19 Hearty Casserole Recipes Just Like Grandma Used To Make and Love
If you're looking for simple casseroles with a hint of nostalgia, you're going to love these 19 recipes.
Casseroles are nothing if not comforting—that's the role they fill in our lives, whether they were always a part of the family dinner table because there were just so many mouths to feed or they were a special occasion bite only enjoyed at family reunions or grandma's house.
These 19 hearty recipes—they all contain a protein—come from all over the country and will provide that comforting feeling with just a touch of nostalgia. One of these hearty casseroles will speak to you. Make sure to read through the tips and tricks from our editors, contributors, and readers.
Shipwreck Casserole
"Almost any vegetable could be added to this casserole. Sautéed mushrooms, corn, and chopped carrots are all great options." —Nick Evans, Simply Recipes Contributor
Cheeseburger Casserole
"Make sure your heavy cream is at room temperature before adding it to your warm pasta. The consistency will be creamy and will not separate or curdle." —Eric Jones, Simply Recipes Contributor
Baked Ziti
"If you don't have Italian seasoning in the pantry, use 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon dried basil and 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme." —Elise Bauer, Simply Recipes Founder
Easy Chicken Enchilada Casserole
"You can replace the homemade enchilada sauce with canned enchilada sauce. You'll need 24 ounces of canned red enchilada sauce." —Marta Rivera, Simply Recipes Contributor
Beef Noodle Casserole
"I like to brown the beef with one heaping tbsp of chili powder and 1 tsp each of cumin and cayenne pepper (any cayenne at all is optional, I’m just crazy like that). If you don’t have the tomatoes, subbing a large can of tomato sauce + 1/2 cup of water works well." —Axel, Simply Recipes Reader
Chicken and Rice Casserole
"You're here for the casseroles, but if you'd like to make this dish without the oven, this recipe shows you how to use the stovetop, an Instant Pot, or a slow cooker." —Simply Recipes Editors
Tamale Pie
"Its officially in the rotation. My husband and son loved this dish. I omitted the olives and raisins (personal preference) and added a can of black beans." —Amber, Simply Recipes Reader
Sausage Breakfast Casserole
"To tell when the casserole is fully cooked, insert a skewer or toothpick in the center of the casserole. When it’s completely cooked, the skewer will come out dry, not wet." —Simply Recipes Editors
Turkey Tetrazzini
"I make this often. Never use turkey but chicken instead. I use Swiss and Parmesan cheeses, sometimes even gruyere in place of Swiss." —Jennifer, Simply Recipes Reader
Beef Enchilada Casserole
"Make this a seafood enchilada casserole by replacing the ground beef with chopped peeled and deveined shrimp. Sauté the shrimp for 3-4 minutes in 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil before adding the aromatics to the recipe." —Marta
Corned Beef Tater Tot Casserole
"For convenience, the recipe calls for canned corned beef, but if you have leftovers from a meal like corned beef and cabbage, by all means, dice or shred those up and use them instead." —Jasmine Smith and Sara Bir, Simply Recipes Editors
Chicken Noodle Casserole
"I make mine with chopped and sautéed onion, celery, carrots, mushrooms and red peppers. I roast a whole chicken (5 lbs) and pick the meat off of the bones. To the sauce (which I make with homemade chicken broth) I add finely chopped garlic, poultry seasoning, salt and pepper and chopped parsley. I also add two beaten eggs to this dish. I top the whole thing with buttered Panko bread crumbs. This is a family favorite that I've been making on request for 45 years." —Rhoda, Simply Recipes Reader
Mexican Lasagna
"Corn tortillas come in different varieties. The sturdy yellow corn tortillas will have more flavor, and hold up better in this casserole, but they do require "softening" or cooking in a little oil before layering. If you use tender white corn tortillas, you may not need to soften them." —Elise
Baked Spaghetti
"You can assemble this up to a day ahead. Just cover it and keep it in the fridge, and add a few minutes to the bake time." —Elise
Easy Shepherd's Pie
"I add bread crumbs and grated cheese on top before baking for a crustier top." —Reg, Simply Recipes Reader
Classic Tuna Noodle Casserole
"To lighten this casserole up a little bit, halve the amount of noodles and add chopped cauliflower florets." —Simply Recipes Editors
Johnny Marzetti Casserole
"If you’d like a saucier casserole, feel free to dump some extra jarred marinara sauce in there before you bake it." —Sara Bir, Simply Recipes Editor
Potato and Sausage Casserole
"I made this last night and used what I had on hand; sweet potatoes and monterey jack cheese. It was fantastic!" —Cari, Simply Recipes Reader
Biscuits and Gravy Casserole
"If you want to make this recipe even quicker and easier, use store-bought biscuits—you know, the kind that “explode” when you open up the cardboard!" —Irvin Lin, Simply Recipes Contributor
