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10 Easy Paleo Dishes to Delight Your Guests (Starter, Main, and Dessert)

Head and shoulders photograph of Anju Mobin
Smiling woman having dinner with group of friends
The paleo diet consists of foods that closely parallel that of early prehistoric human diets. It includes lean meats, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and oils from nuts, foods that hunter-gatherers could obtain thousands of years ago before the agricultural revolution and new farming practices.

When it comes to present-day humans, can paleo dishes live up to their expectations? To answer this, we'll share 10 paleo recipes that will surely delight your guests.

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1. Paleo Zucchini Chip Starters

Ingredients: Zucchini, salt, pepper, paprika, olive oil

Zucchini chips can be a great starter for guests. It's a healthier alternative to potato chips and is full of flavor, vitamins, minerals, and plant compounds that are good antioxidants.

Cooking Instructions:

  • Slice some zucchini
  • Add salt, pepper, paprika, and olive oil
  • Bake in a preheated oven for 25-30 minutes

2. Roasted Paleo Cauliflower Hummus Starter

Ingredients: Cauliflower, olive oil, water, tahini, garlic, cumin, lemon juice, sea salt

Served with chips or steamed vegetables, this is a delicious dip. Cauliflower has high fiber, low carb, and high antioxidant levels. It's also high in vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin B6, folate, pantothenic acid, and minerals such as manganese and potassium.

Cooking Instructions:

  • Roast the cauliflower for 35-40 minutes in a preheated oven
  • Blend with olive oil, water, tahini, garlic, cumin, lemon juice, and sea salt
  • Sprinkle some paprika on it

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3. Paleo Cassava Flour Pancake Dessert

Ingredients: Cassava flour, baking powder, milk

These pancakes are easy to make and great as a dessert for your guests. Cassava flour is free of gluten, dairy, and refined grain. This root vegetable is also rich in vitamin C, thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin.

Cooking Instructions:

  • In a bowl, add 1-2 tablespoons of cassava flour with a pinch of baking powder
  • Add milk for consistency
  • Heat on a griddle

4. Paleo Zucchini Lasagna Main

Ingredients: Minced beef, zucchini, olive oil, onion, tomato sauce, paleo marinara sauce, basil, dairy-free cheese

A paleo spin on a modern classic, this lasagna is gluten-free, dairy-free, and healthy. Perfect as a main.

Cooking Instructions:

  • Cook minced beef with olive oil
  • Add onion, tomato sauce, paleo marinara sauce, and basil
  • Slice the zucchini into long thin slices like lasagna sheets
  • Place the zucchini in a baking pan and add the cooked saucy beef
  • Add non-dairy cheese and basil leaves
  • Bake in a preheated oven

» Not sure what counts as paleo? Here are the paleo diet foods you should avoid.

5. Paleo Lemon Blueberry Scones Dessert

Ingredients: Almond flour, baking soda, salt, lemon zest

This scone recipe has healthy blueberries. High in fiber, vitamin C and K1, and manganese, blueberries reduce the risk of many diseases (1). Furthermore, lemon is high in vitamin C, and almond flour is rich in vitamin E and antioxidants.

Cooking Instructions:

  • Stir almond flour, baking soda, salt, and lemon zest in a bowl
  • Mix with eggs, honey, and fresh lemon juice
  • Stir till a dough is formed
  • Gently fold in the blueberries
  • Bake for 18-20 minutes on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

6. Paleo Devilled Eggs Starter with Pancetta and Asparagus

Ingredients: Eggs, diced pancetta, cayenne pepper, dijon mustard, smoked paprika, white pepper, asparagus spears

This paleo breakfast is low-carb, gluten-free, and dairy-free. Eggs have high-quality protein, healthy fats, and essential vitamins and minerals.

Cooking Instructions:

  • Hardboil some eggs
  • Cook pancetta in a medium-sized skillet
  • Trim asparagus tips and add to the skillet
  • Once the eggs are ready, peel them and separate the yolk
  • Blend the yolks with mayonnaise, dijon mustard, white pepper, and cayenne
  • Add the pancetta to the mix
  • Spoon the yolk mixture into the egg whites
  • Top with asparagus tips

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7. Paleo Chia Pudding Dessert

Ingredients: Chia seeds, coconut milk, water, honey, vanilla essence, cinnamon powder, berries, nuts, coconut, almond flakes, slice fruits

This pudding is a great dessert option. Chia seeds provide you with plant-based omega-fatty acids and are high in vitamins C and E, zinc, manganese, phosphorus, calcium, and copper. They are also rich sources of protein and fiber (2).

Cooking Instructions:

  • Soak chia seeds overnight in a jar with coconut milk and water
  • Add some honey, vanilla essence, and cinnamon powder
  • Layer with berries, nuts, coconut, almond flakes, and sliced fruits

8. Paleo Chicken Salad Main

Ingredients: Chicken, apple, onion, celery, dried cranberries, chopped pecans, paleo mayonnaise, rosemary, thyme, sage, lettuce, lemon juice, salt, pepper

You can either serve this dish as a side or main. It's healthy and high in protein, vitamins, minerals, and fibers.

Cooking Instructions:

  • Boil the chicken and shred it
  • Slice apples, celery, and onions
  • Add cranberries and pecans
  • Sprinkle with salt and pepper
  • Make the dressing separately with mayo, garlic, herbs, and lemon juice
  • Add the dressing and mix

» Want to snack on paleo-friendly desserts? Try these paleo dessert recipes.

9. Baked Paleo Chicken Main with Broccoli and Sweet Potato

Ingredients: Broccoli, sweet potato, chicken thighs, avocado or olive oil, garlic powder, oregano, sea salt, pepper

Sweet potato is high in vitamins A, C, and B6, pantothenic acid, potassium, manganese, copper, and niacin. Broccoli is chock full of essential nutrients linked to bone strength and heart health.

Cooking Instructions:

  • In an oven dish, spread the chicken evenly with veggies
  • Sprinkle salt, pepper, and other spices
  • Add your oil
  • Bake uncovered for 45 minutes

10. Baked Paleo Salmon Main with Tomato and Avocado Salsa and Fried Asparagus

Ingredients: Salmon, avocado, paprika, cumin, onion powder, salt, pepper, garlic, oil, tomato, lemon juice, coriander leaves

Salmon is incredibly nutritious and full of heart-healthy fats. High in protein, vitamin D, and selenium, salmon supports healthy aging. Avocado also helps regulate your cholesterol.

Cooking Instructions:

  • Mix paprika, cumin, onion powder, salt, pepper, garlic, and oil
  • Rub this on the salmon and fry
  • Make the salsa separately with avocado, tomato, onions, lemon juice, coriander leaves, and salt

Blast From the Past

Paleo has enough variety that it's easy to prepare and serve to guests as starters, mains, and desserts. All you need are some healthier alternatives to your usual ingredients, and you can have a meal that your guests (and your ancestors even) would enjoy.

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References

  1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7442370/
  2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6627181/
Head and shoulders photograph of Anju Mobin
Anju Mobin is a certified nutritionist, Diet and Fitness Consultant at numerous medical clinics, founder and editor of fitnesshacks.org, and a writer for Top10.com. Anju strives to simplify complex information about nutrition, health, and fitness for the general public.

*The information on this site is based on research, but should not be treated as medical advice. Before beginning any new diet plan, we recommend consulting with a physician or other professional healthcare provider. Results may vary based on various health factors, individual weight loss plans and adherence to the meal plan.