Comfort Food Powerhouse: 18 Pasta Casseroles

Few Americans eat pasta for breakfast, but this Greek-inspired recipe with orzo, leeks, and bacon aims to make a few converts.

Recipe: Custardy Baked Orzo with Spinach, Bacon, and Feta

Spinach and broccoli stud alternating layers of creamy garlic sauce and a three-cheese spread for a family dinner that will satisfy cravings while sneaking in the vitamins.

Recipe: Creamy Spinach and Broccoli Lasagna

This indulgent recipe combines thick, tubular torchio pasta with a cheesy sauce, sweet potato chunks, radicchio slices, pecans, and even more cheese.

Recipe: Cheesy Baked Pasta with Sweet Potatoes and Radicchio

This is the ultimate Greek comfort food — a hearty casserole of cinnamon-spiked ground lamb baked with penne and a Parmesan cheese sauce.

Recipe: Pastitsio

Choose best-quality tuna that's packed in olive oil for this toothsome dish that gains Mediterranean flavor from artichoke hearts and Parmesan cheese.

Recipe: Mediterranean Tuna-Noodle Casserole

Adding kale to some of your favorite recipes, like this classic baked penne, gives even your most comforting dishes a serious nutrient boost.

Recipe: Baked Pasta with Kale

Sweet squash adds color and seasonal flavor to this creamy, cheesy pasta dish. It's hearty and healthy enough that one serving will leave you feeling satisfied, not stuffed.

Recipe: Baked Butternut-Squash Rigatoni

Cajun seasoning adds a grown up kick to your childhood favorite without overpowering the cheesy quality you've always loved.

Recipe: Cajun Mac and Cheese

Fresh roasted eggplant between every layer add an indulgent touch so gourmet, you wouldn't guess that almost all the ingredients are staples.

Recipe: Spinach-Eggplant Lasagna Loaf

This hybrid dish, baked with fresh mozzarella, canned tomatoes, and aromatic basil, is a combo of spaghetti and caprese salad for those of you who can't just have a salad for dinner. The result is a crispy casserole main dish.

Recipe: Baked Spaghetti and Mozzarella

Three scrumptious cheeses and an array of fresh vegetables make this lasagna equally filling and delicious. Make sure the top layers of cheese turns golden brown for a casserole as good looking as it is good tasting.

Recipe: 3-Cheese Lasagna

This cheesy chicken and kale casserole is perfect for a weeknight dinner. Little ones won't hesitate to try a new green when it's mixed with chicken and cheese, and you'll feel good about getting veggies on their plate.

Recipe: Chicken and Kale Casserole

Turning leftover Thanksgiving turkey into a hearty casserole studded with earthy mushrooms is a cozy solution to your overstuffed fridge.

Recipe: Turkey-Porcini Tetrazzini

Two comfort food heavy-hitters are combined for one knock-out dinner dish. You might want to use individual ramekins with this recipe to pace yourself.

Recipe: Reuben Mac and Cheese

Each baking dish of this cheesy, mushroom-rich casserole serves four, so save the second dish for another dinner. When ready to cook, bake it straight from the freezer — no thawing required.

Recipe: Baked Penne with Chicken and Sun-Dried Tomatoes

This veggie-packed version of tuna noodle casserole is loaded with chunks of seafood-counter salmon for a Mediterranean-inspired upgrade that's flavored with leeks, mushrooms, and herbs.

Recipe: Salmon Noodle Bake

Oft-overlooked cauliflower is elevated to bubbling, golden-brown heights when paired with Belgian endive and small pasta shapes, then covered in a rich sauce.

Recipe: Cauliflower Gratin with Endive

Cheesy, zesty, and studded with savory Italian sausage, this baked ziti feeds a crowd and then some — without much time spent in the kitchen.

Recipe: Sausage and Pepper Baked Ziti