Holidays & Occasions Christmas Christmas Recipes 22 Comforting Casseroles Perfect For The Church Christmas Potluck These crowd-pleasing casseroles are begging to be served at the potluck. By Southern Living Editors Southern Living Editors Since 1966, the editors of Southern Living have been carrying out the mission of the brand: to bring enjoyment, fulfillment, and inspiration to our readers by celebrating life in the South. We inspire creativity in their homes, their kitchens, their gardens, and their personal style. We are a friend they can trust, a guide to the seasons, a helping hand during the holidays, and a relentless champion of the Southern way of life. Southern Living's editorial guidelines and Patricia S York Patricia S York Patricia was the assistant food editor at Southern Living and worked with the Southern Living food team from 2006-2022. She contributed to articles about food, gardening, and pets. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on October 13, 2023 Close Photo: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall Whether you bring comforting food to a friend or want to impress guests at a Christmas potluck, no other dish rises to the occasion like a casserole. Potluck casseroles exude gracefulness and ease, making them ideal for cozy, comforting meals. Plus, they're large enough to serve a crowd. Hungry friends and relatives wait for months for the annual Christmas potluck so they can get a generous helping of their favorite cornbread dressings, cheesy pasta dishes, and chicken pot pies. We could go on and on about the utility and versatility of this one-pot wonder, but we will leave you with this: A casserole baking in the oven promises something good, honest, and wholesome.These recipes are our best casserole dishes to bring to your next church Christmas potluck, or to enjoy whenever you crave some classic comfort food. The Best Casserole Dishes, According To Our Testing 01 of 22 Chicken-and-Wild Rice Casserole Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Buffy Hargett A classic potluck dish comes together when combining rice and chicken into a casserole. When making for a large crowd, try using toasted almonds and a mixture of long-grain and wild rice to enhance the presentation. Combine ingredients into a cream of mushroom soup sauce, practically a casserole staple. Get The Recipe 02 of 22 Husband's Delight Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke Think of this comforting casserole as a deconstructed lasagna. It comes together in just 45 minutes using a list of basic ingredients, most of which you probably already have on hand in your kitchen. It's topped off with two layers of cheese, a cream cheese mixture and a layer of shredded cheddar cheese, so that alone tells you it'll be delicious. Get The Recipe 03 of 22 Southern Cornbread Dressing Photographer: Brittany Conerly; Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin In our opinion, the best dressing recipes start with cornbread. This dressing recipe freezes well, so feel free to prepare it in advance—you never know when you might need it. Fresh ingredients like sage, sweet onions, and celery make this a go-to side. Get The Recipe 04 of 22 Ham And Noodle Casserole Jen Causey Glazed ham is a traditional dish on holiday menus, and this recipe turns it into a crowd-pleasing casserole that's ideal for potlucks. Not only is it easy to transport, but it's also simple to pull together. cChive-and-onion-flavored cream cheese is the secret to adding plenty of flavor with little effort on your part. Get The Recipe 05 of 22 Pineapple Casserole Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall Not only is Pineapple Casserole a beloved casserole in the South, but it's actually simple to make and calls for just a handful of ingredients. It's one of those casseroles that's welcome at any occasion year-round, and the potluck menu will feel incomplete without one on the table. Get The Recipe 06 of 22 Classic Baked Macaroni And Cheese Fred Hardy II; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman We wouldn't recommend showing up to the Christmas potluck with a boxed mac and cheese. Luckily, homemade macaroni and cheese comes together in just three easy steps so it's no much more effort that a boxed variety. Just make sure to shred you own cheese, never reached for the pre-shredded variety. Get The Recipe 07 of 22 Old-Fashioned Chicken Pot Pie Stacy K. Allen; Food Stylist: Torie Cox; Prop Stylist: Shell Royster Chicken pot pie is a classic comfort food that's welcome at any gathering. Try shortcuts like deli-roasted chicken and refrigerated piecrust when you're in a pinch. This dish's savory gravy complements the vegetables combined in one warm and reassuring container. Get The Recipe 08 of 22 Classic Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows Emily Laurae/Southern Living Showing up to the potluck with a warm casserole dish filled with Sweet Potato Casserole will ensure that you get invited back. You may think this sweet casserole that's topped with cornflakes and marshmallows is sweet enough to be a dessert, but since it's a side dish it can be enjoyed with the main meal. Get The Recipe 09 of 22 Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole Caitlin Bensel / Southern Living Even at a potluck, the oven can become too crowded. Substitute your baking pan or Dutch oven for the slow-cooker for this classic green bean recipe. Add toasted toppings towards the end of your prep time. Get The Recipe 10 of 22 Pasta-Chicken-Broccoli Bake Iain Bagwell; Prop Stylist: Heather Chadduck; Food Stylist: Ana Kelly Cheesy broccoli and chicken is a fan-favorite casserole that hardly needs improvement. Add spinach and cheese tortellini, and you have your new signature dish. Everyone will request you bring it again. Topped with chopped pecans is the icing on this casserole cake. Get The Recipe 11 of 22 Chicken Pot Pie with Bacon-and-Cheddar Biscuits Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Buffy Hargett Bacon cheddar biscuits? Yes, please. This chicken pot pie, topped with warm, flakey biscuits, has the makings of a Southern classic. The vegetable medley makes this casserole a more hearty dish, and the hash browns make it something you'll want to eat for every meal of the day. Get The Recipe 12 of 22 Cheeseburger Casserole Photography: Alison Miksch, Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland, Food Styling: Melissa Gray Instead of standing by the grill throughout your entire potluck gathering, replace burgers with a cheeseburger casserole. This dish is a simpler solution than traditional burgers but delivers the same satisfying flavors. Tater tots and bacon make this dish the ultimate crowd-pleaser. Get The Recipe 13 of 22 Overnight French Toast Casserole with Bourbon-Maple Syrup Caitlin Bensel For a brunch potluck, this easy-to-assemble French toast casserole is the perfect dish to bring. Since you must chill it for at least eight hours, it's the perfect dish to make the night before. Kick this breakfast casserole up a notch by making bourbon maple syrup. Get The Recipe 14 of 22 Cheesy Broccoli-and-Rice Casserole Hector Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller Covering anything in cheese makes it instant comfort food. Adding rice, mushrooms, and broccoli helps to make this casserole a complete one-dish meal. It's an excellent bake-and-take option for any occasion. Get The Recipe 15 of 22 Meatball Pasta Bake Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas Start with frozen meatballs to make this dish a more straightforward option to bring to any event. Make this dish a little more distinctive by adding orange juice and fennel. Chopped onions also add flavor if desired. Get The Recipe 16 of 22 Chicken Enchilada Casserole Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas Enchilada casserole is exceptionally versatile. If you've celebrated with one-too-many chicken casseroles lately, try substituting pulled pork, BBQ brisket, or even shrimp into this recipe. The layered tortillas and spicy mixture make this a creamy delight. Get The Recipe 17 of 22 Savory Sweet Potato Bread Pudding Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham This savory casserole uses French bread as its base, making it a great side dish or main meal. Covering in a Parmesan custard, this bread pudding includes bacon, spinach, and roasted sweet potatoes. Cook the sweet potatoes first until tender. Get The Recipe 18 of 22 Skillet-Baked Ziti with Andouille, Tomatoes, and Peppers Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham After cooking the pasta, this dish is a one-skillet meal you'll love to add to your regular recipe collection. Peppers and andouille sausage give this ziti a unique flavoring. If short on time, substitute andouille with spicy sausages like Italian sausage or pepperoni. Get The Recipe 19 of 22 Cheesy Ham, Corn, and Grits Bake Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunnigham This breakfast-inspired grits bake can be prepared, frozen, and cooked in about an hour. It's a perfect way to reduce your morning stress when bringing something to an early morning church potluck. Get The Recipe 20 of 22 Creamy Kale and Pasta Bake Recipe Hector Manuel Sanchez Kale is a superfood, but this cheesy casserole is a superhero. Adding pasta and crispy breadcrumbs adds a savory, creamy mixture to this kale-based dish. Enjoy this casserole on its own or as a side dish at your next event. Get The Recipe 21 of 22 Blueberry Pancake Breakfast Casserole Jennifer Causey Pancakes usually don't go well when preparing this breakfast staple for a crowd, but this casserole version makes it possible. Like other breakfast bakes, prepare this pancake arrangement the night before and pop it in the oven in the morning. Top with blueberries in the morning just before baking. Get The Recipe 22 of 22 Chicken Parmesan Casserole Photographer: Will Dickey Prop Stylist: Missie Crawford Food Stylist: Erin Merhar This Italian-inspired dish is topped with panko breadcrumbs and mozzarella cheese, making it a lighter version than its original meal. Pair this casserole with a side of pasta for a complete and hearty dinner. Get The Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit