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Casseroles are comfort food at their finest! Delicious, quick, and easy, they are definitely one of my go-to meals whether it’s for my own family or bringing some hot dinner over to a friend!
There is nothing more delicious and comforting than pulling off the tinfoil of a hot and steaming casserole dish. The flavors of every casserole I have ever tried are all so different which is a huge reason why I love them! But the best part is that most of the time, I have all of the ingredients for casseroles ready to go in my kitchen. Top that convenience off with the fact that they are so easy and quick to make and it’s no wonder why I keep coming back for more!
Casseroles always remind me of bringing food to a sick neighbor or a friend in need. That’s why they get the reputation of the ultimate comfort food! I love them so much because you can also make them ahead and freeze them. That way I can do some extra food prep and have meals ready to go in my freezer for those crazy busy days. It’s convenient AND delicious all in one! I’ve rounded up some of my very favorite tried and true recipes that you and your family are sure to love!!
Quick Cooking Tips
Casseroles are easy and delicious, but you can do a few things to make them even better! I’ve come up with a few tips you can review before cooking to help you out!
Fill it up: When making your recipe, the rule of thumb is to fill your casserole dish up about 3/4 full. If you overfill it, you can cause it to bubble over, but if you underfill it, the ingredients can dry out!
Cover it: Make sure that when you go to cover your casserole, you do it tightly. Check that there are no leaks because this will lead to the heat escaping, and it won’t cook properly.
Chop: When you are chopping your vegetables, keep in mind that they should all be the same size. This helps them all cook thoroughly and evenly!
Pasta: If your recipe uses pasta, make sure to undercook it before putting it in your casserole. If you cook it to the “Al Dente” instructions on your packaging, it will undercook your pasta, allowing it to finish cooking while you bake your casserole. Then your pasta won’t come out soggy!
Use fresh vegetables: I know that using frozen vegetables is tempting to throw into a casserole but don’t do it! They have a lot of water in them and will cause it to turn soggy. Fresh vegetables are best!
How to Store Casseroles or Make them Ahead
Casseroles make the absolute best leftovers. I love how easy they are to reheat! Or, you can also cook a casserole ahead of time and freeze it. It’s a fantastic way to have some extra meals on hand when you need them.
Refrigerate: Before placing it in the fridge, you must wait until your casserole is fully cooled. Then, you can cover it with foil or put it in an airtight container. It can be kept in the fridge for up to 4 days!
Freeze: Bake your casserole in a container that can be taken straight from the freezer to oven. (You can try using those disposable foil pans. Then, if you are making this for someone else, you don’t need to worry about getting your dish back!) Once it is baked, let it cool. Cover it with foil until it is airtight and write the date on it. Your meal can last in the freezer for up to 4 months!
Thaw: If you freeze your meal, take it out and thaw it overnight in your fridge.
Reheat: Cook your casserole at the baking temperature listed on the recipe for about 20-30 minutes or until heated through.
Crack Chicken Casserole
4.88 from 8 votes
Crack chicken casserole is creamy, cheesy, bacon-filled goodness that your family is going to want on repeat. It’s the perfect comfort food and ready in 30 minutes!
Cowboy casserole is a family favorite made with seasoned ground beef in a creamy sauce, corn, cheese, and topped with crispy tater tots. It's irresistible!
This five-ingredient cornbread casserole can be prepped and ready to go in the oven in less than five minutes. It's packed with sweet, juicy corn and fluffy cornbread and tastes amazing! You can make this side dish for the holidays, to go with your favorite chili or any weeknight dinner.
Hearty, savory, and super satisfying, Super Easy Sausage and Biscuit Casserole is the perfect morning meal. This is a quick favorite and when you see how effortless it is you'll make it all the time.
This tuna noodle casserole is a family favorite that is filled with thick noodles, vegetables and tender chunks of tuna fish. All baked together in one pan in 30 minutes!
The Best Breakfast Casserole is a thick and creamy egg base with shredded potatoes, chunks of ham and flavorful cheese blends that bakes up in no time. Make ahead or enjoy the morning of during the holidays!
This Turkey Mediterranean Casserole features artichokes, fusilli pasta, sun dried tomatoes and Lindsay® Kalamata Olives baked in a red tomato sauce and topped with Lindsay® Chopped Black Olives. Simple, delicious ingredients in 30 minutes!
Broccoli Casserole. This cheesy, casserole is loaded up with fresh tender broccoli florets and baked in a homemade creamy cheese sauce, and topped with crispy buttered Panko crumbs. This casserole is sure to be a highlight!
The best sweet potato casserole is smooth and creamy, sprinkled with a brown sugar pecan mixture. It's a sweet and savory side dish that is perfect for the holidays!
Green bean casserole uses fresh mushrooms salted with onions and garlic, topped with crispy onions, and loaded with fresh, crunchy green beans! This might be your favorite dish next Thanksgiving!
All of the goodness of chicken parmesan packed into a delicious cheesy casserole! Crispy chicken, marinara sauce, penne pasta, and cheese come together in this easy to make dish!
Easy Teriyaki Chicken Casserole is a simple casserole made with homemade teriyaki sauce, vegetable stir fry and rice that's all baked to perfection. A savory dish that everyone loves!
This recipe is the best way to use up that yellow summer squash! Squash casserole is a great way to use up fresh squash from your garden. Easy to make with a creamy, cheesy filling and a crispy, buttery topping!
Caramel Apple French Toast Casserole is a sweet and savory breakfast with thick chunks of cinnamon swirl bread, warm apples and caramel drizzle that brings comfort to your family in one morning!
No Peek Chicken and Rice Casserole is full of comfort and tender, fall apart chicken overtopping a flavorful rice that makes this meal a family favorite! Baking to perfection with the warm, steam cooking the chicken and rice to perfection.
This Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole is an easy casserole, packed with flavor and perfect for breakfast or even dinner! Packed with eggs, sausage, peppers, spinach, cheese and topped with a layer of tater tots.
Poppy seed chicken casserole is such a classic dish that is incredibly easy to make! A creamy chicken casserole topped with a buttery ritz topping; this will be the best casserole that you ever make!
Easy Sausage and Rice Casserole is simple to make and big on flavor! Sausage, rice, celery, and onions all baked in a creamy sauce and the result will wow the entire family!
Slow Cooker Mexican Chorizo Egg Casserole is so quick and easy to put together and packed with big flavor! Hashbrowns, cheese, and eggs get loaded up with black beans, corn, and chorizo to make one delicious breakfast!
This leftover turkey casserole is creamy and delicious! Made with your leftover turkey, it's the easiest recipe to make just after Thanksgiving! It's SOO GOOD!
This chicken tetrazzini casserole is packed with delicious flavors and textures. It has hearty chicken, tender mushrooms, peas, and pasta, all tossed in a creamy, rich sauce. The casserole is topped with crispy, buttery breadcrumbs and a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese with the most irresistible crunch and flavor.
Slow Cooker Breakfast Casserole. This quick and easy to put together breakfast can cook in the slow cooker overnight while you’re sleeping!! There’s nothing better than waking up to the smell of a homemade breakfast already made. This casserole is loaded up with sausage, diced hash browns, eggs and cheese.
Cheddar Garlic Mashed Potato Casserole is loaded with creamy mashed potatoes, garlic and cheddar. The flavor is incredible and they can even be made the night before!
This overnight eggs benedict casserole is super easy to make and loaded with flavor! With layers of English muffins and Canadian bacon, all topped with a zesty hollandaise sauce, breakfast doesn’t get better than this!
Creamy alfredo sauce with chicken, pasta, artichokes, and spinach come together in this incredible casserole! This will be one that the entire family is going to love!
My favorite homemade garlic alfredo sauce is combined with pesto giving this casserole amazing flavor! It is creamy and delicious and sure to be a hit at the dinner table!
Alyssa Rivers is the author of 'The Tried and True Cookbook', a professional food photographer and experienced recipe-developer. Having a passion for cooking, her tried and true recipes have been featured on Good Morning America, Today Food, Buzzfeed and more.