14 best paleo cookbooks

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Holy ‘Moly (Easy Guacamole)

Holy moly—I love guacamole. I routinely put my husband in charge of whipping up this green goodness because his version is my favorite by far: it’s the perfect mix of chunky and creamy, savory and spicy. Henry uses just a few ingredients, so it’s always a breeze to make a batch to accompany our meats and vegetables.

Makes 4 servings

Hands-on time: 15 minutes

Total time: 15 minutes

DO THIS:

1. In a small bowl, combine the shallot, lime juice, and salt. Leave the mixture alone for about 10 minutes so the acid can take some of the bite off the shallot.
2. Mash half of the avocado flesh in a bowl with a fork. Add the shallot mixture to the mashed avocado and stir to combine.
3. Cube the remaining half of the avocado into ¾-inch pieces and add it to the mixture in the bowl. Gently incorporate the mashed avocado and the cubed avocado.
4. As a finishing touch, add pepper (and, if desired, some chile powder) to taste. Eat immediately.

From Nom Nom Paleo: Food for Humans by Michelle Tam and Henry Fong / Andrews McMeel Publishing, LLC 2014.

Asian Cauliflower Fried Rice

Winter Kale and Persimmon Salad

Cinnamon Scones

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Clean Paleo One-Pot Meals

Christina Shoemaker is the creator of The Whole Cook, a popular food blog filled with hundreds of easy and good-for-you recipes. There she shares how to create flavorful meals the whole family will love using healthy ingredients. Most of her dishes are gluten free, dairy free, refined sugar free, macro friendly, and Paleo. All are delicious! When not in her kitchen, Christina can usually be found reading fiction or trying to convince her two children that the living room is not where they should dump all their toys. It’s an ongoing battle. She’s losing.

Introduction

I am a food lover. If you know me at all, you know this to be true. I wake up thinking about what to eat, and by the time I’ve finished any meal, I’m planning my next.

My grandmother used to say I was like a bird because when I was small, I’d stand at her feet in her tiny white kitchen with my mouth open, ready for her to drop something in. Not much has changed.

I’m in! So, what can i eat?

Oh, so much good food!

But before we go further, let me make this disclaimer: THIS IS YOUR DIET. It’s not my diet, your friend’s diet, or the diet of that woman in the gym wearing the neon-green full-body spandex. You should make the choices that make the most sense for you. Period. I’m going to explain what a Paleo-inspired diet can look like, but take what you want from it.

If you’re wanting to hear from someone who is rigid in their commitment to kale, I am not for you. Looking for someone who doesn’t fill their home with Christmas cookies in December? I am not your gal. Pass me all the cookies. But someone who carefully chooses healthy foods 85 percent of the time and believes in balance? Oh look, that’s me!

Disclaimer over. Back to your question. A Paleo-inspired diet includes lots of lean meat, poultry, seafood, vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds, and healthy fats. Phew. Doesn’t sound terrible, right?

Salsa chicken egg muffins

These savory muffins are perfect for meal prep or for when you want a healthy breakfast option for a crowd. Serve them with extra salsa or even guacamole. Or, keep them stocked in the fridge for a grab-and-go breakfast!

Roasted cranberry chicken & brussels sprouts

Tart fresh cranberries burst as you roast them and add so much flavor to this chicken. I love it paired with crispy roasted Brussels sprouts! Cubed pork tenderloin would also be divine here, so feel free to swap out the chicken, if you want to change things up.

Balsamic basil chicken cauliflower rice bowls

Load up your dinner bowl with this mix of roasted veggies and balsamic chicken! This is the first sheet-pan recipe I ever posted on the blog, and it started my love affair with one-pan meals. It packs some big balsamic flavor that’s not for the faint of heart.

Paleo tuna poke

This is likely my husband’s favorite recipe. It is super simple to throw together and so ridiculously flavorful! The only cooking this dish requires is in preparing the cauliflower rice. Here, I’m showing you how to steam it in a skillet, but you are welcome to buy the cauliflower rice that steams in a bag and use that to further simplify things. This recipe is made to feed one person (it’s a generous serving), so double it or triple it depending on how many you are serving.

Salsa chicken & mexican cauliflower rice

Lighten up your dinner with this sauteed chicken topped with homemade pico de gallo. Serve it on a bed of Mexican cauliflower rice, and your family will thank you!

Easy chicken green bean stir-fry

Anyone else think red cabbage is underrated? It’s the most gorgeous shade of purple that brightens up any dish! This tasty stir-fry includes this stunning veggie along with green beans, chicken, and a fantastic sauce (but feel free to use green cabbage, if you prefer). Enjoy as is or serve over steamed cauliflower rice or roasted spaghetti squash.

Creamy butternut squash soup

This butternut squash soup is velvety smooth and creamy—but without the cream! The squash tastes like it’s been roasted, but to keep things simple, we saute it with carrots, onion, and garlic. This easy step brings out all its scrumptious flavor in very little time. If fall were a soup, it would be this one!

Dairy-free chocolate pudding

Oh, just wait until you try this decadent pudding! It is so sweet, creamy, and thick, it tastes like you’re really indulging—but you can feel oh-so-good about these ingredients.

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A New Life

Through grace, time, and experience, it is my hope that healthy living will lead you not only to better physical health, but also to better mental health. For me, once I got the hang of living this way, my marriage grew, my friendships improved, and my soul felt more at peace. Through change, I became a whole person instead of living in a shell of sadness. Change can be hard, and it can take many days of starting over and making mistakes before you get it right. Hey, that’s okay. It’s worth it to start over and you are worth fighting for. Do it for your family, but better yet, do it for you.

What is Clean Paleo?

Contains NO grains, legumes, dairy, wheat, soy, gluten, or artificial ingredients. Only all-natural sweeteners such as raw honey, coconut sugar, real maple syrup, monk fruit, stevia extract, and erythritol. This way of eating is ideal for everyday life. Feel free to incorporate baked goods and treats on occasion.

SQUEAKY CLEAN PALEO

Same as Traditional Paleo but without sweeteners, artificial or natural, apart from dates. Think of eating as cleanly as possible, excluding all desserts and treats. Use this as a guideline to establish better eating habits.

KETO PALEO

Same as Traditional Paleo, except fewer carbs—there are no starchy veggies such as sweet potatoes. Compliant sweeteners include monk fruit, stevia extract, and erythritol.

Buffalo Chicken Patties with Southwest Ranch

This recipe is in honor of my husband, Joel, who is constantly begging for a buffalo recipe that is unique, healthy, and delicious. These slightly spicy patties will please any guy, woman, or kid in the house.

Thai Chicken Coleslaw with Almond Sauce

A spin on both the traditional creamy coleslaw and an Asian-style salad, this Thai Chicken Coleslaw gets doused in a luscious Paleo almond sauce and topped with cashews and scallions. This is the perfect salad for an outdoor BBQ or picnic.

Roasted Cabbage Steaks with Garlic Aioli and Bacon

These roasted cabbage steaks are a garlic lover’s dream. Drizzled with fresh garlic aioli and crumbled crispy bacon, they’re a great accompaniment to steak—but they’re hearty enough on their own.

Grilled Pork Chops with Peach Vinaigrette

Pork chops don’t have to be boring. These peach-inspired pork chops are both savory and sweet. To make this meal complete, serve with Cauliflower Mash (page 96) and green beans.

Philly Not-So-Cheesesteak Stuffed Peppers

These stuffed peppers are a spin on the traditional Philly cheesesteak sandwiches. They’re filled with thinly sliced steak, mushrooms, and peppers and get a big dollop of Mac’s Awesome Sauce. They’re so good, you won’t even miss the bread.

Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Wraps with Ranch Coleslaw

Chicken can get so boring sometimes. That’s when these Hawaiian wraps topped with grilled pineapple and ranch-drenched coleslaw swoop in to save the day.

Taco Soup

Taco Tuesday has never looked so good! Give your traditional tacos a facelift with this easy soup that is perfect for any time of the year. Want to really impress your family with leftovers? Reinvent this soup into another meal during the week by throwing a cup of it in a baked sweet potato. Pretty genius, huh?

Banana Cream Pie Pops

Growing up, banana cream pie was my favorite dessert. This ice-pop recipe plays on that, and it’s perfect for all you banana lovers out there. Ice pops are a great way to tame a sweet tooth in a healthy and cool way.

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100 Distinctive dishes

Enjoy Bananas Foster Pancakes, Chicken and Shrimp Gumbo, Grilled Vegetable Sandwich with Mint Pesto, Mushroom Bolognese, and much more!

For two to share

All of the recipes in this Paleo cookbook are scaled to feed two people with few leftovers, making shopping easy and helping you save money.

Fits a variety of needs

Accommodate different dietary needs with low-carb, vegetarian, and diabetes-friendly options—plus nutrition info on every recipe.