Crock Pot Balsamic Chicken with Pears and Portabella Mushrooms Recipe
By Wendy
Lately, I’ve been really into the whole “Clean Eating” phenomenon because I really do think that eating “cleaner” foods (i.e. foods that are not processed, made with artificial ingredients, etc) is not only the way to serious weight loss but also to much better health.
I’m not perfect…and I still enjoy some junk food, some fast food, and some foods that are just downright awful for you. But now, I do it very occasionally, and I read labels on EVERYTHING.
Feeding my two children has made me an advocate for their healthy eating habits, as well as my own. So, I’ve been trying some new clean eating recipes and working on creating my own Weight Watchers Clean Eating Recipes.
The first I tried was this Crock Pot Balsamic Chicken with Pears and Portabella Mushrooms from The Gracious Pantry. I altered it just a tiny bit to give it more flavor, and I have to say, I was blown away at how tasty this turned out!
It was so simple, and yet so delicious. My picky husband enjoyed it too, and I loved serving such a healthy meal for the family. And each serving was just 4 Points! This will definitely be made again and again. I highly recommend giving it a try. Enjoy!
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Sweet Bacon Wrapped Chicken Breasts – 5 Points
By Wendy
I remember that a while back, Paula Deen once made this Sweet Bacon Wrapped Chicken recipe, and I tucked it away in the back of my mind as something I needed to experiment with. I made a couple healthier changes, and the recipe turned out fantastic. It was so quick and easy to prepare, and it requires just a handful of ingredients – all of which you probably have on hand at any given time. So it’s the perfect Weight Watchers dinner recipe for a busy weeknight. The chicken came out tender and juicy, and the chili sugar coating was absolutely perfect. Next time I make this, I think I may use regular bacon instead of the turkey. It will cost me an extra Point or two, but I think that this would be sensational with real bacon. Though the turkey bacon does the trick just fine if you want to keep it low calorie. Also, these Sweet Bacon Wrapped Chicken Breasts would work really well as appetizer or for a Weight Watchers Super Bowl Recipe…just cut the chicken into bite size pieces and then slice the bacon into thirds, lengthwise. This low calorie chicken recipe is definitely a keeper. Enjoy!
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Chipotle Pumpkin Black Bean Soup Recipe – 3 Points
By Wendy
I cannot even begin to express how delicious this Chipotle Pumpkin Black Bean Soup Recipe was! I know it’s officially spring, the weather is getting warmer, and the last thing we want is a hearty pumpkin soup to remind us of the cold weather season. BUT…this soup is absolutely worth it. I was inspired by Rachel Ray’s version which I recently came across. But my version is very different from hers, and a lot less in Weight Watchers Points. Using non-traditional flavors with pumpkin (like cumin and chipotle) really brought out some wonderful new tastes. And the roasted onions and garlic added such an amazing flavor! This soup turned out incredible – and, all that fiber made it so filling! Each nicely sized serving is just 3 Points. I had a bowl of this soup with a side salad for lunch, and I was totally full until dinner time. So don’t push back that canned pumpkin in your pantry until next fall…use it right now in this incredible Chipotle Pumpkin Black Bean Soup Recipe. You will love it!
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Pimento Green Bean Casserole Recipe – 6 Points
By Wendy
What’s the best way to eat your veggies? Why, smothered in cheese and bacon of course!
I recently came across The Pioneer Woman’s Green Bean Casserole Recipe on Pinterest, and immediately knew I had to try this and make it healthier, and more of a Weight Watchers recipe.
Cilantro Grilled Chicken Breasts Recipe – 3 Points
By Wendy
We’ve been having some lovely weather over the past few weeks, so I convinced my husband to bust out the grill and cook up some of these Thai-inspired Cilantro Grilled Chicken Breasts for me. This is such a simple low calorie marinade recipe that adds such tremendous flavor and moisture to the chicken. Plus, it looks lovely too! It literally took me about 5 minutes to make this marinade and pour it over the chicken. The chicken turned out incredibly moist and juicy, and we all LOVED it. And at just 3 Points per serving, this is an excellent Weight Watchers grilling recipe for your next summer BBQ. Enjoy!
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Spinach and Mushroom Lasagna Recipe – 8 Points
By Wendy
Spinach and mushroom lasagna is one of absolute favorite dishes. It’s loaded with good for you ingredients and is so cheesy and creamy. But aside from the fact that this dish is made with healthy vegetables, most traditional Spinach and Mushroom Lasagna Recipes can be loaded with extra fat, calories and carbs. So I played around with the ingredients, and created my own take on this popular vegetarian lasagna. My healthier, lower calorie version is nothing short of delicious and boasts just 8 Points for a very nicely sized serving. It still has all the creamy, cheesy goodness that you’d expect, but with a lot less of the fat and calories. Using whole wheat lasagna noodles also helped to add in additional protein and fiber, so this ends up being one pretty filling meal. The bechamel sauce is key in this Weight Watchers lasagna recipe, so make sure to get the texture just right. Start by adding in the milk, and then very, very GRADUALLY add in the broth. You may not need any, or you may need it all. But you just don’t want the sauce too thin, or too thick. If it’s too thin, just whisk in a little extra flour. This dish does take some extra effort, I know, but it is soooooo worth it. Enjoy!
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Jalapeno Popper Stuffed Chicken Breasts Recipe – 4 Points
By Wendy
You get more bang for your buck with a jalapeno popper by stuffing it into a chicken breast, in this Jalapeno Popper Stuffed Chicken Breasts Recipe.
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Baked Taquitos Recipe – 6 Points
By Wendy
If you love crisy, fried taquitos or flautas, then you are going to LOVE today’s recipe. Recently, I came across this Baked Chicken and Spinach Flautas Recipe and thought this was amazing idea.
Why have I not thought of this myself!?
Living in Southern California, I have access to some of the most delicious Mexican food around. That’s both a blessing and a curse. But I adore Mexican cuisine, and love experimenting with healthier, low calorie Mexican food recipes like these Baked Flautas.
Let me just tell you, they were incredible.
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Shrimp and Goat Cheese Pasta Recipe
By Wendy
In yet another effort to get my kids to eat more vegetables and try new foods, I whipped up this Shrimp and Goat Cheese Pasta Recipe last week and was overjoyed at how delicious it was!
At just 6 Points per serving, you get a mouthful of wonderful flavors that combine so perfectly. The goat cheese, basil, and garlic combination is absolutely delicious, while the broccoli and tomatoes give this healthy shrimp pasta recipe an added punch of vegetables and a nice flavor balance.
The shrimp give it some extra protein, which really helps to keep you full. Also, I didn’t want the broccoli taste to be too overwhelming, so I chopped it VERY finely. It was perfect!
Did my kids eat it? Meh….they picked at it. But my husband and I devoured it. This is one Weight Watchers Pasta Recipe that I will definitely be adding to my regular meal rotation. Enjoy!
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Artichoke and Parmesan Tilapia Recipe
By Wendy
Tilapia has always been my favorite fish to eat. It’s very low in Points, and it is so delicate and mild tasting, which makes it a great canvas for lots of exciting toppings and sauces.
This Artichoke and Parmesan Tilapia Recipe is very simple and takes just minutes to prepare. Yet, it is so flavorful and light.
This is a great healthy fish recipe to make when you are having a busy day and not much time or energy is left to put into cooking dinner.
Each delicious serving is just 3 Points, which leaves plenty of extra Points on hand for dessert, or maybe a more carb-heavy side dish like roasted/mashed potatoes, or a pasta salad.
This is definitely a great tilapia recipe to keep on hand for when you need dinner in a pinch. Enjoy!
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Ground Beef and Cheddar Casserole Recipe – 7 Points
By Wendy
When you want something beefy and cheesy, look no further than this Ground Beef and Cheddar Casserole Recipe. It is excellent.
I feel like this casserole is really filling and satisfying…probably because it addresses all of the things I crave most: meat, carbs, and cheese. This is a really easy Weight Watchers Casserole that you can put together quickly for a weeknight dinner and the family will love it.
The bell peppers and zucchini give it a nice flavor and bulk it up some too. It’s also a sneaky way to get those veggies in for the kids!
When I was making this, I felt like Honey Boo Boo’s mom making one of her “multi-meals”….but it really is an all in one dish! Carbs? Check. Protein? Check. Dairy? Check. Vegetables? Check. See? It is a multi-meal! Everything you need in one fantastic casserole. Enjoy!
GROUND BEEF AND CHEDDAR CASSEROLE RECIPE
A delicious and easy casserole recipe that will be a hit with the whole family. Cheesy, beefy and full of flavor, it’s also incredibly satisfying and makes great leftovers.
4.54 from 13 votes
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Prep Time 20 minutes mins
Cook Time 30 minutes mins
Total Time 50 minutes mins
Servings 8 servings
Calories 282 kcal
Ingredients
- 6 oz whole wheat egg noodles - (wide, uncooked)
- 16 oz extra lean ground beef - (95/5)
- 2 medium zucchini - (diced)
- 1 medium yellow onion - (finely diced)
- 1 red bell pepper - (seeded and diced)
- 1 16 oz container fat free sour cream
- 1 28 oz can diced tomatoes
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup reduced fat - (shredded, sharp cheddar)
- 4 garlic cloves - (minced)
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Spray a 9” x 13” baking dish with non-fat cooking spray.
Cook noodles according to package directions, drain and place into a large bowl. Mix in the sour cream and parmesan, and then pour into baking dish.
While the noodles are cooking, spray a large, nonstick skillet with non-fat cooking spray, and add in the garlic. Cook until tender and fragrant, about 2 minutes.
Add in the ground beef. Season with salt and pepper, and cook until no longer pink…about 5-8 minutes.
Add in the zucchini, bell peppers and onions and cook until vegetables just being to become tender, about 3-5 minutes.
Add in diced tomatoes, dried oregano, dried basil, and dried parsley, bring to a simmer, and cook until the sauce begins to thicken, about 3-4 minutes. Season with additional salt and pepper as desired.
Empty the beef and vegetable mixture over the noodles, and evenly sprinkle the reduced fat cheddar over top.
Place in oven and bake until cheese is melted and bubbling, about 20 minutes.
Let cool for about 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
Entire recipe makes 8 servings
Serving size is about 1 cup
Nutrition
Calories: 282 kcal (14%)Carbohydrates: 30.2 g (10%)Protein: 24.6 g (49%)Fat: 6.4 g (10%)Saturated Fat: 3.2 g (20%)Cholesterol: 65 mg (22%)Sodium: 165 mg (7%)Potassium: 619 mg (18%)Fiber: 3.8 g (16%)Sugar: 8.3 g (9%)Calcium: 130 mg (13%)Iron: 2.9 mg (16%)
Main Ingredient: Beef Recipes
Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!
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Chili Glazed Salmon with Sriracha Cream Sauce Recipe
By Wendy
I haven’t always been a big fan of salmon, or any other fish that, well, tastes like fish. But in many instances, I have had salmon prepared a certain way so that the fish flavor was barely there, and the sauce was just so amazing, I would have eaten just about anything that was covered in it.
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