Skinny Cheesy Potato Casserole

A skinny cheesy potato casserole you say...Can it be true? Can it be real? Yes, my friends, this is THE REAL DEAL. I stumbled across this little gem of a recipe while looking for a healthy, but comfort-food style side to go with a slow cooker meal I'll tell you about next week - stay tuned!

Growing up in a traditional Midwest family, often times, meat and potatoes were a significant part of the dinner menu. And lets be honest...have you ever met someone that doesn't like a hearty helping of cheesy potatoes? Me either.

This alternative version is excellent, and packs the flavor punch WITHOUT any of the typical fat and calorie-laden comfort favorites of canned soup, sour cream, or butter. Hallelujah!

Step One: Gather the ingredients.

Step Two: In a large bowl, mix everything together.

Step Three: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare an 8x8 glass or ceramic baking dish (spray with cooking spray), and spread the potato mixture evenly. Sprinkle with a little salt and pepper, then pop into the oven for 55 minutes.

*NOTE: Do NOT use an aluminum pan when baking with yogurt. Because of the acidity, the yogurt will react with the aluminum and give your dish a bad taste. For more info about cooking with yogurt: CLICK HERE

Recipe adapted from The Spotted Lamb

SKINNY CHEESY POTATO CASSEROLE | Yield: 4-6 servings | Total Time: 1hr 15 min.

INGREDIENTS:

16 oz frozen shredded hashbrowns (1/2 of a full bag)
3/4 C plain Greek yogurt (If you use Dannon brand, you'll need 2 small containers of yogurt to get 3/4 C)
1/4 C low-sodium chicken broth
1/4 C skim milk
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp seasoning salt
1/4 tsp Italian seasoning
1/4 tsp black pepper
3/4 C shredded cheese (not low-fat), I used sharp cheddar
salt and pepper to taste, (sprinkle a little over the top before baking)

*NOTE: This recipe can easily be doubled and put into a 9x13 baking dish if you have a crowd, and reheats well.

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all ingredients into a large bowl, and stir until well combined. Spray an 8x8 glass or ceramic casserole dish with cooking spray, then spread the potato mixture evenly in the pan. Bake uncovered for 55 min.

*NOTE: While this recipe is much more healthy than typical cheesy potato casseroles, you still need to use regular cheese rather than a low-fat alternative to avoid a watery casserole.

Do you have a favorite 'lightened up' recipe?