16 Delicious Paleo Recipes That Will Make Every Day Feel Like A Cheat Day

The hottest diet of the moment is going Paleo. Short for Paleolithic, the diet restricts eating to only the foods that the humans alive in the Paleolithic era would have eaten, such as fruits, vegetables, lean meats, seafood, nuts, and seeds. The diet may sound difficult, but if you are armed with some simple and tasty recipes to turn the approved foods into delicious dishes, then it isn't so hard at all!

Paleo Pancakes

These pancakes make use of coconut flour and milk instead of the regular stuff, which makes them totally Paleo-friendly! Start by creaming together coconut oil and honey, then add eggs, coconut milk, and vanilla. Finish the batter off with your coconut flour, cream of tartar, and some sea salt.

Cinnamon Apple Chips

For some dieters, giving up chips is the hardest part about the Paleo diet, but there are still some ways to fulfill your crunchy craving. Use a sharp knife to thinly slice one or two apples, and discard the seeds from the discs. Arrange the slices on a baking sheet and sprinkle cinnamon on them. Bake them at 200 degrees for an hour, flip them, and continue baking for another 1-2 hours, until no longer moist.

Crock Pot Spaghetti And Meatballs

If you’re missing your favorite pasta while going Paleo, try this taste-alike alternative! Dump tomato sauce, olive oil, garlic, hot pepper relish and Italian seasoning into a 6 quart slow cooker and stir well. Cut a large spaghetti squash in half, scoop out the seeds, and place the two pieces face-down in the pot. Now, roll as many meatballs as you’d like from ground sausage and place them in the pot. Cook on high for 3 hours or low for 5, then use a fork to pull out the stringy interior of the squash, and top with meatballs.

Pizza Casserole

Craving some pizza? This layered pizza casserole is just the meal to make Paleo doable for you! Put ground beef in a large pan along with tomato sauce and Italian seasonings, and simmer for 6 minutes. Blend zucchini, cauliflower, and garlic cloves in a food processor, and then combine the mixture with eggs, coconut flour, cheese, and coconut oil until it looks doughy. Move the beef to a casserole dish, and then top it with your veggie dough. Top with pepperoni slices and grated cheese, then cook at 400 degrees for 30 minutes.

Spicy Chicken Tenders

For a universal favorite that you’re allowed to eat on Paleo, look no further than chicken tenders. Start by mixing Sriracha sauce, mustard and honey, then brush the sauce onto chicken tenders that have been put on skewers. Grill each tender on each side for 3-4 minutes, and then garnish with cilantro.

Fish Tacos

To make a soft Paleo wrap perfect for tacos, combine coconut flour, eggs, arrowfoot flour, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl, and then pour fractions of the batter into a small frying pan, heating both sides for about a minute. Fill the tacos with mahi mahi, mango barbecue sauce, and some cilantro mayo.

Avocado-Stuffed Burger

Here’s a delicious recipe that even non-Paleo eaters would love! Mix organic ground beef with black pepper, sea salt, and a zest of lemon, then form it into patties. In another bowl, mash avocados, sun dried tomatoes, lemon juice, and sea salt into a paste. Spread the paste onto the center of one patty, and then place another patty on top of it and pinch them together. Grill the patties about 6-8 minutes on each side and then enjoy.

Honey Orange Chicken

If you can’t get enough Chinese food, then this Paleo alternative to orange chicken will keep you satisfied without having you stray from your diet. Stir fry chunks of chicken breast in coconut oil until it browns, and then sautee with ginger and garlic. Lower the heat and add coconut aminos, honey, chili sauce, orange juice, and fish sauce.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Get the Paleo twist on this classic with this gluten-free recipe! Pour chicken broth, a dash of olive oil, onions, garlic, jalapeños, sea salt, and pepper into a crock pot and cook until soft. Then add carrots, celery, cut up chicken breasts, and diced tomatoes, and let cook on low for 2 hours. Shred the cooked chicken and top with cilantro and avocado slices.

Roasted Pumpkin Salad

Roast chunks of pumpkin at 400 degrees for 30 minutes, and then place them into a bowl with spinach and a diced red onion and add salt and pepper. In a small jug, combine extra virgin olive oil, orange juice, salt, pepper, and za’atar herb blend, stirring until the liquid is slightly thickened. Pour the dressing onto the salad and toss to coat, then add crumbles of feta cheese.

Bacon Tomato Quiche

First, make a zucchini crust by grating zucchini and combining it with coconut flour, coconut oil, and a beaten egg, and then bake in a pie dish at 400 degrees for about 9 minutes. In a separate bowl, combine eggs, coconut milk, ground mustard, salt, and pepper, and then add grated cauliflower, chopped spinach, and chopped bacon. Pour the egg mixture into the zucchini crust, top with tomato slices, and then bake for 28 minutes at 400 degrees.

Mini Meatloaves

Meatloaf is a food you don’t have to give up on Paleo, and these cupcake-sized portions make them an easy and filling snack. In a large bowl, mix ground beef with spinach, carrots, cooked mushrooms and onions, beaten eggs, coconut flour, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, nutmeg, salt and pepper. Use the mixture to fill muffin tins, and then cook them at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

Chorizo Chili

Brown beef, chorizo sausages, onions, and garlic on a skillet, and then toss them in a crock pot with tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, Rotel, chopped chiptle peppers, chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper. Stir together and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 4-6 hours. Serve topped with sliced avocado, minced red onion, and cilantro.

Vanilla Pumpkin Seed Clusters

Stir honey, coconut sugar, and vanilla together in a small bowl until they form a thick paste, and then add a bit of boiled water to thin it out. Pour pumpkin seeds into the mixture and stir to coat them evenly. Scoop out all of the seeds and place them on a baking sheet, cooking them at 150 degrees for 15-20 minutes. After sitting for a few minutes, form the seeds into small clusters.

Chocolate Mug Cake

Are you ever craving chocolate cake, but don’t want to spend all the time and effort into making one? This Paleo recipe will have you eating a delicious piece of chocolate cake in under 2 minutes! Just combine almond flour, unsweetened cocoa powder, almond milk, honey, an egg, and vanilla extract in a mug. Then stir and microwave for one to one and a half minutes!

Pumpkin Spice Scones

Save the money and cheat days that you spend on Starbucks pastries with this great tasting scone recipe. Combine almond flour, coconut palm sugar, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and salt in a large mixing bowl, mixing in a cup of cold cubed butter. Slowly add a whisked mixture of canned pumpkin, coconut milk, apple cider vinegar, vanilla and eggs. Transfer the dough into a large pan and refrigerate it for 30 minutes, and then cut it into triangles. Bake for 13-15 minutes at 425 degrees.