Main Dishes

The main course is the MVP of your meal—the headliner at a concert. It’s the biggest and most filling part of your meal, designed to give you the energy and nutrients you need to keep going. The main course is what brings everything together and satisfies your hunger!

Chicken Nugget Parm Casserole

Serving Size: 8 servings
Prep Time: Approximately 10 minutes
Total Time: Approximately 1 hour 30 minutes
Calories: Approximately 778 per serving

Ingredients

  • Cooking spray

  • Kosher salt

  • 3/4 lb. rigatoni or other short pasta

  • 2 (24-oz.) jars marinara sauce, divided

  • 2 (1-lb.) bags frozen chicken nuggets, divided

  • 4 cups shredded mozzarella (about 1 lb.), divided

  • 6 tbsp. finely grated Parmesan, divided

  • Chopped fresh basil, for serving

Directions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat oven to 375ºF. Grease an 11″-by-8″ baking dish with cooking spray.

  2. Cook Pasta: In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta, stirring occasionally, until very al dente, usually 2 to 3 minutes less than package instructions. Drain and transfer to a large bowl. Add 1 jar marinara sauce and toss to coat.

  3. Assemble Casserole:

    • Layer half of the pasta mixture into the bottom of the prepared dish.

    • Arrange 2 cups of chicken nuggets in a single layer over the pasta.

    • Dollop half of the remaining marinara sauce over the nuggets.

    • Sprinkle with 2 cups mozzarella and 3 tablespoons Parmesan.

    • Top with the remaining pasta mixture and 2 cups nuggets.

  4. Bake: Tightly cover the baking dish with foil. Bake the casserole until warmed through, 40 to 45 minutes.

  5. Add Toppings: Top with the remaining marinara sauce, 2 cups mozzarella, and 3 tablespoons Parmesan. Continue to bake until the cheese is melted and golden, 10 to 15 minutes.

  6. Serve: Garnish with chopped fresh basil before serving.

“Chicken Nugget Parm Casserole Recipe.” Delish, 6 Jan. 2023, https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a42389322/chicken-nugget-parm-casserole-recipe/.

Tater Tot Casserole with Veggies

Serving Size: 4 to 6 servings
Prep Time: Approximately 15 minutes
Total Time: Approximately 1 hour
Calories: Approximately 450 per serving

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 10 ¾ ounces cream of mushroom soup
  • ¼ cup milk
  • 8 to 10 ounces frozen mixed vegetables
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 16 ounces tater tots

Directions:

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Cook Beef and Onions: In a skillet, brown the ground beef with the chopped onions until the beef is fully cooked. Drain thoroughly and transfer the mixture to the bottom of a 2-quart casserole dish.
  3. Prepare Sauce: In a bowl, mix together the cream of mushroom soup and milk until well combined. Pour this mixture over the ground beef in the casserole dish.
  4. Add Vegetables: Evenly sprinkle 2 to 3 cups of frozen mixed vegetables over the beef and soup layer.
  5. Layer Cheese and Tater Tots: Sprinkle half a cup of shredded cheddar cheese over the vegetables. Arrange the tater tots on top in a single layer. Finally, sprinkle the remaining cheese over the tater tots.
  6. Bake: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake, uncovered, for 45 to 50 minutes, or until the tater tots are crunchy and golden brown.

ChaCha Junior. “Tater Tot Casserole with Veggies.” Food.com, 6 Jan. 2009, https://www.food.com/recipe/tater-tot-casserole-with-veggies-338419.

Baked Feta Pasta

Serving Size: 6 servings
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Calories: Approximately 430 per serving

Ingredients:

  • 2 pints cherry or grape tomatoes
  • ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
  • 1 (8-ounce) block of feta cheese
  • 10 ounces pasta of choice
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • ¼ cup fresh basil leaves, chopped

Directions:

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
  2. Prepare Tomatoes: In a baking dish, combine the cherry tomatoes with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Toss until well coated.
  3. Add Feta: Place the block of feta cheese in the center of the tomatoes, turning it to coat with oil and seasoning.
  4. Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 35 minutes, or until the tomatoes burst and the feta is softened.
  5. Cook Pasta: While the feta and tomatoes are baking, cook the pasta according to package instructions. Reserve some pasta water before draining.
  6. Combine Ingredients: Remove the baking dish from the oven. Add minced garlic and fresh basil to the baked feta and tomatoes. Stir to combine, creating a creamy sauce.
  7. Mix with Pasta: Add the cooked pasta to the baking dish, tossing to coat. If needed, add reserved pasta water to achieve desired consistency.
  8. Serve: Garnish with additional fresh basil and serve warm.

Jawad, Yumna. “Baked Feta Pasta.” Feel Good Foodie, 19 July 2021, https://feelgoodfoodie.net/recipe/baked-feta-pasta/.

Scroll to Top