egg noodles

Tuna Noodle Casserole

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We were raised Catholic, so growing up in our house meant fish on Fridays during Lent. I can still hear young Tracy groaning, even in my memories. Ha!! She hates all things seafood related. Luckily, I like it. One of my favorite dishes to make on Lenten Fridays is this Tuna Noodle Casserole. It reminds me of a something my mom made when we were kids so, for me, it’s comfort food…creamy and cheesy with a crunchy breadcrumb topping. Yum! And honestly, the albacore tuna in this is so mild, I’m confident that even fish-hating folks like Tracy will like it! I’ll serve it to her next time she visits and report back. 😉  ~Erin

TunaNoodleCasserole_Logo

Ingredients:

12 oz. uncooked egg noodles (I use No Yolks brand.)

3 pouches (2.6 oz. each) low sodium, white albacore tuna (I use Starkist brand.)*

2 cans (10 ½ oz. each) condensed 98% fat free cream of mushroom soup

1 can (10 ½ oz.) condensed cream of celery soup

1 c. fat free shredded cheddar cheese

½ cup chopped green onion (OR desired amount of frozen green peas, thawed)

1 c. panko breadcrumbs

1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

1 tsp. salt

Nonstick cooking spray

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 375°F.

Cook the egg noodles according to package directions, drain & set aside.

Spray a 9”x13” casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.

Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl, combine tuna, soups, cheese, noodles, salt, and green onions; spread mixture evenly in prepared casserole dish.

In a small bowl, mix breadcrumbs together with olive oil; sprinkle evenly over tuna/noodle mixture.

I like to lightly spray the top with a bit more cooking spray, just to make sure it browns well, but that step is optional.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until brown and bubbly.

Weight Watchers info:  This makes 8 servings at 8 SmartPoints each on Freestyle.

Mom’s Best Weekday Chicken

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MomsBestWeekdayCknLogo

The slow cooker is my best friend during the week. With all that goes on — work, helping with homework, shuffling kids to various activities, etc. (you know, the list goes on and on) – there is nothing better than coming home to a meal that is pretty much ready to go!  This recipe is rich with a ton of flavor.   Served over egg noodles, it’s a great, quick-to-assemble weeknight dinner.   See notes for Weight Watchers alternative ingredients. ~Kathy

Ingredients:

  • 2 1/2 lb. boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts (use breasts, if following Weight Watchers)
  • 2 (10 ¾ oz. each) cans Campbell’s Healthy Request cream of mushroom soup
  • 1 (10 ¾ oz.) can Campbell’s Healthy Request cream of chicken soup
  • 1 c. sour cream or plain nonfat Greek Yogurt (use Greek yogurt, if following Weight Watchers)
  • 1 T. paprika, plus more for garnish
  • ½ tsp. onion powder
  • ½ tsp. garlic powder
  • 1 tsp. chicken base, mixed in 1/3 c. hot water**
  • ¼ tsp. cayenne pepper
  • ¼ tsp. salt
  • 1/8 tsp. pepper
  • 1 lb. package wide egg noodles – not included in SmartPoints calculation below

Instructions:

Trim chicken of any visible fat. Place in a slow cooker that’s been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray (or lined with a crockpot liner).  In a large bowl, combine remaining ingredients and mix well.  Pour over chicken.  Cook on low about 8 hours, until chicken is fork tender. Remove chicken with a slotted spoon to a cutting board or plate and cut into bite sized pieces.  Return to sauce mixture.

Cook egg noodles according to package directions. Serve chicken mixture over noodles.  Garnish with extra paprika, if desired.

**Chicken base is found in the isle next to chicken bouillon (which I recommend using for this recipe).  It is generally not as salty as cubed bouillon. I prefer Better than Bouillon brand. If not available, substitute one chicken bouillon cube and omit salt. This may alter the flavor slightly.

Weight Watchers info:

This recipe makes 7 servings, 10 ounces (weight) each.  On the Freestyle plan, each serving is only 2 Smartpoints!  This calculations is for the chicken/soup mixture only, so don’t forget to add the points for your serving of noodles.