What makes a dish "rib-sticking" delicious? Generally, that moniker is reserved for rich, fatty meals that leave even the hardest working cowboys completely sated.
Winter calls upon our tummies and begs for hearty, filling foods that are warming and comforting, like savory soups and stews and creamy casseroles. When you're trying to eat healthy, it can be difficult to find foods that fit the bill without busting the dietary bank.
Nutritionists recommend eating meals that are balanced to include healthy fats, proteins and carbohydrates. Remember that fat and carbohydrates are important sources of metabolic energy and can be enjoyed as long as they are a part of an overall healthy eating plan.
Below are 15 of the healthiest, most rib-stickiest soups, stews and casseroles that will keep you fueled for the day or night, and won't road-block your path to a healthier lifestyle. Don't be afraid to adapt these recipes to fit your own tastes and dietary preferences.
Slow-Cooked Pot Roast: Using a low-fat cut of chuck roast keeps this moist beef recipe lighter on fat but not flavor.
Healthier Chicken Pot-Pie: By swapping butter-heavy crust for light and crispy phyllo dough, as well as using low-fat milk and increasing the vegetable content, this familiar favorite weighs much less than the original.
Italian Wedding Soup: Turkey meatballs and loads of fresh kale and basil create a fragrant, luxurious soup that is unbelievably less than 250 calories per serving.
Pork and Poblano Green Chile Pot: Fire-roasted poblano chiles and jalapenos give a deep, smoky and lightly spicy kick to this tender, saucy pork dish.
Three Bean Chili: Full of smoky, cumin-scented flavor, this chili packs a wallop of protein and fiber in every filling bite.
Lighter Chicken & Dumplings: These cottage-cheese infused dumplings are rich on flavor and moist texture, but lighter than traditional varieties.
Chinese-Style Braised Beef: You can substitute lean chuck-roast for ox cheeks and add more veggies to this Asian-inspired stew to increase the deliciousness and health benefits.
Slow-Cooker Indian Chicken Curry: Infused with spinach and chickpeas, this curry will warm your spirits and fill your belly with tantalizing taste.
Baked Potato and Bacon Soup: Low fat cheese, milk and quality bacon keep this decadent dish at just under 250 calories per serving.
Sausage Pasta Bake: A delicious Italian-inspired baked dish that is hearty without being too heavy. You can substitute quinoa pasta for whole wheat and make this dish gluten-free.
Hearty Bean Soup: The inclusion of creamy navy beans and aromatics like garlic and onion give this soup luscious body and taste.
One Pot Jambalaya: With lean ham and succulent shrimp, this Creole classic will fill you up without weighing you down. Consider swapping the rice for quinoa to increase the protein and over-all feeling of fullness.
Chicken Mulligatawny: This British interpretation of Indian "pepper-water" delivers ample taste with healthy, decadent ingredients.
Jamaican Brown Stewed Chicken: Also known as "chicken fricassee" this sweet and savory chicken stew has tangy, rich flavor and only 235 calories per satisfying serving.
Moroccan Lamb Stew: Although this fragrant, exotic recipe is not low-fat or low-calorie, it can be balanced by having a smaller portion and supplementing it with roasted vegetables.
Bryanne Salazar is a freelance writer and editor, a contributing author for the website What the Flicka?, and a food-meets-culture blogger living in Southern California. Her blog, Bryanne Bites the World documents her explorations of various ethnic communities and food cultures across the United States. Bryanne has a degree in English focused on creative writing, and loves to pen short stories in her spare time. She is also an advocate for women and girls worldwide, the mother of two teenage boys, and the wife of an active duty United States Marine. You can follow Bryanne on Twitter and Facebook to see what she's working on next.
