10+ Easy Casserole Recipes for Quick and Delicious Family Meals

If you’re craving something simple and satisfying, easy casserole recipes might just save your evening. These dishes usually bring together everyday ingredients in one pan, so you don’t have to fuss over dinner.

Easy casseroles help you whip up tasty dinners without spending hours in the kitchen.

Casseroles are perfect for those nights when you’re short on time but still want a warm, comforting meal. Most of the time, you can throw them together with what’s already in your fridge or pantry.

That’s part of what makes them so convenient—and honestly, budget-friendly too.

1) Chicken and Rice Casserole

Chicken and rice casserole is one of those no-fuss dishes you can pull together quickly. It’s got tender chicken, rice, and a creamy sauce all in one bite.

Leftover or rotisserie chicken works great if you’re in a hurry. Cheese and herbs usually make an appearance for extra flavor.

You toss everything in one dish, so cleanup’s a breeze. It’s the kind of meal that feels like a hug after a long day.

Some versions keep it super simple—just chicken, rice, cheese, and cream. Pop it in the oven until the rice softens and the top turns golden.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded
• 1 cup uncooked white rice
• 1 ½ cups chicken broth
• 1 cup shredded cheese
• 1 cup cream or sour cream
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Optional: herbs like parsley or thyme

Cooking Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Mix chicken, rice, broth, cream, salt, and pepper in a casserole dish.
3. Sprinkle cheese evenly on top.
4. Cover with foil and bake for 40 minutes.
5. Remove foil and bake 10 more minutes until cheese is bubbly.

2) Dorito Casserole

Dorito casserole is one of those fun, crowd-pleasing meals that doesn’t need much effort. You just layer crunchy Doritos, seasoned ground beef, and cheese for a dinner that’s hard to resist.

Start by browning ground beef with onions and peppers for a little extra flavor. Then, it’s all about layering—beef, Doritos, cheese, and repeat.

Bake it until the cheese gets all bubbly and golden. Serve with a salad or some veggies if you feel like balancing things out.

Ingredients

• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 yellow onion, chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 1 (13-16 ounce) bag Nacho Cheese Doritos
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 can (10.5 ounces) cream of mushroom soup
• 1/2 cup water

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Cook ground beef, onion, and bell pepper in a pan until beef is browned. Drain fat.
3. Mix cream of mushroom soup and water in a bowl.
4. Layer half the Doritos in a baking dish.
5. Spread half the beef mixture over the chips.
6. Pour half the soup mixture on top.
7. Sprinkle half the cheese over the layers.
8. Repeat layers one more time.
9. Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.

3) 4-Ingredient Hamburger Casserole

This 4-ingredient hamburger casserole is about as easy as it gets. You just need a few pantry staples, making it a lifesaver on hectic nights.

Brown the ground beef, mix it with cooked pasta and tomato soup, then top with cheese. Bake until everything’s hot and the cheese is gooey.

Shell pasta works, but honestly, any small pasta does the trick. The cheese melts into everything and gives it that cozy, comfort-food vibe.

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef
• 8 ounces pasta (shells or your choice)
• 1 can (10 ounces) tomato soup
• 8 ounces shredded cheese (cheddar or mozzarella)

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Cook pasta according to package directions and drain.
3. Brown the ground beef in a skillet, drain excess fat.
4. Mix beef, cooked pasta, and tomato soup in a baking dish.
5. Sprinkle cheese evenly on top.
6. Bake for 20 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.

4) Tater Tot Casserole

Tater Tot Casserole is pure comfort. You cook up some ground beef with seasoning, then stir in cream of mushroom soup for that creamy, savory thing.

Spread the beef mixture in a dish, then cover it with frozen Tater Tots. They bake up all golden and crispy.

A layer of cheese on top just makes it better. You can get this ready in no time, and it disappears fast at the table.

Check out a classic version here.

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 can (about 10.5 oz) cream of mushroom soup
• 1 bag frozen Tater Tots (about 32 oz)
• 1 to 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Cook the ground beef in a skillet until browned. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Mix the beef with the cream of mushroom soup.
4. Spread the mixture evenly in a casserole dish.
5. Cover the top with frozen Tater Tots.
6. Sprinkle shredded Cheddar cheese over the Tots.
7. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes until the Tater Tots are crispy and cheese is melted.
8. Let it cool for a few minutes before serving.

5) Beef Noodle Casserole

Beef noodle casserole is a solid, no-frills meal. You cook ground beef with tomato sauce, toss it with egg noodles, and finish with a layer of cheese.

You can toss in mushrooms, olives, or corn if you’re feeling adventurous. It’s a great way to clean out the fridge.

The cheese melts into the noodles and beef, making every bite super satisfying. Sometimes, that’s all you really want.

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef
• 3 cups cooked egg noodles
• 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
• 1 cup shredded cheddar or fontina cheese
• Optional: mushrooms, olives, corn

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Brown ground beef in a pan until fully cooked. Drain fat.
3. Stir in tomato sauce and cook for 5 minutes.
4. Mix beef sauce with cooked noodles in a baking dish.
5. Sprinkle cheese evenly on top.
6. Bake for 20-25 minutes until cheese melts and bubbly.

For more details, check this beef noodle casserole recipe.

6) Chicken Cobbler

Chicken cobbler is a one-dish wonder. You mix tender chicken with a creamy sauce and top it with biscuits.

Rotisserie chicken makes it even faster, and frozen veggies keep it easy. The biscuit topping—especially if you use something like Red Lobster cheddar bay mix—brings a buttery, cheesy kick.

Everything bakes together until the biscuits puff up golden and the filling bubbles underneath. It’s hard not to sneak a bite while it cools.

Ingredients

• 3 cups cooked chicken, shredded
• 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 cup milk
• 1 package cheddar bay biscuit mix

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Mix chicken, vegetables, soup, broth, and milk in a baking dish.
3. Drop biscuit mix spoonfuls evenly over the chicken mixture.
4. Bake for 25-30 minutes until biscuits are golden and cooked through.
5. Let cool a few minutes before serving.

For more details, see this Chicken Cobbler recipe.

7) Baked Spaghetti Casserole

Baked spaghetti casserole is a fun twist on classic spaghetti. You mix cooked noodles with a hearty tomato sauce—meaty or not, up to you.

Layer in plenty of cheese for that gooey top. Baking it in the oven gets everything bubbly and golden.

Some folks add a little cream cheese for richness. You’ll have a warm, filling meal in about an hour, give or take.

Ingredients

• 12 oz cooked spaghetti noodles
• 1 lb ground beef (optional)
• 3 cups marinara sauce
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup ricotta or cream cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Brown ground beef with garlic in a pan; drain excess fat.
3. Mix beef with marinara sauce; season with salt and pepper.
4. In a casserole dish, layer half the spaghetti, half the sauce, and half the cheeses.
5. Repeat the layers.
6. Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes until cheese is golden and bubbly.
7. Let it cool slightly before serving.

For a full recipe, visit this baked spaghetti casserole recipe.

8) Cheeseburger Casserole

Cheeseburger casserole is like your favorite fast food but homemade and way cozier. You mix ground beef, cheese, and pasta or macaroni, all in one dish.

It comes together quickly, so it’s perfect for those nights when you just can’t. You’ll probably have most of the ingredients on hand already.

Some people toss in pickles or tomatoes for that classic cheeseburger flavor. Bake for about 25-30 minutes until the top is bubbly and golden.

It’s comfort food that doesn’t ask much from you—just dig in and enjoy.

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 2 cups cooked macaroni
• 1 can diced tomatoes (optional)
• 1/4 cup chopped pickles (optional)
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup mustard
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

2. Brown the ground beef in a skillet. Drain off the fat.

3. Combine the beef, cooked macaroni, cheese, milk, ketchup, and mustard in a big bowl.

4. If you’re feeling it, toss in those tomatoes and pickles.

5. Add salt and pepper until it tastes right.

6. Pour everything into a greased baking dish.

7. Bake for 25-30 minutes. The cheese should be bubbling.

8. Let it cool about 5 minutes before you dig in.

9) Chicken Carbonara Pasta Bake

Here’s a chicken carbonara pasta bake that’s all about comfort. Creamy sauce, chicken, and pasta come together for a cozy meal, and honestly, it’s a great way to use up leftover chicken.

You’ll mix up cooked chicken with pasta, bacon or pancetta, eggs, cream, and cheese. Then it all goes in the oven until the top turns golden and bubbly.

It’s perfect for those nights when you want something easy but don’t want to skimp on flavor. The sauce is creamy, but not fussy.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound cooked chicken, chopped
• 8-12 ounces pasta (spaghetti, penne, or macaroni)
• 6 ounces bacon or pancetta, chopped
• 4 large egg yolks
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 ½ cups grated Parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions:

1. Cook the pasta, following the package directions. Drain it and set aside.

2. Fry the bacon or pancetta until it’s crisp. Get rid of the fat.

3. Whisk egg yolks, cream, and Parmesan together in a bowl.

4. Toss the pasta, chicken, and bacon into a baking dish.

5. Pour the egg and cream mixture over everything and stir gently.

6. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for about 25-30 minutes. The top should be golden and bubbly.

7. Let it cool for a few minutes before serving.

Find more details on this recipe at Chicken Carbonara Pasta Bake from Allrecipes.

10) Pizza Casserole

Pizza casserole really does taste like pizza, but you don’t have to fuss with dough. You can use pasta or noodles, tomato sauce, pepperoni, and a mountain of cheese.

Some folks throw in ground beef or veggies. Mushrooms and olives work well, but you do you.

It’s a one-pan deal and super handy for busy nights. No need to make an actual pizza.

Just layer everything up, bake at 375°F (190°C), and you’ll have a gooey, cheesy meal soon enough. Try tossing in your favorite toppings—why not?

Ingredients

• 12 oz pasta or egg noodles
• 2 cups tomato sauce
• 1 cup pepperoni slices
• 1 lb ground beef (optional)
• 1 cup mushrooms (optional)
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup sliced olives (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Cook the pasta according to the directions on the package. Drain it well.

2. Brown the ground beef in a pan if you’re using it. Drain off the fat.

3. In a baking dish, toss together the pasta, tomato sauce, pepperoni, beef, mushrooms, and olives.

4. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese all over the top.

5. Bake at 375°F (190°C) for about 25 to 30 minutes. Pull it out when the cheese looks melted and bubbly.