Whether you’re trying to gain muscle mass or need more energy to fuel your day, you may be trying to find ways to get more protein into your diet. Preparing a meat side dish for dinner each night can get monotonous, especially if you’re running out of ways to prepare chicken breasts or don’t always want to put a steak on the grill.
Here are five easy meat recipes to give you a weekday protein boost.
Crockpot Pot Roast
Pot roast is hearty and comforting, and you can make this main dish in a crockpot. Your dinner will be cooking while you’re working or running errands. Get a quality chuck roast and place it in your crockpot with beef or chicken broth, chopped celery, chopped onion, and chopped carrots. Add salt, pepper, paprika, garlic cloves, and a little brown sugar and water to the pot. You can also add a few bay leaves and fresh rosemary to the pot to enhance the flavor of the pot roast. Once your entree is done, you don’t need side dishes, since you’ve already cooked the vegetables with the meat. However, you can add a fresh salad to your dinner for more fiber and nutrients.
White Bean Chicken Chili
As the weather gets colder, you may be in the mood for a hearty soup or stew. White bean chicken chili is a tasty twist on traditional chili and is packed with protein. Sautee ground chicken in a pot with butter, salt, pepper, garlic, onion, and cumin. Add a can or two of cannellini beans taco seasoning. You can also add vegetables like corn, spinach, and green chilies. Serve your white chili with cornbread and/or a green salad to make your meal complete.
Turkey Meatloaf Cups
Meatloaf is comfort food for some, and it’s one of the best ways to get lots of protein in your diet. If you’re trying to control your portion sizes, you can make turkey meatloaf cups.
Add ground turkey to a bowl and season with salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, celery salt, paprika, and Worcestershire sauce. Add some breadcrumbs, chopped onion, minced garlic, and an egg or two and mix the ingredients. Grease a muffin pan and use an ice cream scoop to place one serving of meatloaf into each section of the muffin pan. Bake for about 15 minutes. While the mini meatloaves are baking, prepare a sauce of ketchup or barbecue sauce, honey, garlic, and pepper. Brush the sauce on the meatloaves and place them back in the oven for 5-10 more minutes. Serve your turkey meatloaf with scalloped potatoes and green beans for a meal that may remind you of a new and improved TV dinner.
Pan-Seared Lamb Chops
If you want a change from chicken or steak, you can serve lamb chops for dinner. For example, if you’re in the Miami area you could do a Google search for quality meats Miami so you can find the best fresh lamb chop cuts in your area.
Oil a sautee pan and place the lamb chops in. Seat the lamb chops on both sides. Top the meat with coarse salt, peppercorns, and a little coriander. Add a pat or two of butter to the pan and some fresh mint leaves. You can also add a little honey or date paste to the lamb chops since this meat tastes great with sweet flavors. The lamb chops can be served on a bed of rice and you can add a vegetable like mashed sweet potatoes or candied carrots to make the meal complete.
Lemon Butter Chicken
Instead of sauteing or baking your chicken breasts with the standard combination of olive oil, salt, and pepper, try adding a burst of flavor by cooking the chicken in a lemon butter sauce. Melt olive oil and butter in a pan on medium heat and add fresh lemon juice. Stir in a pinch of salt, peppercorns, fresh thyme, and rosemary. Add the chicken to the pan and spoon some of the liquid butter sauce over the chicken before turning the heat down slightly and covering the pan for about 10 minutes. Flip the chicken over and cover for another 5-10 minutes. Serve this tasty chicken dish with your favorite steamed vegetables and brown rice for a protein-packed, healthy meal that is low in calories and big on flavor.
These easy, healthy recipes can help you get the protein you need for your health and weight loss goals. These meat entrees can also make dinner more interesting for you and your family and allow you to explore new flavors so you can add more recipes to your repertoire.
