January 26, 2024/Recipes

10 Healthy Casserole Recipes To Try

Whether as a main dish, a side or even a dessert, casseroles are the ultimate comfort food

Shepherd's pie casserole in cast iron pan

There’s no food quite as comforting as a casserole. They’re warm, inviting and shareable, and they’re easy to both customize and prepare. Plus, their one-dish nature allows for easy cleanup and storage, which makes them particularly practical for people with busy lives (aka, all of us).

Advertisement

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy

Whether you’re making tonight’s dinner or meal prepping for the week, here are 10 healthy casserole recipes worth adding to your cooking repertoire.

Keep it classic

turkey vegetable casserole

Get the feel of a creamy, satisfying casserole without the uncomfortable, overstuffed feeling that sometimes comes after eating it. Creamy Turkey and Vegetable Casserole is packed with potatoes, zucchini, other veggies and fresh herbs, but it’s made with a lower-fat dairy so it doesn’t sit heavy in your stomach.

Feed the whole family

one-pot chicken, brown rice, green beans, peppers

Whether you’re cooking for one or making meals for many, the recipe for One-Pot Chicken and Brown Rice Casserole can be doubled or even tripled depending on the size of your dinnertime crew. It’s a great way to get protein, veggies and healthy grains into just one dish.

Go beyond broth

healthy chicken noodle casserole

If you love a cup of chicken noodle soup when you’re feeling crummy or when you just want to get cozy, Low-Fat Chicken Noodle Casserole is going to be your new favorite food. It has a super creamy base but with less sodium, fewer calories and not nearly as much fat as other casseroles of its kind. Plus, it’s jam-packed with vegetables.

Advertisement

Let leftovers shine

Turkey, Rice and Zucchini casserole in white bowl on a green striped cloth.

Battle the boredom that leftovers sometimes bring by turning them into Wild Rice Casserole With Leftover Turkey. This recipe works well with chicken, too — and if you don’t have leftovers but want to whip up this dish, just grab a fully cooked rotisserie bird from your local grocery store instead. It’ll do the trick just as deliciously.

Eat like an Englishman

slice of shepherd's pie on a white plate

Shepherd’s Pie With Beef is a lighter version of this hearty dish, which is especially popular in the United Kingdom. It’s full of flavor but without all the fat and calories typical of the meal, thanks to a lean cut of meat, skim milk and fat-free, reduced-sodium beef broth. But don’t worry: It’s still full of classic, fluffy mashed potato goodness!

Make an a-maize-ing meal

chicken corn tamale

Pot pie is basically just a round casserole, right?! Chipotle Chicken and Corn Tamale Pot Pie is a heart-healthy, Mexican-inspired comfort food dish with a crisp cornmeal crust and a bubbly filling that includes chicken, chiles, tomatillos, warming spices and even some golden raisins for a hint of sweetness.

Hold the cheese, please

Closeup of Macaroni and cheese in a white bowl on a white background.

Love mac ‘n’ cheese but can’t (or don’t want) do all that dairy? Mac 'n' Cheese-less is a healthy twist on a classic comfort food, made with a cashew-based cream sauce that you make ahead of time and let sit overnight. Serve it hot and bubbly with a veggie on the side, like Brussels sprouts roasted with salt, pepper and olive oil.

Advertisement

Go for the gold

cornmeal casserole

Channel family cookouts and quintessential Southern snacking with Easy Gluten-free Cornmeal Casserole. Made with golden-hued cornmeal, salted butter, eggs and milk, it’s a delicious addition to a dinner meal in place of potatoes, rice or pasta. You can even turn the leftovers (if you have any!) into crispy croutons.

Stay sweet (but not too sweet!)

Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole

You don’t have to wait for Thanksgiving to enjoy a Light Sweet Potato Casserole, a far less sugary variation on the traditional holiday dish. Sweet potatoes are naturally, well, sweet, so there’s no need for marshmallows and candied nuts on top. Instead, this recipe includes cinnamon, vanilla and a bit of brown sugar to take it to the next level.

Delve into dessert

winter fruit gratin with a spoon in the center

Yep, dessert casserole is totally a thing. Winter Fruit Gratin is a warm dessert for a cold day. Bartlett pears, Gala apples and fresh cranberries are tossed in a mixture of brown sugar and orange liqueur, then topped with a cinnamon-spiced blend of oats, flour and almonds. The result is a satisfying, sweet and cozy end to any meal.

Learn more about our editorial process.

Related Articles

Veggie tray with cream cheese dip in center of tray
April 25, 2024/Recipes
Recipe: Cream Cheese Vegetable Dip

Nonfat and low-fat cream cheese combine for great taste

Lettuce-wrapped burgers with tomato, in white bowls atop crumpled brown bag
April 23, 2024/Recipes
Recipe: Lettuce-Wrapped, Stuffed Bison Burgers

Lose the bun, enjoy the fun!

Slice of fruit bread pudding
April 16, 2024/Recipes
Recipe: No-Bake Berry Bread Pudding

A fruity treat that’s easy to make, without any added sugar

Tofu noodles, pea pods and tai peanut sauce in a wok skillet
April 11, 2024/Recipes
Recipe: Tofu, Noodles and Pea Pods in a Thai Peanut Sauce

Vegetarian or vegan, get your Thai fix with this flavor-filled and healthy dish

Raspberries, blueberries, peaches and chocolate chips, with mint
April 4, 2024/Recipes
Recipe: Sliced Peaches With Berries and Chocolate

Fresh fruit, classic spices and mini chocolate chips make for a sweet treat

Mexican-style street food fish tacos
March 22, 2024/Recipes
20 Healthy Mexican Recipes

From Taco Tuesday to Salsa Sunday (yes, we made that up), these nutritious Mexican-inspired dishes are sure to please

Cooked eggplant halves over marinara pasta and cooked broccolini
March 21, 2024/Recipes
Recipe: Eggplant and Broccolini Parmesan

A delicious twist on this classic dish

stri fry with carrots, shallots, peppers
March 7, 2024/Nutrition
Recipe: Zesty Carrot, Hot Pepper and Shallot Stir-Fry

Only 86 calories per serving!

Trending Topics

Person in yellow tshirt and blue jeans relaxing on green couch in living room reading texts on their phone.
Here’s How Many Calories You Naturally Burn in a Day

Your metabolism may torch 1,300 to 2,000 calories daily with no activity

woman snacking on raisins and nuts
52 Foods High In Iron

Pump up your iron intake with foods like tuna, tofu and turkey

Ad