30 Casseroles That Freeze Well: Easy, Freezable Casseroles to Get You Through Whatever Life Throws Your Way
For the laziest weeknight meals
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Nothing says "family gathering" quite like a casserole that can feed a crowd in a flash. But it doesn't have to be Christmas to enjoy these delicious dishes that you can assemble, freeze, reheat and eat whenever you want. In fact, they can keep anywhere from two to four months in the freezer, says the FDA. That makes them ideal for frantic weeknights when you don't have time to cook, or as a way to prep for those sleep-deprived, postpartum days when the thought of cooking is just...too much. Here, you'll find 30 casseroles that freeze well and make dinner ridiculously easy to throw together, no matter what's on your plate.
There's something for everyone on this list, even the pickiest eaters at your table. The recipes can be made ahead for maximum convenience and reheated at a moment's notice. They're also simple enough for newbie cooks to tackle. (Some of my favorites include ravioli lasagna, grilled cheese and tomato soup casserole and roasted cauliflower macaroni and cheese.)
The Benefits of Making Casseroles That Freeze Well
Pre-assembled casseroles are stellar options for meal prep. They're easy to reheat whenever you need to eat ASAP, and they're great for feeding a crowd (which I'm defining as six or more people). They're also typically pretty affordable, since they usually have a base of pasta, rice, potatoes or another low-cost grain or vegetable. TLDR? If you have a frozen casserole on deck, you're always minutes away from a fuss-free meal.
30 Casseroles That Freeze Well
1. 3-Cheese Pumpkin Pasta Casserole with Spinach
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, special occasion-worthy
- Serves: 6
"It's creamy, comforting and big enough to feed a crowd," former PureWow senior food editor Katherine Gillen explains, "but it still feels modern, thanks to dollops of ricotta and plenty of spinach. Even better, it freezes like a dream for the nights you don’t feel like cooking." Need I say more?
2. Creamy Fennel Gratin with Garlicky Breadcrumbs
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
- Serves: 8 to 10
"A gratin is a dish that's topped with breadcrumbs (or cheese, or both) mixed with bits of butter, then baked until brown, bubbling and crisp," Gillen writes. "This one is decadent, but a fresh, licorice-y bite from the fennel reminds you it counts as a vegetable." You don't have to tell me twice.
3. Leek, Kale and Goat Cheese Strata
- Time Commitment: 8 hours and 35 minutes (includes chilling time)
- Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, make ahead, vegetarian
- Serves: 6
Strata is a baked dish similar to casserole that calls for eggs, bread and cheese. Cut your favorite loaf into cubes, combine it with sautéed leeks and kale, add goat cheese and soak it all in a creamy custard. Once the custard is golden brown, it's ready to devour.
4. Baked Zucchini ‘Ziti’ Spirals with Mozzarella
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
- Why I Love It: vegetarian, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
- Serves: 6
Isn't she lovely? This lightened-up version of your favorite comfort food will totally satisfy your craving for sauce and cheese without weighing you down with carbs. That calls for a second plate in my book.
5. Ravioli Lasagna
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 25 minutes
- Why I Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
- Serves: 8
Meet your new go-to dinner. Layer this beauty with your favorite ravioli, whether it's stuffed with meat, mushrooms or cheese. With all that gooey marinara, mozz and ricotta, it's a sure win. If you only want to eat one serving at a time, freeze it portioned out for easy thawing.
6. Eggplant Parm Casserole
- Time Commitment: 55 minutes
- Why I Love It: vegetarian, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
- Serves: 6
Picky eaters beware: There's nothing to complain about when it comes to this cheesy masterpiece. Kids can help with the layering too, if they're eager to get their hands dirty. Don't forget the garlic bread (or pasta) on the side.
7. Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup Casserole
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why I Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian
- Serves: 8
The coziest lunch of your childhood just got a makeover. And she looks good. Make eight grilled cheeses with plenty of butter, mozzarella and Boursin cheese. They'll get nice and cozy in the oven under a blanket of homemade tomato soup. I won't tell if you opt for the canned stuff.
8. Roasted Cauliflower Macaroni and Cheese
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: vegetarian, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
- Serves: 6
There's nothing a bowl of mac and cheese can't fix. Especially one loaded with white cheddar, Parmesan and panko breadcrumbs. Swap cauliflower for broccoli, squash or Brussels sprouts to mix things up if the cruciferous veggie isn't your favorite.
9. Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Casserole
- Time Commitment: 6 hours and 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: high protein, slow cooker recipe, make ahead
- Serves: 4
Taco Tuesday just got a bold new addition to the menu. Think black beans, corn, green chiles, seasoned chicken and all the jack cheese and sour cream your heart desires. All that's missing is tortilla chips and a margarita.
10. Creamy Vegan Lentil and Roasted Vegetable Bake
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 25 minutes
- Why I Love It: vegan, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
- Serves: 8
Calling all plant-based eaters. You won't miss the dairy in this one-pan bake, thanks to a luscious cashew cream sauce made with lemon juice, garlic and nutritional yeast. Don't skimp on the pine-nut topping.
11. Slow Cooker Breakfast Casserole
- Time Commitment: 3 hours and 15 minutes
- Why I Love It: slow cooker recipe, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
- Serves: 6
Breakfast for six, made easy. Why make eggs, bacon and potatoes separately when you can combine them in your Crockpot and save yourself some time, effort and dirty dishes? You might even get to drink your coffee while it's still hot.
12. Polenta Ragu Casserole
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 50 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead, special occasion-worthy
- Serves: 6
Tired of pasta? I've got you covered. Substitute noodles with hearty polenta, rich with butter and Parmesan. You won't believe how simple the homemade sauce is.
13. Shepherd’s Pie
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 40 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly
- Serves: 6
You don't need to wait for St. Patrick's Day to whip up this soul-warming dish. It starts with Guinness stew made with ground beef, thyme and vegetables. But the mashed potato topping is where things really get divine. Think butter, sour cream and—surprise—goat cheese. Label the dish with the date before storing.
14. Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, high protein
- Serves: 4
Read: All of your favorite things in one dish. From the salty, herby ranch seasoning to the creamy garlic Alfredo sauce, this dish is basically a warm hug on a plate. Sign me up, please.
15. Tuna Pasta Bake
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, high protein, make ahead
- Serves: 5
This isn't your mom's tuna casserole. Canned tuna comes alive in a homemade garlic-herb tomato sauce that you'll definitely want to make extra of. Add anything from capers to black olives to extra mozz to make it special.
16. Green Bean Casserole with Crispy Fried Shallots
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
- Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
- Serves: 8
Cremini mushrooms. Garlic. Thyme. White cheddar. Heavy cream. Drooling yet? Thin-sliced shallots and panko breadcrumbs offer stellar crunch before you get to all that creamy goodness below. Keep it in your back pocket for Thanksgiving.
17. Five-Ingredient Italian Sausage and Baked Ziti
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, high protein
- Serves: 6 to 8
Pasta always gives me the warm-and-fuzzies. Use spicy sausage instead of mild, even if it's not what you usually go for. It'll make a world of difference in flavor, since the dish has so few ingredients. (Oh, and pile on the Parm before devouring.)
18. Spaghetti Squash Casserole
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 25 minutes
- Why I Love It: high protein, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
- Serves: 6
The best thing about this stringy gourd? It's so versatile that you can dress it up with just about anything. This recipe tries ground turkey, mozzarella and garlic on for size, for instance. But you could substitute just about any protein or melting cheese you'd like.
19. Kale and Wild Rice Casserole
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why I Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
- Serves: 6
Caramelized mushrooms, heavy cream and Gruyère make this casserole that freezes well beyond decadent. Not a big kale fan? Substitute spinach. You can also swap cream for canned full-fat coconut milk.
20. Cheesy White and Green Spinach Lasagna
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
- Why I Love It: vegetarian, make ahead, crowd-pleaser
- Serves: 12
Sorry, red sauce. You've been bested this time. After all, it's tough to measure up to creamy mozzarella-Jack béchamel, ricotta and Parmesan. Undercook the pasta before freezing so it stays al dente when thawed. (No one likes mushy lasagna.)
21. Garlic Butter Shrimp and Quinoa
- Time Commitment: 55 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
- Serves: 8
There's nothing like lemony, buttery seafood, especially if it takes you less than an hour to make. If you have time, let it thaw in the fridge overnight before baking it. If not, cover it with foil and put it in the oven straight from the freezer. Then, preheat the oven so it can thaw slowly as the oven heats up. Take the foil off for the last few minutes of baking.
22. Creamy Chicken Quinoa and Broccoli Casserole
- Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
- Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, high protein, crowd-pleaser
- Serves: 6
It doesn't get any easier than veggies, grains and protein all in a single dish. Plus, you likely have everything you need already in your kitchen. Bacon is *technically* optional, but I'd go ham with it. (See what I did there?)
23. Green Bean Casserole with Onion Rings
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, make ahead
- Serves: 8
Your picky kids (and grown-ups) will be psyched to see onion rings on the dinner table. They make a delightfully crispy topper for homemade mushroom sauce and a ton of fresh green beans. It's destined for Thanksgiving dinner, IMO.
24. Teriyaki Chicken Casserole
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why I Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, high protein
- Serves: 4 to 6
Just like takeout, except you can eat it whenever you darn well please. The rice, veggies and meat all come together in the same dish with a killer homemade sauce you'll want to make an extra big batch of.
25. Tater Tot Casserole
- Time Commitment: 3 hours and 20 minutes
- Why I Love It: high protein, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
- Serves: 8
It doesn't get more kid-friendly than a heap of tater tots crowned with ground beef and cheddar cheese. Add a can of cream of mushroom soup to the mix and it'll become irresistible to even the most finicky eaters.
26. Spinach Artichoke Egg Casserole
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why I Love It: vegetarian, crowd-pleaser, make ahead
- Serves: 6
I'm inviting everyone's favorite dip to breakfast (or fancy Sunday brunch). Artichoke hearts offer a punchy, briny kick between layers of creamy mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Make it ahead so it's a simple reheat away from being ready for guests.
27. Tuna Green Chile Zucchini Casserole
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, make ahead, Paleo-friendly
- Serves: 6
This is a far cry from the bleak tuna casseroles of your youth. I didn't think it was possible, but zucchini ribbons and tart green chiles actually make this dish—dare I say it—pretty. It's also Paleo- and Whole 30-friendly.
28. Chicken Parmesan Casserole
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why I Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, make ahead
- Serves: 4
This cozy mainstay never gets old. I'm gaga for the crispy breadcrumb topping, made with panko, butter, garlic powder, Parmesan and butter. I'm calling it now: Your kids will ask for a second helping.
29. Deep-Dish Pizza Casserole
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why I Love It: <30 minutes, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
- Serves: 6
It's not delivery—it's a delicious make-ahead dinner. To freeze this (or any uncooked casserole), wrap it in two snug layers of plastic, then a layer of foil. The same goes for cooked casseroles; just be sure to let them cool to room temperature before freezing. Go meat-lover's style with crumbled sausage and pepperoni, or keep it light with olives and sliced bell peppers.
30. Peanut Butter Lasagna
- Time Commitment: 3 hours and 20 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, make ahead
- Serves: 12
I don't skip dessert...ever. So, it's always a good idea to have a frozen option on hand for whenever a craving strikes (or you get invited to a impromptu picnic or have a bad day). Now, make with the chocolate syrup, stat.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are Some Cooking Tips for Casseroles that Freeze Well, So They Reheat Just as Well?
The main issue you'll want to avoid is the casserole turning out mushy once reheated. The trick there is to initially cook the ingredients al dente, whether it's veggies, noodles or grains. This will help them stay toothsome once they're warmed through. You can also reserve any crispy finishing touches (like fried shallots or potato sticks, for example) outside the freezer and add them right before serving. Another tip I love is freezing your casserole in single-serve portions, so you only reheat what you need. Also, if you want to keep your favorite baking dish free, transfer the casserole to a freezer bag after its first cooked and cooled, then move it back to the casserole dish once you're ready to reheat.
What Kind of Dishes Can You Freeze Casseroles In?
Any dish that's labeled "freezer-safe" can go from the freezer to the oven without cracking. Metal dishes or pans are your best bet, but glass or ceramic dishes often fit the bill as well. (They're just more prone to cracking.) Of course, you can use disposable aluminum pans instead, especially for big-batch recipes and potlucks. (It minimizes the clean-up, too.)
How Do I Avoid Freezer Burn with Freezable Casseroles?
My most important tip is to let the casserole come completely to room temperature before popping it in the freezer, and be sure to wrap it as tightly as possible to keep air from getting in. You can also tightly wrap it, then place it in an airtight container or zip-top bag to play it even safer.
Director, Branded Content + Cohost, Royally Obsessed Podcast
As Director of Branded Content at Gallery Media Group, Roberta helps oversee the ideation and execution of sponsored content and experiential campaigns across PureWow and ONE37pm, including PureWow’s 24 in ’24. She began her career in editorial nine years ago, and has written and edited countless articles on news, trends, fashion, beauty and the royal family. She’s also cohost of the Royally Obsessed podcast, named one of the best royals podcasts by The New York Times and Town & Country. She cowrote the book Royal Trivia: Your Guide to the Modern British Royal Family.
Food Editor
- Contributes to PureWow's food vertical
- Spearheads PureWow's recipe vertical and newsletter
- Studied English and writing at Ithaca College
