As the days get colder, I find myself looking for reasons to have the oven on. The warmth of the kitchen is so comforting when it’s dark and gloomy outside. But let’s face it, when you come in from the cold, the last thing you want is to spend hours slaving over dinner. A good winter casserole recipe should be warm, filling, and easy. From a hearty breakfast to get you through to lunch to a one-pot dinner that everyone can dig into, this list of 25 winter casseroles has it all!
1. Cracker Barrel Hash Brown Casserole Recipe
If you’re looking for a casserole that works for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, this is it. Shredded hash browns are combined with cream of chicken soup, sour cream, and plenty of cheese. You can serve this with bacon and eggs or as a side to a good chicken dinner. I like to cook mine in stages, broiling half of the potatoes to get a crust before adding in the other half. Get that nice and crunchy, then add the cheese to melt.
2. Dublin Coddle
This Irish casserole comprises bacon, sausage, potatoes, and onion. They get covered in just enough broth to add moisture before caramelizing into a beautiful glaze. It’s best made in a Dutch oven so you can cook everything together. After just two hours in the oven, you will have tender potatoes and crispy pork sausage that cook right in the broth and bacon fat.
3. Incredibly Easy French Onion Soup Casserole
Who would’ve thought something so simple could be so delicious? French onion soup is traditionally served in small pots. I like to use these adorable blue pots with handles and lids. But making it as a casserole is so much easier and just as tasty. My only suggestion would be to stack the bread slightly and don’t be shy with the cheese! That way, everyone gets a hearty helping.
4. Baked Dulce De Leche French Toast Casserole
There’s nothing I don’t love about this casserole. To me, French toast is pretty much the perfect breakfast. Making it into a simplified casserole and adding caramel? Excuse me while I wipe the drool! The real trick here is to let it sit overnight. That way, the bread can soak up all that fantastic custard. Make it while you’re prepping dinner for the easiest and most decadent breakfast any day of the week.
5. Pineapple-Bourbon Sweet Potato Casserole
As great as sweet potato casserole can be, doesn’t it get a little boring year after year? Adding bourbon and pineapple will take your next casserole to the next level. Trust me when I say your holiday guests won’t know what hit them. And it couldn’t be easier! Just blend everything in a blender or food processor and bake.
6. Brussels Sprouts and Grapes au Gratin
It might sound crazy, but adding grapes into a cheesy casserole filled with Brussel sprouts really does work. Between this and the pineapple and sweet potato, prepare to be showered with compliments. If you’re feeling extra daring, try adding some thin slices of apple for a freshness that pairs well with the cheese.
7. Easy Chicken Enchilada Casserole
This is such a fast dinner. You can throw it together and have it on the table in just over an hour. Cooking the chicken in the enchilada sauce will make sure it stays juicy while soaking up all that great flavor. Or you could cheat and use a rotisserie chicken. (I like this option for a super-fast meal in minutes.) When making the casserole, think of it like a lasagna of sorts. You’ll layer sauce, tortillas, chicken, sauce, cheese, then repeat. Serve it with a generous helping of guacamole.
8. Dump-and-Bake Chicken Stuffing Casserole
With just five ingredients and 40 minutes in the oven, this type of casserole is my favorite. Whenever I can make something satisfying with just a few things and only one dish to clean, I’m happy. This recipe uses chicken breasts, cream of mushroom soup, ready-made stuffing, and cheese. Mmm!
9. Meatball Sub Casserole
This recipe is a revelation. Whenever I make meatballs, I always make enough for meatball subs the next day. But they can be messy. This recipe makes it so easy, layering bread with a seasoned cream cheese mixture and shredded cheese, meatballs, and tomato sauce. Once baked, it’s like a cross between a meatball sub and a pizza casserole.
10. Philly Cheesesteak Casserole
Not only is this recipe low carb, but it’s also super frugal. Looking into keto? This would make the perfect dinner! Using ground beef gives you all that great flavor without finding thinly shaved beef, which can be difficult and expensive. Load it up with peppers and onions and top it with plenty of cheese. For those blessed few that can eat carbs all day long, try serving with a side of crunchy French bread.
11. Sausage and Rice Casserole
This scrumptious rice dish would be great as a side or even as the main event. Rice and pork sausage get cooked in mushroom and chicken soup and cheese. The dish also has onion, celery, and pepper. It’s hearty enough to stand alone but would also pair well with roasted chicken.
12. Creamy Chicken, Spinach and Mushroom Casserole
A good pasta casserole (or pasta bake) can be a lifesaver after a long day. Filling, warm, and always satisfying, nothing beats a big bowl of pasta. The sauce is straightforward, starting with a simple roux and combining warm cream, chicken broth, and cheese. Everything will melt together for a beautiful pasta sauce. (I won’t tell if you buy a jar!)
13. Farmer’s Casserole
Given that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, we should be eating something substantial. Unfortunately, we don’t always have the time. That’s why I love breakfast casseroles. This one is chock full of potato, eggs, and ham. If you get everything ready the night before, you can pop it in the oven first thing. By the time you’ve enjoyed your coffee, walked the dog, moved the laundry, and have worked up an appetite, the casserole will be ready.
14. Sweet Corn Casserole
I always enjoy homemade cornbread, but I do miss the texture you get from a good corn pudding. That’s where this dish comes in. It’s all the excellent cornbread flavor in the same convenient finger-food form, but with kernels of corn spilling out. Using a boxed cornbread mix will cut your prep time down to just five minutes, making this side lightning fast. I think it would work well as a side to the easy chicken enchilada casserole from number seven!
15. Hidden S’mores – Dessert Casserole
Gone are the days of campfires and lightning bugs. No more nights by the fire with a stick and a marshmallow. sigh But that doesn’t mean s’mores have to be off the menu. They’re made with chocolate and marshmallow, for crying out loud! This genius dessert casserole uses canned crescent rolls almost like a pie shell. Inside, there are layers of marshmallow faux-cheesecake, crushed Graham crackers, and chocolate chips. A word of warning: you will be making this dish often, and possibly even through the summer. It’s that good!
16. Blueberry Croissant Breakfast Casserole
A breakfast casserole like this is already pretty indulgent. With a sweet custard soaked into bread and drizzled with syrup, it’s definitely a treat. But how about using croissants for an extra buttery, extra decadent breakfast bake? Don’t worry; it’s loaded with blueberries, so it’s practically healthy! If you’ve never made your own croissants, I highly recommend trying it at least once. For the sake of convenience, store-bought will work just fine. I like to use day-old bread for a recipe like this. The staler the bread, the more it will soak up the custard.
17. Bacon, Potato, and Egg Casserole
My nephew has an aversion to “funny shaped food.” He swears it tastes different, and in some cases, he’s not wrong. Unfortunately, one of the things he doesn’t like is hash browns. I know, sacrilege! No hash brown breakfast bake when he visits. But he does love this diced potato, bacon, and egg casserole. It’s very similar to a Spanish tortilla and comes together in a snap. If you use frozen potatoes, the most you’ll have to do is cook the bacon, onion, and peppers before adding them to the dish.
18. Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
Not only does the butternut squash add a fantastic layer of flavor, but it also helps to make the sauce without needing too much cheese. Now, I know that mac and cheese is all about the cheese. But for those looking for a slightly healthier version that doesn’t compromise on flavor, this recipe is for you. For an even healthier version, try using cauliflower instead of pasta. Just don’t skip the bacon bits on top!
19. Creamy Pork Casserole with Cider
Apples, cider, chestnuts, parsnips, bacon, and pork all combine in this casserole for a winter warmer worthy of the name. Once the pork is browned, you will need to cook the bacon and add in the onion, garlic, and seasoning. Throw in the veggies, cider, and stock before adding the pork back in. Though it’s not a hearty beef stew with gravy or creamy pasta bake, this casserole is so flavorful and will fill you right up. The sauce will thicken as it cooks, and the apples will break down a little, making a fresh, savory, and fruity sauce to pour over mashed potatoes and melt-in-your-mouth pork.
20. Cranberry Pecan Sweet Potato Casserole
This casserole is another excellent step away from the boring sweet potato you’re used to. Instead of mashing the potato to make a pie-like filling, you will slice them to make more of a gratin. Once layered in the dish, the spiced butter, maple, and orange zest sauce get poured over it all. But we’re not done there. Everything gets covered with a brown sugar, pecan, and cranberry mixture that will toast and caramelize during the bake.
21. Parmesan Bread Pudding with Broccoli Rabe and Pancetta
If you’ve never tried a savory bread pudding before, then prepare to have your mind blown. The custard has no sugar, but it will take flavor from the parmesan and garlic broccoli rabe. As it cooks, the fat from the pancetta will seep in as it crisps up to perfection. My only note would be to add cherry tomatoes into the bread mixture for pops of sweetness.
22. Cinnamon Roll Casserole
Because cinnamon rolls on their own aren’t good enough?! This recipe is a cinnamon roll French toast bake and is worth every single calorie. Cut the canned cinnamon rolls into quarters and layer in a casserole dish. Top with a cinnamon custard mix and leave overnight so the cinnamon rolls can rise and soak up the custard. Bake for 30-35 minutes and drizzle with the sauce provided.
23. Spinach & Cheese Strata
Another great savory bread pudding recipe, this one uses spinach with Gruyere and mustard from an amazingly tasty dish. Much like with the other, you will be pouring a custard over cubes of bread. Since this is a savory casserole, try using something fun like this no-knead rosemary bread.
24. Country Chicken and Biscuits
Classic comfort food, chicken and dumplings should be a staple in every household. The mild flavor makes it great for everyone, though you can make it a little spicy by using Cheddar and Jalapeño Biscuits. I love how they bake into the sauce, becoming crisp on the top and tender and full of flavor underneath.
25. Apple Butternut Squash Casserole
As I’ve said before, when it comes to the holidays, I like easy and stress-free. Cooking for guests can be a lot, so I want to find easy recipes that are still packed with flavor. This dish checks all the boxes. The combination of apple, butternut squash, onion, sage, bacon, and pecans is divine. When baked together, the fruit will start to caramelize, while the squash will braise in the bacon fat. Serve with your big old turkey, with a simple roasted chicken, or weeknight pork chops. Click on a star to rate it!
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