Cold months meant comfort food, and these 24 real food casserole recipes are perfect additions to your meal plan! Choose from chicken, beef, breakfast casseroles, and meatless casserole meals.
To me, the winter months are all about comfort food.
I want chilis, soups, or a real food casserole. But comfort food has gotten a bad rap. Especially casseroles.
Most people think casseroles are full of fat, processed foods, and preservatives. NOT so!! I promise you that with a few simple swaps, you can serve your family easy casserole recipes for dinner that will surely be deemed “comfort food” without all those nasty additives.
Eating clean does not mean that you have to give up casseroles. Today I am sharing with you my top 24 casserole recipes that are easy, tasty, and made with REAL food!
CHICKEN CASSEROLE RECIPES
Chicken casserole recipes are some of the most popular casserole meals, and for good reason!
I can’t help but think of canned cream of chicken and rice casserole being served at the church potlucks that I went to growing up – not really what I want to put into my body.
These chicken dishes are still creamy, yet so much tastier (and better for you) than anything served at the potlucks I went to as a child!
Psst! Here are my recipes for Homemade Cream of Celery Soup and Cream of Chicken Soup for the homemade version of that creamy flavor common in casseroles!
Brown rice, cooked chicken, and lots of cheese all swimming in a decadent, yet healthy cream sauce. This is a dish that everyone loves. And I mean loves to the point of licking the plate clean. We love adding broccoli to this recipe for more produce!
2. Amish Chicken or Parmesan Chicken Casserole
This is an old-fashioned dish like mom used to make that all her children would beg for! And it is so simple yet elevated with white wine and fresh thyme.
This chicken pot pie recipe has all the classic comfort food flavor without unnecessary preservatives. From the yummy biscuit top to the creamy filling, it’s a frugal, healthy, filling meal that your family will love!
4. Chipotle Chicken Enchiladas
Spice things up with these enchiladas. Tortillas filled with moist, shredded chicken are submerged in rich enchilada sauce and then smothered in cheddar cheese for an easy, family meal worthy of any Mexican restaurant. Add a dollop of sour cream and it’s golden!
Note: Creamy Chicken and Rice, Amish Chicken, Chicken Enchiladas, and Chicken Pot Pie all call for pre-cooked chicken and chicken stock. I use my Homemade Chicken Broth and meat from my Oven Roasted Chicken or Slow Cooker Chicken. A rotisserie chicken works too!
This is one of my all-time favorites. It is a one-pot dinner that has potatoes, spicy chicken, cheese, and bacon. You finish it with Homemade Ranch Dressing and just WOW!!
6. Chicken and Spinach Enchiladas
This is how I got my kids to like spinach, and now they don’t even realize when I substitute kale or collards instead! Salsa verde is the key to this recipe, but it tends to be spicy. You can cut back a little in the recipe for those with sensitive palates and serve extra at the table.
7. Chicken Jalapeno Popper Casserole
Combine your junk food cravings for jalapeño poppers with your real food priorities. Add a spicy kick to dinner with this tasty jalapeno popper chicken casserole! Chicken, jalapenos, and pasta smothered in a rich, cheesy sauce and topped with crispy breadcrumbs – yum!
MEATLESS CASSEROLE MEALS
These meatless dinner casserole recipes are the perfect go-tos for Meatless Mondays, vegetarians, or just to save a dollar by cutting back on meat costs.
A casserole dish that comes together in the slow cooker? YES PLEASE! This is so easy, so tasty, and leaves the oven out of the equation.
9. Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta Bake
If your family hasn’t liked squash or greens so far, give this one a try. They’re mixed with noodles and covered in a creamy sauce that will make everyone ask for seconds!
10. Baked Ziti with Zucchini and Kale
A total of NINE vegetables are in this baked pasta dish, and that’s just the beginning. Excellent for using up leftover marinara or any vegetables hiding in the fridge. Tip: If the veggies are hard (like carrots), boil until they’re soft and then layer in the dish.
11. Slow Cooker Meatless Lasagna
This cheesy, saucy crock-pot lasagna is so easy to make with just a few ingredients. Perfect for busy days, and so much flavor you won’t even miss the meat!
12. Sweet Potato Black Bean Enchiladas
This vegan enchilada recipe is packed with sweet potatoes, black beans, and corn wrapped up in your favorite tortillas and smothered with enchilada sauce for a mouthwatering spicy meal.
13. Easy Healthy Green Bean Casserole
Growing up, one of my favorite side dishes was green bean casserole. Unlike other casserole green beans recipes though, this recipe has Homemade Cream of Mushroom Soup, fresh green beans, and a crunchy breadcrumb topping!
14. Healthy Sweet Potato Casserole
While we’re mentioning green bean casserole, we may as well go ahead and add this healthy version of sweet potato casserole to the list. Sprinkle on a yummy pecan crumble and you’ll want to make this side dish for more than just Thanksgiving!
BREAKFAST CASSEROLES
Casseroles aren’t just for dinner time! Try one of these breakfast casseroles for an easy morning meal.
15. Pumpkin French Toast Casserole
This overnight French toast casserole tastes just like pumpkin pie! Use my trick to get the perfect texture too – no soggy, mushy mess here!
16. Instant Pot Breakfast Casserole
With sausage, eggs, cheese, and hash browns, you’ll have a delicious savory casserole perfect for weekend brunch and holidays.
17. Sweet Potato Bake with Apples (Whole30)
This Whole30-compliant breakfast casserole recipe only takes a few minutes of prep, a few minutes to bake, and it’s a nice alternative to eggs!
18. Oatmeal Peach Breakfast Crumble
With whole-grain oats, just a hint of natural sweetener, and plenty of fruit, this sweet crumble counts as breakfast to me. But if you want to top it with a scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream and serve it for dessert, that works too…
BEEF RECIPES – CASSEROLES
19. Tamale Casserole
A hearty casserole filled with taco meat (like Ground Beef Taco Meat or leftover Slow Cooker Carnitas) and topped with Homemade Cornbread that captures the flavors of a tamale without all the work.
20. Beef Tamale Pie
Similarly, this beef tamale pie is a one-pot meal with a hearty taco-flavored filling and a gluten-free cornbread topping. It’s completely customizable to what you have on hand and gives you a filling, flavorful dinner in under an hour!
Layer beef, veggies, and beans together with enchilada sauce and top with cheese for the traditional enchilada flavor without all the work!
22. The World’s Easiest Lasagna
You cannot go wrong with a lasagna that is made in 10 minutes and tastes so good!! I promise you, this will become one of your go-to casseroles!
23. Shepherd’s Pie
A comfort food classic, you have meat and veggies in a savory gravy sauce, smothered with cheese and mashed potatoes. Comes together even more quickly if you use leftover Mashed Potatoes from another meal!
You can’t have a casserole recipes list without this classic! Ground beef mixed with veggies and sauce and topped with crispy tater tots – yes, please! Your only decision now is whether you dump the tater tots on top or place them in neat little rows…
CASSEROLE DISHES RECIPES FAQS
What makes a food a casserole?
A casserole is a one-pan dish that is usually baked in the oven, with all of the ingredients mixed together into one main entree. In certain regions, they’re also referred to as hot dishes.
Are enchiladas casserole recipes?
In my book they are! They’re baked in one baking dish with all of the ingredients mixed together, and they give you that same warm and cozy feeling you get from sitting down to a casserole dinner. You can also do layered enchilada casserole recipes and simply layer tortillas and fillings without rolling the enchiladas before baking.
Is it better to bake a casserole covered or uncovered?
If the casserole contains cooked ingredients, then it is cooked uncovered. Casseroles that are made with rice, grains, or pasta that need to be cooked during the baking process, are usually covered for at least some of the time to keep the heat and moisture in.
For a crispy and brown top, make sure to bake the casserole uncovered for part of the cooking time.
Should I sauté onions before adding them to casserole recipes?
Onions should be cooked in a skillet first before adding them to a casserole. By doing so, the taste melds better with the rest of the ingredients.
ARE CASSEROLE RECIPES GOOD FOR YOU?
Casseroles can still be part of a balanced diet, and you can make them work with your specific nutrition goals.
- Pair casserole meals with a big side salad to make sure you’re getting plenty of produce.
- For pasta casseroles, follow these tips to stay on track:
- Keep serving sizes in mind. A typical serving of pasta is 2 oz. when measured dry.
- Trade some or all of the pasta with higher protein pasta or even veggie pasta like zucchini noodles.
- Pair high-carb meals with lower fats and lower-carb veggies – use red sauce instead of white and include veggies like mushrooms and zucchini.
- Use leaner cuts of meat in your casserole recipes, like boneless skinless chicken breast or ground turkey rather than ground beef. You’ll still get the protein but with less fat.
- To hit your protein goals, consider eating casserole recipes as your side dish along with a serving of lean protein, like chicken breast or chicken thighs, strip steak, or lean ground beef.
BEST CASSEROLE RECIPES
So there you have it, a list of the best casserole recipes made with simple real food ingredients that prove you can eat clean and still have some of your favorite comfort foods!
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