Ah, the mighty casserole. The idea of it just brings back cozy memories of childhood. Made well, a casserole is proof that you are loved.
Cozy and versatile, a casserole is also a surefire way to feed a crowd and, more importantly, the leftovers taste even better once the flavors really marry together. When there's time, it’s worth making double recipes so that extra batch of casserole can be frozen. Then, it's easy to simply reheat it on those days when the last thing anyone wants to do is cook a big dinner.
Show everyone just how much they're loved (and make an extra, cause self-love is important too!). There’s a casserole here for every taste — whether it's meaty, vegetarian or even something sweet.
Here are 25 casserole recipes to try for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Breakfast casseroles
Easy Italian Sausage and Peppers Breakfast Casserole
The classic combination of Italian sausage with peppers and onions isn't just for lunch and dinner. Turn this savory duo into an easy breakfast casserole that the whole family will love.
Samantha Okazaki / TODAY
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Easy Italian Sausage and Peppers Breakfast Casserole
Kristin Sollenne
Stuffed French Toast Casserole
"Think of this luscious dish as a cross between French toast and bread pudding," cookbook author Grace Parisi told TODAY Food. "It has all the yummy flavors of jam–filled French toast with the throw–it–all–together simplicity of bread pudding. It's especially fantastic for entertaining house guests because it's quickly prepared at night and then baked the following morning."
Grace Parisi
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Stuffed French Toast Casserole
Grace Parisi
The Ultimate Make-Ahead Breakfast Casserole
Layered with sausage, two kinds of cheese, savory sun-dried tomatoes, leafy greens and a base of tried-and-true hash brown potatoes, this breakfast casserole has it all. Assemble the casserole at night and pop it in the oven the next morning.
Casey Barber
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Make-Ahead Breakfast Casserole
Casey Barber
Cinnamon French Toast Casserole with Whipped Ricotta
The ultimate finishing touches on a serving of this decadent cinnamon French toast casserole are a dollop of whipped ricotta, a drizzle of warm syrup and a sprinkling of chopped pecans.
Megan O. Steintrager / TODAY
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Cinnamon French Toast Casserole with Whipped Ricotta
Donatella Arpaia
Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork Biscuit Breakfast Casserole
Six ingredients go in the slow cooker and one over-the-top casserole comes out. This slow-cooker pulled pork biscuit casserole is meant to be a hearty breakfast, but everyone will love it for lunch and dinner, too.
Casey Barber
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Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork Breakfast Casserole
Casey Barber
Chicken casseroles
Enchilada Casserole
Layer enchilada sauce-dipped corn tortillas with shredded chicken, corn, Monterey Jack cheese and sour cream to create this delicious Mexican-inspired casserole.
MiTu
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Enchilada Casserole
Guzii
Cheesy Chicken Tater Tot Casserole
Skip the breadcrumbs and try topping a casserole with delightful Tater Tots. The crispy and golden potatoes are the perfect foil to the creamy and cheesy filling of this chicken casserole.
Zach Schiffman / TODAY
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Cheesy Chicken Tater Tot Casserole
Ryan Scott
Easy Chicken and Rice Casserole
Not only can this chicken-and-rice casserole be made ahead and frozen, it's a comforting way to get both small and big kids to eat all their vegetables. When it comes to weeknight suppers, it doesn't get much easier than this dish.
Tasty
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Easy Chicken and Rice Casserole
Tasty
Chicken and Broccoli Casserole
"This is one of those recipes that when you're in a rush, it's a one-pot wonder," chef Curtis Stone told TODAY Food.
Samantha Okazaki / TODAY
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Chicken and Broccoli Casserole
Curtis Stone
Chipotle Chicken Pasta Casserole
Lightly frying cooked penne in oil creates a slightly crispy texture that keeps the pasta from becoming mushy in this Mexican-inspired chicken casserole that's made with smoky chipotle sauce and lots of melted cheese.
Anthony Quintano / TODAY
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Chipotle Chicken Pasta Casserole
Pati Jinich
Meaty casseroles
Padma Lakshmi's Shepherd's Pie
Shepherd's pie is the perfect dish for this time of year when it's cold outside and you're craving something supremely satisfying.
Nathan Congleton / TODAY
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Padma Lakshmi's Shepherd's Pie
Padma Lakshmi
Tex-Mex Casserole
"This recipe can do it all," chef Francis Anthony told TODAY Food. "It's great for game day, potlucks, an easy weeknight dinner, a kid-friendly meal ... you name it! It's a great go-to when you need something quick, comforting and flavorful."
TODAY
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Tex-Mex Casserole
Francis Anthony
Giada De Laurentiis' Baked Pesto Pasta Casserole
Not all casseroles are exciting, but "with the right ingredients, and lots of color and ooey, gooey creaminess, you can really revamp them," Food Network star Giada de Laurentiis said. Here, she layers penne coated in pesto sauce, ground turkey, marinara sauce with lots of cheese.
Lance Booth / TODAY
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Giada De Laurentiis' baked pesto pasta casserole
Giada De Laurentiis
Vegetarian casseroles
Springtime Pasta Bake
Alex Guarnaschelli loves casseroles any time of the year. Here, she lightens up baked pasta with spring and summer vegetables like asparagus, zucchini and tomatoes.
Alex Guarnaschelli
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Springtime Pasta Bake
Alex Guarnaschelli
The Best Vegetable Lasagna Ever
Elizabeth Heiskell's hearty, vegetable-filled lasagna has a thick layer of cream sauce that's combined with ratatouille and cheese to make for a showstopper of a recipe.
Alamy
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The Best Vegetable Lasagna Ever
Elizabeth Heiskell
Giada De Laurentiis' Vegetable Parmesan Casserole
It's another Giada classic! But this time she layers grilled and sautéed vegetables with creamy bechamel sauce, sprinkles on a mixture of mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, then bakes the casserole until the top is golden brown and forms a crust.
Lance Booth / TODAY
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Giada De Laurentiis' Vegetable Parmesan Casserole
Giada De Laurentiis
Baked Grits and Collards Casserole
Two dishes that are often served at many a Southern table come together in this creamy and cheesy casserole made with grits and collard greens. A gooey, melted Gouda cheese topping takes this hearty vegetarian casserole to the next level.
Samantha Okazaki / TODAY
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Baked Grits and Collards Casserole
Damaris Phillips
One-Pan Cheesy Root Vegetable Casserole
This root vegetable casserole is a perfect vegetarian lunch or dinner with a loaf of bread or a side of pasta.
David Anderson / TODAY
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One-Pan Cheesy Root Vegetable Casserole
Nancy Fuller
Sweet Potato Casserole
This creamy sweet potato casserole — topped with a sugar crumb topping and cranberries — isn't just for serving with Thanksgiving turkey. It's delicious on its own or served with any kind of poultry, from roast chicken to duck.
Samantha Okazaki / TODAY
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Sweet Potato Casserole
Kimberly Schlapman
Creamy Corn Casserole
Crushed saltine crackers top this creamy and buttery corn casserole that's a Southern staple.
Samantha Okazaki / TODAY
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Creamy Corn Casserole
Kimberly Schlapman
Summer Vegetable Casserole
This veggie-packed dish is filled with the best of the summer season: zucchini, squash, corn, beans and tomatoes.
Casey Barber
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Summer Vegetable Casserole
Casey Barber
The Ultimate Bourbon-Maple Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecans
"With its bourbon and pecans — two ingredients with Southern roots — this casserole is the epitome of Southern hospitality," Grace Parisi told TODAY. "The bourbon adds a depth of flavor to the maple-syrup sweetened potatoes, while the pecans add a buttery crunch."
Grace Parisi / TODAY
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Bourbon-Maple Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecans
Grace Parisi
Sopa Seca (Mexican Noodle Casserole)
This easy-to-make classic Mexican casserole called sopa seca translates to "dry soup" in English, but it's not exactly a soup. It's more like a moist pasta casserole dish that's traditionally made with thin noodles, rice or even thin tortilla strips — and it's one of the most iconic dishes in Mexico.
Betty Cortina-Weiss
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Sopa Seca
Iliana de la Vega
Seafood casseroles
Tuna Noodle Casserole
It's not unusual for people who haven't tried tuna noodle casserole to be skeptical that it's actually insanely delicious. Egg noodles, cream of mushroom sauce, tuna and cheese may sound like an odd (if not heavy) pairing, but there's a reason the combination has become one of the most beloved casseroles of all time.
Samantha Okazaki / TODAY
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Tuna Noodle Casserole
Kelsey Nixon
Italian Seafood Casserole
Nick Lama, chef and owner of Avo in New Orleans, uses pancetta, tender oysters and sweet lump crab meat in his Italian seafood casserole. The mixture of flavors and textures in this is totally unexpected.
TODAY
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Italian Seafood Casserole
Nick Lama