These Easy Make-Ahead Casseroles Take the Stress Out of Prepping Brunch and Dinner

What's better than a cheesy spinach-starring lasagna topped with red wine-infused, garlicky meat sauce? Try a casserole dish of that same lasagna assembled into perfectly portioned rolls and stored neatly away in your freezer until you’re ready to bake until bubbly and serve alongside a big green salad. (Psst ... you can leave this freeze-ahead casserole on ice for up to 2 months.)

Deep dish pizza meets burger in this mash-up make-ahead dinner casserole that will have the entire family running to the table. You’ll love that it starts with packaged pizza dough—and that the entire sausage and beef “pie” can be made early and frozen for up to 3 months. Ketchup, mustard, pickles, and cheese are all tucked inside so you don’t even need to pull out the bottles come dinnertime.

Meal prep fans, this one’s for you! Combine al dente ziti, diced fire-roasted tomatoes, and plenty of cheese with a garlicky cream sauce on Sunday when you’re building your week of entrées, then chill for up to 48 hours. Come Tuesday night, you have an easy, creamy make-ahead dinner recipe ready for the table in just 45 minutes.

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While it looks like something you might enjoy at Grandma’s house on a holiday morning, this easy make-ahead casserole recipe calls for just six ingredients. Refrigerated flaky biscuits and brown-and-serve breakfast sausage patties give you a head start on prep. Cheese, eggs, milk, and seasonings are the only other items you need for this family-friendly dish. Put it together the night before, then chill until morning. 

A make-ahead casserole for breakfast equals a few extra minutes in bed. Sweet! Starting your day with extra sleep AND a warm, fruity casserole pretty much guarantees a good morning. “This recipe is amazing and reheats really well,” raves one BH&G home cook. “I’ve made it so many times and get rave reviews. I’ve always used mascarpone [instead of cream cheese, which is an optional swap], and I add lemon zest to the mascarpone mixture.”

Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce and fire-roasted tomatoes combine in a complex, crowd-pleasing sauce for these hearty enchiladas. To allow the flavors to deepen and meld, assemble the healthy make-ahead casserole full of spicy, cheesy rolls up to 24 hours ahead of time.

Test Kitchen Tip: If you have leftover beef, turkey, or pork, feel free to trade any of them for the chicken.

Alfredo sauce isn’t just for pasta. This casserole you can make the night before is stuffed full of hearty Italian sausage and shredded hash browns and layered with creamy Alfredo. Dreamy! Top it off with melty mozzarella cheese for a casserole recipe that's equally delicious for dinner or brunch.

Don't be intimidated by making caramelized onions. Once you master the easy technique, you can use the aromatic, surprisingly sweet onions to flavor meals from breakfast to dinner, including this cozy dish. Sauté onions in the same frying pan as you crisp the bacon to accentuate the rich caramel flavor of the onions. This make-ahead casserole recipe’s medley of sweet-and-savory ingredients—melty cheese, broccoli, sweet onions, and sourdough bread—promises out-of-this world flavor. And it delivers!

These tender manicotti shells are bursting with an enticing turkey-and-cheese filling. (You could also use leftover or rotisserie chicken for this make-ahead casserole if you like.) A garlic- and wine-spiked tomato sauce drizzled on top gives this classic Italian recipe a bold new dimension of flavor.

Add some Italian flair to your dinner table by stuffing chicken breasts with salty prosciutto, then toss them in a buttery sauce and serve over rice. Oh yes, and don’t forget the panko bread crumbs for an enticing crunchy topper. The entire make-ahead chicken casserole can be prepared up to 3 months in advance then frozen until you’re ready to thaw, bake, and devour.

Low in carbs but not in flavor, this make-ahead keto casserole will wow your brunch crowd, regardless of what eating plan they prefer. With sausage, onion, asparagus, and bell peppers in each bite of the cheesy egg base, you won’t even notice there’s no bread or bagel in sight. (Although you could certainly serve some on the side!) For a fast-fix morning meal, build, cover, and chill the keto-friendly recipe up to 24 hours ahead.

Bound together by fluffy eggs, this breakfast bake is filled with crispy bacon and crunchy asparagus—two ingredients that complement each other beautifully. Try it with white bread, bagel, or even English muffin bread cubes. Assemble this easy make-ahead casserole the night before guests arrive (or up to 24 hours ahead) for a low-fuss breakfast recipe.

Seeking a make-ahead vegetarian casserole meal that's both light and comforting? This summer squash recipe is your solution. The zucchini casserole is protein-packed and topped with melty provolone, white cheddar, feta, and Parmesan cheeses. The delectable results will satisfy your need for a hearty dish without leaving you feeling stuffed.

Before you head to bed, toss together the rest of the slices of bread from dinner (or maybe ones remaining from a week's-worth of avocado toast breakfasts) with sautéed veggies, eggs, and cheese. Chill overnight, then bake the make-ahead vegetarian casserole—it can be on your table in less than an hour. Pair with a side of bacon or sausage to please the carnivores in the crowd and voilà: You have a company-worthy brunch that’s a cinch to whip up any weekend of the year.

When we’re craving a taste of Midwestern comfort food, we turn to this make-ahead Tater Tots casserole (or “hot dish” depending on where you grew up). It essentially combines everything you love about a fully loaded egg omelet plus a side of breakfast sausage and hash browns into one cozy meal. Assemble it all—tots included—4 to 24 hours ahead and chill until you’re ready to bake and share.

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Gluten-free lasagna does exist! This easy, cheesy make-ahead freezer casserole trades layers of Italian-seasoned cornmeal polenta for the plain ol’ pasta. Stack that with mushrooms, Italian sausage, and a garlicky marinara sauce and you might just forget all about the noodle-based competition. Set the stage by preparing it all (up to the final baking step), wrapping tightly, and freezing for up to 1 month ahead.

We’ve given green bean casserole an extreme makeover by adding bacon and a far-better-than-canned homemade creamy mushroom sauce. The crispy bacon offers a satisfying contrast to the tender green beans and mushrooms in this side-dish make-ahead casserole. Cook the beans, sauce, and bacon up to 24 hours ahead, store separately, then assemble and bake just before dinner.

After chilling this dish overnight, bake it to serve as a breakfast, lunch, or dinner recipe. Fresh asparagus spears, creamy Gruyère cheese, and diced ham set the foundation for a tasty make-ahead casserole recipe combination. Add a fruit salad and you have a remarkably well-balanced meal no matter what time of day you choose to serve this.

This Mexican main dish actually tastes better when you prep it ahead 24 hours. Do so to ensure the robust flavors of chili powder, beef, and enchilada sauce have enough time to blend. Set and forget this make-ahead ground beef casserole recipe in the fridge for a day and you'll get the tastiest bites, every time.

A chill time of 8 to 24 hours allows all of the zesty flavors of this healthy Mexican casserole to meld for a delicious make-ahead dinner. Of course, it's topped with ample cheese, because pretty much all good savory things are (if you ask us)! Pair this make-ahead dinner idea with bowls of chopped tomato, fresh cilantro, and your favorite guacamole recipe, and let everyone go to town garnishing their piece.