10 All-in-One Casseroles to Add to Your Weeknight Dinner Rotation

By: Foodlets

Photo by: Armando Rafael

Armando Rafael

There’s something so satisfying about serving a warm casserole for dinner, especially when it covers all the bases by combining a protein, grain and vegetable. But there’s more to love about the casseroles we’re talking about today: You can almost always prep them ahead of time or double them up as you go. Make one for now, and save the other in the freezer for later or for a friend.

Not every casserole requires hours of time in the oven. Rachael Ray saves time by cooking the pasta, sausage and veggies separately, then popping the whole casserole under the broiler for a few minutes at the end.

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Photo by: Ryan Dausch

Ryan Dausch

These are flavors I grew up on, right down to the good old frozen peas and carrots. But this revamped version adds just enough tangy Monterey Jack cheese to make believers out of a new generation.

Photo by: Picasa

Picasa

This versatile option combines all the fresh flavors of your favorite enchiladas into one mouthwatering dish. Want to use rice instead of quinoa? How about adding chicken? Yes and absolutely. I’ve prepped this casserole every possible way, and the results are always the same: delicious.

Photo by: Petrina Tinslay ©Owned

Petrina Tinslay, Owned

This is another classic with just enough updates to make modern kids swoon. This one’s light on the veggies, so I like to double up the carrots and celery.

Featuring a satisfying filling of spiced ground beef and corn, Trisha Yearwood’s easy casserole gets an added boost of comfort with the help of a cornbread topping.

Photo by: Picasa

Picasa

Not only is this one of the easiest pasta bakes you’ll ever put together, but it’s also the most-covert way to get a little extra nutrition into dinner.

Food Stylist: Jamie Kimm
Prop Stylist: Paige Hicks

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Food Stylist: Jamie Kimm Prop Stylist: Paige Hicks

Photo by: Christopher Testani

Christopher Testani

Not only does this speedy casserole feature a brilliant splash of color and flavor with the addition of tomatoes and broccoli, but this classic casserole recipe another major perk: You need only one pan to make it.

Full of crispy pancetta, fresh basil and juicy plum tomatoes, the sauce for this baked pasta comes together in a hurry — and provides the base for the best pasta mash-up you’ll have all year.

Photo by: Picasa

Picasa

This healthy crowd-pleaser is my go-to dish for two things: doubling the recipe and either freezing one for later or bringing the extra to a friend.

Food Network's Cheesy Gnocchi Casserole with Ham and Peas

Food Network's Cheesy Gnocchi Casserole with Ham and Peas

Photo by: Tara Donne ©FOOD NETWORK : 2012, Television Food Network, G.P.

Tara Donne, FOOD NETWORK : 2012, Television Food Network, G.P.

Save this one for your post-Easter ham leftovers. It features a rich cream sauce with just enough peas for a pop of color.

Charity Curley Mathews is the mom of four small kids and lives in North Carolina on a mini farm in the making. She’s a contributor to InStyle, The Huffington Post and eHow Food and the founder of Foodlets.com, a food and parenting blog where every recipe is full of fresh ingredients, simple to make and kid-tested x4. You can follow her on Facebook.

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