5 Easy Paleo Diet Recipes

The paleo diet is really revolutionizing the way people think about food. While it may seem like just another fad diet, I think it’s better described as lifestyle.

The paleo diet is more than just a fad because it’s actually sustainable long-term. This isn’t another diet plan than restricts your eating so severely that you can’t enjoy life. It’s more of a perspective shift, in so much that it requires a new approach to food. As for options, they still abound on the paleo diet.

The Paleo Diet Philosophy

The paleo diet is based on the fact that grains (such as wheat, oats, and rice) were introduced into our species’ diet relatively recently – about 10,000 years ago. This may sound like a long time, but considering we’ve been around for a couple million years, it’s a drop in the bucket.

Until that point, our diet during the paleolithic era (hence the name paleo) was entirely wheat and grain free, composed mainly of meats, fish, nuts, seeds, eggs, and fruits and vegetables.

I outline more details about the paleo diet in my article The Paleo Diet. If you’re an athlete or fitness guru, this is a particularly effective diet to adopt. To get a better idea of why that’s the case, check out my article on the Paleo Diet for Athletes.

5 Easy Paleo Diet Recipes

I know how intimidating new diet plans can be without specific recommendations. So today, I’m going to offer up 5 easy paleo diet recipes. If you’re a beginner to the paleo diet, or just looking to expand your options, give these simple but delicious meals a try!

Cashew Chicken & Lemon Asparagus

2 skinless boneless chicken breasts
¼ cup of chopped cashews
1 clove of garlic
3 tablespoons of olive oil
1 bunch of asparagus
1 lemon

Chop garlic clove finely and mix into 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Brush mixture onto chicken breasts, place on baking sheet, and sprinkle with chopped cashews. Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes. Separately, brush asparagus (with ends chopped off) with remaining olive oil and lemon juice mixture. Add salt and pepper to taste and top with lemon slices in a baking dish. Bake for 20 minutes.

Pomegranate Arugula Salad

4 cups of arugula
½ cup of pomegranate seeds
¼ cup of chopped walnuts
3 tablespoons of olive oil
2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar

In a large salad bowl, combine arugula, pomegranate seeds, and walnuts. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar mixture, toss, and serve.

Butternut Squash Soup

2 medium butternut squash (peeled, seeded, and diced into small cubes)
1 medium onion, diced
2 tablespoons of grapeseed oil
8 cups of water or stock

In a large soup pot, start by caramelizing the onion in the grapeseed oil until golden brown. Add the squash cubes and cook for another 10 minutes until soft. Boil the water or stock separately and pour into the onion/squash mixture. Bring to boil and simmer for 10 minutes. Then puree before serving.

Rosemary Apple Chicken

1 whole chicken (2-3 lbs)
¼ of olive oil
¼ cup of balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon of sea salt
4 tart apples (e.g., granny smith), cored & sliced
4 sprigs of rosemary

Rinse and dry chicken and place in baking dish. Brush with olive oil and vinegar mixture and sprinkle with sea salt. Place apple slices around the chicken in the baking dish, and place the rosemary under the chicken. Bake at 350 for an hour and a half, until golden brown.

Tomato & Basil Salmon

2 filets of salmon
1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
1 clove of garlic, minced
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons of fresh basil, chopped

Place salmon on baking sheet (if you leave skin on, place skin side down). Brush salmon with olive oil and sprinkle with salt. Bake at 425 for 15-18 minutes. Separately, mix cherry tomatoes, garlic, vinegar, and basil. Top cooked salmon with tomato and basil mixture and serve.

Paleo Diet Recipes – Conclusion

For more great paleo diet food ideas, read my Paleo Diet Food List. Whether you want to lose weight, get fit, or just improve your overall health, the paleo diet is a good way to go!