Breakfast, lunch, dinner, or for dessert, I love a good casserole. Easy to prepare, they are always crowd-pleasing and great if hosting a dinner, serving a large family or want lunch leftovers. We all have our favorite tried and true casseroles, but if you’re looking for a new one take a look at these Blue Ribbon recipes.
“This is an extra special breakfast/brunch recipe especially good for serving to holiday guests or at an elegant brunch,” says Marybeth Mank (Mesquite, TX) of her Cinnamon-Orange French Toast Casserole. “The casserole can be prepared the night before and baked in the morning.”
Wow, this French toast casserole is a wonderful breakfast treat. There are multiple steps, but everything can be prepared ahead of time. The pay-off is well worth the prep time.
The dark chocolate orange butter and cinnamon-orange syrup pair beautifully together and take this recipe over the top. This is definitely a breakfast you’ll want handy for a holiday or a special occasion.
Another delicious way to start the day is with Michelle London’s (Gonzales, TX) Texas Two-Step Breakfast Casserole.
“I made some modifications to a typical Southwest breakfast casserole recipe,” explains Michelle. “I love this recipe because I can make it up the night before and bake it in the morning. Egg casseroles can often be a bit dry, but this one comes out moist and delicious every time!”
This is really good and quick. I was a bit leery there wouldn’t be enough eggs (with all the other goodies packed in here), but it was perfect. Not dry at all. This is great for breakfast or brunch but would also be good for dinner or a potluck. It’s very versatile.
“When I want comfort food, I usually make this,” reveals Carla Skiles (Greeley, KS). “There are so many things about this recipe that take me back to my childhood.”
The aroma of garlic and onions cooking together while preparing Carla’s Chicken and Dumplings Casserole is wonderful. Then, add basil to the mixture and it just makes your mouth water.
Using Bisquick for the dumplings is a prep time saver. Carla adds a touch of basil to her dumplings which jazzes up the basic recipe and brings all the flavors of the casserole together. Easy to make, these chicken and dumplings are definitely comfort food.
“My family loves this dish each time I make it,” says Diane Taylor (Glen Allen, VA) of her Italian Bake Casserole. “This is a dish that is requested all the time in my family. They look forward to taking home the leftovers, which always taste better the next day.”
This casserole looks every bit as good it tastes! The aroma of the sausage and the onions, garlic, and peppers all blended so well. It will make your kitchen smell like an Italian restaurant.
Let’s not forget about dessert. Bread pudding is basically a casserole of bread. A favorite of mine is Naylet LaRochelle’s (Miami, FL) Salted Butterscotch Banana Bread Pudding.
“A warm, cozy dessert for special occasions,” shares Naylet. “To take this bread pudding over the top, I caramelize the bananas then spoon them over the warm bread pudding. A salted butterscotch sauce gives it just the perfect sweet and salty flavor combination.”
Imagine the best of bread pudding combined with the best of Bananas Foster and that’s what this dessert is. Mardi Gras is around the corner. If you’re planning to celebrate, this would be a delicious addition to the menu. The combination of caramelized bananas with the salted butterscotch sauce is amazing.
If your life is hectic, definitely give one of these easy to prep casseroles a try. They’re definitely a comforting meal. Happy Pinching!