40+ Quick Casserole Recipes for Warm Meals on Busy Nights

November 02, 2009
Hector Sanchez
How do we love casseroles? Let us count the ways! They are quick and easy to prepare, portable for potlucks and other gatherings, satisfy the hungriest crowd, can be made ahead, save time on clean up, and are hands-down the most comforting dish to dig into. Every Southern cook has a favorite go-to casserole recipe, but there is always room for more. Choose from dozens of our best quick and easy casserole recipes including classics like King Ranch chicken, lasagna, potpies, and enchiladas, and new favorites like tomato and ground beef, and chicken-sausage cassoulet. Whether you’re looking for a quick weeknight dinner that will please the whole family or a company-worthy casserole for a special gathering, you can’t go wrong with any of these delicious recipes.
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Cheesy Broccoli-and-Rice Casserole

Credit: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Cheesy Broccoli-and-Rice Casserole

With fresh broccoli and a mix of mayonnaise and sour cream instead of mushroom soup, this broccoli-and-cheese casserole is sure to fit right into any dinner spread.

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Homestyle Ground Beef Casserole

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Homestyle Ground Beef Casserole

Less than 25 minutes of hands-on prep time? Sounds like we found our new ground beef go-to on weeknights.

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French Onion Soup Casserole

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: French Onion Soup Casserole

Turn your favorite soup into a more substantial dish with this comforting casserole.

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Extra-Easy Lasagna

Credit: Photo: Lee Harrelson; Styling: Jan Gautro, Laura Martin

Recipe: Extra-Easy Lasagna

We meant it when we say this casserole is extra easy. With only five ingredients, you'll have dinner prepared faster than ever before.

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Pizza Spaghetti Casserole

Credit: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Pizza Spaghetti Casserole

Pizza and spaghetti all in one dish? Now that's a surefire way to make sure the kids clear their plates.

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Sloppy Joe Casserole

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Sloppy Joe Casserole

Sloppy Joes just got a little bit more sophisticated. This pasta bake version of the old-school classic dishes out a sweet and savory blend of sauce and ground beef that will remind of you childhood.

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King Ranch Chicken Mac and Cheese

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Recipe: King Ranch Chicken Mac and Cheese

Two of our family favorites come together to create the ultimate crowd-pleasing casserole. To cut down on prep time, the recipe calls for a number of convenience products like pasteurized prepared cheese product and cream of chicken soup.

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Ham-and-Vegetable Cobbler

Credit: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Ham-and-Vegetable Cobbler

With frozen vegetables and store-bought piecrusts on the prep list, this savory latticed casserole only looks time intensive.

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Creamy Kale and Pasta Bake

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Creamy Kale and Pasta Bake

This gooey cheese and tender kale combination comes together in just half an hour. If you need to make things even easier, though, you can use pre-washed, pre-chopped kale and shredded cheese.

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Turkey-Noodle-Poppyseed Casserole

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Turkey-Noodle-Poppyseed Casserole

The beauty of this casserole? Most of the ingredients are pantry staples that you probably already have, and, if you don’t, you can easily substitute with something else.

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Zucchini-and-Spinach Lasagna

Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Zucchini-and-Spinach Lasagna

Meet your new favorite way to use fresh zucchini. This vegetarian lasagna recipe is the perfect meatless main.

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Chicken Spaghetti Casserole

Credit: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Chicken Spaghetti Casserole

IThe old-school recipe takes down memory lane to Mama's kitchen table on any typical weeknight.

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Chicken-and-Wild Rice Skillet Casserole

Credit: Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Chicken-and-Wild Rice Skillet Casserole

Ready for weeknight meals or company, this Chicken and rice casserole is made in a skillet and sure to satisfy.

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Zucchini, Squash, and Corn Casserole

Credit: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Zucchini, Squash, and Corn Casserole

Zucchini, squash, and corn blend together beautifully with a creamy filling that's topped with breadcrumbs and Asiago cheese.

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Savannah Red Rice

Credit: Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Savannah Red Rice

A regional rice delicacy delivered in a casserole dish, this flavorful recipe includes tangy tomatoes and smoky bacon.

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Smoky Sausage-and-Grits Casserole

Credit: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Smoky Sausage-and-Grits Casserole

It's hard not to love breakfast for dinner. With all your favorite morning foods baked into one dish, this casserole has earned its spot on the dinner table.

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Chicken Enchiladas

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Chicken Enchiladas

Faster than fast food and way more delicious, these cheesy enchiladas come together in a snap. A quick spritz of vegetable cooking spray adds extra crispness to flour tortillas as they bake.

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Cheeseburger Casserole

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Recipe: Cheeseburger Casserole

Forget flipping patties. Nothing says grade-A comfort food better than a bacon cheeseburger-inspired bake.

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Tomato n Beef Casserole Polenta Crust

Credit: Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Tomato ’n’ Beef Casserole With Polenta Crust

Budget-friendly and filling, this comforting ground beef and veggie combination is sealed with a cornmeal crust.

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Deb Wise's Tamale Pie Mix-Up

Credit: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Deb Wise’s Tamale Pie Mix-Up

Video: Deb Wise’s Tamale Pie Mix-Up

A Tex-Mex masterpiece, this no-fuss tamale casserole is a weeknight crowd pleaser.

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Creamy Chicken Alfredo Casserole

Credit: Greg DuPree

Recipe: Creamy Chicken Alfredo Casserole

Here's proof that comfort food doesn't take all day to prepare. With rotisserie chicken, canned sauces, and shredded cheese on the ingredient list, this weeknigth casserole is almost too easy.

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Onion-Topped Sausage 'n' Mashed Potato Casserole

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Onion-Topped Sausage 'n' Mashed Potato Casserole

You’ll be impressed by how fuss-free this supper really is. This casserole is packed with a rich, meaty tomato sauce and refrigerated mashed potatoes and topped with crunchy, kid-approved fried onions.

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New Tuna Casserole

Credit: Greg Dupree

Recipe: New Tuna Casserole

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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Baked Ziti with Summer Vegetables

Credit: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Baked Ziti with Summer Vegetables

Baked ziti has never looked better. Served with sliced summer vegetables mixed in, you're sure to make the most of your farmers' market haul.

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Baked Shells and Greens

Credit: Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Baked Shells and Greens

Give your go-to lasagna the night off. This ground turkey, swiss chard, and shells trio only takes 30 minutes.

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Texas-Style Enchilada Casserole

Credit: Photo William Dickey / Styling Katherine Eckert / Food Styling Alyssa Porubcan

Recipe: Texas-Style Enchilada Casserole

Serve something with a little kick this season. This recipe will bring a welcome change from standard fare.

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Chicken and Cornbread Casserole

Credit: Photo Ralph Anderson / Styling Lisa Powell Bailey / Food Styling Angela Sellers

Recipe: Chicken and Cornbread Casserole

Pick up a deli-roasted chicken if you don't have 3 1/2 cups of chopped chicken on hand. It yields just enough meat for this recipe. Also plan to make Chicken and Cornbread Casserole just one day ahead because it doesn't freeze well.

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Spinach-Ravioli Lasagna

Credit: Photo: Van Chaplin; Styling: Rose Nguyen

Recipe: Spinach-Ravioli Lasagna

This top-rated spinach-ravioli lasagna uses convenience items, like store-bought pesto sauce, jarred Alfredo sauce, and frozen cheese-filled ravioli, to deliver a delicious main dish with little time and effort on your part.

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Turkey Pot Pie With Cranberry-Pecan Crusts

Credit: Photo by Tina Cornett

Recipe: Turkey Pot Pie With Cranberry-Pecan Crusts

Turkey Pot Pie With Cranberry-Pecan Crusts features turkey tenderloins, caramelized onions, and fresh spinach for the perfect sweet/savory combination. This recipe can be made-ahead and frozen.

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Mexican Lasagna

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Mexican Lasagna

We guarantee this zesty casserole will be your new weeknight staple. The recipe was originally designed to utilize leftover ground beef and sausage. It makes a lot, but refrigerates well and tastes wonderful reheated.

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Chicken Cobbler Casserole

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Chicken Cobbler Casserole

Buttery cubes of sourdough rolls make a quick and crunchy topping for this speedy twist on chicken pot pie.

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