23 Best Casserole Recipes

A good casserole recipe can be a lifesaver on a busy night when the last thing you want to do is cook. From dinner to breakfast, these meals are are simple, delicious and easy to make ahead or freeze for later.

I have a long list of recipes that I make on a regular basis, like my crowd favorite Mexican Chicken Casserole. They are all super easy and real crowd pleasers, which is important in my picky family! Busy families need easy recipes, so I’ve got a delicious list of simple classics and new favorites that your whole family will enjoy.

THE BEST CASSEROLE RECIPES

1. Cheesy Crack Chicken – Deliciously cheesy and loaded with tender chicken and topped with crispy bacon.
2. Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole – With tender chunks of chicken in a creamy sauce with a crunchy, buttery Ritz cracker topping.
3. Turkey and Stuffing – Creamy and delicious, made with veggies and shredded turkey or chicken in a homemade sauce and topped with crunchy stuffing. Perfect for using up leftovers!
4. Chicken Cordon Bleu – A fun spin on a classic meal, made with chicken, ham, and pasta topped with a creamy cheese sauce.
5. French Onion Chicken with Green Beans – Tender chicken and pasta in a creamy, homemade french onion based sauce with loads of veggies. Total comfort food!
6. Keto Chicken Casserole – Made with chicken thighs and veggies, this easy recipe is totally diet friendly!
7. Chicken Spaghetti – A delicious and satisfying baked spaghetti made with simple, fresh ingredients.
8. Skillet Garlic Chicken and Rice – Not all casseroles are baked; this Chicken and Rice Casserole is a simple go-to chicken dinner that is cooked right on your stovetop.
9. Turkey Shepherd Pie (or Chicken) – A great use for leftovers, this Shepherd’s Pie is made with turkey or chicken instead of beef.
10. Beefy Country Potato – A family friendly meal made with cheese, potatoes, beef and corn.
11. King Ranch Chicken – This classic potluck dish is creamy, cheesy and packs a kick.
12. Italian Noodle Casserole – a healthier version of an old school baked Italian pasta recipe with creamy noodles, meaty sauce and bubbly cheese.
13. Biscuits and Gravy – Perfect for breakfast or dinner, with a creamy sausage gravy and tender, flaky biscuits.
14. Chicken and Waffles – A classic southern recipe made into a casserole – this one is a must try!
15. Skillet Chicken Pot Pie – Delicious comfort food in an incredibly creamy sauce that’s made in about 30 minutes.
16. Spinach Artichoke Pasta Bake – Spinach dip meets pasta in this cheesy dish.
17. Chicken Tetrazzini – Fettuccine noodles, chicken, mushrooms and peas baked into a creamy, cheesy sauce that’s full of flavor.
18. Spaghetti Western Chili – Chili meets spaghetti in this hearty, beefy dish.
19. Sloppy Joe Tater Tot Pie – Beef and veggies make up the base of this tater tot and cheese topped skillet meal.
20. The Best Tuna Casserole – Everyone needs a fantastic tuna casserole recipe, and this is it!
21. Dorito Taco Salad Casserole – The added crunch from the Doritos put this beefy casserole dish over the top!
22. Chicken Alfredo Baked Ziti – With a simple Alfredo sauce and loads of chicken and pasta, this is a sure winner, winner, chicken dinner!
23. Layered Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas – No more time-consuming rolling! These enchiladas are layered in a dish and baked until bubbly.

WHAT ARE THE THREE MAIN PARTS OF A CASSEROLE?

1. Protein. This is the main ingredient in the dish, and provides the base for the recipe. It can be meat like chicken, turkey, ground beef, fish or pork, or cheese in shredded or cubed form.
2. The second component helps to thicken and dish and make it a little more substantial; usually a starch like potatoes, rice or pasta.
3. Finally a casserole needs a binder, or something to hold it together. Often this is a thickened sauce or gravy, eggs or a cream soup.

DO YOU HAVE TO COOK A CASSEROLE BEFORE FREEZING IT?

One of the brilliant things about these baked meals is that you can make it and freeze it to cook at a later date. This is why people love to make them for friends in need you can prep it and drop it off and they can cook it when they are ready. But do you need to to cook that casserole before freezing it?

• Casseroles with a lot of liquid, or creamy sauces will be best baked and then frozen.
• If the casserole starts out fairly dry, then overcooking by baking, freezing, then baking again can make the dish less than desirable.
• It’s important to remember that meats used in a casserole recipe should be cooked first.

HOW TO FREEZE A CASSEROLE

The best way to freeze a casserole is to bake it first, let it cool completely, then stick it in the freezer. There are a few ways you can do this:

1. Freeze the casserole in the same pan you cooked it in. For this method I recommend using a disposable foil pan since you may not want to put your favorite casserole dish in the freezer for a month. This is also handy for delivering to friends.
2. If you don’t want to leave the casserole in the pan in the freezer, flash freeze for easy storing. Let the casserole cool after baking, then stick it in the freezer. Once it’s completely frozen, pop it out of the dish and wrap it in foil and plastic wrap, then in foil again to prevent freezer burn. If it will fit, slide the frozen meal into a freezer bag. Don’t forget to label everything!

To reheat, unwrap and place it back into the dish you cooked it in, let it thaw in the fridge overnight, then bake again until warm and bubbly.