When it comes to easy meal prep, casseroles are great options. These one-pot hearty meals are ideal for busy weeknights when there isn’t enough time and energy to whip up an elaborate meal for the family. Casseroles are also popular at potlucks, picnics, and hangouts, as they can be prepared ahead of time and stored in the fridge. They can also be prepared in different ways to cater to diverse tastes, making them quite versatile.
1. Creamy chicken casserole
This is a simple, family-friendly casserole recipe that one can make at home. The recipe combines many flavors, resulting in a creamy yet comforting meal, which is perfect for weeknight dinners as well as holidays.
To make this, one must first preheat the oven to about 350 degrees Fahrenheit. In a medium saucepan, add about a couple of cups of chicken broth with half a teaspoon of salt. One can place the saucepan over medium-high, bring the broth to a boil, and add a mix of uncooked long-grain and wild rice. Then, one can cover and cook the rice for about 15 minutes on low heat until the broth is just absorbed.
Now one can get a large Dutch oven and heat some oil with a couple of tablespoons of butter in it. While the butter melts, season boneless, skinless chicken breast with salt and pepper. Then, place the chicken in the Dutch oven and let it cook. Once this is done, one can remove the chicken and add butter, sun-dried tomatoes, tomato paste, shallots, garlic, crushed red pepper, and oregano to the oven. Cook everything and then deglaze with half a cup of chicken broth. Once this is reduced, one can add to it the cooked rice, heavy cream, balsamic vinegar, and parmesan cheese. Then, one must transfer the rice and chicken to a baking dish and bake it for 30 minutes.
Finally, top the recipe off with basil leaves and parmesan cheese before serving.
2. Shepherd’s pie
This kid-friendly dinner casserole made with well-seasoned lamb or beef, lots of veggies, and mashed potatoes is a go-to comfort food casserole for many families. To make this, one can boil about a pound of peeled and chopped potatoes. Then, in a large skillet, heat some oil and add ground beef or lamb, onion, red pepper, and garlic. Stir in ketchup, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, curry powder, and beef broth. Additionally, make a cornstarch solution and add it to the skillet with carrots, peas, tomatoes, and some salt and pepper. Whip the potatoes to a creamy texture by mixing in milk and butter. Add the meat-veggie mixture to a casserole. Top it with mashed potatoes and sprinkle some shredded cheese. Preheat an oven and then broil the casserole until the cheese starts melting. Once baked, one can cut into the pie and serve it.
3. Zucchini pizza casserole
The combination of tomato-meat sauce, garden-fresh zucchini, and lots of cheese make this casserole recipe a fun meal for families. Also, this is a delectable yet nutritious cheesy meal that kids will enjoy.
One can start by shredding the zucchini in a colander and adding some salt to it. Let this sit for about 10 minutes. Then, preheat the oven to about 400 degrees Fahrenheit and combine the prepped zucchini with parmesan, mozzarella, cheddar, and eggs. One can place a layer of this mixture into a greased baking dish and bake for about 20 minutes. This would be the pizza base. While it bakes, one can prepare the toppings. For this, cook some onions and ground meat in a saucepan and stir in some tomato sauce. Then, one can add this layer of meat sauce to the baked zucchini. Top the pizza with green pepper and cheese and bake for another 20 minutes.
4. Green bean casserole
This popular Thanksgiving side dish can also be a quick dinner for busy weeknights. To make this vegetable-packed family casserole, start by preheating the oven to about 350 degrees. Then, wash, drain, and trim the green beans and steam them for a while. One can also get frozen green beans and steam them. Then, one can grease a casserole dish with butter and add to it a mixture of condensed mushroom soup, pepper, milk, green beans, and some crispy fried onions. Stir the mixture well and bake it until the edges start to bubble. Then top it off with some more fried onions and bake for another five minutes.
5. Baked mac and cheese
On days when one wants to make something comforting and delicious for the kids, this baked mac and cheese casserole recipe is a great option. To make it, one can preheat the oven to about 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, cook the pasta as per the instructions in the packet. In another pot, melt some butter and cook some shallots and garlic. Then, one must whisk in flour and half-and-half until the mixture reaches a thick consistency. Once done, remove the pot from heat, whisk in mustard and cheese, and stir in the cooked pasta. Then, transfer this to a baking dish and top it with some cheese. To make the top of the casserole crunchier, crush and sprinkle some tortilla chips over the mix. Bake until the top looks golden. When making this recipe for grown-ups in the family, one can level up the spice by adding some grilled poblanos that have been peeled, deseeded, and chopped.
