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  5. 5-Ingredient Casseroles That Make Busy Weeknights So Much Easier

5-Ingredient Casseroles That Make Busy Weeknights So Much Easier

Kaitlyn Yarborough, Assistant Editor and Writer for Southern Living
By Kaitlyn Yarborough Updated May 03, 2022
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Ravioli Lasagna Recipe
Credit: Photographer: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christine Kelly; Food Stylist: Ali Ramee

On busy weeknights when we don't want to order take-out, but aren't willing to launch a full-scale cooking operation, we look to our favorite quick and easy casseroles to get the job done. There's just something too satisfying about turning out simple five-ingredient meals that are high on flavor, low on effort, and with none the wiser. In some of our favorite recipes with few ingredients, pantry staples—items like dried herbs, seasonings, oil, flour, and sugar—don't count. It's just those few extra standout ingredients, anything from smoked sausage to tender baby kale, that make the meal. Hearty Ham-and-Vegetable Cobbler, Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese, a Tater Tot Bake, and more ensure that everyone is full and happy. Plus, there are also breakfast-for-dinner options, like One-Dish Blackberry French Toast and Cheesy Sausage-and-Croissant Casserole. A busy family on the go doesn't mean dinnertime has to suffer. Get supper on the table lightning-quick and generously cut your grocery list (and bill) with these delicious five-ingredient casseroles.

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Eggplant Rollups

Eggplant Rollups
Credit: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele

Recipe: Eggplant Rollups

Switch out the carb-heavy pasta for fresh and hearty eggplant. Filled with herbed ricotta and topped with marinara, these delicious little bundles come together in no time.

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Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Credit: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Enter: our most popular macaroni and cheese recipe ever. It also happens to be one of our easiest. Go figure!

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Tee's Corn Pudding

50 Best Thanksgiving Tee's Corn Pudding
Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Tee's Corn Pudding

With only eight ingredients (most of which are in your pantry, such as sugar, flour, baking powder, and salt) and very little hands-on time, this corn pudding recipe is a classic that always fits in at suppertime. 

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Mini Cheese Grits Casseroles

Mini Cheese Grits Casseroles
Credit: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Recipe: Mini Cheese Grits Casseroles

Keep these mini casseroles tiny or fit them all into a single two-quart dish—in any case, just make sure to serve them at your next brunch! You can make these grits ahead of time to make things even less stressful day-of.

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Tater Tot Bake

Tater Tot Breakfast Bake
Credit: Jennifer Causey

Recipe: Tater Tot Breakfast Bake

When the star ingredients in a recipe are thick-cut bacon, Monterey Jack and cheddar cheeses, and some hearty Tater Tots, need we really say more? It wins at every occasion, but doesn't give you any stress or break the bank beforehand.

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Sausage Gravy Casserole With Cheddar-Cornmeal Biscuits

Sausage Gravy Casserole with Cheddar-Cornmeal Biscuits
Credit: Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Sausage Gravy Casserole With Cheddar-Cornmeal Biscuits

Few things can beat sausage gravy on the comfort scale. But, add some Cheddar-Cornmeal Biscuits and we think that'll take it over the top.

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Biscuits-and-Gravy Casserole

Biscuits-and-Gravy Casserole Image
Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Biscuits-and-Gravy Casserole

Here's another breakfast-for-dinner winner. It uses store-bought biscuits to cut down on prep time—but we don't think anyone will complain.

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Easy Cauliflower Casserole

Easy Cauliflower Casserole
Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Recipe: Easy Cauliflower Casserole

If you're wanting to swap out the mac and cheese for something a little healthier, this is the ticket.

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Sausage-Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole

Sausage-Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos

Recipe: Sausage-Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole

This casserole is an easy way to feed a large, hungry crowd. Sausage and hash browns, who could resist?

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Squash Casserole

Squash Casserole
Credit: Aaron Kirk; Prop Styling: Sarah-Elizabeth Cleveland; Food Styling: Julia Levy

Recipe: Squash Casserole

This tried-and-true casserole only needs a little Cheddar and some buttery crackers to be a fan-favorite. We don't call it a classic for nothing.

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Cheesy Sausage-and-Croissant Casserole

Cheesy Sausage-and-Croissant Casserole
Credit: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Cheesy Sausage-and-Croissant Casserole

Be sure to let the Gruyère brown for a rich, nutty flavor. You can prep this ahead of time and pull it out of the fridge or freezer on a busy weeknight.

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Ham-and-Vegetable Cobbler

Ham-and-Vegetable Cobbler
Credit: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Ham-and-Vegetable Cobbler

Put this cobbler on your list of weeknight warriors. The savory latticed casserole is made with frozen vegetables, diced cooked ham, and store-bought piecrusts, making it—oh, we don't know—the simplest prep ever.

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One-Dish Blackberry French Toast

One-Dish Blackberry French Toast
Credit: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: One-Dish Blackberry French Toast

Wow at your weekend brunch with this simple berry-speckled French toast. This casserole version makes it a great choice when you have to feed a crowd.

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Zucchini-Potato Casserole

Zucchini-Potato Casserole
Credit: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Zucchini-Potato Casserole

Showing up with this beautifully layered casserole makes you look like a true chef, but don't worry, you won't be weighed down by a hefty ingredient list. Let the colorful veggies do most of the work.

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Spring Vegetable Frittata

Spring Vegetable Frittata
Credit: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Spring Vegetable Frittata

A frittata is a quick and delicious dish that can be customized with your favorite in-season veggies. Serve it for breakfast, brunch, and lunch—or even dinner—with a lightly dressed salad.

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Spinach Ravioli Lasagna

Easy Pasta Recipes: Spinach Ravioli Lasagna
Credit: Van Chaplin

Recipe: Spinach Ravioli Lasagna

For when you're low on time and energy, this easy and cheesy lasagna bake helps you cheat the system by using convenience items, like store-bought pesto sauce, jarred Alfredo sauce, and frozen cheese-filled ravioli.

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Uncle Jack's Mac-and-Cheese

Uncle Jack's Mac-and-Cheese
Credit: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Uncle Jack's Mac-and-Cheese

There's nothing like a comforting casserole dish of macaroni and cheese, especially when it's super easy but totally delicious. While there are fancier versions out there, this basic recipe that you can cook and transport in a slow-cooker never disappoints.

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Chicken-and-Green Chile Enchiladas

Chicken-and-Green Chile Enchiladas
Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Chicken-and-Green Chile Enchiladas

When you pack this much Tex-Mex flavor into a casserole dish, you'd expect it to be time-intensive and ingredient-heavy. Think again—because you'll have it on the table in less than an hour and after only using a handful of hard-working ingredients.

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Smoky Sausage-and-Grits Casserole

Smoky Sausage-and-Grits Casserole
Credit: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Smoky Sausage-and-Grits Casserole

Breakfast for dinner, anyone? This casserole is like wrapping all of your favorite Southern breakfast foods into one package: smoky sausage, creamy grits, and plenty of cheese. Prepare to impress when making this super simple recipe for your next tailgate, brunch, or potluck.

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Cheesy Chili Hash Brown Bake

Cheesy Chili Hash Brown Bake
Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Cheesy Chili Hash Brown Bake

This comforting dinner recipe uses store-bought shortcuts to put something together that the kids will love. If you don't have ramekins, you can also use a greased 13-x 9-inch baking dish for this hearty supper.

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Ravioli Lasagna

Ravioli Lasagna Recipe
Credit: Photographer: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christine Kelly; Food Stylist: Ali Ramee

Recipe: Ravioli Lasagna

This quick recipe combines all the things we love in a dinner—our cast-iron skillets, cheesy ravioli, layered lasagna, and easy cleanup.

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    1 of 21 Eggplant Rollups
    2 of 21 Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese
    3 of 21 Tee's Corn Pudding
    4 of 21 Mini Cheese Grits Casseroles
    5 of 21 Tater Tot Bake
    6 of 21 Sausage Gravy Casserole With Cheddar-Cornmeal Biscuits
    7 of 21 Biscuits-and-Gravy Casserole
    8 of 21 Easy Cauliflower Casserole
    9 of 21 Sausage-Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole
    10 of 21 Squash Casserole
    11 of 21 Cheesy Sausage-and-Croissant Casserole
    12 of 21 Ham-and-Vegetable Cobbler
    13 of 21 One-Dish Blackberry French Toast
    14 of 21 Zucchini-Potato Casserole
    15 of 21 Spring Vegetable Frittata
    16 of 21 Spinach Ravioli Lasagna
    17 of 21 Uncle Jack's Mac-and-Cheese
    18 of 21 Chicken-and-Green Chile Enchiladas
    19 of 21 Smoky Sausage-and-Grits Casserole
    20 of 21 Cheesy Chili Hash Brown Bake
    21 of 21 Ravioli Lasagna

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    5-Ingredient Casseroles That Make Busy Weeknights So Much Easier
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