Thanksgiving dinner can leave the oven crowded and the cook juggling too many last-minute dishes. These 21 casseroles include familiar holiday sides such as sweet potatoes, corn pudding, and cheesy potatoes, along with substantial chicken, beef, and pasta bakes for relatives staying through the weekend. Some can be prepared ahead, while slow-cooker choices free up oven space. Together, they offer options for the holiday table and easier meals while everyone is still visiting.
3-Ingredient Broccoli Cheese Casserole
With only three ingredients to manage, 3-Ingredient Broccoli Cheese Casserole leaves more room for the rest of the Thanksgiving cooking. Broccoli and cheese bake together into a creamy side that can sit alongside turkey, stuffing, and roasted vegetables. Its short shopping list also helps when the refrigerator is already crowded with holiday supplies. Spoon it into smaller portions for guests who want a little of everything, and save the remaining casserole for another meal.
Get the Recipe: 3-Ingredient Broccoli Cheese Casserole
Chicken Divan
A golden, buttery breadcrumb topping gives Chicken Divan a crisp finish over tender chicken, broccoli, and mushrooms in a creamy cheddar sauce. Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and sautéed onions add depth, while Parmesan and panko create a crunchy layer during the 15 to 20 minutes of baking. This old-fashioned casserole makes a hearty addition to Thanksgiving dinner alongside traditional holiday sides. Serve it over rice or egg noodles, and refrigerate leftovers for up to four days.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Divan
Turkey Stuffed Shells with Pesto
Leftover turkey gets a different role in Turkey Stuffed Shells with Pesto, where pasta shells hold a filling of turkey, ricotta, mozzarella, and herbs. A topping of panko and pecorino bakes golden before pesto goes on at serving time. The recipe makes four servings and takes about 50 minutes. It is better suited to the meal after Thanksgiving than the traditional holiday spread, especially when there is already cooked turkey waiting in the refrigerator.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Stuffed Shells with Pesto
Mom’s Meatball Casserole
Penne, prepared meatballs, marinara, and melted cheese make Mom’s Meatball Casserole an option for feeding visiting relatives without building another complicated meal. Onion and bell pepper add vegetables to the sauce, while mozzarella and Parmesan finish the bake. The recipe serves eight and is baked covered before the foil comes off for browning. Offer it as an additional hearty dish or save it for the evening when the Thanksgiving leftovers start running low.
Get the Recipe: Mom’s Meatball Casserole
Tuna Noodle Casserole
For relatives who prefer a familiar pantry-style dinner, Tuna Noodle Casserole adds a retro choice to the holiday weekend. Tuna and noodles form the base of a baked, creamy main dish that does not compete with carving the turkey. It is more of a practical family meal than a classic Thanksgiving side, which makes its place on the menu worth planning. Serve it on a quieter evening when the house is still full and another dinner is needed.
Get the Recipe: Tuna Noodle Casserole
Chicken Cobbler with Red Lobster Biscuits
Golden cheddar biscuits sit over shredded chicken in Chicken Cobbler with Red Lobster Biscuits, giving the dish a baked topping instead of traditional pastry. Carrots, mushrooms, onions, broth, and cream make up the filling, while packaged biscuit mix simplifies the finishing step. The recipe serves eight and lists 35 minutes total. Bring it out when guests want a generous, spoonable main dish, or schedule it for the family meal before the Thanksgiving cooking begins.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Cobbler with Red Lobster Biscuits
Chef Jenn’s Fully Loaded Sweet Potato Casserole
Bacon and cheddar put a salty spin on Chef Jenn’s Fully Loaded Sweet Potato Casserole, which is quite different from the usual sugary holiday version. Roasted sweet potatoes are mixed with sour cream, green onions, egg, and smoked paprika before another bake melts the cheese. It serves eight and can stand beside turkey or ham without tasting like dessert. The sweet potatoes may be roasted ahead, giving the cook one less lengthy job on Thanksgiving morning.
Get the Recipe: Chef Jenn’s Fully Loaded Sweet Potato Casserole
Mexican Chicken Casserole
Black beans, corn, Rotel tomatoes, and chicken make Mexican Chicken Casserole a bold alternative for relatives who want something outside the traditional turkey-and-stuffing menu. Sour cream and condensed chicken soup help bind the filling, while tortilla chips and two cheeses add a layered finish. It is best positioned as a separate family dinner or an alternative main dish. Put optional cilantro, tomatoes, or avocado on the side so guests can choose their own toppings.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Chicken Casserole
Tini’s Mac & Cheese with a Twist
Cavatappi pasta holds the cheese sauce in Tini’s Mac & Cheese with a Twist, and smoked sausage gives this version a more substantial bite. Mozzarella, Colby Jack, cheddar, evaporated milk, and cream contribute to its rich texture. Compared with a plain macaroni side, it has enough going on to interest guests who want a heartier scoop. Keep the serving portions modest alongside the rest of Thanksgiving dinner, or offer it during a casual holiday-weekend gathering.
Get the Recipe: Tini’s Mac & Cheese with a Twist
Smoked Mac & Cheese
A smoker gives Smoked Mac & Cheese its distinctive flavor, while a buttery bacon-crumb topping adds texture to the creamy pasta. The recipe uses a pellet smoker or another electric smoker, so it is useful when the kitchen oven is already booked for turkey and other casseroles. This is a richer side that pairs well with roasted meat and vegetables. Plan for the smoker equipment before choosing it as part of the Thanksgiving menu.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Mac & Cheese
Beefy Cabbage Roll Casserole
Instead of rolling individual cabbage leaves, Beefy Cabbage Roll Casserole layers cabbage with seasoned ground beef, tomatoes, rice, and cheese. Sour cream and dill contribute to the finished dish, which serves eight. It is a filling option that could serve as an alternative main course when relatives have different tastes. The layered approach still involves cooking the beef and preparing the cabbage, but it makes sharing the finished meal at the table easier.
Get the Recipe: Beefy Cabbage Roll Casserole
Cowboy Cornbread Casserole
A cornbread topping makes Cowboy Cornbread Casserole stand apart from the creamy casseroles on the Thanksgiving table. Ground beef, pinto beans, corn, bell pepper, green chiles, and taco seasoning fill the slow cooker before cornbread batter and cheddar go on top. The recipe serves eight and cooks on low for several hours. It is a useful hearty choice for the day before Thanksgiving, when oven space is limited and dinner still needs to happen.
Get the Recipe: Cowboy Cornbread Casserole
Sweet Potato Casserole
Roasted sweet potatoes meet a brown sugar and pecan topping in Sweet Potato Casserole, one of the more traditional holiday sides in this collection. Milk, eggs, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg form the soft filling, while toasted pecans add crunch. The recipe serves eight, and the potatoes can be roasted and mashed a day ahead. Put it near the savory dishes so guests can take a small spoonful of something sweet with their turkey.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Casserole
Baked Bean Casserole
Sweetness from brown sugar and a little tang from mustard shape Baked Bean Casserole, which also includes bacon, onions, and bell peppers. Ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, and smoked paprika deepen the sauce before the beans bake uncovered. It serves eight and takes about an hour altogether. This side leans more toward a potluck than a traditional Thanksgiving menu, but it can work beside ham or other roasted meats when the family wants variety.
Get the Recipe: Baked Bean Casserole
Grandma’s Twice-Baked Potato Casserole
Russet potatoes are baked, scooped, and mixed with cream in Grandma’s Twice-Baked Potato Casserole, then finished with cheddar, bacon, and green onions. Chopped potato skins are folded back into the filling for texture. The recipe serves eight, and its make-ahead potential can be helpful during a busy holiday schedule. Serve this richer potato side with turkey and a simpler green vegetable, rather than planning another heavy potato dish beside it.
Get the Recipe: Grandma’s Twice-Baked Potato Casserole
Cuban Sandwich Casserole
Ham, roasted pork, Swiss-style cheese, pickles, and mustard give Cuban Sandwich Casserole the flavors of a pressed sandwich in a baked format. Its layered, egg-based filling can be prepared the night before, making it useful when overnight guests need brunch or dinner. This is not a traditional Thanksgiving side, but it belongs on the wider holiday-weekend meal plan. Offer something crisp or fresh alongside the casserole to balance the rich meat-and-cheese layers.
Get the Recipe: Cuban Sandwich Casserole
Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole
When the oven is occupied, Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole uses a slow cooker to combine browned ground beef, corn, cheddar, sour cream, and condensed soup. Frozen tater tots form the top layer and soften as the casserole cooks. The recipe serves six, with low and high cooking options. Choose it for a busy Thanksgiving-week evening when family members are arriving at different times, rather than squeezing another baking dish into the holiday oven.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole
Corned Beef Hash Casserole
Canned corned beef and thawed shredded potatoes make Corned Beef Hash Casserole particularly practical for a Thanksgiving-weekend breakfast or brunch. Onion, bell pepper, Dijon mustard, Jarlsberg cheese, and a rye-bread topping build the layers. It serves eight and is baked until hot through the center. The dish is less suited to the turkey dinner itself, but it gives visiting relatives a filling morning meal without relying on yesterday’s sliced turkey.
Get the Recipe: Corned Beef Hash Casserole
Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole
Chicken, ham, and pasta come together in Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole, with peas and a cheesy Dijon sauce filling the baking dish. A topping made from bread, Parmesan, butter, and parsley browns in the oven. The recipe serves six and lists 45 minutes total, making it an appealing main course for family staying through the weekend. It also offers a way to use leftover cooked chicken or ham without repeating the same meal twice.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole
Beefy John Wayne Casserole
A Bisquick base carries the layers in Beefy John Wayne Casserole, giving it a different structure from pasta or potato bakes. Ground beef, tomatoes, peppers, green chiles, cream cheese, and cheddar bring Tex-Mex flavors into the dish. The recipe can be assembled ahead and baked when needed. Consider it for the family dinner before or after Thanksgiving, when guests may welcome a break from turkey and the cook wants one substantial pan.
Get the Recipe: Beefy John Wayne Casserole
Classic Corn Pudding Casserole
Eggs and half-and-half set Classic Corn Pudding Casserole into a tender, sliceable side with corn, cheese, bell pepper, chives, and thyme. The mixture can be prepared a day ahead and baked when the oven is available, which matters during a crowded Thanksgiving schedule. The recipe serves eight and rests briefly after baking for cleaner portions. Its slightly sweet corn flavor works well beside roast turkey, ham, or the other savory holiday sides.
Get the Recipe: Classic Corn Pudding Casserole