The words casserole and glamorous have probably never been used in the same sentence. And maybe there’s a good reason for that. Casseroles conjure up sub-par potlucks, Sunday night dinners with your weird aunt (and her cats), and -- gasp! -- soup from a can.
Come on. Before permanently relegating them to the “Avoid at All Costs” folder in your brain, give casseroles a chance. They can be much, much more than all your leftovers mixed together with a can of Cream o’ Mushroom. In fact, to get technical for a second, a casserole is simply anything baked in a casserole dish (thank you, Webster’s). Which opens up a whole world of possibilities.
We’re not saying you can’t have the classics, we’re just saying why stop there? Get creative with your casserole dish -- go sweet with a Fig and Anise Clafoutis, throw together a Savory Bread Pudding, or get a little fancy with the Pasta Al Forno with Pumpkin and Pancetta. Heck, these recipes are good enough to convert even the staunchest of casserole-haters and blow the pants off your next potluck. Especially if you make them in this.
Because, in the end, casseroles are pretty much comfort in a dish. Don’t give up on them just yet.
More: Check out our Oven to Table collection in Provisions to get all things you need for your cassarole-ing.
Savory Bread Pudding by kamileon
![](https://images.food52.com/s-fQVhENtNvdcyr8OVsKXQRUDnw=/277b369e-9ea4-4c94-ab7e-bf22345d32f4--092209F_0216.JPG)
Tuna Noodle Casserole - Redux by fiveandspice
![tuna casserole](https://images.food52.com/GOuGbCk2frqyElhAL0Oe86_4BHc=/36ba72e9-9cd8-430f-a1c6-a6b2689881dd--tuna_casserole.jpg)
Pasta Al Forno with Pumpkin and Pancetta by Merrill Stubbs
![](https://images.food52.com/oacxFbvwEHzJ2XoewESG5TAVDFY=/21955018-2d38-4ac1-9d37-b6c8e1ab1e63--101210F_126.JPG)
Spinach Gratin by Lizthechef
![spinach gratin](https://images.food52.com/5yuxphYaoZ0mqqofJOwsTmVjEK0=/e6b29e45-8070-4434-b25f-3589413f6b2f--9094917256_56a919a250_z.jpg)
Turkey Tetrazzini by QueenofGreen
![turkey tet](https://images.food52.com/00UfICen_wy_cQZFC9ODgRmioUo=/6f552606-fd4a-4c3f-8386-6c7ce715aa6f--IMG_6612.jpeg)
Homemade Green Bean Casserole by brooke's kitchen
![green bean casserole](https://images.food52.com/GU7z1ms-8eaF1vFJXmi9ljLmRJU=/a6cc5846-0a21-4476-94ca-c590590950f8--green_bean_casserole.jpg)
Chard Gratin by Amanda Hesser
![chard](https://images.food52.com/M7hE2bQdgcdXW1kHsDa1cusEwMo=/3c5079aa-6eba-41cf-971e-427c87d29367--8968369323_bc8d3c9b16_z.jpg)
Fig and Anise Clafoutis by Oui, Chef
![clafoutis](https://images.food52.com/aLEsqd7n9CL6wGaLBp6kt4LNLgQ=/97a6b36c-def0-4b04-a0a3-bc2b17fcd730--101309F_0770.JPG)
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