Special Diets Anti-Inflammatory 13 Heart-Healthy Casserole Dinners to Help Reduce Inflammation By Dillon Evans Dillon Evans Dillon Evans fell in love with cooking at a very young age. He remembers the novel experiences of microwaving a bowl of oatmeal without his parents' permission and asking to make his mother's morning pot of coffee. These moments became catalysts for his interest in cooking and baking. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Published on February 9, 2024 Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD Jessica Ball, M.S., RD, is nutrition editor for EatingWell. She is a registered dietitian with a master's in food, nutrition and sustainability. In addition to EatingWell, her work has appeared in Food & Wine, Real Simple, Parents, Better Homes and Gardens and MyRecipes. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Trending Videos Close this video player Chronic inflammation can cause some pesky symptoms like mental fog, joint stiffness and digestive issues, in addition to increasing your risk for cardiovascular disease. That’s why it’s important to eat foods with anti-inflammatory properties like the ones in these flavorful and nutritious dinner casseroles, including lean proteins, legumes, whole grains, veggies and healthy fats. These dishes are also made low in saturated fats and sodium to fit seamlessly into a heart-healthy eating pattern. Recipes like our Creamy Chicken, Mushroom & Spinach Skillet Casserole and Eggplant Tortilla Casserole make for a delicious and nourishing meal that will help you feel your best. 01 of 13 Creamy Chicken, Mushroom & Spinach Skillet Casserole Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food Stylist: Annie Probst This spinach-packed casserole cooks on the stovetop and bakes in the same skillet for a family-friendly dinner with an easy cleanup. You can use leftover chicken and cook the pasta ahead of time to speed up the prep. View Recipe 02 of 13 Eggplant Tortilla Casserole This layered casserole is inspired by classic cheese enchiladas, minus the fuss of rolling and stuffing individual tortillas. You'd never guess that within this comforting casserole hides a layer of thinly sliced eggplant. The thin slices become tender when roasted and add a subtle savory note. View Recipe 03 of 13 Green Chile Rotisserie Chicken Casserole Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Melissa Gray This green chile rotisserie chicken casserole features tender rotisserie chicken with lots of tender vegetables. The corn adds a nice pop of sweetness, while the rice helps absorb some of the flavors. A crunchy topping of crushed tortilla chips finishes off this comforting, Southwestern-inspired casserole. View Recipe 04 of 13 Teriyaki Chicken Skillet Casserole with Broccol Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Lauren McAnelly, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco Whip up this quick and easy teriyaki chicken casserole in just one skillet—it’s the perfect go-to recipe for hectic weeknights that’s sure to satisfy a crowd. It’s ideal for making use of any leftover chicken and rice you have on hand. If you’re short on leftovers, a rotisserie chicken paired with a package of microwaveable brown rice is a good substitute. View Recipe 05 of 13 Chicken Tetrazzini This retro dish will please kids and adults alike. View Recipe 06 of 13 Turkey-Vegetable Bake Need to use up leftover turkey from the holidays? Make this low fat casserole. It's made with brown rice and lots of vegetables. View Recipe 07 of 13 Creamy Chicken & Penne alla Vodka Casserole with Peas Photographer: Jake Sternquist, Food stylist: Annie Probst, Prop stylist: Gabriel Greco This cheesy chicken pasta casserole is perfect for a busy weeknight when you need a fast and easy dinner with minimal cleanup. Vodka sauce adds a creamy note to the sauce. If you don’t have vodka sauce on hand, add a few tablespoons of cream to regular marinara. View Recipe 08 of 13 Mom's Creamy Chicken & Broccoli Casserole Brian Woodcock; Styling: Cindy Barr This lightened-up creamy chicken casserole is packed with veggies. The sauce at the heart of this family-friendly casserole uses fat-free milk with a combination of fat-free Greek-style yogurt and a little mayonnaise to give it body. View Recipe 09 of 13 Chicken-Spaghetti Squash Bake In this version of a chicken-and-broccoli casserole, spaghetti squash takes on a creamy texture when baked with cream of mushroom soup. View Recipe 10 of 13 Smoked Turkey, Kale & Rice Bake This hearty one-skillet dinner is loaded with celery, kale, tomatoes and quick-cooking brown rice. It's easy to make the recipe vegetarian by substituting smoked tofu for the turkey. View Recipe 11 of 13 Garlic Cashew Chicken Casserole Combine brown rice, cashews, chow-mein noodles and vegetables galore with chicken in this delicious casserole. View Recipe 12 of 13 Florentine Lasagna Roll-Ups Photography / Fred Hardy, Styling / Ruth Blackburn / Audrey Davis Think portion control with these individual lasagna roll-ups. Leftovers are great for lunch the next day. View Recipe 13 of 13 Turkey & Leek Shepherd's Pie The mashed potato-covered shepherd's pie was originally created to use up the leftovers from a festive roast. This version blends peas, leeks and carrots with diced turkey, all in a creamy herb sauce. The dish is a perfect way to create a second meal with the holiday turkey but if you like, use leftover roast chicken, duck or goose. View Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit