21 Delicious Whole30-Friendly Recipes (2024)

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Ariel Knutson

Ariel Knutson

Arie was the Features Director at Kitchn. She lives in Los Angeles.

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updated May 1, 2019

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21 Delicious Whole30-Friendly Recipes (1)

So you decided to jump on the bandwagon and try Whole30. Congratulations! Once you’ve read the guidelines to the program and prepped your kitchen, it’s time to get meal planning. You’ll find it very difficult to eat anything at all if you don’t have a plan and some ingredients prepped in the fridge.

The first rule of doing Whole30 is to always check the ingredient list on whatever you’re buying. You might know that Whole30 says you must abstain from eating grains, legumes, dairy, sugar, and alcohol for 30 days, but it gets more complicated when you break it down to the ingredient level. For example, things like bacon and marinara sauce seem innocent enough, but they might not be Whole30-compliant because they have added sugar or other additives.

I’ve gathered a list of Kitchn’s very best Whole30-friendly recipes so you don’t go hungry on your month-long journey. Almost all of these recipes require no substitutions (I’ll let you know when you need to use ghee for example, instead of butter), but you still need to check your ingredients at the grocery store to make sure everything works for Whole30.

If you’re doing Whole30 for the first time, you’re going to need a bunch of easy chicken dinners that you can rely on. The key to this recipe is the lemon and a hot cast iron skillet.

You can’t have bread or dairy for breakfast when you’re doing Whole30, so eggs will quickly become your go-to. This scrambled edition gets a kick from an easy salsa you can make the night before.

Make a big batch of this vegan soup and eat it all week. This is one of those recipes that only gets better after it sits in the fridge for a day.

For a simple dinner after a long day, put some chicken, sage, and potatoes on a sheet pan and pop it into the oven.

Make a big batch of this pressure-cooker recipe once and put half of it in the freezer for later.

This chicken recipe is all about the marinade. Remember to look for a Whole30-compliant fish sauce if you want to make this recipe.

This crunchy, fresh salad is a little bitter from the grapefruit and a bit salty from the olives. It’s a great thing to pair with a meaty main.

Don’t feel like you have time to cook a big dinner tonight? Worried that you’re going to be eating chicken and vegetables yet again? Your slow cooker can help you solve that problem. With a little planning, these delicious ribs can be all yours.

The pressure cooker ensures that you can have a delicious chicken dish in less than 30 minutes. When buying the ingredients for this recipe, make sure to find stewed tomatoes that don’t include added sugar.

This French bistro-style recipe is an inspired way to eat a salad. The bacon and egg don’t hurt, either. When making this recipe, be sure to check for bacon and Dijon mustard that is compliant with the Whole30 program.

Doing Whole30 doesn’t mean you have to give up sushi, but it does mean you need to get creative. These delicious hand rolls will make everyone happy at the dinner table.

You’re going to become good friend with fish on your Whole30 journey. This simple olive oil salmon is an easy show-stopper for dinner.

Until 2014, white potatoes were not allowed to be consumed during Whole30. You can’t eat them fried or as chips, of course, but these roasted potatoes are totally OK to eat.

Of all the Whole30 recipes I’ve seen out there, this might be my favorite. It’s super comforting and full of vegetables (cauliflower, duh). If you decide to use bacon instead of pork, make sure it is Whole30-compliant.

How elegant does this dinner look? If you decide to make this recipe, just make sure to use ghee instead of butter.

Need something bright and fresh to add to your Whole30 menu? This is it.

Sautéed veggies get a kick from a few squeezes of grapefruit and a splash of white balsamic vinegar. If you make this recipe, make sure to leave out corn which is not Whole30 compliant.

Another delicious variation on the classic chicken and vegetable dinner. I love that this one gets creative with the fennel fronds.

A fresh, crunchy salad gets a kick with orange slices and creamy avocado. It’s a great thing to pair with hearty meat.

This bright, bold recipe is all about the sauce. It’s filed with tomatoes, capers, olives, and anchovy.

Serve this healthy weeknight dinner with a fresh salad.

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21 Delicious Whole30-Friendly Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Is peanut butter allowed on Whole30? ›

Though peanuts and peanut butter aren't allowed on the Whole30 program, other nuts and nut butters are. Cashew butter is loaded with nutrients like healthy fats, magnesium, manganese, and copper.

Is hummus Whole30 approved? ›

Traditional hummus is made from garbanzo beans (also known as chickpeas), which are a legume and Plant-Based Whole30 compatible. Just read your labels to make sure your hummus doesn't contain dairy or other ingredients that aren't a fit for the Plant-Based Whole30.

Can you eat rice cakes on Whole30? ›

You cannot have rice on a Whole30.

Can I have olives on Whole30? ›

Canned olives are mentioned throughout the official Whole30 site as being a great natural fat to eat while on Whole30. Additionally, the Whole30 program states, "Do not consume carrageenan, MSG, or sulfites.

Are bananas OK on Whole30? ›

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.

Can I eat popcorn on Whole30? ›

Anything with gluten is off-limits, along with rice, oats, corn and pseudo-grains like quinoa or buckwheat. That means no pasta and popcorn for 30 days.

Is rotisserie chicken Whole30 approved? ›

This simple slow cooker rotisserie-style chicken is one of my favorite weeknight dinners, which is why it frequently appears in my Whole30-friendly meal plans.

What chips are Whole30 approved? ›

While homemade versions of chips made with whole foods are considered Whole30, no store-bought chips of any kind are considered Whole30 compatible — that goes for potato chips, sweet potato chips, Siete chips, plantain chips, terra chips, veggie chips, and any other store-bought chip you can think of.

Is almond milk allowed on Whole30? ›

It's got only four ingredients: water, organic almonds, organic acacia gum, and sea salt. You've seen this in literally every grocery store, and now you know: Yes, you can drink it while doing Whole30. Silk's unsweetened vanilla carton is fair game, too.

Can you eat 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.

Can I eat raisins on Whole30? ›

Use an almond butter or other nut butter instead. “Ants on a log may seem like a kid's snack, but this snack has a lot to offer with extra fiber and a serving of healthy fat.” Raisins are Whole30-approved, just make sure the ingredients list doesn't contain added sugar.

Is honey allowed on Whole30? ›

On Whole30, adherents must cut out all sweeteners including maple syrup, honey, agave nectar, coconut sugar, date syrup, monk fruit extract, and stevia. However, dieters are permitted to use fruit juice as a sweetener.

What is a Whole30 substitute for butter? ›

But that doesn't mean you can't eat any butter when you're doing Whole30 or that you should start looking for some butter substitute. According to the program rules, the best—and only—way to eat butter when you're doing Whole30 is to eat clarified butter or ghee.

What is the one bite rule on Whole30? ›

One bite of pizza, one spoonful of ice cream, one sip of beer within the 30-day period and you've broken the 'reset'—and have to start over again on Day 1,” Whole30 instructs.

Can you eat anything at mcdonalds on Whole30? ›

Whole30 at McDonald's

Your best bet would be to order a plain burger of any kind, minus the bun, obviously, with no seasoning sauces or cheese. This means no ketchup. Lettuce, tomato and onion are permissible,” says Stark.

What is a Whole30 substitute for peanut butter? ›

Almond butter is the most popular alternative to peanut butter when completing the Whole30 diet.

Are eggs allowed on Whole30? ›

Foods allowed on the Whole30 diet mostly consist of minimally processed foods, including: Meat, eggs, and poultry: beef, veal, pork, horse, lamb, chicken, turkey, duck, etc. Fish and seafood: fish, anchovies, shrimp, calamari, scallops, crab, lobster, etc. Fruits: fresh and dried fruits.

Can you eat cheese on Whole30? ›

On the Whole30 diet, you can't have: dairy (say good-bye to cheese), legumes (so no beans, pea, chickpeas, lentils peanuts or peanut butter, soy sauce, tofu, and anything else soy-related), grains (wheat, corn, rice, oats, barley, and even gluten-free grains like quinoa, buckwheat, and amaranth), added sugars (from ...

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