The key to a successful Whole30 comes down to planning. We’ve rounded up our easiest, most delicious, and most flexible Whole30 recipes to help you make your round a success. If you only cook a handful of recipes from scratch on your first (or fifth!) round, these Easy Whole30 Recipes are the keepers.
Cooking three meals a day for 30 days is a daunting task for anyone – even Whole30 veterans! If you’re intimidated by the cooking workload, these essential Whole30 recipes will help you survive and thrive. These are our tried-and-true, reader approved recipes with a variety of different uses, and a few ways to make them each work for you. Click through to the recipes to view modifications, freezer instructions, and suggestions for serving.
Most importantly, they are EASY! You’ll find step-by-step photos and often recipe videos at each of the links below to walk you through the process of creating each recipe perfectly the very first time.
Still need help? Scroll to the end of the recipes for a comprehensive 7-Day Meal Plan for Whole30 Beginners!
12 Best Easy Whole30 Recipes
Instant Pot Egg Bites
There are few grab-and-go options in the Whole30 world, so when you find one that works for your kitchen and your tastebuds, keep it handy! These egg bites are that recipe for us, and we have a feeling they’ll deliver for you too.
Balsamic Chicken Thighs (with video)
These are a Whole30 workhouse. Serve them with your favorite vegetable side dishes for dinner or stash in the fridge as emergency lunch protein – it’s the perfect chicken to serve over a green salad with avocado, cucumbers, and tomatoes.
Instant Pot Pulled Pork
There are so many uses for pulled pork! This recipe yields 12 servings, so enjoy it for dinner with a Whole30 compliant coleslaw, or turn the leftovers into carnitas and stuff into a burrito bowl.
Alternative: if you don’t have an instant pot, we have a dutch oven pulled pork version that’s even better (and includes a video tutorial)!
Extra Veggie Beef Chili (with video)
Make once, eat twice – it’s practially a Whole30 rule! This beef chili easily doubles, and we always scale up so there are leftovers in the freezer. You’ll want at least one or two meals you can stash for emergency days, and chili definitely fits the bill.
Whole30 Beef Stew (with video)
What’s more comforting than beef stew? Few things, dear reader, few things. A vat of beef stew simmering on the oven will season your kitchen and your soul. The leftovers are terrific, and even better the next day.
Sweet Potato Hash
It’s a breakfast, it’s a side, it’s even a whole meal! A Whole30 doesn’t feel like much of a sacrifice when you can indulge in carbs every now and again, and this hash delivers on that front. Serve it for breakfast with a fried egg, as a side with your favorite protein, or a post-workout snack when you need an energy boost.
Whole30 Steak Bites (with video)
Hands down, the most popular recipe on our site. Readers love these Steak Bites both on and off their Whole30.
Whole30 Hamburger Soup (with video)
If you have picky eaters, this recipe is a total crowd pleaser! We’re not fans of cooking multiple dinners, so we love putting this reliable kid-friendly staple into the rotation.
Whole30 Turkey Burgers
When you’re tired of beef (trust us, you’ll get there) and you know you need some extra veggies in your life, reach for these incredibly flavorful turkey burgers. Great as both a freezer stash and meal prep for the week.
Chicken Shawarma Salad (with video)
This dinner salad is tried-and-true, and loved by readers on and off the Whole30. It’s so filling, very nutritious, and perfect for both dinner and lunch meal prep.
Mexican Cauliflower Rice (with video)
Once you get the hang of cauliflower rice, you’ll be thrilled to have this quick and nutritious grain replacement in your back pocket. You may even want to make cauliflower rice off-round too!
Whole30 Italian Meatballs (with video)
Once you get the hang of grain-free meatballs, there are endless possibilities! By the end of your Whole30 you’ll be tempted to master Lebanese-style Beef Kofta Meatballs and your own comforting combinations.
7-Day Whole30 Meal Plan
Still need some guidance on how to organize your first week of your first Whole30? We’ve got you covered! This 7-day meal plan is an easy and executable guide for beginners.
Our approach to meal planning? Make it easy!
- Select two easy breakfast options you can quickly meal prep on the weekend.
- Select two easy lunch options with plenty of protein to keep you full and fueled. We love easy-to-reheat options like hearty soups or grab-and-go meals like chicken salads.
- Keep weekday dinner planning to quick meals (45 minutes or less from start to finish) that are family friendly and packed with nutrient dense vegetables.
- Indulge on the weekend and explore your inner home chef with rich stews and roasts.
The key to a successful Whole30 is all about the planning. This 7-day meal plan relies heavily on meal prep for breakfast and lunch, with five 45-minute or less quick dinner recipes, and two lazier recipes for Saturday and Sunday. We’ve included two tried-and-true meal prep breakfast recipes and four options for lunch. This meal plan assumes you’re cooking dinner for your family, so each dinner option is kid-tested AND approved!
Breakfast Meal Prep
- Instant Pot Egg Bites (makes 12 total, or enough for 3-4 breakfasts)
- Ground Turkey Hash with Squash and Peppers (makes 3 servings)
- Alternative: if you don’t have an instant pot, try our recipe for Meal Prep Breakfast Bowls or make the Sweet Potato Hash linked above; you’ll just need five minutes in the morning to fry an egg or two and reheat the hash.
Lunch Meal Prep
- Lunch #1: (each makes 4 servings) Whole30 Chicken Shawarma Meal Prep Bowls OR Orange Chicken Salad Meal Prep Bowls
- Lunch #2: (each makes 6 servings) Extra Veggie Beef Chili OR Veggie-Packed Whole30 Hamburger Soup
- Pro-Tip: freeze half of option #2 for a week later in the round – not only will you thank yourself, but you’ll also have very little food waste.
7-Day Meal Plan
Monday
- Breakfast: Instant Pot Egg Bites Two Ways and 1 cup seasonal fresh fruit
- Lunch: Meal Prep Option #1
- Dinner: Steak Bites with Sweet Potatoes and Peppers
Tuesday
- Breakfast: Ground Turkey Hash with Squash and Peppers
- Lunch: Meal Prep Option #2
- Dinner: Instant Pot Whole30 Chicken Tacos with Mexican Cauliflower Rice
- Alternative: If you don’t have an Instant Pot, use our recipe for Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken linked above!
Wednesday
- Breakfast: Instant Pot Egg Bites Two Ways and 1 cup seasonal fresh fruit
- Lunch: Meal Prep Option #1
- Dinner: Ground Beef Taco Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Thursday
- Breakfast: Ground Turkey Hash with Squash and Peppers
- Lunch: Meal Prep Option #2
- Dinner: Korean Beef BBQ
Friday
- Breakfast: Instant Pot Egg Bites Two Ways and 1 cup seasonal fresh fruit
- Lunch: Meal Prep Option #1
- Dinner: Lemon Garlic Chicken and Asparagus
Saturday
- Breakfast: Ground Turkey Hash with Squash and Peppers
- Lunch: Meal Prep Option #2
- Dinner: Whole30 Beef Stew
Sunday
- Breakfast and Lunch: Leftovers! Clean out that fridge and start fresh for the next week!
- Dinner: Instant Pot Italian Pot Roast
- Alternative: If you don’t have an Instant Pot, try this dutch oven recipe from Primavera Kitchen.
Leave a Reply