You CAN Enjoy A Hot, Bubbly Casserole In The Summer—Here's Proof

By the time the warm weather rolls around, most of us are ready to shed our heavy coats and switch up old routines. Some are harder to give up than others, though, and the convenience, comfort, and simplicity of a casserole for dinner is one of them. Fear not: we’re here to tell you that you CAN enjoy a hot, bubbly casserole in the summer. Ditch winter standbys like green bean casserole and sweet potato casserole for summery flavor combinations, fresh produce, and outdoor eating-inspired casseroles. Check out our 26 summer casseroles for ideas—don’t put away that baking dish just yet!

One of the best things about a casserole is its ability to feed a hungry crowd, and that’s no different during the summer. So to “summer-fy” our favorite comfort dish, we looked to our favorite summer activities and flavors for inspiration. Love a weeknight dinner on the grill, but feeling under motivated (or is the weather not cooperating?) Try our cheeseburger casseroles (including a “skinny” version) or our chili cheese dog casserole. They’ve got everything you crave from a BBQ, without having to stand over a hot grill. Feeling a Mexican food vibe, but don’t want to assemble a million individual-sized options (tacos, quesadillas, etc.)? Try our taco casserole or our chicken enchilada casserole. They’re super easy to throw together, meaning you’ll have more time to whip up some margaritas to go with. Watching the game, and don’t want to be stuck in the kitchen when the big play happens? Try our cheesy jalapeño popper bake, our buffalo chicken casserole, or our tater tot casserole. They’re just as good as your favorite apps, but a TON less work.

During the summer, we love filling our recipes with as much seasonal produce as possible. Casseroles are great ways to use up a bounty of zucchini, eggplant, sweet corn, and even pineapple. Check out our cowboy corn casserole, our squash casserole, our cornbread casserole, our pineapple casserole (trust us), or our vegetarian moussaka (think shepherd’s pie, but with eggplant!) for ideas.

Want more summertime inspiration? Check out our favorite summer salads, summer soups, and summer desserts too.