5 High-Protein Dinners for Tired Moms Who Still Want to Eat Well

Weeknights are busy, and as moms we need meals that are quick, nourishing, and actually taste good. These 5 recipes are balanced, full of flavor, and all pack 28–38g of protein per serving. Save this post for your weekly meal plan — future you will thank you!

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1. One-Pan Balsamic Chicken Thighs with Roasted Tomatoes & Couscous

This is one of those dinners that looks like you tried, but secretly came together in under 20 minutes. Juicy balsamic chicken thighs, roasted tomatoes, and fluffy couscous cooked in bone broth.

Protein: ~38g per serving

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless skinless chicken thighs
• ½ pint cherry tomatoes
• 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1 cup bone broth (for couscous + deglazing)
• ½ cup dry couscous (or quick quinoa)
• 2 handfuls arugula
• ½ cucumber, thinly sliced
• Salt + pepper
• Optional: balsamic glaze

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 450°F. Heat olive oil in skillet.
2. Season chicken, sear 4–5 mins until golden. Flip, deglaze with ¼ cup broth + vinegar.
3. Add tomatoes, roast 10 mins until chicken cooked + tomatoes blistered.
4. Cook couscous in broth per package.
5. Assemble bowls with couscous, chicken, tomatoes, arugula, cucumber, and optional glaze.

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2. Elotes Burrito Bowls

If you love Mexican street corn, this is the healthier high-protein dinner twist. Creamy, smoky corn meets protein, rice, and all your favorite toppings.

Protein: ~30g per serving

Ingredients:

• 1 cup corn, charred
• 1–2 tbsp cotija (or feta)
• ½ tbsp mayo or Greek yogurt
• ½ tsp smoked paprika
• ½ tsp chili powder
• Juice of ½ lime
• ½–1 cup cooked rice
• 4–6 oz protein (chicken, shrimp, steak, or plant-based)
• Optional toppings: avocado, cilantro, pickled onions, jalapeños, hot sauce

Instructions:

1. Char corn 3–5 mins in skillet.
2. Mix with mayo/yogurt, cotija, paprika, chili, and lime.
3. Build bowls with rice, protein, and elotes mix.
4. Top with avocado, cilantro, or hot sauce.

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3. Hot Honey Peach Salsa Shrimp Tacos

Shrimp tacos with juicy peach salsa, arugula, creamy Greek yogurt, and a drizzle of hot honey. Done in 10 minutes, but feels restaurant-worthy.

Protein: ~34g per serving (3 tacos)

Ingredients (serves 1):

• 4–5 oz shrimp, seasoned with chili + paprika + lime
• 1–2 tortillas (Siete almond flour used here)
• 1 peach, diced
• 1 tbsp red onion, minced
• 1 tbsp cilantro, chopped
• ½ cup arugula
• 2 tbsp plain Greek yogurt
• Squeeze of lime
• Drizzle of hot honey

Instructions:

1. Mix peach salsa (peach, onion, cilantro, lime).
2. Cook shrimp 4–5 mins until pink.
3. Warm tortillas.
4. Assemble tacos with arugula, shrimp, salsa, yogurt, and hot honey.

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4. Meatball Couscous Greek Bowls

Mediterranean-inspired comfort food. Meatballs, eggplant, and tomatoes simmered with couscous and broth, then topped with fresh cucumber, romaine, and feta.

Protein: ~33g per serving

Ingredients (serves 2–3):

• 10 frozen meatballs
• ½ cup dry couscous (~1 ½ cups cooked)
• 1 small eggplant, diced
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 cup bone broth
• 2 tbsp cream (or coconut cream)
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 2 cups romaine, chopped
• 1 cucumber, diced
• Juice of ½ lemon + drizzle of olive oil
• 2 tbsp feta

Instructions:

1. Sauté eggplant + tomatoes in oil 6–8 mins, season.
2. Add meatballs, cook through.
3. Stir in couscous + broth, cover 5 mins.
4. Mix in cream.
5. Assemble bowls with romaine, cucumber, lemon, olive oil, feta, and couscous mixture.

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5. Summer Chicken Skewers with Tabbouleh & Watermelon Salsa

Light, fresh, and perfect for warm nights. Juicy grilled chicken skewers, herby tabbouleh, and a refreshing watermelon salsa.

Protein: ~32g per serving

Ingredients:

• 1–1.5 lbs chicken breast/thighs, cubed
• Olive oil + seasonings (garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, salt, pepper)
• 1 box Near East Tabbouleh
• 1 cucumber, diced
• 1 tomato, diced
• 2 cups watermelon, diced
• ¼ red onion, diced
• Mint leaves, chopped
• Juice of ½ lime
• Arugula
• Dollop of farmer’s cheese (or Greek yogurt/feta)

Instructions:

1. Cook tabbouleh per package, stir in cucumber + tomato.
2. Toss chicken in oil + spices, skewer, grill 6–8 mins.
3. Mix watermelon salsa (watermelon, onion, mint, lime, salt).
4. Build bowls with tabbouleh, arugula, skewers, salsa, and farmer’s cheese.

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Final Thoughts

All five recipes are mom-approved: high protein, fast, and so satisfying. Use this post as your weeknight guide when you’re tired but still want to eat well.

✨ Follow me @kee_to_wellness for more high-protein recipes, non-toxic swaps, and real mom hacks.