I struggled with bland, repetitive meals when I first started the carnivore diet, feeling frustrated and discouraged as I ate the same basic steak every single day. Sharing my secret with you, these 33 carnivore diet recipes saved my journey by adding excitement and variety to my meals while keeping me firmly on track with my health goals.
Contents
- Carnivore Diet Recipes
- 1. Seared Ribeye With Bone Marrow
- 2. Carnivore Diet Breakfast Tacos With Egg-Based Tortillas
- 3. Tuna Steak
- 4. Beef Jerky
- 5. Carnivore Mac and Cheese
- 6. Carnivore-Style Creamy Crab and Shrimp Seafood Bisque
- 7. Classic Organ Meat Pie
- 8. Carnivore Breakfast Muffins
- 9. Bacon-Wrapped Cod
- 10. Pan-Seared Duck Breast With Crispy Skin
- 11. Carnivore-Style Slow Cooker Korean Beef
- 12. Air Fryer Crunchy Chicken Nuggets
- 13. Carnivore Breakfast Sausage Patties
- 14. Roasted Chicken
- 15. Meat Lovers Carnivore Pizza
- 16. Carnivore Keto Egg Pudding
- 17. Chicken Liver Pate
- 18. Grilled Dry-Aged Tomahawk Steak
- 19. Turkey Meatballs
- 20. Salmon With Butter
- 21. Easy Instant Pot Oxtails
- 22. Pork Ribs
- 23. Carnivore-Style Lamb With Anchovy Aioli
- 24. Grass-Fed Beef Liver Chips
- 25. Butter Fried Chicken Hearts
- 26. Carnivore-Style Egg Drop Soup
- 27. Easy Carnivore Slow-Cooked Brisket
- 28. Pork Loin Roast
- 29. Egg-Based Waffle
- 30. Chicken Wings
- 31. Carnivore-Style Ground Beef Stroganoff
- 32. Pork Rinds
- 33. Carnivore Lemon Cheesecake
- Tips for Following Recipes on a Carnivore Diet
- Conclusion
Carnivore Diet Recipes
Many people find it daunting to maintain variety and excitement in their carnivore meals while strictly adhering to animal-based ingredients. This quick collection of 33 recipes for a carnivore diet solves this challenge by providing diverse, flavorful options that make meal planning effortless while helping you stay true to your dietary goals.
A carnivore diet is a highly restrictive eating pattern that consists solely of animal products, including meat, fish, eggs, and some dairy while eliminating plant-based foods such as vegetables, fruits, grains, and legumes. This article features protein-packed dishes perfect for carnivore diet meal prepping, giving you healthy and convenient options throughout the week.
1. Seared Ribeye With Bone Marrow
Ribeye and bone marrow are packed with protein and iron that support healthy red blood cell production. Together, they give a rich, savory, and melt-in-your-mouth goodness. Sear a ribeye steak to your desired doneness and serve it with roasted bone marrow for a luxurious and satisfying meal any time of day.
2. Carnivore Diet Breakfast Tacos With Egg-Based Tortillas
Start your day with a fun and flavorful breakfast. Cook a thin egg “tortilla” and fill it with ground meat, cheese, and other allowed toppings. Besides providing sustained energy and essential nutrients, this breakfast recipe gives a savory and cheesy taste.
3. Tuna Steak
Tuna provides protein and omega-3 fatty acids, which support heart health and brain function. To add this clean eating ingredient to your carnivore diet, sear a tuna steak to your desired doneness. It’s easy to portion and reheat, making it ideal for beginner meal prepping.
4. Beef Jerky
Need a quick protein boost during travel or workouts? Perfect for on-the-go snacking, beef jerky provides a convenient and long-lasting source of energy. To achieve a savory, salty, and chewy jerky, marinate thinly sliced beef and dehydrate it.
5. Carnivore Mac and Cheese
Melt shredded cheese with egg yolks or bone broth to create a creamy sauce, combine with more shredded cheese and optionally ground meat, and then bake. This dish provides calcium for bone health from cheese and collagen from bone broth for joint support. This is suitable for those on a less strict carnivore diet incorporating dairy, offering a comforting meal, especially during diet transitions.
6. Carnivore-Style Creamy Crab and Shrimp Seafood Bisque
Simmer crab and shrimp in bone broth or heavy cream with seasonings, then blend until smooth and creamy. It results in a rich, creamy, and savory seafood flavor. This protein-packed dish is a luxurious and comforting meal, perfect for a cold day or a special occasion.
7. Classic Organ Meat Pie
Combine various organ meats (liver, heart, kidneys) with allowed fats and seasonings, then bake in a crust made from ground meat or cheese. Organ meats are extremely nutrient-dense and high in protein. They also taste rich, earthy, and savory.
8. Carnivore Breakfast Muffins
Here’s the perfect grab-and-go carnivore diet breakfast recipe loaded with savory and cheesy flavors! Combine ground pork, eggs, cheese, and seasonings, then bake in muffin tins. Ground pork and eggs provide ample protein for satiety and sustained energy.
9. Bacon-Wrapped Cod
Wrap cod fillets in bacon and bake or pan-fry until the cod is cooked through and the bacon is crispy. Cod provides lean protein and omega-3 fatty acids, while bacon (in moderation) provides some healthy fats. The combination of flaky cod and crispy, salty bacon creates a delightful savory flavor.
10. Pan-Seared Duck Breast With Crispy Skin
Score the skin of duck breasts, sear them skin-side down until crispy, then flip and cook to the desired doneness. Duck breast provides lean protein, healthy fats, and iron, and the crispy skin offers a delightful textural contrast to the tender and flavorful duck meat. This is a great choice for a special occasion meal or for those looking for a richer protein source.
11. Carnivore-Style Slow Cooker Korean Beef
Looking for a carnivore diet meal that’s excellent for batch cooking and freezes well? Slow cook beef chuck with soy sauce, garlic, and ginger until tender. The cooking method gives the beef a savory, rich, and intensely flavored taste.
12. Air Fryer Crunchy Chicken Nuggets
Looking for a crispy, savory, and kid-friendly snack or meal? Here’s a quick and easy-to-prepare dish for those just starting a carnivore diet. Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces, coat with egg and seasonings, then air fry until crispy.
13. Carnivore Breakfast Sausage Patties
Combine ground meat (typically pork), animal fat (if desired), and carnivore-friendly seasonings, then form into patties and cook in a pan or on a grill. They are savory, rich, and satisfying, reminiscent of traditional breakfast sausage. These are perfect for a quick and easy carnivore breakfast, providing a protein-packed start to the day.
14. Roasted Chicken
This classic carnivore diet dish is easy to portion and reheat well. Just roast a whole chicken until cooked through. Chicken is an excellent source of protein and provides essential amino acids for muscle growth and repair.
15. Meat Lovers Carnivore Pizza
Here’s a fun and satisfying meal best for having guests over! Use a base of ground meat and top with cheese, bacon, and other allowed meats. Multiple meats contribute to a high protein content and satisfy cravings without the carbs.
16. Carnivore Keto Egg Pudding
Running out of desserts or snacks that taste creamy, rich, and slightly sweet? Combine eggs, cream cheese, and sweetener, then bake until set. This dish provides healthy fats and can be a good option for those on a ketogenic version of the carnivore diet.
17. Chicken Liver Pate
Chicken liver contains 27 grams of protein per 100-gram serving, a good amount for a single meal. To make this nutrient-dense snack or appetizer, simply blend cooked chicken liver with butter and seasonings. Aside from giving a rich and slightly metallic taste, this dish supports liver function and detoxification processes.
18. Grilled Dry-Aged Tomahawk Steak
Grill a dry-aged tomahawk steak over high heat to achieve a beautiful sear and desired internal temperature. Tomahawk steak, a ribeye cut with a long bone provides high-quality protein for muscle growth and repair. The dry-aging process concentrates the beef’s flavor, resulting in a rich, savory, and tender steak with a smoky char from the grill.
19. Turkey Meatballs
Combine ground turkey with eggs and seasonings and cook until done. Turkey is a lean source of protein and essential amino acids for muscle growth and repair. This can be made in large batches and frozen, making it a quick and easy meal or snack.
20. Salmon With Butter
Pan-sear or bake salmon and serve it with butter. Salmon is an excellent source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids, which support heart health and brain function. More than being easy to portion and reheat, the combination of the ingredients gives a rich and flavorful carnivore diet dish.
21. Easy Instant Pot Oxtails
Cook oxtails in an Instant Pot until tender and flavorful. This rich, gelatinous, and deeply flavorful carnivore diet dish is easy and quick to prepare, especially for Instant Pot meal prep. Oxtails are a good source of protein and provide collagen for joint health and bone strength.
22. Pork Ribs
Slow cook or smoke pork ribs until tender. This protein-packed meal can be made in large batches and reheats well, making it ideal for potlucks. It’s also a smoky and flavorful dish that will leave people craving for more.
23. Carnivore-Style Lamb With Anchovy Aioli
A 3.5-ounce serving of anchovies has 1.4 mg of omega-3, letting you achieve the recommended intake of 1.6 mg per day. To add this fresh ingredient to an elegant meal, roast or grill lamb and serve it with an aioli made with anchovies, egg yolks, and olive oil. Aside from having a rich, savory, and slightly salty taste, this carnivore diet dish provides healthy fats and supports brain function.
24. Grass-Fed Beef Liver Chips
Craving for an earthy, slightly metallic, and crispy snack that’s perfect for on-the-go? Thinly slice grass-fed beef liver, season, and dehydrate or bake until crispy. Beef liver is a concentrated source of protein that supports liver function.
25. Butter Fried Chicken Hearts
Dredge chicken hearts in a mixture of egg and seasonings, then fry them in butter until cooked through and crispy. Chicken hearts are rich in CoQ10, which supports heart health. This is a good option if you’re looking for a nutrient-dense and flavorful snack or meal.
26. Carnivore-Style Egg Drop Soup
To make this savory and comforting carnivore diet meal, simmer bone broth and whisk in eggs to create a silky soup. The ingredients are soothing for the gut and provide hydration. You can prepare it either as a light meal or a snack.
27. Easy Carnivore Slow-Cooked Brisket
Slow cook a brisket with salt and pepper until it’s fall-apart tender. Perfect for large gatherings or meal prepping for the week, brisket is a protein-packed cut of beef that supports muscle growth. This classic carnivore comfort food has a rich, smoky, and melt-in-your-mouth taste.
28. Pork Loin Roast
Roast a pork loin in the oven until it reaches the desired internal temperature, making sure it remains juicy. Pork loin provides lean protein for muscle building and repair, and also contains essential vitamins and minerals. This is a versatile and economical cut of meat, perfect for family dinners or meal prepping for the week ahead.
29. Egg-Based Waffle
Combine eggs, cheese, and seasonings, then cook in a waffle iron. Quick and easy to prepare, this savory and cheesy waffle will make morning meals a breeze. You’ll still get your daily needs of protein and amino acids.
30. Chicken Wings
Whether as a snack or meal, you won’t go wrong with this classic carnivore diet recipe. Just bake or fry chicken wings until crispy. It’s easy to portion and reheat, and you’ll still enjoy that crispy and flavorful taste.
31. Carnivore-Style Ground Beef Stroganoff
Need a quick and easy weeknight meal that’s creamy and savory? Brown ground beef and simmer it with sour cream and mushrooms. Ground beef is a readily available source of protein, while mushrooms and edible fungi are great additions to an animal-based diet.
32. Pork Rinds
To make this salty and crunchy snack, simply bake or fry pork skin until crispy. Pork rinds are a good source of protein and collagen that supports joint health. This is also perfect for on-the-go snacking for travel or work.
33. Carnivore Lemon Cheesecake
Ending this list with a tangy, creamy, and decadent carnivore diet dessert. Combine cream cheese, eggs, sweetener, and lemon zest, then bake until set. You can easily make this cheesecake during your weekly meal prep and serve it when needed.
Tips for Following Recipes on a Carnivore Diet
The carnivore diet, focusing primarily on animal products, can offer benefits like weight management and improved metabolic health by emphasizing protein and eliminating processed foods.
Understanding how to implement this dietary approach correctly can lead to increased energy levels, reduced inflammation, and a simplified approach to eating, ultimately contributing to a healthier and more fulfilling lifestyle. Here are six tips for following a carnivore diet effectively:
- Prioritize whole cuts of meat: Focus on nutrient-dense cuts like steak, roasts, and ground beef.
- Include organ meats (if desired): Organ meats are nutritional powerhouses and can be a valuable addition.
- Ensure adequate fat intake: Fat is important for satiety and hormone production on a carnivore diet.
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water, especially as your body adjusts to the diet.
- Listen to your body: Pay attention to how you feel and adjust your approach as needed.
Conclusion
With these 33 carnivore diet recipes, you’ll experience increased energy, better mental clarity, and a newfound joy in preparing nutrient-dense meals that support your body’s needs. Start exploring these protein-packed recipes today and revolutionize your carnivore lifestyle with flavors that will keep you motivated and satisfied.
Nathaniel Lee is an avid cook, drawing on his decades of home cooking and fine dining experience. He is a contributing chef at Mashed, and his recipes and contributions have been featured in Tasting Table, Edible Arrangements, Insanely Good Recipes, and The Daily Meal.