Our Best Casserole Recipes for Comforting Family Meals (2024)

Make one of these hearty casserole recipes ahead of time to reheat for a quick and easy weeknight meal, or serve one for Sunday dinner with friends and family. With recipes like gooey macaroni and cheese, classic chicken casseroles, bubbly breakfast casseroles, and more, there's a casserole recipe for every occasion.

01of 31

Smoky Cheesy Chicken-Potato Casserole

View Recipe

Our Best Casserole Recipes for Comforting Family Meals (1)

Frozen hash browns and cream of chicken soup keep your prep time at just 20 minutes, making this a perfect casserole recipe for busy weeknight dinners. Utilize deli-smoked chicken to give your dish the signature smoky flavor.

02of 31

Eight-Layer Casserole

View Recipe

Our Best Casserole Recipes for Comforting Family Meals (2)

Whether you need a potluck recipe or dinner tonight, this easy comfort food casserole is a perfect fit. Complete with layers of ground beef, noodles, and veggies, the cheese-topped casserole is about to become a family staple.

7 Casserole Dishes Our Editors Can't Live Without

03of 31

Chile Verde Breakfast Lasagna

View Recipe

Our Best Casserole Recipes for Comforting Family Meals (3)

Say hello to your new favorite food mash-up. This veggie-packed, Mexican-inspired casserole meal layers eggs, sausage, veggies, cheese, and salsa verde between corn tortillas. It's a delicious gluten-free brunch option everyone will love.

04of 31

Salmon Pot Pie Casserole

View Recipe

Our Best Casserole Recipes for Comforting Family Meals (4)

What's better than serving a rich, savory casserole with a side of tender cornmeal biscuits? Putting them right on top. This seafood take on pot pie incorporates broccoli and leeks for a pop of green and added nutrients.

05of 31

Brussels Sprouts Casserole with Pancetta and Asiago Cheese

View Recipe

Our Best Casserole Recipes for Comforting Family Meals (5)

Flavorful pancetta and Brussels sprouts come together in this cheesy top-rated casserole with a crunchy topper. Serve it alongside crusty bread for an easy and comforting dinner idea. Prep the Brussels sprouts and carrots ahead and keep them in the fridge up to 24 hours in advance to get dinner ready quickly.

17 No-Chop Recipes You Can Make on Even Your Busiest Weeknights

06of 31

Mashed Potato-Egg Casserole

View Recipe

Our Best Casserole Recipes for Comforting Family Meals (6)

Mashed potatoes and eggs are a surprising, yet perfect food combo. This totally delish make-ahead casserole gets an indulgent upgrade with Asiago cheese and arugula. Serve with a side salad for an easy vegetarian dinner.

Buy It: OXO 2-Quart Glass Baking Dish with Lid ($16, Target)

07of 31

Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole

View Recipe

Our Best Casserole Recipes for Comforting Family Meals (7)

This classic casserole is one of our top-pinned recipes, and it's no wonder why. With cheesy rice piled onto the creamy chicken, the bubbly dish makes it easy for even the pickiest of eaters to polish off their plates. It's a one-dish chicken dinner you'll get requests for all the time.

Healthy Chicken Casserole Recipes That Taste Too Delicious to Be Good for You (But Are!)

08of 31

Pizza Margherita Quinoa Casserole

View Recipe

Our Best Casserole Recipes for Comforting Family Meals (8)

Get your daily whole grain intake—and enjoy it!—with this ultimate casserole recipe that comes together in one pot. It's full of melty cheese, fragrant basil, and tangy tomatoes for a healthier take on pizza both the kids and adults will enjoy.

Buy It: Lodge Enameled Cast Iron 5.5-Quart Dutch Oven($50, Walmart)

09of 31

Italian Barley and Sausage Casserole

View Recipe

Our Best Casserole Recipes for Comforting Family Meals (9)

Barley is a healthy whole grain that adds fiber to your diet. Here it works wonderfully in an Italian-inspired casserole recipe complete with sausage, tomato sauce, olives, and mozzarella. Don't forget fresh basil leaves for a pop of color and herby finish.

27 Healthy Italian Recipes That Don't Skimp on Flavor

10of 31

King Ranch Crunch Chicken Casserole

View Recipe

Our Best Casserole Recipes for Comforting Family Meals (10)

King ranch chicken casserole is the go-to comfort food in Texas that includes cream cheese, salsa, shredded cheese, green chiles, and tortilla chips. Our Test Kitchen turned it into a slow cooker casserole recipe for the ultimate indulgent dump-and-cook dinner.

Buy It: Crock-Pot 6-Qt Programmable Cook and Carry Slow Cooker ($50, Target)

11of 31

Cajun Shrimp and Corn Bread Casserole

View Recipe

Our Best Casserole Recipes for Comforting Family Meals (11)

Just the mouthwatering photo should tell you this is a 5-star casserole recipe to add to the menu. And while it looks fancy, the casserole is ready in under an hour. No matter where you live, this delicious dumpling-topped shrimp casserole brings a taste of New Orleans right to your kitchen.

12of 31

Tuscan Tuna Mac Casserole

View Recipe

Our Best Casserole Recipes for Comforting Family Meals (12)

Fanciful flavors from around the globe combine to create a full-flavored dish. Our Tuscan herb blend includes rosemary, thyme, fennel, garlic, and marjoram that is delicious in more than just this casserole recipe. Serve the casserole at your next get-together, and give guests a new flavor that will have them coming back for seconds.

13of 31

Cheesy Pasta-Stuffed Shells

View Recipe

Our Best Casserole Recipes for Comforting Family Meals (13)

Save this indulgent spin on classic macaroni and cheese for a special occasion. With Gruyère, cheddar, and mozzarella cheeses, it's packed with creamy deliciousness. To lighten your meal, serve it with a fresh garden salad.

14of 31

Gluten-Free Asparagus-Tuna Casserole

View Recipe

Our Best Casserole Recipes for Comforting Family Meals (14)

With the help of gluten-free pasta, everyone can enjoy this retro delight. To keep the vintage casserole recipe fresh, our Test Kitchen added nutty provolone cheese, fresh asparagus, and shredded lemon peel. Canned tuna packed in garlic olive oil makes the casserole extra tasty, but if you can't find it just add a couple of cloves of minced garlic to the tuna you found.

15of 31

Cheesy Potato Breakfast Casserole

View Recipe

Our Best Casserole Recipes for Comforting Family Meals (15)

It doesn't get much better than this savory breakfast casserole recipe. Packed with potatoes, broccoli, and tomato, the colorful bacon bake features ingredients that are easy to alter according to season.

Our Best-Ever Egg Casseroles to Perk Up Your Mornings

16of 31

Corn Pudding Casserole

View Recipe

Our Best Casserole Recipes for Comforting Family Meals (16)

Corn pudding might be one of the best vintage casserole recipes out there. Here we've upgraded the mix with a blend of shredded zucchini, corn, and cheese. There's plenty of flavor in this irresistible holiday side to go around.

Buy It: Williams Sonoma Essential Rectangular Baker ($40, Williams Sonoma)

17of 31

Alfredo-Bacon Tot Casserole

View Recipe

Our Best Casserole Recipes for Comforting Family Meals (17)

Chock-full of bacon, potato nuggets, chicken, and Alfredo sauce, this is is one seriously delicious casserole recipe. To keep your meal prep time to a minimum, try using leftover rotisserie chicken.

Dump and Bake Casseroles That Need Virtually Zero Prep Time

18of 31

Baked Cajun Seafood and Rice

View Recipe

Our Best Casserole Recipes for Comforting Family Meals (18)

Take a trip South with this fantastic Cajun casserole recipe. The party-worthy dish features shrimp, bacon, kale, cheesy veggies, and delicate crabmeat. One reader suggests serving it with hot sauce for an added kick.

19of 31

Blueberry-Pecan French Toast Casserole

View Recipe

Our Best Casserole Recipes for Comforting Family Meals (19)

For a lovely brunch casserole recipe, soak Italian bread slices overnight in a nutmeg- and vanilla-spiked egg mixture. Once baked, the decadent French toast casserole is topped with powdered sugar, blueberries, maple syrup, and pecans.

Breakfast Casserole Recipes for a Delicious Start to Your Morning

20of 31

Chicken Taco Casserole

View Recipe

Our Best Casserole Recipes for Comforting Family Meals (20)

Taco night gets a healthy twist with this low-calorie pepper- and spinach-packed casserole meal. Let the family garnish it with favorite Tex-Mex toppings, such as avocados, cherry tomatoes, and tortilla chips.

Fast and Healthy Taco Recipes Worthy of a Fiesta

21of 31

Tuna and Green Bean Casserole

View Recipe

Our Best Casserole Recipes for Comforting Family Meals (21)

Can't decide between tuna casserole and green bean casserole? Have them both with our warm and comforting tuna green bean bake. The dinner favorite features classic casserole ingredients like cream of mushroom soup, plus a fun cracker topper.

19 Canned Salmon and Tuna Recipes You'll Actually Be Excited to Eat

22of 31

Twice Baked Potato Dump Casserole

View Recipe

Our Best Casserole Recipes for Comforting Family Meals (22)

Baked until golden brown and bubbly, this ultra-comforting potato casserole comes together in a flash thanks to purchased mashed potatoes—though you can definitely make your own, if you prefer. Complete with bacon and cheese, this dump casserole will make a delicious addition to your next steak dinner.

23of 31

Chicken Florentine Artichoke Bake

View Recipe

Our Best Casserole Recipes for Comforting Family Meals (23)

With more than 200 ratings, this is one of our best casserole recipes to add to your cooking bucket list. A mix of Parmesan cheese and bread crumbs tops this hearty supper. The chicken casserole features Monterey Jack cheese, tangy artichokes, and a hint of heat from crushed red pepper.

24of 31

Mexicali Hamburger Casserole

View Recipe

Our Best Casserole Recipes for Comforting Family Meals (24)

Ground beef and pantry-ready ingredients such as salsa and canned corn make this one-dish dinner nice and easy. A corn bread topper adds a homey touch.

Ground Beef Recipes Your Family Will Request Again and Again

25of 31

Spicy Green Bean Casserole

View Recipe

Our Best Casserole Recipes for Comforting Family Meals (25)

Bring on the heat! This vintage casserole gets a spicy upgrade from chili powder and fresh serrano chiles, making it a delicious new way to enjoy the dish on days other than Thanksgiving. Be careful cutting those peppers—the oils can burn your skin.

17 Spicy Chicken Recipes That Are Better Than Takeout

26of 31

Sausage Casserole with Hidden Stuffing

View Recipe

Our Best Casserole Recipes for Comforting Family Meals (26)

The secret to this irresistible casserole recipe is in the stuffing. Herb-seasoned stuffing mix is a budget buy that really bulks up the dish while keeping the ingredient list short. The entire casserole calls for just 7 ingredients total—and that's including nonstick spray and butter—so prep is done in 25 minutes.

27of 31

Indian-Spiced Chicken Casserole

View Recipe

Our Best Casserole Recipes for Comforting Family Meals (27)

Zippy spices mingle with tender chicken and creamy tomatoes in this Indian-inspired chicken casserole recipe. A special garlic-ginger paste makes things extra savory, while lemon juice adds a splash of freshness.

28of 31

Creamy Chicken and Vegetable Pot Pie

View Recipe

Our Best Casserole Recipes for Comforting Family Meals (28)

Enjoy this comforting pot pie in half the time by making it in a casserole dish with pizza dough. This quick casserole recipe makes great use of frozen veggies and jarred Alfredo sauce. Seek pizza dough from an Italian market for authenticity or use refrigerated piecrust in a pinch.

29of 31

Zucchini-Fontina Strata

View Recipe

Our Best Casserole Recipes for Comforting Family Meals (29)

Put your slow cooker to work and have dinner ready and waiting with this easy-to-assemble casserole meal. The tender vegetable bakes with garlic focaccia, eggs, and fresh thyme for a perfect Italian-seasoned strata.

Buy It: Crock-Pot 8-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker ($75, Bed Bath & Beyond)

30of 31

Huevos Rancheros Tater Tot Casserole

View Recipe

Our Best Casserole Recipes for Comforting Family Meals (30)

Transform a classic tot casserole into a Mexican-style masterpiece with chili powder, cumin, and your favorite taco toppings. Our easy huevos rancheros casserole can be served for Sunday brunch with family or a weeknight dinner.

31of 31

Spinach and Feta Casserole

View Recipe

Our Best Casserole Recipes for Comforting Family Meals (31)

Spinach and feta is a classic combination that takes genius form in this vegetarian casserole recipe. A full two cups of cottage cheese bulk up the dish while providing mild cheesy flavor and extra calcium. Serve as a hearty side dish or as a vegetarian main dish.

Our Best Casserole Recipes for Comforting Family Meals (2024)

FAQs

What is the best casserole for sympathy? ›

Types of suitable dishes include:

Savory Pies: Quebec meat pie, Chicken Pot Pie, Quiche, Steak Pie. Casseroles: Lasagna, Macaroni & cheese, Tuna noodle casserole, Shepherd's pie – turkey, beef or vegetarian

What is the key to making 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.
Nov 1, 2021

What are 3 benefits to making casseroles for a family? ›

Why You Should Be Cooking More Casseroles
  • They're versatile. For every set of tastebuds, there's a casserole to match. ...
  • They can be nutritious. ...
  • They're easy, from prep through cleanup. ...
  • They feed a crowd. ...
  • They're transportable and gift-able.

What is the best meal to make for a grieving family? ›

Like soup, chilli and stews are warming, comforting and nourishing. They're also easy to make in large batches so you can feed a grieving family for multiple days.

What is the best food to make for a grieving family? ›

12 Good Dishes To Make For Sympathy Meals
  • MAC & CHEESES. This comfort food is one of the best options for a sympathy meal, especially if the grieving family has young children. ...
  • LASAGNA. Almost everyone loves lasagna. ...
  • MEATLOAF. ...
  • FRUIT SALAD. ...
  • BAKED ZITI. ...
  • SPAGHETTI IN TOMATO SAUCE. ...
  • CHILI. ...
  • FUNERAL POTATOES.
Dec 26, 2021

What are 5 components of a casserole? ›

Let's talk anatomy: A standard dinner casserole usually includes a protein, a starch, a vegetable, a sauce (or other binding ingredient), and cheese. But making a casserole is not an exact science, and you can definitely break away from this formula. Check out some fun side-dish casseroles and desserts below!

Do I bake my casserole covered or uncovered? ›

Uncovering the foods promotes browning and crisping, and reduces the amount of liquid in the finished dish. If a casserole looks soupy when it's ready to bake, bake it uncovered unless the ingredients include pasta or rice, which absorb liquid.

What is the most useful casserole dish size? ›

A 9-inch by 13-inch rectangular casserole dish is the most versatile. Recipes that serve six to eight people will likely call for a casserole or baking dish of this size.

How cooking can make family happy? ›

Cooking together as a family does much more than put food on the table. It offers a “time to talk, listen and build family relationships,” says Angela Ginn in ScienceDaily. When we cook with family, it can be a very rewarding experience and helps to increase feelings of connection.

Which food do you enjoy cooking with your parents and why? ›

EXPLANATION: Anything that is made by my mother is really enjoyable for me. Whether it be Indian, Chinese or some confectionery food items like cake, pastry, cookies etc. everything that is being cooked by my parents is really amazing for me.

Why do people love casseroles? ›

Casseroles are terrifically easy to cook and result in few dirty dishes. They take the guesswork out of timing various side dishes. They're made almost entirely out of shelf-stable ingredients.

What is the oldest known casserole? ›

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

What dishes are considered a casserole? ›

Types of Casseroles

Main dish casseroles include hotdish, a Midwestern staple. Side-dish casseroles may include green bean casserole, mac and cheese, kugels, and gratins. Breakfast casseroles include strata, baked French toast, and bread pudding.

What are the basics of a casserole? ›

There are 3 main parts that make up a casserole: the starchy base, the filling, and the sauce. The base: The starchy base is the foundation of the casserole.

What are some good dishes to take to a funeral? ›

Some of the most well-loved dishes include:
  • Bread and dinner rolls.
  • Casseroles such as meatball casserole and tuna casserole.
  • Funeral potatoes, scalloped potatoes, and other funeral potato recipes.
  • Mac and cheese.
  • Deviled Eggs.
  • Cookies, cake, and apple pie.
Nov 30, 2022

What is the best thing to send for sympathy? ›

Sometimes the best thing you can send someone who is grieving is food. If you aren't sure of what they like, you can send them an e-gift card for this popular meal delivery service with a custom amount so they can order dinner, desserts or an ingredient kit at their leisure.

What do you eat when you're grieving? ›

A well-balanced diet is essential as you withstand the stress of grieving. That means eating plenty of vegetables, fruits, and lean proteins, and drinking plenty of water and other healthy liquids. If your appetite is diminished, try eating small portions more frequently.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Twana Towne Ret

Last Updated:

Views: 5766

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (64 voted)

Reviews: 87% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Twana Towne Ret

Birthday: 1994-03-19

Address: Apt. 990 97439 Corwin Motorway, Port Eliseoburgh, NM 99144-2618

Phone: +5958753152963

Job: National Specialist

Hobby: Kayaking, Photography, Skydiving, Embroidery, Leather crafting, Orienteering, Cooking

Introduction: My name is Twana Towne Ret, I am a famous, talented, joyous, perfect, powerful, inquisitive, lovely person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.