42 Summer Casseroles That Prove EVERY Season Can Be Casserole Season
These making turning on your oven so worth it.
We're all for shedding our winter coats, ditching the soups, and switching up our dinner routines as soon as the warm weather rolls around. But we gotta be honest: Some things are hard to give up, like the convenience, comfort, and simplicity of a casserole for dinner. Fear not—we’re here to tell you that you CAN enjoy a hot, bubbly casserole in the summer. Ditch winter standbys like green bean casserole and sweet potato casserole for summery flavor combinations, fresh produce, and outdoor eating-inspired casseroles. Check out our 42 summer casseroles for ideas—don’t put away that baking dish just yet!
One of the best things about a casserole is its ability to feed a hungry crowd, and that’s no different during the summer. So to “summer-fy” our favorite comfort dish, we looked to our favorite summer activities and flavors for inspiration. Love a weeknight dinner on the grill but feeling unmotivated (or is the weather not cooperating)? Try our hamburger or cheeseburger casseroles or our chili cheese dog casserole. They’ve got everything you crave from a BBQ without having to stand over a hot grill. Feeling a Mexican food vibe but don’t want to assemble a million individual-sized options (tacos, quesadillas, etc.)? Try our Mexican chicken casserole or our enchilada casserole. They’re easy to throw together, meaning you’ll have more time to whip up some margaritas to go with. Watching the game and don’t want to be stuck in the kitchen when the big play happens? Try our sloppy Joe meatball bake, our Buffalo chicken & rice casserole, or our tater tot casserole. They’re just as good as your favorite apps, but a TON less work.
During the summer, we love filling our recipes with as much seasonal produce as possible. Casseroles are great ways to use up a bounty of zucchini, eggplant, sweet corn, and even pineapple. Check out our squash casserole, our summer bowtie pasta & chicken sausage skillet bake, our pineapple casserole (trust us), or our vegetarian moussaka (think shepherd’s pie but with eggplant!) for ideas.
Want more summertime inspiration? Check out our favorite summer salads, our best summer soups, and our top summer desserts too.
Enchilada Casserole
Instead of rolling all of the enchiladas individually, this casserole speeds up the process by layering everything together in the pan. Skip the store bought enchilada sauce and make your own homemade sauce. You can adjust the heat up or down according to your preference.
Get the Enchilada Casserole recipe.
Baked Feta Pasta
Obviously roasting a block of feta with bursting tomatoes is going to be amazing, but is it good enough to break the Internet? The answer: yes…simply, yes. With roasted tomatoes and sharp, tangy feta, this baked pasta dish is undeniably delicious.
Get the Baked Feta Pasta recipe.
Summer Stuffed Shells
Who said summer dinners can’t be cozy? These stuffed shells are bursting with seasonal flavor from sweet corn, zucchini, and basil, but they also hit the comfort food spot thanks to the cheesy, rich ricotta.
Get the Summer Stuffed Shells recipe.
Yellow Squash Casserole
We can’t get enough of summer squash. There are countless ways to enjoy it, but this comforting casserole just might be our favorite. Mixed with sour cream, mayo, cheddar and Parm, this squash casserole is creamy, extra-flavorful, and more than satisfying. Finished with a buttered Ritz cracker topping, this casserole just might be the pinnacle of summer comfort food.
Get the Squash Casserole recipe.
Cheeseburger Casserole
Do you ever find yourself standing in front of the fridge, trying to decide what you want to make for dinner?You could make some cheeseburgers (always a crowd-pleaser) or whip up some mac & cheese (also a fan favorite), OR you could make the most wonderful, happy combination instead: this cheeseburger casserole.
Get the Cheeseburger Casserole recipe.
Southern Baked Mac & Cheese
Millie Peartree's baked mac & cheese is famous for a number of reasons. Our major takeaway—layering cheese and an eggy custard makes for the MOST creamy, saucy, and decadent dish ever. We might never make it another way again.
Get the Southern Baked Mac & Cheese recipe.
Mexican Chicken Casserole
While this is certainly not an authentic Mexican dish, it combines lots of flavors and ingredients that will remind you of tacos, enchiladas, and your favorite Mexican/Tex-Mex meals. It's perfect for celebrating Cinco de Mayo with a crowd, or for spicing up your weeknight dinner any time of year.
Get the Mexican Chicken Casserole recipe.
Zucchini Lasagna Roll-Ups
This recipe takes some time and patience, but it's just about the prettiest "pasta" dish you'll ever see. If you have mandoline, use it to make the zoodles; if you don't, practice your knife skills. 😉
Get the Zucchini Lasagna Roll-Ups recipe.
Pierogi Casserole
Looking for a comforting yet innovative dish to impress your guests or family, without too much work on your part? This easy-to-make casserole takes frozen potato pierogi to the next level with layers of spinach, sausage, and cheese that will leave everyone craving more. The best part? You can easily customize it with your favorite ingredients to suit your taste.
Get the Pierogi Casserole recipe.
Cheesy Taco Bake
If you love our taco lasagna, then get ready to meet a new staple in your weeknight dinner rotation: this cheesy taco bake. Instead of using tortillas, like we do in our lasagnchiladas, we're layering seasoned ground beef, cheese, and tomato-sour cream mixture on top of tortilla chips for added texture.
Get the Cheesy Taco Bake recipe.
Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit Casserole
Whether you’re obsessed with bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches or just love the convenience of a good breakfast casserole, this is the dish you need to try. It takes the deli classic and makes it even more decadent but with no added stress, thanks to simple ingredients like American cheese, canned biscuits, and mostly hands-off cooking.
Taco Gnocchi Bake
Gnocchi gets the taco treatment in this recipe for a simple and delicious weeknight meal. It’s a fun twist that's hearty enough to keep you going through all your summer activities.
Get the Taco Gnocchi Bake recipe.
Chili Cheese Dog Casserole
Canned chili and crescent roll dough makes this recipe ridiculously easy. If you've got a little more time on your hands, fancy it up by making your own homemade chili instead of the canned stuff. (Our ultimate beef chili is a good place to start.)
Get the Chili Cheese Dog Casserole recipe.
Hamburger Casserole
You may have heard the term “hamburger casserole” used to describe similarly cozy recipes using ground beef and elbow macaroni. But instead of the classic tomato-based goulash, this version is made with a sauce reminiscent of your favorite fast food secret sauce—pickles included.
Get the Hamburger Casserole recipe.
Chicken Fajita Casserole
Transforming chicken fajitas into a one-pan oven recipe makes the Tex-Mex staple a hands-off weeknight breeze. There’s also the added bonus of having a side of rice already built into the meal. Serve this with warm flour tortillas, pico de gallo, sour cream, guacamole, or whatever you’d normally have alongside a plate of fajitas.
Get the Chicken Fajita Casserole recipe.
Sushi Bake
This casserole is exactly like your favorite spicy roll, but with all your favorite extra toppings. The sticky, seasoned sushi rice gets baked in an oiled dish, making the edges slightly crisp and chewy, and creating a mind-blowing texture contrast with the decadent topping. Serve it with small sheets of nori to get the full sushi vibe.
Get the Sushi Bake recipe.
Pineapple Casserole
Sure, on paper it doesn’t make sense: canned pineapple with cheddar and buttered Ritz crackers. Seriously? Seriously. The result is a sweet-and-savory dream and a textural paradise you can serve alongside dishes like pulled pork at your next outdoor celebration.
Get the Pineapple Casserole recipe.
Cheesy Baked Burrito Rice
Seared chorizo sausage, hearty pinto beans, salsa, and rice are baked until the rice is tender, then topped with a mountain of cheese and broiled to melty perfection. Sprinkle the top with your favorite accoutrements and scoop it into a warm tortilla for the most hands-off burrito you’ve ever made.
Get the Cheesy Baked Burrito Rice recipe.
Zucchini Lattice Lasagna
Yes, classic lasagna is delicious, but when we're craving something a tad less carb-heavy, we turn to this summery zucchini version. Pro tip: Zucchini releases a good amount of water, so we like to dab it with a paper towel when the lasagna is done cooking, then broil until the cheese is bubbly and crispy. 😍
Get the Zucchini Lattice Lasagna recipe.
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