14 Surprisingly Healthy Casseroles Everyone Is Sure to Adore

This cozy dinner is easy to achieve, thanks to ingredients like rotisserie chicken and pre-washed baby spinach. Packed with enough greens to satisfy Popeye himself, this casserole feels super indulgent without using heavy cream or butter to get there.

Store bought winter squash purée from the freezer aisle steps in as a silky, flavorful swap for heavy cream in this comforting baked pasta recipe. Sautéed onions, rosemary, and a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese all contribute to the alfredo-like flavor profile.

Far from ordinary, this crowd-pleasing potato-topped pie uses lean ground turkey and aromatics like chipotle powder and thyme. Between the moist meat sauce and the creamy cloud of mashed potatoes on top (that sneaks in parsnips), it tastes rich and is sure to have everyone asking for seconds.

Layers of canned black beans, mushrooms, corn tortillas, and jarred salsa come together in this tortilla pie to make a satisfying meatless meal. Mushrooms provide plenty of richness, which leaves us with plenty of room for a generous topping of shredded Monterey Jack cheese.

Nutritious and mild-flavored cauliflower slips seamlessly into a classic tuna noodle casserole that uses flour-thickened milk to bind the tuna, noodles, and florets together.

This recipe demonstrates how you can cut the richness of a traditional potato gratin by studding it with thinly sliced veggies like zucchini and tomatoes. It's a great side to make in late summer or early fall, when there's still a glut of summer produce around.

Rotisserie chicken and precooked rice are the stars in this simple and homey old-fashioned casserole. To keep it light, the recipe uses broth thickened with flour (instead of the usual cream) to bind the ingredients together. Reduced-fat sour cream stirred in before baking ensures that this casserole still tastes creamy and delicious.

A lightened up bechamel sauce allows the pure fall flavors of this elegant side dish to shine, without being bogged down by heavy cream and gobs of cheese. A judicious amount of Parmesan complements the earthy sweet potato and tender cauliflower florets.

This recipe is all about demonstrating the cumulative power of smart ingredient swaps and thoughtful additions: Low-fat cottage cheese stands in for whole milk ricotta much better than skim ricotta does, while adding chopped eggplant to the ragu helps to keep the lean ground beef from tasting dry.

Hearty and naturally gluten-free, this dish would be the perfect accompaniment to roast chicken, but it's also filling enough to stand on its own as a meatless main. Packed with vegetables that are layered inside and beautifully arranged on top, it still feels like an indulgent scoop on account of the creamy polenta and Gruyère cheese that sit underneath.

A homemade tomatillo sauce encourages these enchiladas to shine through without using lots of cheese as many recipes do. Sour cream and a little cotija is enough to satisfy and balance out the tangy sauce in this fresh, light dish.

Butternut squash is packed with vitamin A, fiber, and potassium, while kale boasts essential vitamins A, C, and K. There are so many nutrients in this elegant-looking casserole, that the bit of heavy cream and Parmesan cheese that go into this dish seem positively harmless!

Have leftover meat sauce in the freezer? This recipe puts it to good use; mix it with a little rice, transforming it from pasta sauce to casserole darling in no time. After topping it with sliced summer squashes, it bakes until the rice is perfectly tender.