7 High-protein Keto Dinner Recipes (5 Ingredients or Less!) You’ll Crave Weekly

Short ingredient lists. Big flavor. Protein that actually fills you up. That’s the sweet spot, right? These seven high-protein keto dinners come together fast with five ingredients or less, so you can get a satisfying plate without blowing your macros—or your budget.

We’re talking crispy salmon, cheesy chicken, juicy steak, and even a shockingly good pizza bowl. Each recipe is simple enough for a busy weeknight but impressive enough to serve to friends. Ready to level up dinner without the drama?

1. Garlicky Butter Steak Bites With Herby Zing

When you want steak-house vibes in 15 minutes, these buttery bites deliver. They’re seared until caramelized, then tossed in garlicky butter with a hit of fresh parsley. It’s bold, rich, and downright addictive.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 lb sirloin steak, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp avocado oil (or olive oil)
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
• Salt and black pepper, to taste

Instructions:

1. Pat steak dry and season generously with salt and pepper. This helps you get that golden crust.
2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high until shimmering. Add steak in a single layer and sear 2–3 minutes per side, working in batches if needed.
3. Reduce heat to medium. Add butter and garlic to the pan; toss steak bites for 30–45 seconds until the garlic is fragrant and the butter coats the meat.
4. Remove from heat and shower with chopped parsley. Taste and adjust seasoning.

Serve with roasted asparagus or a quick arugula salad. Want variety? Add a pinch of crushed red pepper for heat, or swap parsley for thyme. Pro tip: Don’t crowd the pan—overcrowding steams the steak and steals your crust.

2. Crispy Parmesan Chicken Thighs That Basically Cook Themselves

Five ingredients, one pan, and crackly golden skin. These chicken thighs get coated in salty Parmesan and baked until juicy inside and crisp outside. It’s the perfect low-effort, high-reward weeknight hero.

Ingredients:

• 6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 2.5 lb)
• 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• Salt and black pepper, to taste

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Line a sheet pan with foil and set a wire rack on top for extra crispiness.
2. Pat chicken dry. Rub with olive oil, then season with salt and pepper.
3. Mix Parmesan, garlic powder, and smoked paprika. Press mixture onto the skin side of the thighs to form a light crust.
4. Arrange on the rack, skin-side up. Bake 35–40 minutes until internal temp hits 165°F and skin is crisp.

Serve with sautéed green beans or a lemony kale salad. Variation: swap smoked paprika for Italian seasoning for a herby vibe. Pro tip: Rest the chicken 5 minutes so the juices settle and the crust stays intact.

3. Creamy Pesto Salmon With Zucchini Ribbons

Silky salmon meets luscious pesto cream and delicate zucchini ribbons for a dinner that looks fancy but takes 20 minutes. It’s rich, bright, and seriously satisfying.

Ingredients:

• 4 salmon fillets (5–6 oz each), skin-on
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 1/3 cup basil pesto (store-bought or homemade)
• 2 medium zucchini, spiralized or ribboned
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• Salt and black pepper, to taste

Instructions:

1. Season salmon with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Sear salmon skin-side down 3–4 minutes; flip and cook 2–3 more minutes until just opaque. Transfer to a plate.
2. Reduce heat to medium-low. Add heavy cream and pesto to the skillet; whisk and simmer 1–2 minutes until slightly thickened.
3. Add zucchini ribbons to the sauce and toss for 60–90 seconds until just tender.
4. Nestle salmon back into the pan and spoon sauce over the top.

Top with a squeeze of lemon if you have it. Want extra protein? Toss in cooked shrimp at the end. Pro tip: Don’t overcook the zucchini—keep it just crisp-tender so it doesn’t water down the sauce.

4. Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Bake With Ranch Drizzle

All the flavors of Buffalo wings without the mess. Tender chicken smothered in tangy hot sauce, blanketed in melty cheese, and finished with a cool ranch drizzle. It’s game-day meets Tuesday night.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 lb cooked shredded chicken (rotisserie works great)
• 1/2 cup Buffalo wing sauce
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella
• 1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese (optional but epic)
• 2 tbsp ranch dressing (for drizzling)
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). In a baking dish, mix shredded chicken with Buffalo sauce. Season if needed.
2. Top evenly with mozzarella and sprinkle blue cheese over the top.
3. Bake 12–15 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
4. Drizzle with ranch before serving.

Serve over crisp romaine or with celery sticks on the side. Not a blue cheese fan? Skip it and add a little extra mozzarella. Pro tip: For extra heat, finish with a few dashes of hot sauce right before serving.

5. Lemon-Garlic Shrimp Skillet With Broccoli

This is your lightning-fast, protein-packed stir-fry without the carbs. Bright lemon, punchy garlic, juicy shrimp, and tender broccoli come together in one pan. Dinner in 12 minutes? Absolutely.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 3 cups small broccoli florets
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 lemon (zest and juice)
• Salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes (optional), to taste

Instructions:

1. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add broccoli with a pinch of salt and cook 3–4 minutes until crisp-tender. Transfer to a plate.
2. Add remaining oil and garlic; cook 20–30 seconds until fragrant. Add shrimp, season with salt and pepper, and cook 1–2 minutes per side.
3. Return broccoli to the pan. Add lemon zest and juice; toss to coat. Add red pepper flakes if you like heat.

Finish with an extra splash of olive oil for richness. Want a saucier version? Stir in 1–2 tbsp butter at the end. Pro tip: Dry your shrimp well before searing so they don’t steam.

6. Sausage, Pepper, and Cauli Rice Skillet Magic

Comforting, colorful, and loaded with protein, this skillet does it all. Smoky sausage, sweet peppers, and cauliflower rice get cozy with a quick sauté. It’s weeknight gold with basically no cleanup.

Ingredients:

• 12 oz smoked sausage or kielbasa, sliced
• 2 bell peppers (any color), sliced
• 12 oz riced cauliflower (fresh or frozen)
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• Salt and black pepper, to taste

Instructions:

1. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add sausage and cook 3–4 minutes until browned. Remove to a plate.
2. Add remaining oil and peppers; sauté 3–4 minutes until slightly softened.
3. Add riced cauliflower, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Cook 3–5 minutes, stirring, until the cauli rice is tender and steamy.
4. Return sausage to the pan and toss to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning.

Finish with a sprinkle of grated Parmesan if you like. Variation: add a handful of spinach at the end to wilt. Pro tip: Don’t overcook the cauliflower rice—aim for fluffy, not mushy.

7. Pepperoni Pizza Bowl With Melty Mozzarella

Yes, pizza night can be keto and high-protein. This bowl layers saucy beef, gooey cheese, and crispy pepperoni for all the pizzeria flavor without the crust. It’s comfort in a bowl, and it hits the spot hard.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground beef (85–90% lean)
• 3/4 cup no-sugar-added marinara
• 1.5 cups shredded mozzarella
• 2 oz pepperoni slices
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• Salt and black pepper, to taste

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (205°C). Brown ground beef in a skillet over medium-high, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain excess fat if needed.
2. Stir in marinara, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Simmer 2 minutes.
3. Transfer mixture to an oven-safe dish. Top with mozzarella and arrange pepperoni on top.
4. Bake 8–10 minutes until cheese is melted and edges are bubbly. Broil 1–2 minutes if you want browned, crispy pepperoni.

Garnish with fresh basil if you have it. Variation: Use spicy chorizo or ground turkey. Pro tip: Make individual ramekins for portion control and fast reheats.

How to Keep These Dinners Truly Easy

Want to make this rotation even faster? Keep a few smart staples on hand so you can cook on autopilot.

• Proteins: Chicken thighs, ground beef, shrimp, salmon, sausage
• Veggies: Broccoli, zucchini, cauliflower rice, peppers
• Flavor boosters: Parmesan, mozzarella, pesto, Buffalo sauce, Italian seasoning
• Fats: Olive oil, butter, avocado oil, heavy cream

Meal Prep Tips (Without Killing the Crunch)

• Pre-cook proteins like chicken or sausage and freeze in portions.
• Spiralize or ribbon zucchini the day you’ll eat it to avoid sogginess.
• Par-roast veggies (like broccoli) so dinner is just a quick finish in the skillet.

There you go—seven high-protein keto dinners with five ingredients or less that make weeknights stupid-easy. Pick one tonight, set a timer, and watch dinner basically cook itself. Your future self (and your macros) will thank you.