The comfort and convenience of these casseroles is timeless.

This meant casseroles, lots and lots of casseroles containing everything from ground beef to sliced hot dogs.

My husband and I generally loved it.

homemade hamburger helper in a skillet at a table setting with two glasses of soda and a side salad

Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower

They’re also convenient, which is what midcentury home cooks wanted.

It’s whatIwant in 2024.

But the casserole recipes I’m sharing below are all winners, and all older than me.

Casserole Dish of Cheeseburger Casserole with a Serving Already Served Using a Spoon

Simply Recipes / Dude that Cookz

How old is that?

Let’s say I still call hashtags pound signs.

Improvisation is all in the spirit of a good casserole, after all.

shipwreck casserole in a casserole dish at a table setting with a bowl of scallions, plate, and glass of water

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

Look out, Hamburger Helper!

In my recipe, frozen hash browns make it quicker and easier.

Plus, the hash browns get incredibly crispy on the bottom and top of the casserole."

Best Chicken and Rice Casserole

Elise Bauer

Chicken and Rice Casserole

Here’s a dinner party casserole that’s totally retro-classy.

And it’s seriously in its own stratosphere.

Serve it with a green salad, and you have a predictably crowd-pleasing hit for entertaining company.

Creamy Chicken Noodle Casserole in a white baking dish with a silver spoon.

Sally Vargas

Homemade Hamburger Helper

5.

At community meals and youth group meetings the fare there hasn’t changed much.

This helps to thicken the liquid so the chips are coated without fully absorbing the sauce."

How to Make Breakfast Casserole with Sausage

Elise Bauer

It’s all the flavors and ingredients with a much easier assembly.

No wonder my working mom used this as a weeknight go-to.

My plate will have nothing but mounds of cheesy potato casserole and maybe a token broccoli floret.

easy taco casserol in a pot at a table setting with bowls of toppings, chips on a platter, and a bottle of beer

Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower

My mom made hers withcanned cream of mushroom soup, but this recipe includes a from-scratch cream sauce.

You still enjoy the convenience of frozen hash browns, so it’s win-win!

Even plain old saltines work, though.

Cheesy chicken enchilada casserole, with a serving being lifted from the dish

Simply Recipes / Marta Rivera

Taco lasagna is another of its aliases.

Reheat the filling before adding to the dish and topping with the potato tots.

you could also completely assemble the casserole, then tightly wrap it and freeze for up to 3 months.

A close up side view of a glass casserole dish with a wooden spoon scooping out the potato casserole.

Nick Evans | Art Banner Credit: Andy Christensen

Defrost in the fridge before baking."

Turkey Noodle Casserole

Make this a few days after Thanksgiving or any big turkey dinner.

Upgrade alert: add some leftover gravy to the bechamel sauce.

A Reuben casserole fresh from the oven

Alison Bickel

Whether you serve it with red wine or a glass of milk, it makes any dinner an occasion.

Our reader Jolee commented, “Add 1/4 cup bacon and its even better!”

Sherry, Gruyere, and a light grating of nutmeg distinguish it from ordinary weekday fare.

Southern squash casserole in a casserole dish (a serving size already served)

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

Beef Noodle Casserole (Talerine)

Even the image here is retro, as far as food styling goes.

It might not be pretty, but this beef noodle casserole is darned tasty.

Simply Recipes founder Elise Bauer ate this growing up on nights when her grandmother cooked.

Mexican Lasagna or taco lasagna recipe

Elise Bauer

Love it or hate it, this casserole is iconic, particularly around the holidays.

For the rest of the year, get creative and try it withpork chops.

cowboy casserole in a casserole dish next to a plate with a serving

Simply Recipes / Photo by Will Dickey / Food Styling by Julian Hensarling / Prop Styling by Christina Daley

Serving turkey noodle casserole from a baking dish

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

Spoonful of Johnny Marzetti Casserole lifted from the casserole dish, and in the surroundings, a stack of plates and a bowl of mixed greens salad

Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

Classic Green Bean Casserole made from scratch

Megan Keno

Old fashioned turkey tetrazzini recipe in a casserole dish.

Simply Recipes / Cambrea Gordon

A dish of baked beef noodle casserole

Elise Bauer

Make Ahead Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows

Sally Vargas