The Best Casserole Dinner Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What makes a good casserole dish? ›

Choose the right baking dish

Any ovenproof dish will do, including those made of ceramic, metal or glass. Just remember that ceramic heats up slower than metal or glass, which may affect the total cooking time. So if you're in a rush, go with metal or glass.

So, did John Wayne himself invent his eponymous casserole? Not exactly. The actor did submit the recipe himself, but the original dish detailed in Connery's cookbook described a more understated egg and cheese casserole than the dish folks enjoy today.

Macaroni and cheese is the oldest written casserole recipe found in 1250.

Let's talk anatomy: A standard dinner casserole usually includes a protein, a starch, a vegetable, a sauce (or other binding ingredient), and cheese. But making a casserole is not an exact science, and you can definitely break away from this formula. Check out some fun side-dish casseroles and desserts below!

A 9-inch by 13-inch rectangular casserole dish is the most versatile. Recipes that serve six to eight people will likely call for a casserole or baking dish of this size.

A seemingly simple, tender noodle dish with plenty of cheesy, tangy flavor, and the refreshing garden sharpness of chives, Jackie Kennedy's Special Casserole is delicate and hearty at the same time, heartwarmingly homemade yet delightfully classic.

The word casserole is derived from a French word that means 'saucepan'. Apparently, casseroles originated as communal pots that people shared for meals. The oldest recipe for a casserole, around 1250, consisted of pasta sheets cooked in water, layered with grated cheese and spices.

The man was unquestionably a fan of meat and potatoes, and one of his go-to side dishes was scalloped potatoes. With milk, cream, butter and cheese, John's version wasn't for the faint of heart.

What do they call a casserole in Minnesota? ›

The term “hot dish” first appeared in a cookbook in 1930 by a Mankato, Minnesota church group called Grace Lutheran Ladies Aid. Also, a fun fact, in the 1950s, Ore-Ida needed a way to use leftover potato scraps, and thus behold came the tator tot. They marketed them as a topping for casseroles and they really took off.

Nettle Pudding

Originating in 6000 BCE, England; it is the oldest dish of the world that's rich in nutrients. Nettle pudding is made with stinging nettles (wild leafy plant), breadcrumbs, suet, onions, and other herbs and spices.

The binder, a liquid that holds the other ingredients together. – Fat-free milk, broth, fruit juice, soup, eggs, or a thickened Béchamel/White sauce.

The average 9x13 rectangular baking dish holds 3.5 to 4 quarts. However, the number of quarts varies based on how deep the dish is—some of our deeper recommendations hold up to 5 quarts. Recipes that cook in a 3-quart dish or Dutch oven can be cooked interchangeably in a 9x13-inch baking dish.

Carbohydrates/starch - add substance/body; used as an extender; add energy through carbohydrates. Undercook rice and pastas so they can continue to cook during the baking process. Vegetables - add contrast in color, texture and adds nutrition.

Ceramic dishes can handle high heats and are often nonporous and naturally nonstick. Lastly, enameled cast iron casserole dishes can handle super-high heat so that they can retain and conduct heat for deep and even browning.

The material is the most important criterion, while then follow the size, the type of lid and the design. There are many options for materials such as stainless steel, cast iron, ceramic or non-stick coating.

Metal and glass also react to ingredients differently. Acidic ingredients like tomatoes and citrus can react with aluminum (the most common metal used in bakeware), creating a metallic taste in your food. This is why lasagna and other casseroles with acidic ingredients are often baked in glass.