297 lean meat recipes

Smoked sausage and lentil gumbo with a dark roux, celery, onion, carrots, and cayenne. A hearty, protein-packed Cajun-style soup where lentils stand in for okra with rich, smoky depth.

Cajun smothered round steak braised low and slow with the holy trinity of onions, bell peppers, and celery until fork-tender. Serve sliced over rice with all that pot gravy.

Slow cooker Southwestern beef and pinto beans with salt pork, red chili, cumin seeds, and tomato paste. Set it and forget it for 9-10 hours of hands-off cooking.

Crispy chicken fried steak fingers coated in a seasoned flour paste and saltine crumbs, fried golden, and served with rich homemade cream gravy. Quick, crunchy, and built for dipping.

Freezer fajitas: marinated sirloin steak frozen with frozen fajita vegetables for a make-ahead Tex-Mex weeknight dinner. Thaw, sear, and serve in flour tortillas with salsa.

Coffee and pepper crusted T-bone steaks marinated in red wine, soy sauce, and garlic, grilled over coals and served with a reduced wine sauce.

Red beans and rice with smoked sausage and ham shank simmered low and slow with thyme, sage, cayenne, and garlic. A classic Louisiana Monday night dinner from dried beans.

Ham and cheddar casserole over French-cut green beans with a homemade white sauce, hard-cooked eggs, and crushed herb crouton topping. A weeknight one-dish dinner in 40 minutes.

Freezer-friendly pork chops baked with lima beans, chopped apple, cream of mushroom soup, and sage. A make-ahead casserole you assemble, freeze, and bake when ready.

Quick microwave baked bean casserole with crispy bacon, brown sugar, ketchup, and mustard. Bubbly and smoky in just 30 minutes. Add franks or ham for a hearty main.

Quick pork and black bean burritos using leftover roast pork, cumin-seasoned beans, and a splash of hot sauce. Ready in 25 minutes with all the classic taco-night toppings.

Loaded Louisiana jambalaya with smoky sausage, shrimp, chicken, and black-eyed peas simmered with Rotel tomatoes, herbs, and long-grain rice. One pot, big flavors, feeds a hungry crowd of six.

Tex-Mex tostadas with deep-fried flour tortillas piled with pork, Rotel tomatoes, refried beans, shredded cheese, lettuce, avocado, and sour cream. Family-style Southwest dinner.

Modern fajitas with flank steak marinated overnight in a chili-cocoa-tequila rub, then grilled and sliced for tortillas. Served with guacamole, refried beans, salsa, and cilantro for a smoky Tex-Mex spread.

Franks and beans cooked in the microwave with crushed pineapple, chili sauce, and onion. A sweet and tangy twist on the classic that's ready in under 15 minutes.

Brazilian-style roast pork loin glazed with honey, orange juice, ginger, and clove. Served traditionally with black beans, rice, and cucumber-onion salad.