It’s getting down to the wire for creating your Easter menu. I always have problems narrowing down what I want to make. Sometimes I wish I could host a brunch or dinner and invite 50 people just so I could go crazy and make 20 different things!
One thing that has been and always will be a part of my Easter meal is a cheesy potato recipe that my mom has made for as long as I can remember. The version she makes isn’t what you would call healthy by any means, but dang is it good!
This year I decided to take those cheeserific taters and turn them into a side dish that’s a little lighter but still full of that creamy cheesy flavor you want. So here it is, Skinny Cheesy Potato Casserole!
Sometimes I really hate using the word skinny to describe my lightened up recipes, but honestly using the term draws the biggest amount of traffic to my recipe. I’ve tried healthier, lightened up, and light, but skinny is the word that seems to draw in the crowds.
I apologize if you don’t like the term, it’s not my favorite, but for many it’s a word that screams a lower fat/calorie recipe and for now I will occasionally stick to that term.
So what did I do to make these cheesy potatoes lighter so that mound of them sitting on your plate looking like Mt. Everest won’t leave you shopping for a larger pair of pants the next week? Well I did several things. First was eliminate most of the butter, not all, but most. The entire casserole only has one tablespoon.
The next thing to eliminate from the original recipe was the canned cream of chicken soup. I thought about making my own, but then I started wondering if it really made the potatoes that much better.
I took a chance and eliminated it and instead increased the amount of plain non fat Greek yogurt I used. The result was just what I was hoping for, I didn’t notice a difference in taste or texture at all.
The remaining changes to the recipe were using skim milk, cutting back on some of the cheese used, and replacing half of the amount of sharp cheddar cheese with part skim mozzarella. The potatoes were amazingly creamy and cheesy even with all the substitutions!
Now I have to let you in on the secret to what makes this cheesy potato casserole so special. It’s that instead of mashing the potatoes you boil them until they are almost tender, but still have some bite and then shred them. The texture is a cross between hash browns and mashed potatoes and something about that makes them taste that much better!
If you’re like me, then potatoes will be the main side dish with your Easter dinner, so why not change up the regular mashed version for this shredded and super delicious Skinny Cheesy Potato Casserole!
Recipe Runner
Yields 8-10 servings
You'll never suspect that this creamy, cheesy potato casserole has been lightened up with healthier ingredients!
15 minPrep Time
40 minCook Time
55 minTotal Time
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Ingredients
- 3 1/2 pounds russet potatoes, washed and peeled
- 1/2 cup green onions, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon butter, melted
- 2 ounces low fat cream cheese, softened
- 1 1/2 cups plain non fat Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup skim milk
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 3/4 cup part skim mozzarella, divided
- 3/4 cup sharp cheddar cheese, divided
Instructions
- Spray a 3 quart casserole dish or a 9x13 dish with cooking spray and set aside.
- Cut the washed and peeled potatoes in half and add them to a large pot of salted water.
- Bring the potatoes to a boil and cook them until almost tender, but still have some bite, about 8-10 minutes.
- Let the potatoes cool until you are able to handle them, then using a box grater shred them using the largest grate.
- In a large bowl whisk together the melted butter, cream cheese, Greek yogurt, milk, salt, and pepper.
- Add in the shredded potatoes, green onions, and 1/2 a cup each of the shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese.
- Fold everything together until combined then pour the potatoes into the prepared casserole dish.
- Top the potatoes with the remaining 1/2 cup each of shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheese.
- Bake the potatoes at 375 degrees for about 30 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
More Side Dishes You Might Like:
Brown Butter Green Beans with Slivered Almonds
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