17 Delicious Christmas Casserole Ideas

Christmas dinner can be stressful when you’re juggling multiple dishes and trying to time everything perfectly. Casseroles are the ultimate holiday lifesaver – they’re comforting, feed a crowd, and most can be prepped ahead of time.

From breakfast casseroles that make Christmas morning easier to classic side dishes that complement your main course, these recipes help you spend less time in the kitchen and more time with loved ones. Let these hearty, delicious casseroles become your new holiday tradition.

Cheesy Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole

This breakfast favorite combines crispy hash browns with loads of melted cheese, creating the ultimate comfort food for Christmas morning. The potatoes get golden and crispy on top while staying creamy underneath, and the cheese forms those irresistible stretchy strings when you serve it.

It’s incredibly easy to assemble the night before, so you just pop it in the oven while opening presents. Kids and adults alike devour this one, and it’s hearty enough to keep everyone satisfied through a long morning of festivities and gift-opening.

Green Bean Casserole with Crispy Onions

This iconic holiday side dish features tender green beans in a creamy mushroom sauce topped with crunchy fried onions. The contrast between the smooth, savory sauce and crispy topping makes every bite interesting and satisfying. It’s surprisingly simple to make, especially if you use quality canned soup as a base.

The dish can be assembled ahead and refrigerated, making it perfect for busy holiday schedules. It’s tradition for a reason – people genuinely look forward to this casserole year after year.

Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Streusel

Creamy, smooth sweet potatoes get topped with a buttery pecan streusel that’s more dessert than side dish. The sweet potatoes are naturally sweet and velvety, while the pecan topping adds crunch and caramel-like richness. This casserole walks the line between sweet and savory perfectly, complementing both ham and turkey beautifully.

It’s fairly easy to make and always gets rave reviews from guests. You can prep it completely the day before and just bake it when needed, freeing up oven space for other dishes.

Overnight French Toast Casserole

Thick slices of bread soak overnight in a cinnamon-vanilla custard, then bake into a golden, custardy breakfast casserole that tastes like the best French toast ever. The overnight soak means zero morning prep – you literally just bake it and serve. It comes out fluffy in the middle with slightly crispy, caramelized edges that everyone fights over.

This is perfect for feeding a houseful of overnight guests without any early morning stress. Drizzle with maple syrup and dust with powdered sugar for a breakfast that feels special but requires minimal effort.

Sausage and Egg Breakfast Casserole

Savory breakfast sausage, fluffy eggs, and cheese come together in this protein-packed casserole that keeps everyone full all morning. The sausage adds wonderful flavor and richness, while the eggs cook up light and fluffy. It’s incredibly versatile – you can add vegetables, swap cheese types, or use different sausage flavors to customize.

This one is foolproof and nearly impossible to mess up, making it great for nervous holiday hosts. Assemble it the night before and bake it while the coffee’s brewing for a stress-free Christmas morning.

Scalloped Potato Casserole

Thinly sliced potatoes layered with cream and cheese create this ultimate comfort food side dish. The potatoes become tender and absorb all that rich, creamy sauce while the top gets golden and slightly crispy. It’s rich and indulgent, perfect for special occasions when calories don’t count.

The dish looks elegant enough for formal dinners but is surprisingly straightforward to make. Using a mandoline to slice potatoes makes prep much faster. This pairs beautifully with ham, beef, or turkey and always disappears quickly.

Broccoli and Cheese Rice Casserole

This crowd-pleasing casserole combines fluffy rice, tender broccoli, and plenty of melted cheese into one satisfying dish. The cheese sauce is creamy and rich, coating every grain of rice and piece of broccoli perfectly. It’s a great way to get kids to eat their vegetables without complaints.

The casserole is simple to throw together using pantry staples and frozen broccoli, making it budget-friendly and convenient. It reheats beautifully, so it’s perfect for making ahead or enjoying leftovers the next day.

Chicken and Stuffing Casserole

Tender chicken pieces nestle in herb-seasoned stuffing with a creamy sauce binding everything together. This tastes like Thanksgiving dinner in casserole form, with all those cozy, familiar flavors in one dish. It’s an excellent way to use leftover holiday turkey or rotisserie chicken from the store.

The stuffing on top gets wonderfully crispy while the bottom stays moist and flavorful. This is filling enough to serve as a main course and simple enough for weeknight dinners, making it useful beyond just Christmas.

Corn Pudding Casserole

Sweet corn kernels suspended in a custard-like pudding create this Southern classic that’s more dessert than side dish. The texture is somewhere between cornbread and flan, with a slightly sweet flavor that kids absolutely love. It’s incredibly easy to make, often requiring just mixing ingredients and baking.

The casserole has a golden, slightly jiggly top when done and pairs wonderfully with ham or turkey. This is comfort food at its finest and always disappears fast, so consider making a double batch.

Wild Rice and Mushroom Casserole

Nutty wild rice mixed with earthy mushrooms and herbs creates an elegant, sophisticated side dish. The wild rice adds wonderful texture and a slightly chewy bite, while mushrooms provide deep, savory flavor. This casserole feels fancy enough for formal holiday dinners but isn’t actually complicated to make.

It’s perfect for guests who appreciate more complex flavors beyond basic comfort food. The dish can be made ahead and reheated, and it pairs especially well with beef or game meats.

Cranberry Apple Sweet Potato Casserole

Tart cranberries and sweet apples join forces with creamy sweet potatoes for a casserole that tastes like the holidays in every bite. The fruit adds brightness and texture that cuts through the richness of the sweet potatoes beautifully. This version is less sweet than traditional marshmallow-topped casseroles, appealing to people who prefer savory-sweet balance.

The combination of flavors is complex and interesting without being weird or off-putting. It’s moderately easy to make and looks gorgeous with the jewel-toned cranberries scattered throughout.

Spinach and Artichoke Casserole

This takes the beloved dip and transforms it into a legitimate side dish that’s creamy, cheesy, and absolutely addictive. Tender spinach and artichoke hearts mingle in a rich, garlicky cheese sauce that everyone loves. It’s basically party food disguised as a respectable holiday side dish.

The casserole is fairly simple to make and can be prepped ahead, though it usually needs to be baked shortly before serving for best texture. Serve it with crusty bread on the side so nothing goes to waste.

Baked Ziti with Roasted Vegetables

Baked Ziti with Roasted Vegetables transforms classic comfort food into a nutritious, colorful masterpiece. This hearty casserole layers tender ziti pasta with caramelized roasted vegetables like bell peppers, zucchini, and eggplant, all smothered in rich marinara sauce and melted cheese.

The roasting process brings out natural sweetness in the vegetables, adding depth and complexity to every bite. Perfect for feeding a crowd or meal prepping for the week, this satisfying dish combines wholesome ingredients with indulgent flavors. Bake until golden and bubbly, then serve hot with crusty bread and a fresh green salad for a complete, family-friendly dinner everyone will love.

Brussels Sprouts Gratin Casserole

Brussels sprouts get a luxurious makeover with cream, cheese, and a crispy breadcrumb topping. The sprouts become tender and sweet when roasted, and the creamy sauce makes them irresistible even to skeptics. The crispy topping adds textural contrast that makes every bite interesting.

This is a sophisticated side dish that impresses guests and converts Brussels sprouts haters. It’s moderately easy to make, though trimming the sprouts takes some time. The gratin can be assembled ahead and baked right before serving.

Turkey Tetrazzini Casserole

This classic casserole combines turkey, pasta, mushrooms, and a creamy sauce under a crispy, buttery topping. It’s the ultimate comfort food and an excellent way to use leftover Christmas turkey. The sauce is rich and flavorful with just a hint of sherry for sophistication.

The casserole is filling enough to be a complete meal, not just a side dish. It freezes beautifully, so you can make it ahead or save leftovers for busy January nights when you don’t feel like cooking.

Cornbread Dressing Casserole

Crumbly cornbread mixed with aromatic vegetables and herbs creates a Southern-style dressing that’s deeply flavorful and satisfying. The cornbread adds slight sweetness and wonderful texture that’s different from traditional bread stuffing. It’s savory with just the right amount of moisture, not too dry or too soggy.

This casserole is straightforward to make, especially if you use store-bought cornbread to save time. It pairs perfectly with turkey and gravy, soaking up all those delicious juices on the plate.

Maple Pecan Carrot Casserole

This Maple Pecan Carrot Casserole turns humble carrots into an elegant side dish worthy of any holiday table. Tender sliced carrots are bathed in a luscious maple glaze, then topped with crunchy pecans and baked until caramelized and golden. The natural sweetness of maple syrup enhances the carrots’ earthy flavor, while toasted pecans add delightful texture and nutty richness.

This make-ahead friendly casserole pairs beautifully with roasted meats and complements traditional Thanksgiving or Christmas spreads. Simple enough for weeknight dinners yet impressive enough for special occasions, it’s a crowd-pleasing vegetable dish that even picky eaters will love.