84 Healthy High-Protein Low-Calorie Recipes
If you’re looking for high-protein low-calorie recipes, you’ve come to the right place. I’ve rounded up 84 calorie deficit recipes, perfect for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Each one has under 500 calories and at least 30 grams of protein per serving.
Whether you’re in a calorie deficit to lose weight or just looking for recipes that fit your macros, you’ve got tons of options here. There really is something for everyone.
From breakfast bakes to chicken salads, pasta salads, air fryer bowls, and chilis and stews, these recipes are anything but boring.
In today’s world, there is SO much information available on nutrition and weight loss. You can find dozens of different protocols at just a click of a button, which can be pretty confusing.
However, it really doesn’t have to be complicated.
Eating between 1,500 and 1,800 calories a day will lead to healthy, consistent weight loss. This, of course, varies by person, but if you hit somewhere within this range, you’ll likely see weight slowly start to come off.
A good rule of thumb is to multiply your ideal body weight in pounds by 12 to find a target for your daily calorie consumption. So if your ideal body weight is 150 pounds, you should be eating around 1800 calories per day to stay in a calorie deficit.
But humans aren’t robots, and it can feel unnatural to track your exact calorie consumption every day (and it’s a bit of a pain in the ass).
A really easy solution?
Eat three balanced meals all around 500 calories, plus one or two low-calorie snacks or desserts. In total, you’ll be eating between 1,500 and 1,800 calories without obsessing over a specific number, meal times, or how many grams of fat are in your protein bar.
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High-Protein Low-Calorie Breakfast Recipes
From overnight oats to chia puddings and yogurt parfaits, all of these breakfasts are simple, packed with protein, and stay within your 500-calorie target range.
Get Your FREE 7-Day High-Protein Meal Plan
Struggling to eat enough protein? I'll send you a full week of meals with the shopping list.
You'll also get my new meal plan every Saturday. Unsubscribe anytime.
High-Protein Low-Calorie Lunch Recipes
Fair warning: I am the self-proclaimed chicken salad queen, and this section proves it. But don’t worry I’ve got some other options too.
High-Protein Low-Calorie Dinner Recipes
Dinner is very important to me, and so is having a hot meal, so you won’t find any sad salads here. These dinners might be under 500 calories, but they’re packed with flavor, have tons of protein, and definitely won’t leave you feeling like you’re on a super restrictive diet.
FAQ
Totally. If you’re looking to stay in a calorie deficit, you’re in luck. Each of these recipes has 500 calories or less with at least 30 g of protein. So if you’re eating three square meals a day, that usually adds up to about 1,000 to 1,300 calories, which leaves room for a snack or dessert while keeping you in your deficit.
Every single one of these recipes is certifiably high protein with 30 g or more per serving. Some even have 50g+.
Most of the recipes are great for meal prep, especially the breakfast ideas. Each full recipe has instructions for how to prep and store for meal prep.
Get Your FREE 7-Day High-Protein Meal Plan
Struggling to eat enough protein? I'll send you a full week of meals with the shopping list.
You'll also get my new meal plan every Saturday. Unsubscribe anytime.
More Recipes to Try
- 14 High-Protein Low-Calorie Breakfast Recipes (30g+ Protein Each)
- 7 High-Protein Low-Calorie Lunch Ideas (30g+ Protein & 500 Calories)
- 7 High Protein Low Calorie Dinner Recipes Under 500 Calories
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