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Make delicious casseroles that are both comforting and nourishing. These easy Healthy Casseroles are all gluten-free, packed with protein, and full of veggies to nutritionally balance some of your favorite classic comfort foods.
Discover 15+ healthy casserole recipes you can add to your dinner lineup! Just prep them and pop them in the oven for an easy and cozy dinner. These low-calorie and higher protein recipes are great for women over 35 with goals to lose weight or anyone wanting to eat a healthier diet.
The key to eating healthy is balancing carb intake with fiber and protein, while cutting back on high-calorie ingredients that don’t nourish your body. A few easy switches, like lean protein, no canned soups, and adding more vegetables, make these dishes healthier and better for you while still being warm and comforting to eat.
On this list of healthy casserole recipes, you will find everything from classics, like a healthy tuna noodle casserole, to more unique combinations, like my ground turkey sweet potato casserole.
Table of Contents
How to Make Any Casserole Healthier
When we think of casserole, we often think of dishes that are high in calories, covered in heavy sauces, and overall not healthy. However, you can make a few easy tweaks to any of your favorite recipes to turn them into healthy dinner casseroles.
- Choose a Better Base: Swapping out pasta or white rice for options with more protein and fiber and fewer carbs helps nutritionally balance the dish. Brown rice or quinoa are great alternatives. You can also sub half of the base for vegetable options like spaghetti squash or cauliflower rice, like in this vegetable egg casserole.
- Use Lean Protein: For healthier casseroles with meat, use chicken breast, ground turkey, or ground chicken instead of less lean meats. You can also use beans, lentils, cottage cheese, or Greek yogurt as sources of protein to make the casseroles vegetarian or to help balance the macronutrients, like in this high-protein vegetarian lasagna recipe.
- Lighten Up the Sauce: Swap heavy cream and condensed soups for Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, broth, or nut cheeses for options that are healthier, but still taste delicious. Make homemade sauces, like this low-sugar BBQ sauce or healthy enchilada sauce, so you can better control the ingredients. You can also add flavorful cheeses like sharp cheddar and parmesan, so you need less cheese to achieve the taste you want.
- Veggies, Veggies, and More Veggies: A good rule of thumb for healthy casseroles is that half of the pan should be vegetables. Add hearty options like mushrooms, sweet potatoes, or broccoli to almost any dish to help fill you up and nourish your body.
Healthy Casseroles with Chicken
Nothing beats a warm and creamy chicken casserole when you need a comforting meal. These healthy chicken casseroles have all of the great flavor you’re used to in a casserole, but they are made with healthier, nutritious ingredients. They’re great healthy casserole recipes to carry along to a potluck with this low-calorie pasta salad and healthy buffalo chicken dip.
Chicken Potato Casserole
Mexican Quinoa Casserole
Cashew Chicken Casserole
Healthy Buffalo Chicken Casserole
Healthy Chicken Pot Pie Casserole
Greek Chicken Casserole
Healthy Comfort Food Casseroles
Nothing beats a comforting casserole we enjoyed in childhood, but as adults, we have different nutritional needs and desires. These healthy casserole recipes capture the flavor we love, but with fewer calories and more protein! Nothing says comfort like ending dinner with a healthy dessert! Try my healthy banana pudding or a slice of this healthy lemon loaf.
Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Casserole (Paleo)
Ham Potato Broccoli Casserole
Pork Chops Wild Rice Casserole
Low Carb Taco Salsa Casserole
Healthy Tuna Noodle Casserole
Vegetarian & Veggie-Loaded Casseroles
If you’re looking for some vegetarian-friendly, easy casserole dinners, these will knock your socks off! They are protein-rich, full of veggies, and can be made with or without meat. They’re great with a simple veggie side, like roasted broccoli, or for cooler nights enjoy them with a bowl of high-protein minestrone soup.
Spaghetti Squash Lasagna with Ground Turkey
Brussels Sprouts Casserole
Healthy Wild Rice Casserole
Meal Prep & Freezer-Friendly Casseroles
Whether you’re preparing for a major life event, taking meals to friends, or just trying to make your life easier, casseroles are great for making ahead and freezing for easy meals. While many of the casseroles on this list can be prepped in advance, these are the best for freezing! Pair them with a simple salad like this Greek yogurt broccoli crunch salad for a full meal!
Healthy Chicken Enchilada Casserole
Low Calorie Ground Turkey Casserole
Meal Prep Sausage Pepper Pizza Casserole
Serving Suggestions for Healthy Casseroles
One of the best parts of these healthy casserole dinner ideas is that they are full meals in themselves. They are full of protein, fiber, and vegetables to keep you feeling full and satisfied. If you’re serving casserole, or taking a meal to a friend, it’s always a great idea to include a salad and a dessert too. Everyone will love the comfort meal, some raw veggies, and a little sweet treat!
- There are plenty of healthy casseroles on this list with Italian seasonings, so consider serving them with a healthier copycat of the infamous Olive Garden salad with dressing.
- Who could say no to a Caesar salad? This healthier Caesar salad has a southwest flare that tastes especially good with any of the Mexican-inspired casseroles.
- You can never go wrong with cookies for dessert! Plus, it’s easy to have just one since you’re probably going to feel quite full after a serving of casserole. These gluten-free, low-calorie chocolate chip cookies are always a winner.
Healthy Casserole Recipes FAQs
These casseroles are considered “healthy” because they balance carbs with protein and fiber for meals that will energize you and keep you feeling satisfied. They swap out processed or high-calorie ingredients for vegetables or grains that are higher in protein and fiber and less processed. These simple switches make these casseroles better for you than classic recipes, but still taste amazing.
Absolutely! Almost all of these casseroles are great for making in advance and storing in the freezer for an easy, nourishing meal during a busy week.
Use a more flavorful cheese, like sharp cheddar cheese or parmesan so you need less cheese, but still have that cheesy flavor. You could also try a sprinkle of nutritional yeast. It has a savory flavor similar to parmesan cheese.
These healthy casserole recipes are perfect for when you’re craving a cozy meal at home. They capture the flavors of some of your favorite casseroles, but are better for you. You can also keep a stash of meals in the freezer for those days when you’re too busy to make dinner from scratch but want a nourishing meal.
