Casseroles are so versatile. Whether it’s contributing to a holiday or office potluck, consoling a neighbor going through a tough time, or lending a hand to a friend who has her hands full with a new baby. Casseroles are a great way to say “I Care.” Here are some delicious, hearty and healthy casserole recipes.
Spicy Mexican Bake (Serves 6)
- Cooking spray
- 1/2 pound lean ground turkey
- 1 diced onion
- 1 diced green pepper
- 15 oz. can of black beans
- 15 oz. can of diced tomatoes
- 1 cup picante sauce
- 1 tablespoon taco seasoning mix
- 2 cups reduced fat cheddar cheese
- 10 corn tortillas
1. Preheat the oven to 350.
2. Spray a non-stick pan with cooking spray and brown the turkey until well done. Drain and set aside turkey.
3. Spray the pan again and saute the onion and peppers until the onion is translucent.
4. Return the cooked turkey to the pan and add tomatoes, black beans, picante sauce and seasoning mix and saute for 10 min. until mixture thickens.
5. Spray a 2-qt. casserole dish with non-stick spray. Add 1/3 turkey mixture to the dish; top with half of the tortillas and half of the cheese. Repeat. Top with layer of turkey mixture, covering the tortillas and cheese.
6. Bake for 25-30 min. and cool for 10 min. before serving.
Baked Beef Ziti (serves 8 )
- 12 oz. uncooked whole grain ziti
- Olive oil spray
- 2 medium garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 pound lean ground beef
- 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 tsp dried thyme, 1 tsp. dried rosemary, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper
- 28 oz. canned crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup shredded, part skim mozzarella cheese
1. Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cook pasta, drain and set aside.
3. Add olive oil spray to a medium saucepan over medium heat; saute garlic for 2 min. Add beef and cook until browned, up to 5 min. Drain fat and return pan to heat.
4. Add herbs and stir, coating the beef and cook until fragrant for up to 2 min. Add tomatoes, bringing to a boil and then reduce heat to simmer for 5 min.
5. In a 4-qt. casserole dish – add a thin layer of tomato mixture, half of cooked ziti, half of remaining tomato mixture, half of the cheese, last half of the ziti, last half of the sauce, remaining cheese. Cook until cheese is golden, about 30 min.
Overnight Egg Bake (Serves 8 )
- 16 oz. pure liquid eggs
- 12 oz. fat-free evaporated milk
- 6 slices of whole grain bread
- 6 oz. turkey sausage
- 1 cup low-fat shredded cheddar cheese
1. Coat a 9 x 13″ baking pan with non-fat cooking spray.
2. Beat eggs well and add milk.
3. Layer the bread on the bottom of the pan. Toss the meat and cheese over the bread and pour the egg/milk mixture on top.
4. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight.
5. In the morning, back the covered egg mixture at 350 for 45 min. Remove foil and bake for an additional 15 min.
Photo by: DinnerDiary
