40 Protein-Packed Comfort Food Comeback Recipes That Surprised Us All
If summer is the season of lean protein salads, post-gym shakes and egg whites snuck into everything, then winter is when the protein dinner truly comes into its own. Eating the dinners from your childhood might seem like all comfort and no gains — but choose the right dish, and these nostalgic favourites can seriously pack a protein punch.
Retro comfort food is back (and bigger) this winter
As we’ve moved into the cooler months, we’ve been surprised to discover retro classics making an even stronger comeback this winter than last, with searches for stroganoff, casseroles, classic curries and soups all up significantly on taste since the seasonal shift set in.
So as your menu changes with the season, so does our list of delicious protein-rich dinners. We’ve rounded up our favourite comfort food-style classics that really deliver a protein hit — many featuring bonus ingredients like legumes, nuts or quinoa, with plenty of vegies thrown in for good measure.
Meat-based dishes come in at around 25g of protein per serve (depending on your cut of choice), with lighter meals and vegetarian options sitting slightly lower.
Want to boost your protein a little further? Swap out some of the serving suggestions for higher-protein alternatives. White bean mash is an excellent stand-in for classic mashed potato, and store-bought high-protein wholegrain bread makes a nutritious swap for crusty rolls when you’re serving up a soup or stew.
Give the classic beef stroganoff a healthy makeover with this better-for-you recipe.
A dinner that freezes well, can be made ahead, is quick to cook and is, perhaps best of all, easy to make? Yes, it exists. Meet our healthy beef mince hotpot – the answer to weeknight woes.
Why we love this easy and healthy hotpot recipe
I love a recipe that you can make ahead and serve quickly during the week. Many hotpots use cuts of meat that require slow cooking for hours, but this is a quicker version using beef mince. This is one of those recipes that can be added to your weekly dinner repertoire. I know it’s on mine – and the fact that it meets the healthy criteria and is vegie-packed is just an extra win.
💡Tip: batch by bath
Cooking the mince in batches will give you better caramelisation and, therefore, flavour.
Key ingredients in our healthy beef hotpot
Extra-lean beef mince: extra-lean mince helps keep the recipe healthier and helps this dish cook faster than other slow-cooked beefy hotpots.
Baby potatoes: these sturdy vegies add extra heartiness to the easy hotpot. To keep it quick to prepare, we used baby white potatoes you don’t need to peel. By cutting them in half, they will soak up the flavours.
Carrot, onion and celery: this trio is the key to a perfect base to any slow-cooked hotpot, adding flavour and upping the nutritional value.
Garlic: when sauteed with the vegetables, garlic gives a subtle flavour.
Salt-reduced beef stock: beef stock adds a richer flavour, but salt-reduced stock also helps keep the sodium lower in your hotpot, for a healthier result. If you don’t have beef stock, you could also use salt-reduced chicken or vegetable stock.
Worcestershire sauce: this flavour-bomb sauce adds a touch of sweetness, tanginess and spice. A little goes a long way.
Plain flour: flour helps to thicken the hotpot as it cooks. It is important to toss the flour well before adding the liquid. This will help cook the flour slightly, removing any raw flour taste in the final dish.
Tomato paste: umami-rich tomato paste helps create added depth of flavour. Cooking the tomato paste for a few minutes once it is added helps to deepen it further.
Love a simple yet flavourful hotpot? Try this easy lamb hotpot next.
Recipe and notes by Food Director Michelle Southan
This stunning slow cooker beef and bean stew is the perfect get-ahead dinner.
Try this flavourful yet healthy makeover of a classic family favourite. My protein-rich savoury mince is a one-pan wonder that’s easy to make and best enjoyed on wholegrain toast or brown rice.
What I love about this protein-rich savoury mince recipe
This is one wholesome savoury mince recipe that ticks so many boxes: it’s budget-friendly, quick to make, versatile, protein-rich, and can be served and modified in many different ways. It has everything you want in a healthy weeknight meal: protein, vegies and, perhaps most importantly, plenty of depth of flavour. Trust me when I say you’ll look forward to the leftovers.
Serve this savoury mince on wholegrain toast or brown rice to add a serve of wholegrains for slow-release energy, guaranteed to keep you full for hours.
💡 Tip: make a gluten-free version
To make this recipe gluten-free, swap the Worcestershire sauce with gluten-free Worcestershire sauce, use gluten-free stock and serve with gluten-free wholegrain bread.
What goes into my healthy protein-rich savoury mince?
Key ingredients:
Chickpeas: rich in anti-inflammatory plant protein, chickpeas boost the overall protein content while keeping the fat content in check. Chickpeas are also packed with dietary fibre, increasing satiety (the feeling of fullness), thereby supporting weight management.
Lean beef mince: using extra lean beef mince (5-10% fat) keeps the overall fat (especially saturated fat) and energy content down. In contrast, regular beef mince contains up to 20% fat. You can substitute the mince with any other extra lean mince (think pork, chicken or turkey), if you like.
Extra vegies: traditional savoury mince can be lacking in vegetables. I boosted the veg content with the addition of mushrooms (a valuable source of B complex vitamins), chickpeas, and frozen peas and corn.
Love a simple mince dinner idea? Try more of our healthier mince recipes.
Recipe by nutritionist and cookbook author, Chrissy Freer
Filled with healthy vegetables, this beef hotpot makes a comforting and hearty winter warmer.
Revamp traditional apricot chicken with this nutritious, reduced fat and high fibre recipe.
This rich broth minestrone is packed with greens and is the perfect warm meal for a cold winter night.
Give a classic French favourite a nourishing winter makeover with this hearty-yet-wholesome braised steak recipe. Slow-cooked with caramelised onions and thyme, this comforting dish brings all the richness of a traditional French onion stew, without adding extra calories.
What I love about this healthy French onion braised steak
I’ve used oyster blade steak, a flavourful and budget-friendly cut that turns meltingly tender with time. Brown onions bring their signature sweetness, while salt-reduced stock keeps things lighter on sodium. Served with creamy cauliflower mash and crisp green beans, this low-carb dinner is a cosy, feel-good option for chilly nights.
💡 Tip: Take stock of your stock level
Make sure you check the level of the stock; it needs to just cover the beef. Add a little more stock to the pan during the cooking time, if required. The beef is ready when it is tender enough to pull apart when tested with a fork.
What goes into my healthy French onion braised steak?
Key ingredients:
Oyster blade steak: this steak is a versatile and relatively lean cut of beef that has a rich flavour and is suited to slow cooking. You do not need to remove the piece of connective tissue running down the centre of the steak. It will soften/dissolve during cooking.
Salt-reduced beef stock: this helps to keep the overall sodium levels down.
Brown onion: this gives the dish a natural sweetness. Onion is also rich in beneficial plant compounds that may reduce the risk of several diseases including heart disease.
Thyme: you can swap the thyme leaves with another herb, such as rosemary or oregano, if you prefer.
Cauliflower: this makes a creamy lower-carbohydrate mash, as well as boosting the overall vegetable and vitamin C intake to support your immune health.
Green beans: you can swap the green beans to serve with another green vegetable such as broccolini, broccoli or Brussels sprouts.
Love this idea? You might also love these warming French onion curried sausages on a cool night.
Recipe by nutritionist and cookbook author, Chrissy Freer
Using light coconut milk means this chicken satay stir-fry is still creamy but is way better for you! We've also added pumpkin and broccolini for extra veg.
This beef mince and pumpkin protein dinner bake ticks all the nutritious (and delicious) boxes for a midweek dinner. It’s a bowl of comfort that’s brimming with flavour. A lighter, brighter lasagne, this bake can also be made gluten free if you use gluten-free lasagne sheets.
What I love about my beef mince and pumpkin protein dinner bake
For those who love lasagne (and we know our community loves a good lasagne recipe), this is a feel-good, low-calorie spin on the classic family favourite that’s just as comforting and robust. The savoury flavour of the tomato, lentil and beef bolognese sauce is balanced against the natural sweetness of the roasted pumpkin and creaminess of the better-for-you cheese sauce.
The roasted pumpkin adds moisture, so the lasagne does not dry out. It has a rich and satisfying flavour, with the lentils adding a nuttiness to the bolognese sauce. It’s ideal for those ‘non-meat’ meat eaters.
💡Tip: How to store when cooking ahead
The cooked lasagne can be kept covered or stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Suitable to freeze, you can cut the lasagne into slices and freeze in airtight containers for up to 1 month.
What goes into this beef mince and pumpkin protein dinner bake: key ingredients
Butternut pumpkin: adding roasted pumpkin slices (or another type of veg) reduces the overall energy and carbohydrate content of the lasagne, while also boosting the fibre, potassium and disease protective antioxidants, such as betacarotene.
Extra-virgin olive oil: this is the natural choice here, but you can use another neutral oil, if you don’t have any olive oil on hand.
Onion, carrot and garlic: finely chopped onion, carrot and garlic creates a flavourful foundation for this lasagne dish.
Oregano leaves: these bring their Mediterranean flair to this recipe.
Extra-lean beef mince: an excellent source of heme iron and zinc to support energy, immune health and muscle maintenance, choosing extra-lean mince keeps the overall saturated fat content down.
Tomato paste and passata: bringing their rich, umami-depth, these form a formidable duo that packs a rich tomatoey punch. Different brands of tomato passata vary in sodium content. Check the labels for one that contains less than 50mg sodium per 100g.
Brown lentils: we use a 400g can of no-added-salt brown lentils, rinsed well and drained. The addition of lentils to the bolognese sauce boosts the dietary fibre and plant protein.
Fresh lasagne sheets: soft, fresh and ready to layer into your bake, fresh lasagne sheets are an easy choice. If you can’t get fresh, pre-cooked dried sheets will work.
Baby spinach: extra nutritional oomph and greenery are added to the lasagne thanks to the addition of baby spinach. We also add a little extra to serve on top.
Finely grated vintage cheddar: another tasty addition, vintage cheddar brings its sharp flavour to our topping.
Cottage cheese: this is low fat yet nutrient dense, plus rich in protein, calcium and phosphorus, promoting bone and muscle health.
Egg: we add 1 egg to the cheese sauce, boosting the protein further.
Nutritional yeast: this is a great way to bring added flavour and (as its name suggests) nutrition to the lasagne. It’s rich in B vitamins and helps create a healthier version of a traditional cheese sauce with a delicious umami flavour.
Looking for a vegetarian lasagne recipe? Try our go-to vegie lasagne recipe.
We hope you enjoy making this recipe. Please keep in mind that the information in this recipe does not replace personalised health advice. It's always best to consult your medical practitioner before making changes to your diet.
Recipe by Chrissy Freer, photography by Nigel Lough, styling by Lucy Busuttil, food prep by Lara Reynolds.
Whether it's for lunch or dinner, warm up this winter with this superb slow-cooked beef served with creamy cauliflower mash.
There are few dinners more satisfying to sit down to than a home-cooked lamb shank stew - especially one that does most of the hard work for you. This particular slow cooker lamb shanks recipe was uploaded to taste more than a decade ago by one of our members. Since then, it’s been a firm favourite (despite not even having a photo to go with it until recently). I’m guessing all those people who cooked it must’ve almost been able to sense its comforting deliciousness from the ingredients list alone!
Why is this my new favourite slow cooker lamb shanks recipe?
I rediscovered this slow cooker lamb shanks stew when I was looking for a classic slow cooker lamb dish to make for the fam. I couldn’t believe it had so many glowing reviews and I hadn’t even tried it before - so I put it to the test at home. I wasn’t disappointed. All the flavours of the red wine, vegies and lamb came together perfectly and, after patiently waiting for eight hours for the slow cooker to work its magic, the juicy lamb just broke apart with a fork. It’s pretty hard to go wrong with slow cooker lamb shanks, so I made just a few tweaks to the recipe and took plenty of shots of the finished dish so you can see just how tender the meat was.
How to make easy slow cooker lamb shanks: key ingredients guide
Lamb shanks: The lamb is the real star of the show here. Lamb shanks lend themselves so well to slow cooking because they have a good amount of connective tissue, which break down during the cooking process, resulting in incredibly tender meat that just falls off the bone.
Vegetables
Carrots: The go-to vegetable for casseroles and stews, adding a touch of sweetness and a pop of colour to the sauce.
Celery. Celery-haters, take note: carrot and celery are a classic flavour-boosting combo when it comes to slow cooking and the base for so many meat-based sauces. Trust me, you won’t get any of that raw celery flavour once it’s been reduced in the slow cooker for several hours.
Onion: Rounding out the flavour trifecta, onions are one of the unsung heroes of this recipe, adding a subtle sweetness. I used a regular brown onion for those classic lamb stew flavours.
Potatoes. Potatoes bulk up the stew and add heartiness. They also help thicken the sauce slightly as they cook, so if you do choose to omit them, you may need to reduce the sauce in the slow cooker slightly after removing the lamb shanks.
Garlic. This recipe calls for 2 cloves, but if you don’t have any fresh garlic to hand you can substitute the 2 cloves with ¼ tsp garlic powder, if you wish.
Sauce ingredients and seasoning
Worcestershire sauce: Worcestershire sauce is a versatile condiment that works so well in savoury stews, adding a tangy umami hit to the sauce.
Crushed tomatoes: Crushed tomatoes provide the base for the sauce and add a little acidity to balance the richness of the lamb. I like to use canned crushed tomatoes instead of canned whole tomatoes to give the best sauce consistency.
Tomato paste: Do you need both crushed and tomato paste? For this recipe, yes! Adding the paste concentrates the tomato flavour and adds extra richness to the sauce.
Red wine: Red wine and lamb shanks are a classic pairing. Don’t worry, it won’t taste of wine: the alcohol cooks off during slow cooking, leaving behind a richer flavour profile.
Thyme: I tested with four fresh sprigs, but if you can’t get hold of fresh thyme, you could substitute with 1 tsp dry thyme instead.
Bay leaves: Bay leaves add a subtle background warmth and complexity to the overall flavour of this lamb shank stew. You can skip if you don’t have them to hand, but bay really does help balance the flavours.
Flour: Use a little plain flour to lightly coat the lamb shanks before browning. This helps thicken the sauce as the meat cooks in the slow cooker.
Beef stock cubes: A great little hack for amping up the ‘meatiness’ in this slow-cooked lamb shank dish.
This is a great classic recipe to start with if you’re new to slow cooking lamb shanks, but once you’re cooking lamb shanks like a pro, you may want to expand your repertoire. Discover more of our favourite lamb shanks slow cooker recipes here.
Don’t have a slow cooker? Try these slow cooked lamb shanks using the oven method.
See the notes below the recipe for serving suggestions and freezing instructions.
How to make easy slow cooker lamb shanks: get the full recipe below
This vegetarian version of cottage pie gets its hearty flavour from lentils, mushrooms and spiced vegetable mash.
Slow-cooked dishes can be healthy (and creamy!) with a few tweaks, like this low-cal creamy French chicken.
Try our osso bucco recipe for a healthy, tender and mouth-watering meat stew.
