31 Days of Casseroles for December
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
If there's any month where the comfort and hands-off cooking style of a casserole belongs, it's December. Indeed, in this busy holiday month, casseroles offer nearly-effortless ways to make a full meal with minor bits of stirring, stuffing, topping, and baking. In this collection, we gathered 31 casserole recipes that fit perfectly any night this month, and we even offered a few options for the various holidays. Browse here for four weeks of casseroles that are just right for any night of December.
Chili Rellenos Casserole
While homemade chile rellenos would make for a delicious dinner any night of the week, the truth is stuffing the green chiles can be time consuming. This casserole turns those crave-able flavors into a quick and easy dinner you can make in about an hour. Reviewers suggest you'll get a thicker, more substantial casserole if you cook in a smaller pan (such as a 9x9 square pan).
Chef John's Turkey or Chicken Noodle Casserole
Chef John
This rich and comforting casserole would be ideal if you have leftover turkey or can cook a few extra chicken breasts one night for the next night's dinner. But if you don't, just pick up a rotisserie chicken and set to work on this. It's familiar as a delicious creamy casserole, but the addition of a few surprise ingredients, like garam masala and tarragon, elevate it to so much more than a way to use up a few leftovers.
Hamburger Potato Casserole
This kid-friendly hit casserole calls on a handful of pantry and fridge staples: ground beef, potatoes, and a can of cream of mushroom soup. Speed up prep by slicing the potato into rounds of even thickness with a mandoline.
Pizza Casserole
Skip rolling out dough and turn pizza night into a one-dish meal. All the toppings of your favorite supreme pizza are here — ground beef, onion, bell pepper, pepperoni, and lot of mozzarella cheese — but you can customize to your family's pizza preferences.
Tuna Noodle Casserole II
Here's a good reason to keep those bags of broken chip bits — they're the topping on this great tuna casserole. Some reviewers suggested adding vegetables like asparagus or broccoli to the casserole so you don't need to bother with any sides to get a well-rounded meal.
World's Best Lasagna
Sunday suppers aren't compete without lasagna for many people coast to coast in America, and if the layered pasta dish isn't a tradition yet for your family, it will be after you serve this.
Healthy Broccoli Cheese Bake
pilibogota
Chilly temps might have you craving rich and comforting broccoli-and-cheese soup, so turn those cravings into a casserole that will satisfy the whole family. In addition to the broccoli, this veggie-heavy bake is filled with mushrooms, bell peppers, and onion. You could personalize with your favorite seasonal vegetables, too. Just be sure to chop them into pieces that will cook quickly with the rest of the dish.
Kristin's Turkey Butternut Squash Casserole
Butternut squash is one of the best cool weather vegetable sides, and this recipe turns it into main dish dinner. Add ground turkey, cheeses, and a crust of buttery crackers to finish it off. Soon, it'll be a family request year round.
Chicken and Pasta Casserole with Mixed Vegetables
"We followed the recipe exactly and this turned out delicious. Leftovers reheat great and can be frozen too. We can't wait to have it again!!" writes reviewer Kristi Bean. Some reviewers suggested adding a cup of sour cream to make the dish extra saucy.
New Mom Broccoli Kugel
For the first night of Hanukkah, try this dairy-free broccoli casserole. It can work as a side dish, or make it a main with an extra-large serving. If you don't need it to be dairy-free, reviewers suggest adding cheddar or Gouda cheeses for extra flavor.
Rotisserie Chicken and Stuffing Casserole
If you didn't get enough stuffing at Thanksgiving, this dish will certainly fill the void. Made with quick-cooking stuffing mix and cooked rotisserie chicken, you can bring this weeknight meal together in no time. While it bakes, wrap a few gifts.
Chef John's Scalloped Oysters
This special occasion dish is perfectly suited for the holidays. But while it may look and taste indulgent and decadent, it's quite easy to make. "This recipe is a winner! Being raised a Maryland girl, I used eastern oysters, of course... I added several dabs of cold butter, just cuz... There were 6 of us at the table. No leftovers," writes reviewer kpaltz.
Layered Chicken and Black Bean Enchilada Casserole
Save precious minutes filling and rolling enchiladas by making this layered version for Sunday dinner. If you start with pre-cooked chicken, you can shave even more time off the clock.
Veggie Pot Pie
Dive into a casserole dish swimming with rich gravy, tender vegetables, and a flaky, butter crust that's every bit as good as anything beneath it. Chock full of vegetables, this casserole is a great way to get more plants on the family's plate during a season when green things are sparse.
Bethany's Frito Pie
Allrecipes reviewer Sandy Lewis writes, "This is such an easy and tasty recipe make it a lot. Especially in the winter time. One of my favorites."
Ground Beef-Spinach Casserole
Ready in just 40 minutes, this ground beef casserole is richly filling and satisfying. Made with pantry and freezer staples like ground beef, frozen spinach, and cream of celery soup, this is one casserole that sneaks in a surprising amount of vegetables while being completely family-friendly.
Simple Sausage Casserole
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
This three-ingredient casserole is a great way to bring breakfast to dinner—but in casserole form. You can personalize it with more savory ingredients, like onions, mushrooms, and peppers. "Excellent recipe! It was a big hit with my family," writes reviewer LadyJ. "I did tweak it a little though, I added half of a sweet onion, minced, some chopped mushrooms, and some garlic powder to the spread."
Hot Tamale Pie
If you're craving your favorite Mexican restaurant tonight but want to skip dining out, make this casserole that's inspired by lots of south-of-the-border flavors. This might also be a good night to double your recipe and freeze one of the casseroles for an upcoming busy night.
Creamy Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole
Rebekah Rose Hills
"This was awesome!! First words out of my husband's mouth was oh that's good. He took another bite and said, Wow yeah that's awesome. Third bite, he said, oh yeah I could definitely over eat this stuff," writes reviewer dmfroehlich. Expect similar results when you serve this casserole.
A Scotsman's Shepherd Pie
This is the kind of deeply rich and uniquely flavorful recipe that makes for a wonderful Sunday dinner. Ground lamb is simmered in a gravy made with stout beer, and the whole dish is covered in stick-to-your-ribs mashed potatoes.
Creamy Pasta Bake with Cherry Tomatoes and Basil
jkochend
Taste a hint of summer with this flavorful tomato-studded pasta dish. Cherry tomatoes, which are available year-round, offer a bit of brightness in these cold days, while canned tomatoes and tomato paste add rich umami flavors.
Shrimp Alfredo Broccoli Bake
"I was looking for an easy recipe for shrimp alfredo and voila! I found this. Baking the dish would have never dawned on me, so that was a phenomenal idea. You can mix up the ingredients a hundred different ways," writes cook Elizabeth Nabejar.
Chicken Sausage and Roasted Cauliflower CaChicken Sausage and Roasted Cauliflower Casserolesserole
If you've had your fill of Christmas cookies or holiday party bites in recent days, lighten up dinner a bit with this sausage-and-cauliflower casserole. Recipe creator SusanBB says this dish is "a tasty meal that scratches the Italian food itch but is low in fat and calories."
Artichoke Chicken Casserole
Don't let the brief ingredient list fool you into believing this isn't a holiday-worthy casserole. The simple combination of artichoke hearts, mushrooms, and chicken are anything but mild and basic. The creamy, cheesy filling brings it all together for a special occasion-worthy casserole.
Pancake Casserole
While the family is focused on opening presents, pop this breakfast casserole into the oven so a meal will be served as soon as the last bow it off the box. With all your favorite breakfast flavors — pancakes, maple syrup, and sausage or bacon — it's like having a big feast in one dish.
Tatertot Casserole
You'll feel like a kid again with this throwback casserole. A layer of seasoned ground beef is topped with tater tots and cheese then baked until it's as comforting as Santa's hug. "This recipe is a staple at our house. I have made it as is, but it is fabulous (and healthier) with sweet potato tots and Stokes Green Chili sauce instead of cream of mushroom soup," writes reviewer Candice Lee Brown.
Savory Rosemary Bread Pudding
If you have leftover cheese and bread from your holiday festivities, put them to good use in this savory bread pudding. You can add your own personality to the dish with the cheese you choose, or use up any leftover meat, like ham or turkey, by adding it to this final dish, too. "This was such a wonderful way to use up random stuff in the fridge! I halved the recipe and put it into two individual sized bakers - that way I could add meat to DH's and keep mine veggie," writes recipe reviewer annie mac.
Stuffed Shells I
Keep tonight's dinner meat free with this cheesy stuffed shells pasta bake. With three different cheeses and a handful of pantry ingredients, the elements of this dish come together quickly. You can turn this dinner prep into an assembly line to make things even faster.
Chicken and Biscuit Casserole
This casserole is a comforting connecting point between chicken and dumplings and chicken pot pie. If you don't like basil, consider dried thyme for the herbed biscuit topping. Reviewers note it's important to cut veggies to the same size so they'll cook evenly.
Turkey Tetrazzini II
"What a simple and tasty recipe. If you're having a hard time thinking of something for dinner and you want it to quick and easy, this is the dish. Good reviews from the family. After some discussion, we decided crumbled bacon and sauteed mushrooms and onions would make a good addition. Though everyone was happy with it just as it was," writes reviewer Kay Kay.
Chef John's Lobster Mac and Cheese
End the month (and the year) with this decadent lobster-studded macaroni and cheese. You'll make the sauce and stir it all together on the stovetop before baking it in the oven to finish it off. "We loved this decadent lobster Mac n cheese! I didn't change a thing and wouldn't when I make it again," writes reviewer MYE.
Read the original article on All Recipes.
