20+ High-Protein Side Dish Recipes For Fall

If you need ideas for a healthy side dish to pair with your entrees this fall, you’re in the right place! These delicious side dishes are full of tasty seasonal produce like carrots, cauliflower and sweet potatoes. Plus each serving contains at least 7 grams of protein, which can help you maintain muscle and bone strength and feel more satisfied for longer from your meal. Try options like Roasted Butternut Squash Salad with Burrata and Parmesan Cauliflower Tots for a perfect addition to any main meal round out your meal.

Roasted Butternut Squash Salad with Burrata

This beautiful butternut squash salad with creamy burrata cheese and peppery arugula is perfect for fall entertaining.

Mashed Potato & Roots Casserole

Rutabaga and/or celeriac give this casserole a more nuanced flavor, but you could also use turnips or kohlrabi—or make it with all potatoes instead.

Parmesan Cauliflower Tots

Photographer: Jake Sternquist, Food Stylist: Annie Probst, Prop Stylist: Joseph Wanek

Cauliflower stands in for potato in this taterless cauliflower tot recipe. Cauliflower is mashed, then mixed with cheese and given a crispy breadcrumb coating before being baked. These healthy cauliflower tater tots make a delicious side dish or appetizer. Pair them with your favorite dipping sauce.

Loaded Cauliflower Casserole

EatingWell

You’ll never want to eat roasted cauliflower any other way once you try this tasty recipe. Bacon, sour cream and sharp Cheddar cheese coat good-for-you cauliflower in deliciousness for an easy side that will make everyone actually want to eat their vegetables.

Scalloped Sweet Potatoes

If you’re looking for a twist on classic scalloped potatoes, this recipe using roasted sweet potatoes and melty Gruyère has all the creaminess of the original with a new flavor twist. The sweet potatoes and lightened sauce–made with flour and low-fat milk–keep it healthier than butter- and cream-laden versions. Don’t cut your sweet potatoes too thin–they’ll turn mushy under the sauce.

Seasoned Black-Eyed Peas

To infuse black-eyed peas with flavor, simmer them with dried spices, which pack a more intense punch than fresh.

Loaded Scalloped Potatoes with Bacon, Cheddar & Chives

Imagine a loaded baked potato topped with bacon, Cheddar and chives combined with the creamy goodness of scalloped potatoes, and you have the ultimate comfort food casserole.

Parmesan Broccoli Bites

Almond flour (aka almond meal) makes the coating on these broccoli fries extra-crunchy and flavorful. Find it in the gluten-free section of large supermarkets and natural-foods stores.

Wild Rice Stuffing with Apple & Sausage

This amazing wild-rice stuffing recipe is bursting with fall flavors, including rye bread, sausage, apples, dried cherries, pecans and fresh herbs.

Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad

Department: Eating Well, Brand: Eating Well Digital, Source Type: Staff, Photographer: Stacy K. Allen, Props: Julia Bayless, Food Stylist: Ana Kelley

Sweet cherries complement the tart goat cheese in this easy shaved Brussels sprouts salad. Pistachios add an extra layer of crunch. A sharp chef’s knife works well to slice the Brussels sprouts thinly. A microplane grater is best for finely shredding the goat cheese.

Sweet Potato Fritters with Smoky Pinto Beans

These easy sweet potato fritters have a crispy crust and a tender middle. The beans are flavored with smoked paprika, but sweet or hot would work well too. To give it a Mexican-inspired twist, use chili powder as the spice instead of the paprika.

Chicken, Mushroom & Wild Rice Casserole

Photography / Fred Hardy, Styling / Ruth Blackburn / Audrey Davis

In Minnesota, chicken, mushrooms and wild rice are often bound together in a casserole with cream of mushroom soup. We forgo the sodium-rich canned soup and make a light, creamy sauce that gets depth of flavor from dry sherry and Parmesan cheese.

Apple, Onion & Cranberry Stuffing

Apples and fresh cranberries add a unique twist to this variation on the classic stuffing. Use fresh sage or rubbed sage in this healthy stuffing recipe; the ground version is too bitter.

Parmesan Scalloped Potatoes with Spinach

Classic scalloped potatoes get a burst of color, heartier texture and a healthy update with the addition of chopped spinach. The greens in this side dish also create a nice contrast to the creamy, velvety potatoes.

Brussels Sprouts & Bacon Stuffing

This healthy Brussels sprouts-and-bacon stuffing recipe is a lightened-up version of the must-have holiday side. We love the soft texture and eggy flavor of challah bread, but any type of rustic, country-style bread works well.

Easy Scalloped Potatoes

In this easy scalloped potatoes recipe, sliced potatoes are roasted in the oven before being mixed with a simple, creamy stovetop sauce and sprinkled with Cheddar cheese. A few minutes under the broiler turns the dish golden and crispy.

Broccoli Casserole

This lightened-up broccoli casserole is sure to be a hit. Learn how to make this classic side dish healthier.

Squash & Oyster Stuffing

This healthy oyster stuffing recipe with butternut squash is a lightened-up version of the must-have holiday side.

Layered Mashed Potato & Mushroom Casserole

Fancy up regular mashed potatoes with a layer of mushroom duxelle—a sauté of finely chopped mushrooms and shallots. We omitted the traditional butter in the duxelle and added chard for a nutritional boost.

Brussels Sprout Gratin

A creamy Brussels sprouts casserole is a delightful accompaniment to any holiday meal. Our healthier version skips the heavy cream and butter found in most recipes—saving about 160 calories and 12 grams of saturated fat compared to a traditional version.