Ok I have at least 5 high-protein staples that I have to have in my fridge in order for me to make it through the week.
While I now have 2 cookbooks in the world (still crazy to me!!), I still sometimes find myself standing in front of the fridge wondering what to eat. The need to keep the fridge stocked and think ahead and prep for my future self just never goes away, lol. I don’t always want to do full blown meal-prep, so having just a few options ready to go saves me.
My Favorite High-Protein Staples
My top 5 are quick and easy and I could eat them every single day. That’s one of my biggest tips: prep things you will actually eat! Don’t overcomplicate it.
1. Eggs
I’m an everyday egg eater. I either have eggs for breakfast (usually fried eggs on an english muffin) or 1-2 hard-boiled eggs later in the day. Eggs are such a good option to keep stocked because they’re affordable, versatile, and easy to prep ahead. My avocado egg salad is one of my all time faves!
2. Cottage Cheese Pancakes
I originally developed this recipe for Hayes, but now I’m obsessed and can’t live without them. I make a double batch of these and keep half in the fridge and half in the freezer. They’re super easy to warm up for a quick snack and they are packed with protein!
3. Taco Seasoned Ground Beef
This is one of my favorite meal prep shortcuts because it makes lunches and dinners so easy throughout the week. I usually prep a batch ahead of time and use it for bowls, tacos, salads, or wraps. Most commonly, I make 3pm nachos to get my whole family to dinner – seriously the best snack.
4. 5-Min Pesto Chicken Salad
Chicken salad is one of those things that makes high-protein lunches feel effortless. I keep a batch in the fridge almost every week because it’s easy to throw into sandwiches, wraps, or snack plates. Sometimes I just eat in plain straight out the fridge when I’m hangry and short on time! You can get the recipe from my cookbook, The High-Protein Plate.
5. Meatballs
Ok so this one will take a tiny bit more prep but seriously having meatballs in the fridge ready to go is a game changer. So fast, and so satisfying when you’re desperate for mid-afternoon fuel. I have tons of recipes in my cookbook and a few more on my site!
