18 20-Minute High-Protein Dinners That Aren’t Chicken

Reviewed by Dietitian Madeline Peck, RDN, CDN

While chicken is an excellent source of protein, it’s far from your only option. Shake up your dinner routine with these no-chicken, high-protein dinners that come together in just 20 minutes or less. With at least 15 grams of protein per serving, these meals help support muscle growth and promote satiety. Recipes like our One-Pot Broccoli-Cheddar Orzo Soup and Million Dollar Meatloaf are the perfect dinners you’ll want to have over and over again.

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01 of 18

Skillet Gnocchi with Tomatoes & Spinach

This five-ingredient gnocchi dinner is the perfect solution for busy weeknights. Shelf-stable gnocchi becomes golden and crisp in the pan before being tossed with a simple sauce of tomatoes, spinach and garlic. A dollop of creamy ricotta on top adds richness and balances the bright, savory flavors.

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02 of 18

Tilapia Fish Tacos

These refreshing and quick tilapia fish tacos are tender and packed with a flavor that will take you straight to the coast. Corn or flour tortillas work well here. We love the mild flavor of tilapia, but any white, flaky fish like cod or haddock will work well in its place.

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03 of 18

15-Minute Salmon & Creamy Orzo with Spinach & Mushrooms

In this quick dinner, salmon fillets combine with creamy orzo, wilted spinach and earthy mushrooms. Cooking the salmon at a high temperature keeps prep time quick. Look for pre-sliced mushrooms to speed it up even more.

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04 of 18

Crispy Fish Taco Bowls

The adobo sauce in a can of chipotles lends earthy heat to the crema that tops these bowls. Don’t toss out the unused peppers! Freeze them in an airtight container and pull them out to add to sauces, marinades or chili.

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05 of 18

Kimchi-Tofu Soup with Sesame & Egg

Cubed tofu soaks up the delicious aromatic broth, full of tang and flavor from prepared kimchi, garlic paste and ginger paste. Use your favorite brand of kimchi, just be sure to drain it before adding. A fried egg adds protein to this vegetarian kimchi-tofu soup. If you avoid eating seafood, look for a brand of kimchi that’s vegetarian.

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06 of 18

Frittata with Asparagus, Leek & Ricotta

Serve this spring-vegetable-loaded frittata with an arugula salad and a hunk of crusty bread. Tip: This recipe cooks quickly, so be sure to have all your ingredients prepped and ready to go.

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07 of 18

Scallops & Spring Vegetables with Olive-Caper Pan Sauce

This quick-cooking scallop dish can be on the table in just 20 minutes. Packed with vegetables, protein and a flavorful sauce, it makes a great weeknight main for two. Petite carrots are harvested before they reach full maturity, making them thin and quick cooking. Snatch some up from the farmers’ market early in the season.

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08 of 18

One-Pot Garlicky Shrimp & Broccoli

Shrimp and broccoli cook quickly in this easy one-pot recipe, perfect for busy weeknights. Serve this healthy shrimp recipe over whole-grains or rice.

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09 of 18

Veggie Grilled Cheese with Tomato Soup

Maya Feller, M.S., RD, CDN, of Brooklyn-based Maya Feller Nutrition, upgrades this popular budget-friendly combo. “Adding veggies to a classic sandwich—in this case, broccoli, zucchini and red bell pepper—boosts the nutrient density of the meal,” she says. This recipe was part of a feature story, “The Real Cost of Healthy Food.”

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10 of 18

Gochujang-Glazed Salmon with Garlic Spinach

Gochujang—a Korean red chile paste—and honey give this salmon a little bit of sweetness and a whole lot of spice.

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11 of 18

Lemon-Garlic Pasta with Salmon

Wondering what to do with leftover salmon? This is a delicious and easy way to turn it into another weeknight-friendly, quick dinner. Don’t forget to reserve some pasta water—its starch thickens the lemon-garlic pasta sauce and makes it silky-smooth.

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12 of 18

Skillet Ravioli Lasagna

This easy inside-out ravioli lasagna is the ultimate weeknight comfort food—no layering or mixing bowls required. Feel free to swap in ground turkey for the beef. Look for fresh mozzarella balls (also called “pearls”) in the specialty cheese section of your grocery store.

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13 of 18

Ground Beef & Snap Pea Rice-Noodle Stir-Fry

We’ve bulked up the serving size of this pad thai-inspired stir-fry by adding in lots of veggies like matchstick carrots, snap peas and scallions. Look for whole-grain brown-rice pad thai noodles to add another 3 grams of fiber to each serving.

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14 of 18

Spinach & Feta Scrambled Egg Pitas

This meatless dinner comes together in only 15 minutes, thanks to the convenience of frozen chopped spinach and crumbled feta. We’ve added a flavorful burst of sun-dried tomato tapenade, spread over the whole-wheat pita before nestling the scrambled eggs inside. If you can’t find tapenade, basil pesto or sun-dried tomato pesto also work well.

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15 of 18

Quick Shrimp Puttanesca

Because refrigerated fresh pasta cooks much faster than dried pasta, this Italian-inspired pasta dish will be on the table lickety-split! Puttanesca—traditionally made with tomatoes, olives, capers, anchovies and garlic—gets shrimp for extra protein and artichoke hearts to boost the vegetable servings (and the fiber!). If you can’t find frozen artichoke hearts, sub in drained canned artichoke hearts.

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16 of 18

Pork Chops with Balsamic Sweet Onions

Balsamic onions and raisins add a burst of sweet and savory flavor to pan-seared pork chops. Round out this healthy dinner recipe with sweet potatoes and green beans.

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17 of 18

Teriyaki-Glazed Cod with Cauliflower Rice

This healthy fish recipe comes together fast with just three ingredients you can always have on hand in your freezer and fridge. Store-bought teriyaki glaze makes a great marinade for cod and doubles as a sauce for the cauliflower rice.

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18 of 18

Quinoa Chickpea Salad with Roasted Red Pepper Hummus Dressing

This hearty vegan salad is loaded with plant-based power ingredients: chickpeas, quinoa and hummus. We love the crunch of the sunflower seeds and the unexpected flavor of roasted peppers.

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