Can Paleo meals be this simple?

Yes. Protein, vegetable, fat and an acid is a complete meal — everything beyond that is preference.

How do I keep simple meals interesting?

Change the cooking method and the acid. The same chicken roasted, then stir-fried, then cold in a salad reads as three meals.

Paleo Meals With Few Ingredients

Fewer ingredients means a shorter list, a smaller bill and less that can go wrong. Every meal here uses five items or fewer, not counting salt and oil.

Tips that make these work

Salt, olive oil and lemon do most of the flavour work
One spice per meal is enough — cumin, paprika or curry powder
Fewer ingredients also means less waste at the end of the week

Short-ingredient meals

Eggs & avocado

breakfast · 10 min · 20 g protein · ~420 kcal

Fry or scramble 3 eggs in olive oil, serve with half an avocado and sea salt.

Eggs, Avocado, Olive oil

Hard-boiled eggs + fruit

breakfast · 10 min · 19 g protein · ~330 kcal

Boil eggs 9 minutes in a batch on Sunday; grab with a piece of fruit.

Eggs, Apples

Berry protein smoothie

breakfast · 10 min · 22 g protein · ~380 kcal

Blend frozen berries, banana, almond butter and coconut milk until smooth.

Frozen berries, Banana, Almond butter, Coconut milk

Sweet potato & sausage hash

breakfast · 15 min · 26 g protein · ~520 kcal

Pan-fry pre-roasted sweet potato cubes with sausage and onion until crisp.

Pork sausage (no additives), Sweet potatoes, Onion, Olive oil

Spinach & mushroom omelette

breakfast · 10 min · 21 g protein · ~350 kcal

Beat 3 eggs, cook flat, fold over wilted spinach and mushrooms.

Eggs, Spinach, Mushrooms, Olive oil

Make-ahead egg muffins

breakfast · 15 min · 24 g protein · ~360 kcal

Whisk eggs with chopped veg, bake in a muffin tin 20 min, refrigerate up to 4 days.

Eggs, Bell peppers, Spinach

Smoked salmon & scrambled eggs

breakfast · 10 min · 32 g protein · ~450 kcal

Soft-scramble eggs, fold through smoked salmon and chives off the heat.

Smoked salmon, Eggs, Olive oil

Coconut chia pudding

breakfast · 10 min · 10 g protein · ~340 kcal

Stir chia into coconut milk the night before; top with berries in the morning.

Chia seeds, Coconut milk, Frozen berries

2-ingredient banana pancakes

breakfast · 10 min · 16 g protein · ~400 kcal

Mash banana into beaten eggs, cook small pancakes in coconut oil.

Banana, Eggs, Coconut oil

Steak & eggs

breakfast · 15 min · 45 g protein · ~600 kcal

Sear a thin sirloin 2 min a side, rest, serve with two fried eggs.

Sirloin steak, Eggs, Olive oil

Chicken salad bowl

lunch · 10 min · 40 g protein · ~480 kcal

Toss pre-cooked chicken with salad leaves, cucumber, olive oil and lemon.

Chicken breast, Mixed salad leaves, Cucumber, Olive oil, Lemons

Turkey lettuce wraps

lunch · 10 min · 35 g protein · ~420 kcal

Fill romaine or butter lettuce leaves with turkey, avocado and grated carrot.

Turkey breast, Lettuce (romaine), Avocado, Carrots

Tuna & avocado boats

lunch · 10 min · 34 g protein · ~430 kcal

Mix canned tuna with lemon and olive oil, pile into avocado halves.

Canned tuna, Avocado, Lemons, Olive oil

Ground beef taco bowl

lunch · 15 min · 38 g protein · ~550 kcal

Brown ground beef with cumin and paprika, spoon over shredded lettuce and salsa.

Ground beef, Lettuce (romaine), Tomatoes, Ground cumin

Chicken & vegetable soup

lunch · 15 min · 32 g protein · ~380 kcal

Simmer shredded chicken with carrot, celery and broth; freezes well in portions.

Chicken breast, Carrots, Celery, Chicken broth

Salmon & greens salad

lunch · 15 min · 38 g protein · ~520 kcal

Flake leftover roast salmon over greens with cucumber and olive oil.

Salmon fillet, Mixed salad leaves, Cucumber, Olive oil

Egg salad plate

lunch · 10 min · 24 g protein · ~400 kcal

Chop boiled eggs with avocado instead of mayo, serve over leaves.

Eggs, Avocado, Mixed salad leaves

Shrimp & zucchini noodles

lunch · 15 min · 34 g protein · ~400 kcal

Sauté shrimp with garlic, toss through spiralised zucchini for one minute.

Shrimp, Zucchini, Garlic, Olive oil

Chicken & roasted sweet potato box

lunch · 15 min · 42 g protein · ~560 kcal

Assemble from Sunday prep: chicken, roast sweet potato, roast broccoli.

Chicken breast, Sweet potatoes, Broccoli

Beef patties & slaw

lunch · 15 min · 36 g protein · ~540 kcal

Grill seasoned patties, serve with cabbage slaw dressed in olive oil and lemon.

Ground beef, Cabbage, Carrots, Olive oil

Beef & roasted vegetables

dinner · 30 min · 44 g protein · ~620 kcal

Roast mixed vegetables 25 min; pan-sear beef and rest while they finish.

Beef steak or stewing beef, Bell peppers, Zucchini, Onion, Olive oil

Salmon & asparagus tray bake

dinner · 30 min · 40 g protein · ~560 kcal

One tray, 200C, 15 minutes: salmon, asparagus, lemon, olive oil.

Salmon fillet, Asparagus, Lemons, Olive oil

Sheet-pan chicken thighs & broccoli

dinner · 30 min · 42 g protein · ~600 kcal

Thighs skin-side up with broccoli and garlic, 200C for 30 minutes.

Chicken thighs, Broccoli, Garlic, Olive oil

15-minute beef stir-fry

dinner · 15 min · 40 g protein · ~540 kcal

Hot pan, thin beef strips 2 min, add peppers and broccoli, finish with coconut aminos.

Beef steak or stewing beef, Bell peppers, Broccoli, Coconut aminos

Coconut chicken curry

dinner · 30 min · 40 g protein · ~620 kcal

Simmer chicken in coconut milk with curry spices and cauliflower rice.

Chicken breast, Coconut milk, Cauliflower, Curry powder

Pork chops & apple slaw

dinner · 30 min · 42 g protein · ~580 kcal

Sear pork chops 4 min a side, rest; toss shredded cabbage with grated apple.

Pork chops, Cabbage, Apples, Olive oil

Baked white fish & greens

dinner · 15 min · 38 g protein · ~420 kcal

Bake cod 12 min with lemon; wilt spinach in the same pan juices.

White fish fillet (cod), Spinach, Lemons, Olive oil

Paleo meatballs & zucchini noodles

dinner · 30 min · 40 g protein · ~570 kcal

Bake beef meatballs bound with egg, simmer in crushed tomatoes, serve over zoodles.

Ground beef, Eggs, Crushed tomatoes, Zucchini

Roast chicken & root vegetables

dinner · 30 min · 46 g protein · ~640 kcal

Roast a whole chicken over carrots and sweet potato; leftovers feed two lunches.

Whole chicken, Carrots, Sweet potatoes, Olive oil

Garlic shrimp & cauliflower rice

dinner · 15 min · 38 g protein · ~450 kcal

Sauté shrimp in garlic and olive oil; fry riced cauliflower alongside.

Shrimp, Cauliflower, Garlic, Olive oil

Turkey & vegetable chili

dinner · 30 min · 42 g protein · ~520 kcal

Brown turkey mince, add tomatoes, peppers and spices, simmer 20 minutes.

Ground turkey, Crushed tomatoes, Bell peppers, Ground cumin

Lamb chops & roasted carrots

dinner · 30 min · 42 g protein · ~660 kcal

Roast carrots 25 min; grill lamb chops 3 min a side and rest.

Lamb chops, Carrots, Olive oil

Apple + almonds

snack · 10 min · 6 g protein · ~250 kcal

One apple with a small handful of almonds.

Apples, Almonds

Carrots + guacamole

snack · 10 min · 4 g protein · ~220 kcal

Mash avocado with lemon and salt; dip carrot sticks.

Carrots, Avocado

Two hard-boiled eggs

snack · 10 min · 13 g protein · ~160 kcal

From the Sunday batch, with salt and pepper.

Eggs

Beef jerky + fruit

snack · 10 min · 20 g protein · ~260 kcal

Check the label for sugar and soy; pair with an apple.

Beef jerky (no added sugar), Apples

Berries + coconut flakes

snack · 10 min · 3 g protein · ~180 kcal

A cup of berries with toasted coconut flakes.

Frozen berries, Coconut flakes

Celery + almond butter

snack · 10 min · 6 g protein · ~210 kcal

Two celery stalks filled with almond butter.

Celery, Almond butter

Tuna on cucumber rounds

snack · 10 min · 22 g protein · ~200 kcal

Half a can of tuna spooned onto thick cucumber slices.

Canned tuna, Cucumber

Leftover chicken strips

snack · 10 min · 30 g protein · ~190 kcal

Sliced cold roast chicken from the Sunday batch.

Chicken breast

Olives + walnuts

snack · 10 min · 5 g protein · ~240 kcal

A small bowl of olives with a handful of walnuts.

Olives, Walnuts

Banana + almond butter

snack · 10 min · 6 g protein · ~280 kcal

Sliced banana with a spoon of almond butter.

Banana, Almond butter

Frequently asked questions

Can Paleo meals be this simple?: Yes. Protein, vegetable, fat and an acid is a complete meal — everything beyond that is preference.
How do I keep simple meals interesting?: Change the cooking method and the acid. The same chicken roasted, then stir-fried, then cold in a salad reads as three meals.