Make-Ahead Casseroles for Easy Weeknight Dinners
Casseroles may be the most all-around satisfying dishes. Not only are they super hearty, but they're extremely easy to pull off, which makes casseroles the most accommodating meal out there. The only thing that can make a casserole more convenient is preparing it ahead of time. Most of these simple make-ahead dishes can be whipped up on a Sunday, stored in the freezer, and ready to bake throughout the week for an easy, satisfying dinner.
Après-Ski Lasagna
In this lasagna recipe, F&W Cooks contributor Andrea Slonecker says "fresh basil brings brightness, sliced mushrooms lend earthiness and toothsome texture, and ricotta delivers the creaminess between the layers." Build the lasagna the night before so all it needs is an hour or so in the oven.
Hot Crab Dish
This hot dish channels the flavor and fun of a crab boil, with Old Bay seasoning, dashes of Worcestershire and hot sauce, and a hint of lemon, adding layers of flavor to sweet fresh lump crabmeat. Frozen potato tots add crunch to this creamy casserole, making it a hearty and filling dinner.
Macaroni and Beef Casserole
© Alexandra Rowley
There's nothing quite like the nostalgia you get from eating a meal you loved growing up. This casserole from Justin Chapple is a homemade version of the boxed pasta meals he enjoyed (and still enjoys) when he was a kid. Fresh vegetables, ground beef, crushed tomatoes, pasta, melted cheese, and more come together to form a satisfying, hearty dish that's ready in under an hour. The unbaked casserole can be refrigerated overnight. Just bring to room temperature before baking.
Mushroom Parmesan
This crunchy, flavorful recipe pairs briny Castelvetrano olives and capers with tomato sauce and hen-of-the-woods mushrooms. Baking panko with the mushrooms ensures that as the mushrooms release their liquid, the panko absorbs the flavorful juices, adding extra earthiness to the cheesy, tomato-packed casserole. The sauce can be made up to 1 day in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Crusty Baked Shells and Cauliflower
Even sautéed cauliflower feels decadent in this cheesy-crunchy baked pasta from cookbook author and TV host Ina Garten. Assemble the dish, cover, and refrigerate overnight. Bake before serving. Be careful not to overcook your pasta, as it will continue to cook in the oven.
Swiss Chard Casserole with Shiitake Mushrooms
© Alexandra Rowley
Delicious and easy to make and serve, this frittata-like casserole is just the kind of dish that Justin Chapple likes to serve as a first course at dinner parties. The baked casserole can stand at room temperature for up to 2 hours. He slices bite-size squares and tops them with a dollop of crème fraîche to serve with cocktails.
Picadillo Beef Casserole with Corn-Scallion Biscuit Topping
© Alexandra Rowley
Inspired by a Cuban picadillo, this recipe perfectly balances savory and sweet with warm aromatic spices, sweet raisins, and tangy green olives. The recipe can be prepared through Step 2 of 3 and refrigerated overnight. Bring the filling to room temperature before topping with the biscuits and baking.
Squash Gratin with Poblanos and Cream
At Suzanne Goin and Caroline Styne's Tavern in Los Angeles (now a second outpost of their restaurant A.O.C.), chef Julie Robles used to make this vegetarian gratin in individual dishes with a topping of candied pepitas. Our version is for one big gratin that can be refrigerated unbaked overnight. Return to room temperature before baking and garnish with plain toasted pumpkin seeds.
Sweet Potato Casserole
Sweet potatoes grow in abundance in Alabama, where sculptor Sandi Stevens' family eats them year-round. This casserole is a Stevens favorite: silky pureed sweet potatoes topped with a sweet and crunchy pecan-cornflake topping. The casserole can be baked up to 4 hours ahead and served warm or at room temperature.
Cheesy Mixed Pasta Casserole with Mushrooms
© Lucy Schaeffer
Former F&W editor Melissa Rubel Jacobson created this recipe to use up extra dried mushrooms and odds and ends of pasta. While the different pasta shapes cook at different rates in the water, they all become tender once baked. The baked pasta can be refrigerated overnight and reheated to serve.
Creamy Shrimp Casserole with Buttery Crumbs
Hot sauce and dashes of paprika make this delicious casserole a complex-flavored dish everyone at the table will love. The casserole can be prepared through Step 4 of 5 and refrigerated overnight.
Southwest Chicken Casserole
Here, the chicken filling can be made a day ahead and reheated before continuing with the recipe, which calls for 25 minutes of baking.
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