Food and Recipes Dish Casserole 5-Ingredient Casseroles That Make Busy Weeknights So Much Easier By Kaitlyn Yarborough Kaitlyn Yarborough Part of the Southern Living team since 2017, Kaitlyn Yarborough is a Georgia native living in Austin, Texas, who covers a wide variety of topics for both the magazine and website, focusing on culture and lifestyle content, as well as travel in the South. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on May 12, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: 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, Ravioli Lasagna, and more ensure that everyone is full and happy. 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 casserole favorites. We've even included a few four-ingredient casseroles—it doesn't get much easier than that, folks. 01 of 13 Eggplant Rollups Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele Switch out the carb-heavy pasta for fresh and hearty eggplant. Filled with herbed ricotta and topped with marinara, these delicious little bundles make a great main alongside a green salad. Bake the eggplant until lightly browned and then warm the toppings until nice and bubbly. 02 of 13 Classic Baked Macaroni And Cheese Beth Dreiling Hontzas Enter: our most popular macaroni and cheese recipe ever. It also happens to be one of our easiest. The combination of a thick roux and shredded cheese make this recipe velvety and rich. 03 of 13 Easy Cauliflower Casserole Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer If you're wanting to swap out the mac and cheese for something a little healthier, this is the ticket. Our Easy Cauliflower Casserole is just as popular with kids as adults. Parboil the cauliflower, assemble your ingredients, bake for 30 minutes and dinner is on the table. 04 of 13 Easy Squash Casserole Aaron Kirk; Prop Styling: Sarah-Elizabeth Cleveland; Food Styling: Julia Levy 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. If you're often pressed for time, make an extra and freeze it for later. 05 of 13 Ham-And-Vegetable Cobbler Iain Bagwell Put this cobbler on your list of weeknight warriors. The savory latticed casserole is made with frozen vegetables, diced cooked ham, and store-bought pie crusts, making it the simplest prep ever. Feel free to skip a trip to the store and use whatever frozen veggies you have on hand. 06 of 13 Zucchini-Potato Casserole Iain Bagwell 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. This elegant tian, a French dish of layered vegetables, can be served warm or at room temperature. 07 of 13 Spring Vegetable Frittata Iain Bagwell A frittata is a quick and delicious dish that can be customized with your favorite in-season veggies. This recipe capitalizes on fresh spring asparagus and mushrooms. You can serve it at lunch or dinner with a lightly dressed salad. 08 of 13 Spinach Ravioli Lasagna Van Chaplin 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. Spinach and an herb garnish add freshness to the dish. 09 of 13 Uncle Jack's Mac-and-Cheese Hector Sanchez There's nothing like a comforting casserole dish of macaroni and cheese, especially when it's super easy but totally delicious. Eggs, butter, and heavy cream make it incredibly rich and gooey. While there are fancier versions out there, this basic recipe that you can cook and transport in a slow-cooker never disappoints. 10 of 13 Cheesy Chili Hash Brown Bake Jennifer Davick This satisfying dish will warm you up in a jiffy. Frozen hash browns and canned chili and sloppy joe sauce make this dish come together fast. You can bake it in ramekins or a 13x9 baking dish. 11 of 13 Poppy Seed Chicken This casserole couldn't be easier to throw together in a baking dish, especially if you have leftover cooked chicken. The nutty flavor of poppy seeds and crispy, buttery cracker topping will have you reaching for a second helping. Serve it over rice to soak up all the flavor. 12 of 13 Smoky Sausage-And-Grits Casserole Alison Miksch 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. Indulge in this super simple dish along with a side of fruit. 13 of 13 Ravioli Lasagna Photographer: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christine Kelly; Food Stylist: Ali Ramee This quick recipe combines all the things we love in a dinner—our cast-iron skillets, cheesy ravioli, layered lasagna, and easy cleanup. Everything cooks in the skillet, which then gets popped in the oven for 10 minutes. Toss in a salad and you've got a complete meal ready in 30 minutes. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit