15 Easy Casserole Recipes for Family Dinners

Easy Meals That Your Family Will Love: One-Dish Meals

Healthy and delicious meals take time to prepare, and you might not have time to do it. Dinner can turn into a frantic time rush in-between work, school things, and everyday chores. Casserole recipes save the day there.

These wizard one-dish miracles address several issues simultaneously. They are cheap, nourish huge families, and leave little to clean. Most importantly, you can prepare casseroles in advance and freeze them to use during hectic weeknights.

These 15 simple casserole recipes will change the way you cook dinner, whether you are a cooking novice or an at-home chef. All of these recipes consist of easy-to-find ingredients that you are likely to have in your kitchen. And, the majority of them require less than 30 minutes to prepare.

The Reason Why Families Prefer Casserole Dishes

Families have been eating casseroles since time immemorial, and there is a good reason why they are popular. These family-friendly meals have viable solutions to the time and budget limitations of a modern family.

Money-Saving Benefits

Casserole recipes are a way of stretching meat and other costly foods such as cheese. Most of these recipes will only cost you less than $15 to feed a family of six. Filling meals are made of ground meat, pasta, rice, and vegetables and will not hurt the wallet.

The leftovers also save lunch money. The best things to prepare in advance are most casseroles because they always taste better the next day.

Time-Saving Advantages

Busy parents are fond of casseroles as they prepare them at home. After you have put the dish in the oven you can do homework, do laundry or just relax. No standing before the stove stirring and flipping needed.

A lot of casserole recipes can be prepared in the morning and baked on your arrival home. Others can even be frozen up to three months.

Quick and Delicious Casserole Recipe Collection

Traditional Tuna Noodle Casserole

This is a comfort food made of soft egg noodles, tuna and peas. It can be done in only 45 minutes start to finish.

Ingredients:

• 12 oz egg noodles
• 2 cans tuna in water
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 1 cup shredded cheese
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs

Prepare noodles in the way they are packaged. Combine all ingredients but breadcrumbs in a greased 9×13 baking dish. Place breadcrumbs on top and bake at 350°F.

Cheesy Broccoli Rice Casserole

Children who despise vegetables will even request a second helping of this cheesy-creamy food. It is full of nutrition and tastes like comfort food.

The main ingredients are brown rice, frozen broccoli, cream of chicken soup and abundant cheddar cheese. The secret is that chicken broth is used to cook the rice rather than water, to give it a more flavorful taste.

Mexican Enchilada Casserole

This layered masterpiece carries the taste of restaurants to your kitchen. Tortillas made of corn, spiced ground beef, beans and cheese make a fiesta in each bite.

It is easy to assemble: Tortillas, meat mixture, beans, cheese – repeat twice. Add salsa on top and bake 30 minutes. Pair with sour cream and fresh cilantro.

King Ranch Chicken Casserole

This is a Texas favorite that is made by placing chicken, peppers, onions and cheese between corn tortillas. It is a cross between enchiladas and chicken casserole.

Pro tip: Rotisserie chicken will reduce half of the time spent on prep. The smoky taste gives this already tasty preparation additional flavor.

Shepherd’s Pie Casserole

This is an easy update of traditional shepherd’s pie. The vegetables are topped with ground beef and covered with creamy mashed potatoes that are baked to golden perfection.

Time-saving tip: Quickly assemble instant mashed potatoes. Melt butter and milk to a creamy consistency that is identical to homemade.

Beef and Rice Casserole

This is a savory dish made of ground beef, rice, and vegetables in one pot. All the food is cooked in one pot and cleaning up is simple.

The secret ingredient is beef broth, which gives the rice an awesome flavor throughout its baking time in the oven.

Italian Sausage Pasta Bake

This casserole is irresistible because it consists of spicy Italian sausage, marinara sauce and three varieties of cheese. It is similar to lasagna except that it is much simpler to prepare.

Penne or rigatoni pasta is best as it will contain the sauce and the cheese. Fresh basil gives a hint of authentic Italian flavor.

Hamburger Hash Brown Casserole

This is comfort food that is made of frozen hash browns, ground beef, and cheese. It is ideal for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Healthy up by including diced bell peppers and onions. The vegetables bring color, nutrition and crunch.

Chicken-Based Family Favorites

Chicken and Mushroom Casserole

Tender slices of chicken breast are cooked in a thick mushroom sauce with egg noodles. This fancy casserole recipe is elegant and yet made out of simple ingredients.

The taste of fresh mushrooms is a lot different than that of canned mushrooms. They should be sautéed first to dry them.

Buffalo Chicken Dip Casserole

Make any favorite party dip a meal. Pasta, cream cheese, shredded chicken and buffalo sauce make a spicy and satisfying meal.

To cool down the heat, add a dollop of ranch dressing or crumbles of blue cheese on top.

Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole

This healthy casserole is a way to get vegetables into kids’ diets. A creamy cheese sauce holds chicken, broccoli and rice together. For more nutritious family meal ideas, check out our collection at FitFuel Blog for balanced recipes that everyone will love.

Use frozen broccoli but thaw it out and drain it completely. Too much water will cause your casserole to be mushy.

Vegetarian-Friendly Casserole Recipes

Three-Bean Chili Casserole

This vegetarian dish is satisfying even to meat-lovers. Cornbread is layered over black beans, kidney beans and pinto beans.

The amount of spice can be easily changed by adding either more or less chili powder and cumin to your taste.

Spinach and Cheese Stuffed Shell Casserole

Ricotta, spinach and herbs stuffed jumbo pasta shells are layered with marinara and mozzarella. It’s like individual shell-shaped lasagnas.

Fresh spinach is better than frozen spinach since it does not shed much water when cooking.

Breakfast-Inspired Casserole Recipes

Overnight French Toast Casserole

Make this sweet casserole the night before and bake fresh in the morning. Slices of thick bread are soaked in custard overnight.

Texas toast or brioche bread produces the richest and most decadent texture. Garnish with maple syrup and fresh berries.

Sausage and Ham Egg Bake

This is a protein-packed breakfast meal that consists of breakfast sausage, eggs, bread, and cheese. It feeds a multitude and reheats to perfection.

Prepare single servings in muffin cups for grab-and-go breakfast foods during the week.

Smarter Meal Planning Featuring Casseroles

Weekly Menu Planning

Arrange casserole recipes according to your weekly schedule. Prepare dishes with long preparation times on weekends when you have spare time. Store prepared casseroles for hectic weekdays.

Establish a monthly schedule of favorite casseroles to help with decision fatigue. Children will anticipate Tuna Noodle Tuesday or Mexican Monday.

Freezer-Friendly Options

The majority of casseroles can be kept in a freezer and last up to three months. Prepare the dish and do not bake. Tightly wrap with plastic and aluminum foil.

Label all of them with contents and baking instructions. Put the date you made it and any special notes.

Casserole Quick Reference Chart

Casserole Type	Prep Time	Cook Time	Freezer Friendly	Serves
Tuna Noodle	15 min	25 min	Yes	6-8
Mexican Enchilada	20 min	30 min	Yes	8-10
Chicken Broccoli	25 min	35 min	Yes	6-8
Shepherd’s Pie	30 min	40 min	Yes	8-10
French Toast	15 min	45 min	No	8-12

Money-Saving Casserole Tips

Shopping Smart

Purchase in large quantities when you can. Rice, pasta, and canned goods can be stored and purchased in bulk more cheaply. Stock up when there is a sale and take advantage of couponing.

Most casserole recipes can be made using generic brands as well as name brands. Save money on staples such as pasta, rice and canned vegetables.

Ingredient Substitutions

Missing ingredients should not stop the process of making casserole recipes. Most recipes that use cream of chicken may use cream of mushroom soup instead. The various shapes of pasta are interchangeable.

The number of cheese substitutes is unlimited. All the meltable cheeses work: Cheddar, Swiss, Monterey jack or mozzarella.

Perfect Sides for Casserole Dinners

Simple Salad Ideas

Balance rich casseroles with fresh and crisp salads. A plain green salad with vinaigrette cuts through the creamy, cheesy flavors.

Try these easy combinations:

• Mixed greens with balsamic vinaigrette
• Caesar salad with homemade croutons
• Apple and walnut salad with honey dressing

Bread Pairings

Any casserole meal is completed with warm bread. Garlic bread is a good match for Italian-style casseroles. Cornbread pairs well with Mexican and southwestern food selections.

Homemade bread can be prepared even during a hectic night because of frozen bread dough. Simply thaw, roll, and bake as package instructions indicate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is it possible to prepare casseroles in advance? A: Yes! The majority of casseroles may be prepared 1-2 days earlier. Keep covered and refrigerated until baking time. When baking from cold, add 10-15 minutes to the cooking time.

Q: What do I do to keep my casserole from being watery? A: Squeeze out excess water from vegetables, particularly thawed frozen ones. Don’t omit pre-cooking ingredients such as onions that release moisture. Use a baking dish that is just the right size, or the casserole will be too thin.

Q: How do you reheat leftover casseroles? A: Cover with foil and reheat in an oven at 350°F until warmed through. Individual portions can be reheated in the microwave. Add a splash of broth or milk if the casserole appears to be dry.

Q: Can you double casserole recipes? A: The majority of casserole recipes are easy to double. Use a larger baking dish, or prepare a second casserole. The cooking time may take 10-20 minutes longer for bigger portions.

Q: What is the best way to tell when a casserole is fully cooked? A: It should be hot and bubbly throughout. Melted cheese on top should be golden-brown. Insert a knife in the center – it should come out hot.

Q: What vegetables work best in casseroles? A: Broccoli, carrots and bell peppers are hardy vegetables that can withstand baking. Leafy greens such as spinach should be cooked and squeezed dry. Zucchini and mushrooms contain water and therefore should be sautéed first.

For more detailed information on selecting the best vegetables for cooking, check out this comprehensive guide from the USDA.

Build Family Memories to Last

These 15 simple casserole recipes will become part of your regular meal rotation. Every meal is a gathering of the family at the dinner table without spending hours in the kitchen.

Begin with easy dishes such as tuna noodle and chicken and rice casseroles. Keep trying out new flavors and combinations of ingredients as you get more confident. Wholesome, delicious meals will please your family and you will appreciate the easier way of cooking.

It is important to remember that the finest casserole recipes are the ones your family wants to eat. Don’t worry about modifying the seasoning, changing the vegetables or adding more cheese to make it fit your family’s preferences. These recipes are not fixed rules.

With a little planning and these time-tested casserole recipes, you will never have to ask yourself “what’s for dinner?” again. Your family will appreciate these warming, filling meals that bring everyone together.