3 High-Protein Recipes for Athletes

We're going to show you how to prepare some simple high-protein recipes especially for athletes, in order to achieve a good recovery after physical effort.

Reviewed and approved by the nutritionist Saúl Sánchez Arias.

Written by Saúl Sánchez Arias

Last update: 04 June, 2023

We have three great high-protein recipes for athletes for you today. The high protein in them satisfies the requirements of one of the most important nutrients for athletes, which is necessary for muscle recovery after an intense exercise session. Otherwise, the risk of injury may increase in the medium term.

However, it isn’t always easy to meet protein needs throughout the day. That’s why we’ve prepared these recipes for you, which will increase the presence of this vital nutrient in your diet.

In this way, you’ll help your body to be in an optimal state to perform at its best. Keep in mind that you can always resort to supplements if necessary.

High-protein recipes for athletes

1. Quinoa and chicken salad

Quinoa, in addition to protein, is able to provide a significant amount of fiber. This substance has been shown to support bowel function. This reduces the risk of constipation, which could be uncomfortable for the athlete. At the same time, it ensures that the microbiota has an adequate density. This is key in terms of the efficiency of the digestive processes.

Ingredients

The products you’ll need to prepare this delicious dish are the following:

• 1 cup quinoa
• 3/4 cup plain yogurt
• 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
• 1 avocado
• Juice of one lime
• 1 chipotle chili bell pepper
• 2 cups of sliced and cooked chicken
• 1 jar of black beans, drained
• 2 cups of frozen corn kernels
• 2 cups of cherry tomatoes
• Two thinly sliced scallions
• 4 cups baby spinach
• 4 tablespoons pumpkin seeds

Step-by-step instructions

1. Bring the quinoa, water, and a little salt to a boil in a saucepan.
2. Cook over a medium heat until the cereal absorbs the liquid and is soft. This may take about 12 minutes.
3. Let the quinoa stand for 5 more minutes and stir with a fork.
4. Then mix the yogurt, oil, avocado, lime juice, lime juice, bell pepper, and a little salt until smooth.
5. Divide the dressing into 4 jars and place the cooked chicken with the beans, quinoa, corn, tomatoes, spring onions, spinach, and pumpkin seeds in a bowl.
6. When it is time to serve, add the dressing and that’s it.

2. Veal stew

Veal is a product that provides proteins of high biological value. These are characterized by containing all the essential amino acids. Among them, leucine stands out, as it has the capacity to activate the anabolic pathways of metabolism, favoring processes such as muscle hypertrophy. So says research published in the journal Nature.

In this case, you will need the following ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
• 700 grams (25 oz) of veal for braising
• 1 large yellow onion, chopped
• 2 large carrots, chopped
• Salt to taste
• 1/2 kilo (1.1 pounds) of sweet potato, peeled and cut into squares
• 2 celery stalks, sliced
• 3 cloves garlic, chopped
• 2 tablespoons of tomato concentrate
• 2 teaspoons dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes
• 1 1/2 of cups stout beer
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1 cup of spelt
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

Step-by-step instructions

1. Heat the oil in a large pot.
2. Then, add the pieces of meat and cook them until they’re well browned.
3. Once they’re browned, remove the meat and set aside for later.
4. Reduce the temperature and place the onion, carrot, and salt in the pot, cooking for 6 minutes.
5. Then add the chili.
6. One minute later, pour in the beer and cook until it reaches boiling point – for around 3 minutes.
7. Add the broth along with the meat, sweet potato, tomato, spelt, and sauce.
8. Wait until it reaches the boiling point and reduce the heat.
9. Let it cook for 35 minutes. The goal is for the spelt to be nice and soft at the end.

3. Baked salmon with sweet potato

Salmon is a source of omega-3 fatty acids. These nutrients are also important for muscles, according to a study published in the journal Mar Drugs . They help reduce the catabolism of lean mass and improve recovery after high-intensity effort.

Ingredients

For this recipe you’ll need:

• 4 salmon loins
• 300 grams (10.5 oz) of sweet potato
• 30 milliliters of olive oil

Step-by-step instructions

1. Wrap the sweet potatoes with aluminum foil and bake them in the oven for 25 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius (350 F).
2. At the same time, prepare in a bowl a mixture of oil with 5 grams of black pepper and 5 grams of Provencal herbs.
3. Cut the cooked sweet potato into slices.
4. Soak the sweet potato in the herbs.
5. Place the salmon loins on the sweet potato bed. Cook everything for 15 minutes more in the oven and that’s it.

Read more: Smoked Salmon Blinis with Tartar Sauce Recipe

Prepare high-protein recipes for athletes

As you have seen, it’s very easy to prepare high-protein recipes for athletes. They provide a very high amount of essential nutrients, so they’re also recommended to help improve health. After all, they’re made with natural, fresh ingredients, products that help to ensure the proper functioning of the body.

Finally, remember that protein supplements are available for athletes, with the aim of increasing the presence of these nutrients in the diet. However, it isn’t always easy to choose a product of this type, so it’s first recommended to consult a nutritionist.