Crock Pot Taco Casserole (629 Calories)

There is nothing better than tacos... that is, unless they come out of the crock pot!

 

Calories 629. Carbs 57. Fat 30. Protein 33. (per serving = 1/6 of the casserole including sour cream, not including veggie toppings)

What's not to love about crock pot tacos!

(i use an oval 5qt. crock pot, but this can also be made in a round one)

 

1 pound ground beef, pan fried and drained well and seasoned with one taco packet (prepared as the packet calls for).

9 soft taco size flour tortillas

1 can chili with beans

1 cup frozen corn

1 cup shredded cheddar

a few sprinkles onion, and garlic powder

2 T. sour cream *not low fat or fat free*

 

Pam spray crock pot well.  Layer 3 tortillas in bottom of crock pot.  Then, half the hamburger mix, 1/2 cup cheese, 3 more tortillas, the other half of the burger mix, corn, can of chili with beans, garlic & onion powder, a thin layer of salsa, the last 3 tortillas and the rest of the cheese. It MUST be in this order.  Turn crock on LOW and cook for 3 hours.  Then turn crock on high for one hour or until the cheese is melted and the tortillas start to brown a little on the edges.  Turn crock off and uncover for 30 minutes before serving.  Slice through with a knife and serve with sour cream.  (Any veggie toppings will be extra calories.) 

 

 

I got RAVE reviews from the family on this one & I hope your family enjoys it also! 

 

Crock Pot Cabbage Casserole (377 Calories)

Very simple and easy recipe.  Its one you have to "season to taste" but once you get it right.. its amazing!

Calories 377. Carbs 29. Fat 13. Protein 35. (per serving of 1.5 cups)

If you choose to add Mozzarella Cheese (which I do very often) Your Nutrition facts are:

Calories 431. Carbs 29. Fat 17. Protein 40. (same serving size)

CROCK POT CABBAGE CASSEROLE

 

2 pounds 85/15 ground beef, cooked and drained well.

1 head of cabbage, cut into hunks

2 cans tomato's (diced, with juice)

1 cup dry elbow noodles, cooked and rinsed.

Garlic & Pepper Seasoning.

(you may add peas, carrots, onion, corn or any other thing you would like, for additional calories)

 

Place cooked burger in the bottom of the crock.  Place chopped cabbage (raw) on top.  Mix tomato's and garlic & pepper seasoning and pour on top.  Allow to cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8.  Once Cabbage is tender, toss in cooked elbow noodles. (when i boil my noodles, i boil frozen veggies with them to save time!)  If you choose to add the cheese, toss in 1/2 cup and stir. Then top with another 1/2 cup and allow to melt. (about 15 minutes on low)

 

 

Enjoy! <3

 



Alfredo Lasagna Rolls (433 Calories)

So my last blog post, I made No Waste Lasagna.  This is very similar!

 

 

Calories 433. Carbs 26 Fat 24. Protein 28. per serving.

One Serving is one lasagna roll.

8 cooked and rinsed lasagna noodles

1/2 cup whole fat ricotta cheese

2 cups mozzarella cheese

3 T. Parmesan cheese

1 cup chopped fine fresh raw broccoli tops

2 cups cooked (roasted is what i use) chicken breast, diced small or shredded.

1 1/2 jars Alfredo Sauce. (I use Bertoli, or make my own)

 



So basic rules to the No Waste Lasagna still applies!

Boil lasagna noodles according to package directions.  Once cooked, rinse in cool water. Lay flat and dab with a paper towel to dry the side that's "up."  Thinly spread Ricotta cheese on each noodle.  Top with very fine chopped fresh broccoli.  Top with shredded mozzarella.  Top that with shredded cooked chicken breast.  Roll noodle up and lay, seam side down  (in a 9X13 Pam sprayed baking dish, if you are cooking them now.)

**If you are freezing, please go to the bottom of the page and follow the directions now.  If not, please continue.**

Top with 2 jars Alfredo sauce (or make your own.. see HERE  )  on top.  Toss more of the chicken, broccoli and a little Parmesan cheese on the sauce, then cover with more mozzarella cheese.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes, or until top is bubbly and golden!

**Freezing directions:  Lay the prepared rolls on a Pam sprayed cookie sheet, seam side down and freeze until slightly firm, about 2 hours. Then place into Ziploc freezer bags. When you are ready to cook them, place in a Pam sprayed baking dish & follow the rest of the recipe, adjusting the cooking time from 45 minutes to 90 minutes. You can have a single serving or an entire meal at your fingertips by freezing these rolls!**


Easy Peasy!  Hope you enjoy!

No-Waste Lasagna! (561 Calories)

Even though my family is only made up of four, my hubby is a big man.. and boy can he eat!  Typically, I cook enough for 8 people so everyone gets enough and there is something left over for my home-schooled daughter for lunch the next day.  However, I HATE cooking lasagna.  I always end up throwing part of it away and I really hate to waste food!

Lasagna Rolls are really great because you can make a large batch, and freeze the ones you wont use right away for later use!  This is right up my alley.  As much as I LOVE to cook, sometimes you just aren't feeling it, ya know what i mean? 

This is just a very basic recipe because I wanted to try them without spending a lot of cash.

Calories 561. Carbs 52. Fat 20. Protein 46. 
This is for two rolls. Serves 4 people.

Basic Lasagna Rolls

8 lasagna noodles, boiled according to package directions, rinsed and laid flat on aluminum foil.

1.5 cups of mozzarella cheese, divided.

1/2 cup ricotta cheese or cottage cheese, divided.

1 pound hamburger, cooked and drained well.

1 large jar spaghetti sauce.

 

Mix cooked hamburger with spaghetti sauce and heat through.

spread 1/4 cup of the ricotta/cottage cheese evenly on each flat noodle, then sprinkle 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese on top.  Roll each noodle and place seam side down in a Pam sprayed 9 X 13 baking dish.

 

**if you are making some to freeze, lay the prepared rolls on a cookie sheet, seam side down and freeze until slightly firm, about 2 hours.  Then place into Ziploc freezer bags.  When you are ready to cook them, place in a baking dish & follow the rest of the recipe, adjusting the cooking time from 45 minutes to 90 minutes.**

 

 If there is any ricotta/cottage cheese left, place on top of the noodle.  Cover the rolls with the burger/sauce mix, then top with mozzarella cheese.

Bake uncovered on 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until hot, bubbly and the cheese on top is melted and golden. 

 

 

You can add veggies in with the sauce for a healthier option or try the Mexican style by using a taco packet in with the burger and spaghetti sauce and Mexican cheese in place of the mozzarella! Or try shredded chicken in an alfredo sauce and ricotta/mozzarella cheeses with spinach!

Check out the Alfredo Lasagna Rolls !

 

The possibilities are endless!

 

ENJOY!

 

 



Crock Pot Breakfast Casserole (333 Calories)

I LOVE Breakfast casserole!  My Mom used to bake it in the oven for me when i was a little girl.  I have also made this recipe but it was just... lacking, for my adult taste buds.  Plus, no one likes to get up 45 minutes earlier than they have to, in order to give their family a hot breakfast!

SO I got to thinking.. and looking.  I found a few recipes for a crock pot style breakfast casserole, but they all used hash browns and Mom used bread.. so I kept searching. Bupkist. Nada thing I could find that was even CLOSE to what she made.

Then, I decided not only would I make this in the crock pot, and make it better, I would also make it LOW CALORIE!!  Heck yeah, I can do that, right?  RIGHT?

 

YES!  YES I CAN!!

 

 

Calories 333. Carbs 27. Fat 14. Protein 26.  (Per serving. Serves 6. )

 

Crock Pot Breakfast Casserole

(Low Calorie)

1/2 pound Turkey Sausage

10 slices of bread

10 teaspoons yellow mustard

12 eggs

1.5 cups milk

1.5 cups shredded cheddar*

*With this recipe, i prefer to grate my cheese from a block, because when i measured & weighed shredded cheese from a bag, it weighed close to 8 ounces, (typical) BUT when i shredded my own, and weighed the cheese, it weighed 5 ounces. (So i was able to use less, and it tasted better!)

Pam spray your crock pot.

 

Spread thin, one teaspoon of mustard on each slice of bread. Re

move any excess mustard. This should be a very thin layer. Cut the bread into 9ths. (like a tic tac toe board) and place in the bottom of the cooker. In a saucepan of water, boil the turkey sausage until done. Drain well, removing as much of the water (and fat!) as you can. Top the bread with your shredded cheese. Top the cheese with the cooked Sausage.
 

In a large bowl, whisk together very well, 12 egg whites, and the milk. Gently pour into the crock, over the other ingredients.
 

Cover and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours.





*

 

This smells AMAZING.  I had to keep reminding hubby not to open the crock pot while it was cooking!  This was truly a great recipe for SO many reasons!  You can prepare this in the morning for supper but if you do prepare it for breakfast, it really fits ALL families! Since I have teenagers, they can get up on their own and have a hot meal.. while I sleep in!!  SCORE!!!

 

I hope you enjoy this as much as we do!

 

Not so Boring Chicken (338 Calories)

I love chicken.  I love it more than chocolate. I fix it ENTIRELY too much, according to my "red meat and potatoes" husband! I could eat chicken every day of every week of every month of.. Well, you get the idea. 

As much as I love chicken, it can get pretty boring. Fried isn't really the healthiest way to go, and you can only season and saute or grill it so many ways and typically, oven-baked chicken gets dry. Blah.


This is Oven Baked Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs with Sour Cream Sauce.  MmmMmm.

Calories 338.  Carbs 3. Fat 20.  Protein 33.

The serving size is 6 ounces of chicken which is about 2 boneless skinless thighs. Feeds 4 people.

Chicken Thighs with Sour Cream Sauce

8 Boneless Skinless Chicken Thighs

1/2 Cup Sour Cream (i do not use low or fat free)

1/4 Cup Parmesan Cheese (The kind you put on pizza)

2 t. Garlic powder, or Garlic & Pepper Powder

Pam Spray

 

Place the chicken thighs in a Pam sprayed 8X10 baking dish. Mix well, sour cream, Parmesan cheese and garlic pepper spice or garlic powder.  "Plop" some on each chicken thigh and spread it to cover the top.  (Don't cover the sides) Bake 350 uncovered, for 45 minutes - 1 hour.

 

I paired this with some rice & veggies and the kids begged me to make it again tomorrow!  This entire meal (portion shown) was only 637 calories!  I hope you enjoy it as much as we did!