The Tastiest Weeknight Casseroles To Make in 2020

By Southern Living Editors
Updated August 19, 2020
Credit: Southern Living

It’s no secret that we Southerners love our casseroles, especially when it comes to putting a comforting dinner on the table without too much hassle. From brand new recipes to old favorites, we've rounded up our best and most cooked weeknight dinner casseroles of all time—and this year is the perfect time to check them off your list. 

To us, the ideal weeknight casserole must meet the following criteria: quick, easy, filling, and utterly delicious. Luckily, each of these casseroles fit the bill—from home-style ground beef casserole to crowd-pleasing chili cheese enchiladas—which is why they are our most popular weeknight casseroles of the year. Get a head start on meal planning by saving these easy casserole recipes for busy weeknights.

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Streamline Your Weeknight Meals With These Easy Casseroles

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Homestyle Ground Beef Casserole

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Homestyle Ground Beef Casserole

This crowd-pleasing casserole will become a family favorite, and you'll love it because it can be made ahead and kept in the freezer for busy weeknights.

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Ham and Noodle Casserole

Credit: Jen Causey

Recipe: Ham and Noodle Casserole

Chive-and-onion-flavored cream cheese gives this creamy casserole tons of flavor with little effort.

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Chicken Enchilada Casserole

Credit: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Chicken Enchilada Casserole

You'll know this cheesy casserole is ready to enjoy when it's golden brown on the top.

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Cheeseburger Casserole

Credit: Photography: Alison Miksch, Prop Styling: SArah Elizabeth Cleveland, Food Styling: Melissa Gray

Recipe: Cheeseburger Casserole

Burger night just got a cheesy baked makeover, and it's way more portable to make ahead for cookouts or have in the fridge ready to go anytime.

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Easy Chicken Spaghetti

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Recipe: Easy Chicken Spaghetti

Cook and shred the chicken the day before to help this meal come together even faster.

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Beefy Baked Ravioli with Spinach and Cheese

Credit: Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Beefy Baked Ravioli with Spinach and Cheese

This family-friendly recipe is almost too easy to make. You can use ravioli from the refrigerated section and switch out ingredients according to what you have on hand, such as substituting ground turkey or chicken for the beef or replacing the spinach with Swiss chard leaves or kale. 

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Buffalo Chicken Casserole

Credit: Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Casserole

This recipe turns everyone's favorite dip into a warm and comforting chicken supper that serves six hungry guests or family members.

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Sausage-Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos

Recipe: Sausage-Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole

Breakfast for dinner is always a winner in our book.

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Chicken-Bacon Ranch Casserole

Credit: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Chicken-Bacon Ranch Casserole

Ah, three of our favorite things: chicken, bacon, and ranch. Add in hearty pasta and a creamy cheese sauce, and we're sold. 

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Extra-Easy Lasagna

Credit: Photo: Lee Harrelson

Recipe: Extra-Easy Lasagna

This easy, cheesy lasagna will keep everyone happy (and you'll love having leftovers).

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Shrimp and Grits Casserole

Credit: Antonis Achilleo; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos

Recipe: Shrimp and Grits Casserole

Family-style shrimp and grits can be on your table in just an hour.

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Twice Baked Potato Casserole

Credit: Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland; Food Styling: Melissa Gray

Recipe: Twice Baked Potato Casserole

With way less hassle than traditional twice-baked potatoes, this recipe is scoop after scoop of potatoes with butter, sour cream, bacon, scallions, and—of course—cheese. 

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Chili Cheese Enchiladas

Credit: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Chili Cheese Enchiladas

These enchiladas get a Texas-style twang from chili cheese gravy in lieu of canned sauce. From there, store-bought rotisserie chicken makes things wonderfully simple, and we suggest throwing in any extra ingredients you have on hand, from black beans to a can of corn. 

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Best-Ever Macaroni and Cheese

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

Recipe: Best-Ever Macaroni and Cheese

Toss in some steamed broccoli and cooked chicken before baking to transform this classic side into a satisfying dinner.

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Sloppy Joe Casserole

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Recipe: Sloppy Joe Casserole

The classic sandwich we all know and love turned into a casserole that the whole family will enjoy.

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French Onion Soup Casserole

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

Recipe: French Onion Soup Casserole

This casserole gives you another way to enjoy one of our favorite comforting soups.

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Greek Baked Ziti

Credit: Greg Dupree

Recipe: Greek Baked Ziti

One of our most popular baked pasta recipes ever, this ziti gets major Greek-inspired oomph from oregano, garlic, lemon juice, and a little cinnamon. (Yes, cinnamon!) 

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Baked Mac and Cheese with Bacon

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Baked Mac and Cheese with Bacon

Is there anything that bacon doesn't make a million times better? The answer is no—always no. This macaroni and cheese makes the ultimate side dish. 

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Biscuits-and-Gravy Casserole

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Recipe: Biscuits-and-Gravy Casserole

Breakfast for dinner is always a fun treat for the whole family, and this casserole is full of creamy, sausage-laden flavor.

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Kentucky Hot Brown Casserole

Credit: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke

Recipe: Kentucky Hot Brown Casserole

This recipe takes a classic sandwich and turns it into a weeknight casserole that comes together faster with the help of your slow cooker.

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Cowboy Casserole

Credit: Micah A. Leal

Recipe: Cowboy Casserole

If you've never heard of Tex-Mex cowboy casserole, it's time you get acquainted with the cheesy, beefy, bean-laden mixture topped with a layer of crispy tater tots.

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Loaded Cauliflower Casserole

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Recipe: Loaded Cauliflower Casserole

This side is basically a veggie-forward version of a loaded baked potato, in a casserole form that will feed a crowd. 

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Leftover Turkey Casserole

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Torie Cox; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen

Recipe: Leftover Turkey Casserole

There is much more to leftover turkey than a simple sandwich, starting with this casserole that will have you roasting turkey year-round. 

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Pizza Casserole

Credit: Greg DuPree

Recipe: Pizza Casserole

Instead of ordering delivery, win over your family with the casserole version of everyone's favorite weeknight dinner.

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New Tuna Casserole

Credit: Greg Dupree

Recipe: New Tuna Casserole

Serve something other than chicken or ground beef with this tuna casserole.

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Easy Taco Casserole

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Maggie Ruggiero

Recipe: Easy Taco Casserole

Like a layered Tex-Mex dip, but make it dinner-worthy with the addition well-seasoned beef with fire-roasted tomatoes. 

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Heavenly Chicken Lasagna

Credit: Lee Harrelson; Styling: Mindi Shapiro

Recipe: Heavenly Chicken Lasagna

Layers of creamy Alfredo sauce, spinach, cheese, and chicken are the keys to success in this layered lasagna show-stopper. 

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Chicken-and-Wild Rice Casserole

Credit: Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Buffy Hargett

Recipe: Chicken-and-Wild Rice Casserole

Between the rice, chicken, water chestnuts, cream of mushroom,  and tons of sour cream and Cheddar cheese, this casserole is a treat for the senses. 

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Tomato 'n' Beef Casserole with Polenta Crust

Credit: Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Tomato ’n’ Beef Casserole with Polenta Crust

Ground beef and veggies come together with a cornmeal crust for a filling, budget-friendly meal.

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