I'm a Dietitian & These Are My Favorite High-Protein Comforting Recipes By Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Jessica Ball, M.S., RD, is the senior nutrition editor for EatingWell. She is a registered dietitian with a master's in food, nutrition and sustainability. In addition to EatingWell, her work has appeared in Food & Wine, Real Simple, Parents, Better Homes and Gardens and MyRecipes. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Published on November 12, 2023 Reviewed by Dietitian Maria Laura Haddad-Garcia Reviewed by Dietitian Maria Laura Haddad-Garcia Maria Laura is EatingWell's Editorial Manager for Nutrition & News. As part of the nutrition team, she edits and assigns nutrition-related content and provides nutrition reviews for articles. Maria Laura's education, experience and clinical hours from Mexico are equivalent to that of a U.S. credentialed registered dietitian. She is an almond butter lover, food enthusiast and has over seven years of experience in nutrition counseling. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines SAVE ALL RECIPES NEW! Save as a collection on MyRecipes Close As the weather cools down and the first flurries of snow fall in Vermont (I know, this early), a warm and cozy meal is all I want after a long day. But beyond just being comforting, I want something that keeps me feeling full and fueled for the night. In fact, many of us might feel more hungry during the colder weather months, which can be for various reasons, from how our hormones adapt to the cold to a slight increase in overall energy expenditure due to cold temps. That’s where these recipes come in. Each with at least 15 grams of protein per serving, these dishes can help you meet your needs of filling and satisfying protein. Beyond keeping you feeling full, this macronutrient has been shown to support muscle growth and recovery, healthy bone density, effective digestion, healthy skin and more. They’re veggie-packed while weaving in comforting ingredients like cream, cheese and noodles to help you feel your best inside and out. Meals like our Mini-Meatloaves with Green Beans & Potatoes bring me back to nights at my parents house growing up. And our Slow-Cooker Chicken with Rosemary & Mushrooms over Linguine has so much flavor and only requires 20 minutes of active time. These mains are proof that you can enjoy something satisfying and delicious while aligning with your nutrition goals. For more beginner- and budget-friendly recipes, check out Thrifty. 01 of 12 25-Minute Chicken & Veggie Enchiladas Jennifer Causey These chicken enchiladas are great for using up any veggies you have lingering in your fridge. Our chicken enchilada recipe calls for zucchini, squash and onion, but you could easily swap in spinach or potatoes. View Recipe Save 02 of 12 Mini Meatloaves with Green Beans & Potatoes 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. View Recipe Save 03 of 12 Spinach-Tomato Macaroni & Cheese An old-school classic gets a boost of nutrition and flavor from garlicky spinach and tomatoes in this healthy mac and cheese recipe. View Recipe Save 04 of 12 Slow-Cooker Chicken with Rosemary & Mushrooms over Linguine 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. View Recipe Save 05 of 12 Slow-Cooker Balsamic Short Ribs Now here's a beef short ribs recipe you can serve to company—even on a holiday. View Recipe Save 06 of 12 Baked Eggs in Tomato Sauce with Kale 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. View Recipe Save 07 of 12 Slow-Cooker Carne Picada Tacos with Avocado Salsa Loosely translated as "minced meat," the traditional texture of carne picada ranges from finely chopped to ground. Here we start with brisket, which becomes nice and tender in the slow cooker, then shred and chop the meat before serving. The seasoning is flavorful but not too spicy. Blistered jalapeños added at the end will satisfy the heat-lovers in the family. Pile the brisket into warmed corn tortillas, with lettuce, the jalapeños, cheese and avocado salsa for a healthy dinner that'll wake up your taco night routine. View Recipe Save 08 of 12 Easy Vegetarian Chili Canned beans and tomatoes make this quick vegetarian chili recipe ready to go in just 30 minutes. Serve over rice or couscous, or with tortilla chips for added crunch, and add extra toppings as you see fit--sliced scallions, chopped fresh cilantro, diced avocado and sliced jalapeños are all tasty choices. View Recipe Save 09 of 12 Skillet Chicken Parmesan If you can't find cutlets for this easy chicken Parmesan recipe at your supermarket, place a boneless, skinless breast flat on a cutting board, hold it steady with your palm and, using a sharp knife, slice the breast horizontally into two thin pieces. View Recipe Save 10 of 12 Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup with Rotisserie Chicken See More Photographer: Caitlin bensel, Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall This creamy chicken noodle soup recipe has a delicious potpie feel to it. We call for rotisserie chicken to streamline your prep time—look for a nice big one with lots of breast meat on it. Pair this comforting soup with a green salad. View Recipe Save 11 of 12 Skillet Chicken Potpie A store-bought pie crust, frozen veggies and precooked chicken simplify the prep for this easy potpie. This healthy dinner recipe is comfort food at its best. View Recipe Save 12 of 12 One-Skillet Salmon with Fennel & Sun-Dried Tomato Couscous Sun-dried tomato pesto and lemon do double duty to season both the salmon and the couscous in this healthy one-pan dinner recipe. Serve the salmon with extra lemon wedges and a dollop of plain yogurt, if desired. View Recipe Save Explore more: Healthy Eating Budget Cooking Guide Thrifty Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit