Slow-Cooker Comfort Food Makeovers

A healthy twist on baked ziti, this hearty tomato basil soup has noodles mixed right in. We've even topped it off with a bit of gooey cheese. Round out the meal with a green salad and garlic bread for dunking.

Think of these creamy crowd-pleasers as deconstructed, fully-loaded baked potatoes. Pass the toppings at the table to let the kiddos build their own bowls. Other stellar topping options include steamed broccoli, chives, and sour cream.

This set-it-and-forget-it one-pot meal is full of tender chunks of chicken breast, garlic, broccoli, and brown rice. Parmesan and light sour cream make for a rich-tasting finished dish.

Savory bread puddings have a reputation as total calorie bombs. But, we've kept the nutrition stats in check in this recipe by subbing in egg whites and low-fat milk. Plus the whole grain bread and asparagus add belly-filling fiber. Make this hearty dish mid-week for supper, and enjoy the leftovers for breakfast. Or, serve it to a crowd for brunch.

Though the clever nod to Turkey Tetrazzini may fly over our little ones' heads, they'll still love this twist on the classic. Here we've taken the mushrooms out of the sauce and snuck them into savory turkey meatballs. Served with creamy sauce and whole wheat spaghetti this dinner will be a hit no matter what you call it.