flavor with a rich garlic butter sauce.
Ingredients; Sirloin steak, butter, garlic, parsley, salt, pepper
- Cut sirloin into 1-inch cubes. Season with salt and pepper.
- Melt butter in a skillet over high heat. Add steak bites and sear for 2 mins per side.
- Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Remove from heat and toss with chopped parsley.
Cook Time: 10-15 minutes
2. Zucchini Noodles with Avocado Pesto
Fresh, creamy pesto coats zucchini noodles for a light, flavorful dish.
Ingredients; Zucchini, avocado, basil, pine nuts, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, pepper
- Use a spiralizer to cut zucchini into noodles. Set aside.
- Make pesto by blending avocado, basil, pine nuts, garlic, lemon juice and olive oil until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
- Toss zucchini noodles with pesto until fully coated. Cook Time: 10 minutes
3. Loaded Cauliflower Bakes
Crispy cauliflower smothered in cheesy bacon deliciousness.
Cauliflower, bacon, cheddar cheese, sour cream, green onions, salt, pepper
- Cut cauliflower into florets and roast at 400°F for 20 mins until crispy.
- In a bowl, mix roasted cauliflower with cooked bacon bits, shredded cheddar, sour cream, sliced green onions and seasoning.
- Transfer to a baking dish and bake at 350°F for 15 more mins until hot and melty.
Cook Time: 40 minutes
4. Beef and Veggie Stir Fry
A sizzling medley of tender beef and vibrant veggies in a savory sauce.
Ingredients; Flank steak, broccoli, bell peppers, mushrooms, garlic, ginger, coconut aminos, sesame oil, red pepper flakes
- Slice flank steak against the grain into thin strips.
- In a hot skillet or wok, stir fry the beef in sesame oil until browned. Remove from pan.
- Add broccoli, peppers, mushrooms and stir fry 2-3 mins.
- Add minced garlic, ginger, red pepper flakes and coconut aminos.
- Return beef to the pan and toss everything to combine.
Cook Time: 20 minutes
5. Paleo Shepherd’s Pie
A comforting classic with a rich meat filling topped with buttery mashed cauliflower.
Ingredients; Ground beef, onions, carrots, peas, beef broth, tomato paste, cauliflower, ghee, garlic powder
- Brown the ground beef in a skillet, drain excess fat.
- Add diced onions, carrots, peas and sauté for 5 mins.
- Stir in beef broth and tomato paste, simmer for 10 mins.
- Make cauliflower mash by steaming florets then blending with ghee and garlic powder.
- Transfer beef mixture to a baking dish and top with cauliflower mash.
- Bake at 375°F for 20 mins until lightly browned.
Cook Time: 1 hour
6. Baked Salmon with Asparagus
Tender, flaky salmon fillets baked with lemon and asparagus for a light, fresh flavor.
Ingredients; Salmon fillets, asparagus, lemon, garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper, dill
- Arrange salmon fillets and trimmed asparagus on a baking sheet.
- Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice. Season with garlic, salt, pepper.
- Bake at 400°F for 12-15 mins until salmon is opaque and asparagus is tender.
- Garnish with chopped fresh dill before serving.
Cook Time: 20 minutes
7. Spaghetti Squash Bolognese
Classic Italian meat sauce served over tender spaghetti squash “noodles”.
Ingredients; Spaghetti squash, ground beef, onion, garlic, crushed tomatoes, basil, oregano, salt, pepper
- Cut spaghetti squash in half and roast cut-side down at 400°F for 30 mins.
- In a skillet, brown the ground beef with onions and garlic.
- Add crushed tomatoes, basil, oregano and simmer for 15 mins. Season with salt & pepper.
- Using a fork, shred the strands from the roasted spaghetti squash into a bowl.
- Top spaghetti squash with bolognese sauce.
Cook Time: 1 hour
8. Coconut Curry Chicken
Chicken simmered in an aromatic Thai coconut curry sauce with vibrant veggies.
Ingredients; Chicken thighs, coconut milk, curry paste, chicken broth, bell peppers, zucchini, lime juice, cilantro
- In a skillet, sear chicken thighs in avocado oil until browned. Set aside.
- In the same skillet, cook curry paste for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add coconut milk, broth, and lime juice. Bring to a simmer.
- Add chicken and veggies back to the skillet. Simmer for 15 mins.
- Remove from heat and stir in fresh cilantro.
Cook Time: 35 minutes
9. Chili Lime Baked Cod
Flaky white cod gets a kick from chili-lime seasoning and a bright cabbage slaw.
Ingredients; Cod fillets, chili powder, lime, olive oil, purple cabbage, carrots, green onion, cilantro
- Coat cod fillets with olive oil and season with chili powder, lime zest and salt.
- Bake at 400°F for 12-15 mins until opaque and flaky.
- Make slaw by tossing shredded cabbage, carrots, cilantro and green onions with lime juice.
- Serve baked cod over the cabbage slaw. Cook Time: 20 minutes
10. Egg Roll in a Bowl
The deconstructed flavors of an egg roll – pork, cabbage, mushrooms and fresh ginger.
Ingredients; Ground pork, coleslaw mix, mushrooms, ginger, garlic, coconut aminos, green onions, sesame seeds
- Brown the ground pork in a skillet, drain excess fat.
- Add coleslaw mix, sliced mushrooms, grated ginger and minced garlic.
- Drizzle with coconut aminos and toss to combine everything.
- Cook for 5 mins until cabbage is wilted.
- Garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds.
Cook Time: 20 minutes
11. Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice
Light and refreshing cauliflower “rice” with zesty cilantro and lime flavors.
Ingredients; Cauliflower florets, olive oil, lime juice and zest, cilantro, red onion, salt
- Pulse cauliflower florets in a food processor until “riced”.
- In a skillet, sauté cauli-rice in olive oil for 5 mins, stirring frequently.
- Remove from heat and toss with lime juice, zest, chopped cilantro and minced red onion.
- Season with salt and let sit for 5 mins for flavors to meld.
Cook Time: 10 minutes
12. Sweet Potato Beef Chili
Hearty beef chili kicked up with smoky spices and sweet potato chunks.
Ingredients; Ground beef, sweet potatoes, diced tomatoes, onion, garlic, chili powder, cumin, paprika
- Brown the ground beef with diced onions and garlic.
- Add chili powder, cumin, paprika and diced tomatoes. Simmer 10 mins.
- Add peeled and cubed sweet potatoes. Simmer for 20 more mins until tender.
- Adjust seasoning as needed. Garnish with avocado or cilantro.
Cook Time: 45 minutes
13. Paleo Meatballs in Marinara
Tender baked meatballs smothered in a rich, herby marinara sauce.
Ground beef/pork, almond flour, egg, garlic, basil, marinara sauce
- Mix ground meat with almond flour, egg, minced garlic, salt and pepper.
- Form into 1-inch meatballs and bake at 400°F for 15 mins until browned.
- In a saucepan, warm marinara sauce with dried basil.
- Add baked meatballs to the sauce and simmer for 10 mins.
- Serve meatballs and marinara over zucchini noodles or roasted spaghetti squash. Cook Time: 30 minutes
14. Lemon Garlic Chicken Thighs
Juicy, flavorful chicken thighs baked in a bright lemon garlic marinade.
Ingredients; Chicken thighs, lemon juice/zest, garlic, olive oil, rosemary, salt, pepper
- Make marinade by mixing lemon juice, zest, minced garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper.
- Add chicken thighs and marinade to a Ziploc bag. Refrigerate for 30 mins to 2 hrs.
- Remove chicken from marinade and bake at 400°F for 30-35 mins until juices run clear.
- Transfer chicken to a plate and make a quick sauce in the baking dish with pan juices.
- Pour lemon garlic sauce over baked chicken thighs.
Cook Time: 1 hour
15. Bacon Wrapped Avocado Stuffed Chicken
Chicken breasts stuffed with creamy avocado, wrapped in crispy bacon.
Ingredients; Chicken breasts, avocado, bacon, lime, cilantro, garlic powder, salt, pepper
- Pound chicken breasts to flatten. Season with garlic powder, salt and pepper.
- Mash avocado with lime juice, cilantro, and season with salt and pepper.
- Spoon avocado mixture onto each chicken breast and wrap/tie with bacon slices.
- Bake at 400°F for 25-30 mins until chicken is cooked through and bacon is crispy.
Cook Time: 40 minutes
16. Paleo Burgers with Sweet Potato Buns
Juicy beef patties sandwiched between roasted sweet potato “buns”.
Ingredients; Ground beef, egg, almond flour, sweet potatoes, olive oil, salt, pepper
- Mix ground beef with egg, almond flour, salt and pepper. Form into patties.
- Slice sweet potatoes into 1/2-inch rounds. Toss with olive oil, salt and pepper.
- Bake sweet potato rounds at 400°F for 15 mins to use as “buns”.
- Grill or pan-fry beef patties until cooked through.
- Assemble burgers with beef patty between two roasted sweet potato rounds.
Cook Time: 30 minutes
17. Garlic Shrimp in Lemon Butter Sauce
Succulent shrimp smothered in a rich garlic butter and lemon sauce.
Ingredients; Shrimp, butter, garlic, lemon juice, parsley, salt, pepper
- Pat shrimp dry and season with salt, pepper, and parsley.
- Melt butter in a skillet and add minced garlic. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add shrimp in a single layer and cook for 2 minutes per side until opaque.
- Remove shrimp and add lemon juice to butter sauce. Allow to simmer for 2 mins.
- Return shrimp to skillet and toss to coat in lemon garlic butter sauce.
Cook Time: 15 minutes
18. Paleo Chicken Pad Thai
A Paleo take on the popular Thai noodle dish using spiralized veggies.
Ingredients; Chicken breast, zucchini noodles, carrots, eggs, almond butter, lime juice, garlic, ginger
- Spiralize zucchini and carrots into noodles. Set aside.
- In a skillet or wok, cook scrambled eggs and set aside.
- Sauté chicken and veggies with garlic, ginger, lime juice and almond butter sauce.
- Add zucchini and carrot noodles and toss everything together.
- Top with cooked egg, chopped cilantro and crushed peanuts.
Cook Time: 25 minutes
19. Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
Meaty portobello caps loaded with a savory filling of Italian sausage and veggies.
Ingredients; Portobello mushrooms, Italian sausage, bell peppers, spinach, garlic, basil, balsamic glaze
- Remove stems from portobellos and finely chop. Set caps aside.
- Sauté Italian sausage with chopped mushroom stems, peppers, garlic until cooked.
- Stir in spinach and season with basil, salt and pepper.
- Stuff sausage mixture into portobello caps and bake at 400°F for 15 mins.
- Drizzle with balsamic glaze before serving.
Cook Time: 30 minutes
20. Tuna Poke Bowl
A refreshing Hawaiian poke bowl with fresh ahi tuna and vibrant veggies.
Ingredients; Sashimi-grade ahi tuna, avocado, cucumber, mango, radish sprouts, coconut aminos, sesame oil, cashew nuts, edamame
- Dice sashimi tuna into 1⁄2-inch cubes and place in a bowl.
- Add diced avocado, cucumber, mango and radish sprouts.
- Make dressing with coconut aminos, sesame oil, lime juice and sesame seeds.
- Drizzle dressing over poke bowl and gently toss everything together.
- Optionally serve over cauliflower rice or mixed greens. Cook Time: 15 minutes
21. Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas
Incredibly tender, crispy-edged shredded pork with Mexican flavors.
Ingredients; Pork shoulder, orange juice, lime juice, garlic, cumin, oregano, bay leaves
- Place pork shoulder in the slow cooker and cover with orange juice and lime juice.
- Add garlic cloves, cumin, oregano, bay leaves and season generously.
- Cook on low for 8 hours until pork is fall-off-the-bone tender.
- Shred pork and crisp it up in batches in a hot skillet with cooking fat.
- Serve carnitas with avocado, cilantro, onions, lime wedges.
Cook Time: 8 hours
22. Creamy Garlic Mushroom Chicken
Pan-seared chicken with a rich, creamy garlic mushroom sauce.
Ingredients; Chicken breasts, mushrooms, garlic, coconut cream, chicken broth, thyme
- Pat chicken dry and season with salt and pepper.
- Sear chicken in a hot skillet until golden brown on both sides. Set aside.
- In the same skillet, sauté sliced mushrooms and garlic for 5 mins.
- Add coconut cream, broth and thyme. Simmer for 5 mins to thicken sauce.
- Return chicken to the skillet and spoon mushroom cream sauce over top.
Cook Time: 30 minutes
23. Grilled Vegetable Kebabs
Colorful grilled veggie skewers with a lemon herb marinade.
Ingredients; Zucchini, bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, lemon, olive oil, garlic, basil, rosemary
- Cut veggies into 1-inch pieces and thread onto skewers.
- Make marinade by mixing olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, basil, rosemary.
- Brush marinade over veggie kebabs and let sit for 30 mins.
- Grill veggie skewers for 10-15 mins, turning occasionally, until tender.
- Brush with remaining marinade while grilling for extra flavor.
Cook Time: 30 minutes
24. Coconut Lime Salmon
A tropical twist on baked salmon with coconut and zesty lime flavors.
Ingredients; Salmon fillets, coconut milk, lime juice/zest, garlic, ginger, cilantro
- Place salmon fillets in a baking dish and season with salt and pepper.
- Make sauce by mixing coconut milk, lime juice, zest, grated ginger and garlic.
- Pour coconut lime sauce over salmon fillets to coat.
- Bake at 400°F for 15-20 mins until salmon is opaque and flakes easily.
- Garnish baked salmon with fresh chopped cilantro.
Cook Time: 25 minutes
25. Beef Stuffed Peppers
Vibrant bell peppers loaded with a hearty ground beef and veggie filling.
Ingredients; Bell peppers, ground beef, onion, garlic, diced tomatoes, cauliflower rice, basil, oregano
- Cut tops off bell peppers and remove seeds/membranes. Set pepper shells aside.
- In a skillet, cook ground beef with diced onions and garlic until browned.
- Stir in diced tomatoes, cauliflower rice, basil, oregano and season with salt and pepper.
- Stuff bell pepper shells with the beef and veggie mixture.
- Place stuffed peppers in a baking dish and add a little water or broth to the bottom.
- Cover with foil and bake at 375°F for 30 minutes.
- Uncover and bake 10 more minutes until peppers are tender.
- Optionally, top with cheese or avocado before serving.
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Conclusion
With so many delectable Paleo dinner recipes at my fingertips, I never find myself bored or deprived. Instead, I’m consistently amazed by the incredible flavors and satisfying textures that can be achieved using only wholesome, nutrient-dense ingredients.
Each bite leaves me feeling nourished and energized, without any of the heaviness that often follows a meal laden with grains, dairy, or processed foods. These Paleo dinners have become a vibrant part of my lifestyle, allowing me to savor exciting culinary experiences while prioritizing my health and well-being. Eating this way is a joy that never gets old.