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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    23 Quick and Cheap Casseroles for Busy Weeknights

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on June 19, 2025, updated May 5, 2025 - Leave a Comment

    Casseroles are a lifesaver for busy weeknights, offering a simple way to prepare a hearty meal with minimal effort. With just a few ingredients and one dish, you can create satisfying meals that the whole family will enjoy. Here are 23 quick and affordable casserole recipes that will help you get dinner on the table in no time. We know "cheap" can mean different things to different people, so here you will find recipes fitting a variety of budgets - but all without any unnecessarily expensive ingredients.

    Cheesy Ham and Broccoli Noodle Casserole

    Cheesy Ham and Broccoli Noodle Casserole.
    Photo Credit: Cooking with Carlee.

    Leftover ham is perfect for using up in a tasty dish. This cheesy broccoli and ham casserole is a favorite way to enjoy those less-than-perfect pieces.

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    Vegetarian Chili Mac

    Vegetarian Chili Mac.
    Photo Credit: Cook Eat Live Love.

    Vegetarian Chili Mac is a simple and tasty dinner option that you can whip up quickly. It's packed with flavor and has a satisfying sauce that everyone will enjoy.

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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 super easy to prepare. With only four ingredients and some ready-made items, you can have it ready in just 5 minutes and on the table in under 40.

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    Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake

    Buffalo chicken pasta bake.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This Buffalo Chicken Pasta Bake is quick to prepare and ready in under an hour. It's packed with spicy buffalo sauce, hidden spinach, and plenty of cheese, making it a tasty option for a weeknight dinner.

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    Vegan Broccoli Rice Casserole

    Vegan Broccoli Rice Casserole.
    Photo Credit: The Urben Life.

    This vegan broccoli rice casserole is made with just 7 simple ingredients and takes about 45 minutes to prepare. It's a comforting dish that everyone in the family will enjoy, making it a great choice for busy weeknights.

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    Cheesy Tortellini Casserole

    Cheesy Tortellini Casserole
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This dish is simple, cheesy, and really tasty. It's the perfect comfort food that everyone will enjoy.

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    Chicken Broccoli Pasta Bake

    Chicken pasta bake.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This dish is packed with chicken and broccoli, making it a hearty meal that will fill you up. It's perfect for dinner and you'll likely have some leftovers for later.

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    Quinoa Mushroom Spinach Casserole

    Quinoa Mushroom Spinach Casserole.
    Photo Credit: Mommy Evolution.

    This Mushroom Spinach Casserole gives a fresh take on a classic dish by using quinoa, which is both nutritious and filling. It's a great option for a meatless meal, loaded with protein and fiber.

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    Walking Taco Casserole

    Walking taco casserole.
    Photo credit: Emmeline Kemperyd.

    This casserole combines all the delicious flavors of tacos into one easy dish. It's packed with ground beef, salsa, and plenty of cheese, making it perfect for a potluck or a quick weeknight dinner.

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    Spaghetti Pie

    Sliced spaghetti pie on a round pan.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    This cheesy spaghetti pie combines the classic tastes of spaghetti and meat sauce in a fun pie format. It's a great way to turn leftover spaghetti into a delicious new meal for a busy weeknight.

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    Chicken and Noodle Casserole

    Chicken and noodle casserole.
    Photo Credit: Cheerful Cook.

    Chicken and Noodle Casserole is a comforting meal that everyone enjoys. It's rich and cheesy, filled with chicken and veggies, and has a crunchy cracker topping for added taste.

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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, creating a hearty meal that's simple to prepare. It's perfect for when you want something comforting without putting in too much effort.

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    Cheesy Chicken Taco Casserole

    Cheesy Chicken Taco Casserole.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    This quick casserole is ready in just 30 minutes and is packed with all the delicious flavors of tacos. It's a great meal to share with family or friends.

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    Baked Gnocchi with Frozen Veggies

    Baked gnocchi with vegetables on a Dutch oven.
    Photo Credit: Happy Veggie Kitchen.

    This is an easy one-pan gnocchi bake that requires no chopping. With frozen mixed vegetables and a creamy cheese sauce, it’s a comforting meal that comes together quickly.

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    Swiss Chard and Butternut Squash Gratin

    Swiss Chard and Butternut Squash Gratin.
    Photo Credit: Kitchen Gone Rogue.

    This creamy gratin with Swiss chard and butternut squash is a fantastic side dish that everyone will love. It's dairy-free, and if you use gluten-free bread crumbs, it can easily be made gluten-free too!

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    Cheesy Chicken and Rice

    Cheesy Chicken and Rice
    Photo Credit: Easy Chicken Recipes.

    This casserole combines chicken, rice, broccoli, cauliflower, and Velveeta in one pan. It's creamy, cheesy, and simple to make, making it a hit with everyone, including the kids.

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    Veggie Loaded Tater Tot Casserole

    Vegetarian Tater Tot Casserole.
    Photo Credit: Urban Farmie.

    This dish features creamy vegetables covered with crispy, golden tater tots. It’s quick to prepare and perfect for family dinners or a cozy night at home.

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    Chicken Broccoli Casserole

    Chicken Broccoli Casserole.
    Photo Credit: Dutch Oven Daddy.

    This is a simple and satisfying meal that you can prepare in under 30 minutes. It combines the creamy goodness of mac and cheese with the flavors of broccoli and chicken alfredo.

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    Southwest Chicken Casserole

    Southwest chicken casserole.
    Photo Credit: My Rad Kitchen.

    Southwest Chicken Casserole is a filling dish that combines juicy chicken, zesty spices, and gooey cheese all in one pan. With easy prep and a comforting blend of salsa Verde, black beans, and southwest seasoning, this is a great option for busy weeknights that everyone will enjoy.

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    Vegan Sushi Bake

    Vegan Sushi Bake.
    Photo Credit: Cinnamon Snail.

    This vegan sushi bake is a tasty twist on traditional sushi, packed with layers of seasoned rice, golden tofu, and sweet potatoes, all topped with spicy mayo and plenty of fun toppings. It's a great option for sushi fans who want a simple and satisfying meal that can easily feed a group.

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    Cheesy Potatoes

    Cheesy Potatoes.
    Photo Credit: Maple + mango.

    Cheesy potatoes are a popular side dish that everyone enjoys, disappearing fast from the table. With a mix of three cheeses, tender potatoes, and a creamy sauce baked to perfection, this dish is perfect for holiday dinners, family meals, or any get-together.

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    Chicken Queso Spaghetti

    Chicken Queso Spaghetti.
    Photo Credit: Bowl Me Over.

    This dish features pasta smothered in a creamy cheese sauce. It's a great option for busy weeknights and back-to-school dinners.

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    Eggplant Moussaka

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

    Eggplant Moussaka is a simple dinner packed with vegetables, ground beef or lamb, and plenty of cheese on top. This version skips the potatoes and Bechamel sauce, using more eggplant instead for a healthy and tasty Mediterranean meal.

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    More Recipe Roundups

    • Lemon pepper chicken thighs.
      23 Easy Crockpot Dinners for Busy Weeknights
    • Cottage pie.
      27 Best Easy Dinners to Make With Ground Beef
    • Chicken tater tot casserole.
      32 Easy Dump-and-Bake Ideas That Help You Feed a Crowd
    • Curry noodle salad.
      18 Pasta Salads That Are Perfect for Meal Prep

    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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