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 (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 makes pork tender and juicy during cooking? ›

Brining pork chops is one of the best ways way to guarantee a juicy cooked pork chop. Even a quick 30-minute brine (or up to four hours) makes a big difference. It's not strictly necessary — you can still use this method to make great pork chops even without brining — but if you have some extra time, I recommend it.

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.

What is lean pork? ›

Great news for pork lovers: seven cuts of pork meet USDA guidelines for. “lean,” meaning that they have less than 10 g fat, 4.5 g saturated fat and 95. mg cholesterol per 3-ounce cooked serving. Pork tenderloin actually qualifies. as “extra lean,” making it as lean as a skinless chicken breast!

What spice brings out the flavor of pork? ›

Some of my favorite herbs, spices, and seasonings to use as a pork chop seasoning are cumin, garlic, paprika, and chili powder. Some others that go well with pork are sage, rosemary, cayenne, thyme, and coriander. Brown sugar and clove are a great way to add in some sweetness.

Which seasoning is best for pork? ›

Top 10 Spices for Cooking Pork
  • #10 Mustard. Mustard is the spice used in the familiar golden condiment we use on ham sandwiches and hot dogs. ...
  • #9 Allspice. This little berry gets its name from its complex flavor. ...
  • #8 Cayenne. ...
  • #7 Pepper. ...
  • #6 Cinnamon. ...
  • #5 Curry Powder. ...
  • #4 Coriander. ...
  • #3 Cumin.

Why pour boiling water over pork? ›

Once you have scored the skin (or taken the already-scored roast from the packaging) place your roast skin side up on a rack in the sink. Pour a cup or more of boiling water over the skin. This will shrink the rind, allowing the incisions to open and enabling the heat, salt, and oil to penetrate deeper.

What liquid tenderizes pork? ›

A brine is essentially just salt and water. It helps prevent moisture loss during cooking, and the salt also helps tenderize the meat from the inside out.

How to make pork extremely tender? ›

How to Make Tender Pork Chops
  1. Opt for Thick-Cut Bone-In Pork Chops. Thin-cut pork chops won't sear properly in the time it takes to cook them through. ...
  2. Skip the Brine, but Season Liberally. ...
  3. Let the Pork Chops Rest. ...
  4. Sear Pork Chops Over Medium-High Heat. ...
  5. Baste the Pork Chops. ...
  6. Let the Pork Chops Rest, Again. ...
  7. Serve.
Feb 14, 2018

Why is pork the unhealthiest meat? ›

Increases your risk of cardiovascular disease

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? ›

Excess saturated fats can increase your risk of developing heart problems, obesity, and other long-term illnesses. Undercooked pork also carries the risk of viral and bacterial infections that pass on from pigs to humans. Pork may carry the zoonotic hepatitis E virus, which can transmit from pigs to humans.

Is pork good for you or bad for you? ›

Nutritionally, pork possesses a wide range of essential nutrients like energizing B vitamins, choline for developing babies, and iron for healthy red blood cells. A 3-ounce serving of lean pork is loaded with protein and low in fat. Eating lean pork daily can be a part of a well-balanced, high-nutrient diet.

What part of the pig is pork butt? ›

Pork butt is a cut of meat that comes from the thicker section of a pig's shoulder and includes parts of the neck, shoulder blade and upper leg. It's a semi-tough cut of pork that contains a lot of connective tissue and fat marbling throughout; it's typically sold with the fat cap intact.

Is pork belly good for you? ›

Yes, pork belly can be part of a healthy diet when consumed in moderation and balanced with other nutritious foods. Is pork belly high in cholesterol? Pork belly does contain cholesterol, but dietary cholesterol has less impact on blood cholesterol levels than previously believed. However, moderation is still key.

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? ›

Try a Marinade or Brine. A marinade or brine can introduce more moisture or lots of flavor into your meat before you cook it. A marinade is a sauce that introduces extra flavor to your pork, depending on the aromatics or herbs you choose to include. A brine pulls more moisture into the meat, which keeps your pork juicy ...

How to infuse flavor into pork chops? ›

Mix seasoned salt, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, Worcestershire sauce, pepper, and liquid smoke together in a small bowl until thoroughly combined. Rinse pork chops. Sprinkle wet chops on both sides with spice mixture. Massage spices into meat, then let stand for 10 minutes.

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