Our Easy Casserole Recipes Are Just Right for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner (2024)

Casseroles are the epitome of ease and simplicity, and will never go out of style. Whether a timeless favorite, like tuna noodle casserole, or an inspired take on a classic, any of our easy casserole recipes will hit the spot. Why are casseroles so popular? They're always comforting to eat and filling to boot—not to mention that most can be prepared ahead of time and baked when you need them. Better yet, you serve them right from the dish they're made in, making cleanup a snap when the meal is finished.

And casseroles aren't just for dinner. Sure, they're a welcome way to get supper on the table quickly, but we consider anything from a vegetable-packed egg bake for lunch or a sweet breakfast French toast to fit into the casserole category. Give one of these delicious recipes a try this week.

8 Mistakes to Avoid for Casserole Perfection

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Colcannon Shepherd's Pie

Our Easy Casserole Recipes Are Just Right for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner (1)

A creamy combination of mashed potatoes and Savoy cabbage sits atop this classic meat-based casserole. The simple, hearty topping makes something special out of an otherwise simple dish.

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02of 28

Eggplant Meatball Casserole

Our Easy Casserole Recipes Are Just Right for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner (2)

These meatballs are made with eggplant, so they're perfect for Meatless Monday and beyond. They're cooked in an easy homemade tomato sauce before they're topped with plenty of mozzarella cheese.

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03of 28

Pepperoni Pasta Bake

Our Easy Casserole Recipes Are Just Right for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner (3)

Pepperoni pizza meets stuffed shells? Say no more! This easy casserole recipe has a generous amount of zucchini is hidden in each bite, but you'll be too busy enjoying all of the meaty pepperoni slices and gooey mozzarella and ricotta cheeses to notice.

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04of 28

Cheddar, Beef, and Potato Casserole

Our Easy Casserole Recipes Are Just Right for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner (4)

This dish is the solution to the question, what's for dinner? Sautéed onions, ground beef, and mushrooms add bulk, along with frozen mixed vegetables and cheddar cheese. The topping, frozen hash browns, is crisped up under the broiler.

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05of 28

Baked Shells and Broccoli With Ham and Cheesy-Creamy Cauliflower Sauce

Our Easy Casserole Recipes Are Just Right for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner (5)

Plenty of broccoli (and an entire head of cauliflower) add fiber and other nutrients to this comforting casserole. A topping of crunchy, golden brown breadcrumbs is the perfect complement to the creamy texture of the dish.

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06of 28

Chicken Divan

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A creamy, cheesy sauce brings together the chicken, broccoli, and mushrooms in this classic casserole. Using panko breadcrumbs on top adds just the right amount of crunch.

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07of 28

Cheesy Spinach-Potato Egg Casserole

This vegetarian casserole is savory and satisfying thanks to a combination of Yukon gold potatoes, curly-leaf spinach, and plenty of fontina cheese. It can be baked and served in the same dish, which makes entertaining so much easier.

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08of 28

Turkey-Pastrami Croque-Madame Casserole

Our Easy Casserole Recipes Are Just Right for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner (8)

Feed your family this crowd-friendly casserole inspired by a French ham-and-cheese sandwich for breakfast or dinner. Swap the turkey pastrami for ham if you prefer but don't skip the fried egg on top of each portion—or the sprinkling of chives.

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09of 28

Broccoli-Cheddar Hash-Brown Casserole

Our Easy Casserole Recipes Are Just Right for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner (9)

Sure to lure even laggards out of bed in the morning, this crowd-pleaser combines shredded cheddar cheese, Dijon mustard, and Greek yogurt with grated potatoes and broccoli for an irresistible meal, morning, noon, or night.

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10of 28

Baked Blueberry French Toast Casserole

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Making French toast casserole is so much easier than standing at the stove flipping each slice one by one. We used rich, buttery brioche for this dish. It will absorb the custard as it soaks overnight.

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11of 28

Salmon Noodle Casserole

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Serve this twist on an all-American classic for lunch or dinner. Chopped scallions and plenty of fresh dill add brightness and color to the creamy pasta.

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Broccoli Casserole

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Move over, green bean casserole. The base for this popular side is made with Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, sour cream, and gouda cheese. Then, broccoli is folded into the mixture before it's topped with crackers and baked until golden brown.

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13of 28

Taco Casserole

Our Easy Casserole Recipes Are Just Right for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner (13)

Nachos meet tacos in this 30-minute casserole. Sauté ground beef, bell peppers, and onions with aromatics like tomato paste, spices, tomatoes, and pinto beans, then top with tortilla chips and a combination of Monterey jack and cheddar cheese. Who could resist?

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14of 28

Three-Pepper Corn Casserole

Corn casserole is an all-American favorite. This recipe spices things up by adding minced chipotle in adobo and pepper jack cheese to the creamy corn mixture.

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15of 28

Meatball Casserole

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This easy-to-make and easy-to-love casserole uses a combination of ground pork and ground beef. Plenty of mozzarella cheese is scattered on top and melted to ooey, gooey perfection.

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16of 28

Tuna-Noodle Casserole With Cauliflower

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We've upgraded this nostalgic side dish with a better-for-you twist—cauliflower florets add texture and heft to the creamy casserole.

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17of 28

Cinnamon-Raisin French Toast Casserole

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Make quick work of breakfast with this French toast casserole you can assemble the night before and bake the morning of. A cinnamon-spiced custard and plenty of raisins give the dish the flavor of sweet cinnamon toast.

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18of 28

Creamy Chicken and Rice Casserole

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Talk about easy! This casserole is on the table in 40 minutes. It uses favorite shortcut ingredients like pre-cooked rice, frozen peas, and store-bought rotisserie chicken to streamline prep.

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19of 28

Sweet Potato Casserole

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This qualifies as the ultimate Thanksgiving casserole, but we love it year-round. Sweet potatoes are boiled until fork-tender, then transferred to a baking dish and topped with mini marshmallows.

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20of 28

Vegetarian Shepherd's Pie

Our Easy Casserole Recipes Are Just Right for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner (20)

Cremini mushrooms and green lentils take the place of ground beef in this cold-weather casserole. It's super savory and it will feed a crowd.

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21of 28

Baked Mac and Cheese With Broiled Tomatoes

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Macaroni and cheese is delicious on its own, but cover it with breadcrumbs and bake it, and it's a whole new ball game. Kids and adults alike will enjoy the sliced tomato topping.

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22of 28

Lasagna With Meat Sauce

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Making lasagna is a process, but so worth it. Our go-to recipe keeps things simple by using no-boil noodles. We use a combination of lean ground beef and sweet Italian sausage for the filling, plus a trio of ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan for a creamy layer of cheese.

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23of 28

Panettone French Toast Casserole

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Here's the delicious answer to Christmas leftovers. Slices of panettone—the Italian holiday fruit bread—are submerged in a classic French toast custard and baked until puffed and golden brown.

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Sweet Potato and Sage-Butter Casserole

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Whipped sweet potatoes are decadent and indulgent beneath a layer of breadcrumbs. Chopped fresh sage adds warm, earthy notes to this perfect side dish casserole.

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25of 28

Hash-Brown Casserole

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Start your morning off with this easy-to-put-together breakfast casserole. Potatoes, scallions, shredded cheddar cheese, Cubanelle peppers, and sweet Italian sausage are combined for a truly hearty dish that's sure to satisfy.

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26of 28

Mushroom and Black Bean Tortilla Casserole

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A mixture of cremini mushrooms, black beans, and salsa is layered with halved tortillas and shredded Monterey jack cheese for a stellar vegetarian casserole.

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27of 28

Susan's Manicotti

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This easy casserole recipe is one you'l want to make on repeat. Manicotti pasta shells are filled with mozzarella, ricotta, and Parmesan cheese and topped with marinara sauce—and a bit more cheese—for an indulgent dinner.

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Sweet-Potato Shepherd's Pie

Our Easy Casserole Recipes Are Just Right for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner (28)

Swap the usual Yukon gold or russet potatoes topping of Shepherd's pie for sweet potatoes; it's a clever riff that tastes as good as it looks. The filling is made with ground beef, cremini mushrooms, Pilsner-style beer, and Dijon mustard

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Our Easy Casserole Recipes Are Just Right for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner (2024)

FAQs

What do you use casserole dish for? ›

Casserole dishes are used to bake things like lasagna or tater tot hotdish or mac and cheese… basically, dishes that you want to stay warm as guests help themselves to seconds after cleaning their first plate.

What are the 3 components of 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, ...

What makes something a casserole? ›

The term “casserole” can refer to any dish prepared in a casserole dish—essentially a deep, wide baking dish—and baked in the oven. A casserole can have layers, as in the case of an Italian lasagna or a deep-dish pizza, or composed of some evenly distributed combination of veggies, a protein, and a starchy binder.

Is a casserole a one-dish meal? ›

A casserole is a one-dish meal that's baked and served from a sturdy baking dish that's itself known as a casserole. Casseroles can be main courses or side dishes like gratins or the famous Thanksgiving green bean casserole.

What makes a good casserole dish? ›

Choose the right baking dish

Any ovenproof dish will do, including those made of ceramic, metal or glass. Just remember that ceramic heats up slower than metal or glass, which may affect the total cooking time. So if you're in a rush, go with metal or glass.

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 is the oldest known casserole? ›

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

Are casseroles an American thing? ›

The concept of a casserole is not exclusive to America; however, its adaptation and popularity within the country are noteworthy. The term "casserole" itself is derived from the French word "casse," meaning a large spoon or ladle, highlighting the utensil used to serve the dish.

Is lasagna considered a casserole? ›

While lasagna may not share the same ingredients as what comes to mind when you picture a typical casserole, it is not only the type of food within the dish that defines it. Any one-dish meal that is cooked in the oven in a wide, deep dish (or, casserole dish) is by definition a casserole.

What was the original casserole? ›

Casserole history

Apparently, casseroles originated as communal pots that people shared for meals. The oldest recipe for a casserole, around 1250, consisted of pasta sheets cooked in water, layered with grated cheese and spices.

Should you cover casserole when baking? ›

The primary reason for covering a casserole as it bakes is to trap moisture inside the dish. This will not only keep the casserole itself moist, but it will also help get the casserole up to cooking temperature.

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 do Americans call a casserole? ›

Some may say the word "casserole" refers to the name of the dish it's cooked in, while “hotdish” is the meal itself.

How many people does one casserole feed? ›

Figure approximately eight (8) one and a half (1½) ounce servings per pound. For bony meats such as chicken and bone-in roasts, loss is greater at 35% or more and would yield only four (4) to six (6) servings per pound. Be sure to state the serving size and total number of servings on your recipe.

What are the 5 parts of a casserole? ›

Not every single casserole has all of them, but as a rule of thumb, here's what to look for: a starch, a binding agent or sauce, and a protein or vegetable. Many casseroles also have both vegetables and proteins, as well as a crunchy element to give some textural contrast, and cheese.

Is a casserole dish the same as a baking dish? ›

Is a casserole dish the same as a baking dish? A casserole dish is a type of baking dish, but not all baking dishes are casserole dishes. Typically, a casserole dish is a large rectangular vessel that's oven-safe and can hold larger recipes like lasagna or another type of one-dish meal.

What is the difference between a casserole dish and a baking pan? ›

Baking Dishes—those made of porcelain, glass, or ceramic—are slow to heat and don't provide a lot of browning. Baking pans, on the other hand, are made of metal or tin and conduct heat quicker than baking dishes. Baking Dishes can withstand extreme oven temperatures, while baking pans may warp under high heat.

What is the difference between a dish and a casserole? ›

Definition: Casserole is the name of the dish used to cook with, whereas hot dish is the meal itself. Ingredients: Casseroles can contain any ingredients under the sun practically, where hot dishes have set ingredients they have to have.

What is the difference between a pan and a casserole? ›

Those which are made of aluminum or other metal are often referred to as baking “pans” rather than dishes. A baking dish is sometimes called a casserole dish. This is a square vs. rectangle situation: a baking dish is always a casserole dish, but a casserole dish is not always a baking dish.

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