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51 Christmas Casseroles To Feed The Whole Family This Holiday Season

Spend less time in the kitchen and more time with your loved ones.

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brussels sprouts baked with cheese and bacon
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Blink and you'll miss it, that's how the holiday season feels, right? Especially since there's only 25 days of Christmas, and that time is best spent celebrating with friends and family, not drudging away in the kitchen. Yet dinner's still gotta get on the table. To help save you time to spend on what really matters (like eating ALL those Christmas desserts 😉), we’ve gathered this list of Christmas casseroles. They’re perfect for unexpected dinner parties, holiday potlucks, and weeknight meals all season long.

Casseroles are the ultimate in comfort food, but that doesn’t mean they can’t also be dressed up and served to dinner party guests this holiday. For those occasions, try our tricolore skillet lasagna, our chicken cordon bleu casserole (with prosciutto bread crumbs), our Caprese chicken & polenta bake, or our shepherd's pie. Serve them alongside some simple veggies (and some wine!) for an unforgettable holiday meal.

If you are looking for something more chill (to serve to your siblings, your cousins, AND their kids, perhaps?), you’ve got to check out our classic lasagna, our chicken pot pie casserole, our shepherd’s pie, or our pizza casserole. Bonus: The leftovers make for great next day lunches.

As a gift to you, we've also included some breakfast casseroles here. Mornings should be spent going to holiday markets, ice skating, or opening presents on the big day, not cooking up eggs or pancakes just the way everyone likes them. Instead, make our overnight French toast, our cranberry bread pudding, our breakfast strata, or our crescent roll breakfast casserole. They save time and taste delicious so everyone will love them, you most of all.

Want even more Christmas inspiration? Check out our top Christmas dinners, our favorite Christmas side dishes, and our best Christmas appetizers too.

1

Potatoes Au Gratin

scalloped potatoes in creamy sauce in a white casserole dish baked and topped with cheese
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Cheesy, creamy, and perfectly decadent, potatoes au gratin is the side dish we turn to for practically every holiday. Thinly sliced potatoes are baked with a creamy garlic mixture and cheese topping until golden and bubbling. It’s the perfect easy but impressive side dish to wow at your Christmas dinner, or for an extra special date night.

Get the Potatoes Au Gratin recipe.

2

Croissant Stuffing

croissant stuffing
PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

Would Grandma really be all that upset if you tried a new stuffing this holiday? Her cornbread stuffing is undoubtedly delicious and nostalgic, but what if we switched it up a bit this year and tried something new? Enter: flaky, savory-sweet croissant stuffing.

Get the Croissant Stuffing recipe.

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3

Million-Dollar Mac & Cheese

million dollar mac and cheese topped with panko breadcrumbs and gold leaf in a cast iron pan
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: SAM SENEVIRATNE

What do you get when you take mac & cheese on a shopping spree to the fanciest cheese shop you know and shower it with gold leaf? Million-dollar mac. Showcasing a trifecta of bougie (and delicious) cheeses and a crispy crunchy panko topping, this irresistible comfort food in a casserole will take center stage on any table it hits.

Get the Million-Dollar Mac & Cheese recipe.

4

Crescent Roll Breakfast Casserole

crescent roll breakfast casserole
PHOTO: JULIA GARTLAND; FOOD STYLING: SAM SENEVIRATNE

If you like the idea of a savory breakfast strata or crave scallion cream cheese and toasted everything bagels, then this will make a lot of sense. All you need to do is pop a fresh can of crescent rolls, stuff with scallion cream cheese, and roll. Sprinkle with everything bagel seasoning and bake to create a frittata-style, savory egg custard. It will fit perfectly on the center of any breakfast table.

Get the Crescent Roll Breakfast Casserole recipe.

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5

Stuffed Shells

stuffed shells with marinara sauce mozzarella ricotta cream cheese and pecorino
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: SPENCER RICHARDS

Imagine lasagna being turned inside out to form cute pockets stuffed with creamy, garlicky ricotta and cream cheese, which are then slathered in tomato sauce for an impressive dinner with friends or family. That’s the beauty of stuffed shells.

Get the Stuffed Shells recipe.

6

Loaded Green Bean Casserole

loaded green bean casserole topped with bacon
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Wave goodbye to that can of cream of mushroom soup and meet your new favorite green bean casserole! It's got bacon, chives, and SO much cheese. If you've got vegetarian company, feel free to leave the bacon out—it's got plenty of cheese to make up for it. 😏

Get the Loaded Green Bean Casserole recipe.

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7

Creamed Brussels Sprouts

cheesy, bubbling creamed brussels sprouts in a white oval casserole dish
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

We'll take Brussels any which way, but we also love giving them the traditional holiday treatment—with plenty of butter, cream, and cheese. This method upgrades even the most humble vegetables while still allowing them to be the star of the show—even skeptics will be asking for seconds.

Get the Creamed Brussels Sprouts recipe.

8

Crockpot Sweet Potato Casserole

sweet potato casserole with marshmallows in a crockpot
PHOTO: LINDA PUGLIESE; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

In our book, sweet potato casserole is an absolute must on every holiday table. We’ll also take any chance we get to free up some oven space on the busy day, so if you're feeling the stress, take some of the work off your plate by using the Crockpot to make this classic side. This slow-cooker version is every bit as delicious as the one you make in the oven, with way less work required.

Get the Crockpot Sweet Potato Casserole recipe.

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9

Gnocchi Green Bean Casserole

blanched fresh green beans and buttery sliced mushrooms, onions, and garlic get tossed with a creamy bechamel sauce and pillowy gnocchi then baked until bubbly
PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: BARRETT WASHBURNE

That green bean casserole on your holiday menu is begging for an upgrade, so we're adding just one ingredient (!) to turn your favorite side into gnocchi green bean casserole. Blanched fresh green beans and buttery sliced mushrooms, onions, and garlic get tossed with a creamy bĂ©chamel sauce and pillowy gnocchi, then baked until bubbly. Seriously. That’s it.

Get the Gnocchi Green Bean Casserole recipe.

10

Sweet Potato Gratin

tri color sweet potato gratin with gruyere and thyme
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Just like the OG potatoes au gratin, these sweet potatoes (including purple AND orange ones) are layered with plenty of cheese and herby cream sauce and baked until golden brown and bubbly. 😍

Get the Sweet Potato Gratin recipe.

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11

Cranberry Bread Pudding

cranberry bread pudding with a sweet glaze
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: JASON SCHREIBER

With bright pops of cranberries, almond- and clove-scented custard, and a sweet orange icing, this bread pudding is impressive enough to serve for dessert at a dinner party, and not to sweet to serve as breakfast. It's also a cinch to whip up and is sure to please your Christmas crowd.

Get the Cranberry Bread Pudding recipe.

12

Funeral Potatoes

creamy cheesy potatoes with a buttery cornflake topping
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

The story goes that these bubbling beauties were named so after becoming a traditional comfort food for post-funeral gatherings. While we can get behind that—they are basically comfort in a pan—we prefer to eat them on happier occasions too, especially holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Get the Funeral Potatoes recipe.

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13
broccoli cheese casserole topped with panko breadcrumbs
PHOTO: LINDA PUGLIESE; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE
14

Pierogi Casserole

casserole dish filled with pierogis and cheese
PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

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 asking for the recipe. Whether you're making weeknight dinner or attending a potluck, you can change this up with whatever ingredients you know your friends and family will love.

Get the Pierogi Casserole recipe.

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15

CrÚme Brûlée French Toast

sheet pan creme brûlée french toast
PHOTO: MURRAY HALL; FOOD STYLING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

This crÚme brûlée French toast is done casserole-style, with 8 to 10 slices of bread snuggled together in a 13" x 9" pan. Everyone gets a serving, no worries there! The custard mixture, inspired by our own take on crÚme brûlée, is made with rich egg yolks, cream, and granulated sugar. Allowing the bread to soak will lead to a softer creamier pudding-like interior which, along with the burnt, crackly golden sugar crusted top, puts this breakfast over the top.

Get the CrÚme Brûlée French Toast recipe.

16

Shepherd's Pie

ground beef cooked with aromatics and red wine, then combined with corn and peas and covered with a blanket of velvety, rich mashed potatoes, then topped with parmesan and broiled until golden brown
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: LENA ABRAHAM

In England, the birthplace of this hearty dish, shepherd's pie is most often made with a ground lamb filling. In the States, it's more common to use ground beef. Both are delicious, so use whichever you prefer.

Get the Shepherd's Pie recipe.

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17
brussels sprouts baked with cheese and bacon
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

This is one side dish that will everyone freak out about (and run for seconds). If you have vegetarian holiday guests, feel free to skip the bacon! We're usually all about the smoky flavor, but for this dish, it's all about the CHEESE.

Get the Cheesy Brussels Sprout Bake recipe.

18

Gnocchi Stuffing

gnocchi and sausage stuffing in a white baking dish
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

Heading to a Christmas potluck and need a fun, different dish? This gnocchi stuffing is a creative twist on classic stuffing everyone will love. Using gnocchi instead of bread gives you dumpling-like bites with all the traditional flavors.

Get the Gnocchi Stuffing recipe.

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19

Mashed Potato Casserole

mashed potato casserole
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: Taylor Ann SPENCER

Mashed potato casserole is the ultimate holiday side dish you've been waiting for. We bet it'll find its way onto your holiday dinner table at some point during the season—it's creamy, cheesy, and best of all, great for a crowd!

Get the Mashed Potato Casserole recipe.

20

Breakfast Strata

eggy breakfast strata featuring sausage, tomatoes, bread, and mushrooms, and topped with basil
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

This healthy casserole will fuel you and your family all Christmas Day long. Everyone will be so into the sausage, eggs, and bread here, they won't even notice we snuck in some mushrooms and spinach too!

Get the Breakfast Strata recipe.

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