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We’ll never tire of mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie — but this Thanksgiving, it’s variety we’re after.
Thanksgiving casserole recipes are the end all and be all of refurbished leftovers, but you can always start fresh too.
Here are some options for all of the above.
While certain things are to be expected on Thanksgiving — like, well, a turkey or mac and cheese — and you can’t get away with substitution, there’s no reason not to put a creative spin on your thanksgiving menu.
It is, after all, something of a shame to spend the year’s most opulent feast staring down a mound of stuffing and cranberry sauce knowing full well that’s what you’ll be eating for the next month and a half.
If your spread is at home or on the road, you can also give this list of Thanksgiving Potluck Ideas a try too.
This year, we’re celebrating with a cornucopia of casseroles to add to the smorgasbord of the usual cheesy corn casserole and all the true favorites like classic green bean casserole and favorite Thanksgiving side dishes we know and love.
You can decide on your own whether you’d like to serve four different sorts of gravy (we advise against it).
Or whether anyone will really appreciate the presence of plain orange vegetables at the table (they won’t).
Here are Thanksgiving casseroles that go beyond fresh green beans and sweet potatoes — because leftovers should be fun.
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Microwave Green Bean Casserole
Green bean casserole is inarguably my favorite Thanksgiving dish. This has ultimately led me to cook green bean casserole in the microwave.
Jiffy Corn Casserole
This easy side dish is a simple combination of pantry ingredients, baked and enjoyed at my Thanksgiving table for years. I bring it if I’m going to someone else’s house because it’s rich with cream cheese, sweet, satisfying like cornbread, and goes perfectly with ham or turkey.
Sweet Potato Casserole with Pecan Streusel
For the marshmallow die-hards, a scatter of marshmallows around the edges toasts into a golden, sticky crown. Serve it piping hot alongside roast turkey or ham, where the contrast of textures feels like the essence of a holiday table.
Slow Cooker Cornbread Casserole
The slow, steady heat of a slow cooker turns this cornbread casserole into something almost pudding-like — a tender mix of sweet corn, sour cream, and melted butter that steams and sets into a golden, spoonable dish.
Apple Pie Bread Pudding
As a huge fan of soft, custardy bread pudding myself (rather than the super dense kind), I love it when an easy pantry item just makes something so much better. It’s a sweet dessert as is, but add a little ice cream on the side if you want that fancy touch.
Sausage Potato Breakfast Casserole
This sausage potato casserole is a perfect brunch food. You can also prep this casserole in advance and then cook it fresh in the morning.
Chicken Pot Pie Casserole with a Crescent Crust
The result is the flavor of classic chicken pot pie without the fuss of a homemade crust. Serve it warm, cut into squares, with a green salad on the side.
Cheesy Baked Chicken Tetrazzini
This Chicken Tetrazzini captures everything comforting about a baked pasta — the golden cheese, the tender noodles, and the savory cream sauce that thickens just enough to hold it all together. It’s the kind of meal that doesn’t need embellishment — a dish built from pantry staples and made to feed a tableful.
This magnificent, crunchy superfood really comes into its own in this thanksgiving casserole dishes.
Generously dust with club crackers for a wonderfully buttery finish that’ll entice even the most ardent of broccoli-haters.
It just makes sense to fold your repurposed dinner into this leftover turkey casserole recipe.
A good rule of thumb: when in doubt, just add cheese.
Breathe new life into your Thanksgiving leftovers with this brilliant casserole.
If you’ll pry yourself away from cauliflower swimming in cheesy, creamy sauce for a second, you’ll see there’s a world of floret-goodness to be had out there.
Starting with this delightfully textured casserole.
The days of boiled, TV-dinner sprouts are over.
Here at Cooking Chew, we’re ushering in the glorious era of the savory brussels sprouts — starting with this easy-going, comforting thanksgiving meal.
The bottom line
Casseroles for thanksgiving: huzzah, huzzah! Roast turkey sandwiches for breakfast, lunch and dinner in the weeks after the holiday season: no, please, spare us.
But thankfully, there are a myriad ways to eat up all that leftover poultry and veg, the easiest of which are definitely these delicious ideas for casseroles!
Crank out a broccoli casserole bake, toss together some green beans and cheese — it’s all nigh-on perfect.
Sick of the creamy, carby, heavy leftovers?
Oh, not yet?
Just don’t want any turkey in it.
Got it: Add this Authentic Greek Baked Ziti to your fresh flavor list for the days after Thanksgiving.
Godspeed and good luck; though we expect you won’t need it.
