13 Protein-Rich Paleo Recipes That Will Stack on Muscle

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Paleo Protein

We all know getting enough protein in our diet is essential for repairing muscle tissue damaged during exercise and for stimulating the development of new muscle tissue. Whether you’re trying to increase muscle mass or maintain the muscle you already have, protein is key. That’s where these meals come in.

Remember: The timing of your protein intake and meal spacing is crucial. Try eating four equally spaced, protein-rich meals and snacks throughout the day. There’s also a “window of opportunity” post-workout, when your body is primed to build muscle—so aim to eat a protein-rich snack or meal like one of these about 15-60 minutes post-workout.

Scroll through the gallery for 13 delicious, protein-packed Paleo recipes for optimal muscle growth that’ll keep you covered from breakfast to dinner and every meal in between.

Bayla Bryski, R.D.N., is a registered dietitian and competitive Olympic weightlifter. She specializes in sports nutrition, weight management and general health and wellness.

SEE ALSO: 9 Paleo-Friendly Barbecue Recipes

Ultimate Paleo Breakfast Sandwich

Serves: 2

Ingredients

  • 4 Portobello mushroom caps, stems removed and wiped clean with a damp cloth
  • 4 slices bacon
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 avocado, mashed coarsely with fork
  • ½ large tomato, sliced
  • 1 large handful arugula
  • 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Salt/pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 450F. Place mushroom caps on parchment-lined baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Add salt and pepper to taste.  Bake in oven for 7 minutes per side.
  2. Meanwhile, fry bacon slices in a skillet over medium heat until crispy. Remove bacon and allow to drain on a paper-towel lined plate. Add eggs to greased skillet and cook over medium-low heat until whites are set and yolks begin to thicken.
  3. On 2 mushroom caps layer avocado, tomato slices, arugula, fried egg and bacon. Top with mushroom caps.

SEE ALSO: 15-Minute Feast: All-In-One Breakfast

Zoodles with Chunky Spicy Meat Sauce

Serves: 2

Ingredients

  • 3 zucchinis, washed thoroughly and dried
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 1-2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 eight ounce cans tomato sauce
  • 10 oz grass-fed ground beef
  • ½ tablespoon garlic powder
  • ½ tablespoon chili powder
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • Dash of hot sauce
  • Salt to taste

Instructions

  1. Using a spiralizer, spiralize zucchinis and pat dry with paper towel. In a large skillet, sauté in olive oil over medium heat for 3-4 minutes. Set aside.
  2. Sauté diced onion in olive oil over medium heat for 5 minutes or until tender. Stir in ground beef and cook for another 7 minutes or until beef is no longer pink. Stir in tomato sauce and remaining ingredients. Cover and allow to simmer over low heat for 15 minutes. Serve sauce on top of zoodles.

SEE ALSO: 10 Paleo Recipes to Get You Back on Track

Banana Blueberry Protein Pancakes

Serves 8

Ingredients

  • 1 large ripe banana
  • 2 eggs, whisked
  • 2 scoops vanilla protein powder
  • ¼ cup blueberries
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon baking powder
  • Coconut oil
  • Maple syrup (optional)
  • Fresh fruits (optional)

Instructions

  1. Lightly mash the banana with a fork. Add eggs, protein powder, baking powder and cinnamon to the mashed bananas and stir to combine. Fold in blueberries.
  2. Pour about 2 tablespoons of the batter at a time onto skillet greased with coconut oil. Cook over medium heat for about 2 minutes. Flip with spatula and cook 1 minute on the other side.
  3. Optional: top with fresh fruit or maple syrup.

SEE ALSO: Vitamin Rich: Sweet Potato and Oatmeal Pancakes

Paleo BBQ Pulled Pastured Duck and Kale Sandwich

Serves 4

Ingredients

  • 8 Portobello mushroom caps, wiped clean with damp cloth
  • 1 ½ avocado
  • 1 tomato
  • 4 kale leaves, stems removed, chopped, seasoned if desired

For the pulled duck:

  • 1 whole pastured duck, rinsed and patted dry
  • 1 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • 4 garlic cloves, crushed and minced
  • 1 cup apple cider vinegar
  • ½ cup tomato sauce
  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 3 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon hot sauce
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • Salt to taste

Instructions

  1. Sprinkle duck with salt and pepper. Cook on high in slow cooker for 3 hours or on low for 5 hours.
  2. Add onion to a saucepan with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and cook over medium heat for 5 minutes or until tender.
  3. Add apple cider vinegar, garlic, tomato sauce, tomato paste, honey, black pepper, salt and hot sauce. Stir well and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer over low heat.
  4. Simmer the sauce until it starts thickening slightly (~15 minutes).  When the duck has cooled, shred the meat with two forks.
  5. Pour sauce over shredded duck.
  6. Place mushroom caps on parchment-lined baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Add salt and pepper to taste.  Bake in preheated oven at 450˚ for 7 minutes per side.
  7. On 4 roasted Portobello mushroom caps layer pulled duck, sliced avocado, tomato and kale. Top with 4 remaining mushroom caps and secure with wooden skewer.

SEE ALSO: The No-Nonsense Paleo Diet Meal Plan

Sweet Potato Kale Bacon Frittata

Serves 8

Ingredients

  • 5 slices bacon
  • 8 eggs
  • 1 large sweet potato, peeled and grated
  • 2 large handfuls kale, stems removed, chopped
  • 1 red bell pepper, sliced
  • 2 tablespoon fresh parsley
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Heat a large, oven-safe skillet over a medium heat. Add the bacon and cook until crispy then remove from heat. Add sweet potato and cook until soft, about 8 minutes.
  2. Add the kale and red bell pepper slices and cook for another 4 minutes.
  3. Meanwhile, whisk the eggs in a bowl. Season with salt and pepper and add to the cooking veggies.
  4. Add crispy bacon to skillet. Cook on low heat until just set, about 10 minutes.
  5. Finish the frittata in the oven; broil for around 4-5 minutes until golden.
  6. Cut the finished frittata into wedges. Serve with fresh parsley.

SEE ALSO: Morning Muscle Meal: Bacon and Egg Breakfast Sandwich

Lemon Parsley Salmon

Serves 4

Ingredients

  • 1 pound salmon fillet, rinsed and patted dry, cut into four 4 oz servings
  • 2 organic lemons, sliced
  • 4 tablespoons fresh parsley
  • 2 cloves garlic, crushed and minced
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 450F.
  2. Mix olive oil and garlic together and spread over fish. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  3. Add chopped parsley and top with lemon slices.
  4. Cook for 10-12 minutes or until salmon is easily flaked with a fork.

SEE ALSO: Robert Irvine’s Seared Wild Salmon Recipe

Salmon Veggie Lunch Bowl

Serves 1

Ingredients

  • 4 oz salmon, flaked (use leftovers from the previous recipe – Lemon Parsley Salmon!)
  • 2 cups mixed greens
  • 7 cherry tomatoes, sliced in half
  • ½ orange bell pepper, diced
  • ½ avocado, sliced
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • Salt/pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and enjoy!

SEE ALSO: Open-Faced Smoked Salmon Sandwich Recipe

Beef Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus

Serves 4

Ingredients

  • 1 lb asparagus spears, trimmed, rinsed and dried
  • 10 slices of grass-fed beef bacon
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp paprika

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400F.
  2. Mix salt, pepper, paprika and garlic together.
  3. Slice beef bacon strip in half lengthwise. Wrap 1 or 2 asparagus spears with a half strip of bacon in middle of asparagus spear.
  4. Lay asparagus out on a baking sheet. Sprinkle spice mixture over asparagus.
  5. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes.

SEE ALSO: Bison vs Beef: Battle of the Red Meat

Grilled Pineapple Chicken Kabobs

Yields 10 skewers

Ingredients

  • 3-4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1″ cubes,
  • 1 green bell pepper, cut into chunks,
  • 1 cup red and yellow grape tomatoes
  • 1 cup red pearl onions

Marinade Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup coconut aminos
  • 2 tablespoon honey
  • 2 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
  • 1 crushed garlic clove
  • 1 8 oz can pineapple chunks (in 100% pineapple juice)

Instructions

  1. Combine marinade ingredients including pineapple juice (but set aside pineapple chunks) in medium bowl. Reserve 1/4 cup of the marinade for glazing the kabobs after grilling. Add chicken pieces. Toss to coat and let refrigerate for 1 hour. (If using wooden skewers, make sure to soak them in water for at least 30 minutes to prevent burning on the grill.)
  2. Preheat BBQ grill to 350°. (Be sure to clean and oil your grill thoroughly before using.) Skewer alternating pieces of tomato, chicken, pepper, onion, and pineapple chunks on metal or bamboo skewers.
  3. Grill skewers for 12-15 minutes until chicken is cooked through, turning every 4-5 minutes. Brush the kabobs with the reserved pineapple marinade right before they come off the grill.

SEE ALSO: Asian-Inspired Beef and Broccoli Recipe

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Protein Balls

Yields 15 balls

Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup vanilla whey protein powder
  • 2 tablespoons coconut flour
  • 1 tablespoon coconut sugar
  • 1/4 cup almond butter (or any nut butter)
  • 2 tablespoons almond milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 tablespoons mini dark chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. In a medium sized bowl, mix together all ingredients until well combined. If cookie dough seems too wet, add more coconut flour. Fold in chocolate chips. Using your hands, firmly roll cookie dough into 15 small balls. Store in fridge.

SEE ALSO: 3 Desserts You Should Make With the New Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Quest Bar

Stacked Lamb Sliders with Sweet Potato ‘Buns’

Yields 2 sliders

Ingredients

  • 4 lamb sliders
  • 1 sweet potato, cut into round slices
  • 1/2 tomato, sliced
  • 1/2 onion, diced
  • 1/2 cup chunky guacamole
  • 6 jalapeno slices
  • Handful mixed greens
  • Olive oil
  • Salt/pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 450F. Spread sweet potato slices on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, salt, pepper and bake for about 20 minutes.
  2. In the meantime, heat olive oil in a skillet over medium high heat. Add onion and spread evenly, stirring occasionally until softened. Set aside. Add sliders to skillet with a little more olive oil and cook 2-3 min per side for medium-rare.
  3. Assemble sliders.

Chorizo salad

Yields 1 serving

Ingredients

  • 1 chorizo sausage
  • 2 cups arugula
  • 1/4 cup pomegranate seeds
  • 1/2 yellow pepper, diced
  • 1/2 avocado, diced
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • Salt/pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Broil chorizo sausage in oven for 2-3 min per side. Allow to cool and cut into small pieces.
  2. Combine arugula, pomegranate seeds, pepper, avocado, and chorizo in a bowl.
  3. Combine salad dressing ingredients in small jar: olive oil, vinegar, garlic powder, and salt/pepper. Shake vigorously and pour over salad.

SEE ALSO: 6 Alternative Protein Recipes for Packing on More Muscle

Nori Wraps with Paleo Spicy Mayo

Serves 2, yields 1 cup spicy mayo

Ingredients

  • 2 seaweed nori sheets
  • 2 oz smoked salmon
  • 1/2 avocado, sliced thin
  • 1 cucumber, peeled julienned
  • 1 carrot, peeled and julienned
  • 2 tablespoons Paleo spicy mayo

Paleo Spicy Mayo Recipe

  • 3 egg whites
  • 3/4 cups olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon vinegar
  • 1 garlic clove, peeled
  • 1/2 teaspoon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • Sea salt to taste

Instructions

  1. In a medium bowl blend all the ingredients except for the olive oil using a handheld blender. Pour in oil slowly as you are blending. The mixture should thicken after a minute or so. Adjust spices to your liking.
  2. Spread 1/2 a tablespoon of paleo spicy mayo in a thin layer across one nori sheet.  Arrange 1/2 of the smoked salmon, cucumber, carrots, avocado in a line down one side of the nori sheet. Lift the end of the sheet and roll it over the ingredients, pressing gently. Tuck in the two sides of the sheet and continue rolling forward. Do the same with remaining ingredients on another nori sheet. Slice rolls in half with a sharp knife and serve with paleo spicy mayo.

SEE ALSO: Protein in the Raw: Easy Sushi Recipe

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