A casserole is the perfect make-first-eat-later dish. Get tips for how to freeze it for meal planning perfection.
How to Freeze a Casserole the Right Way
Updated on Mar. 01, 2021
What’s easy to throw together, takes almost no prep time and makes a solid, hearty meal for the whole family? You guessed right—it’s a casserole!
This dish is every cook’s best friend, especially when you’ve had a long day or have too much produce or meat in the refrigerator. You can stash the leftovers for later, too, especially when you know these simple tips for how to freeze casseroles.
1. Avoid freezing dairy-heavy casseroles
Yes, dairy-heavy casseroles are delicious, but cottage cheese, sour cream or creme fraiche won’t hold up in the freezer. Instead, polish this kind of casserole off right away—or store leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 2-3 days. Learn more about freezing food with our helpful guide.
2. Freeze crunchy toppings separately
Crunchy toppings add a lot of texture to a casserole but will get soggy in the freezer. That doesn’t mean you need to skip them, though—just add them on the day you’re eating the casserole, or freeze them separately in a zip-top bag and sprinkle them on after defrosting your main dish.
3. Separate the casserole into smaller portions
If there are only one or two people in the house, or you want to save the leftovers for work/school lunches, cut your casserole into smaller portions instead of freezing the whole dish. If you’re looking for a new recipe, we’ve rounded up our favorite casseroles.
4. Label everything
You’ve taken the casserole out of the freezer, stuck it in the oven and—wait, how long is it supposed to bake for? Stick a label on the casserole with the recipe name, directions for baking and the use-by date. Most casseroles will last in your freezer for up to 3 months.
Find our favorite labels (and containers) on this list of freezer organization tools.
5. Line the dish with parchment paper
We use our favorite 13×9 baking dish for everything, and we definitely don’t want it tied up in the freezer for months. Instead of freezing your casserole directly in the dish, line it with parchment paper before filling it. Pop it into the freezer, let the casserole become solid, then pop the parchment paper out and load everything in a separate container before putting it back into the freezer until you’re ready to bake.
6. Thaw before baking
Before you pop your casserole into the oven, don’t forget to thaw it. The safest way is to let it thaw overnight in the fridge before baking, so make sure to plan ahead.
Now that you have these helpful tips, you can use them when making and storing one of our favorite make-ahead breakfast casserole recipes.
13x9 Casseroles to Keep in the Freezer
Hamburger Potato CasseroleA fun riff on cottage pie, this hearty hamburger potato casserole has a crispy potato crust, so it hits a little different.
Texas-Style LasagnaWith its spicy flavor, this dish is a real crowd-pleaser. It's wonderful with side servings of picante sauce, guacamole and tortilla chips.— Effie Gish, Fort Worth, Texas
Avoid freezer burn with these simple tips.
Smoky Sweet Potato and Black Bean EnchiladasMy hearty, delicious and nutrient-packed vegetarian dish is amazingly healthy. Everyone I've made it for has loved it—even carnivores! I always make two batches and freeze one. You'll want to eat this every week! —Elizabeth Lindemann, Salem, Massachusetts
These 15 products are must-haves when making freezer meals.Â
Buffalo Chicken EnchiladasThis is not a drill. These buffalo chicken enchiladas—filled with tender rotisserie chicken, lots of cheese and, of course, Buffalo sauce—are a craveworthy, easy and delicious meal. The entire family will ask for them again and again. —Becky Hardin, St. Peters, Missouri
Artichoke ChickenIf you love artichoke hearts, you'll love this easy artichoke chicken recipe! Chicken, artichokes and mushrooms bake in a savory rosemary-infused sauce that keeps the chicken breasts juicy and tender.
Enchilada CasseroleTry our layered enchilada casserole recipe for a crowd-pleasing baked dish that captures the flavor of homemade enchiladas without all that rolling.
Chicken Biscuit CasseroleChicken biscuit casserole is rich and satisfying with a broccoli cheddar base and a buttery biscuit topping. The recipe comes together in about an hour and is a great way to use up leftover chicken.
Vegetable StrataWe always serve food at our Bunco games, and since one of us is a vegetarian we like to make fun meatless dishes we can all enjoy. This strata can easily be doubled and tastes fantastic hot or at room temperature. —Doris Mancini, Port Orchard, Washington
Make-Ahead Cabbage RollsI've relied on this recipe for years, and my cabbage rolls never fail to impress. As the host of a number of holiday parties, my guests have come to expect this main entree. —Nancy Foust, Stoneboro, Missouri
Simple Creamy Chicken EnchiladasThis chicken enchilada recipe is one of the first dishes I created and cooked for my husband right after we got married. He was so impressed! We fix these creamy enchiladas for friends regularly. —Melissa Rogers, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Chicken Broccoli ShellsThis cheesy entree is a make-ahead dream. Just assemble it ahead of time and put it in the oven when company arrives. I round out the meal with a tossed salad and warm bread. —Karen Jagger, Columbia City, Indiana
Best LasagnaWhat makes this classic lasagna recipe so spectacular? Homemade meat sauce and plenty of cheese. Best of all, it's easy to make lasagna ahead of time so dinner can be ready in a flash.
Chicken Tortilla CasseroleChicken tortilla casserole is a favorite comfort food dinner. The lasagna-like recipe is super versatile too!
Five-Cheese Ziti al FornoAfter having the five-cheese ziti at Olive Garden, I tried to make my own version of it—and I think I got pretty close. I always double this when I'm making it and freeze the second one for another meal. —Keri Whitney, Castro Valley, California
Potluck Taco CasseroleThis is the dish I most often take to potlucks, and the pan comes home empty every time. —Kim Stoller, Smithville, Ohio
Chicken Cornbread CasseroleWhy not use your leftovers to create a delicious chicken cornbread casserole? The crispy topping and creamy center will make for a comforting and nostalgic dinner.
Taco SpaghettiI came up with this kid-friendly Southwestern recipe one afternoon when I was using up leftover spaghetti and ground beef. When I'm lucky enough to have extra time, I make two batches and freeze one. —Johanna Van Ness, Wichita, Kansas
Carnitas with Orzo and Peppers in Red Mole SauceHere's a tasty way to stretch your grocery dollar. Pork shoulder roast is combined with orzo, peppers and mole sauce to make a spicy Mexican comfort food. —Kari Wheaton, South Beloit, Illinois
Mushroom Sausage StrataThis flavorful casserole is a hearty mainstay for our family's Christmas Day brunch menu. Being able to assemble the recipe ahead of time is a real plus! —Julie Sterchi, Jackson, Missouri
Sausage ManicottiThis classic Italian entree comes together in a snap but tastes as if it took hours. It's so tasty and easy to fix. My family always enjoys it. —Carolyn Henderson, Maple Plain, Minnesota
Chicken and Swiss Stuffing BakeI love to cook but just don't have much time. This casserole is both comforting and fast, which makes it my favorite kind of recipe. I serve it with a green salad. —Jena Coffey, Sunset Hills, Missouri
Fiesta ChickenChili powder and picante sauce add just the right dash to this hearty main dish. It's a snap to assemble since it uses convenience foods. —Teresa Peterson, Kasson, Minnesota
Penne and Smoked SausageThis pasta is a must-try smoked sausage recipe. It just tastes so good when it’s hot and bubbly from the oven. The cheddar french-fried onions lend a cheesy, crunchy touch. —Margaret Wilson, Sun City, California
Chicken Cordon Bleu CasseroleChicken cordon bleu casserole is made with all the same great flavors of the classic dish but with half the fuss. It'll have everyone coming back for seconds.
Taco LasagnaIf you like foods with southwestern flair, this just might become a new favorite. Loaded with cheese, meat and beans, the layered casserole comes together in a snap. There are never any leftovers when I take this dish to potlucks. —Terri Keena, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Chicken Spaghetti CasseroleChicken spaghetti casserole is such a fun way to serve spaghetti noodles. Baked until bubbly from the cheddar and Swiss cheeses, you'll love serving this when you want a change from typical saucy pastas.
Chicken Enchilada CasseroleChicken enchilada casserole is melty, cheesy comfort in a pan. Made with rotisserie chicken and store-bought sauce, it's a weeknight dinner that you can pull together quickly without a lot of heavy lifting.
Chicago-Style Deep-Dish PizzaMy husband and I tried to duplicate the deep-dish pizza recipe from a popular restaurant, and I think our Chicago-style deep-dish pizza turned out even better. The secret is baking it in a cast-iron skillet! —Lynn Hamilton, Naperville, Illinois
Spinach ManicottiThis creamy, cheesy, tomatoey spinach manicotti is completely assembled in advance and refrigerated overnight before baking, making it about as convenient as can be, whether you're cooking for family or company.
Baked Two-Cheese & Bacon GritsIn the South, everyone loves three things: bacon, cheese and grits! After playing around with this recipe, I took it to my first family party as a newlywed, and it was a huge hit. This recipe has become a family tradition that I'm sure will be passed down for generations. —Melissa Rogers, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Pasta Fagioli al FornoThe name of this Italian-inspired dish means "baked pasta with beans." But my busy family translates it as "super satisfying dinner." —Cindy Preller, Grayslake, Illinois
Contest-Winning Greek Pasta BakeWhen I take this dish to potlucks, there's never so much as a morsel left! It’s a simple, healthy, hearty supper made with ingredients that are easy to find. Add a salad and a crusty loaf of bread for a quick meal solution. —Anne Taglienti, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania
New England Lamb BakeThis dish is hearty and perfect for warming up on a chilly winter evening. The aroma is almost as delightful as the dish itself. —Frank Grady, Fort Kent, Maine
