Easy homemade casseroles?

[Acctingchick]

Hello everyone
I was hoping to find some easy homemade recipes to make for my family since we are trying to eat in now to save some much needed money. We aren't to choosy but since I'm working 10+ hours at work the faster the better, any suggestions are welcome. Thanks so much

 

[katie26]

I've started making things ahead on the weekend and freezing them for weekday dinners. Lasagna is a perfect freezer meal - it survives freezing and re-heating beautifully! I also like freezing meatballs - I make them in my stand mixer with the paddle attachment, roll them up and flash freeze them on waxed-paper lined cookie sheets until they're hard. Then I put them in freezer bags in the freezer. They stay good for months and take about 30 minutes at 350 degrees to go from frozen to fully cooked.

Soups are also great freezer meals! You can make a big batch of soup, freeze it in family-meal sized containers, and you can even throw a loaf of nice, crusty bread into the freezer for an accompaniment. I love chicken soup, white bean and spinach soup (especially made with a ham bone for extra flavor) and French onion soup.

 

[DisneyCrazyX5]

The boys favorite is the one
http://www.recipecircus.com/recipes/tmuslim/MAKEAHEAD/Chicken_Enchilada_Casserole.html

 

[ceecee]

We love this easy and inexpensive casserole. 1 lb of ground beef or turkey browned. Add 1 bag of frozen mixed vegetables and 1 can of cream of mushroom soup, top with 2 cups frozen hash browns and 1 cup or so of cheese and bake for 30 minutes. It's like a lazy man's shepherd's pie.
Or
Mix one lb ground beef/turkey with mushroom soup, a cup of rice and a cup of frozen peas.

 

[Krischaser]

I need an easy lasanga (however you spell it) recipe. Does anyone have one to share? Thanks

 

[SandrA9810]

The last couple of times I made lasagna, I just used the no boil noodles and a couple jars of sauce. Just load it up with veggies in between and your good to go.

I also like making shepard's pie. I cook up my ground beef until brown, add in a can of golden mushroom soup. Pour that over some corn or other veggie, then top with some mash potatoes and cheese. Since I make everything at once (I don't use left over taters), it's more about getting the cheese to melt on top.

You could also try slow cooking. It's great if you have time at night. Just stick everything into the crock the night before, then place in the fridge till morning. Keeping the crock and food cold overnight will help keep the cook time longer. Just cook it on low for the long shifts.

I usually use the crock every other day. So if I make dinner one night, while it's cooking I'll prep the crock pot for the following day's dinner. That way I get two meals, and only one mess. The night we eat out of the crock, I just have some plates and silverware to clean up. Just fill the crock up with some soapy water to sit overnight if you're not in the mood to clean it.

 

[CaFeeney]

The Barilla no boil lasagna noodles work great. I also like this Paula Deen chicken rice casserole:
http://www.pauladeen.com/recipes/view2/chicken_and_rice_casserole

I use rotisserie chicken and the precooked Uncle Ben's wild rice, I skip the pimentos and only use about 1/4 cup of mayo (1 full cup would be too much for us, yuck).

I also make a casserole where I layer tortillas with salsa, cheese, and shredded rotisserie chicken, kind of like a lasagna..yum!

 

[McKelly]

My family and elderly parents both like this one...

http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/Chicken-Tater-Bake

I think it tastes like Pot Pie. Yum. And it is EASY! And it makes two, so you can freeze one and serve it another day!

 

[Sunshineminnie]

This one is super easy and everyone loves it.

1. Put a pound to pound and a half of ground beef (lean) at button of a casserole dish (no need to brown). I kind of break it up a bit.

2. sprinkle with salt, pepper, a little garlic powder and dried onions

3. cover with a can of cream of chicken

4. cover with tater tots ( you can sprinkle season on the tots if you'd like)

bake at 450 for about 45 min

 

[ancestry]

Rather than casseroles, I make a lot of soups, stews, and chili's in the winter to stretch my budget. My family doesn't care for casseroles but they do love soups. The soups are nutritious and are fairly inexpensive for the number of meals we can have from one large batch. I put them into individual serving size containers and freeze them. That way everyone can heat up the soup, stew, or chili they are in the mood for.

 

[I loveStitchnippyjon]

The boys favorite is the one
http://www.recipecircus.com/recipes/tmuslim/MAKEAHEAD/Chicken_Enchilada_Casserole.html

I've been making a variation of this for years! My whole family has always loved it.
I mix the chicken in with the soup and 8 ox. shredded cheddar cheese, along with about 1/2 cup of salsa and 1/2 c. sour cream. Layer that with the tortillas and top with more cheese before baking.

 

[dsny1mom]

Noodle Cassarole

1 bag of broad noodles
large can tomato sauce
1/2 large loaf of Velvetta cheese
left over beef roast cut into small pieces

Boil noodles drain and put in large bowl or deep cassarole dish
Add tomato sauce and mix
cut Velvetta into cubes and push down into noodles mixture
(retain a 4 slices of the cheese)
push meat into noodles
lay the 4 slices of cheese on top
bake at 350 degrees until the cassarole bubbles on top

Quick, easy, cheap and a good use of left over beef roast. The beef can be substituted for chicken and or omitted. for a meat free meal.

dsny1mom

 

[katie26]

I need an easy lasanga (however you spell it) recipe. Does anyone have one to share? Thanks

Sure! I usually make my lasagna with no-bake noodles, so pick up a couple of boxes of those. You can either make your own tomato sauce or buy a couple of jars - jar sauce is fine if you're in a rush, but if you're not, homemade sauce is so delish! I also make my lasagna vegetarian, because I like to eat sausage or meatballs on the side, but if you want to add meat, just brown a pound or so of ground beef, drain the fat and then mix the beef with about half of your tomato sauce and use the beef mixture instead of sauce in the middle layers.

For the cheese filling: mix a large (32 oz) container of ricotta cheese with two eggs, dried parsley and salt & pepper to taste. Shred a one-pound block of whole milk mozzarella, either with a hand shredder or in the food processor. Reserve a handful of mozzarella for the top of the lasagna; mix the rest into the ricotta mixture.

In a large Pyrex casserole dish, spread a thin layer of tomato sauce. Top with no-bake noodles, then with 1/3 of the cheese mixture. Top that with tomato sauce (or meat sauce) and then add another layer of noodles. Repeat, topping the final layer of noodles with tomato sauce, reserved mozzarella and a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese. Bake as instructed on no-bake noodle box.

For homemade sauce: you'll need olive oil, fresh garlic, one onion, (2) 32 oz cans of crushed tomatoes and some basil and oregano (fresh basil is ideal, but dried is fine, too.)

Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Mince the onion and garlic, then add to the oil and cook until onions are translucent. Add both cans of tomatoes and spices and salt and pepper to taste. Lower heat to low-medium and cook until warmed through.

 

[Forevryoung]

I need an easy lasanga (however you spell it) recipe. Does anyone have one to share? Thanks

This one:

1/2 bag (32oz bag) Italian style or sausage meatballs
1 24oz bag of frozen ravioli
2 26oz jars of spaghetti sauce
1 16oz bag Italian cheese blend or mozzarella cheese shredded

oven 375
thaw ravioli in hot water for one minute, thaw 32 meatballs, crumble meatballs into small pieces

In baking dish pour thin layer of sauce to cover bottom. Arrange 12 ravioli in single layer, sprinkle 1/2 meatball crumbles, sprinkle 1/2 cheese, repeat process with sauce, ravioli, meat, cheese. Add thin layer of sauce on top

bake 45 min covered, uncover and sprinkle with more cheese if desired, bake uncovered additional 10-15 min

let stand 5-10 min before serving (makes 6 servings)

It was delicious and super easy (I didn't use the meat)

 

[clh2]

This involves some prep time on a weekend...but is a "fix, freeze, thaw and bake meal". Easy peasy to make - and adds a nice variety compared to Lasagna, baked ziti, etc. Works great with chicken instead of the beef. We serve this with Sour Cream and salsa, as well as lettuce if we have it.

Cheesy Chilada Bake

http://www.mealsmatter.org/recipes-meals/recipe/61452

Or if you prefer:
Ingredients
6 # ground beef
4 Green bell peppers, diced
4 Med. onions, diced
2 t. Minced garlic, about 6 cloves
4 c. Picante
4 (15 oz. ) tomato sauce
4 (14.5 oz. ) pinto beans
2 tsp. Cumin
8 c. Cheese
48 Corn tortillas
4-13 by 9 pans.

Preparation
1. Brown beef, peppers, onions, and garlic over med. heat until beef is no longer pink, about 30 min. Drain fat, then stir in picante, tomato sauce, beans, and seasoning.


2. Spread 4 cups of meat mixture over bottom of baking dish. Cover the .

mixture with 6 tortillas, overlapping as necessary to fit into a single layer. Spread 1 c. of cheese next. Then, repeat layers.


3. Wrap each individually & freeze.


to cook:

1. completely thaw

2. preheat oven to 350

3. Cover with foil & bake for 40 min.

 

[my3sonsagn]

I need an easy lasanga (however you spell it) recipe. Does anyone have one to share? Thanks

I cheat - Stouffer's party sized meat lasagnas are $10 at WalMart; bake for 2 hours and we have the most delicious lasagna I've ever tasted (though I have to admit that my lasagna-tasting experience is limited ).

 

[Ed J]

I like red-neck lasagna.

In the bottom of a casarole dish


2 bags of pizza rolls
Cover with Jared sauce
Cover with pizza chesse

Serve with a side of rolaids.

I know it sounds kinda gross, but it tastes great.

 

[Poohforyou]

I'm not a casserole lover but there are plenty of meals that you can have on the table in under 30 minutes. I rarely spend more time than that on dinner even though I could if I wanted to. Here are just a few off the top of my head:

chicken cutlet/fish fillet/pork medallions, starch, veggie
pasta with meatballs and sauce (make ahead and freeze) and salad
chili (make ahead), salad and corn muffins
sausage and peppers on rolls or over pasta, salad

 

[Marionnette]

I'm not a casserole lover but there are plenty of meals that you can have on the table in under 30 minutes. I rarely spend more time than that on dinner even though I could if I wanted to. Here are just a few off the top of my head:

chicken cutlet/fish fillet/pork medallions, starch, veggie
pasta with meatballs and sauce (make ahead and freeze) and salad
chili (make ahead), salad and corn muffins
sausage and peppers on rolls or over pasta, salad

I agree. Casseroles get real old, real fast.

I prefer the pick a protein, pick a starch, pick a green vegetable method. The only one of those three that takes any kind of cooking time is the protein. And that's only if it's a cheap cut of meat that needs to be cooked low and slow.

 

[pigletto]

I am always looking for casserole ideas. My husband doesn't like any "cream of" soups. You wouldn't believe how many casseroles use that as a base.

This is one that like lasagna, freezes and reheats well and is super easy to make. It's Spaghetti Pie. Ignore the "Saregento" brand all over the recipe.. I use whatever cheese we have and it's great! We also brown ground beef and mix with the sauce.

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/spaghetti-pie-2/detail.aspx