Following a caveman diet can introduce you to various healthy ingredients and delectable cuisines. However, many health-conscious individuals struggle with bland, repetitive meals that drain their motivation and energy when attempting the caveman diet. Discover 40 mouthwatering caveman diet recipes that will revolutionize your healthy eating journey.
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Caveman Diet Recipes
Crafting delectable caveman diet recipes can feel like an overwhelming challenge, with limited ingredient options and complex preparation techniques creating significant barriers for health enthusiasts. This list of caveman recipes provides a revolutionary solution, offering simple, mouthwatering meals that make the caveman diet accessible, enjoyable, and sustainable for everyone.
The caveman diet, also known as the paleo diet, emphasizes whole, unprocessed foods similar to what our hunter-gatherer ancestors might have eaten. Here are 40 simple and tasty caveman diet food recipes to get you started.
Caveman Breakfast Recipes
A caveman breakfast, focusing on protein, healthy fats, and some fruit, provides sustained energy and keeps you feeling full throughout the morning.
1. Berry and Coconut Smoothie
Start fueling your day the paleo way by blending frozen berries, coconut milk, and a handful of spinach. More than being a grab-and-go breakfast, the berries provide antioxidants and natural sweetness, while coconut milk offers healthy fats, aligning with caveman diet principles.

2. Scrambled Eggs With Smoked Salmon and Avocado
The ingredients in this caveman breakfast recipe are a staple in a caveman diet grocery list. Whisk eggs with chopped smoked salmon and diced avocado, then cook in coconut oil. The protein keeps you full, and the omega-3s are good for your heart.

3. Sweet Potato and Bacon Hash
Here’s a hearty breakfast for a cold morning. Dice sweet potato and bacon, then sauté until cooked through. Sweet potato offers complex carbohydrates, and bacon provides protein and fat, fitting the caveman diet profile.

4. Apple and Cinnamon Baked Apples
Core apples, fill with cinnamon and a drizzle of honey, then bake until soft. Apples are a natural source of sweetness and fiber, and cinnamon adds flavor without any processed ingredients, aligning with paleo guidelines. The fiber aids digestion, and the natural sugars provide a gentle energy boost.

5. Coconut Flour Pancakes
Running out of ideas for a weekend breakfast treat? Just combine coconut flour, eggs, and coconut milk, then cook like pancakes. Coconut flour is a paleo-friendly alternative to traditional flour, and eggs provide protein, both fitting the caveman diet’s principles.

6. Frittata With Spinach and Mushrooms
For a savory and earthy breakfast, whisk eggs with chopped spinach and mushrooms, then bake until set. This frittata can be made in advance and portioned out for easy breakfasts throughout the week. The protein supports muscle growth, and the vitamins and minerals boost overall health.

7. Cinnamon and Date Chia Pudding
Combine chia seeds, coconut milk, dates, cinnamon, and vanilla extract, then let sit overnight. This can be prepped in individual jars for grab-and-go breakfasts. This creamy, sweet, and spiced breakfast is packed with fiber and omega-3s that support brain health.

8. Avocado and Egg Toast
Craving for something creamy and savory early in the morning? Slice sweet potato into thin slices, toast, then top with mashed avocado and a fried egg. The complex carbs provide sustained energy, and the healthy fats and protein promote satiety.

9. Lemon Crepes
For a fancy yet simple breakfast, whisk together almond flour, eggs, and coconut milk, then cook like crepes and top with lemon zest and a drizzle of honey. Almond flour is a paleo-friendly flour alternative, reducing cholesterol levels and insulin resistance.

10. Breakfast Sausage Patties
Combine ground pork with spices like sage and thyme, then form into patties and cook. As caveman diet-compliant ingredients, ground pork provides protein and fat, and the spices add flavor without any processed ingredients.

Caveman Lunch Recipes
A caveman lunch, emphasizing lean protein, vegetables, and healthy fats, provides the nutrients needed to power through the afternoon.
11. Tuna Salad With Avocado
For a midday caveman power, combine canned tuna with mashed avocado, chopped celery, and red onion. Tuna is a lean protein source, avocado provides healthy fats, and celery and red onion add flavor and crunch. This salad can be made in advance and stored in individual containers.

12. Chicken Salad With Grapes and Walnuts
Combine cooked chicken with chopped grapes, walnuts, and a mayonnaise made with avocado oil. The protein from chicken keeps you full, while the healthy fats and fiber from walnuts promote satiety.

13. Lettuce Wraps With Ground Beef and Salsa
Brown ground beef with spices, then serve in lettuce leaves with salsa. It’s a savory and spicy dish, making it a light yet satisfying lunch. Ground beef is a good source of protein, and salsa adds flavor without any processed ingredients, both are caveman diet-compliant.

14. Salmon Salad With Lemon and Dill
Combine cooked salmon with chopped cucumber, dill, and a lemon vinaigrette. Aside from giving a fresh taste, salmon’s omega-3s support brain function, and the protein keeps you full. This salad can be made in advance and stored in the fridge.

15. Gochujang Glazed Blackened Swordfish Steak
Craving for a spicy and slightly sweet lunch, perfect for a day filled with exciting activities? Marinate swordfish steak in a mixture of gochujang (Korean chili paste), coconut aminos, and sesame oil, then blacken in a hot pan. Swordfish is a lean protein source that will keep you satiated, and gochujang adds a spicy and savory flavor.

16. Roasted Beets With Dukkah and Sage
Here’s an earthy and nutty snack that can also serve as a side dish. Roast beets until tender, toss with a mixture of dukkah (nut and seed blend), then blend fresh sage. Beets are a good source of fiber and antioxidants, while dukkah provides healthy fats to keep you satisfied between meals.

17. Avocado and Shrimp Salad
This tastes fresh and flavorful, perfect for a light yet satisfying lunch. Combine cooked shrimp with diced avocado, red onion, and a lime vinaigrette. The protein from shrimp keeps you full, and the healthy fats from avocado promote satiety.

18. Primal Speedy Skillet Pizza
Use a base made from cauliflower rice or almond flour, top with tomato sauce and your favorite caveman diet-friendly toppings, and bake until cooked through. Cauliflower rice or almond flour provides a grain-free base, and toppings provide protein, vegetables, and flavor. It tastes like pizza yet without the grains.

19. Winter Greens Laing
For a creamy and spicy caveman lunch, simmer winter greens (like kale or collard greens) in coconut milk with ginger, garlic, and chili peppers. Winter greens are nutrient-rich, coconut milk adds healthy fats, and spices add flavor.

20. Tamarind-Glazed Black Bass With Coconut-Herb Salad
Marinate black bass fillets in a tamarind glaze and bake or pan-sear until cooked through. Serve over a salad of mixed greens, shredded coconut, chopped herbs, and diced avocado, dressed with lime juice and olive oil. This dish features lean protein from the black bass, healthy fats from coconut milk and avocado, and nutrient-rich herbs and vegetables, which align with the core principles of the caveman diet.

Caveman Snack Recipes
Caveman snacks, consisting of nuts, seeds, fruits, or vegetables, provide quick and sustained energy between meals.
21. Ranch-Flavored Roasted Almonds
For a caveman diet-friendly fuel between meals, toss almonds with olive oil, dried herbs (like dill, parsley, and chives), and spices, then roast until crispy. Almonds are a great source of healthy fats for satiety, and the spices add flavor. This caveman snack recipe is a good alternative to chips.

22. Homemade Beef Jerky With Coconut Aminos
Marinate thinly sliced beef in coconut aminos, spices, and a touch of honey, then dehydrate or bake until dried. The jerky can be made in a batch and stored for easy snacks. Beef is a good source of protein, and coconut aminos are a paleo-friendly alternative to soy sauce.

23. Crispy Korean Roasted Seaweed
Looking for an easily portable snack that requires minimal preparation? For a salty, slightly nutty, and crunch snack, simply roast seaweed sheets with sesame oil and salt until crispy. Seaweed is a good source of minerals and iodine, and sesame oil adds flavor.

24. Carrot Sticks With Guacamole
Need a fresh snack that you can easily bring to school or work? Simply dip carrot sticks in guacamole. Carrots provide fiber and vitamins, and guacamole is made with avocado, a source of healthy fats, both caveman diet-friendly.

25. Coconut Flakes
Coconut flakes are a source of healthy fats and fiber, aligning with caveman diet principles. These are easily portable and require no preparation. Simply enjoy a small handful of unsweetened coconut flakes.

26. Grain-Free Crackers With Cashew Cheese
Make crackers using almond flour and seeds, then serve with cashew cheese. Almond flour and seeds are caveman diet-friendly, and cashew cheese is a dairy-free alternative. The healthy fats and protein from whole food ingredients promote satiety.

27. Coconut Cacao Protein Shake
Blend coconut milk, cacao powder, protein powder, and a touch of honey. Coconut milk provides healthy fats, cacao powder adds flavor and antioxidants, and protein powder supports muscle maintenance. This slightly sweet Caveman snack recipe makes a great post-workout snack.

28. Celery Sticks with Almond Butter
Staying true to the caveman diet principle, this snack requires minimal preparation and is easily portable. You just have to spread almond butter on celery sticks. The fiber aids digestion, and the protein and healthy fats promote satiety.

29. Zucchini Chips
Need a healthy alternative to potato chips? Slice zucchini thinly, toss with olive oil and spices, then bake until crispy. Zucchini provides fiber and vitamins, and spices add flavor.

30. Pumpkin Spice Muffins
Here’s a great option for a fall-inspired breakfast. Combine almond flour, eggs, pumpkin puree, spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger), and a touch of honey, then bake until cooked through. The fiber from pumpkin aids digestion, and the spices add warmth.

Caveman Dinner Recipes
A caveman dinner centered around lean protein, vegetables, and healthy fats provides essential nutrients for repair and recovery overnight.
31. Grilled Salmon With Asparagus
For a caveman feast to end the day, grill salmon and serve with roasted asparagus. Salmon is a rich source of omega-3s and protein, and asparagus provides fiber and vitamins, both paleo-friendly. This is a quick and easy dinner that can feed a crowd.

32. Roasted Chicken With Sweet Potatoes and Broccoli
Roast a whole chicken and serve with roasted sweet potatoes and broccoli. Roasted chicken and vegetables are caveman diet staples, providing protein, fiber, and essential nutrients. The chicken and vegetables can be cooked in large batches and enjoyed throughout the week, perfect for busy nights.

33. Steak With Cauliflower Mash
Here’s a rich and flavorful dish for special occasions. Pan-sear or grill a steak and serve with cauliflower mash. The protein supports muscle maintenance, and the healthy fats promote satiety.

34. Pork Tenderloin With Brussels Sprouts
Roast or pan-sear pork tenderloin and serve with roasted Brussels sprouts. Pork tenderloin is a lean protein source, and Brussels sprouts provide fiber and vitamins. The pork tenderloin and Brussels sprouts can be prepped ahead of time for quick cooking.

35. Ground Beef Stir-Fry With Mixed Vegetables
Here’s a quick and easy caveman dinner packed with protein and fiber for gut health. Brown ground beef with spices and stir-fry with mixed vegetables like bell peppers, onions, and zucchini. Ground beef is a good source of protein, and mixed vegetables provide fiber and vitamins.

36. Shrimp Scampi With Zucchini Noodles
Sauté shrimp with garlic, olive oil, and lemon juice, then serve over zucchini noodles. Shrimp is a lean protein source, and zucchini noodles are a paleo-friendly alternative to pasta. The protein keeps you full, and the healthy fats promote satiety.

37. Lamb Chops With Green Beans
Here’s a satisfying yet nutritious dinner you can include in a Mediterranean meal prep. Grill or pan-sear lamb chops and serve with steamed or sautéed green beans. The protein from lamb chops supports muscle maintenance, and fiber from green beans aids digestion.

38. Collard Greens Salad With Fried Plantain and Sumac
To make this sweet, tangy, and slightly smoky caveman salad, massage collard greens with olive oil and lemon juice. Top with fried plantain slices and a sprinkle of sumac. Collard greens are a nutrient-rich leafy green, plantain provides sweetness and resistant starch, and sumac adds a tangy flavor.

39. Scallops With Red Aguachile and Pickled Onion
Sear scallops until golden brown, then serve with a red aguachile (a spicy Mexican seafood marinade made with chili peppers, lime juice, and cilantro) and pickled red onion. Scallops are a lean source of protein, while Aguachile uses fresh ingredients like chili peppers, lime juice, and cilantro, making this dish’s ingredients caveman diet-friendly.

40. Tangy Vinegar Chicken With Barberries and Orange
End your day with a tangy, sweet, and savory dinner. Marinate chicken pieces in a mixture of vinegar, barberries, orange juice, and spices, then bake or grill until cooked through. Chicken provides protein for muscle maintenance, vinegar adds tanginess, barberries add tartness, and orange adds sweetness.

Conclusion
With these simple and tasty caveman diet recipes, you’ll transform your relationship with healthy eating and discover a world of culinary excitement. Take the first step today — by using any of my caveman recipes and start your delicious path to optimal nutrition and wellness.
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.
