I rarely make them but I am thinking that making casseroles will help cut down on our meat consumption and possibly make meals a little cheaper. I am considering this because I had to change dinner plans at the last minute tonight and ended up making an Annie's chicken helper type thing that I bought on clearance. The kids loved it and since I made 2 veggies to go with it the one Annie's box with 2 small chicken breasts in it served all 5 of us. This made me realize that if we eat 2/3 veggies at a meal and then 1/3 of a starch/ protein type portion it would be rather healthy and should cut down on the grocery bill. I was able to feed us all dinner tonight for about $6.50 and everyone went away satisfied.

So, what are your favorite casseroles. Meat or non meat is great and I would prefer ones without processed cheese foods (velveeta) in them.

My family LOVES Shepards Pie, that is a huge fave.

Oh, and stews in the crock pot are always a hit.

chicken and rice

A friend made chicken and rice for a get together a couple of weeks ago and she made 2 pans (enough for about 15 people) with 2 chicken breasts.

She used flavored rice but you could use whatever your family likes, then added the cooked chicken and some cream soup. I think you could also add some veggies (diced carrots and green peas would be good) to stretch it even further.

I would think that you could do lots of things with rice and other stuff to stretch it. Like some type of mexican cassorole with rice and taco style ingredients. This could really reduce your meat consumption.

My boys like noodles with a little hamburger and then cream sauce. You can buy the box mixes but I think it is just as easy to fix from scratch and then you can add what you want to to the mix.

I have one that is minced beef or lamb sauteed with leek or onion. layered with sliced potatoes..
and shredded cabbage. baked for an hour. I can flesh out the recipe more if you want/. Even my picky girl eats it. the cabbage sweetens it and dissappears ...very healthy fast and easy. can eat with katsup~lol!
Oh I also often sneak in chopped parsley to the meat mix before I bake it.kale would be good too.

I have one that is minced beef or lamb sauteed with leek or onion. layered with sliced potatoes..
and shredded cabbage. baked for an hour. I can flesh out the recipe more if you want/. Even my picky girl eats it. the cabbage sweetens it and dissappears ...very healthy fast and easy. can eat with katsup~lol!
Oh I also often sneak in chopped parsley to the meat mix before I bake it.kale would be good too.

I would like the recipe, please!

My family loves cottage pie. Lean, grassfed ground beef, browned and seasoned, mix with diced carrots and peas or whatever veggies you like. Layer in 9x12 dish with cooked mashed potatoes on top. You can top with a little shredded cheese if you're feeling naughty. ;)

I have one that is minced beef or lamb sauteed with leek or onion. layered with sliced potatoes..
and shredded cabbage. baked for an hour. I can flesh out the recipe more if you want/. Even my picky girl eats it. the cabbage sweetens it and dissappears ...very healthy fast and easy. can eat with katsup~lol!
Oh I also often sneak in chopped parsley to the meat mix before I bake it.kale would be good too.

Please post this! I have some meat I need to cook and leeks that need used asap. LOL

chicken divan This is the original recipe--I don't use nearly this much chicken!
6 cups rice (take 10 minutes off the cooking time)
6 cups chicken
20 oz. broccoli (or more) (don't overcook!)

6 cups chicken flavored white sauce (use broth powder or chicken stock)[ie, cream of chicken soup]
1/2 cup mayo
1/4 cup lemon juice.

1 cup cheddar cheese

Mix it all up in a 9X13. I mix the cheddar cheese in too, as my kids don't like the cheese "crust," but you could just sprinkle it on top. This freezes well.

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chicken pot pie (usually served over drop biscuits, but with a crust if I'm feeling ambitious). This actually makes enough for 2 pot pies.

1/3 c. butter
1/3 c. flour
1 cup onion
1 t. sage
1 t. marjoram
1 t. thyme
1 t. salt
1/2 t. pepper
Cook onions in butter, add flour and spices, cook until bubbly (rue)
add:
5 cups. broth or milk and broth combo, if you like. Bring to boiling/ stir until thick.

Add:
10 oz. steamed carrots
10. oz. steamed peas
(Sometimes this varies depending on what I have on hand--a lot of times I'll put in 16 oz. of each or use mixed frozen veggies)

2-4 cups shredded or cubed chicken. (obviously, you have some leeway here...If your family is used to eating a lot of meat, you might start with more and then cut back slowly, LOL).

pour into unbaked pie shell and bake for 35 minutes or until golden brown at 350. Don't forget to cut vents into pie shell
OR serve over drop biscuits

Can freeze the unbaked pot pie (or filling).

Linda,
I want to see that recipe too! You can laugh at me...Is minced beef the same as hamburger????

mac and cheese w/ ham
spaghetti pie
baked ziti

my kids love baked ziti,sheppards pie , & tuna noodle casserole - all 3 recipes are from whole foods for the whole family cookbooks :)