21 Comfort Food Dinners That Are High in Protein

creamy pasta with mushrooms

As the weather gets cooler, we start to crave our favorite comfort foods–think pasta, casseroles and stews–so we compiled a list of cozy dinners that will hit the spot. These meals also have at least 15 grams of protein per serving, which can help you support muscle growth, effective digestion and healthy aging. Recipes like our Baked Beans with Ground Beefs and Linguine with Creamy Mushroom Sauce are warm, satisfying and flavorful ways to welcome colder temps.

01 of 21

Slow-Cooker Chicken with Rosemary & Mushrooms over Linguine

7278557.jpg

The classic pairing of shallots and mushrooms gives this easy slow-cooker chicken recipe a timeless quality that's sure to please everyone at your table. Swirling the stock and flour together at the beginning is a pro tip for creating a thick sauce that moistens the final dish and helps all the ingredients come together.

02 of 21

Baked Beans with Ground Beef

5419911.jpg

Upgrade baked beans from classic side dish to a meaty main meal by adding lean ground beef. The final result, a superfast hearty casserole, is an easy and fast dinner option. Ground turkey or even sausage would work nicely in this dish. Just watch the sodium.

03 of 21

Linguine with Creamy Mushroom Sauce

7012315.jpg

This easy pasta recipe is an excuse to buy wild mushrooms, available at many grocery stores these days. Or if you prefer white buttons, those will work well too. The creamy linguine is ready in 40 minutes, so it's quick enough for an easy weeknight recipe but it feels fancy enough for entertaining.

04 of 21

Chicken Parmesan Casserole

8546831.jpg

We took the best parts of chicken Parmesan--ooey-gooey cheese, crispy breadcrumbs and plenty of tomato sauce--and spun them into an easy family-friendly casserole. We simplified it by skipping the breading on the chicken and, instead, loaded the top of the casserole with cheese and breadcrumbs. Serve with a crisp green salad to complete the meal.

05 of 21

Slow-Cooker White Bean, Spinach & Sausage Stew

Slow-Cooker-Spinach-White-Bean-Sausage-Stew

Reach for this recipe on a chilly morning when you know you'll want a steaming bowl of slow-cooker sausage stew for supper. To make this recipe gluten free, use gluten-free sausage.

06 of 21

Ground Beef & Potatoes Skillet

Ground Beef & Potatoes Skillet
Photography / Caitlin Bensel, Styling / Ruth Blackburn

In this healthy ground beef and potatoes recipe, ground beef and potatoes are paired with colorful veggies, including kale, tomato and peppers. Everything is cooked in one skillet, which allows for layers of flavor to build quickly while also cutting back on the number of dishes.

07 of 21

White Bean & Sun-Dried Tomato Gnocchi

White Bean & Sun-Dried Tomato Gnocchi
Jacob Fox

Sun-dried tomatoes are the star of this recipe— providing texture and umami. Combined with the spinach, they make this dish a great source of vitamins C and K.

08 of 21

Mini Meatloaves with Green Beans & Potatoes

3758791.jpg

This healthy meatloaf recipe and side dishes are all made in the oven on two sheet pans so that everything's ready for the dinner table at the same time. The potatoes go into the oven first to start roasting while the mini meatloaves and green beans are prepped and added to the oven partway through.

09 of 21

Creamy Chicken, Brussels Sprouts & Mushrooms One-Pot Pasta

Creamy Chicken, Brussels Sprouts & Mushrooms One-Pot Pasta
Photography / Kelsey Hansen, Styling / Sammy Mila

You'll only have to dirty one pot in this easy pasta recipe that cooks chicken and vegetables right along with the noodles. Plus, by using the exact amount of water you need to cook the pasta, the starch that usually gets drained off with your pasta water stays in the pot, giving you delectably creamy results.

10 of 21

One-Pan Chicken Parmesan Pasta

78214.jpg

This chicken Parmesan pasta uses the one-pot pasta method to cook your noodles, chicken and sauce all in one skillet for a fast and easy dinner with minimal cleanup. Finish the dish under the broiler to achieve a delicious melted cheese crust.

11 of 21

Stuffed Sweet Potato with Hummus Dressing

Stuffed Sweet Potato with Hummus Dressing

Hearty yet simple to prepare, this stuffed sweet potato with black beans, kale and hummus dressing is a fantastic 5-ingredient lunch for one!

12 of 21

Tater Tot Casserole with Beef, Corn & Zucchini

Skillet Beef, Corn & Zucchini Tater Tot Casserole
Jason Donnelly

Casseroles can be for summer too! We packed this one with peak-season vegetables—corn, zucchini and tomatoes—then topped it with crispy tater tots and gooey melted cheese, making it a dinner winner.

13 of 21

Pork Chops with Creamy Mushroom Sauce

4473517.jpg

These seared pork chops are topped with a rich and creamy mushroom sauce that gets flavored with fresh herbs.

14 of 21

Baked Eggs in Tomato Sauce with Kale

5340730.jpg

You can make these three-ingredient tomato-simmered eggs with things you probably already have on hand in your freezer and pantry. To make these baked eggs more like eggs in purgatory, look for a spicy tomato sauce and don't forget some whole-wheat bread for dipping.

15 of 21

Ground Beef & Pasta Skillet

4524446.jpg

Sneak extra vegetables into your child's day (and yours too!) with this easy one-skillet pasta recipe. Finely chop mushrooms to resemble the texture of ground beef and stir them into a classic meat sauce for an extra-healthy twist on a dinnertime favorite.

16 of 21

Sichuan Ramen Cup of Noodles with Cabbage & Tofu

4609281.jpg

The Sichuan province in the southwestern corner of China is known for its fiery dishes. Here, the richness of tahini tempers the spicy chile paste in this cup-of-noodles-style mason jar soup recipe. You can grind the Sichuan peppercorns in a spice grinder or mortar and pestle, or crush them with the bottom of a heavy skillet.

17 of 21

Chicken & Broccoli Casserole

6145909.jpg

This one-pan chicken-and-broccoli recipe comes out of the oven all browned, cheesy and bubbling like a casserole, but is really prepared more like a skillet meal on the stovetop. Serve with a crunchy green salad.

18 of 21

One-Pot Spinach, Chicken Sausage & Feta Pasta

5172229.jpg

A little bit of Sunday meal prep goes a long way in this one-dish Greek-inspired pasta recipe. The pasta is cooked ahead of time and stored in the fridge to use for meals all week, but any leftover cooked pasta you have on hand will do. Chicken sausage with feta is especially good in this recipe.

19 of 21

American Goulash

5238089.jpg

American goulash, also known as old-fashioned goulash, is the perfect economical family meal. The pasta cooks right in the sauce, so this satisfying dish can cook in just one pot.

20 of 21

Easy Chicken Enchiladas

5177602.jpg

These easy Mexican enchiladas are filled with flavorful, shredded slow-cooked shredded chicken. Placed on a bed of fresh lettuce, this delicious recipe is sure to be the hit of any dinner occasion.

21 of 21

Slow-Cooker Beef Stroganoff

5202528.jpg

This slow-cooker Beef Stroganoff recipe brings together tender beef and fresh mushrooms served over hot noodles with a creamy sauce.

Was this page helpful?
Related Articles