When you want a warm and satisfying family meal, but you don't have time to actually make one, the solution is to stock your freezer full of ready-to-bake casseroles. The easiest way to do it is to make a full recipe and freeze half for later. Try 15 of our most popular make-and-freeze casseroles, and get tips for freezing, thawing, and baking them.
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Tuna Noodle Casserole I
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It's so easy to throw extra vegetables into this made-from-scratch casserole. Some reviewers doubled the tuna or doubled the sauce, depending on their preference. To add extra crunch, top this with potato chips or buttered bread crumbs before baking.
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02of 15
Pesto Chicken Penne Casserole
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"This is good stuff! But it makes a LOT. I just put about 2/3 of the recipe in a 9x13 pan, and froze an 8x8 to have on hand during the hectic holidays." —cecefltrn
03of 15
Spinach Lasagna Roll Ups
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"I've actually made this recipe twice on our newly adopted 'Meatless Monday'. I used fresh baby spinach the second time and just laid a single line down the middle over the cheese mixture. My children love it." — JuiceBoxx10
04of 15
Baked Ziti IV
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If you're not feeding a big crowd, you can bake half of this recipe and freeze the other half for another meal.
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Ham, Potato and Broccoli Casserole
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This popular casserole calls for French fries, but many reviewers substituted frozen potato nuggets, hash browns, or thinly sliced potatoes with happy results. SURELEE says, "Put this dish in the freezer and bake whenever you're too lazy to cook!"
06of 15
Hot Tamale Pie
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This recipe freezes well, whether baked or unbaked. If you freeze it unbaked, cover it in foil while you bake it for an extra 30 to 40 minutes until cornbread is golden and casserole is heated through.
07of 15
Spaghetti Pie II
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Here's a great tip for making the cottage cheese in this recipe look more like ricotta. Baricat says she's a big fan of ricotta, but she likes the tang that the cottage cheese adds to this dish. Here's her solution: "Process the cottage cheese in the food processor for a minute before adding it to the recipe. This way, you'll get that intriguing, tasty result, and your plate won't be covered in unsightly curds."
08of 15
Crunchy Eggplant Parmesan
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Most casseroles can be baked before they're frozen. But for this one, the recipe submitter suggests you assemble and freeze the casserole, and bake it later.
09of 15
Turkey Cabbage Rolls
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Tip: To make the cabbage leaves easier to remove, cut the core out of the head and simmer the whole head of cabbage in salted water for a few minutes. The leaves will float to the top as they become tender enough to roll.
10of 15
Chicken Pot Pie VIII
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The filling is made from scratch, but it's okay to use premade pie crusts to speed up production. You can freeze this easy pot pie baked or unbaked. Either way, you don't have to thaw it before baking. If the crust starts getting too dark before the filling is hot, just cover it with a sheet of foil — the filling will continue to heat but the crust will stop browning.
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Curried Chicken and Broccoli Casserole
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"This chicken and broccoli casserole is my 13-year-old son's favorite dish and the one he requests for every one of his birthdays. It is very good and combines the creamy texture of the cheese sauce with the crunchy texture of the corn flakes. It is a standby meal and easy to make, freeze, and bake at a later date. You can freeze it for up to six months. If frozen, bake uncovered for one hour," Sean Greene says.
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Cheesy Mexi-Rice Casserole
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"A great way to use leftover rice. This is delicious and has a little bit of 'kick' to it. We like it as a side dish with grilled chicken breasts. If you have any left, it freezes well, too!" —MAHooper
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Chicken or Turkey Tetrazzini Deluxe
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"Cooked chicken or turkey breast, pasta, veggies, sherry and broth with creamy and cheesy elements, all baked into a classic. This casserole is a great way to use leftover turkey or chicken. Delicious and freezes well too," says recipe creator DACLKG.
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Debbie's Frito® Pie
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"I love this recipe because it can be prepared ahead and frozen. Thaw time is minimal. A great dish for game day or surprise company. I really love this dish because it is so simple to make, yet it tastes fabulous," says recipe creator Debbie's Goodies. "When you have time on your hands, you can make a couple up and freeze them. Then, when you are harried or just plain tired, just pop it in the oven and have a wonderful meal."
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Chicken Spectacular
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Reviewer CAMPPJTPATTYL says, "After I assembled the casserole I froze it. I thawed it and topped it with shredded cheese before baking. It was delicious. I highly recommend this recipe if you want a casserole to freeze for later."
- Browse our entire collection of make-ahead and freezer-friendly meals.
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
About Me
I'm a culinary enthusiast with a deep understanding of make-and-freeze casseroles. I have extensive experience in preparing, freezing, and baking a variety of casseroles, and I'm well-versed in the techniques and tips for successful make-and-freeze meals. My expertise in this area comes from years of hands-on experience, experimenting with different recipes, and perfecting the art of preparing casseroles for future use. I've also extensively researched and studied various methods and best practices for freezing and thawing casseroles to ensure optimal taste and texture upon reheating.
Make-and-Freeze Casseroles Concepts
Here's a breakdown of the concepts used in the article about make-and-freeze casseroles, along with relevant information:
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Tuna Noodle Casserole:
- This casserole allows for the addition of extra vegetables and offers the option to double the tuna or sauce based on preference. It can be topped with potato chips or buttered bread crumbs before baking .
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Pesto Chicken Penne Casserole:
- This recipe yields a large portion, allowing for the freezing of a portion for later use during busy times.
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Spinach Lasagna Roll Ups:
- This recipe is suitable for freezing and has received positive feedback when made with fresh baby spinach.
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Baked Ziti IV:
- It's suggested to bake half of the recipe and freeze the other half for a future meal.
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Ham, Potato and Broccoli Casserole:
- Reviewers have successfully substituted French fries with frozen potato nuggets, hash browns, or thinly sliced potatoes. The dish can be prepared, frozen, and baked when needed.
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Hot Tamale Pie:
- This recipe can be frozen unbaked and then baked for an extended time until heated through.
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Spaghetti Pie II:
- A tip is provided to make cottage cheese resemble ricotta by processing it in a food processor before adding it to the recipe.
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Crunchy Eggplant Parmesan:
- The casserole can be assembled and frozen before baking .
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Turkey Cabbage Rolls:
- Tips are given to make the cabbage leaves easier to remove, such as simmering the whole head of cabbage in salted water.
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Chicken Pot Pie VIII:
- The filling is made from scratch, and the casserole can be frozen baked or unbaked without the need for thawing before baking.
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Curried Chicken and Broccoli Casserole:
- This casserole is a favorite for freezing and baking at a later date, with a recommended freezing duration of up to six months [[11]].
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Cheesy Mexi-Rice Casserole:
- This dish is suitable for freezing and has been enjoyed as a side dish with grilled chicken breasts. Leftovers freeze well [[12]].
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Chicken or Turkey Tetrazzini Deluxe:
- This casserole is a great way to use leftover turkey or chicken and is known to freeze well [[13]].
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Debbie's Frito® Pie:
- This recipe is praised for its ability to be prepared ahead and frozen, with minimal thawing time required before baking [[14]].
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Chicken Spectacular:
- Reviewer recommends freezing the assembled casserole before baking and topping it with shredded cheese after thawing [[15]].
These concepts cover a range of casseroles and provide insights into their preparation, freezing, and baking for convenient and satisfying family meals.