17 Comforting Creamy Casseroles That Are High in Protein

Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD
Photographer: Jake Sternquist, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco

Photographer: Jake Sternquist, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco

Casseroles are comforting dishes well suited to help warm you up in the cold weather. These dinners are not only delicious, but with at least 15 grams of protein per serving, they can also help support bone health, healthy digestion and healthy immune function. Recipes like our Chicken, Broccoli & Quinoa Casserole and Rotisserie Chicken, Mushroom & Rice Casserole are cozy and nutritious options for dinner tonight.

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Chicken, Broccoli & Quinoa Casserole

Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Chelesa Zimmer , Prop Stylist: Lindsey Lower.

Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Chelesa Zimmer , Prop Stylist: Lindsey Lower.

This cozy Chicken, Broccoli & Quinoa Casserole delivers everything you love about a classic cheesy chicken-and-broccoli dish, with a modern, fiber-filled twist. Nutty quinoa stands in for rice or pasta, soaking up a creamy sauce. Tender bites of broccoli add color, while Colby-Jack cheese melts into a perfectly gooey topping that turns golden under the broiler.

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Rotisserie Chicken, Mushroom & Rice Casserole

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Ward, Prop Stylist: Pheobe Hausser, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf.

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Ward, Prop Stylist: Pheobe Hausser, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf.

This casserole is a hearty dish perfect for a cozy weekend at home. Tender shredded rotisserie chicken is combined with earthy mushrooms, fluffy rice and a creamy sauce that brings everything together. A layer of melted cheese on top adds a golden, bubbly finish.

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Creamy Chicken & Zucchini Casserole

Photographer: Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Hannah Grennwood.

Photographer: Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Hannah Grennwood.

This creamy chicken-and-zucchini casserole is a cozy dish that delivers all the flavors of cacio e pepe with a twist! Instead of pasta, tender chopped zucchini and juicy chicken pieces are folded into a peppery, cheesy sauce, bringing on all the savory flavors that fans of the classic Roman dish love. It’s a simple, crowd-pleasing meal that’s just as satisfying as a traditional creamy pasta dish.

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Creamy Lemon-Dill Chicken & Rice Casserole

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong

This creamy lemon-dill chicken and rice casserole is pure comfort in a bowl, bursting with the bright, fresh flavors of lemon and dill. Tender chicken and brown rice make it a satisfying, cozy dish everyone will love. Using microwaveable rice is a game-changer for convenience. It cuts down on prep time, ensuring the dish comes together quickly. Of course, if you have it, leftover cooked brown rice will work just as well.

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Loaded Broccoli & Beef Casserole

Photographer: Hannah Hufham, Food Stylist: Giovanni Vazquez, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong

Photographer: Hannah Hufham, Food Stylist: Giovanni Vazquez, Prop Stylist: Abby Armstrong

This loaded broccoli-and-beef casserole is packed with comforting flavors. Lean ground beef teams up with broccoli and brown rice to create a hearty, fiber-packed base with a creamy sauce. The highlight is the melted cheese on top—once broiled, it transforms into a golden, crispy layer that’s finished with bacon and scallions for the ultimate “loaded” experience. To keep prep simple, look for bags of pre-cut broccoli florets.

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Creamy Chicken, Cabbage & Mushroom Casserole

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel

This creamy chicken-and-mushroom casserole is a comforting and protein-packed dinner perfect for busy evenings. With the combination of shredded cabbage, mushrooms and the aromatic kick of green curry paste, this dish is packed with flavor. Using rotisserie chicken helps streamline prep, but this dish is also a great way to use up leftover chicken if you have any on hand.

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Marry Me Chicken & Spaghetti Squash Casserole

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Lindsey Lower

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Lindsey Lower

This Marry Me chicken and spaghetti squash casserole is a satisfying protein-packed dinner. The tender chicken and nutrient-dense spaghetti squash deliver a hearty meal that will keep you full and energized. Sun-dried tomatoes add a burst of tangy sweetness, complementing the creamy sauce.

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Creamy Lemon-Parmesan Broccoli & White Bean Casserole

photographer: Jen Causey, food stylist: Julian Hensarling, prop stylist: Josh Hoggle

photographer: Jen Causey, food stylist: Julian Hensarling, prop stylist: Josh Hoggle

This broccoli and white bean casserole is the ultimate comfort food dinner. This hearty dish combines tender broccoli and creamy white beans in a velvety lemon-Parmesan sauce with a bubbly, cheesy top. It’s perfect for cozy family dinners or for bringing to someone as part of a meal train. Serve it alongside a crisp green salad for a meal that feels like a warm hug on your plate.

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Creamy Chicken Florentine Casserole

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lindsey Lower

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lindsey Lower

This creamy chicken Florentine casserole combines tender pieces of chicken, fresh spinach and a rich, creamy sauce, all baked to perfection with a golden, cheesy crust. Whether you’re looking to cozy up on a chilly evening or share a hearty, home-cooked dinner with family, this casserole delivers an experience that feels like a warm hug on a plate.

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Creamy Chicken, Corn & Poblano Skillet Casserole

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling

This zesty skillet chicken casserole is perfect for a busy weeknight. A creamy sauce coats the chicken, offering a flavorful bite with a nice level of heat. Poblano peppers are generally mild, but their heat can vary. For a milder version, you can substitute green bell peppers and omit the jalapeño.

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Cheesy Meatball Casserole

Photographer: Stacy k. Allen, Props: Christina Brockman, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf

Photographer: Stacy k. Allen, Props: Christina Brockman, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf

This delightful one-skillet cheesy chicken Alfredo casserole combines penne pasta, tender broccoli and shredded rotisserie chicken smothered in a creamy sauce. To simplify the sauce, we opt for a pre-shredded Italian cheese blend. Though cheese blends vary, they typically contain Parmesan cheese, imparting the traditional Alfredo flavor. Seek blends with aged cheeses or blends that include sharp cheeses like provolone or Asiago for a richer flavor profile.

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Jalapeño Popper Casserole

Caitlin Bensel
Caitlin Bensel

In this jalapeño popper casserole, tender, juicy bites of chicken are slathered in a creamy, slightly spicy sauce with a crunchy topping of panko breadcrumbs and crispy bacon. Enjoy this casserole over rice for dinner or serve it with chips as a game-day appetizer.

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Philly Chicken Cheesesteak Casserole

Diana Chistruga

Diana Chistruga

This Philly chicken cheesesteak casserole tastes just like the classic sandwich version but in casserole form. We swapped out the beef for ground chicken and added pasta to bring this quick one-skillet dinner together.

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Cabbage Roll Casserole

Photographer: Grant Webster; Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman; Prop Stylist: Joseph Wanek,

Photographer: Grant Webster; Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman; Prop Stylist: Joseph Wanek,

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.

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Cheesy Ground Beef & Cauliflower Casserole

Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco

Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco

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.

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Broccoli & Quinoa Casserole

Photographer: Jake Sternquist, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco

Photographer: Jake Sternquist, Food Stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco

This broccoli-quinoa casserole makes a hearty vegetarian main dish. The broccoli is crisp-tender and adds texture to contrast with the creamy, cheesy quinoa. As the quinoa absorbs water and cooks, it creates the perfect amount of steam for cooking the broccoli. Swap in tricolor quinoa, if you prefer.

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Chipotle Ranch Chicken Casserole

Simplify weeknight dinnertime by transforming leftover slow-cooked chicken (see associated recipe, below) into an easy, cheesy casserole.

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Original Source:

https://www.eatingwell.com/high-protein-creamy-casserole-recipes-11886438