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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    24 Make-Ahead Casseroles You Can Freeze for Busy Nights

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on January 30, 2025, updated January 16, 2025 - Leave a Comment

    Casseroles are a fantastic way to prepare meals in advance, making busy nights a lot easier. With 24 make-ahead recipes that you can freeze, you’ll have delicious options ready to go whenever you need them. These hearty dishes are perfect for feeding the family or enjoying a cozy night in.

    Slow Cooker Shepherd’s Pie

    Slow Cooker Shepherd’s Pie.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    Slow Cooker Shepherd’s Pie is a great dish that everyone in the family will enjoy. It combines ground beef, carrots, peas, and mashed potatoes for a hearty meal that you can prepare ahead of time.

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    Sour Cream Chicken Enchilada Casserole

    Sour Cream Chicken Enchilada Casserole.
    Photo Credit: Happy Honey Kitchen.

    This Sour Cream Chicken Enchilada Casserole is a simple and tasty dish that everyone in the family will enjoy. It's perfect for busy nights and can be made ahead to freeze for later.

    Get the Recipe

    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 cheese. This version skips the potatoes and Bechamel sauce, using more eggplant instead for a tasty and healthy Mediterranean meal that's easy to prepare.

    Get the recipe

    Rigatoni al Forno

    Rigatoni al Forno.
    Photo credit: Food and Mood Dietitian.

    This rigatoni al forno with veggies is a tasty and healthier pasta dish that's perfect for dinner. It's a comforting bake that's easy to prepare and packed with nutrients, making it a satisfying meal for everyone.

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    Southwest Chicken Casserole

    Southwest Chicken Casserole.
    Photo Credit: The Clean Eating Couple.

    This Southwest Chicken Casserole is simple to prepare and packed with flavor. It's a great option for a one-pan meal that you can enjoy any night of the week.

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    Walking Taco Casserole

    Walking taco casserole.
    Photo credit: Emmeline Kemperyd.

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

    Get the recipe

    Mexican Taco Tater Tot Casserole

    Taco Tater Tot Casserole.
    Photo Credit: Cheerful Cook.

    This ground beef casserole is packed with tasty Mexican flavors, topped with crispy tater tots and a layer of melted cheese. It's a dish that everyone in the family loves.

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    Greek Pastitsio

    Greek Pastitsio.
    Photo Credit: The Greek Foodie.

    Greek Pastitsio is a comforting dish that layers creamy white sauce, hearty beef ragù, and thick pasta. This beef pasta bake is a classic favorite that’s perfect for a cozy meal.

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    Ground Beef Stuffed Shells

    STUFFED SHELLS WITH GROUND BEEF.
    Photo credit: 2 Cookin Mamas.

    This comforting dish is a great option for dinner. Stuffed pasta shells filled with flavorful ground beef, covered in rich sauce and topped with Parmesan cheese, come together quickly and are sure to please everyone.

    Get the recipe

    Chicken & Rice Casserole

    Chicken And Rice Casserole.
    Photo credit: Cheerful Cook.

    This chicken and rice casserole is a cozy dish that's simple to prepare. It's a great option for busy nights when you want something tasty and satisfying.

    Get the recipe

    Classic Tater Tot Casserole

    Tater Tot Casserole.
    Photo Credit: Bitz & Giggles.

    This classic casserole is tasty and perfect for the whole family. It comes together quickly using just a few basic ingredients.

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    Hamburger Rice Casserole

    Hamburger Rice Casserole.
    Photo Credit: Deliciously Homecooked.

    This hamburger rice casserole is a simple and tasty dish that everyone in the family will enjoy. Made with ground beef and paired with steamed broccoli, it’s the perfect comfort food for any meal.

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    Baked Shells Stuffed with Meatballs

    Baked Shells Stuffed with Meatballs.
    Photo credit: FODMAP Everyday.

    Pasta shells filled with cheese and meatballs, all covered in a simple tomato sauce, are a comforting dish. This is a classic that everyone loves.

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    Old Fashioned Chicken & Rice Casserole

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

    Chicken and Rice Casserole is a classic dish that everyone loves. With well-seasoned chicken and perfectly cooked rice, this is a simple and satisfying dinner option.

    Get the recipe

    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 comfort meal. It's simple to prepare and perfect for freezing ahead of time.

    Get the recipe

    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 busy nights, and you'll definitely have some leftovers to enjoy later.

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    Lazy Ravioli Lasagna

    Ravioli lasagna on a baking dish.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    Using store-bought ricotta-filled ravioli cuts down on the time spent cooking and assembling a traditional lasagna. This is a comforting family dinner that’s simple to prepare.

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    Vegan Pasta Bake

    Vegan Pasta Bake.
    Photo credit: Nourished by Nic.

    This dish is warm, cheesy, and completely plant-based. It's perfect for preparing in advance and freezing for later.

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    Bacon Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole

    Bacon Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole.
    Photo Credit: 4 Sons R' Us.

    Bacon Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole is a simple and tasty meal that the whole family will enjoy, even the picky eaters. This dish is perfect for busy nights when you want something delicious without a lot of work.

    Get the Recipe

    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.

    Get the recipe

    Sausage Asparagus Pasta Bake

    Sausage Asparagus Pasta Bake
    Photo Credit: Buy This Ccook That.

    This Sausage Asparagus Pasta Bake is simple with just five ingredients. The fresh asparagus and sweet Italian sausage come together for a tasty dish.

    Get the recipe

    Creamy Burrito Casserole

    Creamy Burrito Casserole.
    Photo Credit: In the Kitch.

    This creamy burrito casserole is packed with layers of meat, cheese, tortillas, and peppers, giving it a delicious Mexican twist. It's a simple and enjoyable meal that everyone in the family will appreciate.

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    Cheesy Steak Pasta Casserole

    Steak pasta casserole.
    Photo credit: Emmeline Kemperyd.

    This dish features a creamy steak and mushroom pasta baked with cheese for a comforting meal. It’s a cozy dinner that you can prepare in just 45 minutes, and using an oven-safe skillet means less cleanup afterwards.

    Get the recipe

    Slow Cooker Enchilada Casserole

    Slow Cooker Enchilada Casserole.
    Photo Credit: Retro Recipe Box.

    This is a delicious way to enjoy enchiladas without having to roll them. Use ground beef or ground turkey!

    Get the Recipe

    More Recipe Roundups

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      30 Hearty Ground Beef Dishes We Crave Every Week

    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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