40 Whole30 Recipes: Easy Meals in 30-Minutes or Less! | What Great Grandma Ate (2024)

Quick and easy Whole30 recipes that you can make in 30 minutes or less! Going sugar-free doesn’t have to be bland or boring, and these yummy Whole30 meals are proof of that. This list features easy and delicious Whole30 meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!

40 Whole30 Recipes: Easy Meals in 30-Minutes or Less! | What Great Grandma Ate (1)

What Is Whole30?

The Whole30 challenge is such a great way to reset your diet, turn to real food, and feel better overall. I have found so much freedom in what I eat after recognizing what makes me feel great and what doesn’t.

While it’s just 30 days of reset, it can feel overwhelming and difficult (particularly in the first 2-3 weeks). I recommend planning ahead with shopping lists and meal planning so you’re not scrambling for compliant Whole30 meals last minute. This list will help ease the transition.

Easy Whole30 Recipes

To help guide you through the 30 days, I put together fast and easy Whole30 recipes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. These Whole30 meals are flavorful and simple enough that anyone can cook them! Plus, they’re filled with wholesome ingredients

Use these quick and easy Whole 30 ideas to create a Whole30 meal plan, make shopping lists, and set yourself up for an easy 30 days!

Whole30 Recipes: Breakfast Ideas

Breakfast is one of those meals that gets boring quickly. It’s so easy to make the same thing over and over again. Especially when rushing to get ready, get the kids to school, and get to work on time.

Remember, you don’t have to eat “breakfast food” in the morning. You can switch it up with leftovers from the night before, your favorite side dish, or any meal that you love.And if you do choose to eat regular breakfast foods, make extra for the meal prep for the next day.

Here are some of the best Whole30 recipes to eat for breakfast that take 30 minutes or less.

Mexican Scrambled Eggs

This delicious and easy Whole30 breakfast takes classic scrambled eggs and puts a spicy and flavorful spin on them with Mexican spices and hot sauce. It's also full of healthy veggies and fats to keep you satiated for a long time.

Check out this recipe

Kimchi & Bacon Breakfast Egg Muffins

Finding sugar-free bacon and kimchi is important for these savory Whole30 breakfast muffins, which consist of sautéed kimchi wrapped in bacon with a runny yolk on top. It may be trickier to find compliant kimchi, but it's really easy it makes your own that's sugar-free (recipe in my cookbook, Korean Paleo)!

Check out this recipe

Chorizo Omelette

An easy and delicious Whole30 omelet that's bursting with flavor. You can’t beat the flavors of spicy chorizo with the creamy eggs, with bites of crunchy bell peppers in between! Make sure to use sugar and nitrate-free chorizo to keep it compliant.

Check out this recipe

Chorizo and Butternut Squash Baked Eggs

This is a great make-ahead breakfast that's sturdy enough to eat on the go. It's also versatile for substituting ingredients (like sweet potatoes instead of squash or ground beef instead of chorizo), and it's one of the most popular Whole30 recipes when I cook for a group!

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Pork Breakfast Sausage

If you are looking for a delicious Whole30 breakfast without eggs, this pork sausage is so flavorful and perfectly juicy. You can even make a double batch and freeze them as emergency food! I like to heat these up in the morning and enjoy them with a side of sautéed kale.

Check out this recipe

Breakfast Burrito Collard Wraps

If you've never used collard green leaves to use in place of a wrap, you are missing out! They are sturdy, crunchy, and won't fall apart. In this Whole30 breakfast recipe, you can enjoy a classic breakfast burrito wrapped in collard greens, and it's delicious.

Check out this recipe

Whole30 Recipes: Salads

Hearty and filling salads are my go-to Whole30 meals. Not only are they delicious, but they also come together quickly. Salads are a great way to add a lot of vegetables and delicious whole foods fast. When it comes to quick and easy Whole30 meals, I think of salads rich in protein, fat, and healthy carbs.

Here are some of my favorite Whole30 salad recipes that work as a complete meal!

Cobb Salad

One of my favorite Whole30 meals that is a complete meal on its own! It tastes exactly like a classic cobb salad with crunchy bacon, soft-boiled eggs, tomato, chicken, and avocado. It's tossed with a simple but tangy and flavorful dressing to pull it all together!

Check out this recipe

Egg Salad

You can enjoy this creamy and crunchy egg salad as a snack or a meal. With eggs, bacon, onion, mayo, and spices, it comes together super quickly and the result is always so delicious. I personally like to eat this over salad greens.

Check out this recipe

Buffalo Chicken Salad

If you love buffalo sauce, this is a fantastic salad that's crunchy, spicy, and so flavorful. It's also a great make-ahead meal that you enjoy for lunch, and it's delicious in a lettuce wrap.

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Kale Chicken Caesar Salad

A healthier twist on a classic caesar salad, this Whole30 salad recipe uses massaged kale instead of romaine, almonds instead of croutons, and a seriously delicious and flavorful Whole30 caesar dressing you'll want to put on everything. The whole thing takes less than 30 minutes, but you can cut down on time even more if you buy fully-cooked rotisserie chicken!

Check out this recipe

Mandarin Chicken Salad with Coconut Chips

One of the BEST Whole30 recipes! This better-than-takeout salad is one that you'll want over and over again! This Mandarin chicken salad is made with chicken, sugar-free mandarin oranges, and toasted coconut chips instead of crispy noodles, all over romaine lettuce. The umami sesame dressing really pulls this wonderful recipe together.

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Asian Chicken Noodle Salad

With crunchy and refreshing "noodles" made with carrots and parsnips, this salad is chock full of delicious Asian flavors from cashews, coconut aminos, fish sauce, and sesame seeds. It's such a flavorful way to get lots of veggies into your diet!

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Hearty Chicken Salad

Another delicious and creamy salad that you can make ahead of time! In fact, the flavors get better the longer it sits with this Whole30 chicken salad. Filled with healthy veggies, and you can adjust the ingredients with what you have on hand. It's also a great way to use up leftover chicken!

Check out this recipe

Whole30 Recipes: Seafood

Adding a healthy protein to your meal is a major way to stay satiated and be successful throughout Whole30. Seafood is a great option, and it can be budget-friendly if you are using the canned variety.

Although cooking seafood can be intimidating for some, most are actually quite easy! They cook very fast, resulting in tasty 30-minute Whole30 meals. Here are some of the most popular Whole30 seafood dishes.

Salmon Cakes with Zucchini

These moist and flavorful salmon cakes are made with canned salmon, and they also include hidden veggies! I had too many fish cakes that were dry, and these are the opposite of that. Zucchini adds amazing moisture and texture, and these are kid friendly as well.

Check out this recipe

Sheet Pan Shrimp and Broccoli with “Soy” Garlic Sauce

One of my favorite fast and easy Whole30 meals made on a sheet pan! This Asian-inspired shrimp dish is cooked with broccoli and cauliflower rice in one pan. The "soy" garlic sauce is amazingly flavorful, and the cleanup is a breeze as well!

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Grilled Halibut Steaks with Basil Chimichurri Sauce

Halibut is one of my favorite fish that's hardy enough to grill and hold together, and it's also packed with flavor. This is a SUPER QUICK recipe, in which the halibut is grilled for 10 minutes, then drizzled with the most flavorful and bright basil chimichurri sauce. It's so fast that you'll have plenty of time to prepare some easy sides with the meal!

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Mustard Dill Walnut Crusted Alaskan Salmon

This baked salmon recipe is PACKED with flavor and is one of the most popular less-than-30-minute Whole30 recipes on my blog. Salmon filets are topped with the most incredible topping chopped walnuts, dill, mustard, and spices, and the result is just fantastic!

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Shrimp Pad Thai

Recreate the flavors of Thai takeout at home with this quick and easy stir-fry recipe! Instead of noodles, spiralized carrots are used and they are the perfect substitute. Shrimp and veggies are cooked in the most flavorful Pad Thai sauce that's made with squeaky clean ingredients!

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Pan Seared Scallops with Lemon Garlic Ghee

If you need an insanely quick protein to prepare on a busy week, I highly recommend these pan-seared scallops. Not only is it a ridiculously easy recipe, but the flavors are also divine from pan-frying in ghee, then coating in lemon and garlic. One of the most flavorful Whole30 recipes!

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Grilled Cajun Shrimp and Sausage Skewers

This incredibly flavorful meal comes together in just 15 minutes. Sausage slices and shrimp coated in cajun seasoning, then skewered together before grilled to juicy perfection. Make sure to use compliant sausage that's free of sugar and nitrates!

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Creamy Spinach Stuffed Salmon

In this easy Whole30 recipes, salmon filets are stuffed with creamy spinach, then pan-fried to golden, flaky perfection. The creamy spinach is dairy free and made with cashew cream, and the whole dish comes out beautiful and delicious every time.

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Simple Tuna Patties

If you are looking for a simple and easy recipe that takes less than 15 minutes to make, I recommend you make these tuna patties! This is a no-frill recipe of just mixing ingredients together, shaping them into patties, then pan-frying for several minutes. It goes great over some greens, and drizzled with hot sauce or your favorite Whole30 dressing!

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Grilled Salmon Skewers with Lemon Garlic Marinade

The lemon garlic marinade is what really makes these salmon skewers shine. The fresh savory tartness of lemon juice, dijon mustard, garlic, and herbs really brightens the dish and keeps the salmon moist throughout the grilling process. This is another super quick recipe that takes about 15 minutes, and it's fantastic with some cauliflower rice and roasted veggies!

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Whole30 Recipes: One Pot Dishes & Easy Dinner Recipes

If you are looking for easy Whole30 meals and main dishes using just one pot, this is a great list. These quick and easy Whole30 recipes will help you stay on track and eat deliciously (for the whole family!).

These Whole30 meals will also save you time to get other things done in life. Hope you enjoy these easy meal ideas!

Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken

I usually don't like restaurant teriyaki dishes because they are too sweet, but this one is just perfect. Lightly sweetened with no-sugar-added pineapple chunks, this dish is super quick and flavorful. So perfect over some cauliflower rice!

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Sheet Pan Phill “Cheese” Steak

As an east coast girl, this 30-minute dinner is near and dear to my heart. I thought I couldn't enjoy Philly cheesesteak ever again, but this dish proved me wrong. Instead of cheese, a cashew cheese sauce is used and the result is seriously fantastic. This is a crowd-favorite meal that even non-Whole30 peeps will love!

Check out this recipe

Easy Pork Chopped with Grilled Peach Salsa

If you have a grill, this one of the simplest Whole30 meals that bursts with flavor and it's perfect when the weather is warm. Both the pork chops and peach slices are grilled to perfection, and while the pork rests, you can make a refreshing grilled peach salsa to go along with it. Takes less than 30 minutes from start to finish!

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Creamy Skillet Chicken with Garlic & Basil

A one-pot dish that's so comforting and creamy, this skillet chicken is pan-fried, then simmered in an amazing garlic basil sauce. It's delicious with a side of mashed potatoes and a salad, and the leftovers reheat beautifully as well.

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Greek Meatballs with Tzatziki Sauce

These oven-baked meatballs are one of my favorite 30-minute Whole30 recipes, and my husband requests them often. These can be made with ground beef or lamb, and they contain an amazing combination of Greek spices. Coat them with Whole30 tzatziki sauce to serve, and they are fantastic with some veggies and greens on the side.

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Pork Tenderloin Medallions with Horseradish Pan Sauce

Unlike other pork tenderloin recipes that may take a bit of time to cook through, these sliced medallions take just 3 minutes of pan-frying on each side. They are coated with a creamy and flavorful horseradish pan sauce, and they make an amazing main dish that's ready in no time!

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Mongolian Beef

This quick and easy Whole30 meal takes 20 minutes from start to finish, and you'll be amazed that you were able to recreate a takeout classic at home! It's so much healthier than the restaurant version, with an amazingly flavorful sauce that coats the beef slices. Enjoy with cauliflower rice and a side of steamed green beans!

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Burrito Bowl

A burrito bowl is my go-to meal when I'm feeling lazy or tired, and want to throw something together quickly. You can use beef or chicken, and most of the cooking is sautéing the meat with taco seasoning. Once you have the meat and the cauliflower rice ready, just assemble the bowls with your favorite toppings like salsa, guacamole, olives, and cilantro.

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Korean Sloppy Joes

This quick Whole30 recipe is a delicious combination of classic comfort food and the crowd-pleasing flavor of bulgogi. It can be made in the Instant Pot or on the stovetop, and it comes together real quick with either method! I love enjoying it over baked potato halves or alongside cauliflower rice with some kimchi.

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Sesame Chicken

Another delicious takeout classic that's made healthier, but doesn't sacrifice the flavor! You can make this in the air fryer or on the stovetop, and both methods result in a fast and easy meal. The chicken pieces are pan-fried to yield a crispy outer layer, then coated in the most flavorful sesame sauce!

40 Whole30 Recipes: Easy Meals in 30-Minutes or Less! | What Great Grandma Ate (34)

Cauliflower Pork Fried “Rice”

Using cubed pork chops, this cauliflower pork fried rice is packed with veggies and is just so delicious. With just 12 minutes of cook time, you'll have dinner ready for your family in no time, and it's so easy to make a large batch of leftovers!

Check out this recipe

Chicken Yakitori (Japanese Chicken Skewers)

I first had chicken yakitori when I visited Japan for the first time, and I instantly became obsessed with the tender chicken bites coated in a sweet and savory sticky sauce. This Whole30 version uses just 1 date to sweeten the sauce, but it's enough to yield an amazingly flavorful chicken that you'll want to make over and over again! If you don't have a grill, you can just broil for the same amount of time.

Check out this recipe

Cauliflower Falafel

Yes – you can make Whole30-compliant falafel using cauliflower and it's absolutely delicious and taste close to the real thing! These can be oven-baked, air-fried, or pan-fried, and it's a great snack or a plant-based meal. Dip them in Whole30 tzatziki sauce, and it's perfection in a bite.

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Mongolian Chicken with Shish*to Peppers

This is a flavorful Whole30 Mongolian chicken recipe with a twist by adding shish*to peppers. While shish*to peppers are usually tough and hardy when they are raw, they turn wonderfully tender and slightly crunchy once pan-fried and cooked through. Chicken and peppers are coated in an amazing coconut aminos sauce, and it's wonderful over cauliflower rice.

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Moroccan Meatballs with Creamy Dipping Sauce

These Moroccan meatballs are packed with amazing spices like garlic, cumin, coriander, chili powder, and cinnamon, baked to perfection, and then served drizzled with the most addicting creamy dipping sauce. The dipping sauce is not necessary, but I highly recommend it!

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Creamy Carrot Soup with Bacon

I love making this creamy carrot soup with bone broth for extra nutrients. The bacon gives an amazing crunchy texture alongside the creamy smoothness of the soup. I've even made a huge batch of this soup to enjoy for breakfast for a week because it's filling and so delicious! The leftovers reheat beautifully too.

Check out this recipe

The Best Whole30 Diet Recipes!

If you loved this list of easy Whole30 meals, there’s even more on my blog! Check out these recipes for even more best Whole30 meals!

If you make this recipe, please leave me a star rating and comment below! I love to hear your thoughts and feedback. Follow me on Instagram for even more delicious recipes!


40 Whole30 Recipes: Easy Meals in 30-Minutes or Less! | What Great Grandma Ate (2024)

FAQs

What are the Whole30 rules? ›

On Whole30, you can eat meat, vegetables, fruit, tree nuts and seeds, and healthy fats. However, you must avoid sugar, grains, legumes, dairy, alcohol, and processed food additives. Although it would be difficult and very restrictive to maintain long term, the Whole30 is designed to be done only for 30 days.

What I ate on Whole30? ›

During elimination, your meals will include meat, seafood, and eggs; lots of vegetables and fruit; natural, healthy fats; and fresh herbs, spices, and seasonings. You won't have to count or restrict calories, track your food, or limit your portions.

How much should I eat on Whole30? ›

There's no counting macros, calories, or anything else on Whole30, and while you're encouraged to eat until you're full, there are no restrictions on how much you can eat. You're also not allowed to weigh yourself or take measurements during the experience to keep the focus on how you feel rather than a size or number.

How can I ease into Whole30? ›

Many people “soft launch” their Whole30 by conscientiously eating less sugar and processed foods, cutting back on alcohol, and eating more vegetables in the days leading up to their Whole30. This is a fantastic idea—just sayin'. You can't be too prepared for the Whole30.

Are bananas allowed on Whole30? ›

What about bananas? Yes, both pickles and bananas are allowed on Whole30. Yet if they are a potential trigger food for you (for instance, the sweetness of bananas sets off a craving for other treats or makes you want to binge on the fruit), then you may consider including them on your “don't eat” list.

What is the one bite rule on Whole30? ›

Just One Bite

Here's the rule in a nutshell: If you think your less healthy treat is going to be so delicious, so incredible, so worth it, and then you take your first bite and discover it's not… STOP EATING.

What foods should I avoid on Whole30? ›

Foods that you'll need to avoid on the Whole30 diet include:
  • Dairy.
  • Grains.
  • Junk foods.
  • Sodas or other drinks with refined sugar in them.
  • Foods with added sugars.
  • Baked goods and dessert.
Sep 13, 2023

Are potatoes allowed on Whole30? ›

Yes, you can eat potatoes of all colors under the new Whole30 guidelines, white varieties included. Mash 'em up, roast them, or throw them in the skillet to enjoy. Just don't eat them commercially deep-fried or in packaged chip form to stay Whole30-compliant.

Is diarrhea common on Whole30? ›

You might experience headaches, bloating, stomachaches, sugar cravings, and — yes — diarrhea. This is likely the result of all the fiber you're taking in through fruits and vegetables, and it's especially likely to happen if you didn't eat a lot of fiber before.

Do you actually lose weight on Whole30? ›

Many individuals have reported successful weight loss outcomes while following the Whole30 guidelines. One key aspect of the Whole30 program is the elimination of processed foods and added sugars. By removing these from your diet, you are reducing your intake of “empty calories” and highly processed ingredients.

How many meals a day on Whole30? ›

–Jess, Missouri Dear Jess, First, remember that our “three meals a day” recommendation is just that—a recommendation, based on most people's general needs and fitting into most people's regularly scheduled lives.

What are the side effects of the Whole30 diet? ›

Normal. Sorry.
  • Headaches (dull)
  • Lethargy.
  • Sleepiness.
  • Crankiness.
  • Brain fog.
  • Cravings.
  • General malaise.
  • Breakouts.
Jun 27, 2016

What is the hardest day of Whole30? ›

According to The Whole30 Timeline, Days 10 and 11 are the hardest, because you've gotten past the headaches and tiredness, but you haven't started seeing the big benefits. And you're really, really aware of the things you can't have.

How long does it take to see results from Whole30? ›

It can take several weeks before you learn to trust the “hungry” and “full” signals your body is sending you—and you may not have been eating enough in the beginning, because you were afraid of all that fat. Many Whole30'ers report that they didn't feel or see “the magic” until day 45, 60, or beyond.

What do I put back first after Whole30? ›

The Fast Track Whole30 Reintroduction Plan
  • Day 1: Reintroduce added sugar by itself. ...
  • Days 2 & 3: Back to the Whole30 diet.
  • Day 4: Reintroduce gluten-free alcohol by itself. ...
  • Days 5 & 6: Back to the Whole30 diet.
  • Day 7: Reintroduce legumes by themselves. ...
  • Days 8 & 9: Back to the Whole30 diet.
Jan 13, 2020

Is Chick Fil A Whole30 approved? ›

Chick-fil-A

They're off-limits because they contain ingredients like cornstarch, molasses, and soybean oil. Even the fruit cups contain added sugar, and the salads have ingredients like soybean oils and cornstarch.

Can you have bacon on Whole30? ›

You can also eat processed meats as long as they don't include any artificial preservatives or added sugars. So when your bacon craving strikes, stick to sugar-free uncured bacon. A hearty meat-based stew with some nutrient-rich avocado makes a great Whole30® meal.

Are potatoes ok on Whole30? ›

Yes, you can eat potatoes of all colors under the new Whole30 guidelines, white varieties included. Mash 'em up, roast them, or throw them in the skillet to enjoy. Just don't eat them commercially deep-fried or in packaged chip form to stay Whole30-compliant.

Can you eat popcorn on Whole30? ›

IS POPCORN WHOLE30? No — popcorn is made from a whole grain (dried corn AKA popcorn kernels), and grains are eliminated on the Whole30 diet.

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