Delicious Creamy Pork Casserole | Slimming Eats Recipe (2024)

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Creamy Pork Casserole - tender pieces of pork loin in a rich creamy tomato sauce with mushrooms and butternut squash.

Delicious Creamy Pork Casserole | Slimming Eats Recipe (1)

Creamy Tomato Sauce for Casserole

I love a good ole casserole, but it has to have a good sauce or gravy. So when I had some pork loins that needed to be used up, I had a real craving for a yummy creamy tomato sauce. The kind of sauce you can literally eat on its own with a spoon.

This sauce does not disappoint and has so much flavour from the added vegetables such as butternut squash and mushrooms. The butternut squash adds a lovely natural sweet taste and removes some of the acidity of the canned tomatoes. Perfect!!

Delicious Creamy Pork Casserole | Slimming Eats Recipe (2)

Best Cut of Pork for Casseroles

So you may be wondering what is the best cut of pork to use for a pork casserole. Well, my favourite is Boneless Pork Loin Rib Chops, they really absorb all that flavour in the sauce and stay nice and tender.

Other cuts that are good for this are:

  • Chump End/Chops
  • Tenderloin or Leg
  • Pork Shoulder

Just be aware that you need to trim off any visible fat and some cuts are much fattier than others.

Delicious Creamy Pork Casserole | Slimming Eats Recipe (3)

Can I use other meat or protein?

That's a great question and if you don't like pork, this works just as well with boneless skinless chicken thighs. Chicken breasts will work too, but I prefer to use thighs in casserole dishes as the meat stays much more tender and absorbs more flavour.

Hey, you could even use some fillets of white fish in this creamy sauce or even prawns (shrimp).

Just be aware that whatever you choose for your protein base it may have a slightly shorter cooking time than the pork.

You could even make this vegetarian, by adding in quorn pieces or something like chickpeas or cannelini beans instead of meat. Yum!!

Delicious Creamy Pork Casserole | Slimming Eats Recipe (4)

Sides for Creamy Pork Casserole

You may be wondering what sides work well with this casserole dish. Some of my favourites are:

  • Pasta
  • Rice
  • Crushed Roast Potatoes
  • Garlic and Herb Roast Potatoes
  • Mashed Potatoes
  • Sour Cream and Spring Onion Mashed Cauliflower
  • Perfect Oven Baked Chips
  • Garlic and Herb Potato Wedges

and if you are wondering on some choice for a vegetable side, a few of my favourites are:

  • Fresh Baby Spinach
  • Sauted Shredded Garlic Brussel Sprouts
  • Roasted Broccoli
  • Roasted Cauliflower
  • ROSEMARY ROASTED POTATOES, PARSNIPS, CARROTS AND ONION
  • MAPLE GLAZED CARROTS

or head on over to my Full Recipe Index with over 900 delicious Slimming Eats and Weight Watchers friendly recipes all fully searchable by meal type, ingredients, value and smart points etc

Delicious Creamy Pork Casserole | Slimming Eats Recipe (5)

Can I use Quark instead of Cream Cheese?

It's a question I see often and there are a few things to consider.

Quark is much more sour tasting that cream cheese (like Philadelphia) so you won't get that yummy creamy taste with quark.

Secondly, quark doesn't cope well with heat, unlike cream cheese which melts into a creamy goodness. If you overheat the quark it will split resulting in a not very pleasant looking sauce.

Lastly, it really isn't that many for the amount of cream cheese used when you divide up into portions.

That aside if you really can't bear to use up some points, be all means use quark, just take into account what I have mentioned above.

I recommend spooning some of the sauce into the quark to slowly warm up and never use straight from the fridge. Then remove the pan from the heat when you stir in the quark into the whole dish.

Delicious Creamy Pork Casserole | Slimming Eats Recipe (6)

Originally created on the 26th January 2012 and updated on the 31st March 2020

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Delicious Creamy Pork Casserole | Slimming Eats Recipe (7)

Creamy Pork Casserole

Yield: SERVES 4

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 50 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour

Creamy Pork Casserole - tender pieces of pork loin in a rich creamy tomato sauce with mushrooms and butternut squash.

Ingredients

  • 800g (28oz) of Boneless Pork Loin Rib Chops (remove visible fat), sliced into smaller pieces
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • 150g (5.5oz) of cremini mushrooms, sliced thinly
  • 250g (9oz) of butternut squash, peeled and cubed small
  • ½ tbs of paprika (not smoked)
  • pinch of mixed herbs
  • 400g (14oz) can of chopped tomatoes
  • 1 teaspoon of tabasco sauce
  • 1 cup (240ml) of chicken stock
  • 5 tablespoons of low-fat cream cheese
  • cooking oil spray
  • Salt and black pepper
  • fresh chopped Italian Parsley to serve

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 180c (fan 160c) or 350f, gas mark 4
  2. Spray a cast-iron casserole pan or ovenproof deep frying pan with some cooking oil spray. Lightly brown the pieces of pork in batches, seasoning with salt and black pepper as you do and remove and set aside.
  3. Add the onion and fry until softened, use a little bit of the stock to deglaze the pan and stop any sticking, scraping up any food that is stuck to the bottom.
  4. Add in the mushrooms and continue to fry for a few more minutes.
  5. Add the garlic, butternut squash, mixed herbs and paprika, and stir to coat.
  6. Add in the chopped tomatoes, tabasco and chicken stock
  7. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat slightly.
  8. Stir in the cream cheese until melted.
  9. Add in the pieces of pork ensuring they are fully covered with the sauce.
  10. Place in the oven covered and bake for 40 minutes, remove the lid for the last 15 minutes
  11. Top with some freshly chopped Italian parsley
  12. Taste and season as needed with salt and black pepper.
  13. Serve with your choice of sides

Notes

Please see below for full nutritional info and additional details about recipe:

  • Calories - scroll down to nutritional info box
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Nutrition Information

Yield 4Serving Size 1 SERVING
Amount Per ServingCalories 314Total Fat 15.1gSaturated Fat 4.5gCholesterol 117mgSodium 704mgCarbohydrates 15.1gFiber 3.5gSugar 7.5gProtein 43.1g

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Delicious Creamy Pork Casserole | Slimming Eats Recipe (12)

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Delicious Creamy Pork Casserole | Slimming Eats Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you make pork more flavorful? ›

8 oz
  1. Keep the Fat. The fat on pork is great for flavor, so definitely don't trim it off. ...
  2. Buy Bone-In. Similarly to not removing the fat, cooking your pork still on the bone will also help keep it from drying out. ...
  3. Embrace Marinades. ...
  4. Consider Brining. ...
  5. Use a Meat Thermometer. ...
  6. Let it Rest.

What is the healthiest pork to eat? ›

If you're looking for the healthiest pork options, you want lean cuts -- tenderloin, loin chops and sirloin roast. Bacon and other fatty cuts are very high in artery-clogging saturated fat and cholesterol and not for everyday eating.

Is pork loin healthy? ›

Pork's nutrition power

While cured pork products such as bacon and ham are relatively high in sodium, fresh pork is naturally low in sodium. Pork tenderloin and other loin cuts are excellent sources of protein, thiamine, vitamin B6, phosphorus and niacin and good sources of potassium, riboflavin and zinc.

Is pork chop healthy? ›

Pork chops are an easy-to-cook lean red meat. They offer important nutrients like protein, selenium, zinc, and iron that support everyday body functions and can be helpful in losing weight. Because pork chops are considered red meat, you should be mindful of how frequently you eat them.

What spice brings out the flavor of pork? ›

When it comes to pork, the rich umami flavour of garlic works very well. You can use fresh garlic, garlic flakes or garlic powder, depending on the recipe. A no-nonsense seasoning requires a no-nonsense recipe, so, if you're fancying garlic and pork, try our Mexican Pork With Garlic And Kidney Beans.

Which seasoning is best for pork? ›

Ingredients in pork rub
  • Paprika – The recipe calls for smoked paprika, ideally. ...
  • Onion and garlic powder – Sub: Double up on either if you are missing one. ...
  • Oregano – Sub: 1 tsp mixed herb, or 1/2 tsp thyme or rosemary.
  • Mustard powder – Sub: 1/4 tsp extra onion or garlic powder.
  • Cumin – Sub: Coriander powder.
Aug 18, 2021

Why is pork the unhealthiest meat? ›

Pork is high in both saturated fat and sodium (salt), which have been linked to an increased risk for cardiovascular diseases, or diseases that affect your heart and blood vessels.

What is the unhealthiest meat? ›

Hot dogs, bacon, sausage, and regular ground beef should be avoided or consumed sparingly due to their high fat, calorie, and sodium content, and potential health risks. By using this ranking system, you can make informed choices about the meats you eat and maintain a healthy diet.

Why is pork not a good meat to eat? ›

Pork is a type of red meat that is rich in proteins, vitamins, and minerals, but it is also high in fat and cholesterol. In particular, some pork cuts are high in saturated fatty acids, so-called bad fats. Excess saturated fats can increase your risk of developing heart problems, obesity, and other long-term illnesses.

Why do Muslims not eat pork? ›

The pig is considered an unclean animal as food in Judaism and Islam, and parts of Christianity. Although Christianity is also an Abrahamic religion, most of its adherents do not follow these aspects of Mosaic law and do consume its meat.

Does the Bible say not to eat pork? ›

It is only in Leviticus 11:7 that eating pork is forbidden to God's people for the very first time—“… and the swine, though it divides the hoof, having cloven hooves, yet does not chew the cud, is unclean to you.” This is where and when pork in all its forms (including ham, bacon, sausage, etc.)

Does pork raise blood pressure? ›

Processed Meats & Red Meats

Deli meats, bacon and hot dogs are all processed meats, which contain significant amounts of sodium or salt. In most cases, a diet high in salt will result in high blood pressure. Red meats such as beef, pork and lamb are also known to trigger an increase in levels.

What are the benefits of eating eggs everyday? ›

Health Benefits of Eggs
  • They Offer Complete Protein. 1/11. ...
  • They're Nutrient Dense. 2/11. ...
  • They Help Your 'Good' Cholesterol. 3/11. ...
  • They Can Lower Your Triglycerides. 4/11. ...
  • They Can Lower Your Odds of a Stroke. 5/11. ...
  • They Help With Portion Control. 6/11. ...
  • They're Affordable. 7/11. ...
  • They're Heart Healthy. 8/11.
Jun 26, 2022

Are sweet potatoes healthy? ›

Sweet potatoes are a healthy root vegetable chock full of antioxidants that protect your cells from damage. Plus, the nutrients in sweet potatoes are excellent for your gut, eyes, immune system, and more. Sweet potatoes are rich in vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, fiber, and zinc.

How do you season pork before cooking? ›

Ingredients: Paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, dried oregano, salt, black pepper. Instructions: Mix the spices in a dish and rub the mixture onto the pork steaks. Allow them to sit for 1-2 hours in the refrigerator.

How do you fix bland pork chops? ›

The salt brine also seasons the interior of the meat. It won't taste “salty” — just well-seasoned. You can even add other seasonings, like garlic, peppercorns, fresh herbs, and lemon, to the brine for more flavor. If you fear bland pork chops, definitely give brining a try.

How to infuse flavor into pork chops? ›

The secret to a terrific pork chop is a tasty brine. Like a marinade, a brine will uniformly infuse the chop with flavor — in this case, salt, garlic, pepper, Bay leaf and rosemary. It softens the meat, and helps it hold onto its juices throughout cooking.

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