10 Healthier Casserole Recipes Perfect for Any Party

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Casseroles are a handy staple in any home cook’s repertoire, and pretty much a cultural touchstone in parts of the midwest, where they’re called hotdish and considered essential to any party, according to Eater . The appeal of a casserole is more than just how convenient it is — although a one-dish meal you can make ahead of time, usually with pantry staples, certainly does save on time and energy in the kitchen. Casseroles are often comfort food, nostalgic favorites people look forward to enjoying at family gatherings. These are the dishes that have traditionally been used to mark special occasions, like welcoming someone new to the neighborhood, gifting to new parents, or even consoling grief-stricken friends. For those reasons, casseroles tend to be nostalgic dishes, but they also make a great weekday family meal. Casserole recipes tend to be pretty flexible, so they’re easy to adjust to accommodate special dietary needs or easily incorporate any leftover produce you happen to have on hand at the moment. They also tend to be an economical choice, especially when you have a large group to feed. While casseroles are a great addition to a potluck or holiday gathering, make sure that they don’t sit out at room temperature for longer than two hours (less time if the air temperature is hotter than 90 degrees F), recommends Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) . That’s because leaving food out longer can result in an increased risk of foodborne illness (aka food poisoning). The major drawback of most casseroles or hotdish recipes is that many of the same ingredients that make them so rich, creamy, and comforting — heavy cream , cream cheese , and cheddar cheese , for starters — also pile calories and saturated fat onto your plate without offering much nutritional benefit, per the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). A 2-cup serving of tuna noodle casserole, for instance, contains about 622 calories, 8.5 grams of saturated fat, and 1470 milligrams of sodium (more than half of daily amount recommended by the American Heart Association ), according to data from the USDA . But, there are plenty of ways to make a casserole healthier without making them any less comforting. Some options: Choose a lean protein such as skinless poultry, lean beef, tofu, legumes, or seafood. Add more veggies! Vegetables are a rich source of fiber and other nutrients and can make the dish more filling while adding very few calories. Swap refined grains for whole ones, such as brown rice, quinoa, farro, or whole-wheat pasta to add fiber and vitamins. Use a heart-healthy fat, such as olive or avocado oil , in place of butter to cut back on saturated fat, according to data from the USDA. Achieve a creamy base with nonfat or low-fat Greek yogurt or milk instead of heavy cream or cream cheese. Cut back on cheese so it’s used more as a condiment (a small amount for flavor) than a binder or main ingredient. Keep an eye on sodium by opting for low-sodium broth and using herbs and spices in place of some or all of the added salt. Tasting is believing, however, so give one of these ten healthier casserole recipes a try.

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