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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    22 Cheap Casseroles Straight From Grandma’s Kitchen

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on July 28, 2025, updated July 14, 2025 - Leave a Comment

    Casseroles are a comforting staple that remind us of home-cooked meals from our childhood. These 22 budget-friendly recipes bring together simple ingredients and hearty flavors, making them perfect for family dinners or potlucks. With a mix of classic and creative dishes, there's something here for everyone to enjoy.

    Chicken Pot Pie

    Chicken Pot Pie.
    Photo Credit: The Virtual Caterer.

    This chicken pot pie is a fresh take on the classic dish. With a light and flaky puff pastry crust, it offers a nice airy texture without being too heavy. It's also really flexible, so you can change up the filling to please everyone at the table.

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    Chicken Rotel Spaghetti

    Chicken Spaghetti with Rotel.
    Photo Credit Mandi of the Mountains.

    Baked chicken spaghetti with Rotel is a simple and cozy meal that your family will enjoy. It's also a great dish to share with someone who could use a home-cooked meal. With just a few ingredients, this recipe comes together quickly and easily. You'll appreciate the cheesy goodness of this chicken casserole.

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    Walking Taco Casserole

    Walking taco casserole.
    Photo credit: Emmeline Kemperyd.

    This casserole brings all the delicious flavors of tacos into one easy dish. It's packed with ground beef, salsa, and plenty of cheese, making it a hearty meal. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a potluck, this dish is sure to please everyone.

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    Vegan Pasta Bake

    Vegan Pasta Bake.
    Photo Credit: Occasionally Eggs.

    This vegan pasta bake is a simple and satisfying dish packed with vegetables and smothered in tomato sauce, all topped with vegan cheese before it goes in the oven. You can use any vegetables you have on hand, and whether you choose store-bought or homemade marinara, it all comes together easily. It's a great option for busy weeknights when you want something hearty and delicious without spending too much time in the kitchen.

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    Broccoli Casserole

    Broccli casserole.
    Photo credit: Masala Herb.

    This broccoli casserole is a great choice for a quick and healthy side dish. It's simple to prepare and perfect for busy weeknights. Packed with flavor and nutrition, this dish is sure to please everyone at the table.

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    Cheesy Hamburger Hashbrown Casserole

    Cheesy Hamburger Hashbrown Casserole.
    Photo Credit: Mandi of the Mountains.

    This cheesy hamburger hashbrown casserole is a comforting dish that everyone in the family will enjoy. It’s simple to prepare and perfect for busy weeknights when you need something satisfying on the table fast.

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    Cheese Tortellini Bake

    Cheese Tortellini Bake
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    This dish is simple and quick, ready in just 20 minutes. With only a handful of ingredients and everything cooked in one pan, cleanup is easy. It's ideal for busy weeknights when you want a filling meal without spending hours in the kitchen. Enjoy a hearty vegetarian option that doesn't require much effort.

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    Chicken Broccoli Pasta Bake

    Chicken pasta bake.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This casserole is packed with chicken and broccoli, making it a hearty meal that will keep you satisfied. It's perfect for busy weeknights when you want something easy and filling. Plus, you'll likely have some leftovers to enjoy later.

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    Chicken Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta Bake

    sun-dried tomato pasta bake.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This dish features cheesy chicken and pasta, packed with sun-dried tomatoes and spinach. It's a hearty comfort food that's simple to prepare. Perfect for busy weeknights, this casserole will satisfy everyone at the table.

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    Chicken Pasta Casserole

    Chicken Pasta Casserole.
    Photo Credit: Cook Dinner Tonight.

    Chicken Pasta Casserole combines tender chicken and pasta in a rich, creamy cheese sauce. It's a simple dish that comes together quickly, making it perfect for busy weeknights. This hearty meal is sure to please everyone at the table.

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    Chicken Fajita Casserole

    Chicken fajita casserole.
    Photo credit: Two Healthy Kitchens.

    This casserole brings the delicious flavors of chicken fajitas right to your dinner table with minimal effort. It combines protein-rich black beans and quinoa, and you don’t even have to cook anything beforehand. Just mix everything together in the baking dish and pop it in the oven. It’s a simple and satisfying meal that the whole family will enjoy.

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    Dump-and-Bake Mac & Cheese

    Mac and cheese.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Baked Mac and Cheese is simple to prepare and perfect for a busy weeknight. In just 10 minutes, you can have everything ready to go into the oven, and after 45 minutes, you'll have a delicious meal. This recipe uses both Cheddar and Gruyere cheese, giving it a rich and cheesy flavor without the need for boiling or complicated steps.

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    Easy Cheeseburger Casserole

    Easy Cheeseburger Casserole.
    Photo Credit: Dude That Cookz.

    Cheeseburger Casserole is a simple and comforting dish that’s perfect for busy weeknights. With just a few ingredients like ground beef, onions, tomato puree, cheese, and some spices, you can whip up a hearty meal that everyone in the family will love. This dish combines all the flavors of a classic cheeseburger in a convenient casserole form, making it a great choice for a satisfying dinner.

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    Mashed Potato Casserole

    Mashed potato casserole.
    Photo Credit: always use butter.

    This mashed potato casserole is creamy and cheesy, perfect for a comforting meal. It only takes a few minutes to prepare, making it a great option for busy weeknights. You can even get it ready in advance, so it's easy to serve when you're short on time.

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    Cheesy Crack Chicken Casserole

    Cheesy Crack Chicken Casserole.
    Photo Credit: Chenee Today.

    Cheesy Crack Chicken Casserole is a simple and delicious dish that everyone will love. Packed with two kinds of melty cheese, crispy bacon, and soft pasta, all mixed together in a creamy ranch sauce, this casserole is perfect for busy weeknights. It's a comforting meal that brings the family together and satisfies even the pickiest eaters.

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    Old Fashioned Chicken & Rice Casserole

    Chicken baked on top of rice.
    Photo credit: Food Folks and Fun.

    This Chicken and Rice Casserole is a timeless favorite that everyone loves. The chicken and rice are well-seasoned, and the rice turns out just right. It’s a simple dish that makes dinner a breeze.

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    Creamy Mac and Cheese

    Creamy Mac and Cheese.
    Photo Credit: Recipe Tale.

    This creamy mac and cheese is rich and cheesy, perfect for a comforting meal. It's a simple dish that brings back memories of home cooking, making it a great choice for busy weeknights. With its smooth texture and satisfying flavor, this mac and cheese is sure to please everyone at the table.

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    Creamy Baked Cheesy Chicken Pasta

    Creamy Baked Cheesy Chicken Pasta.
    Photo Credit: A Taste of Madness.

    This casserole is so easy to make! With two types of cheeses, this is the ultimate comfort food dinner.

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    No-Boil Ravioli Casserole

    This cheesy ravioli casserole is one of the simplest dishes you can make. With just four simple ingredients and store-bought shortcuts, you can prep this dish in 5 minutes, and eat in under 40!
    Photo credit: Emmeline Kemperyd.

    This dish is incredibly easy to prepare. With just four basic ingredients and some ready-made options, you can have it ready in about 5 minutes and on the table in under 40. It's perfect for busy weeknights when you want a satisfying meal without spending too much time in the kitchen.

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    Instant Pot Lazy Lasagna

    Instant Pot Lazy Lasagna with wooden spoon.
    Photo Credit: The Recipe Well.

    This lasagna is super simple to make. With layers of meat, noodles, sauce, and two kinds of cheese, it comes together quickly in one pot. It's perfect for busy weeknights when you want a hearty meal without spending too much time in the kitchen.

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    Leftover Boiled Potato Casserole

    Leftover boiled potato casserole.
    Photo credit: alwaysusebutter.com.

    Leftover boiled potatoes can be transformed into a delicious casserole that everyone will love. This dish combines the familiar flavors of baked potatoes with a creamy and cheesy texture. It's a simple and quick option for busy weeknights, making it a great choice for dinner.

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    Eggplant Moussaka

    Eggplant Moussaka with Lamb.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Eggplant Moussaka is a hearty dinner packed with vegetables and ground beef or lamb, all covered in a generous layer of cheese. This recipe skips the potatoes and Bechamel sauce, using more eggplant instead, which keeps it true to its Turkish roots. It's a healthy and tasty option that's easy to prepare, perfect for busy weeknights.

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    About Emmeline Kemperyd

    Emmeline Kemperyd is a writer, food blogger, recipe creator and food photographer and the founder of alwaysusebutter.com. She has 20+ years experience creating and simplifying recipes so they taste good, and are quick, easy, and approachable. She is a regular contributor to MSN and her work has been featured by The Guardian, Well+Good, Vulture, SheKnows, Good Men Project, and The Feed Feed, among others.

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    Hi, I'm Emmeline! I love tasty food, but I'm always in a hurry. And I have the quick and easy recipes to prove it!

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