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.

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

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 »

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

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 »

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

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

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

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

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

5

Tex-Mex Tortilla Casserole

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

Get the recipe for Tex-Mex Tortilla Casserole »

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

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

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

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 »

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

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

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

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 »

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

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 »

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

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 »

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

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 »

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

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 »

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

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 »

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

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 »

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

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 »

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

17

Cheesy Baked Spinach and Feta Casserole

50 Best Casserole Recipes for the Ultimate Comfort Food (24)

Layers of matzo make this cheesy casserole light and unique.

Get the recipe from Woman's Day »

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

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

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

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 »

Advertisem*nt - Continue Reading Below

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

What is the ultimate comfort food? ›

For instance, the flank steak with cheesy hash brown waffles will be an immediate favorite, along with the pierogi and meatball skillet, French bread pizzas, and creamy cauliflower soup. For Ree Drummond, chicken pot pie is the one comfort food that just can't be beat.

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

How do you make a casserole taste better? ›

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.

How many different types of casseroles are there? ›

Casseroles
  • Rice Casserole.
  • Noodle Casserole.
  • Vegetable Casserole.
  • Healthy Casseroles.
  • Seafood Casserole.
  • Beef Casserole.
  • Chicken Casserole.
  • Pork Casserole.

What is America's #1 comfort food? ›

In actuality, Americans' favorite comfort food is ... Pizza!

What is the best comfort food of all time? ›

Our 20 all-time favorite comfort foods
  • 1 of 20. Chicken noodle soup. Joshua Resnick / shutterstock.com. ...
  • 2 of 20. Chicken pot pie. Charles Brutlag / shutterstock.com. ...
  • 3 of 20. Chicken tenders. ...
  • 4 of 20. Chili. ...
  • 5 of 20. Chocolate chip cookies. ...
  • 6 of 20. Cinnamon buns. ...
  • 7 of 20. Cornbread. ...
  • 8 of 20. Fries.
6 days ago

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.

How to make a casserole less rich? ›

If your food is too rich...

Add an acid such as lemon juice, lime juice, vinegar, or pickled vegetables (such as jalapeños).

What thickens a casserole? ›

The three main thickening agents for gravies are flour, cornflour and arrowroot. The first two are normally used in savoury dishes while arrowroot tends to be used in sweet dishes – that said, arrowroot will work in a savoury dish as it has no flavour.

What is the oldest known casserole? ›

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

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 must casseroles include? ›

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 do you consider the ultimate comfort food? ›

What Are the Top 10 Comfort Foods?
  • Burgers & French fries.
  • Cake and cheesecake.
  • Candy.
  • Chicken soup.
  • Grilled cheese.
  • Grits.
  • Ice cream.
  • Mac 'n' cheese.
Apr 11, 2023

What is the most soothing food? ›

Research has linked foods like avocado, oranges, or oysters to reduced feelings of anxiety. Drinks like water and 100% fruit juice can also be beneficial if you have a lot of anxiety and stress. Those foods and drinks contain antioxidants, minerals, and vitamins that help alleviate anxiety symptoms.

What are the best foods to eat for ultimate health? ›

Top 10 Foods for Health
  • Whole grains. ...
  • Beans and lentils. ...
  • Fish. ...
  • Berries. ...
  • Winter squash. ...
  • Soy. ...
  • Flaxseed, nuts and seeds. ...
  • Organic yogurt. Men and women between 19 and 50 years of age need 1000 milligrams of calcium a day and 1200 milligrams if 50 or older.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Pres. Carey Rath

Last Updated:

Views: 6247

Rating: 4 / 5 (61 voted)

Reviews: 92% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Pres. Carey Rath

Birthday: 1997-03-06

Address: 14955 Ledner Trail, East Rodrickfort, NE 85127-8369

Phone: +18682428114917

Job: National Technology Representative

Hobby: Sand art, Drama, Web surfing, Cycling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Leather crafting, Creative writing

Introduction: My name is Pres. Carey Rath, I am a faithful, funny, vast, joyous, lively, brave, glamorous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.