11 Fall Casseroles Perfect for Sweater Weather

updated Apr 20, 2023

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In terms of sheer comfort, casseroles are high on the list of our favorite autumn dishes. Double points if they have a good amount of cheese, and triple points if they also contain pasta. I am so happy that the chilly evenings of fall have brought casseroles back into my weekly meal rotation. They make the kitchen feel cozy on Sunday and then become easy lunches and dinners all week long. And if company stops by, no problem — there’s plenty to share.

Here are 11 of our favorite hearty casseroles — filling, nourishing, and all homemade — not a can of cream of chicken soup in sight.

Casseroles and other hot bakes are definitely one of the most serviceable dishes in a cook’s repertoire. They can feed a crowd, be carried to a neighbor’s house, or simply go back in the fridge after dinner for leftovers all week long.

They can be easily vegetarian, as our much-loved sweet potato shepherd’s pie and cheesy vegetarian lasagna can attest. They can be the main dish or the side dish or just one of many potluck dishes. Casseroles, in short, are the best.

Casseroles also don’t deserve their reputation of being overly heavy and loaded down with cream and cheese. Oh, they’re certainly delicious when they are (I’m looking at you, King Ranch casserole!), but they’re also just as warming and satisfying when we pack them with veggies and ease up on the dairy; look no further than our lighter baked mac and cheese for evidence of this.

Casseroles Just Right for Fall

Welcome the season with these cozy, not-too-heavy bakes.

1 / 11

Loaded Baked Potato Casserole

This is inspired by crispy stuffed baked potato skins and the pleasures of bacon-topped baked potatoes, bringing both together to create one dreamy, creamy, crowd-pleasing casserole.

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2 / 11

Baked Macaroni & Cheese with Spinach & Red Peppers

This veggie-filled riff on baked mac and cheese doesn’t require a roux or even much prep at all, beyond cooking the pasta.

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3 / 11

Baked Croque-Monsieur Casserole

If it’s a brunch stunner you’re after, or a dinner option with breakfast undertones, then this all-in-one baked take on the croque-monsieur should shoot to the top of your must-make list.

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4 / 11

Lentil, Mushroom and Sweet Potato Shepherd's Pie

With its rich, mushroom-studded filling tucked under a layer of soft mashed sweet potato, this recipe has all the hallmarks of a good shepherd’s pie, but it’s completely vegan

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5 / 11

Cheesy Vegetarian Lasagna

When one has fresh tomato sauce, homemade ricotta, and a huge haul of vegetables in one’s fridge, a hearty lasagna is really the only possible course of action.

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6 / 11

King Ranch Casserole

This from-scratch version of King Ranch Casserole gets rid of the cans and is destined to become a modern-day classic.

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7 / 11

Loaded Cheesy Cauliflower Bake

A cheesy cauliflower casserole filled with crispy bacon bits and scallions.

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8 / 11

Smoky Sweet Potato and Black Bean Casserole

A recipe for a hearty vegetarian casserole of sweet potatoes, black beans, and smoked mozzarella that works as both a main or side dish.

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9 / 11

Apple, Sausage, and Smoked Cheddar Breakfast Casserole

This bake is filled with thick chunks of breakfast sausage, sweet apples, and smoky cheddar, making it appropriate for holiday get-togethers and those evenings when you want a cozy breakfast for dinner.

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10 / 11

Pumpkin and Ricotta Pasta Casserole

Take a pound of pasta, a can of pumpkin, some cheese, some herbs, and there you go — a hot, bubbly, fragrant casserole for your Halloween weekend.

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11 / 11

Cheesy Lentil, Mushroom & Rice Bake

This recipe adds cheese, meaty mushrooms, nutty brown rice, and plenty of fresh parsley to the mix to transform protein-rich lentils into a comforting baked casserole that really doesn’t need anything else to call it a meal

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Do you have a favorite casserole? What are you making right now?

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