22 Casserole Side Dishes To Make for Dinner Again and Again

Check out our favorite casserole compliments to any weeknight meal.

By
Lori Rice
Lori Rice
Lori Rice
Lori Rice is a food and beverage writer and photographer. Her work can be found in CiderCraft Magazine, King Arthur Flour’s SIFT Magazine, The Coastal Table, and Plate Magazine, as well as at CraftBeer.com.
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Published October 17, 2025
Lori Rice
Casserole Dish of Trinidadian Macaroni Pie Cut into Individual Servings with One Piece Lifted Using a Spatula

Simply Recipes / Alica Ramkirpal-Senhouse

Casseroles are the definition of crowd-pleasing. They combine everyone's favorite ingredients into one triumphant dish, and they're a great way to get just about anyone to eat vegetables. Here is a collection of our all-time favorite casserole sides. They're sure to fill out any meal and make it feel complete.

  • Cheesy Potato Casserole

    Cheesy Potato Casserole in a dish with a serving spoon
    Nick Evans | Art Banner Credit: Andy Christensen

    The combination of potatoes and cheese is even better when the recipe is easy to make and loved by the whole family. These cheesy hash browns meet all of that criteria. Be sure to check out the “Dad Add” in this recipe if you’d like to spice things up a bit with serrano peppers.

  • Grandma Neva’s Cheesy Cabbage Casserole

    Cheesy cabbage casserole with a crunchy topping served in a baking dish with a serving spoon

    Simply Recipes / Ali Redmond

    Recipe developer Robin Asbell says, "As a shortcut, if you are pressed for time, you can use pre-shredded cabbage in this recipe. Just be sure to use green cabbage—you’ll be sorry if you use a bag with purple cabbage mixed in, as it will tint the mixture a disturbing grayish color."

  • Broccoli Cheese Casserole

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

    Turn a broccoli and cheese side dish into a quick casserole. The addition of bacon gives this one a little something special with a smoky flavor that is pleasantly unexpected.

  • Green Bean Casserole from Scratch

    Green Bean Casserole from Scratch
    Megan Keno

    This recipe takes a holiday favorite that uses several processed ingredients and shows you how to make it all from scratch. You can put your touch on everything from the cream sauce to the crispy onions.

    Continue to 5 of 22 below

  • Southern Squash Casserole

    Southern squash casserole in a casserole dish (a serving size al served)

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    Recipe developer Sara Bir says, "I wanted to keep it simple and streamlined, and in my experiments, mayonnaise plus an egg and some grated cheese delivered the right balance of substance without overwhelming the squash. Plus, most everyone has eggs, mayo, and cheese in the fridge, which allows you to make this casserole on a whim if you have abundant yellow squash."

  • Trinidadian Macaroni Pie

    Casserole Dish of Trinidadian Macaroni Pie Cut into Individual Servings with One Piece Lifted Using a Spatula

    Simply Recipes / Alica Ramkirpal-Senhouse

    Contributor Alica Ramkirpal-Senhouse says, "Bucatini is a popular choice for macaroni pie, but you can certainly use elbows. The idea is to choose a tubular pasta shape that will capture the seasonings and delicious sauce inside the noodle."

  • Broccoli Cheese Casserole

    My Mom’s Famous Broccoli Cheese Casserole in a dish, one serving scooped out and added to a plate

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    Recipe developer Molly Adams says, "The casserole is still classic, nostalgic, and delicious but slightly elevated. On the buffet spread, it is still highly recognizable, but you just don’t need to wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from the cheese anymore."

  • Cheesy Baked Cauliflower

    Scooping Easy Cauliflower Bake out of a glass casserole dish.
    Coco Morante

    Broccoli and cheese shouldn’t get all the attention when cauliflower is equally as tasty. This baked cauliflower is coated in a creamy, smooth cheese sauce. It’s a side that goes well with Smothered Pork Chops.

    Continue to 9 of 22 below

  • Twice Baked Potato Casserole

    Twiced baked potato casserole in casserole dish

    Alison Bickel / Simply Recipes

    Contributor Brianne Ross says, "Idaho, Yukon gold, and russet potatoes all fall into the starchy potato category (as opposed to waxy), and these are the potatoes you want to use for this casserole."

  • Pineapple Casserole

    Pineapple Casserole in a casserole dish with a large serving spoon next to a scooped out section

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Julia Gartland / Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne

    Recipe developer Stephanie Burt says, "Warm from the oven, the savory-sweet combo is just as good with a dollop of vanilla ice cream as it is alongside Easter ham."

  • Cheesy Baked Zucchini Noodle Casserole

    Cheesy Baked Zucchini Noodle Casserole
    Elise Bauer

    If your past experiences with zoodles (zucchini noodles) is that they are a bit bland, this low-carb, gluten-free recipe will change your mind. Zucchini noodles are baked with crushed tomatoes and cheeses for a lightened-up, lasagna-inspired side dish.

  • Creamy Scalloped Potatoes

    Creamy Scalloped Potatoes
    Elise Bauer

    This is our version of a classic, shareable side dish. Thinly sliced potatoes bake in a creamy sauce flavored with Swiss cheese and parmesan with bits of bacon, parsley, and chives. Try pairing this one with Glazed Baked Ham.

    Continue to 13 of 22 below

  • Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecans

    Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecans
    Lisa Lin

    This traditional Thanksgiving casserole is given a special touch of flavor with the addition of lots of aromatic orange zest. Then the sweet potato filling gets a dose of seasonal spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, and it’s topped with a crunchy, crumble-like pecan topping.

  • Brussels Sprouts Gratin

    Brussels Sprouts Gratin
    Elise Bauer

    When roasted Brussel Sprouts just aren’t exciting enough for a special occasion, turn them into a gratin! The cheesy sauce and bits of savory pancetta make this simple casserole an unforgettable side dish. It’s an especially good match for Smoked Turkey Breast during the holiday season.

  • Zucchini, Eggplant, Tomato Gratin

    Zucchini Eggplant Tomato Gratin
    Elise Bauer

    This recipe proves that not all gratins need to be made with potatoes. Summer vegetables are sliced and baked in this gratin with a little cheese, but without the heavy cream sauce. Swap in summer squash or mushrooms to switch this one up.

  • Irish Potato Casserole

    A white casserole dish with Irish baked mashed potatoes, with part of the dish scooped out, on a white marble counter

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    Recipe developer Ivy Manning says, "I’ve been making these baked “Irish-style” mashed potatoes for almost 15 years now, and I still think of my dad and our little pub research trips every time I pull the glorious cheese-crowned casserole dish out of the oven. It’s more than just good potatoes, but not much more."

    Continue to 17 of 22 below

  • Fennel Gratin

    Fennel Gratin in an Oval Shaped Cast Iron Skillet

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    Fennel is an under-used vegetable, especially as a gratin. But its vibrant flavor tastes even better when it’s baked in a cream sauce. This gratin uses mozzarella cheese and is topped with breadcrumbs for a little crunch with each bite.

  • Potatoes Au Gratin

    Potatoes Au Gratin
    Sally Vargas

    You can make this simple gratin as is or take the long list of suggestions for cheese swaps and herb or vegetable additions to make it all your own. Swap the gruyere for smoked gouda, add some rosemary, or sprinkle in some oregano.

  • Zucchini and Spinach Gratin

    Zucchini and Spinach Gratin
    Elise Bauer

    This vegetable side dish is the one to turn to when summer hits and you have more zucchini than you know what to do with. It’s loaded with two pounds of zucchini and bakes into a rich, savory side dish thanks to bacon, garlic, and parmesan.

  • Rumbledethumps

    Overhead view of a square white baking dish of potato cabbage casserole next to a light blue plate with a casserole serving and spoon all on a wooden tabletop

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Julia Gartland / Food Styling by Pearl Jones

    Recipe developer Devan Grimsrud says, "Rumbledethumps is a traditional Scottish dish typically made with potatoes, cabbage, onions, and sometimes rutabaga or swede (also called turnip in Scotland). It’s a simple mash, topped with cheddar cheese and baked until golden. It can be a side or a main, served for breakfast, lunch, or dinner."

    Continue to 21 of 22 below

  • Cheesy Grits Soufflé Bake

    Grits Casserole - grits casserole
    Sally Vargas

    Sour cream and cheddar make these baked grits incredibly rich and cheesy while whipped egg whites keep it light and airy as it bakes to create an irresistible souffle like dish.

  • Butternut Squash Apple Cranberry Bake

    Butternut Squash Apple Cranberry Bake
    Elise Bauer

    There’s no pre-sautéing or browning with this casserole dish and it’ll be ready to bake in just 15 minutes. When it’s not being served alongside turkey, Classic Baked Chicken or Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Pork Tenderloin are other entrees that could use this bake as a side.

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