Make ahead casseroles are the ultimate in comfort food, and they’re perfect for brunch or dinner. They save you so much time, they’re easy to reheat, and you’re in full control of the ingredients. There are so many amazing recipes online, but these 25+ are my favorite.
25+ Delicious Make Ahead Casseroles for Brunch and Dinner
1. Salsa Verde Chicken and Rice Bake
I love this recipe because it’s so easy to make and doesn’t skimp on the flavor. The best part? It’s healthy. And no one will ever know.
For this recipe, you’ll need chicken breasts, black beans, salsa verde, brown rice, taco seasoning, cream cheese and shredded Mexican cheese.
2. Cheesy Pesto Broccoli Quinoa Casserole
Looking for a vegetarian casserole? This dish is perfect. It’s delicious and relatively healthy. The quinoa, Greek yogurt and broccoli add plenty of protein and nutrients. Pesto and cheese will make this dish creamy and full of flavor.
If you want to make this dish vegan, try using non-dairy milk, cheese and yogurt.
3. Mexican Vegetarian Enchilada Casserole
If you love Mexican food, you’ll love this casserole. It takes just 25 minutes to cook, and even though it’s vegetarian, you can easily add shredded chicken or beef if you want.
I recommend making the enchilada sauce from scratch (there’s a recipe included), but if you’re short on time, use a good quality can of sauce.
You’ll also need a few different spices, including chili powder, cumin and smoked paprika.
4. Baked Greek Omelet
I love make ahead casseroles that I can prepare for breakfast or brunch. This recipe always hits the spot. The fresh feta, dill and spinach pair so well with the peppers, and the hint of Dijon mustard adds just the right amount of spice.
5. Easy Taco Casserole
Taco casseroles are always a hit, and this recipe truly is easy. While this dish calls for beef, you can use chicken or even beans if you want to make it vegetarian. You’ll also need refried beans, taco seasoning, tortilla chips and all of the usual taco toppings.
Related: 25 Delicious Dinner Meal Prep Ideas That Make It Easy to Prepare Ahead of Time
6. Beef and Potato Casserole
Ground beef and cheesy potatoes are the perfect pair for this casserole dish. Cook time is one hour, but it’s so worth the wait. I recommend using a 9×13 dish to cook this in. The recipe also calls for evaporated milk and cream of chicken soup.
7. Broccoli Cheddar Chicken and Rice Casserole
A classic broccoli cheddar casserole with creamy rice and chicken. This recipe is super easy and quick to put together because it calls for instant rice, canned chicken, cream of mushroom soup and cream of chicken soup.
I recommend using fresh chicken if you have the time.
8. Enchilada Casserole
Looking for a simple, vegan casserole? I love this recipe because of the spicy jalapeno cream sauce. You’ll need corn tortillas, lots of fresh veggies, cumin, chili powder, green enchilada sauce, black beans and refried beans. In 25-30 minutes, dinner will be on the table.
9. Eggplant Pasta Casserole
Looking for make ahead casseroles with Mediterranean flavor? This eggplant casserole should be at the top of your list.
Pasta and eggplant are the perfect pair with a delicious marinara sauce, Parmesan cheese, mozzarella, fresh basil and other simple ingredients. I recommend buying a block of Parm cheese and shredding it fresh as you’re making this dish.
10. Vegetable Moussaka
A flavorful casserole loaded with layers of eggplant, tomato, lentils, cheese and fresh spices, like coriander and oregano. You can make this dish a day in advance to save time, and you can even freeze it for up to a month.
11. Quinoa Casserole with Sundried Tomatoes and Feta
A simple casserole that you can easily make ahead to save yourself time. In fact, it’s even better if you prepare everything ahead of time because all of the delicious flavors will have time to marry.
Along with quinoa, you’ll need sundried tomato pesto, sundried tomatoes, cheese, yogurt, veggies and Italian seasoning.
12. Stuffed Pepper Casserole
This stuffed pepper casserole only takes 15 minutes of prep time. While it calls for beef, you can easily swap in any kind of protein you want. I love the addition of diced green chiles and Worcestershire sauce. The best part? This dish makes enough for the entire family, or you can use this as meal prep for the week.
13. Italian Lentil Vegetarian Casserole
A super simple meatless casserole that’s perfect for busy weeknights. Pair lentils with bell pepper, zucchini, mushrooms, marinara sauce and cheese. Bake and enjoy! Make sure that you cook the lentils before baking this dish. Cook time is just 20-30 minutes.
14. Teriyaki Chicken Casserole
Make ahead casseroles like this one are sure to become a regular in your weeknight dinner rotation. Everyone in the family will love it, and it’s a balanced meal.
The base of this dish is brown rice, chicken breast and stir fry veggies, but the sauce is what really makes this casserole special. You can buy jarred teriyaki sauce, but I recommend following the recipe to make your own. It’s super simple and delicious.
15. Creamy Green Chicken Enchilada Casserole
Here’s a great recipe to serve when you have guests over or if you want some comfort food. And you can even save time because it calls for Rotisserie chicken. The rest of the dish comes together so quickly. Add pinto beans, cheese, corn tortillas, and a homemade green enchilada sauce to finish the dish. The whole dish cooks up in about 20 minutes in a 9×13 pan.
16. Chicken Parmesan Casserole
Your favorite comfort dish transformed into a casserole. Breaded chicken breast bakes with rigatoni pasta and a delicious marinara sauce. Top with fresh mozzarella cheese and parsley. Everyone – even the kids – will love this dish. And you can always sneak in some veggies, like eggplant or zucchini, to make it a little healthier.
Related: 25 Chicken Air Fryer Recipes That Will Change The Way You Meal Prep
17. Baked Salsa Chicken
Here’s another super easy and delicious casserole that’s my go-to when it’s a busy weeknight. It calls for chicken breast, taco seasoning, refried beans, cream cheese, salsa, cheese and fresh herbs. The cook time is just 15 minutes, so you’ll be ready to eat in no time.
18. Easy Breakfast Casserole for One
Looking for an easy, single-serving casserole for breakfast or brunch? This recipe is perfect. It’s an egg-based casserole with cooked ground pork sausage, French bread, cheese and spices. Super simple, but perfect for those busy mornings when you want something satisfying.
19. Creamy Vegan Broccoli Wild Rice Casserole
Vegan casseroles like this are always a treat because they’re filled with flavor. Mushrooms and long grain rice make up a large portion of this dish, and you’ll need to find an almond milk creamer for a very interesting taste.
20. Challah Breakfast Strata
Breakfast sausage, mushrooms, sage, eggs, sweet onions, cheddar, heavy cream, milk, cheddar and Parmesan cheese are just a few of the delectable ingredients in this casserole.
Total time before you can sink your teeth into this breakfast strata is 9 hours and 10 minutes, but it’s the eight hour resting time that takes so long.
Related: 25+ Best Chicken Meal Prep Recipes to Try This Week
21. Spinach Feta Artichoke Bake
Make ahead casseroles for breakfast that are only 128 calories? This healthy dish is simple but perfect for anyone who doesn’t want to start their day with a super-heavy meal. Artichokes, eggs, feta and spinach are the only ingredients you’ll need for this bake.
22. Johnny Marzetti Casserole
Italian-inspired, spicy and delicious, this casserole requires lean ground beef, frozen corn, green bell peppers, green onions, spaghetti sauce, pasta, chili powder, Italian cheese and Rotel.
And, the best part? It takes just 40 minutes to make eight servings of this delightful casserole.
23. King Ranch Chicken Casserole
Spicy lovers won’t want to miss this casserole. It’s a bit heavy, but it’s perfect for anyone who loves Tex-Mex flavors. You’ll need:
- Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Yellow onions
- Bell pepper
- Flour
- Cream cheese
- Sour cream
- Diced tomatoes
- Flour tortillas
- Salsa
- More
And, the casserole will remain good for up to four days in the fridge.
24. Chicken & Green Bean Casserole
One of my favorite, classic casserole dishes is this chicken and green bean recipe. It’s a protein-filled dish. You will need to cook the chicken before baking in a 9×13 baking dish. Total time to make this six-serving dish is just sixty minutes, and you’ll need chicken stuffing mix, boneless chicken breasts, green beans, cream cheese, all-purpose flour and chicken broth.
25. Sausage and Cheese Breakfast Casserole
Want to make a fast breakfast casserole to be ahead of schedule? If you like sausage and cheese, you can make ten servings in no time. You’ll need pork breakfast sausage, 10 eggs, mustard, cheddar cheese, milk and a few spices that you’re sure to have in your spice cabinet already.
26. Polenta Florentine
Polenta Florentine is a rich dish made with – you guessed it – polenta, and if you refrigerate it, you can store it for 2 – 5 days, so it’s perfect to make ahead. I recommend sealing in an airtight container if you plan on extending the shelf life to the five-day mark.
You’ll need Parmesan cheese, lemons, baby spinach, tubed polenta and a few other items to make this casserole.
