35 Vintage Casseroles Beloved in the South That Deserve to be Celebrated

By Kaitlyn Yarborough
Tina Cornett

With some classic casseroles, just a whiff will instantly take us back years, even decades. The heavenly aroma of those creamy, cheesy, crunchy bakes isn’t something we can forget, nor do we want to. So, like Mama, we keep on making them. No matter the occasion—congratulations and condolences, service and comfort—a casserole says the same thing: Here you go, honey, you deserve this. Those same easy casseroles also make up the bulk of our quick-fix, crowd-pleasing suppers, offering hearty deliciousness in a pinch. Whether being served at Sunday dinner or on the holiday sideboard, these vintage recipes will always leave a Southern crowd full and happy. From the legendary King Ranch Chicken to the faithful turkey tetrazzini, these retro casserole recipes aren’t going anywhere. (Thank goodness.)

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Turkey-Noodle-Poppyseed Casserole

Nothing takes care of leftovers quite like a casserole that uses a little of this and a little of that to create a delicious meal—just like this one! 

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Chicken Spaghetti Casserole

Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Chicken Spaghetti Casserole

In a sea of chicken casseroles, this spaghetti bake might be the ultimate crowd-pleaser. The old-school recipe transports us back to Mama's house on any typical Tuesday night.

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Old-School Green Bean Casserole

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Old-School Green Bean Casserole

We'd hate to mess with a good thing, and this old-school casserole is just that. From the frozen French-cut green beans to the crispy fried onion topping, it's a familiar sight on every supper table.

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Classic Chicken Tetrazzini

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Classic Chicken Tetrazzini

This might be the original family-friendly casserole, but it's also one that even a fancy Frances will love. It's delightfully packed full with chicken, pasta, mushrooms, and Parmesan cheese. 

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Sloppy Joe Casserole

Southern Living

Recipe: Sloppy Joe Casserole

Sloppy Joes really slather on the nostalgia. Let the childhood classic come back with a modern spin. This pasta bake version has that sweet-savory blend of sauce and ground beef you know and love. 

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Old-School Squash Casserole

Greg DuPree

Recipe: Old-School Squash Casserole

To Southerners, squash casserole is what we imagine kale salad is to West Coasters. (All in good fun, of course.) At the center of any Southern spread, you'll find this beauty: a creamy, crunchy, cheesy, buttery casserole filled with bright yellow squash.

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King Ranch Chicken

Southern Living

Recipe: King Ranch Chicken

Is it just us, or does this recipe feel like it came straight from a Junior League cookbook? Hailing from an era when casseroles were king, this Tex-Mex dish is a staple at church suppers and neighborhood potlucks.

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Chicken-and-Wild Rice Casserole

Becky Luigart-Stayner

Recipe: Chicken-and-Wild Rice Casserole

There are few things that belong together as much as chicken and rice. Romeo and Juliet? Johnny and June? This recipe gets a special crunch from water chestnuts. 

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Spaghetti Casserole

Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Spaghetti Casserole

This easy casserole is the universal answer to "I don't know what to make for dinner." This slow-cooker version of spaghetti casserole is even simpler than your usual recipe. 

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Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Is there a world where this classic dish doesn't belong on the list? Macaroni and cheese is our version of comfort in a casserole dish. 

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Turkey Tetrazzini

Alison Miksch

Recipe: Turkey Tetrazzini

We'll take this classic comfort dish anytime. Here's a trick: Come Thanksgiving, use any leftover turkey to make this wonderful weeknight dinner. 

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Cheesy Broccoli-and-Rice Casserole

Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Cheesy Broccoli-and-Rice Casserole

Name any spread, and a broccoli-and-cheese casserole will fit right in, guaranteed. This version uses fresh broccoli and a mixture of sour cream and mayonnaise in lieu of cream of mushroom soup. 

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Old-Fashioned Chicken Pot Pie

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Old-Fashioned Chicken Pot Pie  

How do you know this recipe is an old-fashioned friend? Hard-boiled eggs. You don't see those in the creamy filling as much anymore, do you? 

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Au Gratin Potato Casserole

Southern Living

Recipe: Au Gratin Potato Casserole

This is a classic due as much to convenience as delectability. Because, at any given moment, we all have frozen hash browns, cream of mushroom soup, and cornflakes cereal in the kitchen.

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Baked Ziti with Sausage

Southern Living

Recipe: Baked Ziti with Sausage

They knew what they were doing when creating this perfect Italian casserole. The secret is in the sauce, literally, in this recipe: a tomato blend with ground sausage.  

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Fresh Corn Spoonbread

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Fresh Corn Spoonbread

Say hello to the fluffier version of cornbread. Spoonbread is an old Southern delicacy that we wish we'd see a whole lot more. 

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Chicken Enchilada Casserole

Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Chicken Enchilada Casserole

Nothing beats a full-fledged Tex-Mex casserole. Layers of corn tortillas, cheese, and chicken make this recipe an easy favorite of kids and adults alike.

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Classic Sweet Potato Casserole

Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Classic Sweet Potato Casserole

Is it Thanksgiving without this enticingly sweet side dish? It's the closest we'll get to allowing dessert served with dinner, and the marshmallow-topped recipe can be found at any Southern affair. 

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Deb Wise's Tamale Pie Mix-up

Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Deb Wise’s Tamale Pie Mix-up

A casserole packed with cheap, easy ground beef is an important household staple. This layer-free tamale pie makes a homey, comforting meal packed with a filling of ground beef, cornmeal, tomato sauce, and corn that gets finished with a layer of gooey cheese.

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Chicken-and-Biscuit Cobbler

Alison Miksch

Recipe: Chicken-and-Biscuit Cobbler

We'll gladly accept this savory cobbler as our own. This comforting chicken casserole is always topped with fluffy homemade biscuits instead of piecrust. 

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Pineapple Casserole

Southern Living

Recipe: Pineapple Casserole

Pineapple what? We're making a case to bring back this unexpected Easter classic. (If your family doesn't already still make it.) 

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Italian Casserole

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Italian Casserole 

This vintage recipe came to us from a savvy reader in the 1990s, and it looks just like something Mama would whip up. With spaghetti noodles, Italian sausage, and cream of mushroom soup, it's hard to go wrong. 

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New Tuna Casserole

Greg Dupree

Recipe: New Tuna Casserole

Don't be mislead by the term "new." This update on a tried-and-true classic still hits all of the creamy, cheesy, and crunchy notes of the original. 

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Chicken-and-Wild Rice Skillet Casserole

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Chicken-and-Wild Rice Skillet Casserole

Mama did always love a skillet casserole. It means one less dish to clean. This easy take gives a country makeover to chicken-and-rice casserole.

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Tee's Corn Pudding

Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Tee’s Corn Pudding

This side dish doesn't only belong to the holiday season. With eight ingredients and very little hands-on time, the recipe shows that simple is sometimes better. 

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Extra-Easy Lasagna

Photo: Lee Harrelson; Styling: Jan Gautro, Laura Martin

Recipe: Extra-Easy Lasagna

We know why this lasagna recipe is forever reader favorite: It has only five ingredients. Five! When we say easy, we mean it. 

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Ham-and-Greens Pot Pie with Cornbread Crust

Hector M Sanchez

Recipe: Ham-and-Greens Pot Pie with Cornbread Crust

Here's why everyone should love this dish: cornbread, collard greens, black-eyed peas, and ham. It might be the most unabashedly Southern casserole in the bunch. 

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Tater Tot Bake

Jennifer Causey

Recipe: Tater Tot Breakfast Bake

Tater tots are something we never grow too old to love. A tater tot casserole? Now that's just heaven. The star ingredients in this recipe are thick-cut bacon, Monterey Jack and cheddar cheeses, and some hearty Tater Tots.

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Hashbrown Casserole

Southern Living

Recipe: Hashbrown Casserole

Give us a bag of frozen potatoes, and nine out of ten times, you'll see this creamy, cheesy, cornflake-topped concoction come out of the oven in an hour.

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Pizza Spaghetti Casserole

Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Pizza Spaghetti Casserole

Who doesn't love a fun take on spaghetti casserole? Mama knew fusing these two kid-friendly dishes was a recipe for success. 

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Skillet Chicken Pot Pie

Becky Luigart Stayner

Recipe: Skillet Chicken Pot Pie

Like we said, a skillet casserole is a forever favorite of Southern women. Pack your cast-iron skillet with veggies, chicken, and a creamy sauce, then slap a refrigerated crust over it to hold in that heavenly mixture. 

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Shepherd's Pie

Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke

Recipe: Shepherd's Pie

Shepherd's pie, a British favorite, holds the same comforting appeal to Southerners as meatloaf and mashed potatoes. This slow-cooker version of the casserole makes your life just a tad easier. 

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Chicken Pot Pie with Bacon-and-Cheddar Biscuits

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Recipe: Chicken Pot Pie with Bacon-and-Cheddar Biscuits

The bacon-studded, cheesy biscuit topping is the coup de grace of this particular pot pie. The crowd-feeding, crowd-pleasing 9x13 casserole is one of our signature weeknight dishes.

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Chicken-and-Collards Pilau

Greg Dupree

Recipe: Chicken-and-Collards Pilau

This rice bake is a Lowcountry staple, but we can always pretend we're from their neck of the woods. The one-pot recipe is full of quick-cooking basmati rice, aromatic veggies, collard greens, and Cajun smoked sausage.

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Turkey Pot Pie With Cranberry-Pecan Crusts

Tina Cornett

Recipe: Turkey Pot Pie With Cranberry-Pecan Crusts

Whether using up leftover Thanksgiving turkey or picking up budget-friendly, lean tenderloins at the grocery store, making this turkey pot pie is just good business. The cranberry-pecan crust (which you don't have to cut into festive shapes) gives the smallest touch of sweetness.

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