15 Comforting High-Protein Casseroles for Fall

Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD

Seasonal vegetables like cauliflower, kale and cabbage make these casseroles the perfect dishes for a cozy fall dinner. From hearty stuffing with chicken to crispy layers of cheese and phyllo, these comforting, veggie-packed meals are sure to be a hit. These dishes also have at least 15 grams of protein per serving from foods like lean beef, pasta and beans to help promote satiety, injury recovery and immunity. Recipes like our Cabbage Roll Casserole and Smoked Turkey, Kale & Rice Bake are filling, satisfying and delicious deep-dish dinners you’re sure to make again and again.

01 of 15

Cheesy Ground Beef & Cauliflower Casserole

Ground beef and cauliflower combine to create a hearty weeknight casserole that both kids and adults will love. Serve with tortilla chips and sour cream.

View Recipe

02 of 15

Chicken Taco Casserole

This flavorful chicken taco casserole is packed with veggies, chicken, cheese and crispy tortilla chips and baked to perfection, then topped with fresh tomatoes, crisp iceberg lettuce and creamy avocado—just like a classic taco. Make it your own by swapping out the black beans for pinto beans or adding pepper Jack cheese for some added kick. If you want to keep it mild, opt for a milder taco seasoning and skip the jalapeños.

View Recipe

03 of 15

Chicken & Stuffing Casserole

Stuffing is not just for Thanksgiving, and this easy chicken and stuffing casserole is proof. It’s packed with plenty of veggies, making this a healthy casserole you can feel good about serving year-round.

View Recipe

04 of 15

Cabbage Roll Casserole

This casserole has all the elements of cabbage rolls—ground beef, onion and rice cooked in tomato sauce—and skips the fuss of rolling. The cabbage is chopped instead and layered with the saucy filling, then topped with cheese for a satisfying and easy casserole. Feel free to substitute other ground meats, such as turkey, for the ground beef—this recipe would also be great with a vegetarian meat substitute.

View Recipe

05 of 15

Creamed Spinach & Chicken Casserole

Creamed spinach and chicken combine in this crowd-pleasing, comforting casserole. Crushed red pepper packs some heat, so add less or leave it out completely if you want a milder version. You can cook long-grain brown rice ahead of time or look for packaged microwaveable brown rice to use instead.

View Recipe

06 of 15

Spanakopita-Inspired Chicken & White Bean Casserole

This is a fun take on spanakopita, with a creamy feta-and-spinach filling and a crispy phyllo topping. Chicken and white beans pack in the protein. Any white beans, such as cannellini, garbanzo or navy beans, work well here. To keep the phyllo dough from drying out as you build the casserole, keep the unused sheets under a clean, damp towel.

View Recipe

07 of 15

Philly Cheesesteak Casserole

With the combo of beef, cheese and bell pepper, this easy casserole hits the nail on the head when it comes to the flavors of classic Philly cheesesteak. It’s sure to be a new family favorite that’s quick enough to pull off on a weeknight. We love the flavor smoked provolone lends to the dish, but if you want a more traditional flavor, aged provolone works just as well.

View Recipe

08 of 15

Cheesy Ground Beef & Broccoli Casserole

This cheesy ground beef and broccoli casserole is comfort food the whole family can get behind. It’s assembled and baked all in one skillet and finished in 30 minutes, making it the perfect weeknight meal.

View Recipe

09 of 15

Smoked Turkey, Kale & Rice Bake

This hearty one-skillet dinner is loaded with celery, kale, tomatoes and quick-cooking brown rice. It’s easy to make the recipe vegetarian by substituting smoked tofu for the turkey.

View Recipe

10 of 15

Spinach & Feta Strata

This breakfast casserole is a natural make-ahead choice, as the egg mixture needs plenty of time to soak into the bread before baking. Plus, it’s equally delicious hot, room temperature or cold, so guests can help themselves as they wake up.

View Recipe

11 of 15

Cheesy Chicken & Cabbage Casserole

This cheesy chicken and cabbage casserole is creamy and briny with plenty of savory flavors thanks to sauerkraut and kielbasa. Gruyère (or Swiss) cheese adds a nutty flavor to the dish, while rye breadcrumbs on top give it a hint of caraway and a nice crunch.

View Recipe

12 of 15

Sour Cream-&-Onion Chicken Casserole

If you’re looking for something cozy to eat, this casserole is a delicious choice! Instead of using a can of cream of mushroom soup, we make our own simplified version here. This hearty casserole is finished with perfectly tangy sour cream and buttery crackers, which add the perfect crunch.

View Recipe

13 of 15

Broccoli, Beef & Tater Tot Hotdish

Hotdish may be a Minnesota tradition but everyone, everywhere, should add this cheesy casserole to their fall dinner rotation.

View Recipe

14 of 15

Spaghetti Squash Casserole

Strands of tender squash replace pasta for a more flavorful version of spaghetti pie casserole. Not to mention, spaghetti squash is a low-carb alternative to pasta and saves more than 150 calories per serving compared to a traditional recipe. A sprinkling of nutty fontina cheese melts into a gooey topping.

View Recipe

15 of 15

Chicken Divan

This lightened-up creamy chicken casserole is packed with veggies. The sauce at the heart of this family-friendly casserole uses fat-free milk with a combination of fat-free strained (Greek-style) yogurt and a little mayonnaise to give it body.

View Recipe

Read the original article on EatingWell