Easy Casserole Recipes – make ahead friendly!

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These Easy Casserole Recipes are hearty, comforting, and perfect for prepping ahead! Some are freezer friendly, and all are family friendly!

easy casserole recipes collage with multiple images and title with black and purple text

I know that casserole recipes sometimes get a bad rep.

I know that some of us have visions of bland, tasteless mush piled high in a vintage casserole dish and served for dinner every night or brought to neighbors or church potlucks.

But casseroles don’t have to be that way!

There are so many things to love about a good, easy casserole recipe, that I figured it was worth sharing this list here today! Many of these recipes are my own, but I’ve thrown in a few I want to try from friends for good measure, so there’s a wide variety of flavour profiles and sure to be something for everyone.

Looking for chicken recipes in particular? Check out my list of our Favorite Chicken Casserole Recipes!

What to love about easy casserole recipes:

  1. They’re easy. Now, some casseroles need a little more prep (the ones with more made-from-scratch components), and some a little less, but once it’s in the pan you’re ready to pop in the oven and forget it.
  2. You get a half hour to an hour — sometimes a bit more — before dinner is ready after you’re done prepping, so you’ve got time to clean up, set the table and bust out a glass of bubbly before your dinner guests arrive (or chug a cup of coffee before you’re sitting at the table negotiating every bite with a 3 year old).
  3. Many of them can be made ahead and refrigerated for a day or two, which makes them great for meal prepping.
  4. Many of them can be made ahead and frozen, and I have big love for a well-stocked freezer and a good portion of emergency freezer meals.
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Tips for make ahead casseroles:

  • Be sure to check out the tips and tricks on each post for make ahead tips — not all vegetables will keep as well as others if prepped ahead (though most are fine!). Potatoes are one that can’t be cut and left raw for a long period of time, so keep an eye out in the ingredient list for things you know won’t last as long as others.
  • Be sure to start with the freshest ingredients if you plan to save for another day — if you’re milk was on the verge of spoiling when you prepared the casserole, chances are you won’t want to eat it in a couple of days. The same goes with vegetables, cheese, anything with a best before date looming.

Which casseroles can I freeze?

Generally, pasta casseroles and casseroles with cooked potatoes and vegetables will freeze just fine.

Some vegetables become quite soft after freezing and reheating, so you have to keep that in mind if you’re prepping for the freezer. Peppers are not my favorite out of the freezer — tucked into soup or chili, fine, but anything with large chunks that I will notice in texture? Not a fan.

You do you, and choose casserole recipes that have components you’re okay eating after they’ve been frozen.

Pasta casseroles freeze beautifully, but it’s important to note that pasta does become quite a bit softer after reheating. I recommend removing the frozen casserole in the morning to bake for dinner, and that way it won’t require quite as much time in the oven before serving.

Here are 25+ of my favorite Easy Casserole Recipes!

Twice Baked Potato Casserole with Ham

twice baked potato casserole in white pan with spoon scooping

Taco Lasagna Recipe

taco lasagna recipe in white pan with avocado fresh tomato and cilantro on top

The Best Tater Tot Casserole

the best tater tot casserole in glass baking dish with a scoop missing

Loaded Baked Potato Breakfast Casserole

loaded baked potato breakfast casserole piece on white plate with fork on the side

White Chicken Lasagna with Ham and Spinach

white chicken lasagna with ham on white plate with fresh parsley on top

Cheesy Ratatouille Quinoa Casserole

ratatouille casserole cut in pieces in white baking dish with wooden spoon scooping a piece

Easy Pepperoni Pizza Lasagna Roll Ups Recipe

pepperoni pizza roll ups in white baking dish close up

Italian Sausage and Rice Casserole

italian sausage rice casserole in cast iron skillet overhead on white and blue towel

Rigatoni Pasta Bake

rigatoni pasta bake ground beef casserole in white oval baking dish on dark blue background

Creamy Zucchini Sausage Casserole

zucchini sausage casserole in cast iron skillet with wooden spoon stuck in

BBQ Chili Cheese Biscuit Casserole

bbq chili cheese biscuit casserole in blue baking dish with wooden spoon stuck in and fresh tomatoes in the background

Overnight Chicken Mac and Cheese Casserole

overnight mac and cheese casserole in white baking dish with a scoop missing from the corner

Cheesy Tomato Biscuit Casserole

tomato biscuit casserole on white plate with fork taking a bite off the corner

Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes and Ham

cheesy scalloped potatoes and ham close up overhead with metal spoon stuck in the corner

Turkey Biscuit Casserole

turkey biscuit casserole in blue baking dish with wooden spoon stuck in

Spinach Ham Breakfast Casserole

spinach ham breakfast casserole piece on white plate with bite missing

7 Ingredient Chicken and Rice Bake

chicken and rice bake overhead in grey and white baking dish on marble background

Crockpot Breakfast Casserole

crockpot breakfast casserole in white slow cooker with fresh tomato chunks on top

Easy Crockpot Spaghetti Casserole

crockpot spaghetti casserole close up with metal spoon stuck in

Cheesy Chicken Casserole

cheesy chicken casserole close up on white plate

Instant Pot Quinoa Enchilada Casserole

quinoa enchilada casserole overhead on white plate on grey background with avocado slices and fresh tomatoes

King Ranch Chicken Casserole

king ranch casserole in white baking dish with scoop being lifted out

Cheesy Crack Chicken Casserole

crack chicken casserole up close scoop on wooden spoon

Hamburger Casserole

hamburger casserole with macaroni on white baking dish

Beef Noodle Casserole

beef noodle casserole up close in white baking dish with cheddar cheese on top
easy casserole recipes collage 2 with multiple images and black and purple text

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