Food and Recipes Dish Casserole 62 Must-Have Thanksgiving Casseroles For Your Holiday Feast Everyone knows we're at the table for the casseroles. By Kimberly Holland Kimberly Holland Kimberly Holland is a writer and editor with 17 years of experience in food, lifestyle, travel, and health content. She is an Associate Editorial Director for Southern Living. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on November 1, 2023 Close Photo: Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Who doesn't love a good Thanksgiving casserole? More than any other time of year, Thanksgiving is a holiday that skillfully celebrates the art of homemade casseroles. We're not just talking about the classic green bean casserole or famous mac and cheese, either. These are the homemade recipes that Mama guards with her life and are only learned through an illegible scribble on an old receipt or by graciously helping out in the kitchen. Hold these coveted recipes tightly because everyone will want your delicious secrets. Made with everyone's favorite seasonal vegetables and flavors, these dishes are guaranteed to be an instant hit at Thanksgiving dinner. This Thanksgiving, make some memories in the kitchen by cooking these delectable casseroles and then enjoying them with your loved ones. You better leave plenty of room on the table for these classic Southern recipes. 01 of 62 Old-School Green Bean Casserole Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall This classic green bean casserole is ready in under an hour. Guests will be thrilled to see this traditional side as part of the spread and even more delighted once they try it. The secret? We nixed classically used cream of mushroom soup in favor of homemade mushroom cream sauce. Get The Recipe 02 of 62 Macaroni Pudding Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck; Food Styling: Erin Merhar We know that mac and cheese is an automatic must-have on the Thanksgiving table, but allow us to tempt you with this Macaroni Pudding recipe. Classic mac and cheese's creamier, richer cousin, this pudding is packed with a delicious abundance of cheese—3 cups of sharp cheddar per batch. Get The Recipe 03 of 62 Scalloped Corn Casserole Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox There's no shucking required to enjoy corn in casserole form with this recipe that makes use of the frozen variety. You'll know it's ready to take out of the oven when the cracker topping is golden brow in color. Get The Recipe 04 of 62 Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows, Pecans, and Cornflakes Emily Laurae A classic casserole that is topped with a delicious combination of cornflakes, pecans, and marshmallows. With all of these sweet ingredients, this dish is the perfect combination of smooth, creamy, and crunchy textures. Get The Recipe 05 of 62 Stovetop Broccoli Casserole Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Micah Morton, Prop Stylist: Kathleen Varner If you want to serve a broccoli casserole on Thanksgiving but won't have room in the oven for another dish, opt for this stovetop version that still delivers the same flavor. And yes, it still has a crunchy cracker topping. Get The Recipe 06 of 62 Meringue-Topped Sweet Potato Casserole Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely This wholesome take on the classic sweet potato casserole is just as good—but without the brown sugar, pecan, and marshmallows on top, it has much less sugar. Get the Recipe 07 of 62 Gluten-Free Mac and Cheese Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Micah Morton, Prop Stylist: Kathleen Varner Creamy fontina cheese and two layers of Colby Jack make everyone's favorite side dish extra delicious. Whether your guests need a gluten-free side or not, this is one great dish. Get the Recipe 08 of 62 Shoepeg Corn Casserole Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Micah Morton, Prop Stylist: Kathleen Varner When it comes to Thanksgiving menu planning, it's always a good idea to choose a few dishes that can be prepped in advance and this casserole is a great addition for that reason. The base can be prepared in advance and frozen until it's time to bake. Get The Recipe 09 of 62 Classic Cornbread Dressing Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall This old-school cornbread dressing recipe starts with your favorite skillet cornbread. Make this dressing up to a month in advance and store it frozen to avoid those pre-Thanksgiving preparation jitters. Get The Recipe 10 of 62 Cranberry-Apple Casserole Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox This fruity casserole can be served as a side dish, a dessert, or both! No matter which you choose, it will be a crowd-pleaser. Get The Recipe 11 of 62 Cabbage Casserole Will Dickey With all of the heavy casseroles on the table, this casserole offers a lighter yet still delicious side dish that's packed with veggies. In fact, it calls for 10 cups of cabbage. Get The Recipe 12 of 62 Old-Fashioned Apple And Cheese Casserole Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox Much like pineapple casserole, this recipe proves that cheese and fruit are a decadent combination when baked up in a casserole dish. We recommend serving it warm. Get The Recipe 13 of 62 Hashbrown Casserole Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Potato casserole just got a whole lot better with diced hash brown potatoes. Although this dish is sometimes called a "Funeral Casserole," we think it deserves a spot at Thanksgiving too. Get The Recipe 14 of 62 Hasselback Sweet Potato Casserole Photo: Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Switch up your traditional sweet potato casserole by adding thinly sliced potatoes for a crispy texture. This dish is smothered in a creamy brown sugar sauce that makes it perfectly tender and sweet. Get The Recipe 15 of 62 Creamy Whipped Potato Casserole Atonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Our Test Kitchen said this two-potato recipe makes the "fluffiest mashed potato casserole of all time." We owe this to two types of starchy potatoes, browned butter, and white cheddar. Get The Recipe 16 of 62 Macaroni Corn Casserole Will Dickey; Prop Styling: Christina Daley; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners Two classic sides come together in one dish to create one delicious casserole. And of course, there's not just one but two types of cheese on the ingredient list. Get The Recipe 17 of 62 Savory Sweet Potato Casserole Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox The best of both worlds, this sweet potato casserole is topped with a Parmesan-herb streusel to give it a savory flavor. Day-old sourdough bread is the trick to a tasty topping with pecans. Get The Recipe 18 of 62 Creamed Greens Casserole Atonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Even the pickiest eaters will eat their greens with this cheesy casserole recipe. Two power flavor duos collide in this recipe: kale and collards, plus cream cheese and fontina. You'll love it. Get The Recipe 19 of 62 Corn Pudding Casserole Courtney West This savory dish is a cheesy delight on the Thanksgiving table. Use fresh or frozen corn to complement fontina or Swiss cheese—the choices are yours, and the results will be delicious. Get The Recipe 20 of 62 Baked Mac and Cheese With Bacon Alison Miksch, Food Stylist: Karen Rankin, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle Bacon is the cherry on top of the ideal comfort food on Thanksgiving. Kids and adults alike will eat this new mac and cheese recipe. Get The Recipe 21 of 62 Make-Ahead Sweet Potato Casserole Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Emily Neighbors Hall; Prop Stylist: Audrey Davis With the busy holidays, we'll take any recipe with the words "make-ahead" in the name. Bring this dish together up to three days early and rejoice in the brown sugar and rolled oats topping come Thanksgiving dinner. Get The Recipe 22 of 62 Baked Corn Casserole Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Emily Neighbors Hall; Prop Stylist: Audrey Davis This cornbread-corn pudding hybrid will make a fun addition to the sideboard. Pureed corn, plus sour cream and Monterey jack cheese, make sure that this casserole is far from lacking in both flavor and texture. Get The Recipe 23 of 62 Mashed Potato Casserole Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Kay E. Clarke; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey The family will love the breadcrumb and crispy fried onion topping on this dreamy mashed potato casserole. Underneath the topping though, Yukon potatoes and Swiss cheese offer a delightfully tangy take on mashed potatoes. Get The Recipe 24 of 62 Old-School Squash Casserole Fred Hardy II; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman Even if you're not a squash lover, you will be coming back for seconds with this tasty buttery dish. It's a staple for a reason—creamy sauce and crunchy cracker topping will prove why. Get The Recipe 25 of 62 Cheesy Potato Casserole Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox This cheesy potato casserole pairs delightfully well with homemade gravy. It's decadent enough to impress holiday guests, but also easy enough to whip up on a weeknight. Get The Recipe 26 of 62 Aunt Grace's Best Cornbread Dressing Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Lindsey Lower; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Travel editor Valerie Luesse shares her Aunt Grace's Best Cornbread Dressing recipe—which Luesse calls "silky smooth and ultra-moist." To make the deal even sweeter: This recipe serves best when made in advance. Get The Recipe 27 of 62 Homemade Green Bean Casserole With Crispy Leeks Linda Puglies; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox This fresh green bean casserole is topped with crunchy leeks. They're loads more elegant than canned fried onions on top of this classic Thanksgiving side dish. Get The Recipe 28 of 62 Buttermilk Spoon Bread Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall This old-school recipe combines the flavors and textures of a skillet of hot cornbread, a cornmeal soufflé, and a cornbread dressing. If that doesn't sound delicious to you, we don't know what will. Get The Recipe 29 of 62 Bacon-Brussels Sprout-Green Bean Casserole Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall We added crispy bacon and Brussels sprouts to this casserole for a spin on a Thanksgiving classic. Make this casserole up to three days in advance to make Thanksgiving preparations all too easy. Get The Recipe 30 of 62 Spicy Cornbread Dressing With Chorizo Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Add a kick to your Thanksgiving feast with jalapeños and chorizo. Make your cornbread from scratch or buy it pre-made—either way, this surprising twist on classic cornbread dressing will be a hit. Get The Recipe 31 of 62 Fluffy Corn Pudding Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Our fluffiest corn pudding recipe yet, this version is like a delicious hybrid between a custard and a soufflé. Pureeing a portion of the corn kernels lends to the light and airy texture of this corn pudding. Get The Recipe 32 of 62 Scalloped Oysters Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall This classic oyster casserole only required a handful of simple ingredients. Briny oysters are the star of this dish with little backup needed. Get The Recipe 33 of 62 Herby Pecan-Cornbread Dressing Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall You won't find a cornbread dressing more wholesome than this one—toasted pecans, whole-grain flour, and medium-grind cornmeal guarantee it. To get ahead on your prep, make the cornbread up to three days in advance. Get The Recipe 34 of 62 Pumpkin-and-Winter Squash Gratin Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox Shake up your feast with pumpkins on the Thanksgiving dinner table—not just the dessert spread. This hearty casserole is a fun way to use pumpkin in your Thanksgiving meal aside from the pie. Get The Recipe 35 of 62 Herbed Breadcrumb-Topped Macaroni and Cheese Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall There's no doubt that macaroni and cheese derives a shining spot on every Southern Thanksgiving table. Spooned onto a heaping plate with seasonal flavors, comforting, cheesy noodles are a must. This Turkey Day, elevate your go-to recipe with cubes of cheddar cheese and panko breadcrumbs flavored with sage, thyme, and rosemary. Get The Recipe 36 of 62 Savory Corn Pudding Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Some Southern cooks are diehard for sweet corn pudding recipes, but this recipe makes a strong case for going savory. Don't worry, we haven't nixed that classic corn pudding texture—so creamy and rich that it could still be a dessert. Get The Recipe 37 of 62 Cornbread Dressing With Sausage Southern Living You can make this classic cornbread dressing in three simple steps. Pork sausage adds a welcome meatiness to simple, staple ingredients including cornbread, sandwich bread, broth, butter, celery, and onions. Get The Recipe 38 of 62 Loaded Cauliflower Casserole Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Heather Chadduck Hillegas Cauliflower is the chameleon veggie that we can't get enough of and definitely need on the Thanksgiving table this year. For a low-carb casserole that has everything you love about a loaded mashed potato casserole, try this recipe. Get The Recipe 39 of 62 Slow-Cooker Sweet Potato Casserole Southern Living The oven is already packed on Thanksgiving, so use the slow cooker to make this holiday staple. Think of it as a deconstructed version of a classic sweet potato casserole. Get The Recipe 40 of 62 Twice Baked Potato Casserole Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Sarah Elizabeth Cleveland; Food Styling: Melissa Gray What makes a creamy potato casserole better? Bacon, cheese, scallions, and sour cream of course. Get The Recipe 41 of 62 Slow-Cooker Cornbread Dressing Vianney Rodriguez/Jason David Page The slow cooker can do it all at Thanksgiving, including making this staple casserole. This hands-off version is infinitely comforting, both to your guests' taste buds and your preparation schedule. Get The Recipe 42 of 62 Macaroni Au Gratin Southern Living If you thought macaroni and cheese couldn't get more decadent, think again. Our Test Kitchen has all the tips and tricks for this dish to reach its cheesiest, tastiest potential. Get The Recipe 43 of 62 Easy Cauliflower Casserole Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer The kids just might confuse this veggie casserole with their favorite mac and cheese recipe. We can't blame them—it's just as creamy and cheesy as Southern comfort food should be. Get The Recipe 44 of 62 Cornbread 'n' Squash Dressing Crumbled cornbread, yellow squash, red bell peppers, and onions make up this Southern-style dressing. Fans of both squash casseroles and old-school cornbread dressings won't be able to get enough of this killer combo. Get The Recipe 45 of 62 Two-Potato Gratin Hector Sanchez Yukon gold potatoes and sweet potatoes join forces in this cheesy and creamy casserole. As far as we're concerned, twice the potatoes mean twice as tasty. Get The Recipe 46 of 62 Mimi's Cornbread Dressing Southern Living This dressing is deliciously moist and perfectly seasoned with fresh sage, parsley, and thyme. Put down the boxed cornbread and try this simple buttermilk skillet version. That little bit of extra effort will shine through. Get The Recipe 47 of 62 Sweet Potato, Cauliflower, and Greens Casserole Hector Sanchez A vegetarian's dream, this casserole is jam-packed with veggies and very filling. It definitely doesn't skimp on the cheese or hearty flavor. Get The Recipe 48 of 62 Wild Rice-and-Greens Casserole Hector Sanchez A flavorful dish that calls for wild rice, spices, and greens. Swap out the kale for collard greens or another hearty green of your choice. Get The Recipe 49 of 62 Cheese Cracker-Topped Squash Casserole Hector Sanchez We topped this savory squash casserole with our favorite crispy snack that smiles back. Kids will be delighted to dig into their veggies when they're topped with swimming snacks. Get The Recipe 50 of 62 Zucchini, Squash, and Corn Casserole Hector Sanchez Combine these Southern vegetables all together in this flavor-bursting casserole. Breadcrumbs are the glue that literally holds this dish together in delicious effect. Get The Recipe 51 of 62 Fennel-and-Potato Gratin Photo: Jennifer Davick This cheesy potato gratin gets a punch of flavor from nutmeg and fennel. It's impressive enough for a holiday party, but easy enough to put together on a busy weeknight. Get The Recipe 52 of 62 Pimiento Cheese Creamed Spinach Hector Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller Creamed spinach is a safe bet, but our version infused with extra Southern flavors will be a knockout. Pimiento cheese made with diced (never sliced!) jarred peppers makes this casserole side dish uniquely delicious for Thanksgiving. Get The Recipe 53 of 62 Tasty Tex-Mex Mashed Potato Bake Jennifer Davick Tasty Tex-Mex Mashed Potato Bake gets a spicy kick with the addition of chorizo sausage, green chiles, and pepper Jack cheese. Mashed potatoes will never be boring again! Get The Recipe 54 of 62 Two-Cheese Squash Casserole Photo: Jennifer Davick For a tasty and colorful twist, substitute sliced zucchini for half of the yellow squash. This will be the simple update that will become your go-to family classic casserole for years to come. Get The Recipe 55 of 62 Butternut Squash Gratin Photo: Iain Bagwell Slice the potatoes as you use them in each layer (rather than all at once), to help prevent oxidation. Thinly sliced potatoes reminiscent of a classic gratin are delicious with seasonal stars like butternut and spaghetti squash. Get The Recipe 56 of 62 Chipotle Scalloped Potatoes Photo: Hector Sanchez Cheesy, smoky, and savory—all of our favorite flavors come to play in this winner-of-a-potato casserole. Deep flavors are just what you need to (literally) spice up your Thanksgiving spread. Get The Recipe 57 of 62 Grated Sweet Potato Pudding Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Try a new twist on your classic sweet potato casserole this year with this grated version that's topped with chopped pecans. To spike up the seasonal flavors, supplement this recipe with a dash of cinnamon or nutmeg. Get The Recipe 58 of 62 Sweet Potato-Carrot Casserole Iain Bagwell; Styling: Amy Burke Cooked carrots add a smooth texture and extra flavor to this comfort food favorite. Serve this classic holiday casserole any time of year and expect rave reviews. Top with marshmallows and spicy-sweet pecans. Get The Recipe 59 of 62 Roasted Tomato Macaroni and Cheese Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Juicy, deep red tomatoes add an elegant look to everyone's favorite comfort food on the Thanksgiving table. This gourmet casserole is as rich and tasty as classic mac and cheese, but with fresh and bright flavor aided by just a touch of oregano and dry mustard. Get The Recipe 60 of 62 Creamy Spinach Mashed Potato Bake Jennifer Davick A hearty, leafy take on buttery mashed potatoes, we love to eat this dish as a side served with all of the other must-have comforting Thanksgiving vegetables. Baby spinach and herb-garlic cheese give this casserole its color and flavor that's almost a hybrid between creamed spinach and classic mashed potatoes. Get The Recipe 61 of 62 Sweet Potato Soufflé Micah Leal Super sweet, but hardy enough to narrowly miss the dessert table, this delicious baked sweet potato dish is filled with warm cinnamon-sugar flavors. A buttery brown sugar-pecan topping completes the perfect spoonful. Get The Recipe 62 of 62 Broccoli-Cheese Casserole Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Top this classic broccoli casserole with club crackers for a buttery finish. Even the most ardent broccoli haters won't be able to resist this decadent side. Get The Recipe 120 Thanksgiving Dessert Recipes To Finish Off Your Feast Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit