30 Healthy Casserole Recipes

Healthy casserole recipes come in handy for busy weeknight dinners, leftovers, and holidays. They can also accommodate special dietary restrictions like gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian diets.

Since many casserole recipes call for lots of veggies, they can be a rich source of important nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Some casseroles get a bad reputation for lacking flavor and nutrients. However, with a few tweaks, casseroles can be quick, easy, healthy, and delicious.

You may not even realize some of your favorite dishes are technically casseroles—mac and cheese, shepherds pie, baked oatmeal, lasagna, chicken bake, and more! Some familiar favorites include green bean casserole, Mexican casserole, and egg-based breakfast casseroles.

Breakfast Casserole Recipes

Life hack for busy mornings? Make a breakfast casserole ahead of time and you will never miss the most important meal of the day ever again. Many meal prep recipes tend to focus on weekday lunches and dinners, so here is your reminder to plan for breakfasts, too.

Many breakfast casseroles call for classic breakfast foods like eggs, bacon, and even bagels. Think of these as a unique spin on the frittata or quiche. Like these egg bake recipes, you can add extra servings of veggies like mushrooms, broccoli, and bell peppers so you can get an extra dose of vitamins, minerals, and fiber in first thing in the morning.

Easy Breakfast Casserole

It does not get any easier than this breakfast casserole recipe from Simply Recipes. You will need a base of six simple ingredients that you likely already have: eggs, cheese, bread, milk, salt, and pepper. Use gluten-free bread to make this recipe gluten-free. It is already vegetarian-friendly without modifications.

To bulk up this breakfast casserole with nutrient-dense veggies, add corn, broccoli, mushrooms, and green onions. For more flavor, it is recommended to add dried herbs, cumin, or curry powder.

This recipe only takes 15 minutes of prep time, and it yields 8 servings so it's the perfect meal prep breakfast for two. 

Chicken Casserole Recipes

Chicken breast is a lean protein since it is a quality protein source without a lot of accompanying fat. Naturally free of carbohydrates, chicken breast is a popular protein for many diets and lifestyles. Chicken casserole recipes are an easy and delicious way to add this lean protein to your diet.

Mexican Chicken Verde Casserole

This diabetes-friendly chicken casserole from Verywell Fit contains all the classic ingredients in burritos—chicken, beans, avocado, salsa, chilies, cheese, peppers, onions, and so on—but in a lighter, lower carbohydrate casserole form to suit diabetic needs.. Unlike some Mexican takeout options, this recipe sneaks in additional veggies like squash and mushrooms.

It only takes 30 minutes of preparation time to yield 6 servings, each of which are under 400 calories. Despite being low in calories and fat, each serving packs 34g of protein. The protein comes not only from the chicken breast, but also from quinoa. Quinoa is a complete plant-based protein, and it is a great source of fiber and other nutrients, like magnesium and B vitamins.

Gluten-Free Casserole Recipes

Since some casserole recipes call for pasta, bread, or breadcrumbs, you may assume gluten-free casserole recipes are hard to come by. Fortunately, people with gluten allergies can enjoy casseroles. 

Simply use gluten-free alternatives when needed, such as gluten-free bread, noodles, or flour. Alternatively, you can stick to foods that are naturally gluten-free, such as quinoa, black beans, and sweet potatoes.

Easy Shepherd’s Pie

This shepherd’s pie recipe from Simply Recipes is the perfect example of healthy comfort food that is easy to make and reheats well. You will only need 15 minutes of prep time and a handful of ingredients for this recipe.

It calls for a mixture of ground beef and mixed vegetables seasoned with beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, salt pepper, and other spices. The meat and veggie mix is topped with creamy mashed potatoes. When baked, the mashed potato topping gets golden brown while the meat and vegetables absorb all the flavors.

Veggie-Based Casserole Recipes

While many casserole recipes call for rich foods like cheese, eggs, and meat, sticking to vegetable-based ingredients can help lighten up recipes while adding in extra nutrients, too. These recipes are great options for those who are looking for healthy weight loss while also consuming foods rich in vitamins and minerals. 

Plus, sticking to a nutritious diet is easier when ready-made casseroles are in the fridge and ready to be eaten. If you are looking for easy, healthy meals you can meal prep throughout the week, try these casserole recipes.

Lightened Up Zucchini Casserole

This lighter zucchini casserole recipe from Verywell Fit is low in calories, vegetarian-friendly, and packed with veggies. It contains a base of zucchini, tomatoes, onions, and garlic. 

This recipe provides a smaller portion of cheese can still add a lot of flavor. Instead of 3 or 4 cups of cheese like some recipes call for, you only need 1 cup of cheese to make this casserole.

This casserole is full of flavor thanks to other nutrient-rich ingredients. It is seasoned with Italian spices, salt, and pepper, making this healthy recipe a delicious way to eat your veggies.

Vegan Casserole Recipes

Plant-based casseroles are a great option for people who adhere to a vegan lifestyle or simply want to incorporate more plant-based meals into their diet. Many casserole recipes call for animal products like cheese, milk, eggs, chicken, and sausage, but vegan casserole recipes can be just as hearty, healthy, and satisfying without animal-derived ingredients. 

Like non-vegan casseroles, these vegan recipes are perfect for weeknight dinners, meal prep, and special occasions. 

Vegan Green Bean Casserole

It doesn't have to be Thanksgiving or Christmas to make this green bean casserole recipe from Serious Eats. It is a plant-based take on a holiday classic. Since it is full of vegetables—green beans, mushrooms, onions, and cauliflower—it is full of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. And this recipe calls for vegetable stock instead of condensed cream, so it is also lighter in fat and calories.

Vegetarian Casserole Recipes

While still heavy on plant-based foods, the vegetarian diet includes some meat-free animal products. This means that vegetarian casserole dishes may contain milk, eggs, and cheese. However, some vegetarian casseroles may be lighter than those containing large quantities of meat. 

If you are looking to decrease your meat consumption, opting for a vegetarian casserole instead of a carnivorous one may be preferred. Plus, vegetarian recipes tend to contain more vegetables, making them lower in calories and fat.

Mashed Cauliflower Gratin Casserole

People who follow a low-carb diet have discovered that cauliflower makes a great substitution for carb-heavy vegetables like potatoes. This mashed cauliflower casserole recipe from Verywell Fit is one way to get your veggies in without overdoing it on the carbs.

All you’ll need are seven simple ingredients: cauliflower, cream, butter, mustard, eggs, cheese, and nutmeg. This recipe yields 10 servings, so it is perfect for large families or weekend meal prepping. Since each serving is approximately 132 calories, this is ideal for low-calorie diets or as a side dish.

A Word From Verywell

Making breakfast, lunch, and dinner each week is not a realistic goal for many people with busy schedules. Fortunately, healthy casserole recipes can be made ahead of time so meals are ready to be reheated and eaten at any time of the day.

Whether you follow a gluten-free, low-calorie, vegan, vegetarian, or other type of diet, casseroles are a versatile way to consume plenty of protein, fiber, and other nutrients. The best part is you can use the same casserole dish each week to try out a new recipe. With an abundance of healthy casserole recipes at the ready, you will never get bored of your meals.