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The Spruce Eats / Amelia Manley
The paleo diet means sticking to proteins like fish and lean meats, while also eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. Dairy products, legumes, and grains are all items that the paleo diet avoids. While these tenets may sound simple enough to follow in writing, putting them into practice in the kitchen is an entirely different challenge. With these paleo cookbooks, you’ll be set up for success and feeling like a paleo pro in no time.
Here, the best paleo cookbooks.
Best Overall
Clean Paleo Family Cookbook
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Amazon
Includes kid-friendly meals
Paleo-specific pantry suggestions
Smaller type font
This family-friendly cookbook is the perfect addition to your cookbook collection, particularly for those interested in paleo and keto, which share many similarities. This book of 100 recipes was designed to ensure maximum flavor while following the guidelines of these diets. Recipes including peach crisp, zucchini and onion fritters, and creamy mushroom and bacon chicken thighs will have your family excited for dinnertime.
If you’re unsure about the rules of paleo, keto, or what “clean paleo” even means, rest assured the helpful introduction section explains everything you need to know to get started, including pantry essentials, meal prep tips, and definitions.
Price at time of publish: $27
Number of Recipes: 100 | Pages: 192 | Date Published: 2020 | Formats: Paperback, e-book
Best New Release
The Frugal Paleo Cookbook
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Amazon
DIY spice mixes
Meal prep guidance
Not much background info on eating paleo
Paleo professional and cookbook author Ciarra Colacino curated a large selection of the most popular recipes from her former blog Popular Paleo. Not only are the recipes suitable for everyday cooking in terms of time and budget, but each one is meant to appeal to the kids at the table just as much as the adults.
Dishes such as teriyaki stackers, sweet potato tater tots, potsticker meatballs, and beef stroganoff are low maintenance in terms of number of ingredients and kitchen appliances necessary, and they showcase how to use affordable protein sources (like ground beef and eggs) to make scrumptious, satisfying meals.
Price at time of publish: $25
Number of Recipes: 100+ | Pages: 240 | Date Published: 2021 | Formats: Paperback, e-book
Best for Beginners
The Simple Paleo Kitchen
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Amazon
Photo for each recipe
Easy directions
Not much new info for experienced cooks
This new release is all about saving you time. With five steps or fewer per recipe, this cookbook is most helpful to beginners who don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen. According to the publisher, this book is all about ease, with meals designed to be efficient and take away some of the kitchen cleanup time.
The 60 paleo dishes are all gluten-free and grain-free, but with recipes such as Buffalo chicken–stuffed sweet potatoes and no-bake German chocolate cake bars, you will forget you’re following any sort of diet.
Price at time of publish: $22
Number of Recipes: 60 | Pages: 168 | Date Published: 2021 | Formats: Paperback, e-book
Best for Comfort Food
Clean Paleo Comfort Food Cookbook
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Walmart
Keto-friendly
Has sweet treat ideas
Less than half of recipes have photos
Paleo comfort food seems like an oxymoron, but this cookbook is out to do just that. These 100 recipes, many of which happen to also be keto-friendly and low FODMAP, include favorites such as baked mac and cheese, chicken bacon ranch meatloaf, and ham and potato soup (the author believes that “no diet, no matter how healthy, is sustainable if the only thing you can eat is plain protein with a side of green vegetables.”)
An introduction section details the author’s story, and the book covers essential equipment and basics. Each recipe notes allergy tags clearly, so you can be confident and safe if you’re working with any food allergies or sensitivities.
Price at time of publish: $28
Number of Recipes: 100 | Pages: 192 | Date Published: 2021 | Formats: Paperback,
Best One-Pot
The One-Pot Paleo Cookbook
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Amazon
Has condiment recipes
Relies on minimal ingredients
Only photos at beginning of each chapter
This cookbook makes paleo easy with one-vessel meals. These vessels include stockpots, sheet pans, skillets, and electric pressure cookers, lending plenty of variety to your meal routine. There are even a handful of 15-minute recipes for those days you’re extra time-crunched. The book also includes pantry basics and essential kitchen equipment, so you can be sure your kitchen is well-stocked with paleo-friendly ingredients so you can be ready to go.
For those new to the paleo diet, a helpful introduction section explains the basics and benefits of the diet. Recipes such as lemon blueberry pancakes, chocolate chia pudding, and sweet potato hash and eggs will have you rethinking just how much you can do with one cooking vessel.
Price at time of publish: $17
Number of Recipes: More than 100 | Pages: 184 | Date Published: 2020 | Formats: Paperback, e-book
Best Bowls
Unbelievabowl Paleo
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Amazon
All recipes have photos
Family-friendly recipe yields
Some recipes require a lot of ingredients
There’s a good reason that bowls have become a popular meal option recently; from the ease (fewer dishes) to the Instagram appeal (who doesn’t love a tidy bowl shot full of vibrant produce?), these power bowls lend themselves quite well to the paleo diet.
This cookbook goes beyond the usual salad bowls, proving that there are many more bowl recipe opportunities to be had, like in desserts (microwave double chocolate cake bowl, anyone?) and even comfort foods like meatloaf (who wouldn’t want to try the meatloaf and mashed potato bowl on a cold winter evening?).
Price at time of publish: $22
Number of Recipes: 60 | Pages: 160 | Date Published: 2020 | Formats: Paperback, e-book
Best for Baking
Paleo Baking at Home
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Amazon
Has weight and volume measurements
Breakfast staples
Bake times are not always accurate
If you didn’t think it was possible to make delicious baked goods on the paleo diet, this book is here to prove you wrong. Even if you aren't paleo, this cookbook is filled with plenty of recipes to work into your lifestyle. These 60 recipes include both savory and sweet baked goods, covering everything from soft pretzels and hearty paleo sandwich bread to creamy lemon bars and double chocolate frosted layer cake.
A thorough introduction section includes equipment and ingredient recommendations to ensure you have everything you need to be successful.
Price at time of publish: $22
Number of Recipes: 60 | Pages: 293 | Date Published: 2020 | Formats: Paperback, e-book
Best Quick Cooking
Quick Prep Paleo
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Amazon
Short Cook Times
Has full page photos
No beverages
If you’re short on time but still determined to avoid takeout and cook your own meals (the preferable scenario especially when following a diet), this recipe collection is right for you. Recipes only take five to 15 minutes of hands-on effort, letting “the oven, stove, slow cooker or Instant Pot do all the work while you enjoy extra free time at home.”
Even recipes notorious for longer cook times can be done quickly, such as quick creamy Bolognese sauce, Mississippi pot roast, and asparagus and mushroom risotto.
Price at time of publish: $24
Number of Recipes: 75 | Pages: 176 | Date Published: 2020 | Formats: Paperback, e-book
Best for Two
The Paleo Cookbook for Two
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Amazon
Nutrition info for recipes
Includes desserts
Not many photos of recipes
Sticking to a new cooking regime is no easy task, but it’s a lot easier if you have the support of a partner and a cookbook that has tailored recipes made for two. Enter this book, which is here to support your food journey and lends itself to couples or roommates. This cookbook of 100 recipes is a great choice for beginners as well since it includes an introduction section to explain paleo basics, one-pot recipes, five-ingredient recipes, and 30-minute recipes.
There is nutritional information provided for each dish, and there are low-carb, vegetarian, and diabetes-friendly options for those with more specific needs. Recipes including avocado baked eggs and chicken and shrimp gumbo will satisfy you and your partner while reducing waste, minimizing leftovers, and saving you money.
Price at time of publish: $18
Number of Recipes: 100 | Pages: 192 | Date Published: 2020 | Formats: Paperback, e-book
If you’re looking for a well-rounded, family-focused cookbook that not only covers paleo, but also includes keto and “clean paleo” recipes, the "Clean Paleo Family Cookbook" will be perfect for your recipe needs. If you’re new to paleo, we love the simplicity of "The Simple Paleo Kitchen."
What to Look for in Paleo Cookbooks
Experience Level
Cookbooks are written for all kinds of experience levels, so consider your level of familiarity with the paleo diet. If you're brand new, you might need a cookbook that's more introductory and comprehensive than someone who's already immersed in the topic. You could also consider your experience in the kitchen, more generally, in addition to how well you know paleo cooking. Some books will be geared more toward those looking for a culinary challenge and increased time in the kitchen, and others court home cooks who want to get dinner on the table quickly during the week.
Ingredients
One of the main concerns when buying any cookbook pertains to the ingredients. This may feel especially pertinent with a paleo cookbook because some of the ingredients could be unfamiliar. However, look at the recipes and see if they include ones you're familiar with. Often a cookbook will contain notes about the best places to purchase unusual or potentially unfamiliar ingredients. Do they ask you to find obscure or expensive ingredients that will require special ordering or sourcing online? Or are the ingredients ones you already have or are likely to easily find at the grocery store?
Equipment
Some recipes are focused exclusively on one particular appliance, such as an Instant Pot or an air fryer, which can make your time in the kitchen much more efficient. Some might just require other kinds of equipment, such as an immersion blender, a grill, and so forth. Be sure to take a look at the book closely, usually in the front, to see what kind of equipment is needed before making a purchase.
FAQs
What makes a recipe paleo?
A paleo recipe is one that favors meats, seafood, fish, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and seeds; if you could forage for it, you can eat it on the paleo diet. It follows the diet of our ancestors, so it forbids processed food and refined sugar, along with dairy, legumes, and grains. Paleo recipes favor natural sweeteners, such as honey and maple syrup, although sparingly.
Who invented the paleo diet?
Despite the fact that this diet has recently become very popular and the way of eating itself, paradoxically, goes back to our ancestors, the term was coined in the 1970s by gastroenterologist Walter Voegtlin. He believed that a return to this old style of eating would provide health benefits.
What's the difference between paleo and keto diets?
These diets are similar in several ways. They both exclude grains, legumes, and sugar, and emphasize whole foods. The paleo diet, however, places its emphasis on what you are eating and not calorie counting, whereas the keto diet requires you to count the macronutrients of what you consume. The keto diet prioritizes the restriction of carbohydrates and emphasizes fats and protein.
Why Trust The Spruce Eats?
Alyssa Langer is a licensed registered dietitian and a cookbook enthusiast herself, collecting dozens over the years and always turning to them for inspiration, whether it’s a time-consuming weekend baking project or just a quick Monday night dinner. Having worked in the cookbook publishing world in the past, she knows what it takes to create a quality book that delivers something new and exciting to readers—particularly in an increasingly online world.
Rachel Werner, who updated this roundup, is a culinary writer who has been reviewing food-focused books and businesses for almost a decade. Her food photography and recipes are also featured in content she creates for a variety of regional and national publications, such as TOPS News, The Gourmet Insider, and Fabulous Wisconsin. See examples of Rachel’s work behind the camera capturing shots of plant-based eats on Instagram @trulyplanted.
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