DD- Casseroles for Everyone!

OK, truth be told, I’m not really that crazy for the traditional casseroles. Most of them are full of salt, fat, the wrong kinds of carbs, and lots of cheese. They almost always look the same no matter what you’ve thrown in there and they taste about the same as well.

There is hope! Casseroles don’t have to be cheesy, crumbly, calorie, carb busters. They can have lots of different flavors, textures, and colors. Here’s some tips to making more out of your favorite casserole dishes .

Add Veggies – Broccoli, green beans, peas, shredded cabbage, and carrots are a good start but how about adding tomatoes or red peppers for color, purple cabbage can add some fun, or why not toss in some bright chunks of squash. Garlic and onions add great flavor to almost any dish.

Add Meat – Sure you can always use the typical stand by’s like tuna or hamburger. However, a salmon casserole can ramp up the omega 3’s in your dish or how about using chicken to help lower the fat content. By precooking your meat you can cut down the oven time needed to bake your casseroles as well.

Filler Up – And now we come to the fillers. Things like bread crumbs, noodles, rice, potatoes, and cream of yuck soups are what most folks use and while some of these are ok I’d skip the canned soup for sure. Instead, get that creamy texture by using plain yogurt mixed with some low fat mayo or sour cream.

Spice It Up – When it comes to seasoning your casseroles the sky’s the limit! Some of my favorites include garlic, curry, Herbs de Province, lemon pepper, thyme, sage, rosemary, sage, and of course freshly ground black pepper and sea salt. Go wild here. Season to taste and don’t be afraid to experiment.

One of the best things about casseroles is that they can be assembled ahead of time and cooked later. I’ve always got at least a few stocked in my freezer for those busy nights or times I need to take dinner to a friend in need.

To find some great casserole recipes check out our NEW Casserole & Soup Menu bundle . It’s on sale this week so go treat your family to some warm winter dinners today.