26 Christmas Casserole Recipes to Make in Your 13x9 Pan (2024)

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26 Christmas Casserole Recipes to Make in Your 13x9 Pan (1)Christine RukavenaUpdated: Oct. 20, 2023

    Fresh from the oven, these Christmas casserole recipes are hearty, warm and ready to share.

    1/26

    Italian Pasta Bake

    I love to make this pasta bake whenever I need to bring a dish to pass around. Fresh tomatoes add a nice touch that’s missing from most other meat, pasta and tomato casserole recipes.—Karla Johnson, East Helena, Montana

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    2/26

    Taste of Home

    New England Lamb Bake

    This dish is hearty and perfect for warming up on a chilly winter evening. The aroma is almost as delightful as the dish itself. —Frank Grady, Fort Kent, Maine

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    Here are more Christmas dinner ideas perfect for frosty weather.

    3/26

    TMB Studio

    Green Bean Casserole

    This green bean casserole is so easy to put together and is one of my all-time favorite dishes! You can make it before any guests arrive and keep it refrigerated until baking time. —Anna Baker, Blaine, Washington

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    Serve this holiday-ready casserole alongside other vegetarian recipes for Christmas dinner.

    4/26

    This recipe was inspired by a mushroom mac and cheese I had at a local restaurant. I incorporated the fall flavor of a pumpkin ale, and it turned out better than the original. —Laura Davis, Chincoteague, Virginia

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    5/26

    Reuben and Rye Strata

    This make-ahead dish is so easy to prepare. It's wonderful for brunch, lunch or supper, or as a potluck meal. If you prefer it, substitute turkey pastrami for the corned beef. —Mary Louise Lever, Rome, Georgia

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    6/26

    Taste of Home

    Artichoke Spinach Casserole

    Although he isn’t a fan of spinach, my husband loves this casserole recipe. The combination of ingredients may sound unusual, but the flavors meld well. It’s an excellent side vegetable for a formal dinner. —Judy Johnson, Missoula, Montana

    7/26

    Dive fork-first into oodles of noodles baked to bubbly perfection and coated with a to-die-for sharp cheddar cheese sauce in this cavatappi, a grown-up version of mac and cheese. Hot sauce lends mild heat that’s delectable with the smoky topping. —Barbara Colucci, Rockledge, Florida

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    8/26

    Taste of Home

    Potluck Sausage Casserole

    Whenever my husband digs in to this pasta casserole full of Italian sausage and veggies, he gets a big smile on his face. I love that! —Jane Davis, Marion, Indiana

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    9/26

    Prosciutto, Egg and Spinach Strata

    This egg spinach strata recipe is one of my favorite things to make for Mother’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving or Christmas morning! It’s a wonderful savory dish that incorporates elements of the cuisine I grew up enjoying. Plus, you can prepare it the night before and just throw it in the oven in the morning for a delicious Christmas brunch. —Danielle Pfanstiehl, Andover, Connecticut

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    10/26

    Christmas Cauliflower Casserole

    This creamy casserole is filled with tender cauliflower and topped with a sprinkling of crispy herb stuffing. It's become one of our favorite Christmas casseroles that appeals to both kids and adults in our family. —Carol Rex, Ocala, Florida

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    11/26

    Taste of Home

    This quick, easy recipe is truly delicious. The succulent, melt-in-your-mouth seafood flavors and textures make for elegant comfort food. To make ahead, just assemble, cover and refrigerate, then bake when ready. —Jan Bartley, Evergreen, North Carolina

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    12/26

    Taste of Home

    Maple Winter Squash Casserole

    This scrumptious casserole combines pumpkin and two other kinds of squash in a creamy, savory mix. The recipe also would work with other squash combos, or just one type instead of three. Have fun with it—you really can't go wrong! —Joanne Iovino, Kings Park, New York

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    13/26

    Taste of Home

    Bacon Potato Bake

    This cheesy potato casserole is always popular. It's a nice change from mashed potatoes and with a bread crumb and crumbled bacon topping, it looks as good as it tastes. —Helen Haro, Yucaipa, California

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    14/26

    Christmas Day Chicken

    I've been fixing this delicious chicken for Christmas dinner for over 10 years. It's convenient since you refrigerate it overnight, then simply coat with crumbs and bake. It comes out crispy on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside. —Marcia Larson, Batavia, Illinois

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    15/26

    Warm Chicken Tortellini Au Gratin

    I have a number of easy, planned leftover recipes in my arsenal, which are especially useful when I'm busy. This is one of my favorites: pasta from Monday plus roasted chicken from Tuesday equals this delicious dish on Wednesday. When paired with a green salad and toasty bread, you have a meal that's fancy enough for company. —Brenda Cole, Reisterstown, Maryland

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    16/26

    Eggs Benedict Bake with Bearnaise Sauce

    I've made this recipe for my family every Christmas morning for 10 years—it's a food tradition that we look forward to every year. Part of what makes this dish special is the croissants that make the egg bake extra light and fluffy. —Susan Triplett, Citrus Heights, California

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    17/26

    Apples and dried cherries add a sweet-tart flavor to my homemade stuffing. It makes a holiday dinner memorable. —Connie Boll, Chilton, Wisconsin

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    18/26

    Taste of Home

    Easy Scalloped Potatoes

    We all loved my mom's super-rich scalloped potatoes. I tweaked her recipe to keep all the flavor, but cut the fat. The cheese blend is the clincher. It's all about experimenting. —Diane Bramlett, Manteca, California

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    19/26

    Taste of Home

    Hearty Sausage and Cheese Lasagna

    During the holidays, it's nice to welcome friends and family into your home for a hearty meal of lasagna. Every bite is packed with cheese, sausage and sauce. —Gay Barker, Chanute, Kansas

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    20/26

    Oyster Fricassee

    I oversee the gardens at Colonial Williamsburg. We've learned that the colonists had a ready source of oysters from Chesapeake Bay. I enjoy this rich, creamy casserole, a special dish from this area's holiday recipe collection. —Susan Dippre, Williamsburg, Virginia

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    21/26

    Taste of Home

    Seafood Casserole

    A family favorite, this rice casserole is filled with plenty of seafood and veggies. It's hearty, homey and so easy to make. —Nancy Billups, Princeton, Iowa

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    22/26

    Taste of Home

    Pearl Onion Broccoli Bake

    With its creamy white cheese sauce and buttery crumb topping, this dish is great comfort food. If you’re looking for a mild way to dress up broccoli, this is the recipe. —Charles Keating, Manchester, Maryland

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    23/26

    Taste of Home

    Christmas Brunch Casserole

    No one leaves the table hungry when I serve this savory casserole. In fact, folks rave about it! What I like as much as the taste is that I can prepare it ahead of time. —Mary Eckler, Louisville, Kentucky

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    24/26

    Traditional Lasagna

    My family first tasted this rich, homemade lasagna recipe at a friend's home on Christmas Eve. We were so impressed that it became our own holiday tradition as well. I also prepare it other times of the year. This classic lasagna recipe is requested often by my sister's Italian in-laws—I consider that the highest compliment! —Lorri Foockle, Granville, Illinois

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    25/26

    Chicken Tamale Bake

    When I serve this Mexican-style casserole, everyone scrapes the plate clean. Offer fresh toppings like green onions, tomatoes and avocado. —Jennifer Stowell, Smithville, Missouri

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    26/26

    Artichoke Spinach Lasagna

    Friends of ours served this homey dish when we visited them in Maryland. We just had to get the recipe, and we have since added a few ingredients to make it even tastier. —Carole Rago, Altoona, Pennsylvania

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    Originally Published: December 21, 2021

    26 Christmas Casserole Recipes to Make in Your 13x9 Pan (27)

    Christine Rukavena

    Christine loves to read, curate, sample and develop new recipes as a senior book editor at Taste of Home. A CIA alumna with honors, she creates cookbooks and food-related content. A favorite part of the job is taste-testing dishes. Previous positions include pastry chef at a AAA Five Diamond property. Christine moonlights at a boutique wine shop, where she edits marketing pieces and samples wine far higher than her pay grade.

    26 Christmas Casserole Recipes to Make in Your 13x9 Pan (2024)

    FAQs

    What is the key to making a good casserole? ›

    1. Choose the right baking dish.
    2. Undercook your pasta.
    3. Drain your meat.
    4. Beware of mushy vegetables.
    5. Know your cheeses.
    6. Master the art of casserole assembly.
    7. Don't skip the topping.
    8. Make it now, but bake it later.
    Nov 1, 2021

    Should casseroles be covered when baking? ›

    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.

    What holds casseroles together? ›

    A perfect casserole needs one or more binders: cheese, eggs, condensed soup, Greek yogurt or noodles, for example. Next up are good seasonings; you need herbs and spices to make it all sing.

    Can you bake a casserole in a pan? ›

    Casserole 101 is basic, because it always served a basic need. Extend leftovers into a satisfying second meal by adding some pantry and fridge ingredients and baking in dish. Full stop. A 9x13 baking dish is standard, but you can make in a Dutch oven or skillet if that is easier.

    What are the 5 parts needed for a casserole? ›

    Regardless of where the word came from or what specifically you put into your casserole, the theory that a casserole intrinsically must contain those five ingredients — a protein, starch, vegetable, sauce, and cheese, per High Heeled Homemaker — holds up when you look at the most popular casseroles in the United States ...

    How can I improve my casserole flavor? ›

    Casseroles can really shine when they achieve a harmonious balance of flavors. Sweet, salty, spicy, and acidic elements should blend well and complement each other. Add ingredients like caramelized onions, olives, or lemon zest to give your casserole a depth of flavor.

    What temperature should you cook a casserole in the oven? ›

    Gas mark 1, 275°F (140°C) is gentle enough to produce the very best results. But ovens vary and different types of cooking pots will affect temperatures too, so you may have to adjust the oven temperature accordingly.

    How do you make a casserole taste good? ›

    Begin by browning the meat or chicken, separately, before adding vegetables, liquids and herbs. This seals in the juices and adds flavour. Work in batches when browning meat or chicken. If you add too much to the pan at once, it will cook in its own juices and become tough.

    Do you have to brown meat before making a casserole? ›

    you don't have to, no. I usually do but it's quicker just to chuck everything in the casserole dish and bung it in the oven. I never bother. Some people swear by it others swear by not doing it.

    What do British people call casserole? ›

    In English-speaking Commonwealth countries like the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand, the term casserole is most commonly used to refer to a dish of meat with vegetables (especially root vegetables) and a gravy-style sauce; dishes containing a large proportion of starchy ingredients, e.g., pasta or those ...

    Should you cook onions before putting in casserole? ›

    Not par-cooking vegetables, pasta, grains, or rice.

    Often a quick 2-5 minutes in the microwave will just give them that great head-start. And if you're using onions in your casserole, you can sauté them for a few minutes to deepen their flavor and avoid any raw onion taste in your finished dish.

    What is the hairline crack in a casserole dish? ›

    What if my Ceramic Dish is Cracked? The condition of a piece of ceramic can also influence its suitability for the oven. If your dish has a hairline crack, or a large chip, moisture could penetrate the clay and affect the structural stability of the ceramic when it expands under high heat.

    Is it better to bake a casserole in glass or metal? ›

    Metal pans are better heat conductors than glass pans, meaning the food inside cooks more evenly. Most baking recipes for cakes, muffins, cupcakes, coffee cake, banana bread, and brownies call for metal bakeware. Most cake pans and baking sheets are some type of metal, whether it's stainless steel or aluminum pans.

    Is it better to bake in glass or ceramic? ›

    Glass is not a great conductor of heat, Chang says. “It takes a long time to heat up.” And once hot, it retains the heat and takes longer to cool down. (Ceramic is similarly a better insulator than conductor. Silicone also transfers heat slowly.)

    Should you put tin foil over casserole? ›

    Covering a casserole traps heat and steam and gets the casserole cooking. However, you also have to take the cover off to get a crunchy, browned top. Covering a casserole in the oven depends on what you're making, and whether or not the ingredients inside are already cooked when the dish goes into the oven.

    What are the basics of a casserole? ›

    There are 3 main parts that make up a casserole: the starchy base, the filling, and the sauce. The base: The starchy base is the foundation of the casserole. It isn't going to be the most flavorful part of the dish, but it is what will make the casserole filling and satisfying.

    What are three guidelines to follow when preparing casseroles? ›

    With this in mind, be sure to choose a dish that is the correct size for your ingredients.
    1. Par Cook Pasta and Vegetables. A common issue with casseroles is soggy overcooked pasta or vegetable components. ...
    2. Always Cook Meat Before Adding. Don't add raw meat to a casserole. ...
    3. Let It Rest.
    Mar 2, 2023

    What is the best oven setting for casseroles? ›

    Slow Cook

    Another of the newer settings on electric ovens, this is characterised by a pot or casserole pot symbol. This symbol is designed to run on low consumption for low heat and very long cooking times. This is perfect for stews, casseroles and even some large meat BBQ like ribs and steaks.

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