13 Comfort Food Casseroles That Taste Like Sunday Dinner at Grandma’s House
Some nights you just need food that feels like a hug. These comfort food casseroles bring back memories of Sunday dinners, church potlucks and grandma’s kitchen, and every slide includes a simple recipe with easy steps. Save room for dessert and browse our dessert galleries..
Comfort Food Casseroles Like Grandma Used to Make
Remember the sound of a casserole dish sliding onto the stove and everyone rushing to the table? Comfort food casseroles like this chicken parmesan bake are what family dinners were made of. Crispy chicken, tangy marinara and a thick layer of melted mozzarella bake together into one bubbling, golden dish. It is easy, filling and impossible to resist..
You will need: 1 1/2 pounds chicken breast, 1 cup Italian breadcrumbs, 2 eggs, 24 ounces marinara sauce, 2 cups shredded mozzarella, 1/2 cup Parmesan and fresh basil.
How to make it: Cut the chicken into strips, dip in beaten egg and coat in breadcrumbs. Bake at 425°F for 15 minutes until golden. Spread half the marinara in a baking dish, add the chicken and pour on the rest of the sauce. Top with mozzarella and Parmesan and bake 15 minutes more until bubbly. Finish with basil.
Classic Beef Lasagna
Lasagna is the king of comfort food casseroles. Layers of tender pasta, rich meat sauce and melted cheese bake into a dish that makes everyone gather around the table. It takes a little time, but it feeds a crowd and tastes even better the next day. Many families still make it for birthdays, holidays and Sunday suppers, just like grandma did.
You will need: 12 lasagna noodles, 1 pound ground beef, 24 ounces marinara sauce, 15 ounces ricotta, 1 egg, 3 cups shredded mozzarella and 1/2 cup grated Parmesan.
How to make it: Cook the noodles and brown the beef, then stir in the marinara. Mix ricotta with the egg and half the Parmesan. Layer sauce, noodles, ricotta and mozzarella in a 9×13 dish, three times. Top with cheese, cover with foil and bake at 375°F for 25 minutes, then uncover for 20 more.
Creamy Baked Mac and Cheese
Nothing says comfort like a bubbling dish of baked mac and cheese. This homemade version uses a simple cheese sauce that coats every noodle, and a crunchy top that everyone fights over. It is the dish kids beg for and adults secretly love just as much. Once you make it from scratch, the boxed kind will never feel the same again.
You will need: 1 pound elbow macaroni, 4 tablespoons butter, 1/4 cup flour, 3 cups milk, 3 cups shredded cheddar, 1 cup shredded mozzarella and 1/2 cup breadcrumbs.
How to make it: Cook the pasta until just tender. Melt the butter, whisk in the flour, then slowly add the milk and cook until thick. Stir in the cheese until smooth. Mix in the pasta, pour into a baking dish, top with breadcrumbs and bake at 350°F for 25 minutes until golden.
Hearty Shepherd’s Pie
Shepherd’s pie is a warm hug in a dish. A savory filling of ground meat, carrots and peas sits under a fluffy blanket of mashed potatoes that bakes until golden at the edges. It was born as a way to stretch leftovers, and it still makes a filling, budget friendly dinner. Among comfort food casseroles, it is a true classic for cold nights.
You will need: 1 1/2 pounds ground lamb or beef, 1 onion, 2 carrots, 1 cup peas, 2 tablespoons tomato paste, 1 cup beef broth and 4 cups mashed potatoes.
How to make it: Brown the meat with diced onion and carrots. Stir in tomato paste and broth and simmer for 10 minutes. Add the peas and spread the filling in a baking dish. Cover with mashed potatoes and rough up the top with a fork. Bake at 400°F for 25 minutes until golden.
Homemade Chicken Pot Pie
Chicken pot pie has been bringing comfort to family tables for generations. Tender chicken and vegetables simmer in a creamy sauce under a flaky golden crust. Breaking through that crust for the first bite is pure joy. Use a store bought pie crust and rotisserie chicken, and this cozy classic comes together faster than you might expect.
You will need: 2 cups cooked chicken, 1 bag frozen mixed vegetables, 1/3 cup butter, 1/3 cup flour, 1 3/4 cups chicken broth, 2/3 cup milk and 2 pie crusts.
How to make it: Melt the butter, stir in the flour and cook for one minute. Whisk in the broth and milk and simmer until thick. Add the chicken and vegetables and season with salt and pepper. Pour into a crust lined pie dish, cover with the second crust, cut slits and bake at 425°F for 30 to 35 minutes.
Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas
Enchiladas are a fiesta in a baking dish. Soft tortillas rolled around seasoned chicken and cheese bake in a tangy red sauce until bubbly and golden. They are easy to make ahead and perfect for feeding a hungry family on a busy weeknight. Top them with sour cream, avocado and cilantro, and watch the pan empty in minutes.
You will need: 8 flour tortillas, 3 cups shredded cooked chicken, 2 cups shredded cheese, 2 cups enchilada sauce, 1/2 cup sour cream, 1 teaspoon cumin and green onions.
How to make it: Mix the chicken with half the cheese, cumin and 1/2 cup sauce. Spread a little sauce in a 9×13 dish. Fill each tortilla, roll it up and place seam side down. Pour the remaining sauce over the top and sprinkle with cheese. Bake at 375°F for 20 to 25 minutes until bubbly.
Baked Ziti With Melted Mozzarella
Baked ziti is lasagna’s easygoing cousin. There are no layers to build, just pasta tossed with sauce and cheese and baked until the top is golden and stretchy. It is a go to dish for potlucks, new parents and busy families. Make two pans at once and freeze one, and future you will be very grateful on a tired night.
You will need: 1 pound ziti, 24 ounces marinara sauce, 1 pound Italian sausage, 15 ounces ricotta, 2 cups shredded mozzarella and 1/2 cup Parmesan.
How to make it: Cook the ziti until just tender. Brown the sausage and stir in the marinara. Toss the pasta with the sauce and dollops of ricotta. Spread half in a baking dish, add half the mozzarella, then repeat. Top with Parmesan and bake at 375°F for 25 minutes until golden.
Old Fashioned Scalloped Potatoes
Scalloped potatoes are the side dish that steals the show at every holiday dinner. Thin slices of potato bake slowly in a creamy, garlicky sauce until tender inside and crisp on top. They pair perfectly with ham, roast chicken or steak. This is one of those comfort food casseroles that always comes back to the kitchen empty.
You will need: 3 pounds russet potatoes, 3 tablespoons butter, 3 tablespoons flour, 2 cups milk, 2 cloves garlic, 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese and salt and pepper.
How to make it: Thinly slice the potatoes. Melt the butter, add garlic and flour, then whisk in the milk until thick. Layer the potatoes in a buttered dish, pouring sauce and cheese between layers. Cover and bake at 375°F for 45 minutes, then uncover and bake 20 more until golden.
Glazed Homestyle Meatloaf
Meatloaf might be the most nostalgic dinner of all. A tender, juicy loaf topped with a sweet and tangy ketchup glaze takes many of us straight back to childhood. It is simple, affordable and makes the best sandwiches the next day. Serve it with mashed potatoes and green beans for the full diner style experience at home.
You will need: 2 pounds ground beef, 1 cup breadcrumbs, 2 eggs, 1/2 cup milk, 1 onion, 1/2 cup ketchup, 2 tablespoons brown sugar and 1 tablespoon mustard.
How to make it: Mix the beef, breadcrumbs, eggs, milk, diced onion and salt gently with your hands. Shape into a loaf in a baking pan. Stir the ketchup, brown sugar and mustard together and spread half on top. Bake at 350°F for 50 minutes, add the rest of the glaze and bake 10 more.
Baked Stuffed Peppers
Stuffed peppers turn a simple vegetable into a complete, colorful dinner. Sweet bell peppers are filled with seasoned beef, rice and tomato sauce, then baked under a layer of melted cheese. Each one is its own perfect portion. They are a favorite for meal prep because they reheat beautifully, and they look gorgeous on the table.
You will need: 6 bell peppers, 1 pound ground beef, 1 cup cooked rice, 1 can diced tomatoes, 1 onion, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning and 1 cup shredded mozzarella.
How to make it: Cut the tops off the peppers and remove the seeds. Brown the beef with the onion, then stir in the rice, tomatoes and seasoning. Stuff the peppers and stand them in a baking dish with a little water. Cover and bake at 375°F for 35 minutes, then add cheese and bake 10 more.
Cheesy Tuna Noodle Casserole
Tuna noodle casserole was a weeknight staple in the 1950s, and it still deserves a spot in your rotation. Egg noodles, tuna and peas come together in a creamy sauce under a crunchy cheesy topping. It uses pantry ingredients you probably already have. For many people, one bite brings back warm memories of family dinners around the kitchen table.
You will need: 12 ounces egg noodles, 2 cans tuna, 1 can cream of mushroom soup, 1 cup milk, 1 cup frozen peas, 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar and 1/2 cup crushed crackers.
How to make it: Cook the noodles until just tender. Mix the soup and milk, then fold in the noodles, drained tuna, peas and half the cheese. Spread in a baking dish and top with the remaining cheese and crushed crackers. Bake at 375°F for 25 minutes until bubbly and golden.
Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole
This chicken and rice casserole is the definition of easy comfort. Everything bakes together in one dish, so the rice soaks up all the creamy, savory flavor. Broccoli adds color and a little green to the plate. It is one of those comfort food casseroles you can put together in 10 minutes and let the oven do the rest.
You will need: 1 1/2 pounds chicken breast, 1 cup long grain rice, 1 can cream of chicken soup, 2 cups chicken broth, 2 cups broccoli florets and 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar.
How to make it: Whisk the soup and broth in a 9×13 dish and stir in the uncooked rice. Lay the seasoned chicken on top. Cover tightly with foil and bake at 375°F for 45 minutes. Add the broccoli and cheese, cover again and bake 15 minutes more until the rice is tender.
Greek Moussaka
Moussaka is Greece’s answer to lasagna, and it is every bit as comforting. Layers of tender eggplant and spiced meat sauce are topped with a thick, golden béchamel. Cinnamon and oregano give it a warm, unforgettable flavor. It takes some time, but it is a perfect weekend project and a showstopper for guests.
You will need: 2 large eggplants, 1 pound ground lamb or beef, 1 onion, 1 can crushed tomatoes, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, plus 4 tablespoons butter, 1/4 cup flour, 2 cups milk and 1 egg for the béchamel.
How to make it: Slice and roast the eggplant until soft. Brown the meat with the onion, add tomatoes and cinnamon and simmer 15 minutes. Make a béchamel with butter, flour and milk, then whisk in the egg. Layer eggplant and meat in a dish, pour the sauce on top and bake at 350°F for 45 minutes.
