Casserole Recipes to Write Home About

Casserole Recipes to Write Home About

With cooler weather on the way, many of us are daydreaming about delicious, bubbling casseroles on a cold night. In addition to being a warm and comforting meal, they’re also quick and easy, making them perfect for your weekly meal prep. Most of the magic happens in the oven, giving you time to help with homework or get the bags together for the big game. To help you create a quick and comforting meal plan, we’ve gathered some of our favorite comforting casseroles along with some tips on how to create casseroles your whole family will love.

Choosing the Right Dish

One of the most important parts of any casserole is the dish you cook it in. Casserole dishes come in a variety of sizes and depths. The most important thing to remember when choosing your dish is the amount of browning you want. A large, shallow dish is going to give you more space to brown the casserole. Using a shallow casserole dish for a quick tater tot casserole is the perfect way to ensure crisp, browned edges that add texture and taste. Reserve your deeper dishes for something creamy like a layered gnocchi casserole.

Aside from size, you should also take the material of the cookware into account. Make sure you’re using an oven-safe dish, and keep in mind that ceramic heats up more slowly than glass or metal. If you’ve chosen a ceramic dish, give your casserole a little extra cook time.

Casseroles and Meal Prep: A Match Made in the Oven

Because of their hands-off, one-dish cooking method, casseroles are a great option for meal prepping. You can assemble them ahead of time and bake when needed for quick meals on busy weeknights.

Casseroles for Busy Mornings

What better way to start the morning than with a warm, nourishing casserole? Breakfast casserole recipes are an easy way to get a hot breakfast on the table in no time. For a delightfully nutritious breakfast, try a Roasted Vegetable Breakfast Casserole recipe or this Mexican Chorizo & Egg Breakfast Casserole.

Easy Casseroles for Lunch

Casseroles are a great option for busy weekend lunches or for feeding a crowd during the holidays. This Mexican-inspired sweet potato and turkey casserole is filled with melty cheese, warming spices and can be topped with tortilla chips for a crunchy bite. Or try a pork verde tamale casserole for something hearty and flavorful.

Dinner Casseroles Everyone Will Love

Casseroles are a great choice for weeknight meals. This quick and delicious baked ravioli casserole comes together in minutes with the help of frozen vegetables and your favorite jarred sauce. Or, you can serve up a cozy classic with this chicken and noodle casserole.

If you have an entrée ready to go and just need some simple sides, this skillet green bean casserole is always a family favorite. The time spent in the skillet adds additional browned edges to this dish, while the oven gets it nice and bubbly. Or, for a quick dip to serve up on game day or to stave off hunger while dinner is cooking, try this hearty French onion casserole skillet.

Tips for a Top-notch Casserole

No matter what kind of casserole you’re making, there are a few tips that transcend the boundaries of dishes and ingredients. To make sure that your casserole comes out just as crave-worthy as you want, follow these tips:

When in Doubt, Cover It.

If the top of your casserole is browning too fast or the casserole looks dry, it may be time to cover your dish. You can use foil or the lid your dish came with. Once your casserole has cooked and the internal temperature is where it should be, you can remove the lid and even set it under broil for the last few minutes if needed.

Uniformity is Key

When cutting up ingredients for your casserole, it’s important to make sure that they’re all similar sizes. This helps everything in your casserole to cook at the same rate.

Prep Like a Pro

Before assembling your casserole, you may need to prep some ingredients. If your dish calls for cooked pasta, like this cheesy baked ziti, make sure you’re undercooking it to avoid soggy pasta and a gummy casserole. Drain any meat that you make ahead of time to keep the grease from pooling or adding an oily taste to the dish. When using frozen vegetables, try to drain as much water from them as possible before adding them to the casserole.

Top It

Casseroles have, for the most part, a pretty uniform texture. Creamy and bubbling, they’re always a favorite comfort food. That being said, when a casserole serves as your whole meal, sometimes you want a little textural variety. Don’t be afraid to add toppings that can take your casserole up a notch. Crispy fried onions are perfect on top of a green bean casserole. Some crackers or even potato chips can be tossed on top of a tuna noodle casserole for a salty crunch. And a gooey enchilada casserole can always use some tortilla chips.

Craving More Comfort Meals?

Check out our blog for more chicken casseroles, recipes and meal planning ideas to help make your weeknights a breeze.