Double a casserole so you can eat one tonight and freeze one for a rainy day!
Simply Recipes / Dude That Cookz
‘ title=”Cheeseburger pasta casserole seen from above”>
Simply Recipes / Dude That Cookz
When it comes to cooking in the kitchen, my motto is “Eat all the things.” I'm just kidding. It’s "Work smarter, not harder."
I cook for a small army every day, and I have found that I am most productive when working in batches. This means that if I’m already exerting the energy to get food out and cook it and get dishes dirty, I might as well roll up my sleeves and get to work by making extra food for later.
Think of it as your little BOGO meal. Except maybe it’s MOGO—MAKE ONE, GET ONE. Ha!
Since you’re already making a casserole for your family, you might as well spend a few extra minutes making another one to freeze for later. That way, when life gets crazy and you’re desperate for an easy meal, you’ve already got one in the freezer ready to cook at a moment’s notice. High-fives for everyone!
These casseroles can all be frozen as one whole casserole or as individual portions. Simply bake them, cool them completely, and wrap them tightly in foil. They will keep for up to 3 months.
To reheat the casseroles, cover them loosely with foil in a 350°F oven. It's best to reheat individual portions in the microwave.
TIP! Don't want your casserole dish tied up in the freezer? Line the dish with foil, bake, then cool and freeze the casserole. Once the casserole is solid, lift it out, wrap it in foil, and transfer it to a freezer bag. When ready to bake, unwrap the casserole and transfer it back to the original casserole dish.
Read More: How to Freeze Lasagna and Other Casseroles
Easy Shepherd's Pie
Get Recipe: Easy Shepherd's Pie
This is a hardcore comfort food classic that comes fully loaded with meat and veggies. Basically, everyone on the planet loves this dish because it’s hearty and filling. Your freezer is begging for this all in one casserole.
Chicken and Rice Casserole
Get Recipe: Chicken and Rice Casserole
Ah, good old chicken and rice! Our version skips the canned soup stuff and we go for the real deal. It’s the perfect blend of all things herby, creamy, and mushroomy!
Cheeseburger Casserole
Simply Recipes / Dude that Cookz
‘ title=”Casserole Dish of Cheeseburger Casserole with a Serving Already Served Using a Spoon”>
Simply Recipes / Dude that Cookz
Get Recipe: Cheeseburger Casserole
Simply Recipes Contributor Eric Jones says, "you can use any canned tomatoes you have one hand. Instead of canned pureed tomatoes, you use crushed tomatoes for some additional texture."
Baked Ziti
Get Recipe: Baked Ziti
Meet lasagna’s wild and chaotic cousin, ZITI! You still get all those great flavors but it only takes a fraction of the work. You’ll love this so much that you may want to triple the recipe so you have extra for your extras.
Three Sisters Casserole with Cornbread Topping
Get Recipe: Three Sisters Casserole with Cornbread Topping
This vegetarian casserole amps up the spice profile! We tossed in a few greens for added color and nutrition and the cornbread biscuit topping is right on the money.
Healthy Shepherd’s Pie
Get Recipe: Healthy Shepherd’s Pie
Love shepherd’s pie but want a little more nutrition? With a few swaps here and there, this version does the trick! Added bonus: If you’re short on time, you can use frozen veggies and pre-shredded cheese.
Cheesy Potato Casserole
Get Recipe: Cheesy Potato Casserole
Simply Recipes Contributor Nick Evans says, "While I like making my own sauce for this casserole, I prefer using frozen hash browns over fresh. They are a consistent product and easy to use. Plus, frozen hash browns are par-cooked so there is little risk that you will end up with uncooked potato in the center of your casserole."
Sausage Breakfast Casserole
Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas
‘ title=”Sausage Breakfast Casserole Lifted from a Casserole Dish Using a Spatula”>
Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas
Get Recipe: Sausage Breakfast Casserole
Simply Recipes Founder Elise Bauer says, "Bread that is a little bit dry will hold up better in the casserole and provide more structure, which is why breakfast casseroles tend to call for "day old" bread. If your bread is fresh or soft, after you cube it, spread it out on a sheet pan and put it in a 200°F oven for 10 to 12 minutes."
Broccoli Cheese Casserole
Get Recipe: Broccoli Cheese Casserole
Simple ingredients, maximum flavor. Let’s face it, broccoli and cheese together is always a winner. Yay again! Once this is cooked, you can serve it over rice (which you can also make and freeze if you need to).
Ham and Cheese Pasta Bake
Get Recipe: Ham and Cheese Pasta Bake
This jazzy version of a pasta bake pulls out all the stops and really brings comfort food to the next level. It has plenty of cheese, cubed ham, and you could use any veggies you have on hand, or you could take the frozen veggie route!
Turkey Black Bean Quinoa Bake
Get Recipe: Turkey Black Bean Quinoa Bake
This calls for shredded turkey, but if you don’t have that, then using shredded chicken is A-OK. Quick tip: To save time, prep the ingredients and start on the onions and peppers while the quinoa cooks.
Tip
The easiest, quickest way to shred turkey or chicken is use a stand mixer.
Lasagna
Get Recipe: The Best Homemade Lasagna
You can’t have a casserole roundup without having lasagna in it! This is the classic meat and marinara version for all you purists out there.
Three-Cheese Pesto Lasagna
Get Recipe: Three-Cheese Pesto Lasagna
If you’re wanting to have a lasagna in your freezer, but desire something a little different, try this pesto version! And when you’re done making it, you can happily exclaim, “Presto pesto!”
Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie
Get Recipe: Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie
Yes, it’s another shepherd’s pie, but this time we are going meatless! We’ve got carrots and mushrooms and peas and green beans that are all bathed in a creamy sauce and topped with cheesy mashed potatoes. Yum!
Easy Chicken Enchilada Casserole
Simply Recipes / Marta Rivera
‘ title=”Cheesy chicken enchilada casserole, with a serving being lifted from the dish”>
Simply Recipes / Marta Rivera
Get Recipe: Easy Chicken Enchilada Casserole
Simply Recipes Contributor Marta Rivera says, "Pressed for time? You can totally use canned enchilada sauce in this recipe."
Read the original article on Simply Recipes.
