Today I’m rounding up some EPIC Whole30 Recipes and meal ideas featuring some of our favorite whole 30 compliant paleo recipes with some tasty bonus recipes too!
Last year I tried Whole30 for the first time and kind of loved it!
Well, after the first week of hangry chaos wore off I loved it, those first few days were crazy rough. I’m thinking another round of W30 might be in order because it has been such a great tool for me to clean up my eats!
Last time it really kickstarted my efforts to eat more whole foods and try new things. I tend to reach for carbs for their convenience factor and needed to break the habit and retrain myself to beeline for some fresh fruit, nuts, or veggies instead. It helped tremendously!
Whole30 Recipes + Meal Ideas
For those of you who are following suit, here’s a little round up of some of my favorite tasty whole30 recipes with some bonus recipes and meal ideas too!
1. Buffalo Shrimp Lettuce Wrap Tacos
These spicy Buffalo Shrimp Lettuce Wrap Tacos are fast, flavorful, and ready to Taco Tuesday your face off! Each tasty taco is gluten-free, paleo-friendly, and Whole30 compliant using clarified butter or ghee to make the crazy easy two-ingredient buffalo sauce.
Looking for more taco night fare while on Whole 30? Both my Taco Stuffed Sweet Potatoes and Baked Bell Pepper Tacos can be easily made dairy-free and legume-free by choosing compliant toppings for your taco boats. I made these bad boys a LOT when I was doing my month-o-paleo meals and loved them so!
2. Chimichurri Cauliflower Steaks
These tasty cauliflower “steaks” make an awesome vegetarian or vegan main dish and a pretty baller side dish for everyone else!
I love mine with extra chimichurri sauce and you can even use my Cilantro Chimichurri Sauce in place of the traditional parsley sauce. It’s great both ways!
3. Healthy Tomato Cucumber Avocado Salad
This super-simple salad was the highlight of my recent Whole30 + Paleo escapades! It pairs great with EVERYTHING!
My favorite is to pair it with Crispy Roasted Chicken Thighs (don’t skip the Free marinade here – SO GOOD!) and cauliflower rice. Roasted green beans also make a stellar addition to the mix – just toss them on the sheet pan with the chicken for an extra serving of veggies.
I’ll make a big batch of the salad, sides, and main and enjoy it as prep-ahead lunches for a few days to save on time and prevent myself from getting crazy #hangry on W30.
4. 10-Minute Marinated Mushrooms
Finding a Whole30 compliant snack is hard, yo!
My favorite snacks to stay on track are sea salt roasted almonds, fresh fruit, and these insanely addictive marinated mushrooms. As written, there’s an optional sweetener to cut the heat of the mushrooms in the recipe, so simply opt out of this addition and you’re good to go. Make them mild with less red pepper flakes or amp up the heat with extra – they’re great both ways!
5. Smoky Chipotle Turkey and Sweet Potato Chili
Chili is a Whole 30 staple and we’re nuts about this Smoky Chipotle Turkey and Sweet Potato Chili! This uber easy and crazy flavorful chili recipe has both Instant Pot and stove top instructions. I love it topped with fresh cilantro and a little bit of homemade Pico de Gallo.
I also make a pretty baller Harissa Turkey Chili too!
6. Chicken Zoodle Soup
Short on time? Try this speedy chicken zoodle soup! One pot and 15 minutes are all you need to make this delicious dish featuring spiralized zucchini noodles and spicy chicken broth. As an added bonus, each serving of this healthy + delicious soup clocks in under 300 calories. Jackpot!
No spiralizer? No problem! Use a veggie peeler to make zucchini ribbons for your soup.
7. Healthy Whole30 Carrot Slaw
This sassy slaw pairs crunchy carrots, cabbage, and radish with a hearty sprinkling of green onion and the most addictive dressing rich in tasty ginger and citrus notes. Tangy with a kiss of natural sweetness, the dressing is KEY for a good slaw and this one totally rocks my socks! This healthy carrot slaw is one of my favorite whole30 recipes!
8. Strawberry Steak Salad
Ready in under 25 minutes, this Strawberry Steak Salad is quick and easy enough for lunch or weeknight dinner! It’s a little bit sweet, a little bit savory, and a whole lot of deliciousness in every bite! Use your favorite compliant balsamic dressing and get ready for a salad that’s tasty and filling!
9. Buffalo Shrimp Spaghetti Squash Boats with Whole30 Ranch
This crazy delicious Buffalo Shrimp Spaghetti Squash with Paleo Ranch Dressing is Whole30 compliant and gloriously gluten-free. Love it so!
I took my go-to ranch dressing recipe and swapped coconut milk for the buttermilk and HOLY COW the results were amazing. I’m not sure I ever want to go back to making non-paleo ranch dressing now… it’s just so stinkin’ tasty!
10. Easy Deviled Eggs
Deviled eggs are one of those appetizers that completely rocks my socks. I love to bring them along for parties and brunches and honestly, my family loves them so much that I’ll often make a small tray for us to scarf just because.
To make these Whole30 friendly simply use a compliant mayo (you can use store bought or homemade – whatever floats your boat!) and get ready to faceplant! Sometimes i’ll even get fancy and top them with some crispy bacon and jalapeños. Delish!
Looking for a few extra meal ideas to keep you on track?
These are super simple + delicious:
- roasted spaghetti squash topped with chili
- grilled chicken/steak with quick fridge pickled veggies
- baked sweet potatoes with wilted spinach, salsa, + guac
- scrambled eggs and sausage with roasted red potatoes
- grilled salmon with strawberry salsa
- sautéed zucchini topped with taco-seasoned ground turkey
- grass-feed steak with roasted asparagus and carrots
- chicken salad or tuna salad on a bed of greens with pickled banana peppers + tomato
- big green salads with all your favorite veggies
My healthy one-pot chicken and vegetable soup is an easy weeknight dinner that is great for meal-prep + even better the next day! To keep it Whole30 compliant, simply skip the beans and corn. You can even add extra chicken, carrots, and onion if you’d like. In about 35 minutes you’ll have a tasty chicken soup that’s loaded with veggies. Planning ahead makes this an easy heat-and-eat option that’s waiting for me int he fridge and it’s even freezer friendly too!
One of my favorite hacks for getting through Whole 30 without tiring of my meals is to go condiment crazy! I love putting salsa, guac, and pico on pretty much everything in sight. Here are a few of our favorites topping recipes:
Strawberry Salsa
- 5-7 ripe strawberries
- 1/4 cup minced red onion
- 1 jalapeño
- juice of 1/2 lime
- drizzle of avocado oil or evoo
- fresh cilantro, to taste
- pinch of salt
Hull and chop strawberries and combine with minced onion. Remove stem, seeds, and ribs from jalapeño, mince, then add to your salsa. Add juice of half a lime, a drizzle of evoo or avocado oil, and as much fresh cilantro as you’d like! Add a pinch of salt (adjust to taste) and toss it all together. Serve over protein or salad + enjoy! You can even add chopped pineapple or mango here – it’s amazing!
Guacamole
- 2 medium-large ripe avocados (peel + pit removed)
- 1-2 TBSP minced red onion
- 1 TBSP chopped fresh cilantro
- 1/2 a medium jalapeno, chopped + seeds/stem/veins removed
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/8-1/4 tsp cumin
- 1/8-1/4 tsp salt
Sometimes I drizzle a little salsa verde into my guacamole to keep things interesting! YUM!
Mango Jalapeno Salsa
- 1 cup chopped ripe mango
- 1/2 cup bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 a medium jalapeno, chopped + seeds/stem/veins removed
- 2 TBSP fresh lime juice
- 1/2 TBSP fresh cilantro, plus extra to garnish
- salt, to taste
Pico de Gallo
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 1/2 cup diced tomato
- 1/8-1/4 cup diced jalapeno
- juice of 1/2 a lime, or to taste
- 1/8 tsp sea salt
- fresh chopped cilantro
- dash of hot sauce (optional)
Stay tuned for more meal ideas and whole30 recipes too. I’ve got a few amazing eats awaiting photo edits – so excited to share them!
In the throes of W30? What’s your favorite thing to make?
If you get a chance to try any of these awesome whole30 recipes, let me know! You can leave me a comment here (LOVE checking those daily!) or tag @PEASandCRAYONS on Instagram so I can happy dance over your creations. I can’t wait to see what you whip up!