6 High Protein Meals on a Budget

With my current fitness goals, my daily protein target is 160 grams per day. However, you will not find me mowing down dry chicken or choking down protein powder. So how do I reach my protein goal while also staying on a budget and having creative and delicious meals?

It is much easier than you think. Here, I compiled a list of high-protein meals that are cost-friendly. These meals are far from dry chicken and bland rice, even though they do have their time and place (such as for my bodybuilder husband --- however, even he avoids the bland foods). You will find that a lot of these meals have chocolate, fruit, vegetables, and more.

A list of everything used in these meals. Ingredients last between 1 and 6 weeks

Cottage Cheese --- $1.76/container from Walmart

Light Greek Yogurt --- $3.47/container from Walmart

Frozen Fruit --- $2.58/bag from Walmart

Turkey --- $0.49/pound frozen after Thanksgiving from Walmart

Skim Milk --- $2.89/gallon from Walmart

Chocolate Chips --- $1.60/bag from Walmart

Apples --- $5.97/5 pounds from Walmart

Mozzarella Part Skim --- $2.94/pound from Walmart

Cinnamon --- $1.18 from Walmart

Onions --- $2.78/3 pounds from Walmart

Bread --- $0.70/loaf the next day at Walmart

Vinaigrette --- $2.24/bottle from Walmart

Whey Protein Powder --- We shop deals and look for the lowest price for the most protein

Coffee --- $6.99/bag for Caribou from Target (any coffee will do)

Caramel Rice Chips --- $3.99 from Aldi

Total: Under $50.00 (protein powder not included) for multiple weeks of food

1. Vanilla Greek Yogurt with Blueberries, Strawberries, and Shaved Dark Chocolate --- a side of Skim Milk

My go-to for adding protein to a meal is skim milk. I prefer it sometimes over adding protein powder to the yogurt.

2. Vanilla Greek Yogurt with Cinnamon, Chocolate Chips --- a side of Mozzarella, and Apples with Cinnamon

Tip: Add the cinnamon to the apples well before you are going to eat them. This allows it to absorb more into the apples.

3. Sesame bread with White Turkey, Onions, Mozzarella, and Raspberry Vinaigrette -- Melt Before Eating (Microwave, Airy Fry, or Oven)

My favorite option is to air fry these as the turkey melts, adding a crunch to the bread. I love doing this before adding the vinaigrette. However, this particular time I was prepping them for work and opted for the microwave to have softer bread.

4. Skim Milk, Any Flavor of Coffee, and Whey Chocolate Protein Powder

Typically, this is my first meal of the day. I love having it right before my workout in the morning. It gets me moving and has the carbs and protein I need to fuel my lift.

5. Low-Fat Cottage Cheese --- Side of Chocolate Chips, Mozzarella, and Cinnamon Sugar Apples

The sugar here is a mix of stevia and sugar. I use it in place of sugar in almost everything except for baking when yeast is involved. It is a lower-calorie alternative which means I can eat more of what I am eating.

6. Melted Turkey Sandwich on Italian Bread with Mozzarella, Onions, and Raspberry Vinaigrette -- Side of Caramel Rice Cake Chips and Dove Caramel Chocolate

These caramel rice cakes by Fit & Active are from Aldi. They are a great calorie-friendly alternative to chips when I want the flavor while still hitting my calorie goals

Let me know your favorite high-protein meals! I'm always looking for new ideas. Comment on any exact products you would like to know more about.