15 Easy Gut-Healthy Dinners That Are High in Protein By Lily Menk Lily Menk Lily Menk is EatingWell’s editorial fellow. As a native Vermonter, Lily combines her hands-on experience with local and sustainable food systems with her background in journalism. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Published on August 30, 2025 Reviewed by Dietitian Katey Davidson, M.Sc.FN, RD, CPT Reviewed by Dietitian Katey Davidson, M.Sc.FN, RD, CPT See More Katey Davidson is a Canadian registered dietitian and certified personal trainer with a Master of Science in Foods and Nutrition. She is passionate about making evidence-based nutrition, fitness and wellness information accessible to the public. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines SAVE ALL RECIPES NEW! Save as a collection on MyRecipes Close Credit: Photographer: Jake Sternquist, Food Stylist: Shannon Goforth, Prop Stylist: Breanna Ghazali. You can be on your way to a healthier gut in just three steps with these dinner recipes. They’re packed with probiotic-rich foods like yogurt and kimchi, in addition to prebiotic-rich foods like beans, legumes, whole grains and vegetables. These ingredients offer healthy bacteria and fiber to support your microbiome and digestive health. Plus, each serving of these dishes has at least 15 grams of protein, a nutrient that can help promote satiety, muscle recovery and bone health. It takes just three steps or less to have flavorful and satisfying recipes like our High-Protein Black Bean Salad or our Roasted Eggplant Parmesan on the table. Love any of these recipes? Join MyRecipes to save, search and organize your EatingWell recipes all in one place. It’s free! 01 of 15 Ground Turkey Fajita Bowls Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood. This ground turkey rice bowl is a satisfying meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights. Lean ground turkey is cooked with savory seasonings like chili powder, cumin and oregano before being tossed with pico de gallo. The mixture pairs well with brown rice and sautéed onions and peppers to create a hearty dinner. View Recipe Save 02 of 15 High-Protein Black Bean Salad Photographer: Brittney Cottrell, Food Stylist: Julia Levy, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong. In this high-protein salad, black beans take center stage. As the main source of plant-based protein, they make the salad satisfying, with their creamy texture pairing perfectly with sweet potato, crisp veggies and a citrusy dressing. It’s an easy, filling option for lunch or dinner—especially for those looking to add more plant-powered protein to their diet. View Recipe Save 03 of 15 Chickpea Grain Bowl with Feta & Tomatoes Photographer: Jake Sternquist, Food Stylist: Shannon Goforth, Prop Stylist: Breanna Ghazali. This chickpea-farro grain bowl is a hearty dish that’s packed with plant-based protein, fiber and tons of fresh flavor. Farro, a whole grain with a nutty taste and chewy texture, forms the base and pairs perfectly with tender chickpeas and veggies. If you don’t have farro on hand, you can easily swap in quinoa, brown rice or barley. View Recipe Save 04 of 15 Lemony Orzo & Tuna Salad with Broccoli Leigh Beisch This pasta-salad and tuna-salad mashup gets a boost of color and texture from broccoli. Plenty of Kalamata olives add a briny bite. Be sure to monitor the pasta-cooking carefully, as orzo can go from al dente to mush in a minute. If in doubt, drain it a little early—it’ll soften further in the lemon dressing. View Recipe Save 05 of 15 Roasted Eggplant Parmesan Photographer: Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Hannah Grennwood. This eggplant Parmesan is a comforting version of the classic Italian dish that’s simple to make. Slices of eggplant are layered with marinara sauce and melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. This method skips the deep-frying step, making it lighter without sacrificing flavor. It’s perfect as a vegetarian main course and pairs well with pasta, crusty bread or a crisp green salad. View Recipe Save 06 of 15 No-Cook Black Bean Taco Bowls Photographer: Jacob Fox, Food Stylist: Sammy Mila, Prop Stylist: Joseph Wanek. These black bean taco bowls with lime crema are a refreshing no-cook meal that’s perfect for busy days. They feature hearty black beans, veggies and zesty toppings layered over crispy cabbage and lettuce. The lime crema adds a tangy, creamy finish that brings all the flavors together. Enjoy these effortless bowls with the suggested toppings below, or customize them with your own favorites. View Recipe Save 07 of 15 Spaghetti with Mushrooms, Spinach & Ricotta Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Styling: Josh Hoggle. This five-ingredient spaghetti is a cozy dish that is both comforting and effortless. Earthy mushrooms, spinach and garlic flavor the pasta alongside whole-milk ricotta that creates a creamy sauce. You can elevate the flavor even more by using wild mushrooms for a deeper savory flavor and finishing with a squeeze of lemon to brighten everything up. View Recipe Save 08 of 15 Fajita-Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer These fajita-stuffed portobello mushrooms are the mash-up you’ve been waiting for! This flavorful vegetarian dish fills roasted portobello mushroom caps with fajita-style veggies and black beans, giving them a boost of fiber and protein. Top it off with melted cheese and Greek-style yogurt for a satisfying dinner. View Recipe Save 09 of 15 High-Protein Pasta with Peas Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer This one-pot pasta with peas is packed with plant-based protein and a healthy dose of fiber. The chickpea pasta is cooked with vibrant green peas and tossed with fragrant basil and a rich pesto sauce for fresh flavor in every bite. Nutty toasted pine nuts provide the perfect crunch, adding depth and texture. View Recipe Save 10 of 15 Roasted Veggies with Halloumi & Chickpeas Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer This sheet-pan halloumi, chickpea and veggie recipe is perfect for a weeknight dinner with easy cleanup. Chickpeas and halloumi provide protein to make this dish filling and satisfying. Roasting everything on the same sheet pan creates crispy, caramelized bites that meld beautifully with the creamy yogurt spread underneath. View Recipe Save 11 of 15 Creamy Pesto Beans Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong These creamy pesto beans come together in just 30 minutes. The sauce clings to tender white beans, and whatever is left is perfect for sopping up with a warm, crusty baguette. For a heartier meal, serve the beans over whole-grain pasta, letting the sauce coat every bite. View Recipe Save 12 of 15 Ginger-Dill Salmon with Cucumber & Avocado Salad Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist Christina Daley This ginger-dill salmon with cucumber and avocado salad is a light, refreshing meal that doesn’t skimp on flavor. Tender, flaky salmon is infused with the unusual combination of warm ginger and fresh dill, making it the perfect complement to the cool, creamy salad. View Recipe Save 13 of 15 Chickpea Chopped Salad with Pita Chips Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel This chickpea, cucumber and tomato salad is fresh and delicious. Packed with crunchy pita chips, creamy feta and briny olives, this salad delivers vibrant flavors in every bite. Enjoy it as a side dish or add grilled or roasted chicken or salmon to make it a main dish. View Recipe Save 14 of 15 Marry Me White Bean & Spinach Skillet Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey This Marry Me White Bean & Spinach Skillet is a different take on Marry Me Chicken—a dish traditionally made with chicken coated in a sun-dried tomato cream sauce. By swapping in fiber-packed white beans and spinach as the main ingredients, we’ve given it a vegetarian spin. You’ll want to sop up every last bit of sauce, so serve this with a nice hunk of crusty whole-grain bread. View Recipe Save 15 of 15 One-Pot White Bean, Spinach & Sun-Dried Tomato Orzo Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley This creamy orzo with white beans and sun-dried tomatoes is the ultimate weeknight winner, ready in just 30 minutes! This comforting dish combines tender orzo, protein-packed white beans and tangy sun-dried tomatoes in a creamy garlic-and-herb cheese sauce. This one-pot meal is both quick and satisfying, perfect for those busy evenings when you want something hearty without the hassle. View Recipe Save Explore more: Healthy Recipes Nutrient-Focused High-Protein High-Protein Dinner Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit