All Southerners know that casseroles are truly one-dish wonders. Quick to prepare, easy to make ahead (and even easier to clean up), plentiful enough for a crowd, and portable. It's no wonder these comforting dishes have always been a regional favorite. Though casserole recipes frequent our holiday menus each fall, these delicious, easy-to-make dinners and side dishes often fall off our recipe radars when the weather turns warmer. But, with fresh zucchinis, tomatoes, corn, and more waiting at your local farmers' market, begging to be baked, it just might be time to crown summertime the new casserole season.
With a house full of kids and their friends all summer, it's always good to have a made-ahead dish on hand. From our Zucchini-and-Spinach Lasagna to our Spinach-and-Herb Pastatta, some of our favorite summer casserole recipes will help you prepare for everything from last-minute summertime entertaining to a fun family dinner. To help you get started, here are some of our favorite reasons to start popping casseroles into your oven this summer.
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Roasted Tomato Macaroni and Cheese
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Fresh plum tomatoes top this cheesy favorite and add rich, juicy flavor.
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Baked Ziti with Summer Vegetables
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This vegetable medley will have you loving summer and its fresh flavors.
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BLT Pain Perdu Casserole
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Instead of making a big batch of sandwiches for a crowd, use fresh tomatoes to serve up the same flavors in casserole form.
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Reunion Pea Casserole
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In the summer, look for Whippoorwill, Lady Cream, and Pinkeye beans at the market and substitute them into this recipe.
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Macaroni Corn Casserole
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This recipe calls for thawed, frozen corn kernels but you can use fresh kernels when in season.
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Old-School Squash Casserole
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The key to this casserole is to make sure you get as much liquid as you can out of the squash during the initial cooking phase before adding it to the casserole dish.
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Heirloom Tomato Pie
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While this recipe calls for a homemade Parmesan-Buttermilk Pie Crust, you can use a store-bought base in a pinch.
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Okra and Rice Casserole
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Sautéed okra, sweet corn, Cajun spices, and buttery garlic breadcrumbs make this summer casserole shine.
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Cheesy Ham, Corn, and Grits Bake
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This breakfast bake is here to prove that corn can be a great addition to the menu for your first meal of the day.
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Tomato, Cheddar, and Bacon Pie
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Choose whatever assortment of fresh tomatoes you would like for this tomato pie, but we love the look of mixed color varieties.
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Tee's Corn Pudding
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You'll make use of a good amount of fresh summer corn in this casserole, 12 ears to be exact.
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Pasta-Chicken-Broccoli Bake
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With broccoli and red bell peppers, and even colored tortellini if you'd like, this casserole is full of summer color.
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Cheese Cracker-Topped Squash Casserole
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Cheese crackers will entice every member of the family to eat this veggie-packed casserole. We're talking 3 pounds of squash and 2 pounds of zucchini.
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Cheesy Broccoli-and-Rice Casserole
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Fresh broccoli is the secret to this delicious and surprisingly good for you casserole.
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Eggplant Rollups
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Thinly sliced eggplants make the perfect rollups. They're filled with ricotta cheese to make Italian-style dinner.
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New Tuna Casserole with Potato Chips
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Fresh veggies add pops of color while potato chips add the perfect crunch to this dish.
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Squash and Green Chile Casserole
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Green chiles and tomatillos add Southwestern flavor to this spin on classic squash casserole.
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Zucchini, Squash, and Corn Casserole
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If you're looking for a true summertime trio, look no further than this side dish that is filled with zucchini, squash, and corn.
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Zucchini-Potato Casserole
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This pretty layered presentation is a wonderful vegetable addition to a summer menu.
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Zucchini-and-Spinach Lasagna
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Did you fill your farmers' market basket to the brim with zucchinis? Pair your market picks with fresh basil and spinach, and bake with ricotta and flavored cream cheese for the perfect vegetarian casserole.
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Spinach-and-Herb Pastatta
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An original Southern Living creation, pastatta is a comforting cross between a frittata and baked pasta.
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Two-Cheese Squash Casserole
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This two-cheese combo lets your summer squash take center stage.
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Texas-Style Beef Enchilada Casserole
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Fit for a summertime party, this casserole will help you serve something with a bit of a kick this season.
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Summer Squash Casserole
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This summer side dish is a cinch to prepare and pairs perfectly with fried chicken for a true, Southern summertime lunch or dinner.
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Tennessee Onions
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There's no better time to make this recipe than in the summer when Vidalias are in season.
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Easy Taco Casserole
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Topped with all the seasonal summer veggies your heart desires, this easy casserole is a summer supper slam dunk.
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Breakfast Chilaquiles Casserole
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Summer mornings just got better with this egg casserole topped with fresh produce from the farmers' market, like radishes, tomatoes, and cilantro.
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Blueberry Cornbread Casserole
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No better time than summer to use fresh blueberries, and although they aren't a typical ingredient in cornbread, don't knock this recipe until you try it.
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Chicken Fajita Casserole
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This recipe might not have the same wow-factor as a plate of sizzling fajitas from a restaurant, but it has the all the same flavor and comes together in just 25 minutes of active cooking.
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Blueberry Pancake Breakfast Casserole
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Fresh summer berries are the star of this breakfast casserole. While this recipe does call to make your own pancakes, if you're short on time, your favorite frozen pancakes will also work here.
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Cajun Shrimp Casserole
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Loaded with okra, peppers, and shrimp, this casserole combines some of your favorite Cajun flavors into an easy to prepare dish.
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Cheesy Tomato-and-Sausage Strata
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Start your day off right with this hearty, cheesy breakfast casserole made with peak season tomatoes.
