25 High-Protein Dinners That the Whole Family Will Love

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Updated on July 13, 2023

Reviewed by Dietitian

Elizabeth Ward, M.S., RDN

Cheesy Ground Beef & Cauliflower Casserole — Photo: Jason Donnelly

These healthy, high-protein recipes are sure to leave everyone feeling plenty satisfied before bed. Research suggests that you should aim to get 10% to 35% of your calories from protein. Each of these recipes contains at least 15 grams of protein per serving to help you and your family meet their nutritional goals. High-protein dinner ideas like our Cheesy Ground Beef & Cauliflower Casserole and One-Pot Lentil & Vegetable Soup with Parmesan are tasty, satisfying meals that everyone at the table can enjoy.

01 of 25

Curry Chicken Potpie

Curry Chicken Potpie — Greg DuPree

Here, the crust goes on the top instead of the bottom, inverting the classic chicken potpie recipe, so be sure to get the one that comes as a roll instead of already in a tin.

02 of 25

Cheesy Ground Beef & Cauliflower Casserole

Cheesy Ground Beef & Cauliflower Casserole — Jason Donnelly

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.

03 of 25

One-Skillet Cheesy Ground Chicken Pasta

One-Skillet Cheesy Ground Chicken Pasta — Victor Protasio

Make this cheesy ground chicken pasta recipe for a busy weeknight dinner. Serve with a simple side salad and a glass of red wine.

04 of 25

One-Pot Lentil & Vegetable Soup with Parmesan

One-Pot Lentil & Vegetable Soup with Parmesan — Antonis Achilleos

This lentil-vegetable soup is packed with kale and tomatoes for a filling, flavorful main dish. If you have it, the Parmesan cheese rind adds nuttiness and gives the broth some body. If you avoid cheese made with rennet, look for vegetarian "parmesan" cheese, which is made without it.

05 of 25

Build-Your-Own Grilled Cheese

It's called grilled cheese, so why not make it on the grill? Multiply this recipe by the number of people you're serving, then set out all the toppings and let everyone make their own creations.

06 of 25

One-Pot Beef Stroganoff

one-pot-beef-stroganoff — Photography / Greg DuPree, Styling / Ruth BlackBurn / Julia Bayless

This one-pot beef stroganoff recipe cuts down on dishes but not on flavor! Mixed mushrooms and sirloin steak layer on the umami flavors, while sour cream with a hint of Dijon mustard carries the sauce. Coating the steak in baking soda before cooking helps to tenderize it, but you can skip this step to speed things up if needed.

07 of 25

One-Pot Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

One-Pot Spaghetti with Meat Sauce — Photography / Greg DuPree, Styling / Ruth BlackBurn / Julia Bayless

The whole family is sure to love this one-pot spaghetti recipe! The sausage, chicken broth and white wine impart slow-cooked flavors in this quick-cooking ragu. As the pasta sauce thickens, you'll want to scrape the bottom of the pot to prevent the sauce and pasta from sticking and to help the pasta cook evenly.

08 of 25

One-Pot Chicken Pasta with Cajun Seasonings

One-Pot Chicken Pasta with Cajun Seasonings — Photography / Greg DuPree, Styling / Ruth BlackBurn / Julia Bayless

This one-pot chicken pasta dish with Cajun seasonings is a snap to whip up. Here, we use the technique of stirring often to help the starches release for natural creaminess. We love the spicy flavor profile of Cajun seasoning, but you can substitute different spices depending on what you have on hand.

09 of 25

Ground Beef & Potatoes Skillet

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

In this healthy dinner 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.

10 of 25

White Chicken Chili Casserole

White Chicken Chili Casserole — Marty Baldwin

This easy, one-skillet casserole is packed with heat thanks to two kinds of peppers, poblano and jalapeño. If you want to increase the spice level, leave the seeds in the jalapeño. Finish with your favorite toppings like Cheddar, cilantro and crumbled tortilla chips.

11 of 25

Fajita-Inspired Chicken-Stuffed Peppers

Fajita-Inspired Chicken Stuffed Peppers — Photography / Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling / Ruth Blackburn

These chicken-stuffed peppers feature a delicious blend of savory ingredients that closely resemble the flavors of chicken fajitas. The chicken and bean filling fits neatly into a nice, sweet pepper with a cheesy topping. Packaged brown rice makes this dinner super easy, but leftover rice will work just as well!

12 of 25

Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Peppers

Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Peppers — Photography / Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling / Ruth Blackburn

These healthy Buffalo chicken stuffed peppers are bursting with flavor. The heat from the hot sauce, the tang from the yogurt and the perfectly crisp-tender bell pepper all come together perfectly in this easy low-carb dinner.

13 of 25

Roast Za'atar Chicken Thighs with Broccoli & Potatoes

Roast Za'atar Chicken Thighs with Broccoli & Potatoes — Greg DuPree

The broiler is the key to getting this za'atar chicken golden in color without overcooking the meat—after the chicken roasts, the broiler blasts the top, crisping the skin.

14 of 25

Chicken Casserole with Pineapple, Peppers & Rice

Chicken Casserole with Pineapple, Peppers & Rice — Photography / Kelsey Hansen, Styling / Sammy Mila

Precooked brown rice adds a boost of protein and fiber to this healthy casserole while also saving prep time. Pineapple and red bell pepper provide color throughout the dish and lend a sweet flavor to counterbalance the fresh ginger and soy sauce.

15 of 25

One-Pan Baked Chicken & Potatoes

One-Pan Baked Chicken & Potatoes — Photography / Antonis Achilleos, Styling / Christine Keely, Ali Ramee

With just one skillet, you can make baked chicken and potatoes with ease. The chicken cooks directly on top of the potatoes to add flavor while also cutting down on the number of dishes to clean.

16 of 25

Shakshuka (Eggs Poached in Spicy Tomato Sauce)

Shakshuka (Eggs Poached in Spicy Tomato Sauce)

Shakshuka is a veggie-packed meal featuring eggs cooked in a mixture of tomatoes, onions, peppers and spices. It's often served for breakfast or lunch in North Africa and the Middle East.

17 of 25

Cacio e Pepe Pasta with Peas

The sauce for this pasta dish is just cheese and pepper (aka cacio e pepe in Italian). Try this with kids as a simple yet sophisticated alternative to standard mac and cheese. Lots of black pepper adds a touch of heat, priming picky palates for spicier food.

18 of 25

One-Pot Garlicky Shrimp & Broccoli

One-Pot Garlicky Shrimp & Broccoli — Photography: Kelsey Hansen; Food Styling: Greg Luna

Shrimp cooks quickly in this easy, one-pot recipe, making it perfect for busy weeknights. Serve over whole grains or rice.

19 of 25

Homemade Crunchwraps

Homemade Crunchwrap — Photography / Kelsey Hansen, Styling / Greg Luna

Ground turkey stands in for beef in this homemade "Crunchwrap" that tastes just like it came from Taco Bell. Finish with your favorite toppings like cilantro, avocado or pico de gallo.

20 of 25

One-Skillet Bourbon Chicken

One-Skillet Bourbon Chicken — Photography / Antonis Achilleos, Styling / Christine Keely, Ali Ramee

Bourbon chicken gets coated in a slightly sweet-spicy sauce for a flavorful dinner that comes together quickly, making it perfect for busy weeknights.

21 of 25

Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie

Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie — Fred Hardy

Fresh herbs, Worcestershire sauce and ground pepper carry the flavor in this quick-cooking shepherd's pie with a sweet potato topping. Ground beef adds a rich, savory flavor, but ground turkey or ground meat substitute would work well too.

22 of 25

Spinach & Artichoke Dip Pasta with Chicken

Spinach & Artichoke Dip Pasta with Chicken — Jamie Vespa

If you love warm spinach and artichoke dip, then you'll love that we turned this classic dip into a creamy pasta dish with chicken. And here's what's almost as good as the flavor of this comforting dish: the fact that this healthy dinner takes just 20 minutes to prepare.

23 of 25

30-Minute Mini Meatloaves with Whipped Cauliflower & Green Beans

Mini Meatloaves with Whipped Cauliflower and Green Beans — Carolyn Hodges

Comfort food—but make it fast! This recipe incorporates a number of pantry ingredients and shortcuts like frozen cauliflower and steam-in-the-bag green beans to cut way down on prep time. Baking the meatloaf in a muffin tin reduces cook time by more than half and makes portion control easy.

24 of 25

Buffalo Chicken & Cauliflower Casserole

Buffalo Chicken & Cauliflower Casserole — Jennifer Causey

This creamy low-carb Buffalo chicken and cauliflower casserole is spicy and satisfying. Cauliflower and celery add a tender-crisp bite, while a sprinkle of blue cheese on top adds a savory finish.

25 of 25

Skillet Honey-Lemon Chicken Thighs with Potatoes

Honey-Lemon Chicken Thighs with Potatoes — Caitlin Bensel

Moist chicken thighs, tender potatoes and a bright honey-lemon sauce cook together in this flavorful one-pan dinner. It's tasty enough for company, yet easy enough for a weeknight.

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