Baked Fideo

A comforting Mexican-inspired pasta dish with a smarter ingredient switch!

Looking for an affordable, family-friendly dinner packed with flavor? This baked fideo combines tender pasta, seasoned lean ground beef, tomatoes, onions, and melted Mexican-blend cheese for a hearty meal everyone can enjoy.

At The Calorie Switch, we believe you don't have to give up the foods you love to make smarter choices. By using 93/7 lean ground beef and reduced-fat Mexican-blend cheese, this recipe gives a familiar comfort-food favorite a lighter twist.

Servings: 6
Oven temperature: 350°F
Baking time: 20–30 minutes
Estimated calories: Approximately 520 per serving*

Ingredients

  • 1 pound 93/7 lean ground beef

  • 14 ounces fideo macaroni

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • 1 large onion, diced (about 7 ounces)

  • 1 packet taco seasoning (1 ounce)

  • 1 can tomato sauce (15 ounces)

  • 1 can diced tomatoes (14.5 ounces)

  • 7 ounces reduced-fat Mexican-blend shredded cheese

Instructions

1. Prepare the oven.
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 13 × 9-inch baking dish.

2. Cook the pasta.
Prepare the fideo macaroni according to the package directions. Drain well and set aside.

3. Cook the onion.
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook for 3–5 minutes, until softened.

4. Brown the beef.
Add the lean ground beef to the skillet. Break it apart as it cooks until browned and fully cooked. Drain any excess liquid if necessary.

5. Build the sauce.
Stir in the taco seasoning, tomato sauce, and diced tomatoes. Simmer for about 5 minutes to bring the flavors together.

6. Combine everything.
Fold the cooked fideo into the beef and tomato mixture. Transfer everything to the prepared baking dish and spread evenly.

7. Add the cheese and bake.
Sprinkle the reduced-fat Mexican-blend cheese over the top. Bake for 20–30 minutes, until heated through and the cheese is melted. Allow it to rest briefly before serving.

8. Serve and enjoy!
Divide into 6 portions and serve warm.

Chicken Stroganoff

Creamy, comforting, and full of flavor! This Chicken Stroganoff puts a smarter spin on a classic comfort-food favorite. By switching heavy cream and sour cream for fat-free yogurt and using a lighter thickening method, you can enjoy a satisfying meal while making more calorie-conscious choices.

Ingredients

  • Chicken, cut into bite-sized pieces

  • Mushrooms, sliced

  • Onion, diced

  • Chicken broth

  • Fat-free plain yogurt

  • Cornstarch

  • Water, for the cornstarch slurry

  • Seasonings of your choice

  • Pasta or egg noodles, for serving

  • Cooking oil, as needed

Directions

1. Cook the chicken.
Heat a little oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook until browned and fully cooked. Remove from the skillet and set aside.

2. Cook the vegetables.
Add the diced onion and sliced mushrooms to the skillet. Cook until softened and the mushrooms release their moisture.

3. Make the sauce base.
Pour in the chicken broth and stir, scraping up the flavorful browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Add your seasonings and bring to a gentle simmer.

4. Thicken the sauce.
Mix the cornstarch with cold water until smooth. Stir the slurry into the simmering broth a little at a time until the sauce reaches your desired consistency.

5. Return the chicken.
Add the cooked chicken back to the skillet and simmer gently until everything is heated through.

6. Add the yogurt.
Reduce the heat to low. Let the sauce cool slightly, then stir in the fat-free yogurt until creamy and smooth. Avoid boiling the sauce after adding the yogurt.

7. Serve.
Serve warm over cooked pasta or egg noodles and enjoy your creamy Chicken Stroganoff!

Keep the flavor. Save the calories.

Nutrition values vary based on ingredient brands, quantities, and serving sizes.