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Your Paleo Meal Plan for the Week: 21 Recipes for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

The caveman diet isn't so bad

paleo meal plan recipes: coconut herb chicken meatballs with cauliflower rice
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

Whether you're making a general lifestyle change or have been following the Paleo diet for years, dinner (and breakfast or lunch, for that matter) is always easier when you have some great recipes in your back pocket. Enter this Paleo meal plan that features a whole week’s worth of dishes, so you can spend less time searching for the perfect recipe and more time doing what you do.

If you're new to the "caveman diet," know that it calls for nixing grains, legumes, processed foods, refined sugar and dairy from your plate. You can eat meat, seafood, poultry, fruits and veggies, nuts, seeds and healthy fats. (While nutritionists do not recommend the Paleo diet, as it cuts out entire food groups, some studies have shown that it can help you lose weight and lower your blood pressure and cholesterol, according to the Mayo Clinic.) My favorite dishes, including green shakshuka and 20-minute egg roll bowls, fit the bill.

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Monday Breakfast: Paleo Almond Butter Granola Bars

  • Time Commitment: 25 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <30 minutes, make ahead, kid-friendly
  • Serves: 15 bars

These Paleo-friendly granola bars may replace your go-to snack bars. Why? They're that flavorful—and with 19 grams of protein, they'll leave you satisfied. Beats the sugary store-bought kind you have at the bottom of your purse, no?

paleo meal plan recipes: rainbow collard wraps with peanut butter dipping sauce

Monday Lunch: Rainbow Collard Wraps with Peanut Butter Dipping Sauce

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: make ahead, vegan, beginner-friendly, no cook
  • Serves: 4

Sub almond butter for peanut butter in the dipping sauce and this beauty is Paleo-friendly. You'll be surprised how well the produce holds up. "You can make them up to two days in advance and they won't get soggy in the fridge," recipe creator Erin McDowell claims.

Monday Dinner: Chicken Meatballs with Coconut-Herb Sauce

  • Time Commitment: 45 minutes
  • Why I Love It: high protein, low carb, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 4

End the first day of your Paleo meal plan with a banger. "The meatballs are baked instead of fried, which not only eliminates some oil but keeps them ultra-tender," McDowell explains. Better yet, cauliflower rice keeps things low-carb, keto-friendly and Paleo.

Tuesday Breakfast: Green Smoothie with Avocado and Apple

  • Time Commitment: 15 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, no cook
  • Serves: 2

Avocado and banana make this beauty luxuriously smooth and just sweet enough, so feel free to skip the teaspoon of honey if you'd like. As for the coconut water, you can substitute unsweetened non-dairy milk if you'd prefer (but I'm guessing you won't mind the tropical flair).

Tuesday Lunch: Turkey Meatball with Zucchini Noodles

  • Time Commitment: 35 minutes
  • Why I Love It: low carb, beginner-friendly, make ahead
  • Serves: 4

"The meatballs are rich and juicy, but balanced out with plenty of good-for-you greens," McDowell writes. "Better yet, they’re ready in about half an hour and will last you the whole workweek." Save yourself even more prep time by starting with store-bought zucchini noodles.

Tuesday Dinner: Sriracha Shrimp Skewers with Collard-Peach Salad

  • Time Commitment: 50 minutes
  • Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, high protein, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 4

"If you have a love affair with sriracha, you’ll go [wild] for this recipe, with its garlicky and ginger notes that pair nicely with the Asian-inspired green salad," recipe creators Jessica and Stephen Rose write. "Massaging the collards helps break down the fibers so they'll be tender and easier to enjoy raw.”

Wednesday Breakfast: One-Pan Eggs with Asparagus and Tomatoes

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: sheet pan recipe, Paleo-friendly, low carb
  • Serves: 4

No one wants to come home to a sink's worth of dirty dishes. With this handy, one-pan gem on your side, you'll only have one sheet pan to wash after making breakfast. Feel free to add any leftover potatoes, broccoli or carrots to the mix.

Wednesday Lunch: Hash Brown Fish

  • Time Commitment: 25 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <30 minutes, high protein, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 4

This recipe had me at "umami stir fry powder." Mushroom powder, dehydrated scallions, garlic, onion and ginger are bound to blow regular old salt away. As for the fish, use sea bass or cod if you can find them.

Wednesday Dinner: Sheet Pan Chicken Shawarma with Lemon-Tahini Drizzle

  • Time Commitment: 45 minutes
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, high protein
  • Serves: 6

"This Middle Eastern–inspired feast is a total keeper and is going to have you hooked at first bite," recipe creator Alex Snodgrass asserts. "Throw it all on a sheet pan, toss it in the oven and let it cook away while you tend to other important business…it’s just too good to be true."

Thursday Breakfast: Paleo Almond Butter Blender Muffins

  • Time Commitment: 25 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, make ahead, crowd-pleaser
  • Serves: 12

Lazy bakers, this one's for you. Much like a fruit smoothie, all you have to do for this recipe is toss all the ingredients into a blender and purée away. That's right: There's no flour or whisking required. Thank me later.

Thursday Lunch: Cold Lemon Zoodles

  • Time Commitment: 20 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 4

A light dressing and no actual cooking required make this an ideal Paleo-friendly substitute for summery pasta salad. Feel free to add grilled chicken, flaked salmon or canned tuna for extra protein (chickpeas and tofu work too, but they aren't Paleo-friendly).

Thursday Dinner: One-Pan Steak with Beets and Crispy Kale

  • Time Commitment: 40 minutes
  • Why I Love It: sheet pan recipe, high protein, <10 ingredients
  • Serves: 4

This meaty masterpiece is only six ingredients away *and* it cooks on a single sheet pan for maximum convenience. Don't let the steaks intimidate you: They cook to perfection in mere minutes under the broiler.

Friday Breakfast: 30-Minute Breakfast Hash with Kale and Sweet Potatoes

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: gluten free, dairy free, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 3 to 4

"I used a combination of sweet potatoes, kale and bell pepper here," former PureWow senior food editor Katherine Gillen writes, "but it should go without saying that you can swap vegetables in and out based on your own tastes. Any hearty green could replace the kale, and the spices are totally interchangeable."

Friday Lunch: Creamy Vegan Cauliflower Soup with Sausage and Kale

  • Time Commitment: 50 minutes
  • Why I Love It: make ahead, vegan, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 4

Most plant-based eaters know that cashews are a clever shortcut for dairy-free creaminess in soups and dips alike. P.S.: You can substitute regular sausage for vegan if you'd prefer, or prepare this Paleo meal plan recipe in a pressure cooker to save time.

Friday Dinner: 20-Minute Egg Roll Bowls

  • Time Commitment: 20 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <30 minutes, high protein, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 4

Everything you love about the takeout staple, minus the crunchy outer shell. The recipe calls for savory ground pork, but you could easily swap it for ground turkey or chicken. And if you want to make the bowls gluten-free, use tamari instead of soy sauce.

Saturday Breakfast: Green Shakshuka

  • Time Commitment: 55 minutes
  • Why I Love It: one pan, special occasion-worthy, vegetarian
  • Serves: 4

Sick of scrambled eggs? You need to try this brunch favorite instead. "The O.G. version is made with tomato sauce, but I love this fun, spicy green shakshuka with spinach and jalapeño," McDowell raves. "Best of all, it looks fancy but is deceptively easy to make."

Saturday Lunch: Warm Ginger-Scallion Pork & Kale Salad

  • Time Commitment: 10 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <30 minutes, high protein, Paleo-friendly
  • Serves: 4

"Kale is great, but it definitely needs a little T.L.C. to really shine," recipe creator Kelsey Preciado writes, "so serving it warm with lots of flavor is a win. Treat your kale like you treat an old friend, with a nice warm hug and a bit of sass." (FYI, coconut aminos is a popular soy sauce replacement in Paleo cooking, thanks to its salty and slightly sweet flavor profile.)

Saturday Dinner: Baked Sesame-Ginger Salmon in Parchment

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: high protein, beginner-friendly, dairy free
  • Serves: 4

It's a complete meal that's ready in 30 minutes, but most importantly, it tastes good, looks good and leaves you with minimal mess. Bulk up the sides with the addition of cauliflower rice or roasted potatoes.

Sunday Breakfast: Ketogenic Baked Eggs and Zoodles with Avocado

  • Time Commitment: 25 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <30 minutes, keto-friendly, <10 ingredients
  • Serves: 2

Your brunch friends won’t even know they’re eating Paleo (or keto, for that matter). High in fat and protein, this Paleo meal plan recipe is the ultimate way to mix up your usual breakfast or dinner when you're sick of smoothies and salad.

Sunday Lunch: 20-Minute Shrimp Scampi Zoodles

  • Time Commitment: 20 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
  • Serves: 4

This bright, refreshing seafood "pasta" comes together in a flash—and in a single skillet. Substitute cucumber or sweet potato noodles for zucchini for a twist, or substitute the white wine with seafood broth if you'd prefer. (Alcohol technically isn't Paleo-friendly.)

Sunday Dinner: One-Pan Roasted Chicken with Carrots

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, high protein, sheet pan recipe
  • Serves: 4

Despite their stunning appearance, these thighs are essentially foolproof, no matter the cook's skill level. I'd slather all the jammy roasted garlic on the veggies and poultry, if you're feeling indulgent. (Better yet, you can mash it into some vegan butter.)


taryn pire

Food Editor

  • Spearheads PureWow's food vertical
  • Manages PureWow's recipe vertical and newsletter
  • Studied English and writing at Ithaca College