19 Easy High-Protein Fall Dinners to Keep You Full and Satisfied
They don’t skimp on comfort either.
Fall is all about enjoying cozy dinners and an abundance of hearty produce. When you want to serve your family a meal that satisfies their craving for something warm and nourishing, turn to these high-protein fall dinners. They're perfect for keeping everyone full and fueled during the busy fall season. Think: lean chili recipes, stuffed squashes, meaty pasta dishes, and cozy soups.
Most of the healthy fall recipes here come together in under an hour so that you can make them even on a busy weeknight. However, there are a few dinner party-ready dishes that take a little more time but are still doable for cooks of all levels. The butternut squash lasagna is just the thing to make when you want to wow a crowd. The same goes for turkey breast, which you can make right in the air fryer and serve for Thanksgiving or any fall night when you want to go above and beyond.
Everything on this list provides at least 25 grams of protein per serving. And while there are plenty of meat-based recipes, there are also a few vegetarian-friendly options that use canned beans, a great source of plant-based protein. Toss them in your favorite chili recipe; they add a creamy texture and plenty of heft. So, the next time you're looking for a protein-packed fall dinner that will satisfy a whole group, reach for one of these seasonally inspired recipes.
Sheet Pan Pork Chops
These juicy pork chops roast alongside sliced apples and onions with tangy honey mustard topping. Add a tray of crispy Brussels sprouts while the pork bakes, and you’ve got a cozy fall supper.
Get Ree’s Sheet Pan Pork Chops recipe.
Turkey Quinoa Chili
This lighter, leaner take on chili swaps in ground turkey instead of the usual beef. It also includes black beans, pinto beans, and quinoa, which means there's even more protein in each scoop.
Get Ree’s Turkey Quinoa Chili recipe.
Apple Cider-Glazed Salmon
Brush salmon with a sweet and savory apple cider sauce to capture all the cozy flavors of fall. Roast it in the oven while you steam red potatoes and green beans for a simple, healthy, and flavorful meal.
Get Ree’s Apple Cider-Glazed Salmon recipe.
Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs
There are so many great ways to cook chicken, but this hands-off, slow-cooker method for chicken thighs is perfect for busy fall days. They cook on top of baby potatoes and carrots for a complete dinner.
Get Ree's Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs recipe.
Stuffed Butternut Squash
Butternut squash is often relegated to a side dish, but here, it's the star of the show. It's halved and stuffed with a savory combo of spicy sausage, kale, two kinds of cheese, and umami-rich mushrooms.
Get Ree's Stuffed Butternut Squash recipe.
Chili Mac and Cheese
Two of the ultimate comfort food meals join forces in this crowd-pleasing entrée. The inclusion of a beef- and bean-based chili adds plenty of heft and protein to classic mac and cheese.
Get Ree's Chili Mac and Cheese recipe.
Harvest Bowls
The beauty of grain bowls is that you can pack them with whatever protein-rich ingredients and seasonal veggies that you have on hand. Think: rotisserie chicken, sweet potatoes, crunchy Brussels sprouts, crisp apples, and more.
Get the Harvest Bowls recipe.
French Onion Chicken Casserole
On a cold fall night, nothing quite hits the spot like a cozy casserole. This one takes everything that you know and love from a bowl of French onion soup and turns it into a complete meal, thanks to the addition of chopped rotisserie chicken.
Get Ree's French Onion Chicken Casserole recipe.
Air Fryer Turkey Breast
Who said turkey is just for Thanksgiving? Here, the air fryer helps yield juicy (no, not dry!) turkey meat with crackling, flavorful skin—and it's way more hands-off than oven-roasted.
Get the Air Fryer Turkey Breast recipe.
Sausage, White Bean, and Kale Soup
In under one hour, you can have a cozy, protein-packed crock of soup on the table. It's packed with sweet Italian sausage, roasted red peppers, creamy cannellini beans, kale, diced tomatoes, and tons of fresh herbs.
Get Ree's Sausage, White Bean, and Kale Soup recipe.
Butternut Squash Lasagna
This twist on the Italian-American staple is the ultimate fall dinner. A duo of sausage and cottage cheese offer plenty of protein between layers of a sage-infused squash sauce, melted mozzarella, and sautéed spinach.
Get the Butternut Squash Lasagna recipe.
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
There are so many different ways to cook pulled pork, but the slow-cooker may just be the best method. It transforms a big piece of pork shoulder roast into a meltable, shreddable, savory bite.
Get the Slow Cooker Pulled Pork recipe.
Dutch Oven Roast Chicken
When you're looking for a one-pot dinner recipe that will wow a crowd, make this Dutch oven roast chicken. The chicken cooks in one pot with an assortment of root vegetables, which develop so much flavor from the herby drippings.
Get the Dutch Oven Roast Chicken recipe.
Hamburger Casserole
Not only will this beefy, cheesy casserole feed your entire family, but it comes together in just 30 minutes. What makes this different than other old-fashioned casseroles is the smattering of burger-inspired toppings like fried onions, melted pepper jack cheese, and green onions.
Get Ree's Hamburger Casserole recipe.
Pork, Apple, and Sage Meatballs
These aren't your average Italian-American meatballs. Ground pork is mixed with grated apples, allspice, and fresh sage to make this absolutely irresistible fall bite.
Get Ree's Pork, Apple, and Sage Meatballs recipe.
Chicken Pot Pie Soup
When you're craving chicken pot pie but don't have a ton of energy, whip up this easy soup instead. The best part may just be the cheddar crust dippers, which are made with refrigerated pie crusts and shredded cheese.
Get Ree's Chicken Pot Pie Soup recipe.
Pumpkin Chili
Chili is good on any chilly night, but this pumpkin-based version is especially fitting for the fall season. In addition to all of the usual spices, some ground cinnamon is added to the mix, which perfectly complements the sweet pumpkin.
Get the Pumpkin Chili recipe.
Sheet Pan Chicken with Butternut Squash and Cauliflower
Ree swears by cooking bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs because they're so forgiving and easy to cook. The skin gets shatteringly crispy when baked in the oven alongside the other veggies.
Get Ree's Sheet Pan Chicken with Butternut Squash and Cauliflower recipe.
Panko-Crusted Pork Chops with Carrot Mash
Anything crusted in panko breadcrumbs is going to be good—but that's especially true with juicy pork chops. Serve it with a vibrant carrot mash for the ultimate protein-packed fall meal.
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