19 Out-of-the-Box Casserole Recipes You’ll Want for Leftovers (2024)

FAQs

What types of casseroles are there? ›

According to food blog High Heeled Homemaker, your basic casserole requires five ingredients: a protein, starch, vegetable, sauce, and cheese. If you have those five ingredients in your casserole dish, congratulations; you just made a casserole, whether it's a beloved recipe or a concoction of your own creation.

In the United States, a casserole or hot dish is typically a baked food with three main components: pieces of meat (such as chicken or ground meat) or fish (such as tuna) or other protein (such as beans or tofu), various chopped or canned vegetables (such as green beans or peas), and a starchy binder (such as flour, ...

The term “casserole” can refer to any dish prepared in a casserole dish—essentially a deep, wide baking dish—and baked in the oven. A casserole can have layers, as in the case of an Italian lasagna or a deep-dish pizza, or composed of some evenly distributed combination of veggies, a protein, and a starchy binder.

Macaroni and cheese is the oldest written casserole recipe found in 1250.

"The standard size of a casserole dish is 9 by 13 inches. However, due to varying shapes, they are often measured by volume, with three quarts being average,” says Contrino. “It is important to note that if a recipe calls only for a casserole dish, it is most likely asking for a 9- by 13-inch rectangular size.

But the standard rectangular, 13-by-9-inch (or 3- to 5-quart) dish is the most basic and versatile, because the shape is so great for entrées like macaroni and cheese or enchiladas, and for baked goods like bar cookies and coffee cakes.

The Criteria: What to Look for in a Casserole Dish

Look for a dish that has wide, looped handles, and that is made of stoneware or ceramic for heat retention.

Casserole history

Apparently, casseroles originated as communal pots that people shared for meals. The oldest recipe for a casserole, around 1250, consisted of pasta sheets cooked in water, layered with grated cheese and spices.

casseruola. an earthenware casserole. the food cooked in a casserole. (cibo cotto in casseruola)

What do the French call a casserole? ›

In France, un casserole refers specifically to a saucepan, and nothing else. However, une cassolette—a baked dish that's akin to what Americans call a casserole—is somewhat popular in French home cooking.

The name even comes from a dish — sauce pan in French.

A perfect casserole needs one or more binders: cheese, eggs, condensed soup, Greek yogurt or noodles, for example.

Protein (Such as Meat or Poultry): While there are many casseroles out there that do not include meat or poultry, a lot of casseroles often consist of beef, pork, chicken, shellfish, seafood, and/or eggs. Ingredients like ground beef, diced chicken, shredded pork, and tuna are commonly used in casseroles.

Generally, casseroles with grains, rice or pasta that will cook during the baking process are usually covered, for at least part of the time. Casseroles made of cooked ingredients are usually baked uncovered. If you like a crisper, browner top, be sure the casserole is uncovered for at least part of the bake time.

In the simplest terms, a casserole is a dish, either sweet or savory, that consists of a mix of different ingredients cooked together in the oven, typically in a baking dish with raised edges. Green bean casserole, tuna casserole, and broccoli and cheese casserole are good examples of traditional casseroles.

Not every single casserole has all of them, but as a rule of thumb, here's what to look for: a starch, a binding agent or sauce, and a protein or vegetable. Many casseroles also have both vegetables and proteins, as well as a crunchy element to give some textural contrast, and cheese.

The material is the most important criterion, while then follow the size, the type of lid and the design. There are many options for materials such as stainless steel, cast iron, ceramic or non-stick coating.