60 Vintage Casserole Dishes That Deserve To Be Celebrated

Chicken Spaghetti Casserole
Photo:

Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

Just a whiff of a retro recipe can instantly take you back years, even decades. That's certainly the case with a vintage-style casserole. The aroma of those creamy, cheesy, crunchy bakes isn't something we can forget, nor do we want to. So, we keep on making them. No matter the occasion—congratulations and condolences, service and comfort—a casserole says the same thing: Here you go, 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. We grew up on these vintage casserole dishes and, if you're from the South, we'd be willing to bet that you did, too.

Whether they're served at Sunday dinner or on the holiday sideboard, these vintage casserole recipes will always leave a Southern crowd full and happy. From our Cowboy Casserole to our Old-School Squash Casserole, these retro casserole recipes aren't going anywhere. (Thank goodness.)

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Old-Fashioned Chicken Pot Pie

Old-Fashioned Chicken Pot Pie

Stacy K. Allen; Food Stylist: Torie Cox; Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

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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Old-School Squash Casserole

squash casserole on a plate with a casserole dish behind it
Photographer: Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Props Stylist: Christina Brockman

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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Classic Chicken Tetrazzini

Chicken Tetrazzini

Brittany Conerly; Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin

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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Tennessee Onions

Southern Living Tennessee Onions after baking

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Onions are truly the star of this cheesy recipe that calls for 2 1/2 pounds of a sweet variety.

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Homestyle Ground Beef Casserole

Homestyle Ground Beef Casserole
Will Dickey

Prep this crowd-pleasing family casserole over the weekend and pop it in the freezer until the night before you're ready to serve. Add a salad and garlic bread—and you're set!

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Pineapple Casserole

pineapple casserole in a white square casserole dish
Photographer: Jen Causey, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle,Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn

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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Extra-Easy Lasagna

Extra Easy Lasagna
Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox

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

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Old-Fashioned Apple And Cheese Casserole

Old-Fashioned Apple And Cheese Casserole

Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox

You'll know this casserole is ready to come out of the oven when the top is golden brown and bubbling.

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Hashbrown Casserole

Hashbrown Casserole

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

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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Cabbage Casserole

cabbage casserole in a white casserole dish with plates nearby
Will Dickey

Trade coleslaw for this warm, comforting dish and its crispy Parmesan breadcrumb topping. Cabbage and onions mingle with a little Worcestershire sauce for a barbecue flavor, so don't hesitate to serve this at the cookout.

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Chicken Spaghetti Casserole

Chicken Spaghetti Casserole

Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

In a sea of chicken casseroles, this spaghetti bake might be the ultimate crowd-pleaser. The old-school recipe transports us back to family meals around the dinner table.

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Tee's Corn Pudding

Tee's Corn Pudding
Emily Laurae/Southern Living

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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Old-School Green Bean Casserole

Old-School Green Bean Casserole
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

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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Chicken-and-Wild Rice Casserole

Chicken-and-Wild Rice Casserole
Becky Luigart-Stayner

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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Shrimp and Grits Casserole

Shrimp and Grits Casserole
Antonis Achilleo; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos

Shrimp and grits itself is a well-loved vintage recipe, so a casserole of it must be vintage by proxy—and no less delicious, we assure you.

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Reunion Pea Casserole

Reunion Pea Casserole
Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

This grandma-approved casserole features a rich, filling, sausage and cheese mixture with plenty of black-eyed peas.

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Scalloped Corn Casserole

scalloped corn casserole
Photography: Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling: Karen Rankin

We dare to call this dish timeless comfort food at its finest. Creamy corn, crisp crumb topping, and melty cheese just seal the deal.

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Cheesy Broccoli-and-Rice Casserole

Cheesy Broccoli and Rice Casserole
Hector Sanchez

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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Ham and Noodle Casserole

Ham and Noodle Casserole
Jen Causey

Egg noodles, baked ham, and cream of mushroom soup make a tasty trio alongside veggies like broccoli, carrots, and asparagus.

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Biscuits-and-Gravy Casserole

Biscuits-and-Gravy Casserole Image
Southern Living

This Southern breakfast staple is even more delicious in a casserole dish—and ready to fill up a hungry family on any morning. Using frozen biscuits saves so much extra time.

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Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese in a dark casserole dish with a spoonful missing
Photographer: Fred Hardy II, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Props Stylist: Christina Brockman

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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Buttermilk Spoon Bread

Buttermilk Spoon Bread
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

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

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Baked Ziti with Sausage

Baked Ziti with Sausage
Southern Living

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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Okra and Rice Casserole

Okra and Rice Casserole
Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Deep-fried okra will always please, but the vegetable is more versatile than you might think. Soups, stews, and yes, casseroles all love it. Here, okra meets sweet corn, Cajun spices, and buttery garlic breadcrumbs. This is a recipe you'll want to pass down.

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Sloppy Joe Casserole

Sloppy Joe Casserole
Southern Living

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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New Tuna Casserole

New Tuna Casserole
Greg Dupree

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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Cheeseburger Casserole

Cheeseburger Casserole
Photography: Alison Miksch, Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland, Food Styling: Melissa Gray

Yep, we went there. Imagine all the makings of a fantastic cheeseburger in a casserole filling, before being topped with tater tots, bacon, and cheese. No patty-flipping required.

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Meatloaf Casserole

Meatloaf Casserole
Micah A. Leal

The hearty beef dinner we all know and love just got a baking dish-friendly makeover that tastes like a homey version of shepherd's pie.

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Cowboy Casserole

Cowboy Casserole
Micah A. Leal

Any casserole topped with tater tots is a friend of ours, and this one is filled with a savory blend of beef, beans, corn, cheese, and chiles.

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Chicken Enchilada Casserole

Chicken Enchilada Casserole
Hector Sanchez

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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Leftover Turkey Casserole

Leftover Turkey Casserole
Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Torie Cox; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

A casserole filled with holiday leftovers is as much a tradition as Mama's cornbread dressing. You can swap the turkey for any leftover bird you have on hand.

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Sausage Gravy Casserole with Cheddar-Cornmeal Biscuits

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

This casserole is proof that a good thing can get better, thanks to the addition of the Cheddar-Cornmeal Biscuits. If there are leftover biscuits (though it's highly unlikely), you can serve them with some country ham, fall soups, or fresh fried chicken.

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Classic Sweet Potato Casserole

Classic Sweet Potato Casserole
Emily Laurae/Southern Living

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

Deb Wise's Tamale Pie Mix-up
Hector Sanchez

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

Chicken-and-Biscuit Cobbler
Alison Miksch

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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Creamed Greens Casserole

Creamed Greens Casserole
Atonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

We love our greens in the South, and this casserole makes good use of a whole pound of collards. Cream cheese, Fontina, some garlic, and breadcrumbs bind it all together.

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Twice Baked Potato Casserole

Twice Baked Potato Casserole
Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland; Food Styling: Melissa Gray

This recipe is a delicious side dish, reimagined in casserole form. Don't worry—it's loaded down with all the good stuff like bacon, cheese, and sour cream.

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Chicken-and-Wild Rice Skillet Casserole

Chicken-and-Wild Rice Skillet Casserole
Hector Sanchez

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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Baked Corn Casserole

Baked Corn Casserole
Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Emily Neighbors Hall; Prop Stylist: Audrey Davis

You can't go wrong with this classic side dish casserole on the table—and this one starts with boxed corn muffin mix to keep things easy.

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Tater Tot Bake

Tater Tot Breakfast Bake
Jennifer Causey

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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Spaghetti Casserole

Spaghetti Casserole
Jennifer Davick

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

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Skillet Chicken Pot Pie

Skillet Chicken Pot Pie
Becky Luigart Stayner

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

Shepherd's Pie
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke

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

Chicken Pot Pie with Bacon-and-Cheddar Biscuits
Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Buffy Hargett

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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Buffalo Ranch Chicken-Broccoli Casserole

Buffalo Ranch Chicken-Broccoli Casserole
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Buffalo chicken has a loyal following for a reason. And now, it's a casserole. If you serve it with some veggies, like carrots, celery, and cucumber, it doubles as the most delicious dip.

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Macaroni Corn Casserole

Macaroni Corn Casserole
Will Dickey; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners

Macaroni and corn casseroles each shine well on their own, but combine the two and you've got a truly winning dish. Cheddar and Gruyère assure it's an exceptional, cheesy good time, while crumbled bacon and fresh corn kernels provide texture.

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Pimiento Cheese Chicken-Broccoli Casserole

Pimiento Cheese Chicken-Broccoli Casserole
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

It's a match made in Southern heaven. Extra sharp Cheddar, meet pimiento peppers. The result is a rich casserole that's a little tangy, a little creamy, and a little crunchy thanks to the buttery Ritz cracker topping.

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Chicken-Bacon Ranch Casserole

Chicken Bacon and Ranch Casserole
Alison Miksch

If you want a sure winner on the dinner table, then the combination of chicken, bacon, and ranch won't steer you wrong. With a short ingredient list and easy prep, it'll quickly find its way onto your weekly meal rotation.

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Cheese Cracker-Topped Squash Casserole

Cheese Cracker-Topped Squash Casserole Recipe
Hector Sanchez

A good old-fashioned squash casserole that the kids are sure to love—take it from the grandmother whose dish inspired the recipe.

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Cheesy Broccoli-and-Rice Casserole

Cheesy Broccoli and Rice Casserole
Hector Sanchez

Mushrooms, garlic, and nutmeg guarantee that our Cheesy Broccoli-and-Rice Casserole is full of flavor. As for the creamy factor, you'll need a little mayo, so pick a side. Are you team Duke's or Hellman's?

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Italian Casserole

Italian Casserole
Hector Manuel Sanchez

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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Kentucky Hot Brown Casserole

Kentucky Hot Brown Casserole
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke

We put Louisville's famous sandwich into a casserole dish, and the results are no less tasty.

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Blueberry Cornbread Casserole

Blueberry Cornbread Casserole
Southern Living

Cornbread is a staple around these parts, so putting it in a casserole is a no-brainer. Dr. BBQ adds a sprinkle of fresh blueberries for a sweet twist.

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Turkey-Noodle-Poppy Seed Casserole

Turkey-Noodle-Poppyseed Casserole Recipe
Hector Manuel Sanchez

First published in Southern Living in 1990, it's easy to see why this casserole is a hit. It solves the question of what to do with all your leftovers, and is adaptable to whatever you have on hand.

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Chicken Casserole D'Iberville

Chicken Casserole D'Iberville

Southern Living

This chicken casserole is named after a Mississippi community that's just north of Biloxi. To shorten cooking time, you can use rotisserie chicken from the deli instead of cooking your own.

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Oyster Casserole

Oyster Casserole, easter casseroles 9x13 casseroles
Greg DuPree

Our recipe for Oyster Casserole first graced the pages of Southern Living in 1967, but Southerners know it by many names. Oyster dressing, oyster pie, scalloped oysters, the list is as long as the variations. Some things stay the same, though, including the creamy sauce, oysters, and a crispy topping.

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Cheddar Cheese Grits Casserole

Cheddar Cheese Grits Casserole
Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Rose Nguyen

Cheese makes everything better, including classic grits. With two cups of Cheddar and a quarter cup of Parmesan, it'll be a good time.

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Christmas Morning Strata

Christmas Morning Strata
Southern Living

This longtime reader favorite is the perfect baked egg casserole—flavored with sausage, Dijon, and all the cheese—to make ahead for any holiday morning.

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Turkey Pot Pie With Cranberry-Pecan Crusts

Turkey Pot Pie With Cranberry-Pecan Crusts
Tina Cornett

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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Chicken-and-Cornbread Casserole

Chicken and Cornbread Casserole Recipes
Ralph Anderson

This riff on the traditional cornbread dressing adds some chicken for a hearty boost. Feel free to pick one up from the deli if you don't already have chopped chicken in the fridge.

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