With these Christmas-worthy casserole recipes, you can feed and satisfy any Christmas Eve crowd, whether it’s at a laid-back gathering or an elaborate dinner party. With high yields and easy prep, these casseroles are ideal for December 24. And with recipes like lasagna, chicken-and-wild rice casserole, and enchiladas, even the pickiest eaters at your 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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Published in the pages of Southern Living in November 1990, this casserole has stood the test of time. The recipe has endless replacement options, so you can use whichever ingredients are in already your fridge.
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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 this casserole than the traditional condensed soup, so we whipped up a delicious sauce made with whole milk and Cheddar cheese.
Credit: Jen Causey
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.
Credit: Caitlin Bensel
This recipe combines Challah, a traditional Jewish braided bread; eggnog that suites 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.
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez
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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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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We heard that the Bush family eats chicken enchiladas on Christmas Eve, and that’s a family tradition we can support!
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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.
Credit: Hector Sanchez
These meatless lasagna rolls make for such a pretty (and yummy) Christmas Eve dinner plate.
Credit: Hector Sanchez
Wow your Christmas Eve guests with this gorgeous entrée of country ham, tangy gravy, mushrooms, and nutty wild rice.
Credit: Greg Dupree
Both crunchy and creamy, our New Tuna Casserole one-ups the classic with the help of crunchy potato chips.
Credit: Iain Bagwell
This earthy, aromatic casserole is the definition of company-worthy. A tip from the test kitchen: Let this dish stand a few minutes after baking so the rice will absorb the liquid, yielding a creamy texture.
Credit: Hector Sanchez
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.
Credit: Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Missie Neville Crawford
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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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.
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Stacy K. Allen, Food Stylist: Ali Ramee, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle
Bacon and shallots add a smokey, savory flavor to this dish, which is sure to woo even brussel sprout skeptics.
Credit: Southern Living
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.
Dining and Cooking