Ahhh yes 🍲✨ Baked Casserole Dish—a comforting, all-in-one meal you can customize with meat, veggies, grains, or cheese. Since “baked casserole” is a broad category, here’s a versatile, classic baked casserole base you can tweak for your favorite flavors.
🥘 Classic Baked Casserole
Ingredients (serves 4–6)
Base
- 2 cups cooked protein (chicken, beef, sausage, or beans for vegetarian)
- 2–3 cups cooked starch (rice, pasta, or potatoes, diced)
- 2 cups vegetables (broccoli, carrots, peas, mushrooms, or mixed)
Binding & Creaminess
- 1 can (10–12 oz) cream of mushroom, chicken, or celery soup (or 1 cup homemade cream sauce)
- 1/2–1 cup milk or cream
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard or herbs (optional)
- Salt & pepper, to taste
Topping
- 1–2 cups shredded cheese (cheddar, mozzarella, or a blend)
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs or crushed crackers (for crunch)
- 2 tbsp melted butter (for topping)
Instructions
1️⃣ Preheat oven
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
2️⃣ Prepare filling
- In a large bowl, mix cooked protein, starch, vegetables, and soup or cream sauce.
- Add milk, herbs, salt, and pepper; stir until everything is evenly coated.
3️⃣ Assemble casserole
- Pour mixture into prepared baking dish.
- Sprinkle shredded cheese evenly on top.
- Optional: mix breadcrumbs with melted butter and sprinkle over cheese for a crunchy topping.
4️⃣ Bake
- Cover with foil and bake 25–30 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake 10–15 more minutes, until cheese is melted and topping is golden brown.
5️⃣ Serve
- Let casserole rest 5 minutes before serving.
- Garnish with fresh parsley or chives if desired.
Pro Tips
- Mix it up: swap rice for pasta, chicken for ground beef, or broccoli for spinach.
- Make ahead: assemble the casserole a day ahead, cover tightly, and bake the next day.
- Cheesy upgrade: layer cheese inside as well as on top for ultra-cheesy bites.
- Crispy topping: broil for 2–3 minutes at the end for an extra golden finish.
🔥 Variations
- 🍗 Chicken & Broccoli Casserole: classic with cream of mushroom soup, cooked chicken, and broccoli
- 🥩 Beef & Potato Casserole: ground beef, diced potatoes, onions, and cheddar
- 🥦 Vegetarian: mix beans, rice, roasted vegetables, and a creamy cheese sauce
- 🧄 Garlic Herb: add roasted garlic, thyme, and rosemary to the cream sauce for extra flavor
If you want, I can give a “loaded, ultra-cheesy baked casserole” recipe with multiple layers of meat, veggies, and sauce that’s guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser 😏.
Do you want me to do that?
