Food and Recipes Dish Casserole 40 Easy Main Dish Casserole Recipes To Simplify Dinnertime By Mary Shannon Wells Mary Shannon Wells Mary Shannon is an Associate Digital Editor and has been on the Southern Living team since 2017. She helps run the brand's social media accounts on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and TikTok, where she's happily behind the scenes. When she's not ruffling feathers with an etiquette poll via Instagram Stories, she's writing content for the website and assisting in various print projects like gift guides and home stories. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on December 13, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis What would dinnertime in the South be without trusty casserole recipes? They're easy, kid-friendly, and you can usually find a spare casserole stored in the freezer for the most hectic weeknights. Although we love classic side dish casseroles for cookouts and holidays, main dish recipes are more useful for weeknight dinners. When you don't have the time to prep a main dish and several sides at dinnertime (which, who does these days?), these ideas get it all done for you. You won't hear an ounce of resistance from the kids when they see enchiladas, pizza casserole, or barbecue mac and cheese on the table. And they'll have no idea that we lightened up classic comfort food recipes like lasagna and tuna noodle casserole with healthier versions. With these 40 main dish casserole recipes, you can put a satisfying dinner on the table in one dish. 01 of 37 Homestyle Ground Beef Casserole Southern Living This super-cozy ground beef casserole can be made up to one month in advance and kept in the freezer for your busiest nights. When you’re ready to use, thaw overnight in the fridge. Garlic bread and a side salad make this a hearty meal. 02 of 37 Zucchini Lasagna Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Tina Stamos Meatless Monday doesn't have to lack comfort. This summery lasagna recipe is filling and fresh. The woven zucchini makes this pretty enough to share with company. 03 of 37 Sloppy Joe Casserole with Dinner Rolls Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Rishon Hanners, Prop Stylist Heather Chadduck Sloppy joes get revamped into a tasty, straight-from-the-oven meal. This one-dish version is cheesy, sweet, and topped with buttery rolls. Yellow mustard and pickle relish add some zip to the filling. 04 of 37 Ham and Noodle Casserole Jen Causey This is the perfect easy casserole to throw together with whatever you have on hand during busy weeks. Chive-and-onion cream cheese is the secret to the creamy sauce. This makes two 8-inch casseroles, so you can cook one now and freeze the other for later. 05 of 37 French Onion Soup Casserole Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox Sweet Georgia Vidalia onions shine in this oh-so-comfy take on one of our favorite soup recipes of all time. Save time by caramelizing the onions the day before. 06 of 37 King Ranch Chicken Casserole Stacy K. Allen, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley King Ranch Chicken truly reigns supreme when it comes to crowd-pleasing Southern casseroles. This makes a great weeknight meal, but don’t overlook it for potlucks, parties, and holidays. It’s easy to double and even triple. 07 of 37 Cheeseburger Casserole Photography: Alison Miksch, Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland, Food Styling: Melissa Gray No need to fuss with forming burger patties. This casserole puts your burger, its toppings, and your favorite side into the tastiest dish. Finish with chopped bacon and a drizzle of ketchup. 08 of 37 Ravioli Lasagna Photographer: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christine Kelly; Food Stylist: Ali Ramee Indulge a lasagna craving on a weeknight without all the work. Layer cheese ravioli, Italian sausage, marinara sauce, and mozzarella cheese for a skillet casserole that is ready in 30 minutes. Add a salad and bread to complete the meal. 09 of 37 Baked Ziti with Summer Vegetables Alison Miksch Need to use up your fresh farmers' market haul but way more in the mood for a big plate of pasta? We've got your back. This lightened pasta is heavy on fresh taste thanks to tomatoes and squash that are in season. 10 of 37 Kentucky Hot Brown Casserole Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke Kentucky's favorite sandwich gets big-batch treatment with this casserole that uses tender, slow-cooked turkey. Creamy and irresistible, your family will request this comforting meal again. 11 of 37 Chicken-and-Biscuit Cobbler Alison Miksch "Cobbler" doesn't always mean fruity and sweet—this savory, biscuit-topped casserole is one of our favorite uses of the word. This cozy dish is made all the better with homemade biscuits with chopped bacon in them. 12 of 37 Pasta-Chicken-Broccoli Bake Iain Bagwell; Prop Stylist: Heather Chadduck; Food Stylist: Ana Kelly This casserole recipe has everything we love about pasta salad in a cozy, warm dish. Even nicer, the refrigerated tortellini can be baked without the extra step of pre-cooking. Broccoli, chicken, peppers, and pecans make this a truly satisfying meal. 13 of 37 Mushroom and Thyme Chicken-Broccoli Casserole Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Consider this a chicken-and-rice casserole elevated for weeknights. Mushrooms, broccoli, Fontina cheese, and thyme add a bit of elegance to ordinary chicken. Pre-cooked microwavable brown rice helps this one-skillet meal get on the table in a flash. 14 of 37 Gnocchi Gratin with Ham and Peas Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox This simple gratin is a nice diversion from noodle- and rice-based casseroles. Plan ahead and prepare the unbaked dish up to two days in advance, and store it in the refrigerator for a stress-free night later in the week. 15 of 37 Skillet Chicken Pot Pie with Puff Pastry Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer This one-dish casserole has everything you crave about classic chicken pot pie in less time thanks to puff pastry. You can save even more time with a little advance prep work. Chop the carrots and leek and shred the chicken the day before and refrigerate. 16 of 37 Creamy Kale and Pasta Bake Hector Manuel Sanchez You might not believe kale could be considered comfort food, but if you try this recipe, you'll be convinced. Buy bagged kale that’s pre-washed and pre-chopped to cut time. Leftovers, if you have any, make a great side dish. 17 of 37 Turkey-Noodle-Poppy Seed Casserole Hector Manuel Sanchez Every Southern cook has an old-school poppy seed casserole recipe in his or her repertoire, and this one is one of our all-time best. This casserole can be prepared ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator until baking, or freeze the unbaked dish for later. Thaw in the fridge overnight and bake as directed. 18 of 37 Spaghetti Casserole Jennifer Davick You don't even have to pre-cook the noodles for this simple slow-cooker casserole recipe that makes pasta night easier than ever. With just eight ingredients, this recipe isn’t complicated, and you can enjoy leftovers throughout the week. 19 of 37 New Tuna Casserole with Potato Chips Greg Dupree Our updated version of Mama's classic tuna-noodle casserole is lightened up on calories but not flavor. You can make this in advance, freeze it, or eat the leftovers all week. Either way, this casserole is a winner. 20 of 37 Chicken-Mushroom-Sage Casserole Iain Bagwell There's nothing we love more than a chicken casserole, but they get a weeknight-meal reputation. This pretty recipe is company-worthy for your easiest dinner party ever. 21 of 37 Skillet Enchiladas Suizas Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox No filling or rolling required! Our easiest enchilada recipe ever is a fun way to switch up your dinner routine. 22 of 37 Pizza Casserole Greg DuPree Pizza night just got a dose of Southern comfort with this kid-friendly casserole. Add your favorite pizza toppings to this pasta bake for a fun meal that is sure to put a smile on everyone’s face. 23 of 37 Shrimp and Grits Casserole Antonis Achilleo; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos This big-batch version of traditional shrimp and grits can be enjoyed from brunch to dinner. Comforting and classic, this casserole makes it easy to share with a crowd. 24 of 37 Healthy Turkey Lasagna Southern Living The kids will be excited that it's lasagna night, and they'll have no idea this version is lightened up from traditional recipes. With swaps like ground turkey and cottage cheese, this tasty dish is still perfectly cheesy and rich. 25 of 37 Cheesy Chili Hash Brown Bake Jennifer Davick Hectic week? You can still get a homemade dinner on the table with this five-ingredient recipe. Bake in ramekins for individual servings, or cook in a 13- x 9-inch baking dish. 26 of 37 Tomato 'n' Beef Casserole With Polenta Crust Beth Dreiling Hontzas Ground beef is a foolproof staple for weeknight dinners, especially when baked into a cheesy casserole. Your family will like the familiar tomatoes and ground beef combination. The polenta base takes the dish to another level. 27 of 37 Creamy Chicken Alfredo Casserole Greg DuPree During the week, there’s no time for slow-cooked homemade sauces and roasted chicken. That doesn’t mean skimping on flavor. Store-bought sauce and rotisserie chicken speed up this incredibly comforting casserole recipe. 28 of 37 Sloppy Joe Casserole Southern Living Sloppy Joes are a guaranteed hit with the kids, but they're, well, sloppy. This one-dish dinner solves the messiness issue without slacking in the kid-friendly department. 29 of 37 Reunion Pea Casserole Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox Tell the family to bring their appetites: This Mama-approved casserole is filled to the brim. Sausage, cheese, and black-eyed peas will comfort the whole crowd. 30 of 37 Italian Casserole Hector Manuel Sanchez This recipe from our November 1990 issue has been saving us at dinnertime for decades. You can make this in two smaller dishes to bake one for now and freeze one for later. 31 of 37 Chicken-and-Wild Rice Casserole Becky Luigart-Stayner If you don't have a recipe for this Southern staple, go ahead and save this one. Fast-cooking boxed long-grain and wild rice, pre-sliced almonds, and cream of mushroom soup help get this on the table in a hurry. 32 of 37 Barbecue Mac and Cheese Hector Sanchez This super-Southern recipe combines two comfort food favorites—mac and cheese and barbecue. You won’t believe how fast it is to make. Toppings like cornbread, barbecue sauce, and green onion really send this mac and cheese over the top. 33 of 37 Easy Huevos Rancheros Bake Antonis Achilleo; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos Hosting weekend brunch or craving breakfast for dinner? This skillet bake will be a definite hit. Cook the eggs separately and slide them over the casserole just before serving and garnishing. 34 of 37 Beefy Baked Ravioli with Spinach and Cheese Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox This skillet supper is a new favorite in our weeknight roundup. You can lighten this dish by substituting ground chicken or turkey for the ground beef. 35 of 37 Meatloaf Casserole Micah A. Leal This will be your new favorite meatloaf and mashed potato dinner. This fun Southern take on classic Shepherd's Pie includes a creamy mashed potato topping for a complete cozy meal in one dish. 36 of 37 Eggplant Rollups Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele You won’t miss the pasta in this delightfully fresh lighter take on lasagna rolls. An herbed ricotta mixture fills thinly sliced eggplant and bakes in marinara. It only takes five ingredients plus pantry basics to put this meal together. 37 of 37 Pimiento Cheese Chicken-Broccoli Casserole Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Can dinnertime get any better than a chicken and pasta casserole? With buttery crackers and pimiento cheese, your chicken casserole will never be the same. Whole-grain pasta and broccoli keep this dish balanced for healthy weeknights. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit