List of casserole dishes Facts for Kids

Janssons frestelse is a traditional Swedish casserole.

A casserole is a yummy dish cooked and served in the same deep pot! Imagine a big, oven-safe dish where you mix all your ingredients, bake them, and then bring the whole dish right to the table. The word "casserole" comes from an old French word, casse, which meant a small saucepan. So, it's both the special pot and the delicious food inside it!

Casseroles are popular all over the world. They are often easy to make and can feed many people. They are perfect for family dinners or potlucks with friends.

What Makes a Casserole?
Popular Casserole Dishes Around the World
More Casserole Dishes
Gallery
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What Makes a Casserole?

A casserole usually has three main parts:

A protein: This could be meat like chicken, beef, or fish, or even beans and lentils.
A vegetable: Think of green beans, corn, potatoes, or mushrooms.
A starchy binder: This helps hold everything together. It might be pasta, rice, or even breadcrumbs.
A sauce: Often a creamy sauce, like a cheese sauce or a mushroom soup, brings all the flavors together.

All these ingredients are mixed in a deep dish and baked in the oven until they are hot and bubbly.

Popular Casserole Dishes Around the World

Casseroles are loved in many countries, and each place has its own special recipes. Here are some famous ones:

American Casseroles

Macaroni and cheese prepared with beef

Macaroni and cheese: This is a super popular dish, especially in the United States. It's made with cooked macaroni pasta and a creamy cheese sauce. Sometimes, people add meat or other vegetables.
Green bean casserole: A classic dish often served at holidays like Thanksgiving. It mixes green beans with cream of mushroom soup and crispy fried onions on top.
Tuna casserole: This dish uses canned tuna, pasta, and a creamy sauce, often with peas or corn. It's a quick and easy meal.
Hotdish: This is a type of casserole very popular in the American Midwest. It usually has a starch (like tater tots), a meat, a canned vegetable, and a canned soup, all mixed and baked.
Frito pie: A fun casserole made with Frito corn chips, chili, and cheese. It's often served at casual gatherings.

European Casseroles

Cod with cream (bacalhau com natas)

Lasagne is a well-known casserole dish.

A slice of timballo

Lasagne: This famous Italian dish is made with layers of wide pasta, meat sauce (ragù), béchamel sauce, and cheese, all baked together.
Moussaka: A delicious Greek casserole with layers of eggplant or potato, ground meat, and a creamy béchamel topping.
Gratin: This is a French cooking method where food is topped with a browned crust, often made of breadcrumbs or cheese. A famous example is Gratin dauphinois, which is thinly sliced potatoes baked in cream.
Bacalhau com natas: A popular Portuguese dish made with salted cod fish, sliced potatoes, onions, and a creamy sauce.
Baeckeoffe: A hearty casserole from France, traditionally made with sliced potatoes, different meats (like beef, lamb, and pork), and vegetables, all marinated in white wine and slow-cooked.
Janssons frestelse: A traditional Swedish Christmas casserole made with potatoes, onions, pickled sprats (a type of fish), cream, and breadcrumbs.

Other Notable Casseroles

Flying Jacob with rice and salad

"French-style meat", a modern Russian version of veal Orloff

Flying Jacob: A unique Swedish casserole from the 1970s. It combines chicken, chili sauce, bananas, roasted peanuts, and bacon, often served with rice.
Maqluba: An upside-down rice and vegetable dish from the Middle East. It often includes meat (chicken or lamb) and fried vegetables like eggplant, cauliflower, and potatoes.
Timballo: An Italian baked dish that can be made with pasta, rice, or potatoes, along with various fillings like cheese, meats, and vegetables, all baked in a large mold.
Veal Orloff: A Russian dish that is sometimes prepared as a casserole. It features slices of veal baked with mushrooms, onions, and a creamy sauce.