Picture this: it’s the middle of the week, you’re dog-tired, and cooking even the most basic meal feels like a chore. We’ve all been there—when the days are long and the week has been nothing but a blur of work and family activities, standing up to prepare a meal is the last thing on your mind. In these moments, you need a pasta casserole. Creamy, melty, filling, and warm, it’s the perfect dish to enjoy when cooking isn’t on the agenda.

Casseroles are rooted in American culture. The easy-to-make dish was a staple on the table for many busy families for good reason. Not only are they easy to make and filling, but they feed a crowd, often giving you leftovers for days. Beyond that, most casserole dishes are fitting for picky palates, making them perfect for a large family with different tastes.

Most casseroles are made from five key ingredients: pasta, a protein, vegetables, cheese, and sauce. Whether you choose to go spicy and bold with a tomato sauce or savory with a cream-based sauce, the possibilities are endless. To get you started, we’ve gathered five interesting pasta casseroles to add to your recipe Rolodex.

Lasagna Casserole

Ingredients 

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1 pound pasta shells; cooked medium
• 4 cups shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
• 3 cups cottage cheese
• 2 large eggs
• 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 2 tablespoons dried parsley flakes
• 1 24-ounce jar of pasta sauce

Instructions

1. Cook ground beef and onion in a skillet and season to taste with salt and pepper.
2. Add the cooked pasta, eggs, cottage cheese, Parmesan cheese, 3 cups of mozzarella cheese, parsley, and pepper to a large bowl and gently stir to mix.
3. Transfer pasta mixture to a baking dish and top with ground beef and pasta sauce.
4. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for at least 45 minutes.
5. Remove the foil and sprinkle with remaining mozzarella chesse.
6. Bake uncovered, until cheese is melted.
7. Cool for 10 minutes, serve, and enjoy.

Turkey Tetrazzini

Ingredients 

• 1 box uncooked spaghetti
• 2 cups chopped cooked turkey (white and dark meat)
• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 cup finely chopped yellow onion
• 8 ounces sliced button mushrooms
• 2 medium garlic cloves
• 1/3 cup dry sherry
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 3/4 cup half-and-half
• 1 can cream of celery soup
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 6 ounces shredded mozzarella
• 2 ounces grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 1/2 cups frozen peas
• Chopped parsley

Instructions

1. Cook the spaghetti.
2. Melt butter in a large skillet, then add the chopped onion and mushrooms and cook until tender.
3. Mince garlic and stir into the skillet mixture.
4. Stir in sherry and continue cooking until reduced.
5. Stir in flower until sauce begins to thicken.
6. Reduce heat under the skillet and gradually stir in chicken broth and half-and-half.
7. Add cream of celery soup, sour cream, parsley, salt, and pepper and cook until sauce is smooth and simmering.
8. Remove skillet from heat and add turkey, 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese, and 1/4 cup of the Parmesan cheese until everything is well mixed.
9. Gently fold in the spaghetti and add peas.
10. Transfer pasta mixture to a baking dish and top with remaining cheese.
11. Bake until golden brown.
12. Let cool, then garnish with parsley and enjoy.

Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole

Ingredients

• 1 package uncooked spiral pasta
• 1-1/2 cups milk
• 1/2 cup ranch salad dressing
• 1 package ranch salad dressing mix
• 1 package cream cheese, cubed
• 2 cups cooked chicken
• 8 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
• 2 cups shredded Colby cheese
• Sliced green onions

Instructions

1. Cook the pasta then drain and transfer to a large mixing bowl.
2. Add milk, ranch salad dressing, and ranch salad dressing mix to the pan and stir until combined.
3. Stir in cream cheese and cook over medium heat until melted.
4. Pour mixture over pasta.
5. Stir in chicken, bacon, and 1 cup Colby cheese.
6. Transfer pasta mixture to a baking dish.
7. Top with remaining 1 cup Colby cheese.
8. Bake, uncovered, until cheese is melted.
9. Remove and let cool.
10. Top with green onion, serve, and enjoy.

Pulled Pork Mac And Cheese

Ingredients

• 1 box uncooked elbow pasta
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1 1/2 cups finely chopped onion
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 1/2 cups milk
• 2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 2 cups shredded extra-sharp Cheddar cheese
• 2 cups shredded Colby-Jack cheese
• 2 1/2 cups sauceless shredded smoked pork
• 1 cup panko
• 1/4 cup sliced scallions
• Barbecue sauce

Instructions

1. Cook the pasta
2. Melt 6 tablespoons of butter in a large Dutch oven.
3. Add onion and cook until soft.
4. Stir in flour.
5. Gradually stir in milk, mustard, garlic powder, and pepper until mixture thickens.
6. Remove Dutch oven from heat and gradually stir in cheddar and Colby-Jack cheeses.
7. Add pork and pasta to cheese mixture and stir.
8. Transfer pasta mixture to a baking dish.
9. Melt remaining butter in the microwave and stir in panko until combined.
10. Sprinkle on top of pasta mixture.
11. Bake for about 30 minutes until mixture is brown and bubbly.
12. Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes.
13. Top with scallions and barbecue sauce, serve and enjoy.

Tuna Casserole

Ingredients

• 1 package wide egg noodles
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
• 1 yellow onion, diced
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 cups milk
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1/2 cup and 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 cans chunk light tuna, drained
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 16 butter crackers
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

1. Cook the pasta.
2. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in large skillet.
3. Add onion and cook until soft.
4. Stir in flour.
5. Gradually stir in milk and reduce heat to a simmer, cooking until mixture has thickened.
6. Remove skillet from heat and stir in Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper.
7. Stir in 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese.
8. Stir in tuna, frozen peas, and noodles.
9. Transfer pasta mixture to a baking dish.
10. Bake for 15 minutes.
11. Melt remaining butter in the microwave and stir in crushed crackers, remaining 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese and garlic powder.
12. Remove casserole from oven and top with cracker mixture, then bake for 7 minutes until topping is browned.
13. Let cool for 5 minutes, serve, and enjoy.