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

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  • 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.

Is pork a lean meat? ›

Pork holds its own against other meats when it comes to fat, calories and cholesterol. Many cuts of pork are even as lean or leaner than chicken. But pork has the added bonus of greater amounts of vitamins and minerals. If you're looking for the leanest option when it comes to pork, look for loins and chops.

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? ›

Some of the best seasonings to pair with pork are salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Some other spices and herbs that pair well with pork are cumin, chili powder, rosemary, black pepper, sage, fennel, ginger and much more!

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. If you want an extra juicy piece of pork, brine it before cooking. You can make an effective brine just with salt and water, but additional seasonings do help.

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? ›

Pork contains high amounts of saturated fat and omega-6 fatty acids like linoleic acid. These fats can demonstrably worsen the effects of alcohol abuse and cause fatty liver disease. It can worsen liver health and lead to cirrhosis. The exact way pork affects the liver is still unclear and requires more research.

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 the most unhealthy meat? ›

One serving of ground pork alone has more than 12 grams of unsaturated fat. And don't forget about all the sodium. “Because most pork is processed, it contains high amounts of sodium, which can cause increases in blood pressure and lead to heart disease and stroke,” Zumpano adds.

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.)

Is pork good or bad for cholesterol? ›

While pork belly and processed pork options such as ham and sausage are not generally low cholesterol meats, some pork options may be okay. One example is pork tenderloin. It is a relatively lean cut, and trimming any additional fat before cooking can help limit its impact on cholesterol.

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? ›

A common complaint about pork chops is that they're bland and tasteless. A quick fix is to marinate them in a simple combination of acid (such as vinegar or lemon juice), oil, salt and aromatics (any of your favorite herbs or spices).

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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