Hearty Thanksgiving Casseroles

By Southern Living

Who doesn't love a good Thanksgiving casserole? You better leave plenty of room on the table for these classic Southern recipes.

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Root Vegetable Gratin

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Root Vegetable Gratin

This gratin is filled with rutabaga, russet potatoes, and parsnips.

 

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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

This classic green bean casserole is ready in under an hour.

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Sweet Potato-and-Collard Green Gratin

Photo: Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Mary-Claire Britton

Recipe: Sweet Potato-and-Collard Green Gratin

We love the mix of sweet potatoes, collard greens, and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese in this seasonal gratin recipe.

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Bacon-Brussels Sprout-Green Bean Casserole

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

Recipe: Bacon-Brussels Sprout-Green Bean Casserole

We added crispy bacon and Brussels Sprouts to this casserole for a spin on a Thanksgiving classic.

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Cheese Cracker-Topped Squash Casserole

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Cheese Cracker-Topped Squash Casserole

"We have a hard time getting our grandson to eat a vegetable. He loves Goldfish crackers, so I came up with this recipe. You can sub any type of crackers," says SL reader Gerri Ellis, of Hazelhurst, MS, whose recipe inspired this dish. We crushed a few crackers and tossed the crumbs with paprika to help the whole fish outline on top stand out.

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Lemon-Almond Green Bean Casserole

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

Recipe: Lemon-Almond Green Bean Casserole

The addition of panko and sliced almonds give this green bean casserole the crunch.

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Cheesy Broccoli and Rice Casserole

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Cheesy Broccoli and Rice Casserole 

"The old-school version of this recipe uses canned soup and often calls for frozen broccoli. My new twist is made with fresh, wholesome ingredients. It takes just a smidgen of more time, but the results are absolutely extraordinary." —Contributing editor Virginia Willis.

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Wild Rice-and-Greens Casserole

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Wild Rice-and-Greens Casserole

We prefer chopped kale in this casserole, but use your favorite green. For heartier greens like collards, cook them five minutes longer in Step 1. If you want to prepare the dish ahead, cover and chill up to three days before baking. Uncover and bake just before serving.

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Two-Potato Gratin

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Two-Potato Gratin

"This luscious gratin strikes a happy middle chord for those hungry for potatoes and those vying for a sweet potato casserole." --Nancy Vienneau, author of Third Thursday Community Potluck Cookbook, from which this recipe was adapted.
 

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Squash Casserole

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Squash Casserole

Why limit French fried onions to green bean casserole?  We love them on this cheesy squash casserole, too.

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Sweet Potato-Carrot Casserole

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Sweet Potato-Carrot Casserole

Cooked carrots add smooth texture and extra flavor to this comfort food favorite. Serve this classic holiday casserole any time of year and expect rave reviews. Top with marshmallows and spicy-sweet pecans.

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Green Bean Casserole

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Green Bean Casserole

Go beyond the standard “recipe on the can” casserole by adding Alfredo sauce instead of cream of mushroom soup, water chestnuts, Parmesan cheese, and toasted pecans.

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Cornflake, Pecan, and Marshmallow-Topped Sweet Potato Casserole

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Cornflake, Pecan, and Marshmallow-Topped Sweet Potato Casserole

Adding cornflakes cereal to the pecan-brown sugar topping gives the casserole extra crispiness and crunch.

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Two-Cheese Squash Casserole

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Two-Cheese Squash Casserole

For a tasty and colorful twist, substitute sliced zucchini for half of the yellow squash.

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Butternut Squash Gratin

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Butternut Squash Gratin

Slice the potatoes as you use them in each layer (rather than all at once), to help prevent oxidation.

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Home-style Green Bean Casserole

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Home-Style Green Bean Casserole

This green bean casserole gets a much-needed makeover from fresh veggies and a lightened (but super-rich!) homemade sauce.

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Classic Parmesan Scalloped Potatoes

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Classic Parmesan Scalloped Potatoes

Gently stirring twice while baking promotes even cooking and creaminess to this dish. Pull out of the oven, stir once more, then sprinkle with cheese, and continue baking without stirring for a casserole that's golden brown on top. 

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Green Bean Lasagna

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Green Bean Lasagna

Lasagna may not be the first thing you think of when you imagine classic Thanksgiving sides, but our take on this classic holiday dish will have you loving this new twist. It mixes the smooth taste of perfectly cooked pasta noodles with the crunch of just-right green beans, the creaminess of ricotta and shredded Italian cheese, and the sweetness of onions and mushrooms. Top this casserole with crushed buttery crackers and French fried onions and you will wonder how you ever enjoyed your green bean casserole any other way. This will be the update that will become your go-to family classic casserole for years to come.

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Sweet Potato, Cauliflower, and Greens Casserole

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Sweet Potato, Cauliflower, and Greens Casserole

As a hefty vegetarian main course or as a side, this one delivers big flavor and meaty texture.

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Fennel-and-Potato Gratin

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Fennel-and-Potato Gratin

This cheesy potato gratin gets a punch of flavor from nutmeg and fennel. It's impressive enough for a holiday party, but easy enough to put together on a busy weeknight.

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Chipotle Scalloped Potatoes

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Chipotle Scalloped Potatoes

Cheesy, smoky, and savory—all of our favorite flavors come to play in this winner of a potato casserole.

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Four-Cheese Macaroni

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Four-Cheese Macaroni

Part of the delight of this dish is the mixture of four cheeses that combine to give it the distinctive richness and creaminess that make it distinct. With Cheddar, Monterey Jack, Asiago, and fontina cheeses, Four-Cheese Macaroni mixes these spicy-hot, soft, and hard cheeses into a mouthwatering combination. We’ve used cavatappi pasta here—think of it like a corkscrew—so it grabs the cheese and holds on. Baked in the oven, it gets a crisp, delicious top that is finished with a delicious trio of toppings—breadcrumbs, bacon, and pecans. This macaroni and cheese ecipe is worthy of center stage.

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Tasty Tex-Mex Mashed Potato Bake

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Tasty Tex-Mex Mashed Potato Bake

Tasty Tex-Mex Mashed Potato Bake gets a spicy kick with the addition of chorizo sausage, green chiles, and pepper Jack cheese. Mashed potatoes will never be boring again!

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