15 Comforting Stews and Casseroles Made Simple

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Loaded with rich, hearty ingredients, our Southern stews and casseroles are the secret to an effortless, crowd-pleasing family dinner. These no-fuss dishes, from soul-warming stews to cozy casseroles, are perfect for those nights when you want all the flavor without the hassle. Just toss everything together, serve up a meal that feels like a warm hug, and bask in the glory of a dinner everyone will rave about!

Creamy Chicken Alfredo Casserole

Close-up of a serving of creamy spinach and artichoke pasta bake being lifted from a dish. The cheese is melted and stretchy, with visible greens mixed in. The top is golden brown and slightly crispy.
Image Credit: Jenny DeRemer for Not Entirely Average

This Creamy Chicken Alfredo Casserole brings together tender chicken, a rich sauce, and plenty of cheese for a comforting dish that’s hard to resist. It’s the kind of meal that makes you want seconds.

Get the Recipe: Creamy Chicken Alfredo Casserole

Baked Spaghetti Casserole

A rectangular dish filled with angel hair pasta mixed with diced red and yellow bell peppers. The surface is sprinkled with grated cheese and herbs. Nearby are a strainer, a pepper mill, and a blue and white ceramic pot on a wooden table.
Image Credit: Jenny DeRemer for Not Entirely Average

This Baked Spaghetti Casserole can be a simple, comforting pasta dish on its own or packed with your favorite proteins for a heartier twist. Either way, it’s the ultimate in pasta goodness, perfect for indulging in some cozy comfort food.

Get the Recipe: Baked Spaghetti Casserole

Cheddar Bay Breakfast Casserole with Sausage and Eggs

A close-up view of a baking dish filled with golden-brown cheddar biscuits topped with chopped green onions. The biscuits are fluffy and lightly browned, and the dish has a red and white decorative edge.
Image Credit: Jenny DeRemer for Not Entirely Average

Sausage and egg breakfasts are a classic, but nothing beats combining them with the irresistible flavor of Red Lobster’s Cheddar Bay biscuits. This Cheddar Bay Breakfast Casserole serves up a savory bite of sausage, eggs, and those crave-worthy, cheesy biscuits all in one go, making it a breakfast dream come true.

Get the Recipe: Cheddar Bay Breakfast Casserole with Sausage and Eggs

Cheesy Mashed Potatoes Casserole

A white baking dish filled with mashed potatoes topped with melted cheddar cheese and garnished with chopped green onions. A silver serving spoon rests on the right side of the dish, where a portion has been scooped out. A portion is served on a nearby plate.
Photo credit: Not Entirely Average.

Make a meal easier with this Cheesy Mashed Potatoes Casserole—a perfect make-ahead dish. With just a few simple steps, you’ll have a rich, cheesy side that’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser, giving you more time to enjoy the festivities without the stress!

Get the Recipe: Cheesy Mashed Potatoes Casserole

Creamy Squash Casserole

A close-up of a baked casserole dish filled with a savory mix of chopped vegetables and bread crumbs. The colorful combination includes visible bits of carrots, celery, and leeks, with a golden-brown crust on top. Three whole onions and a green cloth are nearby.
Image Credit: Jenny DeRemer for Not Entirely Average

This Easy Squash Casserole is a perfect side for almost any main dish, especially when you need to use up extra zucchini and yellow squash. Bonus: it freezes beautifully, making it a convenient go-to casserole for later!

Get the Recipe: Creamy Squash Casserole

Beef and Sour Cream Noodle Casserole

Beef and noodle casserole in a baking dish.
Image Credit: Jenny DeRemer for Not Entirely Average

Experience the ultimate in comfort food with this delicious Sour Cream Beef and Noodle Casserole recipe! Tender egg noodles are cooked to perfection and then smothered in a creamy sauce before being baked with ground beef and sausage for a hearty and satisfying weeknight meal. Your family will love this classic dish that’s easy to prepare and sure to please everyone at the dinner table.

GET THE RECIPE: Beef Noodle Casserole

Farm to Table Thick Beef Stew

A pot of Thick Beef Stew beside a buttered roll and a bowl of stew on a serving tray.
Image Credit: Jenny DeRemer for Not Entirely Average

This Southern Farm to Table Thick Beef Stew is rich in flavor with the addition of dry red wine and whole grain mustard. A unique ingredient, added just before serving, enhances its depth and character.

GET THE RECIPE: Beef Stew

Beef Tips in Creamy Mushroom Pan Sauce

A dinner plate loaded with mashed potatoes and beef tips in brown gravy with mushrooms.
Image Credit: Jenny DeRemer for Not Entirely Average

Explore this quick 30-minute recipe for Beef Tips with a Creamy Mushroom Pan Sauce, ideal for a swift and refined meal. The dish offers the heartiness of a stew, with tender beef simmering in a rich, creamy sauce that’s perfect for spooning over rice or mashed potatoes. If you’re eying the Cheesy Mashed Potatoes Casserole, yes, it’s worth it!

GET THE RECIPE: Beef Tips

“Chicken on The Ritz” Casserole

A spoonful of chicken casserole with a Ritz cracker topping.
Image Credit: Jenny DeRemer for Not Entirely Average

This “Chicken on The Ritz” Casserole uses fewer than ten ingredients to create a velvety, creamy sauce that’s perfect for busy nights. Starting with a tender rotisserie chicken speeds up this easy, satisfying meal, ideal for a quick weeknight dinner.

GET THE RECIPE: Ritz Cracker Chicken

Copycat Bob Evans Sausage Gravy and Biscuit Casserole

A plate of scrambled eggs and hot sausage biscuit and gravy casserole.
Image Credit: Jenny DeRemer for Not Entirely Average

Prepare for breakfast casserole deliciousness as we recreate Bob Evans’ famous sausage gravy recipe! With just a bag of all-purpose flour and a skillet, we’ll whip up a batch of this savory delight. Then, we’ll layer it with biscuits to create a mouthwatering casserole that’s perfect for brunch, weekend breakfast, or even breakfast for dinner. Quick and easy to prepare, this dish will become a family favorite. Plus, it reheats beautifully for leftovers!

GET THE RECIPE: Biscuit and Gravy Casserole

Best Southern Corn Pudding

A spoonful of creamy baked corn casserole.
Image Credit: Jenny DeRemer for Not Entirely Average

Southern Corn Pudding is farm to table fare, accompanying everything from grilled steak to the Thanksgiving dinner turkey! Baked until gorgeously golden brown, spoonsful of ‘creamy corn pudding bliss’ grace the dinner table in this classic southern dish. If serving as part of a holiday meal, it compliments everything from holiday ham and turkey to a green bean casserole!

GET THE RECIPE: Corn Casserole

French Onion Noodle Casserole

A casserole dish containing creamy pasta topped with crispy fried onions and chopped parsley, with a wooden spoon inside. An onion and sprigs of parsley are on the table beside the dish.
Image Credit: Jenny DeRemer for Not Entirely Average

This 6-ingredient French Onion Noodle Casserole is both quick to prepare and brimming with savory flavors, making it a standout dish.

GET THE RECIPE: French Onion Noodles

Cassoulet-Style French Bean Stew Recipe

Bean stew with sausage and pork and beef.
Image Credit: Jenny DeRemer for Not Entirely Average

While spring and summer might seem an unlikely time for a bean stew, it’s actually perfect due to the abundance of fresh vegetables and herbs. A Cassoulet-style Bean Stew, enriched with smoked ham and sausages and bursting with fresh tomatoes, makes the most of seasonal produce to create a rich, flavorful dish.

GET THE RECIPE: Cassoulet

Authentic Dublin Coddle

A Dutch oven filled with Irish pork sausage and potato stew.
Image Credit: Jenny DeRemer for Not Entirely Average

For those seeking the warmth and satisfaction of a traditional Irish meal, the Dublin Coddle offers everything desired in a classic stew, all from the convenience of a single pot.

GET THE RECIPE: Dublin Coddle

The Best Homemade Chicken and Dumplings

Chicken and dumplings in a bowl.
Image Credit: Jenny DeRemer for Not Entirely Average

My Best Chicken and Dumplings recipe, made with straightforward, wholesome ingredients, offers the perfect comfort meal for a family dinner. This quick and easy Southern-style dish, featuring hearty drop dumplings, is excellent for feeding a crowd during busy weeknights, providing a complete, satisfying supper in one dish!

GET THE RECIPE: Chicken and Dumplings

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About Jenny deRemer

I am a Charleston, South Carolina-based culinary novice, an ardent authority on all things travel, a designer by trade, and the creator of Not Entirely Average. I have a weakness for farmers' markets, delight in adventures way off the beaten path, enjoy documenting my many moods through photography, and have been known to conquer the occasional yard sale with gusto!

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