With these Christmas-worthy casserole recipes, you can feed and satisfy any Christmas Eve crowd, whether it’s at a laid-back family gathering or an elaborate dinner party with friends. With high yields and easy prep, these delicious and comforting casseroles are ideal for December 24. Recipes like lasagna, chicken-and-rice casserole, enchiladas, and even hearty breakfast casseroles, even the pickiest eaters at your holiday table will be happy. Since casseroles freeze well, you could even make them ahead and reheat just in time for Christmas Eve dinner.
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Stacy K. Allen; Props: Josh Hoggle; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray
If you’ve got Tex-Mex fans in the house, satisfy them with this comforting, cheesy casserole made with rotisserie chicken, corn tortillas, pinto beans, pepper Jack cheese, and a few pantry staples.
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James Ransom; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell
Senior Lifestyle Editor Ivy Odom makes this family recipe every Christmas Eve. Like many family recipes passed down by word of mouth, a few of the ingredients have changed over time, but for the Odoms, it’s just not Christmas without Cottage Cheese Lasagna.
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Will Dickey
If you think cabbage is diet food, you’ve never tasted this rich and creamy dish. Cabbage Casserole may be humble, but it’s never out of place on the dinner table, which is why it’s one of our readers’ favorite dishes.
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Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Whether you serve this as a main dish or a side, this ultra-rich take on a hash brown casserole will win everyone over. Even better, you can prep it and freeze it, covered, for up to three months.
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Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall
Browned butter and sage give this hearty, vegetable-packed baked pasta a warm, earthy flavor that’s perfect for colder nights.
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Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Think of this as a comforting mac and cheese bulked up with the addition of chopped chicken breasts, sour cream, and cream of chicken soup. Any tube-shaped noodle will work well in this recipe.
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Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
Breakfast for dinner on Christmas Eve? Why not start a new tradition this year with this hearty sausage-and-egg casserole.
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Yes, corn pudding is technically a casserole, and yes, it’s delicious. Chopped onion and fresh thyme add a savory twist in this recipe.
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Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Karen Rankin, Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen
This casserole is excellent for any occasion, but it’s especially easy to throw together on a busy Christmas Eve.
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This dish combines some of our favorite ingredients—hot ground sausage, flaky croissants, and Parmesan and Gruyère cheeses—for cheesy goodness in every bite.
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Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Buffy Hargett
This comforting baked pasta comes together quickly thanks to jarred Alfredo sauce and rotisserie chicken. It’s a cozy Christmas Eve meal, or any dinner when your house is full of hungry guests.
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Chicken, spices, green chiles, Cheddar, and a corn muffin mix combine to make this spicy, comforting casserole that tastes like a tamale.
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As dish that’s part of many Southerners’ Christmas traditions, this oyster casserole is our test kitchen’s best version ever.
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Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
We wanted a more flavorful base for popular casserole than the traditional condensed soup, so we whipped up a delicious sauce made with whole milk and Cheddar cheese.
Credit: Caitlin Bensel
This recipe combines Challah, a traditional Jewish braided bread; eggnog that suits your desired sweetness; and Turbinado sugar, brown sugar’s more coarse and flavorful cousin.
Credit: Atonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer
We don’t mean to brag, but this might be the fluffiest mashed potato casserole of all time. Prep it a day ahead to mitigate stress holiday morning.
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Mrs. Harland J. Stone from Ocala, Florida, sent us this recipe that was published in the November 1990 edition of Southern Living, and it was too delicious to leave in the archives.
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Morgan Hunt Glaze; Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf; Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
Chicken-and-Wild Rice Casserole will always be a staple at Southern gatherings, including those during the holiday season.
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Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Buffy Hargett
Don’t worry about missing any valuable family time. This ziti is on the table in under an hour.
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JENNIFER CAUSEY; PROP STYLING: CHRISTINE KEELY; FOOD STYLING: TORIE COX
This hearty, indulgent take on French onion soup is fitting for a cozy Christmas Eve dinner. The casserole is rich with layers of crunchy bread, onions, and melted cheese.
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Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hausser, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall
This easy casserole is basically an enchilada version of lasagna, with corn tortillas separating the layers instead of noodles.
Credit: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele
This low-carb meal will satisfy your family’s lasagna cravings, and it looks beautiful when plated.
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You can put this classic lasagna together and freeze up to three months in advance. Planning for Christmas Eve dinner has never been easier.
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Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox
If you thought meatloaf was just for busy weeknight dinners, think again. This classic dish has a flavorful ground beef base topped with fluffy mashed potatoes.
Credit: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox
You’ll have a seemingly endless to-do list the week of Christmas, so make Christmas Eve stress-free with this five-ingredient lasagna recipe.
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Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Skip the heavy casserole and make these individual portions of lasagna. There’s meat, cheese, and crispy ends in every bite.
Credit: Alison Miksch
Make this casserole ahead of time so you can take in holiday moments. Rotisserie chicken makes it easy, and homemade biscuits with bacon take comfort to another level.
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Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall
You’ll only need 15 minutes of prep time to get this holiday meal ready for your festive crowd. Frozen ravioli, fresh spinach, and a jar of marinara make quick work of this hearty meal.
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Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel
This smoky, cheesy side dish is just right for the holiday table. It’s a cross between spoon bread and a grits soufflé, and it pairs well with any Southern menu.
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Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
This reader recipe from 2001 is packed with carrots, broccoli, and asparagus, plus ham, noodles, and a creamy mushroom sauce. Bonus: the recipe makes two casseroles, so you can feed a huge crowd, or freeze one for later.
Dining and Cooking