Food and Recipes Quick and Easy Dinner 45 Easy Casserole Recipes for Warm Meals on Busy Nights By Southern Living Editors Southern Living Editors Since 1966, the editors of Southern Living have been carrying out the mission of the brand: to bring enjoyment, fulfillment, and inspiration to our readers by celebrating life in the South. We inspire creativity in their homes, their kitchens, their gardens, and their personal style. We are a friend they can trust, a guide to the seasons, a helping hand during the holidays, and a relentless champion of the Southern way of life. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on July 3, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Southern Living How do we love casseroles? Let us count the ways. They are easy to prepare, portable for potlucks and other gatherings, satisfy the hungriest crowd, can be made in advance, 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, pot pies, and enchiladas. Or, add some variety to your go-to dinner rotation and try new favorites like Deb Wise's Tamale Pie Mix-Up and Smoked-Pork-Stuffed Pasta Shells. Your casserole dish is also the perfect place to experiment with some of our tasty new takes on old-school comfort food favorites like French onion soup, sloppy Joes, and even pizza. Whether you're looking for a 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. 01 of 45 Homestyle Ground Beef Casserole 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. Serve with a green salad and garlic bread for a delicious dinner the whole family will love. 02 of 45 French Onion Soup Casserole 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. 03 of 45 Extra-Easy Lasagna 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. 04 of 45 Pizza Spaghetti Casserole 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. 05 of 45 Sloppy Joe Casserole Southern Living Recipe: Sloppy Joe Casserole Sloppy Joes just got a little bit more sophisticated. This baked version of the old-school classic dishes out a sweet and savory blend of sauce and ground beef that will remind of you childhood. 06 of 45 King Ranch Chicken Mac and Cheese 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. 07 of 45 Ham-and-Vegetable Cobbler Iain Bagwell Recipe: Ham-and-Vegetable Cobbler Flaky and buttery, this chicken pot pie alternative is great for the days when you're working without fresh produce. Any frozen veggies you have in your freezer will do. With frozen vegetables and store-bought pie crusts on the prep list, this savory latticed casserole only looks and tastes time intensive. 08 of 45 Creamy Kale and Pasta Bake 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. 09 of 45 Turkey-Noodle-Poppyseed Casserole 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. We recommend egg noodles, but any type of pasta in your pantry will taste great in this recipe. 10 of 45 Zucchini-and-Spinach Lasagna 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. 11 of 45 Chicken Spaghetti Casserole Hector Sanchez Recipe: Chicken Spaghetti Casserole The old-school recipe takes us down memory lane to Mama's kitchen table on any typical weeknight. With a can of cream of mushroom soup and a splash of hot sauce, this casserole is a classic. 12 of 45 Chicken-and-Wild Rice Skillet Casserole 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. Allow the nutty rice to soak up this dish's tangy country ham and mushroom gravy and dive in. 13 of 45 Zucchini, Squash, and Corn Casserole 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. For no-waste breadcrumbs, use a food processor to break up day-old sandwich bread. 14 of 45 Savannah Red Rice 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. We know it's tempting, but the key to fluffy rice is leaving the lid firmly on the pot—no peaking! 15 of 45 Cheesy Broccoli-and-Rice Casserole 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. Creamy and rich, even kids will love this broccoli-forward dinner. 16 of 45 Smoky Sausage-and-Grits Casserole 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. 17 of 45 Cheeseburger Casserole Photography: Alison Miksch, Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland, Food Styling: Melissa Gray Recipe: Cheeseburger Casserole Forget flipping patties. Nothing says comfort food better than a bacon cheeseburger-inspired bake plus a tater tot "bun." 18 of 45 Tomato 'n' Beef Casserole With Polenta Crust 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. Top with cheddar cheese and watch your casserole bubble with flavor. 19 of 45 Deb Wise's Tamale Pie Mix-Up Hector Sanchez Recipe: Deb Wise's Tamale Pie Mix-Up This no-fuss tamale casserole is a weeknight crowd pleaser. Ground beef, corn, tomato sauce, and cornmeal come together beneath a layer of cheese for a hearty dish that will have the whole family asking for seconds. 20 of 45 Creamy Chicken Alfredo Casserole 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 weeknight casserole is almost too easy. 21 of 45 Old-Fashioned Chicken Pot Pie Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Old-Fashioned Chicken Pot Pie The convenience of refrigerated piecrust makes this deep-dish favorite easy enough for a weeknight. If you don't have time to simmer a whole chicken, just substitute an equal amount of canned broth and the meat from a rotisserie chicken. 22 of 45 Baked Ziti with Summer Vegetables 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. 23 of 45 Smoked-Pork-Stuffed Pasta Shells Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Smoked-Pork-Stuffed Pasta Shells Give your go-to pasta bake the night off. Use leftover smoked pork (or substitute chicken) from your favorite barbecue restaurant to make next-day dinner that will thrive in the freezer for many meals to come. 24 of 45 Chicken Cobbler Casserole 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. Pick up a rotisserie chicken from the market and add a jar of roasted red peppers to the cart, too, for an easy-peasy dinner that stands out. 25 of 45 Onion-Topped Sausage 'n' Mashed Potato Casserole 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. 26 of 45 New Tuna Casserole with Potato Chips Greg Dupree Recipe: New Tuna Casserole with Potato Chips 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. 27 of 45 Chicken-and-Cornbread Casserole Ralph Anderson 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. Make this casserole only one day ahead—unfortunately, it doesn't freeze well. 28 of 45 Spinach-Ravioli Lasagna Van Chaplin Recipe: Spinach-Ravioli Lasagna This top-rated spinach-ravioli lasagna uses convenient ingredients for tasty supper as easy as can be. Store-bought pesto sauce, jarred Alfredo sauce, and frozen cheese-filled ravioli deliver a delicious main dish with little time and effort on your part. 29 of 45 Mexican Lasagna 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. 30 of 45 Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Food Styling: Angella Sellers and Vanessa McNiel Rocchio; Prop Styling: Melanie J. Clarke and Sissy Lamerton Recipe: Classic Baked Macaroni and Cheese This homemade baked macaroni and cheese recipe beats the boxed kind any day of the week. Macaroni is a classic but mix and match your pasta shapes based on what's already in your cabinet. 31 of 45 New Turkey Tetrazzini Alison Miksch Recipe: New Turkey Tetrazzini Loads of spinach and mushrooms freshen up this classic. Packed with turkey and stuffing, the new additions are welcomed and delicious. 32 of 45 Cowboy Casserole Micah A. Leal Recipe: Cowboy Casserole This casserole starts as all the best meals do: with onion and garlic. From there, ground beef, beans, hot sauce, and tater tots combine with lots of other savory ingredients for a meal you won't forget. 33 of 45 Buffalo Chicken Enchiladas Photographer: Will Dickey Prop Stylist: Missie Crawford Food Stylist: Erin Merhar Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Enchiladas With all the bite of a buffalo wing but the warmth of toasty tortillas and cheese, this casserole will go fast come mealtime. Soften your tortillas before rolling up all the creamy ingredients, then place your stuffed enchilada seam-side down. 34 of 45 Old-School Squash Casserole Greg DuPree Recipe: Old-School Squash Casserole Smothered in creamy sauce and topped with crunchy crackers, this just might be the most delicious way to eat your veggies. It can stand on its own as a vegetarian main, but also pairs well with just about any weeknight protein. 35 of 45 Twice Baked Potato Casserole Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland; Food Styling: Melissa Gray Recipe: Twice Baked Potato Casserole This hearty casserole isn't light on flavor. Bacon, scallions, and sour cream build all the flavors of a baked potato piled high with all the fixings in a jiffy. 36 of 45 Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole Jennifer Causey Recipe: Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole Layers of eggs, cheese, and potatoes make this casserole great for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Sprinkle bacon over the top and enjoy this tasty one-dish meal any time of day. 37 of 45 Italian Casserole Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Italian Casserole This vintage casserole with lots of Italian sausage is one of our make-ahead supper staples. Once you've assembled and chilled over night, this simple recipe is just a bake away from the dinner table. 38 of 45 Chicken Casserole D'Iberville Southern Living Recipe: Chicken Casserole D'Iberville Stock your freezer with this A+ chicken-and-rice casserole, and you have dinners ready to bake. For a family, divide mixture into three 8-inch square baking dishes. To keep a bigger casserole on hand for potluck suppers, place the mixture in a 4-quart dish. 39 of 45 Creamy Chicken Enchiladas Southern Living Recipe: Creamy 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. 40 of 45 Light King Ranch Chicken Casserole Southern Living Recipe: Light King Ranch Casserole If you think cutting calories means giving up the foods you love, think again. This top-rated makeover is every bit as creamy and satisfying as the full-fat original. 41 of 45 Turkey Pot Pie With Cranberry-Pecan Crusts Tina Cornett Recipe: Turkey Pot Pie With Cranberry-Pecan Crusts This pot pie features turkey tenderloins, caramelized onions, and fresh spinach for the perfect sweet/savory combination. This festive, fall-forward recipe can be made-ahead and frozen. 42 of 45 Chicken Cannelloni with Roasted Red Bell Pepper Sauce Southern Living Recipe: Chicken Cannelloni with Roasted Red Bell Pepper Sauce A creamy mix of chicken, spinach, and mozzarella turns manicotti shells into an impressively easy one-dish meal. Deceptively decadent, this pasta dish is a great freezer staple to have on hand. 43 of 45 Cajun Shrimp Casserole Southern Living Recipe: Cajun Shrimp Casserole This hearty seafood casserole is filled with shrimp, cheese and rice and gets its Cajun flair from the addition of okra, bell peppers, and cayenne pepper. It's a great choice for a special occasion meal. If you're not a fan of okra, you can leave it out of this dish. 44 of 45 Chicken 'n' Spinach Pasta Bake Photo Ralph Anderson / Styling Lisa Powell Bailey / Food Styling Pam Lolley Recipe: Chicken 'n' Spinach Pasta Bake Italian-inspired and oven-ready, this dish is perfect for company, but it's also speedy enough for weeknight meals. Use frozen and canned vegetables for quick and easy prep-time. 45 of 45 King Ranch Chicken Southern Living Recipe: King Ranch Chicken Our King Ranch Chicken casserole blends smoked chicken, sharp cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses, green chiles, chili powder, roasted peppers, and toasted cumin to create a dinnertime MVP. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit