Quick Lazy Minnesota Hotdish Recipes

I've found that the Aldi Fit and active cream of soups are 1/2 the sodium of regular cream of soups and at $ .49, budget friendly. Using with unsalted pasta and reduced to no sodium proteins, and bulking up the meal with vegetables, I can help keep the overall meal to around 30% of the RDA for sodium for DH, and literally pull dinner together in 15 minutes, less if I already have cooked and leftover noodles or rice get things done while it bakes, and still be eating by 7:00. If he watches his other meals, he is following his docs orders pretty well, and I don't have to drastically change our menu. It's cold. It's Minnesota, and I like hotdishes-so does DH. They warm up well for leftovers with a splash of milk or even a couple teaspoons of water. This might be repeats of other recipes, but here are a couple go to's my family likes. These all make four good size portions.

Tuna Hotdish

8 ounces of  pasta of choice (we like rotini or elbow)

1 can tuna

2-4 ounces shredded cheddar (1/2 to a cup)

1/3 cup mayonnaise

1 can reduced sodium cream of mushroom soup

2/3 rds of the can milk

Vegetables-or make separately, your preferences (peas or carrots work well within the dish)

Bread crumbs (for topping)

Literally just mix all ingredients together, then combine with the pasta, it should be sloppy. Top with a light dusting of bread crumbs and bake for 45 minutes at 350.

Chicken or  Turkey Tetrazini

6-8 ounces of cooked spaghetti noodles

1-2 cups diced or shredded chicken or turkey

1 Can reduced sodium cream of chicken

2 tsp garlic powder or garlic clove

2 tsps Italian seasoning

2 tsp ground pepper

2 tsps. dried onions

1 can of milk

sauteed or a small can of mushrooms

1 cup shredded mozzarella

I mix the spices and herbs in with the soup and milk, then mix with the meat and noodles and 1/2 the cheese. Bake for 30 minutes at 350, then top with the remaining cheese, and bake another 15 minutes. I would like to use more cheese in both the above recipes, but as it is filled with salt, I use enough for flavor rather than as a main ingredient. 

Stroganoff Hotdish

6-8 ounces cooked egg noodles

1/2 Pound of hamburger

1 can reduced sodium cream of mushroom soup

2/3 can milk

1/2 cup sour cream

2 tsps. garlic powder

2 tsps. pepper

sautéed fresh or small can mushrooms

Mix wet ingredients with spices and mushrooms, mix all with hamburger and noodles, bake covered 45 minutes at 350

Broccoli-Rice (and a meat) Hotdish

2 Cups cooked rice

1-1 1/2 cups of meat of choice, though if you add more cheese can skip meat entirely)

1 can reduced sodium cream of  chicken soup

1 can milk

2 tsps. garlic powder

2 tsps. dried onion

2 tsps. pepper

1 cup shredded cheddar (add another 1/2 cup if skipping meat)

8 ounces of chopped or small florets broccoli

Mix, soup, milk, spices then combine with rice, protein, and 1/2 cheese. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes, top with remaining cheese and bake another 15 minutes. This is one of my favorite!

Basically, I'm mixing a starch, a protein, and other items for variety, and baking. The possibilities are endless, but I wanted to share some of our regulars. If you make a hotdish, or dare I say it, casserole, what are your favorite combinations? Do you use your own white sauce as a binder, or like me, use the cream soups on the grocery shelves?