Give 20%, Get $20
Save 20% | Free Shipping & Returns | "No Return Necessary" Money-Back Guarantee
Save 20% | Free Shipping | 100% Money-Back Guarantee "No Return Necessary" Money-Back Guarantee

20 High Protein Meal Prep Ideas for Every Meal

Evidence Based

Keeping a collection of quick and easy high-protein meal prep ideas at your fingertips makes dieting simple. 

And that’s why this article is a dieter’s best friend. 

In it, you’ll learn the best healthy meal prep proteins to add to your meals, five high protein meal prep ideas for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and more. 

Prepare to elevate your high protein meal prep with these nutritious and delicious choices.

10 Ingredients that Make it Easy to Meal Prep High Protein Food

Stocking your kitchen with the right ingredients makes it easier to meal prep high protein foods. Below is a list of healthy meal prep proteins to make meal planning a breeze:

  • Poultry: Poultry, such as chicken breasts and ground turkey, is an excellent low-fat, high-protein, animal-based protein.
  • Red Meat: Ground beef, top sirloin, and pork loin are tasty lean red meats, fantastic for protein-rich dinners.
  • Fish: Tuna, salmon, and cod are low-calorie healthy meal prep proteins rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
  • Shellfish: Shellfish like shrimp, crab, and lobster are delicious proteins perfect for a stir fry or burrito bowl.
  • Eggs: Eggs and egg whites are inexpensive, versatile, and ideal for building muscle.
  • Low-Fat Dairy: Low-fat milk, Greek yogurt, Skyr, and cottage cheese are great protein boosters for meals, snacks, and post-workout shakes.
  • Legumes: Legumes, like black beans, lentils, and peas, are plant-based proteins rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
  • Whole Grains: Brown rice, quinoa, and millet add protein and fiber to meals and snacks.
  • Nuts and Seeds: Nuts, such as almonds, cashews, and pistachios, and seeds, such as hemp, sunflower, and pumpkin seeds, provide healthy fats, flavor, and a hit of protein to salads, shakes, and bread. 
  • Vegetables: Most vegetables contain some protein and help create balanced and nutritious meals.

High Protein Breakfast Meal Prep Ideas

These high protein meal prep ideas are healthy takes on classic breakfast meals that help keep you full until lunch. Each is high in protein but low in fat and calories, making them ideal meal prep recipes for a quick, nutritious breakfast before a morning workout or meeting.

1. Cottage Cheese Pancakes

Cottage Cheese Pancakes

Picture courtesy of Hurry The Food Up

This high-protein pancake recipe is perfect for those who enjoy something sweet in the morning but don’t like the soggy texture of protein pancakes containing mashed banana.

Make a batch for the week and refrigerate them in a sealed container. When you’re ready to eat, heat them in the toaster or under the grill for a quick, tasty breakfast.

Get the Recipe

2. High-Protein Quinoa Scramble

High-Protein Quinoa Scramble

Picture courtesy of Krolls Korner

Eggs are quick and easy to cook and are an excellent meal-prep protein for breakfast. For a tasty twist on regular scrambled eggs, try this high-protein quinoa scramble. Adding cheese, quinoa, and leafy greens takes ho-hum scrambled eggs to the next level, boosting flavor, protein, and nutrition. 

Get the Recipe

3. Peanut Butter Overnight Oats

Peanut Butter Overnight Oats

Picture courtesy of Minimalist Baker

Overnight oats are a popular make-ahead breakfast for time-pressed people who want a hearty morning meal. This vegan-friendly, high-protein breakfast recipe uses peanut butter and chia seeds to pack in protein and add flavor and texture.

Get the Recipe

4. No-Bake Protein Bars

No-Bake Protein Bars

Picture courtesy of Dare Bee

If you prefer a light breakfast, these no-bake protein bars are for you. This recipe uses coconut milk (or coconut cream) to create a creamy, chewy protein bar packed with flavor. If you’re not a fan of coconut milk or want a bar with more protein and less fat, use soy, almond, or low-fat cow’s milk instead. 

Get the Recipe

5. Low Carb Crustless Quiche with Shredded Chicken and Cheese

Low Carb Crustless Quiche with Shredded Chicken and Cheese

Picture courtesy of 730 Sage Street

This low-carb, protein-rich quiche is a delicious way to use your leftover chicken. It’s also an easy meal prep recipe you can make ahead for those mornings when you have less than 20 minutes to get out the door. 

Store your cooked quiche in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, and reheat in the microwave before eating.

Get the Recipe

High Protein Lunch Meal Prep Ideas

Elevate your lunch game with these delicious high protein meal prep ideas. From simple salads to scrumptious sandwiches, these high protein meal prep recipes satisfy hunger without weighing you down. 

1. Shredded Chicken Chickpea Salad

Shredded Chicken Chickpea Salad

Picture courtesy of Ambitious Kitchen

Canned chickpeas and leftover chicken make great protein meal prep ingredients for a quick and easy lunch. This salad is flavorful, high in protein, and low in calories. It also makes a great brown bag lunch to take to work.

Get the Recipe

2. Tomato Bun Tuna Melt

Tomato Bun Tuna Melt

Picture courtesy of Delish

The tomato bun tuna melt is a low-carb, high-protein meal prep idea inspired by the classic tuna melt. Canned tuna is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, an essential nutrient that may help you build muscle

Get the Recipe

3. Smoked Ham & Hard-Boiled Egg Salad

Smoked Ham & Hard-Boiled Egg Salad

Picture courtesy of The Healthy Foody

Many people wrongly overlook ham as a protein meal prep option. This ham and hard-boiled egg salad recipe is quick and light and includes a variety of ingredients, making it easy to modify to make your own. You can also replace the ham with other proteins like roast beef or pork. 

Get the Recipe

4. Best Veggie Burger

Best Veggie Burger

 

Picture courtesy of Cookie + Kate

These veggie burgers are made from a tasty mix of quinoa, black beans, oats, sweet potatoes, fresh herbs, and a blend of seasonings, giving them the perfect balance of sweet and spicy.  Better yet, you can whip up this high-protein meal prep recipe in 20 minutes or less.

Get the Recipe

5. Light Beef Sliders

Light Beef Sliders

Picture courtesy of Laloosh

Burgers are a lunchtime favorite. These healthy meal prep beef sliders combine savory mushrooms with ground beef to cut calories and boost nutrition, though you can also use ground turkey or ground chicken if you prefer poultry over red meat.

Get the Recipe

High Protein Dinner Meal Prep Ideas

Revitalize your dinner routine with these great high protein meal prep recipes. From mouth-watering steak to hearty vegetarian options, these high protein meals make healthy eating easy, especially on busy weeknights. 

1. Turkey Chili with White Beans

Turkey Chili with White Beans  

Picture courtesy of Epicurious

Chili is a hearty comfort food you can make ahead of time, so it’s ready to go on weeknights when you’re low on energy. This turkey chili provides more than 30 grams of protein per serving, making it a great high protein meal prep recipe. Pair it with cauliflower rice for a low-calorie and nutrient-dense side dish.

Get the Recipe

2. Pressure Cooker Japanese Seafood Curry

Pressure Cooker Japanese Seafood Curry

Picture courtesy of Just One Cookbook

This Japanese seafood curry recipe is great because the pressure cooker does all the work. With a mix of clams, scallops, and shrimp, this high-protein meal provides 53 grams of protein per serving and a ton of flavor. 

Get the Recipe

3. Garlic-Lime Skirt Steak with Veggies

Garlic-Lime Skirt Steak with Veggies

Picture courtesy of Paleo Newbie

Steak is the star in many great high protein recipes, but it’s not the easiest meat to cook. Skirt steak is an exception. Cutting the steak into thin strips allows it to cook faster and stay tender.

Get the Recipe

4. Spicy Green Bean Salad with Sesame-Lime Tofu

Spicy Green Bean Salad with Sesame-Lime Tofu

Picture courtesy of Serious Eats

This spicy green bean salad is an outstanding plant-based high protein meal prep idea for easy dinners during the week. Simply broil the tofu, cook the vegetables, make the dressing, mix it all together, divide it into meal prep containers, and refrigerate.

Get the Recipe

5. Asparagus Sweet Potato Chicken Skillet

Asparagus Sweet Potato Chicken Skillet

Picture courtesy of Primavera Kitchen

Sweet potatoes and asparagus are healthy ingredients that go well with almost any meal prep protein. Cut the chicken breasts, sweet potatoes, and asparagus into small pieces to prepare a week’s worth of high-protein dinners in about 30 minutes.

Get the Recipe

High Protein Meal Prep Ideas: FAQs

FAQ #1: How do I meal prep high protein meals?

Here’s a 5-step process for meal prepping high-protein meals:

  1. Calculate your calories and macros using the Legion Macro Calculator.
  2. Use the high protein meal prep ideas above to create a 7-day breakfast, lunch, and dinner menu.
  3. Decide which day (or days) you’d like to cook your meals.
  4. Buy everything you need to make your high-protein meals in time for your “prep day.”
  5. Prepare, cook, and store your week’s meals.

And if you’d like a more in-depth guide to meal prepping high protein meals, check out this article:

Meal Prep Made Easy: How to Make the Perfect Meal Prep

FAQ #2: What are some meal prep ideas high in protein for people on a budget?

You don’t need to spend a lot to enjoy high-protein meals. Affordable cuts of meat like London broil, top round roast, chicken leg or thigh, and pork loin roast are budget-friendly meal prep ideas high in protein. 

Likewise, canned tuna and salmon cost less than fresh fish and have a significantly longer shelf life.

Plant-based proteins are another low-cost option for meal prep ideas high in protein. Beans, lentils, and peas are inexpensive and add a lot of nutritional value. 

FAQ #3: What are some high protein meal prep ideas for people eating 120 grams of protein per day?

Since most people eat 3-to-5 meals daily, look for high protein meal prep ideas that provide about 25-to-40 grams of protein per serving. Any of the high protein meal prep recipes above are a good place to start. 

FAQ #4: Which vegetables are high in protein for meal prep?

The 10 best vegetables to use for high-protein meals are:

  1. Lima beans
  2. Soybean sprouts
  3. Green peas
  4. Spinach
  5. Corn
  6. Asparagus
  7. Artichokes
  8. Brussel sprouts
  9. Mushrooms
  10. Broccoli 

FAQ #5: Can vegans do high protein meal prep?

Yes, vegans can do high protein meal prep with proper planning. Great high protein meal prep recipes for vegans should center around healthy plant-based high-protein foods, such as tofu, tempeh, and edamame; legumes, like black beans and lentils; and nuts and seeds like almonds, chia seeds, and hemp seeds.

And if you want to learn more about high-protein meal prep ideas for vegans, check out this article:

11 Awesome Vegan Recipes

Want to know how to build muscle and lose fat eating delicious foods like these?

"Dieting" doesn't have to suck. You CAN eat foods you like and have the body you want!

Click Here to Learn How

OVER 100,000 PEOPLE HAVE USED MY COOKBOOK TO GET THE BODY THEY WANT EATING THE FOODS THEY LOVE. WILL YOU BE NEXT?

What if I told you that just about everything magazines and trainers “teach” you about dieting is wrong?

What if you could build muscle and lose fat eating “naughty” foods every week?

What if you didn’t have to suffer through low-carb dieting to get lean? In fact, what if you could eat all the carbs you wanted?

And what if you didn’t have to gorge yourself just to gain muscle and didn’t have to put on pounds and pounds of ugly fat, either?

In short, what if I told you that proper dieting--whether you want to maximize fat loss or muscle growth--is much simpler and more enjoyable than you’ve been led to believe?

Imagine eating delicious, filling meals every day...never feeling starved or stuffed...having great energy levels and workouts...and watching your body respond exactly as you desire, dropping fat or adding muscle each and every week.

And imagine finally understanding how proper dieting really works, never again falling for the BS, tricks, and gimmicks pushed by “gurus” and other shysters.

Well, I have good news.

All these “fantasies” can be a reality...if you know how to do a handful of “little” things correctly.

You see, when you know how to diet properly--and this doesn’t mean learning to eat boiled chicken and raw broccoli six times per day--getting lean and muscular becomes simple, convenient, and dare I say...enjoyable.

And this book will show you the way.

If you enjoyed this article, get weekly updates. It's free.

100% Privacy. We don't rent or share our email lists.

You May Also Like

Our Most Popular Evidence-Based Articles

You don't need supplements to build muscle, lose fat, and get healthy. But the right ones can help.

Take our 60-second quiz now to learn which supplements can help you achieve your fitness goals faster.

Take the Quiz No thanks, I don't want help choosing supplements.

Follow the Diet Plan that Helped Nikita Lose 15 Pounds in 3 Months

"I never thought getting in shape would be this simple! Everything just WORKS when you follow this plan." And if he can do it, why not you?

Take the Quiz No thanks, I don't want to lose weight or build muscle.

Our "No Return Necessary"
Money-Back Guarantee

If you don’t like something of ours, guess what happens next?

No, we don’t request you deliver it to a PO box in the Gobi Desert by carrier pigeon. Nor do we ask you to fill a cursed inkwell with orc’s blood and demon saliva and then use it to complete reams of return forms written in ancient Cyrillic script.

We just . . . wait for it . . . give you your money back. Holy moo cows. And that means you can say "yes" now and decide later.

Free Worldwide Shipping & Returns

Many companies use shipping and handling fees to increase their profit margins, but here at Legion, we hate profits, so our shipping is free!

Okay, so we do dig on profits, but we also go in for happy customers, and free shipping works like gangbusters. So, if you live in the United States, your order ships free regardless of order size, if you live in the UK or Canada, your order ships free when it’s over $99, and if you live elsewhere, your order ships free when it’s over $199.

Also, if you don’t absolutely love our stuff for whatever reason, we don’t request you deliver it to a PO box in the Gobi Desert by carrier pigeon.

We just . . . wait for it . . . give you your money back. No returns. No forms. No nonsense. Holy moo cows.

That means you can say “yes” now and decide later. You really have nothing to lose.

Free Worldwide Shipping & Returns

Many companies use shipping and handling fees to increase their profit margins, but here at Legion, we hate profits, so our shipping is free!

Okay, so we do dig on profits, but we also go in for happy customers, and free shipping works like gangbusters. So, if you live in the UK or Canada, your order ships free when it’s over $99.

Why the restriction on international orders? Unfortunately, shipping abroad is very expensive, and if we didn’t require a minimum order size, we’d lose a lot of money. But! We're also hustling to improve our international logistics and will be passing our savings along to our international customers.

Also, if you don’t absolutely love our stuff for whatever reason, we don’t request you deliver it to a PO box in the Gobi Desert by carrier pigeon.

We just . . . wait for it . . . give you your money back. No returns. No forms. No nonsense. Holy moo cows.

That means you can say “yes” now and decide later. You really have nothing to lose.

Free Worldwide Shipping & Returns

Many companies use shipping and handling fees to increase their profit margins, but here at Legion, we hate profits, so our shipping is free!

Okay, so we do dig on profits, but we also go in for happy customers, and free shipping works like gangbusters. So, if you’re outside the USA, your order ships free when it’s over $199.

Why the restriction on international orders? Unfortunately, shipping abroad is very expensive, and if we didn’t require a minimum order size, we’d lose a lot of money. But! We're also hustling to improve our international logistics and will be passing our savings along to our international customers.

Also, if you don’t absolutely love our stuff for whatever reason, we don’t request you deliver it to a PO box in the Gobi Desert by carrier pigeon.

We just . . . wait for it . . . give you your money back. No returns. No forms. No nonsense. Holy moo cows.

That means you can say “yes” now and decide later. You really have nothing to lose.

Clinically Effective Ingredients & Doses

Many ingredients in supplements don’t have any scientifically validated benefits, and many ingredients that do are often underdosed to the point of irrelevance.

That’s why we only use the choice ingredients and precise doses shown to be effective in peer-reviewed scientific studies.

Clinically Effective Doses

You need more than great ingredients to make great products—you also need proper doses. That’s why we use the precise doses of ingredients shown to be effective in peer-reviewed scientific studies.

Natural Ingredients

“Natural” doesn’t always mean “better,” but in many cases, natural ingredients are superior to artificial ones for various reasons, including purity, safety, and efficacy.

That’s why all of our ingredients in all of our products come from plant and animal sources, including sweeteners, colors, and flavors.

Made in USA with Globally Sourced Ingredients

If you want to ensure the supplements you’re swallowing every day are safe and effective, you want products produced in the USA.

That’s why all of our supplements are made in America in NSF-certified and FDA-inspected facilities that operate in accordance with the Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) regulations.

Lab Tested

Did you know that supplements can contain dangerously high levels of toxins like lead, arsenic, and cadmium?

That’s why we test every ingredient of every supplement we produce for heavy metals, microbes, allergens, and other contaminants and ensure they meet the strict purity standards set by the FDA.

Naturally Sweetened & Flavored

While artificial sweeteners may not be as dangerous as some people claim, studies suggest that regular consumption of these chemicals may indeed be harmful to our health.

That’s why all of our supplements are naturally sweetened and flavored and contain no artificial food dyes, fillers, or other unnecessary junk.

Science-Backed Ingredients

Many ingredients in supplements don’t have any scientifically validated benefits. That’s why we only use choice ingredients shown to be effective in peer-reviewed scientific studies.

No Chemical Junk

“Natural” doesn’t always mean “better,” but in many cases, natural ingredients are superior to artificial ones for various reasons, including purity, safety, and efficacy.

That’s why all of our ingredients in all of our products come from plant and animal sources, including sweeteners, colors, and flavors.

Special Offer! Special Offer! Special Offer!

Wait!
Want to save 50% on your order of Legion supplements?

Use code NASM25 at checkout!

Buy one supplement, get one 50% off when you use code LEGION10 at checkout.

No thanks, I don't want to save on my order.

Smiling woman showing a Legion supplement Smiling woman showing a Legion supplement

We Missed You!

Enjoy 20% off your next order with code COMEBACK20.

No thanks, I don't want to save on my order.

Buy now, pay later.


Split your entire online purchase into 4 interest-free payments, over 6 weeks with no impact to your credit.

payment break down 25% today, 25% 2 weeks, 25% 4 weeks, 25% 6 weeks

25%
today

25%
2 weeks

25%
4 weeks

25%
6 weeks

Here's how to Sezzle


Step 1 - shop the store

Shop

Shop and add items to your cart as normal!

Step 2 - checkout at the store

Checkout

Choose Sezzle at Checkout! You’ll be redirected to Sezzle to Sign Up or Log In to complete your order.

Step 3 - Select Sezzle and Sezzleit

Sezzle it

Your order will be shipped out right away* and your payments will be split up over 6 weeks.

*shipping times subject to merchant shipping policy

Download the App


Shop directory. Reschedule payments. Plus more!

Waiver and Release of Liability

In consideration of the services and/or products offered by Legion Athletics, Inc. (“Legion”) including, but not limited to, nutrition plans, exercise routines and coaching, and in addition to the payment of any fee or charge:

I knowingly and voluntarily enter into this waiver and release of liability and hereby waive any and all rights, claims or causes of action of any kind whatsoever arising out of my use of Legion’s services and/or products, and I hereby release and hold harmless Legion and its consultants, officers, contractors, agents, owners and employees from any and all responsibility, liability, cost and expenses, including for injuries, damages or disorders (physical, metabolic, or otherwise), resulting from my use of Legion’s services and/or products.

I understand that fitness activities including, but not limited to, strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular exercise, with or without the use of equipment, are potentially hazardous activities that involve a risk of injury and even death, and I am voluntarily participating in these activities and using equipment and machinery with knowledge of the risks involved. I hereby agree to assume and accept any and all risks of injury or death related to said fitness activities.

I understand Legion’s services and products are not meant to treat or manage any health conditions or circumstances, and I acknowledge that Legion has recommended I obtain a healthcare provider’s approval for my use of Legion’s services and/or products, through regular physical examination(s) and/or consultation. I acknowledge that I have obtained my healthcare provider’s approval or have decided to use Legion’s services and/or products without such approval and hereby assume all responsibility for my use of said services and/or products.

I understand that results from using Legion’s products and/or services are not guaranteed, and I agree to not hold Legion liable for any outcomes or lack thereof.

OUT OF STOCK

Security Check

Please click the checkbox below. We apologize for the inconvenience.

If you don’t absolutely love this product, just let us know, and we’ll give you a full refund on the spot. No forms or return necessary.

Back

Analyzed for purity and potency in a state-of-the-art ISO 17025 accredited lab by Labdoor, the gold standard of third-party lab testing.

Analyzed for purity and potency in a state-of-the-art ISO 17025 accredited lab, the gold standard of third-party lab testing.

This product doesn’t just “contain natural ingredients”—every ingredient is naturally sourced from plants and animals. This product contains no artificial or synthetic sweeteners or flavors of any kind.

Fact Checked

Our scientific review board of nutritionists, dietitians, molecular biologists, doctors, and other accredited experts is responsible for reviewing every article, podcast, and video we produce to ensure they’re evidence based, accurate, trustworthy, and current.

Thanks to their connections, credentials, and academic experience, this team of MDs, PhDs, and other professionals has access to a wealth of research published in the largest and most prestigious journals in the world.

This allows them to not only review individual studies but also analyze the overall weight of the evidence on any and all topics related to diet, exercise, supplementation, and more.

If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, misleading, out-of-date, or anything less than factual, please let us know in the comments section of the article in question.

Evidence Based

We follow a detailed, rigorous, multi-step process to create content that meets the highest standards of clarity, practicality, and scientific integrity.

First, our research associates provide our editorial team with accurate, up-to-date, proven scientific evidence.

Then, our editorial team uses this research to draft articles and outlines for podcasts and videos.

Finally, our scientific review board reviews the content to ensure all key information and claims are backed by high-quality scientific research and explained simply and precisely.

If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, misleading, out-of-date, or anything less than factual, please let us know in the comments section of the article in question.