Casseroles To Make Every Month in 2021

By Southern Living Editors
Updated December 16, 2020
Credit: Photography and Styling: Caitlin Bensel

Southern cooks know casseroles are the secret to easy dinners, winning potluck dishes, and backup freezer meals. These seasonal recipes will keep your family full and happy every month this year. Whether you’re in need of a cozy supper for a chilly January night or a festive breakfast to wow on Christmas morning, these casserole recipes are great additions to your cooking bucket list for 2021.

From Skillet Chicken Pot Pie with Puff Pastry in January to Homestyle Ground Beef Casserole in May and Butternut Squash Lasagna in October, these hearty casserole recipes use the most of what’s in-season at the time. Plus, the kids will go crazy for fun casseroles like Sloppy Joe Casserole and Chicken-Bacon Ranch Casserole. When it’s time for dinner, Southerners can always rely on a simple, filling casserole recipe to get the job done. 

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January: Skillet Chicken Pot Pie with Puff Pastry

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Recipe: Skillet Chicken Pot Pie with Puff Pastry

With a new year comes new intentions, one of which is often the desire to cook more and try new recipes. This spin on old-fashioned chicken pot pie is the perfect place to start. Warm and comforting for a cold January night, the patchwork pastry top will wow your family and get them excited for a year of amazing dinners.

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February: French Onion Soup Casserole

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: French Onion Soup Casserole

What do Southern cooks do when they love a dish? Make it into a big-batch casserole. This warm and comforting recipe turns the classic soup into a cheesy baked dish. It just might become your new favorite dinner to serve on chilly nights. 

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March: Creamy Kale and Pasta Bake

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Creamy Kale and Pasta Bake

Showcase fresh green kale in this crowd-pleasing pasta bake. If you’re a fan of Meatless Mondays or have a vegetarian in the family, this hearty supper is a delicious (and colorful) option.

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April: Poppy Seed Chicken

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Poppy Seed Chicken

If there’s one dish that’s always reliable for busy hostesses in the South, it's a chicken casserole. This classic dish is great for supper club, a church potluck, or a simple weeknight dinner. The short ingredient list and minimal prep time make it easy to throw together at a moment's notice, but it's still impressive and delicious.

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May: Homestyle Ground Beef Casserole

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Homestyle Ground Beef Casserole

If you're in need of a new weeknight dinner, this recipe requires less than 25 minutes of hands-on time. We have a feeling you’ll make this easy casserole on repeat for the rest of the year.

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June: Chicken Spaghetti

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Recipe: Chicken Spaghetti

Your favorite baked pasta recipe got a lightened up, summery makeover in this family-friendly recipe. The colorful take on spaghetti will be a welcome addition to your dinner recipe rotation. 

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July: Chicken-Bacon Ranch Casserole

Credit: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Chicken-Bacon Ranch Casserole

Any recipe with the trio of chicken, bacon, and ranch on the ingredient list is automatically a winner in our book. This one is jam-packed with flavor. 

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August: Sloppy Joe Casserole

Recipe: Sloppy Joe Casserole

As summer comes to a close, it's time to get back in the swing of weeknight dinners. We turned the classic sandwich into a hearty dinner that kids and adults will love. Plus, it even has some veggies in the mix.

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September: Chicken-Tortilla Casserole

Credit: Photography and Styling: Caitlin Bensel

Recipe: Chicken-Tortilla Casserole

This casserole simulates the taste of Chicken-Tortilla Soup so you can have another way to enjoy its delicious flavors. You simply combine all of the ingredients, cover with cheese, and bake until the top is golden brown. 

 

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October: Butternut Squash Lasagna

Credit: Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Butternut Squash Lasagna

Perfect for a chilly fall night, this hearty casserole uses in-season squash to upgrade classic lasagna with plenty of fall flavor. Bonus: You can prep the filling casserole ahead of time and store it in the freezer before baking. 

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November: Turkey Tetrazzini

Credit: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Turkey Tetrazzini

We know that every Southern cook has a reliable list of side-dish casseroles for Thanksgiving every year, so we decided to give you something new to look forward to after Turkey Day. Skip the turkey sandwiches and opt for this comforting casserole that’s kid-friendly and oh-so-easy.

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December: Pancake Bake with Cinnamon Streusel

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Karin Olsen; Food Styling: William Smith

Recipe: Pancake Bake with Cinnamon Streusel

If there’s one thing you should gift yourself during the holiday season, it’s the joy of a make-ahead, big-batch brunch recipe. Whether for visiting family or the kids on Christmas morning, this festive pancake casserole comes together the night before and is finished off with a sprinkle of Streusel mixture and a drizzle of maple syrup. 

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By Southern Living Editors