Whole30 Recipe Roundup: Best of Summer - The Whole30® Program (2024)

Our @whole30recipes Instagram feed brings you delicious, Whole30 compatible recipes all day, every day. And, in our series, The Best of @Whole30Recipes, we bring our favorites to the blog.

It’s summertime in the U.S., which means tons of fresh produce and light, bright flavors. We’ve rounded up a selection of our recent favorite recipes posted on our @Whole30Recipes feed lately that we think embody summertime cooking.

[Tweet “Eight light + refreshing summertime recipes, collected from our Whole30 Recipes contributors “]

Choose your favorite from the list below and give it a go this week. Or if you’re feeling extra adventurous, try them all! We made sure to include tasty dips and sauces; creative ways to enjoy fresh veggies; and a few “throw it on the grill” favorites.

Cauliflower Hummus and Crudite from Kari’s Full Soul

Whole30 Recipe Roundup: Best of Summer - The Whole30® Program (1)

Ingredients
1 large head cauliflower cut into florets
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons tahini
Juice of one lemon
1/2 teaspoon salt
Fresh Italian parsley and olive oil for garnish
Vegetable crudites for dipping

PREHEAT the oven to 400. Wash and chop the cauliflower into small florets. Add parchment to the baking sheet, place the cauliflower on the baking sheet with a touch of olive oil. Place in the oven for 30 minutes.

PLACE the cauliflower in a high speed blender or food processor. Blend on high until it starts to form a creamy paste. Stop the machine and push down the excess on the sides, add the lemon juice, and tahini and the olive oil. Blend until completely smooth. You may need to scrape down the sides of the blender to get everything incorporated, in the end you should have a creamy dip.

GARNISH and enjoy with your favorite veggies.

Pistachio Lemon Pesto from The Whole Cook

Ingredients
3 cups packed fresh basil
1/4 cup shelled pistachios
3 tbsp lemon juice
1 clove garlic
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup olive oil, extra virgin

Instructions
ADD basil, pistachios, lemon juice, garlic, and salt to a food processor or high powered blender.
TURN ON the blender and slowly pour in your olive oil.

BLEND until pistachios are no longer chunky and sauce is smooth. For a thick pesto 1/3 cup of olive oil is perfect. You can use up to 1/2 cup if you prefer a thinner consistency.

BLT Cole Slaw from The Whole Smiths

Ingredients
6 C. shredded cole slaw
1 C. shredded carrots
1/4 C. chopped basil
8 slices of cooked compatible bacon
1 C. cherry tomatoes halved
1 C. a whole30 compatible mayonnaise (see the demo in my stories for an easy one)
1/4 C. white balsamic vinegar
1/4 tsp. dry mustard powder
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions
ADD four slices of bacon to a high powered blender or food processor and pulse until you have bacon bits. Chop other 4 pieces roughly and set aside

IN a small bowl, whisk mayonnaise, white balsamic vinegar, mustard powder and salt until fully combined

ONCE whisked, add bacon “bits” to dressing and stir to combine

IN a large bowl add slaw mix, carrots, basil, tomato halves and roughly chopped bacon. Pour dressing over and toss to coat.

Lemon Pickled Cauliflower from Kari’s Full Soul

Ingredients
1 head cauliflower
2 cups water
1 cup apple cider vinegar
1 cup lemon juice
Sliced lemon
1 tablespoon fennel seed
4 bay leaves
½ tablespoon sea salt

Instructions
CUT up the cauliflower and place in the mason jars with sliced lemons and bay leaves.

POUR the water, vinegar, lemon juice, fennel seed and sea salt into a pot. Turn on high and bring to a boil. Simmer for 2 minutes until salt is dissolved.

LADLE the hot liquid into the mason jar. Let cool and sit before putting the lid on. Once only slight warm add the lid. If you seal it right away while still hot it can seal and preserve them for longer storage as well.

LET the mason jar sit on the counter until completely room temperature, then place in the fridge. Let sit for 2 hours and they will be good to start eating, but they are best when they sit overnight.

THEY will last in the fridge for 1-2 weeks.

Mexican Chicken Burgers from Every Last Bite

Ingredients
For the Patties
500grams ground chicken
1/2 a red onion, finely minced
1 tbsp cumin
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 clove garlic
1 egg
3 tbsp almond flour
juice and zest from 1 lime
1 jalapeño finely diced
1/4 cup cilantro roughly chopped

For the Salsa
2 large tomatoes seeded and chopped
1/2 a red onion finely chopped
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 jalapeño finely chopped
juice from 1 lime
pinch of salt

For the Burger Toppings
2 lettuce leaves
5 slices butternut squash
1 tsp olive oil
1 avocado

Instructions
IN a bowl combine the salsa ingredients and stir. Taste and add more lime juice or jalapeño as desired. Set aside.

COMBINE all of the ingredients for the patties in a bowl, blend well with your hands and then form 5 to 6 patties.

MASH the avocado with a fork until its broken into small chunks.

PEEL the butternut squash and slice into approximately 1/2 inch thick rounds. Lightly brush the circles with olive oil

HEAT a grill to medium high heat. Grill the butternut squash for approximately 3-4 minutes per side until grill marks appear and the squash is slightly tender.

GRILL the patties for approximately 6 minutes per side until cooked through.

TO serve top a butternut squash circle with lettuce, a chicken patty, smashed avocado and salsa. Serve warm.

Salmon Poke Bowl from The Nourishing Home

Ingredients
For the Salmon Poke Bowl
6-8 oz sushi-grade salmon, diced
1 1/2 cups cooked cauli-rice
Toppings: Diced avocado, julienned carrots and cucumber
Optional: 1 pack seaweed, torn into small bits

For the Poke Sauce
3 Tbsp coconut aminos
1 tsp toasted sesame oil
1 tsp rice vinegar
1/4 tsp minced garlic
1/4 tsp fresh grated ginger
2 Tbsp thinly sliced green onions
Pinch or two of red pepper flakes

Instructions
IN a small bowl, whisk together the poke sauce ingredients. Add the diced salmon and toss well to combine; set aside.

IN a serving bowl, add the precooked cauli-rice, veggies and seaweed (if using).

TOP with the salmon; drizzling the extra poke sauce over the top of the bowl. Enjoy!

Note: If sushi-grade salmon isn’t available in your area, or you’re not into raw fish, no worries! You can always grill up a filet of wild-caught salmon, add it to the bowl of veggies and drizzle with this scrumptious poke sauce.

Garlic Balsamic Chicken Kabobs from The Whole Cook

Ingredients
For the Chicken
4 chicken breasts
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/8 cup olive oil, extra virgin
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 tsp dried basil

For the Veggies
2 zucchini
2 yellow squash
2 white or yellow onions
2 tbsp olive oil, extra virgin
Salt & pepper

Instructions
CUT chicken breasts into large chunks. Toss the chicken in a large ziploc bag with marinade ingredients. Squeeze out excess air and zip closed. Marinade for 30 minutes or more.

SLICE zucchini, squash, and onion into large chunks. (My squash and zucchini slices are about 1 inch thick.) Coat your veggies with the olive oil, salt, & pepper. (I do this by spreading mine out on a baking sheet and tossing with my fingers.)
SKEWER your veggies and chicken. GRILL on medium heat for 5 -7 minutes, flip, and grill other side for another 5-7 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Serve!

OPTIONAL: If you’re feeling extra fancy (I know sometimes I do) you can whip up a balsamic glaze to drizzle on top of the kabobs as you’re plating. Just add 1/2 cup of balsamic vinegar to a small pot. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat to low. You’ll end up with small bubbles around the perimeter as it gently simmers. Let it continue simmering for about 10 minutes. Stir occasionally as it thickens. Drizzle over kabobs and you’re sure to wow guests!

Sparkling Cold Brew from Little Bits Of

Ingredients
1 part cold brew concentrate
2 parts plain sparkling water

Instructions
POUR cold brew concentrate over ice then top with sparkling water.

Whole30 Recipe Roundup: Best of Summer - The Whole30® Program (2024)

FAQs

What foods should you avoid on the Whole30 diet? ›

Whole30 Elimination: 30 days
  • Added sugar (real or artificial) ...
  • Alcohol (wine, beer, cider, liquor, etc.) ...
  • Grains (wheat, oats, rice, corn, quinoa, etc.) ...
  • Legumes (beans, lentils, soy, and peanuts) ...
  • Dairy (milk, cheese, sour cream, yogurt, etc.) ...
  • Baked goods, pasta, cereal, chips, and fries.

Can you eat rice on Whole30? ›

Grains are off limits on Whole30, meaning no rice, quinoa, oats, or pasta of any kind. These seaweed-based noodles are an excellent replacement for the grains we craved. Note: you do need to soften kelp noodles before enjoying in your favorite recipe.

Is quinoa allowed on Whole30? ›

No grains. While plenty of diets restrict simple carbs, Whole30 eliminates even whole grains. This means no wheat, corn, oats, bran, or even brown rice. It also forbids pseudo-cereal grains, including amaranth, buckwheat, and protein-rich quinoa.

What is the Whole30 detox? ›

The Whole30 diet is a strict 30-day elimination diet that many people turn to for weight loss or help with digestive concerns. The program encourages you to cut out alcohol, sugar, grains, legumes, dairy, and additives from your diet for 30 days. It is advertised as a total lifestyle change, rather than a simple diet.

Is peanut butter okay on Whole30? ›

Though peanuts and peanut butter aren't allowed on the Whole30 program, other nuts and nut butters are. Cashew butter is loaded with nutrients like healthy fats, magnesium, manganese, and copper. Its smooth, sweet taste pairs well with apples ( 1 ).

Are bananas OK on Whole30? ›

What about bananas? Yes, both pickles and bananas are allowed on Whole30. Yet if they are a potential trigger food for you (for instance, the sweetness of bananas sets off a craving for other treats or makes you want to binge on the fruit), then you may consider including them on your “don't eat” list.

Are potatoes OK on Whole30? ›

Yes, you can eat potatoes of all colors under the new Whole30 guidelines, white varieties included. Mash 'em up, roast them, or throw them in the skillet to enjoy. Just don't eat them commercially deep-fried or in packaged chip form to stay Whole30-compliant.

Is popcorn approved on Whole30? ›

IS POPCORN WHOLE30? No — popcorn is made from a whole grain (dried corn AKA popcorn kernels), and grains are eliminated on the Whole30 diet.

Is almond milk allowed on Whole30? ›

It's got only four ingredients: water, organic almonds, organic acacia gum, and sea salt. You've seen this in literally every grocery store, and now you know: Yes, you can drink it while doing Whole30. Silk's unsweetened vanilla carton is fair game, too.

Is hummus OK on Whole30? ›

Traditional hummus is made from garbanzo beans (also known as chickpeas), which are a legume and Plant-Based Whole30 compatible. Just read your labels to make sure your hummus doesn't contain dairy or other ingredients that aren't a fit for the Plant-Based Whole30.

How to get enough protein on Whole30? ›

Zeitlin said she recommends trying some Whole30-friendly protein-packed dishes like grilled salmon, grilled chicken, vegetable-filled omelets, sliced apples with hazelnuts (or any other Whole30-approved nut, which is all nuts except for peanuts as they are technically considered to be a legume), and salads topped tuna ...

Is corn on the cob allowed on Whole30? ›

The only vegetables that aren't allowed are corn, lima beans and peas. Grab a pencil, because you're going to want to add these other options to your list.

Can you take ibuprofen on Whole30? ›

Also avoid: all peppers (jalapeno, serrano, etc.); spices in the nightshade family (paprika, cayenne, chili powder, curry, red pepper, etc.); NSAIDs (Advil, aspirin, etc.) Consider eliminating coffee, although scientific evidence for this is lacking.

What are the cons of the Whole30 diet? ›

The cons of Whole30:
  • Very restrictive, which may make eating out or socializing difficult.
  • May be difficult to get adequate calcium for bone health.
  • Restricts many cultural foods.
  • May be time intensive due to food label reading, meal planning and meal prep.
Dec 23, 2020

What is the 30 30 30 rule for weight loss? ›

The 30-30-30 rule involves eating 30 grams of protein within 30 minutes of waking up, followed by 30 minutes of low-intensity, steady state cardiovascular exercise. Beyond these steps, the 30-30-30 method doesn't require any changes to other meals or behaviors, restrictions or counting calories.

What is the one bite rule on Whole30? ›

Here's the rule in a nutshell: If you think your less healthy treat is going to be so delicious, so incredible, so worth it, and then you take your first bite and discover it's not… STOP EATING.

Are potatoes allowed on the Whole30 diet? ›

Yes, you can eat potatoes of all colors under the new Whole30 guidelines, white varieties included. Mash 'em up, roast them, or throw them in the skillet to enjoy. Just don't eat them commercially deep-fried or in packaged chip form to stay Whole30-compliant.

Can you have bacon on Whole30? ›

Bacon can be a delicious addition to your Whole30 meals, but you'll need to find bacon without added sugar.

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