16 Easy Casserole Recipes to Double and Freeze

Double a casserole so you can eat one tonight and freeze one for a rainy day.

A serving of lasagna being lifted from a baking dish with a spatula

Simply Recipes / Photo by Julia Gartland / Food Styling by Barrett Washburne

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 (buy one, get one free) meal. Except maybe it’s MOGO—MAKE ONE, GET ONE.

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.

  • Million Dollar Ravioli Casserole

    Side view of a white baking dish of Million Dollar Ravioli Casserole with a serving removed and on a small plate next to a serving spoon on a small plate

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Rachel Vanni / Food Styling by Tiffany Schleigh

    "This casserole takes about 25 minutes to assemble and bakes for 35 to 45 minutes so it can come together for a relatively quick night dinner. It can also be assembled up to 3 days in advance and refrigerated or frozen."—Meghan Splawn, Recipe Developer

  • Easy Shepherd's Pie

    A slice of shepherd's pie on a plate with a fork.

    Simply Recipes / Cambrea Gordon

    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

    Best Chicken and Rice Casserole
    Elise Bauer

    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

    Casserole Dish of Cheeseburger Casserole with a Serving Already Served Using a Spoon

    Simply Recipes / Dude that Cookz

    "You can use any canned tomatoes you have one hand. Instead of canned pureed tomatoes, you use crushed tomatoes for some additional texture."—Eric Jones, Recipe Developer

    Continue to 5 of 16 below
  • Baked Ziti

    Casserole dish of cheesy baked ziti

    Simply Recipes / Cambrea Bakes

    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

    Vegan three sisters casserole
    Megan Gordon

    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.

  • Cheesy Potato Casserole

    A casserole dish with cheesy potatoes being served
    Nick Evans | Art Banner Credit: Andy Christensen

    "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."—Nick Evans, Recipe Developer

  • Sausage Breakfast Casserole

    Sausage Breakfast Casserole Lifted from a Casserole Dish Using a Spatula

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas

    "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."—Elise Bauer, Simply Recipes Founder

    Continue to 9 of 16 below
  • Baked Mac and Cheese

    Side view of a white baking dish of macaroni and cheese with a serving spoon lifting a serving

    Simply Recipes / Coco Morante

    "You can assemble the casserole ahead of time. Just put it all together but don’t bake it just yet. Wrap the baking dish tightly, then refrigerate for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 2 months before baking. If frozen, let the casserole thaw for a day in the fridge before baking."—Coco Morante, Recipe Developer

  • Broccoli Cheese Casserole

    Broccoli Cheese Casserole - an easy broccoli casserole you'll love!
    Elise Bauer

    Simple ingredients, maximum flavor. Let’s face it, broccoli and cheese together is always a winner. Yay! 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

    Ham and Cheese Pasta Bake
    Elise Bauer

    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 and cubed ham, and you could use any veggies you have on hand—or you could take the frozen veggie route.

  • Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie

    Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie Recipe -- top down shot of shepards pie scoop taken out, golden and crispy edge mashed potatoes on top. Blue check table cloth, and a plate with some sheperd'e pie serve on top of it.
    Sally Vargas

    Yes, it’s another shepherd’s pie, but this time we are going meatless. We’ve got carrots, mushrooms, peas, and green beans that are all bathed in a creamy sauce and topped with cheesy mashed potatoes. Yum.

    Continue to 13 of 16 below
  • Easy Chicken Enchilada Casserole

    Cheesy chicken enchilada casserole, with a serving being lifted from the dish

    Simply Recipes / Marta Rivera

    "Pressed for time? You can totally use canned enchilada sauce in this recipe."—Marta Rivera, Recipe Developer

  • Save Johnny Marzetti Casserole

    Spoonful of Johnny Marzetti Casserole lifted from the casserole dish, and in the surroundings, a stack of plates and a bowl of mixed greens salad

    Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

    "The vegetable-averse may skip the bell pepper and/or mushrooms. I like the flavor that the mushrooms add in particular, but as a ten-year-old, I would not have agreed."—Sara Bir, Former Senior Editor

  • Healthy Shepherd’s Pie

    Easy healthy shepherd's pie recipe
    Alison Bickel

    Love shepherd’s pie but want a little more nutrition? With a few swaps here and there, this veggie-heavy version does the trick. Bonus: If you’re short on time, you can use frozen veggies and pre-shredded cheese.

  • The Best Homemade Lasagna

    A baked lasagna with a portion being lifted from the dish with a spatula

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Julia Gartland / Food Styling by Barrett Washburne

    You can’t have a casserole roundup without lasagna! This is the classic meat and marinara version for all you purists out there.