Are you looking for the best Whole30 recipes? We’ve got you covered. But first, what is Whole30 eating?
There are tons of diet options out there. If you’re trying to lose weight, you can try Noom, paleo, keto, Weight Watchers, the Mediterranean Diet, and more. However, the Whole30 Diet is about more than just weight loss. The Whole30 way of eating allows you to detoxify your body from processed foods.
Whole30 is an eating plan that lasts for a month (30 days) and promotes clean eating. This way of eating emphasizes the elimination of certain foods, including sugar, alcoholic beverages, rice (except for cauliflower rice), peanut oil, cereals, pasta, wheat, artificial sweeteners, peanut butter, beans (you can have green beans and most peas), legumes, grains, food additives, and most dairy products (you can have butter).
Embarking on a Whole30 journey can be both exciting and daunting, as it requires commitment and dedication to make significant dietary changes for 30 days. The Whole30 program emphasizes consuming whole, unprocessed foods while eliminating sugar, alcohol, grains, legumes, and dairy, with the goal of improving health and identifying possible food sensitivities. The key to a successful Whole30 experience lies in the recipes: delicious, nutritious, and satisfying meals that will keep you on track throughout the challenge.
To make the most of the Whole30 program, it’s essential to have an arsenal of tasty and healthy recipes at your disposal. From colorful salads to succulent meats and hearty breakfast options, the variety of Whole30-compliant recipes ensures that boredom will never be an issue. Incorporating a wide array of fresh produce, lean proteins, and wholesome fats ensures a balanced meal plan that supplies the body with essential nutrients.
The key to the Whole30 diet is that no cheating is allowed. If you fall off and eat something that’s not allowed on the diet, you have to start your 30 days over again.
While Whole30 rules are strict, the good news is that the creators of the diet provide you with a list of foods that are allowed on the diet, as well as a list of foods that are off-limits.
Perhaps the best part of the Whole30 meals is that you don’t have to do any tracking of calories, carbs, fat, and things like that. Just follow the list of real food and the rules.
What foods are allowed on the real food Whole30 diet? Allowed foods for a Whole30 weekly meal plan include foods that are minimally processed such as meat, poultry, seafood, fish, breakfast hash made with roasted sweet potato, Brussels sprout dishes, eggs, fruit, Whole30-compliant coconut milk, veggies, potatoes, some fruits, seeds, nuts, some brands of almond milk, zucchini noodles (zoodles), butternut squash, spaghetti squash, and healthy fat options such as plant oils, ghee, and butter.
Are you ready for some easy Whole30 recipes, including easy Whole30 dinner recipes, Whole30 breakfast options, and Whole30 lunch ideas? Let’s dive in!
Source: thebetteredblondie.com
1. Baked Crispy Chicken Thighs Recipe
In terms of Whole 30 dinner recipes, you definitely need this recipe for baked chicken thigh on your list of easy Whole 30 recipes.
Chicken thighs are one of the juiciest parts of the chicken, and chicken things are generally much tastier than chicken breasts.
These chicken things are seasoned with a special chicken spice rub. You can use a store-bought one as long as it’s sugar free.
The chicken thighs are brushed with avocado oil so that they bake up nice and crispy.
Source: realsimplegood.com
2. Coconut Lime Chicken Recipe
Do you love the flavors of lime and coconut? Then you will adore having this coconut lime chicken recipe on your list of Whole 30 chicken recipes.
This healthy chicken recipe is inspired by Thai food and flavors such as cilantro, fresh ginger, coconut milk, and garlic.
Other ingredients in this chicken dish are fresh lime juice, avocado oil, chicken broth (or chicken stock), black pepper, and sea salt.
Serve this Thai chicken over cauliflower rice or on a bed of spinach.
Source: allthehealthythings.com
3. Vegetable Curry Soup
Do you crave comfort food, even when you’re following the Whole30 diet? Most people love a comfort food meal occasionally.
This chicken soup that’s flavored with red curry sauce is ideal for those evenings when you want a steaming bowl of stew.
To make this stew, you need diced chicken breast, red onion, minced ginger, bell pepper, garlic cloves, fish sauce, red curry paste, coconut aminos, makrut lime leaves, coconut milk, chicken broth, and zucchini noodles.
You can cook this savory stew in the slow cooker or Instant Pot.
Source: wellplated.com
4. Crockpot Paleo Chili
A warm bowl of savory chili is a staple on your list of Whole30 recipes, and you can load this recipe up with tons of delicious ingredients and spices.
Make this chili with any type of ground meat, including ground beef, ground turkey, or ground chicken.
Vegetables are sweet potato, bell pepper, pumpkin puree, diced tomatoes, onion, and sliced jalapeno peppers.
You can cook this Whole30 chili recipe in the slow cooker or Instant Pot.
Source: physicalkitchness.com
5. Tropical Kale Salad
On a list of healthy recipes and Whole30 recipes, this kale salad made with tropical fruit is a wonderful surprise.
We love citrus flavors in a salad, whether it’s orange slices or grapefruit slices.
Chicken provides tons of protein in this chicken salad, and even more protein comes from the macadamia nuts.
The addition of unsweetened coconut flakes gives this fresh salad a tropical vibe. Balsamic vinegar in the chicken marinade adds tons of interest.
Source: damndelicious.net
6. Sheet Pan Chicken Fajita Dinner
One of the best things about Whole30 recipes is that you can easily pull in the delicious flavors of ethnic cuisine, including Mexican food.
With this recipe for sheet pan chicken fajitas, you can customize it as you wish.
Use onions, different colored bell pepper, garlic, and chicken for optimal flavor.
The spices and seasoning in this dish include lime juice, cilantro, garlic, smoked paprika, dried oregano, chili powder, and cumin.
Source: foodbyjonister.com
7. Cabbage with Skillet Roasted Chicken
Cabbage is a delicious vegetable, and when it’s cooked with these succulent chicken thighs, you know you’re in for a treat.
The chicken thighs are seasoned with herb de Provence, garlic powder, sea salt, and black pepper.
For the veggies, you need shredded cabbage and large slices of onion.
Fresh parsley, lemon juice, and chicken broth add tons of flavor to this green cabbage and chicken recipe.
Source: oursaltykitchen.com
8. One-Pan Sweet Potatoes and Steak Bites
Sweet potato dishes are great for people following the Whole30 way of eating, and this sweet potato dish also includes tender and juicy steak bites, along with naturally sweet bell pepper in different colors.
The cut of beef to use for this recipe is flat iron steak, but you can technically use whatever cut of beef you like.
Other ingredients in this steak recipe are bell pepper, olive oil, garlic cloves, green onions (scallions), coconut aminos, black pepper, and cilantro.
Source: nourishedandempowered.com
9. Larb Lettuce Cups
If you’re doing meal prep with the best Whole30 recipes or paleo, you need this recipe for larb lettuce cups.
The filling for these delicious little lettuce wraps is made with ground beef (or ground pork), garlic cloves, avocado oil, fish sauce, grated ginger, lemongrass, onion stalks, lime juice, lime zest, Thai chiles, Thai basil, mint leaves, and cilantro.
Wrap your filling in some big lettuce leaves such as bibb lettuce.
Source: twokooksinthekitchen.com
10. Gremolata with Crispy Roasted Potatoes
Hearty Whole 30 dinners are great, but sometimes you want Whole30 dinner ideas that are a little lighter. Or maybe you’re vegetarian or vegan and want Whole 30 dinner ideas that don’t have meat.
Gremolata gets its flavor from garlic, lemon, and parsley, and we love finding recipes that call for it.
You can use either red potatoes, white potatoes, or Yukon gold potatoes to make this dish.
To make the gremolata, use fresh parsley, fresh garlic, lemon zest, sea salt, and black pepper.
This potato dish is an excellent side dish or a great vegetarian Whole30 meal idea.
Source: 40aprons.com
11. Chicken Tenders
Can you have fast food on the Whole30 diet? You can if you plan carefully.
These chicken tenders are perfect for a “fast food” meal when you’re craving it. The secret to the perfect chicken tenders is to marinate the chicken tenders in pickle juice.
Serve your Whole30 chicken with sweet potato skins for a full meal.
Source: therecipecritic.com
12. Sheet Pan Sausage and Shrimp Dinner
How about some Cajun flavor in your Whole30 recipe collection?
This sheet pan shrimp and sausage meal is made with plump, juicy shrimp. For the sausage, you can use pork sausage, turkey sausage, beef sausage, or chicken sausage.
Veggies for this sheet pan dinner are asparagus, bell pepper, and yellow squash.
Source: recipetineats.com
13. Chimichurri Steak
For a flavorful paleo steak recipe, try this skirt steak that’s seasoned with delicious chimichurri sauce.
Other seasonings and flavors in this steak recipe are sea salt, black pepper, and red chili flakes.
For this paleo beef steak recipe, you can use skirt steak, flank steak, or flat iron steak.
Source: paleoishkrista.com
14. Roast Beef Red Curry
We love savory paleo curry, and this Whole30 curry recipe hits the spot.
To prepare this beef curry recipe, you need ground beef (ground turkey or ground chicken also work).
Other ingredients include red curry powder, garlic powder, black pepper, salt, red potatoes, onion, fresh basil beef broth (or beef stock), coconut milk, red curry paste, coconut aminos, fish sauce, and almond butter.
You can serve your beef red curry with cauliflower rice and vegetables for a complete meal. You can make this Whole30 recipe in the Instant Pot or slow cooker.
Source: paleorunningmomma.com
15. Kale Caesar Salad
Are you looking for a super easy Whole30 recipe that will completely fill you up? Try this delicious paleo kale Caesar salad with chicken.
This salad recipe is excellent for meal prep, and you can customize it with ingredients that you and your family enjoy.
To make this salad, you need fresh lemon juice, paleo mayo, coconut aminos, garlic, spicy brown Dijon mustard, sea salt, and black pepper.
Unless you’re doing paleo, you can make a pot of potato soup and serve this tasty green salad.
Source: thedefineddish.com
16. Green Curry Salmon
Fish often gets overlooked in Whole30 diets because people take advantage of being able to enjoy all of that delicious beef.
However, this paleo salmon recipe with a delicious creamy sauce may send you flying back to Whole30 fish recipes.
This recipe is full of veggies such as zucchini, mushrooms, bell pepper, green onions, bok choy, chiles, and ginger.
The sauce comes from coconut milk and fresh lime juice.
Serve your salmon with some avocado salsa for a wholesome yum meal.
Source: thymeandjoy.com
17. Tikka Masala Soup
When you’re craving Indian food, why not go with this chicken tikka masala soup?
To make this recipe, tender and juicy chicken thighs are thoroughly braised in a spicy tomato curry sauce to create a savory dish that will win you rave reviews.
Other ingredients in this soup are bell pepper, onion, potatoes, garlic, coconut cream, turmeric, garam masala, curry powder, and olive oil.
You can serve your tikka masala soup with cauliflower rice if you like.
Source: nocrumbsleft.net
18. Healthy Italian Wedding Soup
Italian flavor is perfect for the Whole30 diet because it relies on naturally good wholesome food such as tomatoes, fresh herbs, and spices.
For this Whole30 and paleo soup recipe, you need spicy Italian pork sausage (ground turkey Italian sausage works, too).
The veggies in this soup are carrots, leeks, onion, kale, and garlic.
Chicken stock (or chicken broth) adds the flavor, and fresh lemon juice makes this soup tangy.
Source: paleorunningmomma.com
19. Healthy Shepherds Pie
When you want a dinner main dish that is pure comfort food, turn to this recipe for shepherd’s pie.
For this shepherd’s pie, you need ground beef, dairy free mashed potatoes, and some veggies and spices.
The veggies include Brussels sprouts, carrots, onion, and garlic.
Use chicken broth or beef broth, along with tomato paste, to give this shepherd’s pie a delicious sauce.
To make your dairy free mashed potatoes, use full fat coconut milk and organic ghee.
Source: aheadofthyme.com
20. Curried Pumpkin Coconut Soup
When you’re doing paleo, keto, or Whole30 diets, you can eat a lot of meat. However, sometimes you just want a light soup or stew for a lunch or dinner recipe.
This pumpkin soup that’s flavored with curry and coconut milk is exactly what you need when you’re wanting something light. You can also optionally make this recipe with butternut squash.
The seasoning and spices in this soup are mild curry powder, minced ginger, minced garlic, onion, garam masala, sea salt, and black pepper.
For garnish, use cilantro and toasted sesame seeds.
Source: emilysuemiller.com
21. Carnitas with Sweet Potato Hash
This dinner recipe for sweet potato hash with carnitas is also a great Whole30 breakfast meal.
While you can certainly enjoy sweet potato hash and carnitas for dinner, feel free to add a fried egg to the center of the platter for a delicious brunch or breakfast.
Other wholesome ingredients in this sweet potato hash are bell pepper, red onion, kale, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, and pork for making carnitas.
Do you want a solid overview of a dairy free Whole30 meal plan with some great Whole 30 meals? Check out this video from real food dietitians below for some of the best Whole 30 recipes and meal ideas, including Whole30 recipe ideas for meal prep flavor, Whole30 breakfast, Instant Pot recipe ideas, and more.

Our BEST 20+ Whole30 Recipes (+Baked Crispy Chicken Thighs)
Ingredients
- 6 bone-in chicken thighs with skin
- 3 Tablespoons chicken spice rub
- 2 Tablespoons avocado oil
Instructions
- Add chicken to a large bowl with the seasoning and oil.;
- Put the chicken on a rack on a baking sheet with the skin up.
- Bake at 400°F for 50-60 minutes.
- Brush with pan juices.
Notes
Use in or with your favorite recipe.
Enjoy.