Not Your Grandma’s Casserole: 29 Modern Casserole Recipes (2024)

If you can fit it all in one dish, call it a casserole. The beloved retro dinner that touched the hearts of housewives across America is back in a big way. We have 29 revamped one-pot meals that will not only have your taste buds reeling for more, but they’ll save you time and effort too. Go ahead, put some lovin’ in your oven and dub yourself a casserole queen. All you need is a well-stocked pantry, a nifty casserole dish and hungry mouths to please.

1. Tuna Noodle Casserole: It’s the quintessential casserole that every grandma knows how to make. No need to check cream of mushroom soup off your shopping list, ’cause we’re classing things up with a porcini cheese sauce. But don’t despair, it’s still topped with crushed potato chips. (via NPR)

2. Bacon Topped Green Bean Casserole: Talk about an upgrade! Green bean casserole goes from classic to sophisticated, studded with cremini mushrooms, chopped bacon and fresh rosemary. (via BHG)

3. Truffled Mac and Cheese: As if macaroni and cheese wasn’t decadent enough, topping it all off with truffle oil makes this casserole fit for a king. (via Williams Sonoma)

4. Biscuit Pot Pie: Turn away from the frozen food section, grab your trusty casserole dish and create the ultimate in comfort food. (via Damn Delicious)

5. Vegetable Shepherd’s Pie: French lentils, meaty mushrooms and fresh veggies all blanketed under a pillow of mashed potatoes — really, who needs meat? (via Bon Appétit)

6. Creamy Caprese Quinoa Bake: We don’t think that Nonna would’ve come up with this caprese salad spin-off — but we’re sure she’d approve. (via Half Baked Harvest)

7. Tomato Cobbler With Blue Cheese Biscuits: Dessert for dinner? Not really. Here’s a savory cobbler made from garden fresh tomatoes and creamy blue cheese biscuits. (via 128 John St.)

8. Gumbo-laya: Check out this mashup: Gumbo meets jambalaya! Bold, spicy and fit for a casserole dish. (via The Cozy Apron)

9. Duck Confit Casserole: The legendary southern French casserole doesn’t have to take all day. Try this fuss-free but still pretty darn impressive feat of duck confit! (via Bon Appétit)

10. Buffalo Chicken Tater Tot Casserole: Can it get much better than this? We’re talkin’ buffalo wings, blue cheese and tater tots. No wet wipes or dipping sauce required! (via The Black Peppercorn)

11. Pierogi Lasagna: Italian lasagna is morphed into a Polish household staple. And it sure beats frying up numerous dumplings for a crowd. (via Parade)

12. Pepperoni Pizza Casserole: They had us at pizza. Ooey gooey cheese, tangy tomato sauce and spicy pepperoni all baked together = simply genius. (via The Chic Site)

13. Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole: No toothpicks, rolling or pounding necessary, viola. (via Creole Contessa)

14. Reuben Casserole: Layers of corned beef, sauerkraut, Thousand Island dressing and gooey Swiss cheese all piled up. Grab a fork. Dig in. (via The Girl Who Ate Everything)

15. Samosa Pie: Turn India’s renowned, fried, bite-sized, potato-y morsel into an entire pie, enclosed in a flaky crust. (via Foodess)

16. Cheesy Black Bean and Quinoa Bake: Who doesn’t love tacos? Shock taco lovers with a surprising twist: No meat (gasp!), just some awesome-ly kicked up quinoa. (via Half Baked Harvest)

17. Butternut Squash, Apple and Potato Gratin With Cheddar Crumb Topping: Spice up your traditional squash casserole with a powerhouse of fall flavors. Apples, cider and squash lend a hint of sweetness as a tasty contrast to savory potatoes, thyme and cheddar cheese. (via Tracy’s Culinary Adventures)

18. Pumpkin Maple Baked Bean Cornbread Casserole: Want to be the most popular person at the Thanksgiving dining table… or any table for that matter? Bring this! (via Oh She Glows)

19. Chilaquiles Casserole: Brunch fare with a Latin flair, it’s the ever popular combo of tortillas bathed in a tomatillo sauce and topped with plenty of cheese. Don’t forget to pass the salsa. (via Sweet Life)

20. French Toast Casserole With Maple Syrup: Whip up a crowd favorite and have plenty of napkins to pass around the brunch table. (via Food Network)

21. Eggs Benedict Casserole: No need to slave over a hot stove for all eight of your brunch guests, serve ’em Eggs Benedict, casserole style. (via Chew Out Loud)

22. Sun Dried Tomato, Basil and Goat Cheese Breakfast Casserole: Seriously, you could eat this morning, noon or night. (via Belle of the Kitchen)

23. Baked Blueberry and Banana Oatmeal: Bursting with plump blueberries and sweet bananas, there’s no need to mask this oatmeal in spoonfuls of brown sugar. (via Blissfully Delicious)

24. California Avocado Breakfast Casserole: Take your everyday hash browns and head westward, topping them with ripe avocados. (via Dine and Dish)

25. Pecan Peach Cobbler: There’s probably no need to mention that cobbler goes well with vanilla ice cream, but just in case… you are now in the know. (via My Recipes)

26. Nutella Bread Pudding: It’s so good you might cry over it. (via Dominick Costa)

27. S’more Cobbler: Yeah, basically you’re going to want some more of this dessert. (via Created by Diane)

28. The Best Apple Crisp: There should be a law against this, it’s that good. We’re talkin’ warm apples, melted brown butter, vanilla bean, a bite of bourbon and please, don’t forget to make this a la mode. (via Ambitious Kitchen)

29. Strawberry Pretzel Salad: Now here’s a blast from the past. They call it a salad but really it’s salty, sweet goodness in a casserole dish. (via Creative Culinary)

Okay casserole queens, give us the dish on what one-pot wonders you’re cooking in your kitchen in the comments below!

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Michelle Swift

Michelle Swift is a freelance writer and blogs on michelleswift.com. She has an affinity for running, culinary eats, travel and sparkly gold things. People and adventure light her up like a hot pink neon sign!

Not Your Grandma’s Casserole: 29 Modern Casserole Recipes (2024)

FAQs

Why is John Wayne casserole called that? ›

That's right, the iconic John Wayne Casserole is named after none other than the actor himself. Typically, you'll find that most recipes call for refrigerated biscuits or Bisquick, onions, red bell peppers, jalapeño peppers, sour cream, mayonnaise, ground beef, tomatoes, taco seasoning, and Cheddar cheese.

What is the oldest known casserole? ›

Macaroni and cheese is the oldest written casserole recipe found in 1250.

How do you make a casserole taste better? ›

Try different herbs for added flavour: sage or lemon thyme work wonderfully well. For a meatier casserole, add chopped sausage or pancetta when cooking the chicken. Stir wholegrain mustard through the casserole at the end of cooking (to taste); this is especially good if you have sausage in the casserole.

How do you make a casserole not soggy? ›

To prevent a soupy casserole, be sure to fully thaw any frozen vegetables in a colander over a bowl, and pat dry, squeeze excess moisture out of greens like spinach or chard, and quickly precook watery fresh vegetables like onions, mushrooms or squashes just until they release their moisture.

What was John Wayne favorite food? ›

The man was unquestionably a fan of meat and potatoes, and one of his go-to side dishes was scalloped potatoes. With milk, cream, butter and cheese, John's version wasn't for the faint of heart.

What is Jackie Kennedy casserole? ›

A seemingly simple, tender noodle dish with plenty of cheesy, tangy flavor, and the refreshing garden sharpness of chives, Jackie Kennedy's Special Casserole is delicate and hearty at the same time, heartwarmingly homemade yet delightfully classic.

What is the oldest dish we still eat? ›

The World's 10 Oldest Dishes And Where They Are Today
  • Indian curry, circa 2200-2500 B.C. ...
  • Pancakes, circa 11650 B.C. ...
  • Linzer Torte, circa 1653. ...
  • Tamales, circa 5000 B.C. ...
  • Burgers, circa 100 century A.D. ...
  • Mesopotamian Stew, circa 2140 B.C., and bone broth, circa 400 B.C. ...
  • Rice dishes, circa 4530 B.C. ...
  • Beer, circa 3500 B.C.
Sep 2, 2023

What do they call a casserole in Minnesota? ›

The term “hot dish” first appeared in a cookbook in 1930 by a Mankato, Minnesota church group called Grace Lutheran Ladies Aid. Also, a fun fact, in the 1950s, Ore-Ida needed a way to use leftover potato scraps, and thus behold came the tator tot. They marketed them as a topping for casseroles and they really took off.

What is the Midwest term for casserole? ›

A hotdish or hot dish is a casserole dish that typically contains a starch, a meat, and a canned or frozen vegetable mixed with canned soup.

Why put foil on casserole dish? ›

It protects your food from drying out or burning and helps keep in the heat and moisture, ensuring a perfectly cooked meal. Loosely covering your dish with foil can prevent uneven browning while baking. However, tightly sealing your bakeware with foil is the way to go for more steam.

Is it better to bake a casserole covered or uncovered? ›

Generally, casseroles with grains, rice or pasta that will cook during the baking process are usually covered, for at least part of the time. Casseroles made of cooked ingredients are usually baked uncovered. If you like a crisper, browner top, be sure the casserole is uncovered for at least part of the bake time.

Can you put aluminum foil in a casserole dish? ›

Yes, aluminum foil can go in the oven. Because aluminum foil is made of metal, when placed in the oven, it heats up and becomes a conductor. It can be used in the oven to cover dishes as they cook or to line pans or baking sheets.

Is it better to cook casserole the day before or? ›

Putting a casserole together a day or so before baking ensures that everything is ready to go when dinner time rolls around. That means no rushing at the last minute. Along with greater convenience, making a casserole ahead of time also results in a richer, deeper taste.

What are 5 components of a casserole? ›

Let's talk anatomy: A standard dinner casserole usually includes a protein, a starch, a vegetable, a sauce (or other binding ingredient), and cheese. But making a casserole is not an exact science, and you can definitely break away from this formula. Check out some fun side-dish casseroles and desserts below!

Why add egg to casserole? ›

Eggs are an egg-sential part of breakfast casseroles, forming the foundation of the dish, and binding all of the other ingredients together. Whether you are making a hearty cheesy bacon egg bake or a spicy chile relleno egg casserole, there's one ingredient you shouldn't forget: dairy.

What do Minnesotans call casserole? ›

Hotdish is common terminology in western Wisconsin and Minnesota, while casserole is the preferred name everywhere else in the country.

What is John Wayne slang for? ›

(US) anything or anyone seen as heroic, macho, manly. Army Reporter Feb.

What was John Wayne's original name? ›

John Wayne was born Marion Robert Morrison in Iowa, to Mary Alberta (Brown) and Clyde Leonard Morrison, a pharmacist. He was of English, Scottish, Ulster-Scots, and Irish ancestry.

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