12 Weight Loss Dinner Casseroles in Three Steps or Less

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

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

Even if you’re trying to lose weight, you should still be aiming to have a filling and hearty meal at the end of the day. Enter these comforting, nutritious and satisfying casseroles! Whether you're trying to lose weight or are just looking for delicious, cozy dishes, these low-calorie, high-fiber and/or high-protein dinner casseroles fit the bill. Plus, they come together in three steps or less, so they're easy to prepare and save you time in the kitchen. Recipes like our Rotisserie Chicken, Mushroom & Rice Casserole and our Creamy Lemon-Dill Chicken & Rice Casserole are healthy, delicious and simple options that can help you meet your nutritional goals.

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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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Skillet Spinach, Mushroom & Wild Rice Casserole

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

This wild rice and mushroom casserole is the ultimate comfort food, combining hearty, wholesome ingredients with rich, savory flavors all in one skillet. The earthiness of the wild rice pairs beautifully with the meaty mushrooms, while fresh spinach adds a burst of color and nutrients. It’s the perfect balance of texture and taste—a cozy, one-pan meal that’s easy to make, which makes it even more comforting on those busy days!

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Spinach, Feta & Artichoke Tater Tot Casserole

Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lydia Purcell

Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lydia Purcell

This egg-based dinner casserole is assembled and baked in a single baking dish, making prep (and cleanup!) a breeze. Potato tots nestled on top add a crispy, golden crust. Be sure to squeeze as much moisture as you can from the frozen artichoke hearts and spinach to prevent the casserole from becoming soggy. If you can’t find frozen artichoke hearts, you can use canned—just make sure to rinse them well to remove any excess salty brine.

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Dump & Bake Pizza Pasta Casserole

Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lydia Purcell

Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lydia Purcell

This easy, toss-together casserole offers all the flavors of a pepperoni pizza, with fusilli pasta absorbing the rich tomato sauce while mingling with gooey melted cheese and meaty pepperoni slices. For a meatless option, simply replace the pepperoni with sliced mushrooms and frozen bell peppers. Pair it with a Caesar salad for a complete meal.

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Chicken Alfredo & Broccoli Rice Casserole

Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lydia Purcell

Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lydia Purcell

This cheesy, creamy rice casserole is full of flavor and exactly what you’re looking for when you need a delicious, quick meal with little to no effort. Packages of microwaveable rice help to expedite the cooking process, but leftover rice works well too as an easy swap.

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Stuffed Pepper Casserole

Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist Julia Bayless

Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist Julia Bayless

You won’t be stuffing any peppers for this stuffed pepper casserole, but you will be enjoying the sweet and smoky combination of flavors coming from bell peppers, fire-roasted tomatoes, smoked paprika and ground beef. You can use precooked rice from the package or leftover brown rice if you have it. If using leftover rice, you will need about 1½ cups.

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Chicken Fajita Casserole

Photographer: Greg DuPree Food Stylist: Salley Mckay Prop Stylist: Prissy Montiel

Photographer: Greg DuPree Food Stylist: Salley Mckay Prop Stylist: Prissy Montiel

This chicken fajita casserole combines classic fajita veggies and chicken thighs with corn tortillas and spices in one skillet for an easy dinner.

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Creamy Spinach-&-Feta Chicken Casserole

Sara Haas
Sara Haas

Inspired by the flavors of spanakopita, here we put a spin on spinach pie and turn it into a casserole. Adding chicken provides protein, while plenty of garlic and onions add flavor. This recipe calls for 8 sheets of phyllo dough, so there's no need to cover them to keep them moist when assembling. If your sheets are larger than your dish, cut them or fold them in half so they fit.

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Nacho Cauliflower Casserole

Photographer: Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
Photographer: Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

This cauliflower casserole is inspired by nachos and stuffed with tender roasted cauliflower, sweet red pepper and brown rice. Salsa helps bind the ingredients together, along with melted cheese. Crushed tortilla chips on top add crunch. Serve with the suggested garnishes, or add your own favorite toppings to complete the dish.

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Green Chile Rotisserie Chicken Casserole

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Melissa Gray

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Melissa Gray

This green chile rotisserie chicken casserole features lots of tender vegetables. The corn adds a nice pop of sweetness, while the rice absorbs some of the flavors. A crunchy topping of crushed tortilla chips finishes off this comforting Southwestern-inspired casserole.

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Original Source:

https://www.eatingwell.com/weight-loss-dinner-casseroles-three-steps-11822549