Even if you consider yourself a pretty healthy eater, committing to a month of the Whole30 diet can be daunting. (Seriously, no quinoa?!) The program says hasta luego to sugar, legumes, dairy, and grains of all kinds. Cue the freak-out when you realize peanut butter is also not allowed.
No matter how beneficial Whole30 may be for your gut and your skin, like any diet or eating plan, if it requires too much effort, you're probably not going to stick with it. After all, a girl's got workouts to attend and people to see.
An ultra-nourishing, Whole30-compliant meal in under 30 minutes though? That sounds feasible. Just take some deep breaths as you prepare to say goodbye to hummus for awhile....
Originally posted January 5, 2017. Updated May 26, 2017.
Keep reading for 10 super-speedy, Whole30-friendly meals.
1. Paleo Tuna Green Chile Zoodle Casserole
This isn't your mama's tuna noodle casserole. Cotter Crunch blogger Lindsay Cotter gives the comfort food a major upgrade with canned, safe-catch tuna and zoodles in lieu of pasta, which—bonus— keeps cooking time minimal.
2. Chorizo Butternut Pizza Hash with Baked Eggs
Ordering a pie from the Italian joint down the street doesn't really fly when you're doing Whole30. Instead, Paleo Running Momma's Michele Rosen fills her skillet dish with potassium-rich butternut squash and adds both crumbled chorizo and eggs for a protein boost. No crust speeds up cooking in a big way—just be sure to double check your sausage and tomato sauce to make sure there are no added sugars (the number one Whole30 no-go).
3. One-Sheet Roasted Garlic Salmon & Broccoli
This meal is as easy as it sounds—especially considering that, besides the salmon, you likely have all the other ingredients in your kitchen already. Taesha Butler, the blogger behind The Natural Nurturer, coats her fish and veg with EVOO, garlic, and salt and pepper before popping it in the oven. And just like that, dinner's ready 15 minutes later.
4. Mango Chicken with Coconut Cauliflower Rice
No rice, no problem. Taylor Kiser of Food Faith Fitness swaps in miracle veg cauliflower for the grain so that you can enjoy the flavorful Asian-inspired dinner. Whole30 means stashing away the soy sauce away, but Kiser uses coconut aminos, which provides similar flavor with a much simpler ingredient list.
5. Ginger Garlic Shrimp Zoodle Bowl
Samantha Rowland—AKA Pancake Warrior—tosses spiralized zucch' with asparagus and red pepper, and finishes the dish with shrimp that are sautéed in garlic and ginger. This veggie-packed dinner can be made in 10 minutes—one of the fastest on this list!
6. Creamy Spiced Apple Pecan Chicken
Wholesomelicious blogger Amy Rains proves that you don't have to give up sweet-and-savory flavors when you give up sugar and dairy. (Her secret weapons? Apples and coconut milk.) Plus, it only takes one pan to whip up this whole meal.
7. Tuna Poke Avocado Boats
Anya Kaats of Anya's Eats created this dish to satisfy her sushi bowl cravings, filling her avocados with tuna, macadamia nuts, cucumbers, sesame seeds, and sesame oil. Your Instagram and your taste buds will thank you for this one.
8. Pesto Frittata
Eggs are a staple in many healthy diets, and Whole30 is no different. The easy protein fix makes for a 5-ingredient, 15-minute meal. One caveat: Make sure you reach for a dairy-free pesto. Becky Winkler, the blogger behind A Calculated Whisk, likes to make her own, but any dairy-free version will do in a pinch.
9. Cod en Papillote with Potatoes, Asparagus, and Scallion Pistou
Cooking everything in parchment paper is a genius—not to mention speedy—way to cook all the components of your meal at once. No wonder it's a weeknight staple for A Better Happier St. Sebastian blogger Jillian Guyette.
10. Vietnamese Meatball Bowls
If you were a grain bowl devotee prior to starting the Whole30, cauliflower rice has your back. The grain-free rice replacement, flavored here with turmeric, scallions, and broth, serves as a hearty base to any dinner. Pro tip: Stacey Isaacs of There's a Cook in my Kitchen spices these Vietnamese meatballs with lemongrass paste, and though you may not have any in your kitchen, it's worth picking up a jar—the herb has major healing properties for your digestive tract.
Here's what to do after you make it through a month of Whole30. And if you're a plant-based eater who's curious about the Paleo diet, these recipes bridge the two.
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