The first cool night of October did it. The windows are shut, the oven is back on, and all I want is something bubbling away in a 9×13.
So this is my list for the month: twelve casseroles from the site that I am working through between now and Halloween. They run from 1 to 7 WW Points per serving on their recipe cards, so you can plan the week before you shop. Swaps and toppings change the number, so check your app if you improvise.
If you only make one, start with the stuffing one. It is six ingredients and a box of Stove Top, and it is first for a reason.
1. Stove Top Stuffing Chicken Casserole
Start here, because it is the least work for the most comfort. Six ingredients: cooked chicken breast, a box of chicken Stove Top, a can of cream of chicken soup, fat free sour cream, a splash of milk, and frozen mixed vegetables. Chicken goes on the bottom, then the vegetables, then the creamy sauce, and the stuffing goes on top. Foil on, 25 minutes at 400, and a heaping cup is a serving.
It is also the one to lean on in a busy week. Rotisserie chicken works, and the post explains how to assemble it the night before and bake it when you are ready.
2. Harvest Chicken Casserole
This is October in a baking dish. Sweet potato, carrots, Brussels sprouts, and red onion bake with roasted chicken breast over a layer of brown rice, with dried cranberries scattered through and a cream of mushroom sauce poured over everything. It is savory with a little sweet in every forkful.
Sliced almonds on top are optional. If you use them, the post makes the case for toasting the almonds first for the crunch.
3. Weight Watchers Tuna Casserole
The lightest dinner on the list, and the trick is cabbage. Finely shredded white cabbage stands in for the pasta. It gets sautéed with onion and garlic until it picks up a little color, then baked with tuna, corn, and red bell pepper in a cream of mushroom sauce with thyme.
Forty minutes start to finish, four servings, and mostly pantry ingredients. Short on time? A bag of coleslaw mix does the shredding for you.
4. Weight Watchers Chicken Pot Pie Bubble Up
Pot pie without making a crust. Carrots, broccoli, and onion go into a creamy chicken filling built from a quick stovetop sauce and a can of low fat cream of chicken soup. The filling bakes first, then Pillsbury biscuits go on top for the last 12 minutes until they are golden.
A 9×13 makes nine servings, one biscuit each. To get it in the oven faster, the post suggests pre-chopped frozen veggies and rotisserie chicken.
5. Weight Watchers Baked Mac and Cheese
Three cheeses, whole-grain penne, and panko on top. The sauce starts with just 2.5 ounces of reduced-fat Velveeta melted into milk with dried mustard, a little cayenne, and a pinch of nutmeg. Fat-free cheddar and mozzarella get stirred in and layered through the pasta.
It bakes covered, then goes under the broiler for a few minutes to brown the crumbs. A serving is about a cup. Want a vegetable in there? There is a baked broccoli mac and cheese variation in the post.
6. Weight Watchers Zucchini Casserole
Thin rings of zucchini are layered with fat-free feta and mozzarella and an egg and Greek yogurt mixture that sets like a custard. Panko goes over the top and turns golden. It firms up enough to cut into clean slices, eight to a 9×13.
Serve it next to chicken as a side, or call it lunch with a piece of bread. For a change, try the caprese version with sliced tomatoes and fresh basil between the layers.
7. Weight Watchers Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole
The classic, with cauliflower rice where the white rice usually goes. Diced chicken breast and lightly steamed broccoli are layered over it, and a sauce of Greek yogurt, skim milk, and cream of mushroom soup mix is poured over the top. Mozzarella finishes it.
Foil stays on for the first 20 minutes, then comes off so the cheese can brown. Six servings, and it reheats well for lunches. If you have Points to spare, the post shows how to switch in brown rice or quinoa.
8. Weight Watchers Mexican Casserole
Taco night as a bake. Lean ground turkey simmers with black beans, corn, diced tomatoes, salsa, cumin, and chili powder. Then it is layered with pieces of high-fiber tortilla and reduced-fat Mexican cheese and baked until the top is bubbly.
Cilantro goes on at the end, with fat-free Greek yogurt on the side where the sour cream would be. It makes about ten small servings, so there are leftovers built in. One easy add from the post: a layer of spinach or kale between the tortillas and the meat.
9. Weight Watchers Cheesy Gnocchi Casserole
Meatless and fast. Potato gnocchi simmer right in the marinara with onion, bell pepper, and garlic, so there is no pot of water to boil. Half the fat-free mozzarella is stirred in, the rest goes on top, and it bakes at 400 until the sides bubble.
It makes four servings and wants nothing more than a side salad. If the table expects meat, the post covers adding ground beef or turkey.
10. Squash Casserole
Yellow squash or zucchini, onions cooked down until they caramelize, garlic, and fresh thyme, bound with eggs, fat free milk, and fat-free cheddar. A little lemon zest keeps it bright. Whole wheat panko and Parmesan go on top and crisp in the oven.
It is a side dish that can turn into dinner. The post suggests adding shredded chicken or turkey to make it a main.
11. Jiffy Corn Casserole
A box of Jiffy corn muffin mix, creamed corn, and whole kernel corn, with non-fat Greek yogurt and unsweetened applesauce keeping it creamy. A little low-fat cheddar and green onion go in, everything gets mixed in one bowl, and it bakes until set.
This is the side for chili night. For that, make the Mexi-Corn version with green chilies and taco seasoning.
12. Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole
Saved for last because it is the one that feels like Sunday dinner. There is no stuffing or rolling. Chunks of chicken cutlet are seasoned with paprika and seared until golden, then baked with strips of smoked turkey ham in a light mozzarella and mustard sauce under breadcrumbs.
Six servings, and a green salad is all it needs. According to the post’s tips it freezes well, so a second pan is not a bad idea.
After these twelve
That is October sorted. When you want more, every casserole on the site is in our Weight Watchers casserole recipes collection.
