50 Best Casserole Recipes for the Ultimate Comfort Food (2024)

50 Best Casserole Recipes for the Ultimate Comfort Food (1)

Casseroles are the ultimate comfort food, but today's new casserole recipes go far beyond the basic tuna casseroles your mom used to make. There are now creative breakfast casseroles (hello, chicken and waffles in casserole form) and even delicious casserole versions of your favorite sandwiches (yes, we’re talking about meatball subs).

Not only do casseroles make an easy weeknight meal for the whole family, but they’re also a great dish to make ahead and freeze, or bring to family and friends who need an arsenal of one-pan meals to heat up and serve. While some casseroles are best to accompany the main component of the meal, like a delicious green bean casserole as a holiday side dish, others have everything you need to fill up on — protein, carbs and veggies in every bite. The best part is that when you toss everything into one dish and bake, there’s only one dish to clean up at the end. That means you get to save yourself some time and effort while still making something decadent and delicious.

Whether your schedule is best suited to prep dinner ahead of time or you just appreciate the simplicity of a casserole, these easy, hearty meals will help you spice up that revolving door of go-to weeknight dinners. There are options to satisfy the whole spectrum of food preferences, from meaty to vegetarian, Mexican to Greek, seafood to squash and healthy to indulgent. Trust us, these are some of the best casserole recipes for when you need a warm, comforting and easy meal.

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1

Shrimp Enchiladas with Zucchini and Corn

50 Best Casserole Recipes for the Ultimate Comfort Food (2)

The quick homemade enchilada sauce takes this one-dish shrimp recipe to the next level.

Get the recipe for Shrimp Enchiladas with Zucchini and Corn »

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2

Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli Casserole

50 Best Casserole Recipes for the Ultimate Comfort Food (3)

The fresh baguette crumbs take this classic and rich family favorite to the next level.

Get the recipe for Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli Casserole »

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3

Make-Ahead Sausage and Egg Casserole

50 Best Casserole Recipes for the Ultimate Comfort Food (4)

No need to wake up early to serve an impressive breakfast — throw this casserole together the night before and pop in the oven come morning.

Get the recipe for Make-Ahead Sausage and Egg Casserole »

RELATED: 31 Best Make-Ahead Meals to Fill up Your Fridge and Freezer

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4

Ham, Cheddar, and Red Onion Bread Pudding

50 Best Casserole Recipes for the Ultimate Comfort Food (5)

Use your leftover ham in a delicious savory bread pudding for Christmas brunch.

Get the recipe for Ham, Cheddar, and Red Onion Bread Pudding »

RELATED: 32 Easy Leftover Ham Recipes to Give Your Christmas Dinner a Second Life

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5

Tex-Mex Tortilla Casserole

Love chilaquiles? Try this easier Mexican-inspired dish instead.

Get the recipe for Tex-Mex Tortilla Casserole »

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6

Ham and Cheese Breakfast Bake

50 Best Casserole Recipes for the Ultimate Comfort Food (7)

Make this ham and cheese bake up to 24 hours ahead so you can sleep in and still deliver an amazing brunch.

Get the recipe for Ham and Cheese Breakfast Bake »

RELATED: 36 Quick and Easy Breakfast Ideas for Your Busiest Mornings

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7

Cherry Tomato Casserole with White Beans and Basil

50 Best Casserole Recipes for the Ultimate Comfort Food (8)

Not all casseroles require gobs (and gobs) of cheese. If you're looking for something on the lighter side, this cherry tomato casserole will fill you up without weighing you down.

Get the recipe for Cherry Tomato Casserole with White Beans and Basil »

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8

Spinach and Gruyère Potato Casserole

50 Best Casserole Recipes for the Ultimate Comfort Food (10)

Avoid the winter blues with this toasty, cheesy potato dish. If you're looking for more flavor, sprinkle fresh basil and parsley on top of this ooey gooey delight.

Get the recipe for Spinach and Gruyère Potato Casserole »

RELATED: 58 Easy Potato Recipes For Weeknight Dinners, Thanksgiving and More

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9

Spinach and Artichoke Squash Casserole

50 Best Casserole Recipes for the Ultimate Comfort Food (12)

What happens when you combine your favorite spinach and artichoke dip with spaghetti squash? A sophisticated dish that's totally picture-worthy.

Get the recipe for Spinach and Artichoke Squash Casserole »

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10

Sausage and Green Bean Casserole

Give traditional green bean casserole a run for its money. Zesty sausage and polenta beef up this classic dish.

Get the recipe for Sausage and Green Bean Casserole »

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11

Spaghetti Pie

50 Best Casserole Recipes for the Ultimate Comfort Food (16)

Give this spaghetti-casserole fusion a try on your family's next pasta night. Loaded with cheese and bacon, this pasta pie will appeal to just about everyone.

Get the recipe for Spaghetti Pie »

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12

Fiesta Nacho Casserole

50 Best Casserole Recipes for the Ultimate Comfort Food (18)

In these Tex-Mex nachos, white-meat chicken replaces beef so you can snag all the benefits of protein without the added fat.

Get the recipe for Fiesta Nacho Casserole »

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13

Spicy Chicken Casserole

50 Best Casserole Recipes for the Ultimate Comfort Food (19)

Simplify taco night without sacrificing flavor. This chicken casserole combines traditional taco ingredients in one dish.

Get the recipe for Spicy Chicken Casserole »

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14

Cauliflower Mac and Cheese

50 Best Casserole Recipes for the Ultimate Comfort Food (21)

Even the pickiest of eaters will enjoy this veggie-packed twist on traditional mac 'n' cheese. The head of cauliflower and four carrots hiding in the sauce will be our little secret.

Get the recipe for Cauliflower Mac and Cheese »

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15

Salmon Noodle Bake

50 Best Casserole Recipes for the Ultimate Comfort Food (22)

Fresher than traditional tuna noodle casserole, this veggie-packed version is loaded with chunks of seafood-counter salmon and flavored with leeks, mushrooms and herbs.

Get the recipe for Salmon Noodle Bake »

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16

Green Bean and Asparagus Casserole

50 Best Casserole Recipes for the Ultimate Comfort Food (23)

With bright veggies and garlicky goodness, you can't go wrong serving this alongside any protein.

Get the recipe from Woman's Day »

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17

Cheesy Baked Spinach and Feta Casserole

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Layers of matzo make this cheesy casserole light and unique.

Get the recipe from Woman's Day »

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18

Mock Tuna Casserole

50 Best Casserole Recipes for the Ultimate Comfort Food (25)

If the tuna casseroles of the 50s don't float your boat, try this vegetarian version with mushrooms and homemade cream sauce.

Get the recipe from Woman's Day »

RELATED: The 10 Best Meat Substitutes for Vegetarian and Vegan Dishes

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19

Spiced Beef Hot Pot

50 Best Casserole Recipes for the Ultimate Comfort Food (26)

All of the warm and comforting flavors of beef stew are baked into this hearty casserole.

Get the recipe from Woman's Day »

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20

Chorizo Chilaquiles

50 Best Casserole Recipes for the Ultimate Comfort Food (27)

Chorizo makes everything better, including this mouth-watering Mexican-style casserole.

Get the recipe from Woman's Day »

RELATED: 38 Best Mexican Dinner Recipes to Make Tonight

50 Best Casserole Recipes for the Ultimate Comfort Food (2024)

FAQs

How do you make a casserole taste better? ›

Fresh herbs or citrus zest can also punch up flavors with a bit of welcome brightness for a long-cooked dish, as can adding some heat in the form of a dash of hot sauce, a generous pinch of minced or sliced fresh chili pepper, or a shake of red pepper flakes.

What makes a good casserole? ›

  1. Choose the right baking dish. If you're all about the crunchy topping, use a shallow dish. ...
  2. Undercook your pasta. ...
  3. Drain your meat. ...
  4. Beware of mushy vegetables. ...
  5. Know your cheeses. ...
  6. Master the art of casserole assembly. ...
  7. Don't skip the topping. ...
  8. Make it now, but bake it later.

What is the most popular casserole dish size? ›

"The standard size of a casserole dish is 9 by 13 inches. However, due to varying shapes, they are often measured by volume, with three quarts being average,” says Contrino. “It is important to note that if a recipe calls only for a 'casserole dish,' it is most likely asking for a 9- by 13-inch rectangular size.

What are five basic components of most casseroles? ›

According to food blog High Heeled Homemaker, your basic casserole requires five ingredients: a protein, starch, vegetable, sauce, and cheese. If you have those five ingredients in your casserole dish, congratulations; you just made a casserole, whether it's a beloved recipe or a concoction of your own creation.

What to add to casserole for flavour? ›

Try different herbs for added flavour: sage or lemon thyme work wonderfully well. For a meatier casserole, add chopped sausage or pancetta when cooking the chicken. Stir wholegrain mustard through the casserole at the end of cooking (to taste); this is especially good if you have sausage in the casserole.

Is it better to bake a casserole covered or uncovered? ›

In general, you'll want to bake a casserole covered with aluminum foil for most of the cooking time. Covering the casserole helps lock in moisture and prevents it from drying out. If you don't cover the casserole or uncover it too soon, the casserole will dry out.

What is the best brand in casserole? ›

Our Top Casserole Dish Picks
  • Best Overall: Pyrex Basics 3-Quart Glass Baking Dish.
  • Best Ceramic Workhorse: HIC Rectangular Baking Dish.
  • Best Covered Casserole Dish: Le Creuset Heritage Rectangular Casserole.
  • Best Design: Great Jones Hot Dish.
  • Best to Register For: Revol Belle Cuisine Rectangular Roasting Dish.
Jan 18, 2024

What is the oldest known casserole? ›

Macaroni and cheese is the oldest written casserole recipe found in 1250.

How many people will a 9x13 casserole feed? ›

Starchy side dishes and casseroles: a 9 X 13 pan makes about 12 one cup servings. A 2 quart casserole will make 6 to 8 cups. A typical serving size for potatoes, stuffing, and yams is 1 cup.

How do I choose a casserole dish? ›

Consider size and shape. Before buying a casserole consider the best size for what you want to cook. Round casseroles are great for stews and soups, but oval pans are better for pot-roasts and cooking whole legs of lamb or pieces of pork. Also consider the size, as generally the larger it is the better.

What can I use instead of a 9x13 casserole dish? ›

A recipe written for a 9” x 13” pan can also be made in two 9” round pans; one 9” round and one 8” round, or two 8” round pans. Baking times may vary due to slightly different depths of batter in the various pan combinations.

What is the main ingredient in a casserole? ›

In the United States, a casserole or hot dish is typically a baked food with three main components: pieces of meat (such as chicken or ground meat) or fish (such as tuna) or other protein (such as beans or tofu), various chopped or canned vegetables (such as green beans or peas), and a starchy binder (such as flour, ...

Does a casserole have to have cheese? ›

A casserole is a loose collection of ingredients bound together in a dish and baked until they turrn into a cohesive whole. It is not quite a dip, and not quite a composed dish. Cheese is often involved, but not always. It's usually served hot, and you use a fork or spoon to eat it.

What is the most basic food to cook? ›

10 Dishes Every Beginner Cook Should Learn
  • 01 of 10. Cream-Based Soup. Victor Protasio. ...
  • 02 of 10. Roast Chicken. Julia Hartbeck. ...
  • 03 of 10. Pizza. Bella Graves. ...
  • 04 of 10. Pasta Carbonara. ...
  • 05 of 10. Whole Roasted Fish. ...
  • 06 of 10. Risotto. ...
  • 07 of 10. Garden Salad. ...
  • 08 of 10. BLT Fried Egg-and-Cheese Sandwich.
Feb 1, 2024

How do you fix a bland casserole? ›

From blah to bravo: 5 ways to fix a bland recipe
  1. Salt. As Samin Nosrat says in her book “Salt Fat Acid Heat,” it matters when you use salt. ...
  2. Acid. One of my favorite ways to perk up a bland dish is with a splash of acid. ...
  3. Chile peppers. ...
  4. Sugar. ...
  5. Fresh herbs.
Mar 8, 2023

How do you take the bitterness out of a casserole? ›

Easy Ways to Reduce Bitter Taste in Any Food
  1. 1 Balance out bitterness with some fat.
  2. 2 Cover the flavor with sweetness.
  3. 3 Sprinkle some salt over your food.
  4. 4 Try a pinch of baking soda.
  5. 5 Squeeze in some vinegar or lemon juice.
  6. 6 Add some spice to your foods.
  7. 7 Cook with herbs to cut through the bitter taste.
Apr 10, 2024

What can you add to a dish to make it taste better? ›

Add hardy herbs like thyme, rosemary, oregano, sage, and marjoram to dishes early in the cooking process; this way, they release maximum flavor while ensuring that their texture will be less intrusive.

How to add more flavour to beef casserole? ›

Add spices such as turmeric, coriander and cumin at the early stage of cooking, when you are frying onions and garlic, to enhance the taste of the beef stew. Fresh herbs like coriander and bay leaves also contribute a distinct flavour without making the dish too spicy for the younger members of the family.

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