16 Macro-Friendly Dinner Recipes - Simply Noel (2024)

I know the struggle of finding macro-friendly dinner recipes that work well for the whole family.

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I spent so much time searching high and low for simple, quick, and tasty recipes that I would love just as much as my family would.

To make things easier for you I found a bunch of macro-friendly dinner ideas that you can add to your menu!

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Discloser: I am not a trained health professional. All articles are based on my own experience and opinions. Please consult with a health professional before making lifestyle changes.

And what does macro-friendly mean? That means that these recipes fit into my macros well, but they may not fit into yours exactly. You may need to tweak some serving sizes or maybe add a side dish to the recipe to make it work for you.

If you’re using my excel meal plan worksheet it will be easy to enter in the numbers and make whatever adjustments you need for your personal goals.

If you’re new to macros and don’t know how to calculate your own macros, check out my Ultimate Guide To Counting Macros to get started!

If you’re looking for a really simple and cheap meal plan (like I’m talking college student cheap) be sure to check out my macro meal plan for beginners where I’ve created meals you can just mix and match based on your macros without needing to do any of the math!

Macro-Friendly Dinner Ideas:

I’ve broken these recipes down into a few categories including; chicken recipes, beef recipes, crockpot/instapot recipes, and gluten-free recipes. I hope these make it easier for you to find what you need.

I’ll continue to come back and add new recipes as I find them, so be sure to pin this page and come back!

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*These are not all my recipes, these are recipes I’ve found on Pinterest and loved! All links go to the website they are originally from – feel free to look around more on their sites for other ideas as well! All photos are shared from their pages as well with proper credit.

Chicken Macro-Friendly Dinner Recipes

Macro-Friendly Chicken Enchiladas | Macro Miranda

Macros: Calories 130 | Protein 13g | Carbs 13g | Fat 2g

I love this recipe from Macro Miranda because it’s only 8 simple ingredients (that’s my kind of recipe!) and can be whipped up in 30 mins!

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Macro-Friendly Caprese Chicken | Julie Ledbetter

Macros: Calories 205 | Protein 34g | Carbs 6g | Fat 5g

A taste of Italy in less than an hour and within my macros? YES PLEASE! This recipe has just 7 simple ingredients (most of which you probably already have at home) and make an incredible meal prep recipe!

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Balsamic Baked Chicken and Sweet Potato | Macrostax

Macros: Calories 363 | Protein 34.5g | Carbs 43.5g | Fat 3.5g

This is a one-sheet dinner! I hate when there are a billion dishes to clean up after a meal, and if you meal prep you know the struggle too. So you already know what a blessing this dish is (not to mention how yummy it is too!)

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Sticky Finger Chicken Tenderloins | How We Macro

Macros: Calories 152 | Protein 24.9g | Carbs 13.5g | Fat .5g

My favorite this to do is make a recipe for dinner one night and use the leftover protein in a salad for lunch the next day – and this recipe is perfect for that! This recipe also makes a great dish to take to a party or potluck.

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Ground Beef Macro-Friendly Dinner Recipes

Macro Friendly Chili | Simply Noel

Macros: Calories 332 | Protein 24g | Carbs 47g | Fat 5g

This chili is simple to throw together, tasty, and freezer friendly! Great for serving a big group or meal prepping for the whole week

Macro Friendly Taco Soup | macroED

Macros: Calories 280 | Protein 27g | Carbs 21g | Fat 10g

Taco soup is a great one to throw together on a cold afternoon, plus it makes fabulous leftovers and freezes really well!

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One Pan Beef Enchilada Skillet | Everyday Meal Prep

Macros: Calories 400 | Protein 36g | Carbs 43g | Fat 15g

This recipe is the perfect meal prep! Make all the yummy enchilada fixings without all the fat and throw it in a protein bowl for the rest of your week!

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Simple and Macro Friendly Sheperd’s Pie | Mallory King

Macros: Calories 361 | Protein 30g | Carbs 31g | Fat 13g

Traditionally Sheperd’s Pie includes lamb, but this quick and easy recipe is just as yummy with ground beef! Simple to make and great for leftovers.

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Instapot Macro-Friendly Dinner Recipes

Chicken Fajitas | Simply Noel

This is one of my personal favorite recipes, we make it at least once every other week. It’s super fast and you can throw it in the crockpot before leaving for the day and come home to a yummy macro-friendly dinner!

Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken | Mason Fit

Macros: Calories 120 | Protein 19g | Carbs 4g | Fat 4g

This recipe is so good to mix up your routine! Full of flavor and super simple. Pair it with a potato bun or throw it on a salad to keep it gluten-free.

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Instant Pot Pork Ragu | Lillie Eats and Tells

Macros: Calories 219 | Protein 27.8g | Carbs 23.1g | Fat 4.7g

If you’re looking for an easy, simple recipe that freezes well – this is what you need!

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High Protein Instant Pot Chicken Pasta | Carrots ‘N’ Cake

Macros: Calories 303 | Protein 35g | Carbs 29g | Fat 5g

This Instant Pot recipe calls for just 5 ingredients (you already know I love that!) and is sure to be a crowd-pleaser! Bonus – it’s also gluten and dairy-free!

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Gluten-Free Macro-Friendly Dinner Recipes

Macro Friendly Stuffed Peppers | Mallory King

Macros: Calories 290 | Protein 29g | Carbs 16g | Fat 15g

I’m OBSESSED with stuffed peppers! It’s such a yummy and filling alternative to bread. This recipe from Mallory King is super simple to make and is ready in about 45 minutes.

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Italian Salad Bowl | How We Macro

Macros: Calories 311 | Protein 37g | Carbs 16g | Fat 11g

I’m not a big fan of salads, so I have to dress them up a bit. And this Italian salad is SO yummy! It’s great when you want the taste of a sub sandwich without the bread.

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Healthy Sesame Chicken | One Lovely Life

This is a base recipe that you can make a bunch of dishes with! Add different sides to it to fit your macros and use the leftovers in a salad!

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Steak Burrito Bowl | Hot Pan Kitchen

Macros: Calories 388 | Protein 14g | Carbs 62g | Fat 9g

If you love Chipotle you’ll LOVE this recipe! It’s so easy to customize what goes into your bowl to fit your macros too.

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I hope this helped you find lots of yummy new dinner ideas! Again, I’ll be adding to this blog often, if you have any favorite recipes you’d like to share with my readers please link to them in the comments!

Looking for a specific kind of meal and having a hard time finding it? Please let me know in the comments! I love creating helpful resources for people trying to get healthy!

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Related Articles:

The Ultimate Guide To Counting Macros

How To Meal Prep

Macro Meal Plan for Beginners

How To Calculate Your Macros

16 Macro-Friendly Dinner Recipes - Simply Noel (2024)

FAQs

What is the most macro friendly food? ›

Green Vegetables are the most macro friendly. They give you the most bang for your buck. These include: Broccoli, Kale, Spinach, Peppers, Green Beans, Asparagus, Cucumber, Zucchini, Lettuce, Mustard Greens, Celery, Brussel Sprouts, and many more.

How do I make a macro friendly meal plan? ›

A basic strategy would be to divide your total daily targets including calories, carbs, fat and protein by four. This would give you even macro targets for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. Then, divide that 1/4 number by two to get the target macros for your two snacks.

What is macro-friendly? ›

A macro-friendly meal is one with a good balance of protein, carbs, and fat to make a balanced meal. Most will usually be higher in protein with a moderate amount of carbs and fat.

How to shop for macros? ›

Prioritize Lean Proteins

Protein-rich foods should be a staple in your macro-friendly grocery list. Opt for lean protein source like skinless poultry, fish, lean beef, tofu, legumes, and low-fat dairy products. These choices are not only high in protein but also lower in saturated fats.

Is peanut butter a macro? ›

It's a good protein source

Peanut butter is a fairly balanced energy source that supplies all of the three major macronutrients.

What can you not eat on a macro diet? ›

There Are No Forbidden Foods

No foods are forbidden on IIFYM, as long as they fit into your macros. This can be a great way to teach balance and help people understand where the majority of their protein, fats and carbohydrates are coming from.

What is a good macro ratio for dinner? ›

As a general rule, Albert advises a macronutrient breakdown of 20%-30% fat, 30% protein and 40%-50% carbohydrates. "Focus on getting healthy fats from things like nuts, seeds, olive oil, salmon, and avocados," Albert says. "Keep portion control in mind, because fats are higher in calories.

What is the ideal meal macro? ›

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020–2025 suggests the following daily macronutrient ratios: Protein: 10–30% for people ages 4 to 18 years; 10–35% for people older than age 18 years. Fats: 20–35% for people ages 4 years and older. Carbohydrates: 45–65% for everyone.

What macros should I be eating to lose weight? ›

But in general, these ratios are a good place to start: If you exercise for an hour or less daily: 30% protein, 30% fat, 40% carbs. If you exercise for one to two hours daily: 30% protein, 25% fat, 45% carbs. If you exercise for more than two hours daily: Consider seeing a certified sports dietitian.

What meals have all macronutrients? ›

Macro Friendly Entree Recipes
  • Pulled Buffalo Chicken (30-Minute Stovetop or Crockpot) ...
  • Chicken Pot Pie Soup. ...
  • Tuscan Chicken Mac and Cheese (30 Minutes) ...
  • Chicken Lettuce Wraps. ...
  • Crockpot Cream Cheese Salsa Chicken (Tacos) ...
  • Healthy Buffalo Chicken Spaghetti Squash Casserole.
Jan 5, 2023

What is the most efficient macro? ›

Your perfect macronutrient ratio depends on your goals, activity level, age, health, and genetics. For weight loss purposes, a moderate carb (30%-40% of calories), moderate fat (20%-30% of calories), and high protein diet (25%-35% of calories) tends to work for most people.

How do I know my macros for beginners? ›

Tips for Counting Macros
  1. Read labels: Carefully study nutritional labels to find out the number of grams of macros. ...
  2. Use a food scale: Weighing your food aids in portion control and reduces the risk of over or underestimating your macros.
  3. Plan ahead: Before the start of the week, map out a plan for each day.

How to start a macro diet? ›

People should follow several steps before starting a macro diet.
  1. Determine caloric needs. There are a few ways a person can figure out their daily calorie needs. ...
  2. Determine macronutrient ratio. Once a person has calculated their total daily calories, they can then determine their macronutrient ratio. ...
  3. Track macros.
Jul 23, 2021

How do I know what to eat for macros? ›

To work out how many grams of each you need, you multiply your total daily calories by 0.4 for protein and 0.3 for carbohydrates and fat. The protein and carbohydrate figures are then divided by 4 and the fat figure by 9. The final figures will be how many grams of each to eat.

What is the healthiest macro diet? ›

As a general rule, Albert advises a macronutrient breakdown of 20%-30% fat, 30% protein and 40%-50% carbohydrates. "Focus on getting healthy fats from things like nuts, seeds, olive oil, salmon, and avocados," Albert says. "Keep portion control in mind, because fats are higher in calories.

What are the top 3 macros? ›

The three primary macronutrients are carbohydrates, fat, and protein. Carbs fuel your body with immediate energy. Protein provides amino acids, which are essential for building muscle, skin, blood, and important structures of the brain and nervous system.

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